At that very moment, the crisp sound of horse hooves came from next door.
Lin Yue looked up and only then realised he had somehow reached the small alley beside the rented house. Next door? That would be the landlord’s courtyard.
Softening his footsteps beneath the cover of night, Lin Yue moved around to the rear of the courtyard and pried open the back gate. The landlord had tied another dog there, this one a small dog. Lin Yue had fed it before, so it recognised him. Wagging its tail enthusiastically, it squeezed through the gap in the gate, about to bark in delight.
Lin Yue grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and clamped its muzzle shut, then peered through the crack into the courtyard.
There were four horses and four men inside. As for the other tenants, either they did not dare come out or they had gone to watch the fire at the yamen. The landlord stood off to one side.
The four men were clearly led by the man dressed in blue, who carried the unmistakable bearing of an official. The man in yellow, who had just dismounted, was hurriedly reporting something to him while the blue-robed man listened with a frown.
Lin Yue coolly assessed the group and deduced their identities.
They were the people Chancellor Meng had sent to escort him to the capital.
Lin Yue tossed the dog back into its kennel and pushed open the gate.
The man in yellow was currently reporting the situation at the county yamen to the blue-robed man:
“…The place is on fire. The blaze is enormous. A large group of unidentified men have surrounded the county yamen. Outsiders are forbidden from entering, and those inside are forbidden from leaving. Anyone who disobeys is shot dead on the spot.
“We listened outside for a while and discovered that a gang of villains has entered the yamen and is slaughtering the people inside.
“So far, no soldiers from the county have appeared to mount a rescue. Just as San-lang predicted, the county’s defences have collapsed. The nearby residents have been cowed by these men and dare not attempt a rescue…”
Ning Fu listened to his subordinate’s report, his frown deepening further. “What about the local gentry?”
The man standing beside the yellow-robed subordinate replied, “The households of the two most prominent gentry families have also been attacked by villains, just like the county yamen. Seeing this, the other gentry do not dare step forwards. They are all still observing the situation.”
Ning Fu did not listen any further and decisively ordered, “Go. Find those gentry households and gather men. No matter what methods you must use, you are to enter the county yamen. Alive or dead, we must find the young master!”
His ears twitched suddenly and he spun around sharply. “Who’s there?!”
His hand dropped to the hilt of the blade at his waist.
There were no lamps in the courtyard. The only illumination came from the wind lantern hanging before the landlord’s house and the lantern the landlord himself carried.
A figure stepped out from the darkness into the light.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, long-limbed and straight-backed. The gentle lantern glow fell across him like a veil of gold draped over his body.
Ning Fu recognised him instantly. Joy spread across his face as he hurriedly bowed. “Sir!”
Lin Yue returned the salute with a cupped-fist greeting. “My lord.”
Ning Fu stared at him in astonishment.
Lin Yue’s gaze remained calm and steady upon him.
The joy that had surged into Ning Fu’s head vanished in an instant. Noticing the injuries covering Lin Yue’s body, he ordered someone at once to fetch a physician before cautiously asking, “Sir, do you know who San-lang is?”
Lin Yue glanced towards the landlord. Understanding that the coming conversation was not meant for his ears, the landlord tactfully withdrew.
Lin Yue said, “Long story short, I struck my head and forgot much of my past. I do not remember who San-lang is. The urgent matter right now is rescuing people. Please send men to contact the gentry and gather manpower. Lend me a horse as well, and if possible, I would also like to borrow your men. I approached just now and overheard part of your conversation. My apologies.”
Ning Fu let out a breath. “The matter of the gentry can be handled immediately.” He instructed one of his men to depart at once. “As for the other matters… shall we find somewhere safe to talk?”
Suppressing his emotions, Lin Yue replied, “Come with me.”
He opened the door and the two entered, shutting and securing both doors and windows behind them.
Lin Yue said, “If there is something you wish to say, please speak plainly, sir.”
This was the north. In better-quality houses, the walls were built fairly thick. So long as the doors and windows were shut and they kept their voices low, those outside or next door would hear nothing.
Ning Fu surveyed the sparse furnishings within the room and inwardly cursed. If not for that fool Bai Cheng, how could His Highness have ended up living such a life?
He stepped back and dropped onto one knee.
“Your Highness!”
The air fell deathly silent.
Receiving no response whatsoever, Ning Fu glanced up from the corner of his eye. He saw Lin Yue staring at him expressionlessly, those dark hollow eyes enough to send a chill through one’s heart.
Ning Fu lowered his head and drew a letter from within his robes. It was the letter Chancellor Meng had written to Meng Zhao, which Meng Zhao had later arranged to be passed on to him after they split up.
“Your servant would never dare deceive Your Highness. This is a handwritten letter from Chancellor Meng himself. Please read it.”
Lin Yue accepted the letter and broke the seal. Inside was only a single thin sheet of paper. He unfolded it between two fingers.
Upon the page, written in neat upright characters, were the words:
“Crown Prince Chao Yan was invested as Crown Prince by His Majesty in the fourth month of last year. Ten years ago, he survived an assassination attempt, which left a faint dark-red arrow scar near his heart.
“In late autumn, the Crown Prince was ordered to proceed to Fengyun Mountain to wipe out the White Python Army. During the final stages of the suppression campaign, the accompanying General Bai Cheng, eager for merit and glory, refused to obey orders, causing the small force led by the Crown Prince to be besieged by the despairing remnants of the White Python Army, who launched a frenzied attack without regard for consequences.
“The unit was nearly annihilated. The Crown Prince fell into the upper reaches of the Yun River, and his fate became unknown.
“Investigations revealed that the Yun River is a medium-sized river. Its upper reaches are exceptionally treacherous. Near the end of the upper reaches, one tributary branches off from the main channel, while another branches away from the middle section of the river.
“The main river flows through Tanzhou Prefecture and one county under its jurisdiction.
“One tributary from the upper reaches flows through two counties directly administered by Nanling Prefecture, namely Zhuyang and Yanlin, while the tributary from the middle reaches flows through a county under Tiancheng Prefecture.
“The Crown Prince is the foundation of the realm.
“To prevent unrest and panic among the people, and the turmoil that might arise from it, His Majesty and the chancellors privately discussed the matter and decided that, until the Crown Prince’s condition could be confirmed, the outside world would be told that the Crown Prince had merely suffered injuries during the suppression of the White Python Army and was currently recuperating quietly within the Eastern Palace, refusing all visitors. Meanwhile, men would secretly be dispatched to search for him.”
The thin sheet of paper was densely covered in black ink. Chancellor Meng’s words ended there.
He believed that by this point, if “Lin Yue” truly was Crown Prince Chao Yan, then he ought already to believe it himself.
And Lin Yue did indeed believe that he was Crown Prince Chao Yan.
He stared at the handwriting upon the letter and carefully recalled those fragmented scenes. As he did, the dream whose contents he had previously forgotten began to swell within his mind.
Then he remembered everything.
[By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:]
[We, having inherited Heaven’s command and assumed rule over the realm, labour day and night in reverent caution, never daring for even a moment to forget the security of the ancestral temples and the stability of the nation’s foundation. Yet as the position of heir apparent has long stood vacant, anxiety has spread both within and beyond the court. Thus do We seek a worthy successor, so that the hearts of all under Heaven may be settled.]
[The Ninth Prince, Chao Yan, is distinguished in appearance and exceptional in talent. His nature is pure and noble; filial devotion and brotherly affection are innate within him, while his benevolence accords with the hopes of the people. In serving Us, he attends morning and evening upon Our needs, fulfilling fully the duties of a son. In governing the people, he is tolerant and measured, repeatedly demonstrating virtuous administration. Civil and military officials alike praise his worth, while the common people universally extol his kindness. Truly has Heaven favoured the dynasty, bestowing upon it a pillar fit to uphold the realm…]
…
[Let this proclamation be announced throughout the empire, that all may know of it.]
[Respect this decree.]
[Sixteenth day of the fourth month, Thirtieth Year of Anqing]
At the time, he had knelt upon the golden bricks of the great hall. Prince Yan had stood before him holding the imperial edict, proclaiming his elevation to Crown Prince in a shrill voice almost like that of a eunuch.
And the moment the dream returned in full, countless images flooded into his mind.
The fragments joined together into memories of the past.
Lin Yue remembered why Prince Yan’s voice differed from that of an ordinary man: in his youth, his manhood had been injured. He also remembered the moment he fell into the Yun River…
“Your Highness!” Seeing the Crown Prince trembling as though stricken by some fit, veins bulging at his temples, sweat soaking his brow, breath coming in heavy gasps, Ning Fu panicked completely and hurried towards him.
The Crown Prince shoved him away. Clutching his head in both hands, he crumpled the letter within his fingers. His teeth ground together with audible cracks, a truly frightening sight.
“Your Highness!” Ning Fu cried again, but the other man still gave no response.
