Drunk on Madness - Chapter 46

When everything settled, Li Xiang opened her eyes. She was puzzled by her body’s lack of control. Although she had harbored suspicions before, the previous sensations had been too vague for her to be certain. But today, this sudden, uncontrollable impulse left her feeling deeply unsettled.

Quietly, she sat up, draped a thin robe over herself, and went to inspect the teacup. The tea had been completely consumed. She sniffed the cup, a faint aroma of tea, no different from the Biluochun she drank daily.

She shook her head, dispelling her wandering thoughts. Zhou Mingxuan wouldn’t resort to such despicable means to force her compliance. Besides, she was already his, there was no need for such measures. Even if he had drugged her, what benefit would he gain? Was it because she had been too cold yesterday, displeasing him?

She turned and went to the bathroom, washing herself with warm water. Sensing her departure, Zhou Mingxuan slowly opened his eyes. Had she grown suspicious?

The next day, Zhou Mingxuan set off for Yizhou. Midway, news arrived that the Prince of Yan’s army had achieved victory without a fight, capturing three cities without losing a single soldier.

In the fourth year of Zhenyuan during the Zhongjin era, nearly all court officials had surrendered to the Yan army. Only a handful of timid officials, unable to leave the capital, struggled on in desperation.

Emperor Zhou Zhiyi gazed at the sparse assembly of officials, his hatred with no outlet.

The kneeling officials in the hall urged him to abdicate in favor of his younger brother, the Prince of Yan. Step by step, Zhou Zhiyi descended the imperial dais, furiously drawing the sword from a nearby royal guard. With one thrust, he killed the official who had advised him.

Warm blood splattered onto his imperial robes. Pulling out the bloodied sword, he glared at the dozens of officials in the hall and declared, “Anyone who dares to plead surrender will meet the same fate.”

The kneeling officials trembled in fear, one even wet himself in terror. The man hastily tried to conceal the liquid with his sleeves and robes, but the stench quickly permeated the hall, nauseating everyone present.

The emperor stormed out in rage. The kneeling officials gradually rose and dispersed. Enduring the emperor’s curses and fury had become their daily ordeal. They were numb, waiting only for the Prince of Yan to march into the capital and deliver them.

They all understood, this emperor had lost the people’s hearts, showed no gratitude to his loyal subjects, and was no wise ruler. But the Prince of Yan and the emperor were brothers; the prince would not kill him. Abdication would be the most dignified and optimal outcome. Yet the emperor refused to step down, leaving the people and his ministers to suffer.

By early May, the Yan army had reached the city gates. The citizens themselves opened the gates, welcoming the Yan forces in.

The triumphant sounds of gongs and drums echoed through the streets as countless footsteps lightly tread the cobblestone roads, punctuated by the occasional distant crackle of firecrackers.

People lining the streets threw flowers and food at the soldiers. The troops, moved by the warmth of the citizens, wore expressions of unprecedented joy and pride.

Inside the palace, Emperor Zhou Zhiyi had long since abandoned the city and fled, his whereabouts unknown. A palace maid reported that the Prince of Chen had escaped, seemingly heading to the border to capture someone likely to use as leverage against the Prince of Yan.

The Prince of Chen’s disappearance mattered little to the Prince of Yan, who cared not whether his defeated foe lived or died. But fearing for the safety of his wife and daughter, the prince immediately dispatched elite guards to the border to retrieve his family.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingxuan insisted on going as well, but the Prince of Yan stopped him. He couldn’t risk losing his son while trying to save his wife and daughter. Instead, he ordered Zhou Mingxuan confined under guard while his men hurried south to the border.

Su Mo and Gu Ci received the military order from Prince Yan to guard the heir apparent in the imperial palace. When Zhou Mingxuan saw Su Mo and Gu Ci, it was as if he had encountered saviors. He informed Su Mo that Prince of Chen had gone missing and was likely heading to the border to capture his family in order to threaten Prince of Yan.

Once Su Mo understood the situation, he wasted no time and immediately rode after Uncle Li and his group. Watching his retreating figure, Zhou Mingxuan suddenly realized why Li Xiang had chosen Su Mo over himself.

Meanwhile, at the border, it was already late at night.

A group of black-clad assailants surrounded the Yan Prince’s Manor. Inside the bedroom, Princess Consort Zhao and her daughter were playing with their grandson when, for some unknown reason, the child suddenly burst into uncontrollable tears. Suddenly, noises erupted outside, and a group of guards rushed into the Elegant Garden.

Princess Consort Zhao stepped out of the room, and the lead guard, Wang, knelt before her and said, “Your Highness, the residence has been surrounded by black-clad intruders. They are currently killing and setting fires inside. Our men cannot hold them off. We must escort you and the young mistress to safety immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Zhao tightly embraced her grandson. “What about the heir apparent’s secondary consort? We must leave together.”

Uncle Wang bowed and pleaded, “There’s no time, we must save whoever we can. I will personally retrieve the secondary consort. Your Highness, please go first.”

With that, Uncle Wang ordered his subordinates to escort the princess consort and her daughter through a secret passage. He then turned and hurried toward the Agarwood Courtyard.

Meanwhile, Li Xiang was in the Agarwood Courtyard with Auntie Su, packing clothes. She had been planning to move back here in recent days, as living in her own quarters was more comfortable.

Nanny Li stood outside the door, watching the flames from the front hall and hearing faint cries for help. Horrified, she rushed inside. “Secondary Consort, something has happened in the front hall. You must leave now and join the princess consort in the Elegant Garden. I’ll go see what’s happening.” With that, she ran toward the burning front hall.

Li Xiang glanced at the flames, quickly picked up Shiqing from the cradle, and quietly slipped out of the Agarwood Courtyard with Auntie Su.

In the corridor, they glimpsed several fallen bodies but dared not look closely. Afraid that moving too fast would startle the child and attract the assassins, they hid in the shadows and slowly made their way toward the Elegant Garden.

The princess consort resided in the Elegant Garden, where most of the residence’s guards were stationed. Reaching it would buy them some time. As they approached a rockery, their path was blocked by a group of black-clad figures inspecting the corpses for survivors. Some were setting fires, while others were killing.

Li Xiang signaled Auntie Su to stay silent and began retreating slowly to escape the danger.

Just as they left the rockery, they encountered Uncle Wang from the princess consort’s entourage. He quickly pulled them into a hidden alcove, and Li Xiang whispered, “The path ahead is blocked by the assassins.”

Seeing the black-clad figures approaching, Uncle Wang urgently said to Li Xiang, “I’ll draw them away. There’s a secret passage in the princess consort’s chamber, the mechanism is behind the Buddha statue. Stay safe.”

With that, he slipped into nearby greenery and threw a dagger, killing one of the intruders.

Uncle Wang’s actions diverted most of the assassins, but three remained, continuing to set fires and toss bodies into the flames.

Judging by their movements, they weren’t leaving anytime soon. Li Xiang handed the child to Auntie Su and said, “Auntie Su, I’ll distract them. Take Qingqing and find the secret passage. I entrust him to you.”

Auntie Su immediately grabbed Li Xiang’s sleeve: “What are you saying? If anyone should go, it should be me.” As she spoke, she tried to hand the child to Li Xiang. Afraid of making the baby cry, Li Xiang quickly stopped her.

The firelight illuminated Li Xiang’s delicate face. Her lips were dry as she whispered urgently, “Auntie, think of Su Mo. You’re his only family left. Could you bear to abandon him?”

The starlight in Auntie Su’s eyes flickered faintly, as if she was about to say something, but Li Xiang interrupted: “Besides, they’re after the family members of the noble house. If you go, you’d just be delivering yourself to them. There’s a chance I might survive.”

Seeing Auntie Su still wanting to argue, Li Xiang quickly added: “Auntie, helping me get my child to safety would be the greatest assistance you could give me. I’m begging you.” With that, she turned and knelt before Auntie Su, kowtowing three times.

Auntie Su’s eyes grew slightly moist. The hand that had been tightly clutching Li Xiang’s sleeve finally loosened its grip.

Li Xiang took one last look at the well-behaved Qingqing, who was waving his tiny fists and laughing happily, seemingly unafraid of the surrounding chaos. Unable to resist, she kissed his little hand, gave him one last smile, and dashed into the sea of flames.