Chapter 174 - The Princes Past II (1/2)

With his decision made, Prince Yi left the capital and made his way to their secret army base to prepare the troops and wait for the Crown prince's order. Since his father never cared for his presence, he was always able to travel as he liked, going and coming as he pleased with no one questioning his movements. And so he used his invincibility to amass and see the progress of their troops. So the men knew his face, but knew of the Crown prince in name only.

He quickly arrived on the base and began to make the arrangements while coordinating plans with the Crown prince in the capital. They had agreed to execute the plan slowly over a long period of time so as not to alert their father. So Prince Yi had been steadily sending men bit by bit to Crown prince in the capital.

Six months passed and everything was going according to plan until one day Prine Yi received an urgent message from the Crown prince ordering him to mobilize all the troops and head for the capital immediately. They had run out time and could no longer delay. The situation had changed, and Jun Kai had attained a swift and unexpected victory on the war Nanjing. Their father was greatly pleased and had sent a missive for Jun Kai to return home to be rewarded.

This was odd. In all the years Jun Kai had been gone and his many accomplishments, their father had rewarded him over and over again, with manors, gold, titles, everything...But he had never ordered him to come home to receive them before. Therefore, Prince Yi could understand the Crown Prince's alarm.

The time to attack was now. If Jun Kai came back with his army then it would be impossible for them to envision a successful siege. And so Prince Yi immediately set out with the remaining troops and settled in a forest near the capital until it was time to attack.

The Crown prince had already arranged his men to man the city and palace gates. That way when it was time the gates will be open and the troops could simply walk in. The night of their siege came and Prince Yi laid in hiding with the troops in the surrounding forest, waiting for the city gates to open and for history to be shaped.

The city gates finally opened and he was about to give the order to move, when...

{...*Stop! Don't go!... You're going to die!...}

Prince Yi frowned and hesitated.

{...*I mean it! If you go, you will die!... The plan will fail and you will die!...}

{...How?...Don't tell me he's here already?...}

{...*No! But the plan will fail so Don't Go!... Dying here is a waste! You've not even met h-...}

{...Tell me how it will fail so we can counter it!...}

{...*There's nothing you can do, it will fail so save yourself!...}

{...Save myself? How am I supposed to save myself in this situation? Tell what will go wrong!...}

{...*Or you can go die if you want, but don't blame me later for not helping you! I tried!...}

{...Answer me!...}

{...*...}

{...ANSWER ME!...}

Prince Yi stood there frowning at the gates and pondering. The voice had never led him astray and frankly, all he had today was because of its guidance. Since his mother died, it had been there looking out for him, serving as a teacher and a guide when he had not. But whether he chose to go in or not right now, he was still likely to be roped into the scheme once his father investigated.

{...How am I supposed to save myself?... Escape? Run away? No, why should I have to?...}

”Your highness, the gates are open.” Tian Jin said behind him, looking at him with a perplexed frown. The gates had been open for a while now and Prince Yi was just staring at it.

Prince Yi nodded in acknowledgment but gave no order or moved. After a while, his eyes lit up and then ordered as he marched over to his horse, ”There's been a change in plans. Retreat as quickly as possible, back to base.” The men looked at each other confused.

Prince Yi vaulted on his horse, turned to Tian Jin and ordered, ”Now.” Tian Jin nodded in acknowledgment and as Prince Yi sped off, the men withdrew back into the shadows of the forest.