Chapter 38 - Escapade (1/2)

????: Hello, I am now the commentator...this was the brib- *Ahem*...I mean, a new beginning for us all... the subtlely to pick up on from the last chap is ”He was aware of a reason why his third brother would hate him, but was also certain that his third brother was unaware of that reason...”...So, yeah that's it...applaud?...Can't say that? Oh, okay...um, enjoy the chapter! ***

When Jun Kai woke up, it was a few days later and he was in the Long army camp. Eunuch Li was there and filled him in on the details of what happened after he had passed out.

They managed to carve out an escape and were able to lay low until nightfall when the Long troop that had left before returned and were able to chase the enemy back. It turns out that the report about needing urgent reinforcements was false.

The commanding general had noticed that someone had used his seal and had immediately sent a messenger, along with his emblem that he always carries on person that the generals on the other side would recognize to warn the army en-route of this development, just in case something happened while they worked on sorting out the situation on their end.

The messenger came across the first troop, who were currently at a standstill in confusion, as they had received a message attached on an arrow early that morning instructing them to turn back because the second troop was in trouble.

The generals were busy debating over the validity of the message on the arrow, some wanting to turn back, while others wanted to keep going believing that the message must be a trick to delay them.

Luckily the messenger arrived and informed them of the real situation and they realized the report they received was fake before the situation escalated and so speedily turned back and were able to turn the situation around.

Eunuch Li also informed him that the Xia army had caught the person who shot the arrows, it was the same Long soldier who had arrived with the fake report.

They had interrogated him and discovered that he had been instructed to leak the information about the fourth prince to the Han country, who had decided to collude with their neighboring country, Beiyuan who were afraid that they would be next after the fall of Han country.

The plan was to kidnap the fourth prince to use as a bargaining tool with the Long emperor. While the Han army kept the main Long army occupied, the Beiyuan troops were to skirt around them.

Once they had successfully done this and were in position, the soldier, who was one of those who served directly under the commanding general was then to create a fake report and deliver it to the reinforcing troops to force them to break off.

The soldier was then to follow whichever troop the fourth prince was in, and then secretly tied a red piece of cloth to an eagle which the Beiyuan army had following him to inform the Beiyuan troops that the fourth prince was with the second troop.

Before the attack, he also pointed out who the fourth prince was to the Beiyuan troops. The soldier also secretly closely trailed them as they ran through the forest, as he had secondary orders to that if the kidnapping plan had any complications, he was to find an opportunity to kill the fourth prince.

So with the arrival of the Xia troops, the situation had become complicated and so he fired the arrows and then blew the whistle to alert the Beiyuan troops to their location as he fled the capture.

”Who sent him?” Jun Kai calmly asked.

Eunuch Li glanced at him but remained silent.

”The crown prince?” Jun Kai asked.

”He is definitely involved.” Eunuch Li responded

Jun Kai snorted, ”He is definitely involved...so who gave the orders?”

Eunuch Li knit his brows, ”Your highness, there are some things one cannot help but acknowledge...”

{...I see...then it's third brother's doing then?... Was he so anxious and couldn't even wait for me to try and fail first?...}

Jun Kai burst out laughing and ended up coughing because of his injuries. Eunuch Li handed him some water and then quietly asked, ”What do you want us to do with him? Should we hand him over to the army?”

Jun Kai narrowed his eyes and coldly said, ”Kill him.”

Eunuch Li nodded in understanding and then went out. If they handed him over to the army, the case will definitely be investigated, killing him was the best choice.

While if he was handed over to the Long army, he could expose the crown prince and the third prince's plot, but there is also the problem that he could bring some trouble for the fourth prince by revealing that he has secret forces. While he may not know that the origin of the secret troops, a prince having secret forces is enough for the emperor to use to punish him, and if it is suspected to be Xia troops, then he could be accused of a rebellion.

Even if the emperor doesn't do anything, he will become wary of him and this emperor is not one to just stay wary, he is the kind to eventually eradicate any source of uncertainty in his way.

Jun Kai was left alone sitting on the bed staring blankly and then he sighed.

{...This was the only way I could get out of that suffocating place...I thought if I were lucky...unlucky I would die on the battlefield...but they can't even let someone fight and die in peace...even him...unfortunately for them, it seems I am quite tenacious on remaining alive...}

From that day, Jun Kai felt like he was losing hold of his mind. He couldn't sleep peacefully and kept having the same dream starting that moment where he thought he was going to die and then the voice screams, 'I told you not to go with them!!', and then he immediately wakes up in cold sweat, panting and retching.

He also recalled the memories of his time in the cold palace with his mother, his escape to his father, the events with the empress, his third brother...his father's departing back with the words, ' compassion is useless, you should be better .'