Chapter 102: At Any Cost

After the waiter who brought the tea retreated, Weishao Qianyu looked toward the city gate once more, but Feng Jinye’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Huangfu Chen rose leisurely, placed the assignment plaque for the assassination of Feng Jinye into Weishao Qianyu’s hand, turned, and vanished.

Weishao Qianyu stared blankly at the five characters "War King Feng Jinye" etched on the plaque in her hand, lost in thought. Her mind was occupied by the other "her"—the one who looked exactly like her. The moment that woman had appeared, Weishao Qianyu had instinctively realized it was a "Shadow" crafted by the Xuanyuan family. This meant there were now three Weishao Qanyus: the original, herself, and this crafted version—three entirely different people.

She suddenly recalled the pair of eyes Feng Jinye had painted at the Listening Wind Pavilion shortly after their wedding; they were unmistakably the eyes of the original Weishao Qianyu as a child. She had guessed back then that Feng Jinye had met the original during their youth, but she had not taken it to heart. At the time, she had felt indifferent, even painting a portrait for him herself so that he might remember her appearance. But looking back now, she realized she had cared; otherwise, why had she torn up the portrait she gave him? Later, hearing that he was constantly searching for the young lady of the Lu family, she had known that she had not existed in his life for those ten-odd years, so she had remained unconcerned. She had never asked him why he sought the Lu girl, always considering herself rational. To her, questions like "Do you love my body or my soul?" held little meaning. Yet, she had overlooked the fact that women are born sentimental; jealousy and the desire to compete for affection are inherent. Now that someone identical to her had appeared by Feng Jinye's side, she could not help but let her imagination run wild.

Weishao Qianyu sighed softly. Half an hour had passed since Feng Jinye’s departure, and only then did she rise to walk toward the War King’s Mansion.

Upon arrival, the gatekeeper bowed respectfully, exactly as he always did, with no change in demeanor. Weishao Qianyu frowned; the other woman had been treated the same way when she arrived. She headed toward Zhiyu Pavilion, intending to assess the current state of affairs. However, she found that Qingxia and the others were missing, and even Ruier was gone. Anxious, she pulled aside a maid and asked, "Where are Qingxia and Dongnuan?"

The maid was terrified, shaking her head timidly, "This servant does not know."

Her anxiety deepening, Weishao Qianyu decided to ask Chujiu and immediately set off for the Listening Wind Pavilion.

When Chujiu saw her return, he was surprised. "Your Highness, you have returned?"

Weishao Qianyu frowned; his tone suggested he was wondering why Feng Jinye had not returned with her. Chujiu had always assumed the Prince and Princess were merely quarreling again, as they rarely spoke to each other, and she had remained silent even within the mansion. He believed her to be hard-spoken but soft-hearted, knowing she had been the one tending to the Prince at Qinfeng Garden all this time.

"Where are Qingxia and the others?" she asked.

Chujiu was stunned. Had no one told the Princess that they had gone to Guanlin City? His master had truly gone too far. "Your Highness, Qingxia, Xuechun, and Dongnuan have all been taken to the Prince Yuan Mansion in Guanlin City," he replied. "After the incident in the east of the city, you did not return to the mansion immediately. Lady Xuechun was betrothed once more, and Ye Eleven took them to Guanlin City."

Chujiu spoke in detail, recounting everything that had happened in Yue Capital during her absence. Weishao Qianyu listened, organizing her thoughts. At the end, Chujiu asked, "Your Highness, shall dinner be prepared in the mansion tonight?" He hoped to persuade her to move back to the War King’s Mansion.

The question felt strange to her. He was not asking whether it should be served in Zhiyu Pavilion or Listening Wind Pavilion, but whether it should be in the mansion or... outside it. Seeing her silence, Chujiu asked skeptically, "Your Highness has been cooking for the Prince daily at Qinfeng Garden, yet the Prince is actually willing to let you leave?"

Weishao Qianyu froze, her expression turning rigid. A spark of anger began to grow; so, on the days she was away, had Feng Jinye let that other woman cook for him daily? Did she also serve him his meals? She pressed her lips together, and Chujiu realized he had said something he shouldn't have; the Princess seemed angry.

Weishao Qianyu did not know that Feng Jinye had already reached the western suburbs military camp and set off for Guanlin City with three thousand elite cavalry. By the time news of Qu Jun’s death outside Guanlin City spread through Yue Capital and reached her, she heard that Feng Jinye had rushed to the border accompanied by a woman. Her eyes turned red with fury.

She was incensed, yet forced herself to stay calm and analyze the situation. The Lu family estate had already been branded with the crime of treason, and Feng Jinye’s rush to the scene was a clear alignment with the Lu family. However, with the populace of Liyue in an uproar, Feng Jinye risked losing the hearts of the people. She realized that rushing to Guanlin City was exactly what Feng Jinye would do; even without her, he would not stand idly by regarding the Lu family. It seemed that Huangfu Chen had brought her to the Twilight Pavilion, and the mastermind behind it had prepared everything thoroughly. She wondered what would come next.

She suddenly remembered the plaque in her hand for the assassination of the War King. In one month, the poison within her would take effect. She needed to find Feng Jinye. But she was hopeless with directions; how was she to reach Guanlin City?

On the road to Guanlin City, Feng Jinye rode ahead, unable to suppress his worry. He had guessed that Huangfu Chen had taken her to the Twilight Pavilion, and Meiji had warned him that she would be poisoned. With her out of his sight and no word on her condition, he did not know if she was safe. He had countless impulses to raise an army and raze the Twilight Pavilion, but Weishao Qianyu was there, the antidote for Yunming was there, and Huangfu Chen was there. Meiji had placed a contract on the War King’s life at the Twilight Pavilion, and Feng Jinye had been wondering the whole journey: would Weishao Qianyu come to kill him? Even if she didn't, Huangfu Chen surely would, and that would at least provide news of her.

Inside the towering palace walls, in the Changming Hall, the news of the War King’s departure with three thousand cavalry had left the civil and military officials in a state of panic. The War King had clearly aligned himself with the Lu family, and the people of Yue Capital could neither eat nor sleep in peace, fearing he would turn back and march on the capital. The ministers were frantic, and the court was filled with questioning voices. Most could not understand why the young Emperor had insisted on provoking the War King. Many realized the young Emperor was likely avenging his brother, but to gamble the stability of the people and the prosperity of Liyue for the sake of revenge made the ministers sigh and shake their heads.

Suddenly, amidst the noise, a booming voice stood out—it was the Marquis of Qin. "Your Majesty, this subject has a petition."

Young Emperor Yunshuo looked at the Marquis of Qin, who nodded, and Yunshuo said, "Speak."

The Marquis of Qin was overjoyed, believing the time had come for his eldest son, Huangfu Chen, to distinguish himself. "This subject requests that his son, Huangfu Chen, be granted the command," his loud voice echoed, piercingly sharp. The mention of Huangfu Chen reminded the ministers that he was a man of great potential. If anyone in Liyue could stand against Feng Jinye, it was surely him.

A minister immediately raised a doubt: "As far as I know, Young Master Huangfu and the War King are sworn brothers?" The other officials were equally confused.

"The War King is bewitched by the War Princess and has disregarded the prosperity of Liyue and the stability of its people. Our Huangfu family will no longer have any connection with the War King’s Mansion!" the Marquis of Qin declared sternly. The officials looked at him in disbelief, wondering if he had lived in peace for too long and had gone mad with the desire for merit.

Young Emperor Yunshuo, ignoring the thoughts of his ministers, only cared that someone could challenge Feng Jinye; he felt that any opportunity to kill him was a good one. Yunshuo immediately issued an imperial decree: "Then appoint the eldest son of the Marquis of Qin, Huangfu Chen, as general. Depart immediately for Guanlin City, take command of the ten thousand troops brought by Qu Jun, and seize all members of the Lu family as well as Feng Jinye. If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy!"

Soon, the news spread throughout Yue Capital that Huangfu Chen would lead ten thousand troops to Guanlin City to wage war against the War King. Liyue was becoming increasingly unstable.

When Weishao Qianyu heard the news of Huangfu Chen’s departure, she was stunned. She had once felt she could understand his motives, but now she was no longer sure. Was he truly going to battle Feng Jinye? And what would come of it even if he won? To kill Feng Jinye and replace him as the new War King?

She sighed again, only to feel a dark shadow loom behind her. Huangfu Chen’s voice sounded: "Come with me to Guanlin City!" His tone allowed for no refusal.

Weishao Qianyu, currently fretting over how to reach the city, agreed: "Very well!" If Huangfu Chen truly intended to challenge Feng Jinye, he might not necessarily use her as a threat. But if he did, she would be unable to avoid it anyway. She could feel a great hand pushing all of this forward, and the layout seemed to be the work of the Mistress of the Twilight Pavilion. She had guessed that the Mistress was Feng Jinye’s aunt, a descendant of the Xuanyuan family. She wondered what the true purpose was. She was deeply curious: what kind of objective could drive a woman to such madness for so many years, regardless of the cost?