Luo Jingfeng reached out to wipe the blood from the little one’s neck, his voice low and reassuring. “He gave his life to protect you. Your uncle will ensure he is buried with honor, and his family will be taken care of.”
Zong Jincheng’s ears were ringing.
Just moments ago, he hadn’t understood the weight of life and death. Now, someone had sacrificed themselves for him.
He had been shielded by another’s life.
Luo Jingfeng spoke softly, “That time in the tavern when I nearly strangled you… I never truly intended to kill you. I only sensed the presence of a hidden guard and suspected your connection to the Crown Prince. I wanted to force the guard to reveal himself. But his orders must have been to intervene only at the last moment.”
“A hidden guard…” Zong Jincheng’s voice trembled. “He was my guard… I didn’t know. I never knew he existed. He’s been by my side for so long…”
Xu Wan approached and crouched beside him, whispering, “His name was An Ying. He once served your father and came to you three years ago.”
The incident had unfolded too quickly.
A clash between masters ended in mere moments.
By the time Xu Wan rushed over from the carriage, Luo Jingfeng had already declared An Ying’s death.
“An Ying…” Zong Jincheng finally broke, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
He rarely cried, and never with such anguish.
Xu Wan held him gently, offering silent comfort to the boy on the cusp of adulthood.
“The City Patrol is here. No one moves.”
Zong Zhao arrived with them, his gaze immediately landing on An Ying’s body and the blood staining Zong Jincheng’s clothes.
His furious eyes locked onto Luo Jingfeng.
The City Patrol could only be mobilized by Luo Jingfeng, so they hadn’t arrived together. Luo Jingfeng had sworn everything was under control—yet this was the result?
The City Patrol commander inspected the assassins’ bodies, finding no identifying marks—until he spotted the restrained leader of the hidden guards.
Others might not recognize him, but the commander did.
Frowning, he reported, “Great General, this man serves the Emperor.”
Zong Zhao held the City Patrol’s token. Even if they had resented him before, they would now obey his orders—not just because of the token, but because they knew he stood with the Crown Prince.
Token and Crown Prince.
They would follow Zong Zhao’s commands without question.
Coldly, Zong Zhao ordered, “The hidden guard leader is guilty of treason and conspiring to assassinate me and the Duke of State Protection. Take him away and await punishment.”
“Yes.”
The guard leader screamed, “Zong Zhao! You accuse me of treason? Who is the real traitor? You and Luo Jingfeng conspire against Great Chu—ah!”
His tongue was cut out.
By one of Luo Jingfeng’s subordinates.
“No one disrespects the Duke of State Protection.” General Xiaofeng stepped forward fiercely, tossing aside the bloodied dagger in disgust.
The man was ruthless—truly Luo Jingfeng’s right hand.
But with Zong Zhao silent, the City Patrol commander dared not comment, only leading the mute prisoner away. “I’ll await your further orders outside the alley, Great General.”
Zong Zhao nodded. “Go.”
Luo Jingfeng had no patience for this.
His mind was consumed by his nephew—had An Ying not shielded him, he would have lost Jincheng.
The mere thought drove him to madness.
He couldn’t endure it—not for another second.
“Mobilize the troops,” he hissed. “I’ll show them the consequences of touching what’s mine.”
General Xiaofeng grinned. “Yes! At once!”
The scene was chaotic.
In the commotion, Luo Jingfeng and Zong Jincheng’s uncle-nephew relationship had been exposed. Every Zong family guard had heard.
But Luo Jingfeng no longer cared to hide.
Godfather, godson—Zong family, Luo family.
None of it mattered.
He would ensure Jincheng never faced death’s threat again.
Zong Zhao spoke up. “I’ll escort them back to the estate.”
Luo Jingfeng met his gaze, recognizing the same resolve. He smirked. “You’ve reached your limit too?”
Zong Zhao replied, “There’s no need to endure further. The Emperor knows Jincheng’s identity. Even if today’s attempt failed, tomorrow’s palace exam won’t grant him the ranking we hoped for.”
Waiting was pointless now.
Their plan had been for Jincheng to earn top honors, ascending with virtue and brilliance. Though interrupted after the preliminary exams, the outcome wasn’t worse.
As the second-ranked candidate, Jincheng remained the brightest young prince.
Xu Wan had wiped the blood from Zong Jincheng’s clothes.
But the boy was still clutching An Ying’s hand, trembling uncontrollably.
Zong Zhao murmured, “Get in the carriage. I’ll take you home.”
Xu Wan helped lift Zong Jincheng.
The boy looked up, eyes red and blurred with tears. “Father… what did I do wrong? Why do they want me dead? I just wanted to study, to serve the people, to be your and Mother’s child. What did I do to deserve this?”
Xu Wan’s heart ached.
She knew Jincheng had done nothing wrong.
Even as a mischievous youth three years ago, his faults hadn’t warranted death.
What they feared was his bloodline—his identity, his lineage, the power behind him.
Yet these were things he could never change.
Zong Zhao didn’t know how to comfort him, only smoothing his brow with a firm promise. “From now on, no one will harm you again.”
Zong Jincheng’s tears fell anew.
As sobs wracked his body, Zong Zhao carried the half-grown boy into the carriage, delivering Xu Wan and her son safely home.
The Great General’s estate was sealed tight.
Not just by the City Patrol, but by the Duke of State Protection’s guards—an impenetrable shield.
The Emperor’s study, palace.
Outside, the sky had darkened completely. A storm brewed, mirroring the Emperor’s rising agitation.
For half a month, Zong Jincheng hadn’t left his home.
Today, he’d finally lured the bastard out—but would the assassination succeed?
If it did, the crisis would dissolve.
Without this legitimate heir, the Luo family’s rebellion would lack justification. Overthrowing a dynasty carried far greater infamy than a mere coup. Even if they won, they’d never hold the throne.
Besides, he still had the Crown Prince’s City Patrol.
With the Crown Prince unconscious, the patrol answered only to the Emperor. Though outmatched by Luo Jingfeng’s army, within the capital, they were unmatched.
The Emperor clung to this reassurance.
He prayed fervently: Let it succeed. Let it succeed…
BANG!
The study doors were kicked open.
