At this moment, as the Imperial Guards loyal to Emperor Taihe took their places one after another, Qin Jingzhou was surrounded at close range by the elite guards of the Princess's Residence and some Imperial Guards. Beyond them, layers of heavily armored tower shield infantry encircled them completely.
Prince Chu was on the hillside by the edge of the military camp. After the initial chaos, torches blazed everywhere, allowing him to see the situation more and more clearly.
No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he knew he had missed the best chance for a clean sweep. He was not unprepared for Qin Jingzhou, but Qin Jingzhou wielded his long blade like a god of war descended, ending one life with each flash of cold light. At that time, many people—including himself, watching from an elevated spot—did not even have time to react before over a hundred young men lay scattered at Qin Jingzhou's feet.
Who else dared to go head-to-head with Qin Jingzhou in such a situation?
The guards of the Princess's Residence, witnessing this, had their morale greatly boosted, leaving Qin Jingzhou with no worries at his back. He charged through the formation as if no one was there.
Prince Chu immediately summoned the Divine Archers.
The Divine Archers fired two volleys, but not a single arrow found its mark. Soon after, Qin Jingzhou carried Aunt Minhe headlong into the Emperor's large tent.
All Prince Chu could do was sigh with regret: Heaven's Mandate is not with me this time. What happened next made it even clearer that he needed to arrange a retreat, because Er Jingzhou actually carried the still-living Emperor out of the tent on his back!
The stab to the Emperor’s back, as well as the way all the court ladies, guards, and Inner Attendants in the tent were rendered unconscious, was the work of his own unique “enthrallment” skill. The operatives immediately reported back to him after completing their mission.
He was painfully aware that after such a precise strike, the Emperor would certainly die, and there was no way he could be the first prince to appear before the Emperor passed.
Never would he have imagined... Seeing Er Jingzhou carrying the Emperor, charging forward and gradually joining up with the Imperial Guards, Prince Chu furrowed his brow. Was this the reason that his uncle-in-law, Er Jingzhou, completely blacked out back then?
Feeling a vague sense of unease, he looked again, just in time to lock eyes with Qin Jingzhou through the gap in the tower shields.
At that instant, he hardly noticed the Emperor slumped on Qin Jingzhou’s shoulder.
Heaven above, are you playing tricks on me?
As Prince Chu signaled his confidants to withdraw, his mind was filled with this phrase.
Even though Qin Jingzhou saw Prince Chu retreat with his men, he still carried Emperor Taihe straight toward the Capital Suburbs Camp.
The scene was simply too chaotic. Prince Chu, as a Fate’s Son wary even to the World Will, would never be limited just to inviting Outland Tribal Cavalry for support.
Ling Jing had lived in this world for well over ten years. She could tell from the cavalry’s clothing, light armor, and weapon styles, and even minor ornaments, that Prince Chu had invited all six of the powerful Outland tribes. What was more critical, among the light cavalry opportunistically looting everywhere, she spotted a Spy sent by their old nemesis, the neighboring Jin Empire.
Bear in mind, the Qi Capital was nearly three thousand li from the border with Jin, and this Spy, confirmed by Ling Jing’s System, was none other than the cousin of the Jin Crown Prince.
In less than six months, Prince Chu had already expanded his network so far. Qin Jingzhou had to offer real admiration—Prince Chu was certainly tireless.
Ling Jing and Emperor Taihe both had to admit, he was impressive.
Emperor Taihe was slumped over his brother-in-law’s shoulder, watching it all clearly. His brother-in-law had decent strength, but more than that, he possessed extraordinary technique: using force, leveraging every ounce, economizing every motion. Only by perfecting these skills could he race away carrying him and his sister, barely even out of breath, cut down the first wave of enemy soldiers as easily as chopping vegetables and thus subdue the rest, buying time for the guards and Imperial Guards to react. All in all, his sister was right—her husband was a true treasure.
Emperor Taihe took a deep breath, probing the wound. The Healing pill his sister had given him was starting to work, and the pain in his back was not as sharp. When he was stabbed earlier, he truly thought his luck had finally run out.
This time, he felt he was out of danger. Even in such dire straits, with family and officials risking their lives to save him, he really was favored by fortune. The joy of surviving this great trial outweighed his anger at his son’s betrayal.
Ling Jing noticed the subtle change in the Emperor’s expression and said bluntly, "Calm down, Brother. Whatever it is, let's talk once we're safely in the Camp." With that reminder to her not-so-real big brother, she sent a Communicator message to Qin Jingzhou. "The Fate’s Son must have rushed things this time—if it weren’t for running into you, the big boss bug, Emperor Taihe would really be dead. Plus, the way he looked at you just now, he already sees you as a nemesis. Too bad for him. He can’t see himself clearly. From now on, he’s truly done for."
Listening to her gleeful, unconcerned tone, Qin Jingzhou smiled. "Has your task progress updated?"
"Of course," Ling Jing laughed. "That’s why I’m so happy!"
As the Qi dynasty’s Fate’s Son, now forced into exile, the World Will could now, by the rules, strip a large portion of his fate bonuses. From now on, he would no longer be a major threat to the World Will—unless he managed to return and inherit the throne by force of overwhelming support, which could only halt his decline, not reverse it.
In short, from the moment Prince Chu chose to retreat, everything was set.
Ling Jing hit the nail on the head. "The moment he faced you, he lost his nerve."
Qin Jingzhou said sincerely, "That’s just as well. Now I can just lay low. As Prince Consort, making the Princess happy is enough."
Ling Jing said nothing, but smiled, then leaned her head against Qin Jingzhou’s other shoulder.
Not long after, several generals of the Imperial Guards finally brought the imperial carriage for Emperor Taihe. Qin Jingzhou set Ling Jing down, then carefully eased the Emperor face-down onto the thickly padded cart.
He and Ling Jing shared a horse, solemnly escorting Emperor Taihe all the way to the Capital Suburbs Camp.
The Outland Tribal Cavalry did not advance any farther, mainly because, between the Imperial Guards, the Princess’s guards, and the new arrivals from among the noble clans and royal family, there were now tens of thousands assembled.
The cavalry, including the Spy from Jin hidden among them, were here for profit. Once there was none to be had, they simply slipped away.
Halfway there, they were met by the Capital Suburbs Camp’s Grand Marshal and thirty thousand elite troops.
Emperor Taihe went to the Camp for medical treatment, while the Grand Marshal, after seeking the Emperor's orders, personally led troops to mop up the scattered tribal cavalry.
In the camp, after being thoroughly examined by the Imperial Physicians, Emperor Taihe learned that his wound was deep enough to show bone, but ultimately not fatal. The blade had caught in the bone, missing his heart by a hair’s breadth.
Just as he suspected, it was a close call, but not a fatal one.
Once treated and bandaged, Emperor Taihe pulled himself together to deal with Prince Chu’s treason—this case would shake the world.
While most of the clans at the hunting grounds had reacted swiftly and handled matters well, losses were not light, and the families that lost heirs hated Prince Chu most bitterly. They wholeheartedly supported the Emperor’s coming purge and revenge.
Qin Jingzhou, however, had no intention of getting involved.
He and Ling Jing went directly home as soon as they left the Palace. Xiao Xi and their “cheap son” Er Xiao were waiting eagerly to have dinner together.
Naturally, Prince Chu had set up defenses in the Capital, hoping for some lucky break in the aftermath.
However, his little plots against the Princess's Residence were all easily thwarted by Xiao Xi, who even complained at the dinner table that Prince Chu had no imagination and was extremely dull.
Qin Jingzhou patted his daughter’s head. "Prince Chu did his best. For a regular prince to stir up so much trouble in half a year and implicate so many people, he was still quite formidable."
But no matter how formidable, Prince Chu could not escape his father’s grasp. Xiao Xi smiled, pressing her lips together.
Er Xiao, meanwhile, adapted well to his little sister’s precocious wisdom. It was certainly better than the overwhelming gloom caused by their eldest sister. Listening at the table to how their father had saved Emperor Taihe and foiled Prince Chu, he couldn’t help feeling sympathetic thinking of that big sister back in the Palace.
Meanwhile, back at the Palace, Er Yao was copying sutras when she heard that Prince Chu had been defeated and had fled with his confidants. Shocked, her hand slipped and ruined an entire page. The blow was so great she almost slumped headfirst onto the inkstone.
Three days later, Er Xiao brought home his eldest sister, now haggard from countless sleepless nights.
As her real brother, he offered a few words of comfort, although he knew she might not listen. "It's time to wake up from your dream. How can you keep dragging things from your previous life into this one? If you can’t even adapt, where does your confidence come from—?" He tried not to sound too harsh. "No matter whether it's Prince Chu whom you long for or Prince Jin whom you resent, neither of them wants you. If you weren’t our father’s real daughter, do you think you’d still be alive?"
Prince Chu’s defeat completely crushed Er Yao’s dreams.
This time, with both comfort and scolding from her brother, she did not argue but instead covered her face and sobbed.
After returning to the Princess's Residence, Qin Jingzhou did not see this troublemaking daughter again. He simply had her continue her studies and self-cultivation. After making such a bloody mess of things, she would surely learn some lessons.
Life in the Princess's Residence returned to its usual calm. Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing’s successful rescue of the Emperor became their protective talisman. As long as they didn’t rebel, they would enjoy a secure and exalted status the rest of their lives.
But things with Marquis Wu'an were far more chaotic.
The original host’s eldest brother had performed poorly at the hunt and lost a leg; the eldest sister, upon hearing the news, came home in tears, demanding that Marquis Wu'an seek justice for her brother. “How can a cripple inherit the title, unless he wins merit and receives special permission from the Emperor...” Yet their real concern was only for the title.
Marquis Wu'an was busy cutting ties with the Mi family and had no patience for his son and daughter’s pestering. Losing his patience, he sent the children of his first wife—whom he had always favored—off to the Prayer Hall to accompany the Marquis’s Consort in solitude.
When the eldest daughter’s in-laws learned she had been back at her natal home for days, they came to ask about her. Once they understood the situation, they said nothing, simply turning around and going home.
The eldest brother and sister were now in trouble. Part of their mother’s family, the Mi clan, had taken part in Prince Chu’s rebellion, and that fiancée who had broken off her engagement with Er Xiao to become an Imperial Concubine for Prince Qiyang's youngest son was also involved. In fact, she ended up dragging Prince Qiyang’s Household into trouble.
Prince Qiyang was furious. He cast out his youngest son, that son’s concubine, and even the child’s mother, driving them all from the Household.
Prince Qiyang’s drastic action worked for him, but not for the Mi clan. They tried everything, begging anyone who could possibly help—even the Prince Consort at the Princess's Residence, pinning all their hopes on him. But the Prince Consort chose to avoid them, only sending word, “It’s all even now, none of my business.”
No matter how hard the Mi clan regretted, it was too late.
Though not a truly elite family, the Mi clan had put down roots among the Capital's gentry. In just one night, they were stripped to nothing. After losing several sons and nephews in the rebellion, they could only pack their things and slink back to their ancestral home.
The next year, Marquis Wu'an officially retired. After being refused the succession by his third son, he had no choice but to swallow the bitter fruit of “no heir.” Even at such times, the eldest brother, realizing he had no hope of inheriting the title, continued to squabble over the family property with his remaining brothers.
Once Emperor Taihe’s purges were nearly complete and all those involved in the conspiracy were imprisoned or executed, he was free to dispatch a part of the Imperial Guards—specifically appointing Prince Jin as commander-in-chief—to pursue Prince Chu, who had fled to Jin Country.
It had to be said, when a Fate’s Son is forced off his own territory, everything becomes difficult. What’s more, because he had staked so much fate on his hasty coup, his luck was all but spent by the time he reached Jin, and none of his schemes worked out.
Prince Chu, tenacious to the end, still had distinguished birth and good looks, and ended up seducing the Jin Emperor’s favorite daughter. The Emperor of Jin, also seeking advantage in Prince Chu, was ready to make use of him, but before he had even finished arranging his logistics, Great Qi struck first.
Since they had previously “cooperated well,” Prince Chu again contacted the Outland Tribal Cavalry, settled a price, and paid a deposit—his last bit of private funds. As a hired force, this cavalry kept their word and arrived as agreed.
The elite Jin troops and tribal cavalry together could not be called a ragtag band, but at best, they were not united in spirit. When confronted by the battle-hardened elite of Great Qi, the result was predictable.
Prince Jin was no master of warfare, but he had one key advantage: he listened to advice, analyzed situations calmly, and put real trust in excellent generals.
With such a non-interfering yet empowering commander, Great Qi’s elite swept forward with unstoppable momentum, as expected.
In the end, Great Qi’s army reached the gates of the Jin capital and executed a textbook siege. The Jin Emperor could not hold out for even a moment and simply threw Prince Chu out.
As the saying goes, a fallen phoenix isn’t as good as a chicken. By the time Prince Chu fled to Jin, his fate was nearly exhausted. To stay alive, he used his powers recklessly, ignoring his roots, which only accelerated his downfall.
He had barely had time to register how, just yesterday, the realization that he was Heaven’s chosen made him so triumphant.
When Prince Jin returned triumphant with their captives—most notably three provinces ceded by Jin, and herds of cattle and horses from the tribes—Emperor Taihe sent Prince Qiyang to greet the victors.
The celebration was lively. When it ended, Prince Jin handed over Prince Chu to his father and took his leave with lightning speed, using Lady Yang’s pregnancy as a pretext.
Emperor Taihe regarded his rebellious son for a long moment before finally saying, “Only two years have passed, and you’ve aged so much?”
Prince Chu could only glare—he was not only trussed up tightly, but also had a wad of cloth stuffed in his mouth, so he could express his anger only through his eyes.
The Emperor then looked at his younger sister and brother-in-law. “He’s still so dissatisfied? Er Yao says you’re the next in line, and you’ve gotten arrogant? I’m not dead yet!”
Which is why I want you dead!
Provoked by these words, Prince Chu’s remaining fate gathered in one place, shooting straight for the Emperor’s brow. He struggled to his feet, lunging for the throne.
If he had done this at the height of his fortune, he might have caused the Emperor to faint. But now, with fate exhausted and life out of his control, no matter how hard he tried, the lance of fate had already dissipated in midair. He himself looked only like a powerless man in a rage.
Emperor Taihe frowned, waved back the Imperial Guards preparing to intervene, got up, and delivered a ruthless kick to Prince Chu’s face.
From where they watched the drama, Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing could see that the last stubborn wisp of golden fate defending Prince Chu died away with that kick, vanishing in silence.
Ling Jing smiled sweetly and sent a Communicator message. "It’s done!"
With Prince Chu’s fate finally broken, Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing finally accomplished their mission.
Incidentally, Emperor Taihe did not take Prince Chu’s life. According to ancestral rules, he was demoted to commoner status and sent to a small courtyard at the Zongren Office to spend out his days—with no young ladies assigned to wait on him.
So in less than three years, Prince Chu went insane, and half a year later died of alcohol poisoning.
At that time, Lady Yang had just given birth to a daughter. Together with her earlier son, she now had a boy and a girl for the perfect pair.
When she received the news of Prince Chu’s death, she felt nothing.
Er Yao, on the other hand, was again shaken. Her dreams were shattered, and she had no more illusions left.
With Xiao Xi present, Qin Jingzhou remained in this world until death came naturally, and Ling Jing, in no rush to move on, was happy to stay by his side.
Er Xiao, his longstanding troubles eased, fell in love with and married a young lady from a scholarly family.
Xiao Xi, naturally more formidable than her “cheap brother,” found herself a noble heir who was willing to marry into the family—a rarity in that era.
Er Yao remained unmarried all her life. When she had passed thirty, she finally realized the value of her father: while he neglected her out of disappointment, he had also always let her be, never forcing her into anything.
After her father passed, as she sorted through his notebooks she seemed to understand the source of his tolerance. Her father had chronicled in detail the hardships he suffered as a child, ending with just eight words: Do not do unto others what you would not have done to you.
Those eight words were written with unfathomable force.
The siblings discussed it—by then, Xiao Xi had already passed away—and decided to publish their father’s notebooks.
The book spread widely. Hundreds of years later, it was recognized as the foremost classic on the open discussion of emotional manipulation.
As Marquis Wu'an and the Mi family were repeatedly held up as negative examples, Qin Jingzhou too was remembered as an “educator” and “psychologist.” Together with his legendary, if brief, military feats, he became a figure endlessly discussed by later generations.