Chapter 21: Draped in the Yellow Robe

In the rear garden of the Prince of Beiping's residence, at the highest point of the viewing pavilion, Liu Zhiyuan sat alone drinking under the night sky. His close attendants and guards waited at a distance, so as not to disturb the peaceful solitude the Prince of Beiping sought.

He rose and faced the direction of the Taiyuan Palace, leaning on the railing to gaze into the distance. The bright moonlight fell serenely, casting Liu Zhiyuan's shadow—a figure that appeared robust and imposing, in no way resembling an old man who had passed the age of knowing Heaven's will.

The night grew slightly cool as the evening deepened. Feeling the gentle breeze, Liu Zhiyuan's heart stirred with ripples—anticipation, tension, excitement... Gazing out, the Taiyuan Palace complex shrouded in the hazy night made his sharp eyes burn with fervor.

Soft footsteps sounded from behind, and the faint rustle of a long skirt brushing the ground could be heard. In all of Jinyang, there was only one person who could approach him without being announced.

Turning around, Liu Zhiyuan quietly watched Lady Li walk up to him. His stern face rarely softened: "My lady!"

"It's so late, my lord, why have you not yet retired?" Holding a thin fur robe in her hands, Lady Li personally draped it over Liu Zhiyuan, asking in a gentle voice.

"I cannot sleep!" Turning around, Liu Zhiyuan cast his gaze into the nearby garden and sighed: "The state is toppled, the situation is turbulent, and the road ahead is fraught with difficulty. I worry day and night for a plan to save the drowning, yet I feel powerless..."

Hearing Liu Zhiyuan's lament, Lady Li said serenely: "My lord is a hero of this age. Since you wish to undertake extraordinary deeds, you must have the resolve to cut through brambles and break through ten thousand difficulties. Excessive worry and overthinking are not in your nature."

Lady Li's gentle voice seemed to calm Liu Zhiyuan's restless heart. Turning his head again, he met his wife's warm gaze and revealed a hint of a smile: "Tomorrow I lead the army on campaign. The affairs of this household, I entrust to you, my lady!"

"Rest assured, my lord. I shall remain in the residence and await your triumphant return!" Lady Li followed with a smile of her own.

As in years past, whenever he set out on campaign, whenever great matters arose, Lady Li was always silently supporting Liu Zhiyuan from behind. This time was no exception. Moved by the sentiment, Liu Zhiyuan reached out and gently took Lady Li's hand.

His eyes burned with fierce ambition.

That night, many were destined to find sleep elusive, Liu Chengyou included. Perhaps it was "father and son sharing one heart"—standing before the window, through the lattice, Liu Chengyou also gazed toward the direction of the Taiyuan Palace.

Perhaps at this very moment, within those palace halls, shadowy figures were still moving about, cleaning and tidying under the cover of night.

"Tomorrow is the fifteenth!" Liu Chengyou remarked with emotion.

"Hm?" Lady Geng, with her delicate, feminine demeanor, leaned gently against Liu Chengyou's side. Hearing this, she seemed somewhat puzzled: "What's the matter?"

She only knew that tomorrow Liu Chengyou would be departing with the army on campaign, but she did not know what was so special about the fifteenth.

However, Liu Chengyou had no intention of explaining to Lady Geng. With a cold face, he silently added in his heart: "Finally, it's the fifteenth!"

Coming back to himself, he lowered his head to look at Lady Geng. The Lady of Beauty's jade-like, charming face, under the dim yellow lamplight and beneath Liu Chengyou's gaze, appeared so radiant and captivating. An ambiguous atmosphere gradually filled the room, and Liu Chengyou's calm heart suddenly stirred with ripples, as if someone had fiercely twisted it.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Chengyou strove to suppress the surging within him, trying to cool that trace of heat. Turning, he walked to the couch and sat down. After pondering for a moment, he raised his head to gaze fixedly at Lady Geng and said in a warm voice: "Remove the armor!"

"Ah?" Her breathing slightly quickened, Lady Geng was stunned for a moment. She raised her shyly lowered head, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.

"Remove the armor!" Liu Chengyou's voice rose a notch.

But meeting the young man's eyes, which seemed to see through her completely, Lady Geng suddenly seemed to understand. She gave Liu Chengyou a charming smile, and the blush on her fair face deepened another shade under the candlelight.

The fourth year of Kaiyun, the fifteenth day of the second month.

This day was clearly an auspicious one—clear weather, gentle breeze, and warm sunshine. As the sun rose in the east, the "army to welcome the emperor," long since assembled and ready, departed eastward under the personal command of Liu Zhiyuan, Prince of Beiping, watched off by the officials and people of Jinyang.

More than twenty thousand troops marched in orderly formation, grand and imposing. However, the thorough preparations made in the days before the campaign seemed to have been completely unnecessary. The logistics camp carried only one day's worth of provisions, traveling light and unencumbered, yet moving very slowly.

Departing at the hour of Chen, by early Wu—an hour and a half's time—they had traveled less than twenty li. Then, the army "unexpectedly" halted, and all the soldiers "clamored" and refused to advance, no longer moving...

In the central army, within a hastily erected tent, Liu Zhiyuan was in a towering rage.

"Investigate immediately, what is going on? Why have we stopped?" Pacing rapidly back and forth in the tent, Liu Zhiyuan's expression was fierce as he roared at several staff officers: "What do they want to do? Huh? Mutiny?"

Liu Chengyou was attending at his side. Watching Liu Zhiyuan's agitated display, he felt increasingly calm inside. Today, he only needed to do what he was supposed to do.

"Erlang, go and summon Shi Hongzhao for me!" After venting his anger, Liu Zhiyuan suppressed his fury and instructed Liu Chengyou.

"Yes!" Liu Chengyou acknowledged the order and went out.

Outside the military tent was very quiet. Though the soldiers of the various armies and camps had gathered together, they were orderly and showed no intention of causing trouble. Liu Xin, Shi Hongzhao, Guo Wei, and other senior generals, along with the commanders of the various armies and camps, had already "quietly" surrounded Liu Zhiyuan's command tent in a ring, leading a large number of troops.

Seeing Liu Chengyou emerge, several senior officers immediately came forward and asked in low voices: "Vice Director, how is it?"

Scanning the circle, Liu Chengyou said nothing, simply standing before the assembled officers. With arms crossed over his chest, he paced slowly. The scene was strangely silent. No guards outside the tent reported within, and those inside seemed not to notice anything amiss outside or send anyone out to check—inside and out seemed to maintain a tacit understanding.

Seeing Liu Chengyou's "putting on airs" act, Shi Hongzhao could not hold back. He stepped forward, about to speak, but was stopped by Guo Wei at his side. Guo Wei also said nothing, only shaking his head at him in a gesture of restraint.

After a long while, Liu Chengyou beckoned to Zhang Yanwei. Seeing the gesture, Zhang Yanwei immediately approached excitedly and handed over a bundle. Taking it and opening it, Liu Chengyou retrieved a yellow robe. He led the way toward the tent, saying calmly: "General Shi, the Prince requests your presence!"

Hearing this, Shi Hongzhao and the other generals immediately followed, swarming in.

Inside the tent, Liu Zhiyuan stood with his hands behind his back. Seeing Liu Chengyou lead the way in, clutching the yellow robe, his calm expression "changed": "You... what do you all intend to do?"

Without further ado, the dozen or so generals who had entered knelt directly, bowing their heads and shouting: "Your Majesty!"

In truth, at this point, no more words were needed. Seeing this scene, how could Liu Zhiyuan not understand? Of course, perhaps from the very beginning, he was the one who understood best.

"You all... are trying to place me upon a blazing cauldron!" Pointing at the crowd, Liu Zhiyuan's voice trembled slightly.

At this moment, Liu Chengyou rose, cast aside the yellow robe, and strode forward, draping it directly over Liu Zhiyuan. Then, in silence, he joined the generals in escorting Liu Zhiyuan out of the tent.

When Liu Zhiyuan, draped in the yellow robe, appeared before the three armies under the escort of the generals, waves of "Long live!" shouts that pierced the heavens suddenly erupted.