Chapter 286 - Northseal (1)

Northern Glory Gate.

The first light of dawn had yet to appear, and the deepest darkness before daybreak still blanketed the immense city. The vast, imposing gate stood wide open. Illuminated by enormous rune lamps, its entrance resembled the gaping maw of some colossal beast.

As the imperial capital of the Great Flame Empire, Emperor’s Hold erected checkpoints after nightfall but never closed its gates. Every day, they swallowed and disgorged the vast quantities of goods needed to sustain its countless citizens.

Amid the endless stream of merchant caravans, a small convoy of only seven or eight carriages quietly slipped out of the city beneath the last cover of night and headed north at an unhurried pace. Once they reached the official road, the demonic beasts pulling the carriages gradually began to accelerate. The pounding of their hooves echoed far into the distance.

Inside one of the carriages at the center of the convoy, Xu Yuan sat quietly in his seat, cultivating. Li Qingyan sat beside him with her eyes closed, resting, while two familiar faces occupied the seats opposite them. It was the second prince, Li Zhaoyuan, and third prince, Li Yunqing.

Li Yunqing was pouring himself cup after cup from the leftover bottle of Blueflower Brew from the night before. Li Zhaoyuan, meanwhile, had his eyes lowered over a book of unknown origin.

The carriage swayed gently with the rhythm of the beasts’ hooves.

Four of the Great Flame Empire’s most privileged young nobles were crammed into a shabby, third-rate carriage. The sight was rather absurd.

The cabin was silent. None of them spoke. The only sound was the occasional rustle of pages as Li Zhaoyuan leafed through the ancient volume in his hands.

After an unknown length of time, Li Yunqing slowly set down his cup and suddenly asked with a smile, “Second Brother, what sort of books are you always reading?”

Li Zhaoyuan’s fingers paused briefly in the middle of turning a page. He smiled faintly. “Accounts of the customs and geography of the northern frontier.”

Li Yunqing let out a long breath and leaned back against the cushioned bench. “Local records? What are you reading those for?”

Li Zhaoyuan’s handsome, sharp-featured face remained perfectly composed. “The northern frontier is chaotic, Third Brother. Should we become separated from the army and stranded outside, knowing the local customs would at least help us disguise ourselves.”

Something flickered in Li Yunqing’s eyes. He grinned. “We’re only going to the army to pad our records with a little military service. Do you really need to be that cautious?”

“One should always be prepared for the worst,” Li Zhaoyuan replied patiently.

Li Yunqing sighed. “Second Brother, you’ve been like this ever since we were children. You always insist on accounting for every possible outcome.”

Silence fell once more. The demonic beasts raced along the official road, making the entire cabin sway beneath them.

Li Zhaoyuan’s response to that assessment was deliberately vague. “I learned it from His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Li Yunqing shook his head and said, seemingly on purpose, “Eldest Brother isn’t nearly as steady as you. Dragging his feet over everything and hesitating at every turn hardly counts as composure.”

Li Zhaoyuan answered with polished formality. “His Highness the Crown Prince will one day inherit the throne. How could matters of state be decided rashly? He must naturally consider everything three times before acting. How could I possibly compare myself to—”

“Heh.” Xu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and interrupted him with a quiet laugh. “Second Prince, there’s no need to be so modest. My father’s opinion of you is far higher than his opinion of the Crown Prince.”

The moment those words left his mouth, the cabin fell deathly silent.

Li Qingyan continued resting with her eyes closed, maintaining her usual cold and aloof bearing.

Li Yunqing froze for a moment. Then his smile took on a rather intrigued edge.

Li Zhaoyuan’s expression remained unchanged, but he did not answer at once. Although the ultimate purpose of this journey north was for the imperial family and the Chancellor's Manor to exchange hostages, the choice of hostages gave plenty of room for thought.

The Second Prince already had considerable support at court, but he lacked a truly powerful minister willing to stand behind him.

Under such circumstances, he had volunteered to serve as a hostage and accompany Zong Qingsheng, the commander of the Chancellor’s forces. More importantly, his request had been approved. It was difficult not to suspect that something was going on behind the scenes.

But was this really the sort of thing one could say aloud?

Xu Changtian had stated it so bluntly that it was practically the same as holding Li Zhaoyuan over a fire.

After a long pause, Li Zhaoyuan smiled faintly. Rather than conceal anything, he answered directly, “I am grateful for Lord Xu’s high regard. I know that I still have many shortcomings. I hope this journey to the northern frontier will allow me to make up for them.”

He paused, then cast an almost imperceptible glance at Li Qingyan across from him. No one knew his own affairs better than he did.

The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Ninth Princess had all been born to the Empress. Li Yunqing had washed his hands of the succession struggle, while Li Qingyan, being a woman, could only support the Crown Prince.

The senior ministers standing behind those three formed an enormous iron curtain across the Second Prince’s path to the golden throne. But matters had already reached this point. He had no road left to retreat down.

Compared to those three full-blooded siblings, their second brother, born of an imperial consort, was little more than an outsider. Were it not for that, Li Zhaoyuan would never have willingly cooperated with that old fox, Xu Yinhe.

Working with the Chancellor was no different from bargaining with a tiger for its hide. One careless step, and he might find himself stripped of all real power and reduced to a puppet.

Amid the silence, Li Qingyan suddenly opened her eyes. Her sharp phoenix eyes swept coldly over the Second Prince and Third Prince. “The Great Flame Empire is beset by threats from the inside and out. Our soldiers are spilling their blood at the front, yet you sit here scheming over power and profit. As members of the imperial family, do you feel no shame?”

Li Zhaoyuan fell silent for a moment. A trace of guilt appeared on his face, but his thoughts immediately began to race.

Her words surprised him. He had always assumed that this renowned imperial sister of his would support the Crown Prince, but from the sound of it, she had no desire to involve herself at all. Then again, it made sense.

Li Qingyan had grown up in the northern frontier and spent most of her life fighting wars. How much affection could she possibly have for the Crown Prince? More importantly, what common interests could they have?

If that was the case, would Marquis Wucheng also remain neutral? Marquis Wucheng was a loyal imperialist, but he had never stated which emperor he intended to support.

With that thought, Li Zhaoyuan glanced at Li Qingyan again. If he could learn what this imperial sister wanted, perhaps he might still be able to win her over.

While Li Zhaoyuan was still pondering the matter, Li Yunqing had already begun apologizing with shameless ease. “Imperial Sister is right. I accept this lesson.”

Princes and princesses followed separate systems of ranking.

And so, a Third Prince and a Third Princess could exist at the same time. Although Li Qingyan was the Ninth Princess, she was still older than the Third Prince, Li Yunqing.

Li Qingyan closed her eyes again, having no desire to entertain the Third Prince. Ever since she had returned to the capital, that eldest brother whom she had barely met growing up had already sought her out eight times.

Whether the concern in his words was genuine, she could not say. But given the relationship between them, there was certainly no reason for him to visit her so often.

Li Yunqing showed no trace of embarrassment. Instead, he turned to Xu Yuan. “Prince Consort, Father and the others really are something. Your marriage to Imperial Sister has already been settled, yet they still sent the two of you to the northern frontier together.”

Xu Yuan spread his hands helplessly. “His Majesty and my old man wanted to exchange hostages. They could hardly send the Crown Prince and my elder brother, could they?”

Li Yunqing was struck speechless yet again. Brother, must you say everything quite so plainly?

Li Zhaoyuan smiled faintly. “Changtian is as candid as ever.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Xu Yuan grinned and cupped his fists. He then reached for Li Yunqing’s wine, intending to help himself to a cup, only for the fellow to snatch it away first.

Li Yunqing stared at him in surprise. “Wait, what are you doing?”

Xu Yuan glanced at the half-finished bottle of Blue Porcelain Wine. “Having a drink. Why so stingy?”

Li Yunqing chuckled and replied in a pointedly sarcastic tone, “Does the Third Young Master not know that one is supposed to pay for things?”

Xu Yuan said nothing. He merely raised an arm and wrapped it around Li Qingyan’s shoulders.

Li Qingyan shot him a cold glance but did not resist.