Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Prince Yong, Xiao Jing, was "invited" back to his room, ostensibly for protection, but in reality, he was placed under house arrest.

The inn was completely surrounded by the Han Yuan Guards, and the hundred assassins brought by Cao Yong were also separated and controlled, and their weapons were confiscated.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Cold Abyss City.

The people were in an uproar, discussing the matter in the streets and alleys. They applauded the prince's decisiveness but were also uneasy about the sudden turmoil.

In the study of the city lord's mansion, Xiao Chen summoned his trusted confidants for a meeting overnight.

"Your Highness, isn't this going too far..." Han Lie frowned, deeply worried. Imprisoning a prince was no small matter, even if the other side was in the wrong first.

"The arrow is on the string, and it must be released."

Xiao Chen's expression was cold and stern. "He dared to fabricate evidence and launch an attack in court, which means he has already torn off all pretense of civility."

If I do not fight back, and he forcibly takes me down as an "imperial envoy" and escorts me back to the capital, I will be at his mercy.

At that time, the dragons of Hanyuan will be leaderless, and great chaos will surely ensue.

Murong Han, who was watching intently from the sidelines, wouldn't let the opportunity slip by. Detaining him was both self-preservation and buying time.

"Your Highness is right!"

Wang Dashan said angrily, "That Xiao Jing is too much! If it weren't for Your Highness's quick thinking and the Left Wise Prince's interference, the consequences would have been unimaginable! We're in the right, so why should we be afraid of him!"

"Being reasonable is one thing, how the court views it is another."

Zhang Meng was more composed. "We must immediately submit a memorial explaining the reasons and present false evidence. At the same time, we must let the people of the capital and even the whole country know that it was Prince Yong who framed us first, intending to disrupt the northern border."

"The memorial has been written overnight."

Xiao Chen picked up a thick memorial from the table and handed it to Zhao Tie. "Use the fastest channel, Night Owl, to send it to the capital in three routes. Send one to the Office of Transmission openly, one to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs secretly, and the other... find a way to deliver it to a few old ministers who are always prudent and do not associate with Prince Yong. The content must be consistent and the wording must be sincere, but it must highlight Prince Yong's faults of 'fabricating evidence, arbitrarily using force, and endangering the peace of the border towns'."

"Yes!" Zhao Tie accepted it with both hands and solemnly put it away.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen looked at Murong Xue, "Xue'er, as the princess of Northern Yan, could you write two letters?"

A letter was sent to Batu, explaining the matter and requesting him to submit a memorial to the court, stating that the alliance and trade with Hanyuan was in accordance with the court's policy of appeasement, and that there was absolutely no agreement to "share the northern border." The letter also testified that the "secret letter" held by the Prince of Yong was a forgery.

Another letter... to your elder brother, Murong Han, thanking him for speaking out today, and also asking him, in his capacity as the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, to explain to the court that Northern Yan is willing to coexist peacefully with Han Yuan, and that the actions of the Prince of Yong are suspected of damaging relations between the two countries.”

Murong Xue was incredibly clever and immediately understood that this was an attempt to leverage the grasslands and Northern Yan to vouch for her, creating diplomatic pressure.

She nodded emphatically: "I understand, I'll go write it now."

"Old Master Han, immediately organize people to record today's events in detail, including Xiao Jing's accusations, the flaws in the false evidence, the confrontation in court, and our rebuttals, and compile them into a case file."

All soldiers, officials, and even innkeepers present today who witnessed or heard this should sign and affix their fingerprints.

This copy of the case file was sent to the capital along with the memorial to the emperor, while the original was carefully preserved. This is primary evidence.

"Yes, I will personally oversee it!" Han Lie solemnly replied.

"Wang Dashan, Zhang Meng, impose martial law on the entire city, but don't be overly tense so as not to disturb the people. Focus on monitoring the post station and the Northern Yan delegation's residence. None of Xiao Jing's men are allowed to leave Hanyuan. As for the Northern Yan... as long as they don't act rashly, treat them with courtesy, but let them know that Hanyuan is watching."

"This subordinate obeys!"

With each clear and precise command issued, the entire Cold Abyss system began to operate efficiently.

Despite facing immense pressure, the core group, under Xiao Chen's calm command, did not panic. Instead, they displayed a strong sense of unity and determination to fight to the death.

The next few days passed in a state of outward relaxation but inward tension.

The market remained open, the waterwheels continued to turn, and the workshops continued to clatter, but the number of patrolling soldiers had noticeably increased, and a subtle tension permeated the air.

Xiao Jing flew into a rage inside the post station, smashing everything he could and cursing incessantly, but he was helpless against the impenetrable guards.

He tried to send messages, but without exception, all the letters were intercepted.

Cao Yong tried to break through the encirclement several times, but was blocked by Wang Dashan and his men. A small-scale standoff occurred at the entrance of the post station. Han Yuan Guards refused to give an inch. In the end, Cao Yong was intimidated by the enemy's superior numbers and the moral high ground, and had no choice but to retreat.

Murong Han seemed to have genuinely "caught a cold," and stayed home, remaining silent about the martial law imposed on Hanyuan and Xiao Jing's house arrest, as if he were merely a bystander.

But Xiao Chen and Zhao Tie both knew that the Left Wise King's spies had probably already seen everything.

Time slipped away slowly in the anxious wait. Each day seemed exceptionally long.

Seven days later at dusk, a fast horse galloped from the southern official road, kicking up clouds of dust, its hooves shattering the tranquility of the cold abyss.

The rider on horseback has three red feathers on his back, making him a "Red Flag Messenger" who delivers the most urgent military intelligence!

The messenger entered the city and went straight to the city lord's mansion, presenting Xiao Chen with a sealed letter sealed with wax.

Inside the study, Xiao Chen opened the letter, quickly glanced at it, and his expression shifted.

After a long while, he gently placed the letter on the table and let out a long breath.

"Your Highness, is this news from the capital?" Wang Dashan couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Chen looked at the crowd that had gathered around him, nodded slowly, and said in a complicated tone, "It was a secret report from Night Owl in the capital, delivered even before the court issued an official decree."

He paused, then said, "His Majesty... his illness has been fluctuating. Upon learning of what Prince Yong had done in Hanyuan, he flew into a rage and fainted in court. Although he has been revived by the imperial physicians, he... appears even weaker. Taking advantage of this, the Crown Prince's faction, together with several senior officials, impeached Prince Yong for 'falsely conveying the Emperor's will, framing a prince, arbitrarily provoking border conflicts, and undermining the foundation of the nation.' In the court, very few people defended Prince Yong."

"After His Majesty awoke, he issued an edict reprimanding Prince Yong, ordering him to return to the capital immediately and reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, and not to leave his residence without an imperial decree. The affairs of the northern border were entrusted to Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen, to handle with utmost care, ensuring the pacification of the military and civilians and the peace of the border towns. As for the 'evidence' presented by Prince Yong, after examination by the relevant authorities, it was found to be forged and was ordered to be destroyed immediately. His Majesty... also gave me a secret edict."

Everyone's spirits lifted.

The fact that the Prince of Shen was given full authority to handle the matter is already a great victory and a sign of trust!

Xiao Chen took out a small piece of silk bearing the emperor's personal seal from the letter, unfolded it, and read aloud: "I know there are many troubles in the northern border, and it is not easy for Chen'er to hold it alone. Jing'er is muddle-headed, and I have already reprimanded him. The important northern frontier is entrusted to you. I hope you will govern it well and secure the border forever. I will handle matters of the court myself, so you do not need to worry about them. Just focus on the affairs of the vassal state. When father and son are of one mind, their strength can break metal."

After he finished reading, the study fell silent.

This secret edict was written in a friendly tone, showing great trust. It almost completely entrusted the northern border to Xiao Chen, and implied that the emperor would handle the power struggles in the court, so that Xiao Chen would not be distracted. It even subtly referred to each other as "father and son," clearly showing its reassuring intent.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Han Lie exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.

With this decree, the prince's position in Hanyuan will be as stable as Mount Tai. Prince Yong's attempt to cause trouble this time can be described as a failed attempt that backfired.

Wang Dashan, Zhang Meng, and others also showed joy and punched him hard.

"Your Highness, when will we 'release' Prince Yong?" Zhao Tie asked.

Xiao Chen put away the secret decree, his eyes regaining their clarity and sharpness: "Since Father has given the decree, we will naturally obey. However... the decree just arrived today, and we need time to 'prepare'. Tomorrow morning, open the post station and send His Highness Prince Yong... back to the capital."

He deliberately emphasized the words "preparing" and "returning to Beijing".

Everyone understood that the prince wanted to take this opportunity to make some more arrangements, and also to let that imperial brother have a good "experience" of Han Yuan's "farewell".

The dust seems to have settled for now.

But everyone knows that after this incident, Xiao Chen and Prince Yong, Xiao Jing, are now locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Meanwhile, Han Yuan further solidified his position as the powerful ruler of the North during this sudden storm and gained a degree of public endorsement from the emperor.

The road ahead remains arduous, but the foundation of the Cold Abyss is undoubtedly more solid now.