Prince Xin Tang Xuan came back to her senses. She stood up abruptly from the chair, the legs scraping a harsh sound on the floor.
“Young Master Song, I… where should I go?”
She was wearing a coarse linen shirt, her hair disheveled, and she looked flustered.
Her gaze darted around. The gray-brown short jacket was wrinkled, utterly mismatched with her royal status.
She really did not look like royalty.
But Song Ning couldn’t see any of that.
He raised three fingers, long and fair, with a calm expression, and advised.
“Your Highness, within the capital, there are actually three groups that hold military power.”
He bent his first finger, thumb pressing on the knuckle of his index finger.
“First, the Brocade-Clad Guard. All these years, they have been completely infiltrated by Wei Yang.”
This group was originally meant to protect the Emperor. Naturally, the Emperor entrusted them to his most trusted person, Wei Yang.
He bent his second finger, middle finger resting on the index finger.
“Second, the Capital Camp. But the Capital Camp is stationed in the suburbs, too far away and difficult to mobilize.”
“Mother-in-law has already sent someone to mobilize them, but help from afar cannot quench a near thirst.”
The strength of the Capital Camp at the founding of the dynasty was unmatched, the most elite force.
But now discipline had slackened, morale was frayed, generals did not know their soldiers, and soldiers did not know their generals.
Moreover, officials in the capital had long been stuffing in connections, relatives, and protégés, turning the once mighty Capital Camp into a sieve.
Its actual combat effectiveness was hard to gauge. The ferocious army of several hundred years ago was now nothing but a flock of sheep in armor.
He bent his third finger, ring finger overlapping the middle one.
“Third, the Five City Wardens’ Office. They are responsible for city defense and maintaining order within the city. Although their numbers are not large compared to the other two, they are crucial at this moment.”
Prince Xin’s eyes flickered. The candlelight reflected in her eyes like two stars swaying in the wind.
Her expression changed several times between light and shadow, as if undergoing some intense inner struggle.
“You make sense,” Prince Xin finally spoke, her voice a bit tight. “But whose man is the Commandant of the Five City Wardens’ Office? What if she doesn’t side with me?”
She swallowed, her gaze flickering.
“Even if she’s not from the Eunuch Faction, all the troops are currently dealing with the rebel army. I… I go to see her alone?”
What if the Five City Wardens’ Office people, seeing her come alone, plotted something untoward?
She had no soldiers, no generals, no armor, no swords. She only had this coarse linen shirt and a heart that was still beating but might stop at any moment.
Song Ning stood still, his white eyes facing her direction, his expression still calm.
“Your Highness dares not go?”
Prince Xin looked up and saw Song Ning’s white eyes. Those eyes had no focus, reflecting nothing. She sub averted her gaze, turned her head, and said quietly.
“It’s not that I dare not, I just think it’s a bit inappropriate. Can’t we send someone else to mobilize the troops?”
Her gaze drifted to Xia Shuang and Xia Ling, paused on their faces for a moment, then moved away.
Xia Shuang watched coldly from the sidelines, her arms crossed holding her sword, standing quietly beside Song Ning, ignoring Prince Xin’s gaze.
Song Ning took a deep breath and said calmly.
“Your Highness, those who do great things cannot cherish their bodies. Everything carries risk. Today, it has to be you personally. No one else will do.”
He stepped forward two paces and continued.
“Your Highness, think about it. If you don’t go, and someone from the Eunuch Faction or another feudal prince goes, won’t the opportunity be handed to others on a silver platter? Even if the Eunuch Faction and other feudal princes don’t go, if you were the Commandant of the Five City Wardens’ Office, what would you do?”
Prince Xin gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, with a hint of reluctance and dejection.
“Do nothing.”
Song Ning nodded.
“Right. With the two factions in conflict, the best course for her is to do nothing, wait until the outcome is decided, then pledge allegiance. Neither side can blame her. But you are different, Your Highness. You are the most legitimate successor. If you bring the grand seal of the Ministry of War, she will have to weigh the consequences of defying the world.”
He had laid out all the reasoning to Prince Xin. These reasons were like a wall, blocking all her retreat.
If Prince Xin still dared not go, still hesitated, he would have Xia Shuang and Xia Ling help by tying her up.
As for the consequences, as long as they could win now, they could deal with any consequences later.
Prince Xin’s expression struggled for a moment. Candlelight fell on her face, clearly illuminating her fear, hesitation, reluctance, and a desperate grit of someone pushed to the edge.
Then she suddenly slapped the chair, a sharp crack, and stood up. Her back straightened, her head slightly raised.
Although she wore coarse linen, although her hair was messy, although her face still carried fatigue and fear, at that moment, she had some semblance of bearing.
“Alright, Young Master Song, I’ll go now!”
But the momentum lasted only a moment. Her shoulders soon slumped again, her gaze flickered, and she probed.
“But, why doesn’t Young Master Song come with me? Then I’ll have someone to discuss with.”
She felt that if Song Ning were by her side, the chances of success would be greater, and she could come out unscathed. Although he was blind, she felt reassured.
Song Ning shook his head.
“No, the fight is still going on here. Qin Junyue and the others are waiting for me to make decisions. Your Highness, just go ahead. They won’t dare to do anything to you.”
After speaking, he tilted his head and “looked” in Xia Shuang’s direction.
“There are hardly any people left in the manor now. You take His Highness Prince Xin there.”
He could hear Xia Shuang practicing swordsmanship every day, the sound of the sword sharp and cutting through the wind.
She seemed to have some martial ability. It should be enough to protect Prince Xin.
Xia Shuang was stunned, her mouth slightly open, then she quickly waved her hand and stammered.
“I… I stay here, protect you. Here, no one, you, dangerous.”
Her brows were furrowed, the corners of her mouth turned down, and her usually cool face showed reluctance.
Song Ning frowned, his voice raised.
“What time is it now? This place is the safest right now. Go quickly!”
Xia Shuang stomped her foot, hugged her sword, turned her back to Song Ning, and said in a low voice.
“I, don’t know the way. Not going.”
“You…” Song Ning choked, his fingers pointing in the air a few times but hitting nothing. That was clearly an excuse!
She just didn’t want to go! She was usually so obedient, even more obedient than Xia Ling. Why was she being disobedient today?
Xia Shuang hugged her sword tightly, standing guard beside Song Ning, silent, with a stern expression.
Song Ning stood there, helpless.
“Xia Ling, you go with His Highness Prince Xin.”
Xia Ling was startled. She also wanted to refuse, but when she saw Song Ning’s expression, she bowed to Prince Xin.
“Your Highness, I’ll take you there.”
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