Chapter 491: Extra Chapter Shang Yang [Three]

Chapter 491

The day I first saw Jiang Muye, before we had even exchanged two words, the muffled toll of bells echoed through the palace.

Jiang Muye turned to leave upon hearing the sound, but paused at the doorway. Half in jest, he turned back and said to me: Fịndd new updates at novelhall.com

"Now you can cry openly."

After that, the head maid gathered all the maids of Zhu Yin Hall and made us kneel on the long street to weep towards the deserted brick path.

That was when I learned the sudden ringing of bells signaled a national mourning period.

For a long time after that, I did not see Jiang Muye again.

One day while on duty, I happened to be helping the head maid clear fallen leaves from a side garden. Curious, I asked her:

"Maid, Zhu Yin Hall is Prince Jiang's bedchamber, but why does he never return?"

The head maid did not pause in her work, instead swinging her broom more vigorously, as if using the swishing of fallen leaves to mask the loss in her voice:

"He will not come back."

Will not come back...

Does that mean he has died?

The ravages of war had blurred the distinctions between nobility and commoners; even emperors and empresses could not escape unscathed.

People died unnatural deaths every day. If even a prince met with misfortune, it would hardly be surprising.

I had been straining to listen curiously to his words when the sudden slamming shut of the door made me jump, nearly crying out.

The heavy yellow pear wood doors of Candle Dragon Palace closed firmly, the clink of iron chains securing the lock faintly audible from outside.

Jiang Muye rushed over and pushed against the doors, finding them immovable. Clenching his small fists, he pounded and struck the doors, shouting:

"Open the door! The prince is still inside!"

"That's precisely why I've locked you in, you brat," a mature male voice replied from outside. "You always fall short compared to me. You have the gall to compete with me over going as a hostage to the enemy state?"

Jiang Muye paused, then yelled hoarsely:

"Brother? What are you doing? Quick, let me out!"

The man outside chuckled casually:

"No need to rush. The palace staff attending to Candle Dragon Palace will return in the morning and release you. As for me... I've already informed our father the king. Tonight, I depart with the vanguard for the capital of the Qi Dynasty."

"Brother! I won't let you go! Father said the Qi Emperor is not a benevolent man. If you go as a hostage, how will they treat you? I've already lost Mother, I can't lose my brother too!"

Outside, a lengthy silence followed before a low voice drifted in:

"Foolish little brother. Take care."

After that, no matter how Jiang Muye raged and howled, the only response was the deathly stillness of the snowy night.

He began pounding on the doors like a madman, repeatedly charging and ramming them with his shoulder.

But the doors did not give way; instead, he collapsed unconscious onto the floor from exhaustion.