Chapter 491: Neither Tiansuan Nor Fuyang

In the mountains of Luozhou, a Daoist sat resting on a bluestone by the roadside. The fields beside the road were still filled with ripening Swallow Rice.

At this time of year, the Swallow Rice had matured but not yet hardened. Each grain bore wisps of purplish-red or brown filaments, which seemed to pique the peculiar fancy of Lady Calico. While the Daoist took his rest, she wandered alone to the edge of the Swallow Rice fields, treating the colorful filaments as strands of hair, carefully weaving them into various intricate hairstyles.

Limited by her height, she sometimes had to stand on tiptoe.

Single braid, double braids; single ponytail, double ponytails; single bun, double buns—whatever hairstyles the Daoist had once braided for her, she now replicated on the Swallow Rice stalks, making sure each one was unique.

Meanwhile, Song You sat deep in thought. It had been several days since they entered Luozhou.

News in Luozhou indeed traveled faster than in Yuzhou. At roadside tea stalls and city taverns, discussions were frequent.

As expected, there were all sorts of rumors.

The Emperor of Great Yan had originally fathered three sons. The eldest had died young, leaving behind the second and third princes. The second prince was the older of the two, while the third was the younger. Now, the younger one had been designated as the crown prince, while the elder had been granted the title of Prince Shun.

Some claimed that the Emperor had always intended for Prince Shun to be heir, but the third prince had leveraged his legitimacy as the empress’s son, along with the support of the civil officials, to falsify the imperial edict. Later, he had even taken the Emperor hostage, forcing Prince Shun to enter the capital under a secret decree.

Others argued that Prince Shun was the true usurper, relying on his mother’s family’s backing. With the old Emperor already frail and barely conscious, dissatisfied with his decision to appoint the younger brother as heir, he had thus raised an army in rebellion.

Truth and falsehood blended together—no one knew the real story.

Regardless, Prince Shun had already led his troops into the capital. The city had undergone three days of thorough searches.

The crown prince and the Emperor had fled. Changjing was likely in complete chaos by now.

Not just Changjing—gradually, every prefecture in Great Yan was beginning to feel the ripples of this upheaval, spreading outward from the center.

Luozhou was no exception. On the surface, everything still seemed calm, but underneath, powerful undercurrents swirled.

The local government and military forces of Luozhou were either tense or excited, each attempting to gauge the situation—some pondering how to protect themselves, while others sought ways to profit from the disorder.

And it wasn’t just officials and generals, whose fates were tightly bound to these events. Even the bandits and highwaymen by the roadside, who technically had nothing to do with the turmoil of Changjing, inexplicably felt a sense of excitement.

To them, those rumors from the capital were as distant and unreal as ancient myths, yet their enthusiasm resulted in a notable increase in the number of merchants and travelers being ambushed along the roads.

Even the prices of rice and flour in the city had begun to rise.

And this was only the beginning.

“...”

Song You didn’t particularly care who became emperor. He was no Daoist Tiansuan; he had no way of knowing which prince would be better for the world. Even the emperor himself hadn’t been able to decide—how could he?

But there had to be an emperor.

Only then could the world remain stable.

If the chaos continued unchecked, it would only breed further conflict. Heroes and warlords thrived in disorder, and if things spiraled too far, what had once been a flourishing empire could truly teeter on the brink of collapse, poised for a change in dynasty.

This was not what Song You had envisioned.

Sitting by the roadside, he murmured to himself, “I haven’t finished traveling this world yet.”

He could only hope the turmoil would settle soon.

“Daoist priest, what did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Song You sighed, leaning on his staff as he rose to his feet.

Behind him, the Swallow Rice fields remained lush and green. Though the storms of war had yet to arrive, people’s hearts had already been thrown into chaos. Passing merchants and travelers had broken off many stalks of Swallow Rice near the roadside, leaving behind only empty stems and husks.

The only ones left untouched were those that Lady Calico had woven into braids—strands of hair dyed deep crimson and violet, so strikingly beautiful that anyone who saw them couldn’t help but feel a twinge of tenderness.

As soon as the Daoist set off, she followed.

As he walked, Song You gazed toward the north. He could not seize one of the princes, force him onto the throne, and dispose of the other. That was neither something he wanted to do nor something the world would accept.

Chen Ziyi, however, was capable of such a thing. But what choice would he make?

***

In Yuanzhi City at the northern border...

Fifteen minutes ago, the war drums had been struck to summon the generals. Now, the command tent was already packed with military advisors and officers.

Seated at the head, Chen Ziyi remained deep in thought.

Below him, the discussions raged on, voices overlapping in a chaotic din.

“Still no deployment orders?”

“Good news—the orders arrived today.”

“The orders came? What do they say?”

“The bad news is both sides sent them. Prince Shun, acting on behalf of His Majesty, commands us to hold our position and remain stationed here. All personnel are to be promoted by one rank on the spot. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, also acting on behalf of His Majesty, orders us to immediately lead our troops south, break through Changjing, and restore the rightful rule—with generous rewards promised.”

“This...”

“Who the hell are we supposed to believe?”

“That, I don’t know. But right now, every major military garrison and army in the empire is watching us.” Strategist Zhang, the military strategist, spoke up. “Not to mention the distant forces—just look at those nearby. Among the five northern garrison commands, aside from us here at Yuanzhi and Shuofeng, the other three have likely received the same conflicting orders and have chosen not to act rashly.”

“This...”

The gathered generals and advisors were all bewildered.

All eyes turned toward Chen Ziyi, seated at the head. Chen Ziyi remained silent, making no move to speak.

“What’s the current situation?” A strategist from below broke the silence.

Strategist Zhang explained, “According to our intelligence, the Crown Prince originally fled with His Majesty toward Yizhou. However, they were intercepted en route and became separated. Now, the Crown Prince continues to claim that he and the Emperor are together, heading toward Yizhou for refuge, while still issuing commands.

“But in reality, the Emperor has already been escorted elsewhere by a military force—most likely toward Yangzhou. Meanwhile, Prince Shun has taken Changjing and allowed his soldiers to conduct a three-day search, throwing the city into utter chaos.”

“Yangzhou... Are we certain?”

“Highly likely!”

“Yangzhou is wealthy but militarily weak—it would be a good place to take refuge.”

“In my view,” Strategist Zhang continued, stroking his beard, “this must have been a command issued while His Majesty was still lucid. He didn’t go to Yangzhou for its riches—he went there to find that person. Ah, what a pity... But I’d wager that person won’t interfere. Even if they do, they certainly won’t help this foolish emperor.”

“What about the other regions?”

“Both sides’ decrees have been received everywhere. The border garrisons are mostly staying on the sidelines for now, but the inner prefectures are already beginning to stir.”

“This...”

“We’re all on the same side here, so I won’t say too much. Everyone knows that the throne was meant to pass to the Crown Prince. Prince Shun was dissatisfied and committed treason to seize it.” Strategist Zhang glanced around the room. “Right now, whether the world remains in chaos or regains stability—who sits on that throne—it all depends on us.”

The assembled officers met his gaze but remained cautious.

“What do you think, Strategist Zhang?”

“We will follow the general’s decision.”

Everyone present understood—this was a pivotal moment in history, one that would be recorded in the annals of time. But they were merely actors in this grand drama, without the power to decide how the play would unfold.

“In my opinion...”

Unlike the others, Strategist Zhang remained calm as he spoke. “Ultimately, this is a matter within the Lin family. His Majesty has always been suspicious of the general, and now, Changjing is guarded by tens of thousands of imperial troops. If we march south, let’s not even discuss whether we can break through Changjing to restore the rightful ruler—even if we succeed, it may not be in the general’s best interest.”

“You’re saying... we should stand down?”

“Precisely! We should remain neutral. No matter how the Lin family fights for power, we act as if we never received these two conflicting orders!”

As Strategist Zhang spoke, he cast a glance toward the commander’s table.

Seeing Chen Ziyi’s silence, his expression turned to one of concern.

“What do you think, General?”

Finally, he directed the question at Chen Ziyi. The rest of the room also turned their eyes toward him.

Chen Ziyi sat still as a mountain, his expression heavy. A faint trace of exhaustion lingered between his brows. In a low voice, he murmured, “The two princes each claim legitimacy, His Majesty is stranded in Yangzhou, and the warlords of the land are choosing sides. If this chaos isn’t quelled soon, the nation will crumble, and the people will suffer...”

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Strategist Zhang furrowed his brows immediately.

He had suspected this, yet he couldn’t stop himself from trying to dissuade him.

“General, think carefully!” Strategist Zhang urged solemnly. “This path leads to nothing but trouble!”

“...”

“The journey to Changjing spans thousands of li. Just to enter Angzhou, we’d have to pass through several garrisons and heavily fortified checkpoints. Do you know where the border commanders stand, General? Even if we make it into Angzhou, we’d still face natural defenses—and let’s not forget the tens of thousands of imperial troops stationed in the capital, loyal to Prince Shun!”

Strategist Zhang had followed Chen Ziyi for years, stood by him, and understood him well enough to speak frankly. “Have you considered how we’ll break through the checkpoints? If we pass through easily, how will we enter the capital? And if we do break through and storm Changjing effortlessly, do you think either the Crown Prince or Prince Shun will ever tolerate our presence afterward?”

These words were sharp and precise, leaving no room for doubt.

The military officers and civil advisors in the tent widened their eyes in astonishment.

Yet, Chen Ziyi remained silent. Of course, he understood everything.

And yet, at this moment, what replayed over and over in his mind was a scene from years ago in Changjing—the image of a warrior bowing in salute to a Daoist.

“As a soldier, my duty has always been to protect the nation and ensure its stability. I pledge to do so unwaveringly. As long as His Majesty spares my life, I will dedicate myself fully to maintaining Great Yan’s peace.

“Should the day ever come when I break this oath and bring calamity upon the people of Great Yan, I ask you, sir, to strike me down with a sword. I will bear no resentment.”

[1]

That was the promise he had made. Back then, he had been a few years younger and far more reckless.

It was strange—only three years had passed, and yet, those words already felt so distant.

“

Hah...

”

Chen Ziyi let out a long sigh.

It seemed that his days as the Marquis of Wuan, the conqueror of the northern frontiers, and returning to rule Yuanzhi and Shuofeng as a local sovereign had been too peaceful.

He couldn’t afford to dwell on it any longer...

The more he thought, the harder it became to make a decision.

His mind drifted to the swallow that had flown in from afar not long ago, the one that had carried a medicinal pill. He shook his head with a faint smile.

Then, in an instant, his expression hardened, his demeanor reverting to that of his former self from years ago. In a deep, resolute voice, he declared, “We warriors eat from the hands of the people. It is our duty to ensure the nation’s peace and the people's safety! What does life or death matter?”

“General...”

“My mind is set!”

“Yes, sir!”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“Lu Dehui! Cao Yan!”

“Roger!”

“Gather ten thousand elite cavalry—we’ll ride south!” Chen Ziyi raised his head, his sharp gaze sweeping across the tent. “If His Majesty ever grows suspicious of me again, I have my own ways to retreat. I will not drag any of you down with me!”

With that, he flung the tiger tally into the air.

Bam

!

The two generals caught it flawlessly. Without a moment’s hesitation, they accepted the order and strode out of the tent, their armor clanking in deep, rhythmic echoes.

Some of the strategists still had reservations, but once the commander had spoken, the army moved as one.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as if they were back in the days of their northern campaigns—marching to war once again.

1. This is a reference to what he said to Song You in Chapter 362. ☜