Chapter 548: Return Home

Da Wang planned to wait until the cavalry was stationed outside Eternal Peace before leaving the city, so Ling Yin took the lead in renting a dilapidated courtyard in West Ward. To avoid suspicion, the three posed as an uncle and nephew family, leasing it for a year outright, thereby supporting that poor household.

Da Wang lived in a slum for the first time in his life, and for the first time achieved the feat of lying on his back on the bed to gaze at the moon. He and Wei Shen had a hole collapse in the corner of their room, but fortunately it was midsummer.

Now that they had a foothold, they didn't have time to mind the shabbiness—let it be shabby. The three sprang into action, Ling Yin acting on his own, while Da Wang and Wei Shen worked together.

"I didn't expect the good royal uncle to be so particular; he's been in power for some days, yet he hasn't moved against Chen Zhong. Do you say he truly trusts this person, firmly believing that someone as ruthless as Chen Zhong won't betray again; or are they truly in love?"

Da Wang was drafting a grand promise for Chen Zhong while feeling puzzled.

Based on his understanding of Bai Li Jun's character from much intelligence, Da Wang felt it unreasonable for Chen Zhong to still be steadily shouldering heavy responsibilities.

Bai Li Jun is suspicious and loves to pretend.

Wei Shen squinted at the side and said without hesitation: 'True love. Even the naked‑butt kids running on Upper Good Ward Street know that the plaque on the Dingbei Marquis Manor was written by Bai Li Jun's hand, and the first marquis ennobled by Emperor Guanglie upon his ascension was him.'

"It's just for show, something that doesn't cost a single coin—what does that prove?"

"That's right. Since you already know that, when it's your turn in that position, don't bother with this formalism—your handwriting is ugly anyway."

Da Wang: ……

The brothers turned on each other in a second.

The East Capital Marquis, even without Da Wang's armor and weapons backing him, could march north to recover Youzhou; his ability to lead troops in battle was beyond question. At Da Wang's command, he swiftly acted and advanced toward Tong Pass.

Soon, the news of Tong Pass's fall spread like a plague toward Eternal Peace.

Emperor Guanglie, still warming his seat, grew thinner day by day, as courier horses galloped back and forth, kicking up smoke, bringing nothing but bad news.

Inside Eternal Peace, a tense atmosphere finally arose, and rumor‑hearing civilians began to panic. Da Wang once again passed the hu‑bing stall, finding the vendor still holding strong, though the price of hu‑bing had risen to an astonishing eighty wen.

How to put it? Although the previous siege of Eternal Peace hadn't been long ago, that time it was more like a coup—its start and end were so swift that ordinary folk didn't even have time to feel afraid before it was over. Afterwards, Emperor Guanglie, for the sake of his reputation, also made an effort to pacify the populace. This time, with the northern border cavalry marching south, Eternal Peace had long beforehand been forcibly conscripting troops in the surrounding areas, and had sealed the city off like an iron bucket; outwardly they said entry was allowed but exit forbidden, yet even able‑bodied men of prime age were already being barred, for fear of enemy soldiers slipping in.

Now that Tong Pass has fallen, the news arriving has plunged Eternal Peace into an eerie silence.

Excluding the Featherforest Army and Tigerbrave Guard guarding the Imperial Palace, Bai Li Jun had also piled all the elite troops he brought from River Summer into the palace, yet he himself still suffered sleepless nights. That day, before dawn, he suddenly jolted awake from a dream; the attendant who served him closely approached, and even before speaking, his face turned pale. His heart sank, and he said, "Speak!"

Actually there wasn't much to say; it had been anticipated, whether today or tomorrow. Outside Eternal Peace, overnight, military tents sprouted like mushrooms across the hills and valleys, encircling the city so tightly that not even water could pass.

The northern border's Mysterious Armor Cavalry had quietly set up camp outside the city, and Dingbei Marquis Chen Zhong felt that as soon as he lay down he was startled awake by a knocking at the door; he furrowed his brow, about to rise, when a slight movement caused something to slide from beside his pillow……

"An Fu! Who came in last night?!"

An Fu rushed in, saying, "My lord marquis, no one has entered, and no one has approached this room; Chen Liu and Chen Qi have been standing guard outside."

Chen Zhong's face changed dramatically; upon close look, the hand holding the notice was trembling imperceptibly.

This letter, of course, was Da Wang's grand promise to him, even bearing the Northern Border King's seal. His head buzzed; he only glanced at the opening line and the signature, having no spare attention for what it said, which didn't matter—what mattered was that the other side could place something directly beside his pillow; now it's just a letter, but what if they wanted to cut off his head?

That wouldn't be any easier than snapping one's fingers?!

He thought of the entire Cui clan massacred in the capital, and of Lan He hung from the imperial mausoleum—both had happened in a single night… After a long while he exhaled, then began to read the letter in his hand.

Chen Zhong's mental defenses were frayed, not to mention Da Wang's were a bit strained too. Ling Yin moved in and out of the Dingbei Marquis Manor smoothly, but upon entering the Imperial Palace he encountered some obstruction.

"Your Highness's plan is probably hard to carry out; the Establishing Chapter Palace is stacked with tens of thousands of fully armored elites."

"The good royal uncle, on the other hand, fears death; I was thinking of just grabbing him to save trouble!" Da Wang's dream shattered.

No matter how formidable Ling Yin is, it's unrealistic for one person to face off against tens of thousands of troops. Da Wang felt gloomy for two seconds, then turned his gaze toward the nearby Covering the Sky—well, that thing is a mass‑destruction weapon; even if it weren't right before his eyes, he still wouldn't feel at ease.

"I'll just enter Eternal Peace openly and aboveboard with the Mysterious Armor Cavalry through Proclaim Peace Gate, then proceed into the Imperial City via Receive Heaven Gate—after all, this place is originally my home."