Chapter 47: The Turmoil in Lietown

When the crown prince’s corpse was carried out, Grand Chancellor Tingxiang was deeply satisfied. At this very moment, Commander Hai Yu of the Imperial Guard also led his troops to seize control of the scene, preparing for the installation of a new king.

Yet, when these two high officials—one civil, one military—crossed paths, they were met by an awkward realization. The crown prince had died by arrow, and the second prince was nowhere to be found. The entire royal court, it turned out, was now devoid of a single member of the royal bloodline.

“Tingxiang, how could it come to this?!” Commander Hai Yu glared, his eyes wide with rage. He had never imagined such a predicament. The guards had already encircled Tingxiang, and Hai Yu, without a second thought, gave the order: “Death to the murderer of the royal family! Execute Tingxiang!”

Hai Yu was no fool; he realized that things had spiraled out of control. Given the circumstances, the best course was to lay all blame squarely at Tingxiang’s feet. It was all the fault of this treacherous minister—he had brought ruin to the court and killed the crown prince!

His haste was not without reason. Although Hai Yu was the commander of the Imperial Guard, this did not mean the entire force followed his every command. The guards’ loyalty was to the royal court itself, and they abided by the rule: “Support whoever wears the crown.” Thus, they could turn a blind eye to the death of An King or the princes’ strife, each harboring their own favored successor in secret.

But now, with both princes gone, who was to inherit the throne? Restlessness began to spread among the Imperial Guard, who blamed the corrupt officials for the royal family’s demise. And who, above all, was the official in question? Naturally, their eyes turned to Hai Yu himself, who had forbidden any unauthorized entry into the city.

In a bid to save himself, Hai Yu wasted no time shifting all guilt onto Tingxiang. Before Tingxiang could utter a single word, Hai Yu, desperate to placate the guards, personally beheaded him.

Having dispatched Tingxiang, Hai Yu once again fell into deep thought. Although the second prince’s whereabouts remained unknown, everyone knew Tingxiang was his uncle. If the second prince still lived, Hai Yu could not support him as the next king.

Should he then summon the third prince from Haoming City to inherit the throne? The thought made Hai Yu waver. Haoming City had a well-established system, and the third prince was surrounded by loyal warriors. Should the third prince ascend, Hai Yu’s own position as commander would come to an end.

Now drenched in sweat, Hai Yu was at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, inspiration struck. There was one more person—aside from the three princes—who was closest in royal blood. He owned nothing, had no power base, but his bloodline was pure. For Hai Yu, that alone was enough.

Quickly regaining his composure, Hai Yu shouted, “Quickly, summon Prince Xu! No, I will go myself to welcome him!”

...

Prince Xu lived in a remote corner of the palace, accompanied by only two maids. His stipend was meager, and his life far from comfortable. Yet he was content. As the son of Quan Xi, he was born into a sensitive political position; to have survived at all was, to him, a blessing. He dared not hope for more.

On this day, upheaval shook the court. Even Prince Xu, so far removed, trembled in his room, hiding alongside his two maids, his eyes filled with terror as he tried to comfort himself. His elder brother was now governor of Wisdom City; this strife had nothing to do with him. The new monarch would have use for him in the future.

The sounds of killing outside gradually faded, the scent of blood in the water began to retreat. Suddenly, he heard voices drawing near. Prince Xu was too frightened to lift his head.

At that moment, a calm voice rang out. “Do not be alarmed, my lord. I, Hai Yu, have come too late to your rescue. I beg your forgiveness.”

Before Prince Xu could respond, the self-identified Hai Yu continued, “The court is now leaderless. My lord, please assume the throne and take charge of all affairs!”

Stunned, Prince Xu was speechless.

Half a month later, in Wisdom City.

Quan Zhi was training his troops, ever ready to pursue his ambitions. While playing with the royal beast, he heard a commotion outside. Annoyed, he looked up to see Bai Mo stumbling in, his face alight with barely contained joy.

Quan Zhi’s displeasure was evident. “When I am with the royal beast, no one is to approach. Bai Mo, you are my personal attendant—do you not know this?”

“My apologies, my lord!” Bai Mo, beaming, showed no fear at Quan Zhi’s rebuke, instead announcing with delight, “My lord, King An is dead!”

“What?!”

The news stunned Quan Zhi, but he quickly recovered. Though he had not expected An King to die at four hundred and sixty, upon reflection, there were others among the fishfolk who had perished at four hundred and fifty. The king’s passing was not entirely unexpected.

“If the king is dead, who has inherited the throne?” Quan Zhi asked.

Bai Mo replied with a smile, “Your younger brother, Prince Xu—no, now King Xu!”

On hearing this, Quan Zhi was not pleased but furious. He roared, “Bai Mo, are you mocking me? I know what kind of fishfolk my brother is! That cowardly nature of his is unworthy of royal blood. I am ashamed to be counted among his kin!”

“My lord, please do not be angry. Here is what happened...” Bai Mo proceeded to explain everything in detail. As an intelligence officer, Bai Mo was well informed. Many had witnessed the events in the court, and word had spread swiftly. The southernmost city, Wisdom City, was in fact the last to hear.

“If the second prince has not disappeared, and the third prince remains in Haoming City, then why is that timid Prince Xu made king?” Quan Zhi scorned his brother. “Did no one object?”

“Three days ago, the third prince denounced Hai Yu’s legitimacy, claiming to hold a blood-written decree from the late king. He deposed King Xu from afar and crowned himself in Haoming City, now calling himself Prince Duan.”

Bai Mo continued respectfully, “The second prince, meanwhile, escaped to Yinan Wind City and received its governor’s support. He declared both the palace and Haoming’s king to be impostors, claiming the late king’s will named him heir. Though he has not yet assumed a king’s title, he vows to eliminate Hai Yu and Prince Duan before his own coronation.”

“Lord Qu Shui, governor of Qushui City, has mobilized seven thousand soldiers and advanced eighty miles toward the court, confronting Heishashi City. He claims to be avenging the crown prince and to punish heresy.”

As to who the heretic was, the governor did not say, but it was clear he had his own ideas.

“My lord, should we not support King Xu? After all, he is your brother...”

Quan Zhi interrupted, “Prince Xu? He is unfit to be king! I am the true hope of the court!”

“Prepare the troops. At the slightest sign of unrest, we move!”

Brimming with confidence, Quan Zhi looked at the beast beside him and laughed. “With the royal beast at my side, who in the court could possibly stand against me?”

Bai Mo, taken aback, could only bow and withdraw.

Thus, among the eleven cities of the royal court, seven were mobilizing their forces. The winds of war were gathering. After nearly four centuries of unity, the realm was now fracturing.

Meanwhile, in the northern lands, the Feathered Folk remained oblivious. Under the guidance of their high priestess, the feathered race flourished. She had even gathered dozens of children to open the very first school in their ancestral homeland.