Chapter 43: Don’t Let Me Look Down on You

In the shadows, Yang Zhan quickly saw a figure rushing in, accompanied by a group of soldiers.

The cold voice cut through the night with even greater chill.

“How dare you mistreat Her Highness, the Fifth Princess?”

Xiao Rang was the Left Brave General of the Sixteenth Guard of the Southern Office and also the younger brother of Empress Xiao.

Yang Zhan frowned in the dark. These two women were causing a commotion; what business did a man have interfering? Was he here to join in the abuse?

Chen Shu stood guard near the Crown Princess.

Xiao Rang arrived with numerous Left Brave Guards, backing the unruly Fifth Princess Yang Fu. No matter how one looked at it, the Crown Princess seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Yu Shu remained unafraid: “General Xiao, you are only responsible for guarding the Eastern Palace. You were not ordered to enter here. What is the meaning of this?”

“If the Fifth Princess is being insulted, how can I stand by idly?”

“So, General Xiao, you have the Emperor’s decree to enforce the law?”

Xiao Rang replied coldly, “The Crown Princess is overstating. The Fifth Princess came out of concern for the Empress Dowager and asked some questions—there’s nothing wrong with that. Besides, it is peculiar to find the Crown Princess here burning a candle late at night.”

“Hmph, the Eastern Palace is where I reside as Crown Princess. Where else could I stay? Must I report to General Xiao whether I rest or not?”

Xiao Rang frowned, clearly unsure how to respond.

But the Fifth Princess snorted, “Uncle, I have information that the Crown Princess secretly met with others. There must be someone else in that room—perhaps the mastermind plotting to assassinate my mother. Chen Shu brought them in, and all the guards here were withdrawn. This is highly unusual!”

“Younger sister, as a royal lady, how can you speak so recklessly!”

Yu Shu’s face turned icy. Chen Shu led the Eastern Palace guards, standing in a tense standoff with the Left Brave Guards.

Xiao Rang produced an imperial edict: “The Emperor ordered me to guard the Eastern Palace. If traitors infiltrate and endanger the Crown Princess, I will bear responsibility. Guards, search this place! Anyone who obstructs will be charged with disobedience to the imperial decree!”

“Xiao Rang, how dare you disrespect the dignity of the Eastern Palace!”

Yu Shu immediately blocked the way, seemingly worried Yang Zhan would not escape.

Xiao Rang’s gaze sharpened: “Anyone who obstructs, seize them!”

Yang Fu also shouted fiercely: “Seize the Crown Princess first! If anything happens, I will take responsibility!”

The Left Brave Guards lost all hesitation.

Chen Shu’s expression changed slightly: “How dare you!”

“Clang clang…”

Drawn swords flashed with murderous intent; Chen Shu and the others dared not move rashly.

Because Xiao Rang still held the imperial decree.

Yu Shu was soon restrained, her face flushed with anger: “Yang Fu, you are too presumptuous! I am still the Crown Princess!”

Yang Fu lifted her chin arrogantly, embodying the willful pride of a spoiled princess:

“What of the Crown Princess? She incited my elder brother against my mother—that makes her the culprit!”

Yang Fu ordered, “Uncle, search quickly! Don’t let anyone escape. When we catch them, let’s see how she denies it!”

She seemed confident there was someone else.

Under Xiao Rang’s command, the Left Brave Guards surrounded the place and began searching.

At that moment, a voice rang out sharply from afar.

“General Yang Zhan, Commander of the Garrison Army, pays respects to the Crown Princess!”

Everyone froze at these words.

Annoyed, Yu Shu immediately brightened: “Please, come in quickly!”

Xiao Rang suddenly barked, “Hold! The Eastern Palace is under guard. No outsiders may meet the Crown Princess. The Emperor’s order is clear!”

He then commanded, “A late-night visit to the Crown Princess breaches etiquette. General Yang, come another day!”

“Haha… General Xiao, what’s going on? Has the Crown Prince been deposed, and now you dare to lead troops into the Eastern Palace? Or do you think this is your personal garden?”

Yang Zhan had already arrived.

In truth, he had never left far nor left the Eastern Palace to pay his respects. Instead, he simply imitated someone else’s voice to announce his presence.

Xiao Rang’s expression turned stern: “General Yang, you were not invited in. Are you trespassing?”

At his words, several Left Brave Guards drew their swords, confronting Yang Zhan.

Yang Zhan barely glanced at them.

Instead, he looked at Xiao Rang: “General Xiao, the Crown Princess did not invite me in. Are you making decisions on her behalf?”

“You…”

Though her arms were restrained, Yu Shu quickly spoke: “I invited General Yang in. No one else may interfere!”

Yang Zhan turned to the cold-faced Xiao Rang: “General Xiao, you were ordered to guard the Eastern Palace. Why are you inside, disturbing the palace ladies at night, and assaulting the Crown Princess?”

He then scolded sharply, “Who the hell gave you the nerve!”

“I did!”

Yang Fu, emboldened by her uncle’s backing, was brash and overbearing.

Yang Zhan then looked at Yang Fu.

Just one glance made her shudder, shrinking back and moving behind Xiao Rang.

Her eyes red, she said, “Yang Zhan, don’t be so wild. Uncle, just the other day Yang Zhan hit me.”

Suddenly!

Before Xiao Rang could react, Yang Zhan vanished.

The next instant, two loud thuds were heard.

The two Left Brave Guards restraining Yu Shu’s arms were instantly flung away.

“How dare you insult the Crown Princess! It wouldn’t be an overreaction to kill you!”

Yang Zhan’s voice came as he steadied Yu Shu.

“Crown Princess, rest assured. With me here today, I will see who dares to act recklessly in the Eastern Palace. Chen Shu, protect the Crown Princess well. If anyone dares lay a finger on her, kill them!”

“If anyone wants to argue, they can come find me, Yang Zhan!”

Yang Zhan’s voice was filled with deadly resolve, sending a chill through Yang Fu, Xiao Rang, and the others.

“Yes, General!”

Chen Shu was invigorated, and the Eastern Palace guards seemed to gain fresh courage.

Yang Zhan’s gaze swept over the Left Brave Guards, whose heads all bowed, unwilling to meet his eyes.

Xiao Rang saw his men cower like mice before a cat and grew irate.

He stepped forward sharply, staring at Yang Zhan: “Yang Zhan, you are nothing but a jailer now, yet you act so brazenly and dare to strike a princess. Do you truly think you can act lawlessly?”

Yang Zhan’s expression hardened: “I may be a jailer, but I am still the Commander of the Garrison Army. As for hitting a princess—that’s none of your business!”

“You’re just a nominal general with no real power. You should stay in the prison and mind your place. This isn’t somewhere you should be. If you anger the Emperor, you might not even keep your jailer post!”

Xiao Rang advanced another step, shouting, “Left Brave Guards! Seize this man who broke into the Eastern Palace and disobeyed the imperial decree!”

Military orders are ironclad. The Left Brave Guards raised their swords and charged.

Before Yang Zhan could respond, the Eastern Palace guards, now with a firm leader, surged forward with renewed spirit.

Both sides were poised for a deadly battle at any moment.

But Yang Zhan laughed: “Why make things hard for the soldiers? They’re all soldiers of our Great Xia. There shouldn’t be casualties among our own. You’re the Upper General, right? The one with real command? I challenge you to a one-on-one fight. A duel—winner takes all!”

He beckoned with a finger: “Do you dare? You’re the top general. Don’t chicken out. Don’t let me underestimate you!”

Xiao Rang’s face darkened.

Everyone knew Yang Zhan’s strength; who dared face him one-on-one lightly?

Xiao Rang snorted coldly and drew out the imperial edict.

“The imperial decree is here. Do you dare defy it?”