Chapter Twenty-Five: Surrender, or Die

Deep into the night, in a residence nestled by the riverside in Linjiang City.

"Smash!"

A crisp, shattering sound rang out, followed by a low, furious roar.

"Get out! Get out, all of you!"

Several maidservants fled the room, trembling, not daring to even breathe audibly.

Inside the room, Li Qianlin sat on the edge of the bed, his expression dark and wrathful, his eyes filled with rage and murder. He looked utterly wretched. Bandages were wrapped around his arms and head, with blood faintly seeping through the fabric. His face, once considered handsome, was now twisted and hideous.

His injuries were not severe; as a ninth-rank master, he possessed a certain level of resilience, especially against the Heir of Prince Lin, a useless wastrel who knew nothing of martial arts. However, compared to his physical pain, being beaten in public today was far more humiliating than any grave injury.

He, Li Qianlin, the son of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice and a favored son of the capital, had been beaten in public by a barbaric, decadent heir. Once this news reached the capital, how could he ever hold his head high among his peers again?

At the thought, Li Qianlin trembled with fury. Earlier that day, he had been tempted to kill! With a single thought, he could have snapped the neck of that pathetic heir... A murderous glint flashed in his gloomy eyes, but quickly, he lowered his head in frustration.

He could not, and he dared not.

Setting aside the fact that he was on the territory of Linzhou and would never leave Linjiang City alive if he harmed the heir, Li Qianlin also dared not gamble on the possibility that the heir was being protected by hidden masters. He feared that before he could even strike, he would be the one to die.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside, and Song Jue appeared in the room.

"Brother Li..."

Song Jue looked just as disheveled. Having been struck by a wine flagon from Lin Jiangnian, he was in no better shape; his head was also wrapped in bandages, making him look both miserable and ridiculous.

Li Qianlin glanced at him coldly, remaining silent.

Song Jue’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly stepped forward. "Brother Li, how are you feeling? Are you alright?"

Before Li Qianlin could answer, Song Jue vented indignantly, "That dog of an heir is too arrogant! To dare beat you and me in public... he is utterly lawless and disrespectful!"

"When we return to the capital, I will certainly have my father impeach him before the Imperial Court!"

Li Qianlin gave him a cold look. Impeach? Was it of any use? Had there not been enough impeachments against the Heir of Prince Lin in court? Yet, what was the result? Impeachments were one thing, but who dared to truly offend Lin Hengzhong? That man was a true madman!

A shameless, yet terrifyingly powerful madman.

"I underestimated him," Li Qianlin breathed deeply, his face grim as he spoke coldly, "I will settle this score with him sooner or later."

Song Jue nodded, gritting his teeth in frustration. "Let him be arrogant for a while longer; he won’t be jumping around for much longer! Once the imperial court strips his father of his fief and seizes his military power, it will be easy to deal with both father and son!"

Li Qianlin kept his cold, dark gaze fixed ahead, saying nothing.

The imperial court’s policy of weakening the fiefs was a delicate matter; one move would affect the whole situation. It involved too many interests and too many factions. To take down this powerful, non-royal prince of the Southern Frontier was an immense task. But if it could be accomplished, it would not only bring him fame and status, but it would also elevate his family’s influence in the capital, bringing them closer to the core of power.

"It’s just a pity that even with this, we couldn't kill that dog of an heir!" Song Jue’s face was filled with regret. "This was a perfect opportunity, and I never expected him to survive. I fear we won't have such a chance again..."

An assassination attempt during the heir's travels—to try again would be infinitely more difficult.

Song Jue seemed to recall something, glanced at Li Qianlin by the bed, and asked cautiously, "Brother Li, the people who assassinated that dog of an heir... did they have anything to do with... the Third Prince?"

Before he could finish, Li Qianlin shot him a cold, piercing glare. Song Jue felt a chill run down his spine.

"Do not ask what you should not ask!" Li Qianlin said coldly.

Song Jue dared not speak further, his heart filled with terror, yet he already had his suspicions. The Third Prince and Lin Jiangnian had long-standing grievances, though few knew of it. This time... it was not impossible.

"There will be a next time," Li Qianlin said, his face dark. He would not take this beating for nothing. Although the outcome was unexpected, everything was still within his plan.

"He won't be able to hide in Linjiang City for much longer!" Li Qianlin’s gaze was icy. "His wedding date with the Princess is approaching. He will have to travel to the capital to welcome his bride..."

"If he refuses to go, it is an act of rebellion, and even Prince Lin will not be able to save him then."

"And if he dares to go, that journey to the capital will be his death sentence!"

In Li Qianlin’s cold eyes, the murderous intent was unconcealed. Song Jue felt a tremor in his heart upon hearing this. He had long known that Brother Li was playing a grand game. Behind Brother Li stood the Third Prince, a man of immense stature and perhaps the most powerful among all the princes. That was why Brother Li had come to Linjiang City—his purpose was far from simple. Even Song Jue's provocation of the heir today had been at Li Qianlin’s instruction.

Now, Song Jue began to grasp the true extent of Li Qianlin's goal. Was he planning to... gamble on something massive?

"Help me send this letter out in secret!" Li Qianlin pulled a letter from under the bed and handed it to Song Jue. "Mind you, the content of this letter must remain confidential... If it leaks, neither of our heads will remain on our shoulders!"

"Yes." Song Jue took the letter, his heart pounding.

"If this succeeds, both of us will rise to great heights!" Li Qianlin glanced at him. "Your Song family has been in the Central Province for years; don't you want to take a step further? Don't you, Song Jue, want to take control of the Song family?"

Song Jue’s breath hitched. Li Qianlin had touched upon his greatest weakness. As the second son of the Song family, how could he not want to seize the inheritance? If he lost it, would his older brother ever let him live?

Now, the opportunity was right before him. And from the moment he had provoked the heir, there was no turning back.

Taking a deep breath, Song Jue said firmly, "Rest assured, Brother Li, I will do everything in my power to cooperate with your plan..."

***

Early the next morning, several figures took advantage of the mist to slip out of the residence, heading in different directions across the city.

An hour later, Song Jue stepped into a carriage and arrived quietly at an escort agency in Linjiang City.

"Proprietor, I have a delivery!"

"Welcome, guest. Please come to the backyard for details!"

Song Jue nodded and followed the proprietor to the backyard. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw a dark figure standing in the center of the yard, watching him calmly.

Song Jue’s pupils contracted sharply. Realizing something was wrong, he turned to run.

"Whoosh!"

Someone blocked his path from behind, a gleaming long blade pressed against his throat.

"Hand it over."

Song Jue stood frozen, his heart racing, forcing himself to stay calm. "Wh-what thing? I... I don't know what you are talking about..."

"Bang!"

Several figures were tossed into the yard. Song Jue’s pupils shrank—they were the very people he had sent out secretly that morning. They had all been captured?

"I do not like to talk nonsense!" Lin Kong stared at Song Jue, looking at him as if he were a dead man. "Hand it over."

"Or die."