Chapter 5: I Lay My Cards on the Table!

As soon as General Dong’s command rang out, dozens of soldiers surged forth from the Prince of Zhennan’s residence. Each one stood tall and straight as pine trees, wielding thick war blades in their hands.

Behind them, a few soldiers led two fierce hounds, advancing in White Muge’s direction.

It was immediately obvious that Generals Dong and Lü had been prepared. These elite soldiers and the hounds had likely been on standby ever since their spies within the palace had come to report the situation.

Without any explanation, White Muge and his two companions were surrounded on all sides by the soldiers.

“General Dong, what is the meaning of this?” White Muge asked, his brows furrowing as he glanced around at the encircling troops.

Had he witnessed such a scene before, he would certainly have felt dread—his martial skills were meager, and being trapped like this could well have spelled his end.

But the situation was entirely different now.

With the likes of Hai Dafu and Cao Zhengchun at his side, the mere scores of experts and a couple of hounds in the Prince of Zhennan’s residence posed no threat to him whatsoever.

Still, as he had yet to lay hands on the military tally for the two hundred thousand troops, White Muge decided to keep up appearances.

“Hmph!”

This time, it was General Lü who gave a cold snort, folding his arms and sneering at White Muge, “White Muge, spare us your act. Everyone at court knows you and the young Prince Tang have been close since childhood. Now, my lord was assassinated in the imperial study—if this wasn’t orchestrated by you and the young prince, do you really take us all for fools? Do you think our prince would risk his life just to save the young prince? My advice: confess quickly and spare yourself needless suffering!”

As he spoke, General Lü gestured with a wave of his hand. Behind him, the soldier holding the hounds began to loosen their leashes, clearly threatening to set them loose should White Muge refuse to talk.

Seeing this, both Cao Zhengchun and Hai Dafu narrowed their eyes. Cao Zhengchun promptly offered, “Young Master, shall I deal with them for you?”

“You two alone?” General Dong burst out laughing before White Muge could reply, his face full of disdain. “You think the pair of you could defeat the dozens of martial experts in the prince’s residence?”

The rest of the warriors joined in, laughing raucously and mocking them.

General Lü also smiled coldly. “White Muge, the men in this residence are all second-rate experts of the Great Tang. Even in the martial world or within the palace itself, they are formidable enough to inspire fear. And those two old men behind you, already with one foot in the grave, dare to boast so shamelessly?”

“If these men attack, the three of you will be wiped out before you even realize what happened!”

Yet, Cao Zhengchun merely smiled slightly and did not answer General Dong. Instead, he looked to White Muge for instructions.

If White Muge gave the word, he would act instantly.

To Dong and Lü, these soldiers were rare talents. But to Cao Zhengchun and Hai Dafu, they were no more than swine and curs.

White Muge paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly. “Since you’ve already uncovered our scheme, I suppose there’s no need for pretenses.”

Generals Dong and Lü glared at him, demanding, “So you admit it? That you and the young Prince Tang plotted the prince’s death together?”

White Muge shook his head without answering and instead commanded, “Cao Zhengchun, deal with them. Hai Dafu, go fetch me the military tally!”

“At once, young master!” The two bowed and accepted the order.

In the next instant, before Dong, Lü, or any of the soldiers could react, the two had already sprung into action.

Screams, thuds, and the dying whimpers of hounds resounded ceaselessly above the residence.

Hai Dafu, displaying his lightness skill, soared over the crowd and charged straight into the main hall. Any who blocked his path fell instantly to his Bone-Melting Palm.

Cao Zhengchun plunged into the fray; with barely a move, those who rushed at him lost all power to resist.

As for White Muge, none could even come near him.

A breeze stirred his white robes, lending him an air of ease and elegance. Amid the cries and chaos, he stood untouched, a picture of the unruffled young gentleman.

If music were to play now, it would be: “Invincibility is such a lonely thing…”

But to return to the story.

Soon enough, Hai Dafu reemerged from the main hall, the military tally in hand and stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.

Cao Zhengchun had killed every so-called ‘expert’ in the residence, sparing only Dong and Lü, whom he had left heavily wounded and spitting blood on the ground.

“Young master, the tally is here!” Hai Dafu presented it to White Muge.

“Thank you,” White Muge nodded, carefully examining the tally. Once satisfied with its authenticity, he tucked it into his robe.

Cao Zhengchun, not the least out of breath, asked, “Young master, what should we do with these two?”

“Take them with us—escort them to court. His Majesty will pass sentence himself,” White Muge replied with a smile, then turned and left the residence.

Now that the military tally was in hand, the two hundred thousand troops would obey only its bearer. The Prince of Zhennan’s men could no longer command them.

The threat to Chang’an was gone.

The mission was a complete success.

“Yes, young master.” The two hurried after him, each grabbing one of the defeated generals and heading for the palace.

To keep them from making a fuss on the way, Cao Zhengchun and Hai Dafu knocked them unconscious.

After they left, a household retainer who had been hiding in the shadows, seeing that the coast was clear, fled at once.

“The prince is dead, and Dong and Lü have been captured by White Muge. I must report to the chief immediately…”

…

Court, Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The full assembly of civil and military officials remained in session.

Before leaving the palace, White Muge had instructed his adoptive father, White Zhan, to find a way to delay the officials until his return, to prevent any conspirators from slipping away.

White Zhan, together with Prime Minister Cao Zhen, had not disappointed—under the pretext of discussing state affairs, they and the young Prince Tang had staged a masterful act of stalling.

“Your Majesty.”

A eunuch hurried in from outside the hall and bowed. “Lord White has returned.”

A flash of joy crossed the young Prince Tang’s face. “Show them in!”

“At once, Your Majesty!” The eunuch rushed out, urging White Muge and his party to enter.

The assembled ministers exchanged suspicious glances, unsure what the young prince was planning.

At that moment, White Muge strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The entire court turned to look—only to be struck with astonishment.