In the dead of the night, everyone was asleep in the whole capital of the Great Yong Empire. However, the Xia Mansion was a hotbed of activity in the quiet night. An army of ten thousand soldiers was hidden in the vast estate. They were on standby, preparing and waiting for further instructions.
Inside the main house, General Cheng was citing a final rundown of their plan. Present in the meeting were the Xia family, Prince Miyojin, and the unit leaders of the army. This was the first time Miyojin had attended a military meeting. It was even more nerve-wracking since they would be executing the plan at once after the meeting.
The day of the predicted storm has arrived. Today is the day they will infiltrate the Imperial palace and save the emperor from the Fourth Prince. In the past, it was Zhujin who had taken part in the wars not only against the empire’s foreign enemies but also against the empire’s internal conflicts. However, this time, Zhujin is no longer here. Instead, it will be Prince Miyojin who will deal with this, the one with no prior experience on the battlefield.
Despite having the plan committed to memory, the Second Prince still felt very anxious. That was because of the large role that was given to him. However, he didn’t have the time to calm himself down. General Cheng had concluded the meeting and had commanded them to execute the plan now.
Immediately, Xia Yu and Miyojin rushed out of the main house and climbed the horses that were waiting for them outside. They rode out of the estate and traveled through the capital without drawing suspicion. Eventually, they reached the tree groves outside the palace grounds.
“So this is the tunnel.” Xia Yu said after Miyojin removed the rock and twigs blocking the entrance of the tunnel.
“Y-yeah,” Miyojin said in a shaky tone. He got even more nervous when he realized that they were minutes away from the onset of the battle.
They crawled into the hole and entered the inner tunnel. The inner space of the tunnel is large enough for people to walk in.
“You don’t sound alright.” Xia Yu said, not ignoring his shaky tone.
Miyojin didn’t answer but he stopped walking. Xia Yu held his hand and pulled him towards her, making him face her.
“Don’t be nervous,” she said.
“I just can’t help it,” Miyojin said with his eyes cast downward, hating himself that he couldn’t calm down and focus.
The Second Princess Consort lifted his head with both of her hands. Now, they are seeing each other eye to eye which startled the prince a bit.
“You had been preparing for this. You only have to believe in yourself that you can pull through in this.” Xia Yu said as she gave him an encouraging smile.
This also earned a smile from him. However, his smile was a bit shy since he could not help but be embarrassed about having Xia Yu’s hands on his cheeks.
“Now, let’s go and save your family!”
The prince nodded in agreement. They continued their journey until they reached the end of the tunnel. Miyojin triggered the hidden mechanism to reveal the opening. Soon enough, they were already in the abandoned house. By crawling through the hole in the courtyard’s wall, they finally reached the White Jade Courtyard.
Xia Yu and Miyojin carefully sneaked towards the palace. They stopped by Xia Yu’s room. Xia Yu knocked four times with an interval in the middle. Soon, the door to her room opened and revealed one of her maids. It was Boyang, wearing the same black suit similar to theirs. She was already informed beforehand about the plan. However, she still looked surprised and overwhelmed as she came face-to-face with Xia Yu who she originally thought had already passed away.
“How is everything here?” Xia Yu asked in an instant.
“The guards are ready, Your Highness,” Boyang said and continued to report the situation.
Miyojin waited for the two to finish their short conversation before he asked his question.
“How is Lijuan?” he said.
Boyang bowed to the prince before giving her answer.
“Your Highness, Lady Lijuan is already asleep and she has been healthy along with her child. Ningning is guarding her in case the battle catches up here. She will be accompanied by two guards to protect her.”
Miyojin sighed with relief after finally hearing news about Lijuan.
“If that is all, then let’s go.” Xia Yu said, ending the conversation.
With that, Boyang went to the back of the palace and signaled the hiding guards. The guards appeared in silence, all of them wearing the same black suit. These guards were the ones Xia Yu brought when she entered the palace.
When everyone had gathered, Xia Yu explained their plan as concisely as possible. Afterward, they began to head to the East, West, and South Gates where General Cheng’s army was distributed and concealed from the outside. Xia Yu led the group heading to the East Gate. While Miyojin led another group to secure the South Gate. This leaves the West Gate to Boyang and her group. Once the groups were ready, they began to attack the guards at their respective gates and were able to open them. Thus, the battle within the Imperial Palace ensued.
The once silent night in the Imperial Palace has become an ear-splitting one. Clashing weapons and cries were heard throughout the palace. The residents of the Imperial Palace were completely caught off guard by this attack. The Imperial guards and the unprepared Imperial army couldn’t easily find ground to mobilize. They were confused especially when they saw that it was General Cheng’s army the one attacking them.
Once the army in the South Gate was inside the palace, Miyojin did not linger around on the battlefield. He pushed forward ignoring the battle that was going around him. He would block off the attacks that came his way and take down his attackers. However, he continued to move forward. He only had one destination in mind, the Emperor’s Palace.
Soon enough, Miyojin reached the Emperor’s Palace along with the guards that were assigned to him and a fraction of the army. They attacked the guards and fought them off. Miyojin and his group were outnumbered at first. Eventually, Boyang and her unit of guards and a great number of soldiers arrived and joined the battle.
Because of the change of the battle’s tide, Miyojin was able to enter the Emperor’s Palace. He raced through the palace corridors heading to the bedroom of the emperor. However, when he arrived, he was faced with a very serious problem.
“Well, well, well. What a surprise! Seems like someone has risen from the dead.”
Prince Zemin let out a sarcastic and bitter laugh as he had a sword drawn with the blade lingering at the neck of the bedridden emperor. The emperor looked very sick and had barely recognized who entered his quarters. The empress was also in the bedroom but was on the other end of the room near the emperor’s bed. She was on her knees. Her face was etched in fear. But then, it turned to surprise when she recognized her second son.
“Miyojin! You’re alive!” the empress said.
Despite having been poisoned and a blade on his throat, the emperor was visibly happy to see the Second Prince.
“Let go of Father!!!” Miyojin screamed in anger as he pointed his sword towards Zemin.
“I’ll have to decline your request,” Zemin said as he further pressed his sword on the emperor, cutting a bit of his skin.
“We know you are the one behind everything. The assassination on the ship, First Brother’s death, and framing Jinyi were all your schemes. I also know that you are poisoning, Father. You did this because you want to take revenge on us because of what happened to your mother.”
“I must say you got it all right. However… as you can see, I still have a chance to complete my revenge.” Zemin said with a smile. That smile of his used to look like an innocent one in the past. But now, Miyojin can see the malice in it.
“Stop!”
Xia Yu came bursting into the room with a sword in hand and joined Miyojin.
“It’s over now. We have gained control of the palace. You should drop your weapon and surrender like what your allies have already done.”
“Hahahaha!” was the unanxious reply of the Fourth Prince. “Now, I know why my plan went wrong. I thought you were just a modest imprisoned doll at my brother’s side. It seems I have made a grave mistake underestimating you.”
Zemin continued to laugh.
“However, I already know what awaits me if I surrender. Thus, since I will die, either way, I might as well finish the job.” Zemin said as he pressed his sword until the emperor started bleeding at his neck.
“Stop that!” Miyojin said in a panic as he eyed the blood flowing down his Father’s garments.
“You want me to stop? How about you try dropping your weapons? And see what will happen next.”
“Don’t fall for his bluff!” the empress screamed.
Zemin turned to the empress.
“Why, Your Majesty? You sound like you have a choice in this situation. Don’t worry, I have not completely forgotten you.”
Now that Miyojin was looking at his mother with more attention, he saw that her wrists were cuffed to her feet. The chains were short which is why the empress was in a kneeling position. The prince looked at Xia Yu and saw her looking at the empress’s situation as well.
“Well… drop your weapons.”
Seeing how close the empress is to the Fourth Prince, Miyojin can see how easy it is for Zemin to kill both the empress and emperor in two swift moves. Is there no way for them to get the upper hand on him?
But then, he heard a clanking sound near him. He turned to Xia Yu with wide eyes. His fears were confirmed when he saw her sword on the floor.
What is she doing!?!???
“Drop your weapon.” Xia Yu said to Miyojin.
“No! Don’t do it! Miyojin, don’t!” the empress screamed as she begged her son in fear and hopelessness.
“Wh-what? B-but why???”
“Just do it. We have no choice in this matter,” she said with a hard expression on her face as she looked at Zemin.
Miyojin could not believe it. Of all people, Xia Yu was the last person who would give up in this situation. Is this really something that they can’t get around to? He was shaking as he gripped his sword tight. However, he realizes that if Xia Yu couldn’t think of a way out of this situation, how could he?
Slowly and in a very reluctant manner, Miyojin lowered his sword and then tossed it to the side. Now, both of them are unarmed and at the mercy of the Fourth Prince.
“I’m glad you are well aware of the situation,” Zemin said in what seemed like mocking praise.
Xia Yu bowed her head and raised her arms to meet her head.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty…” She said, directing her apology to the emperor.
Miyojin felt all hope draining away in the room.
“…for this will get a bit unpleasant.”
