Ashes to Crown

Chapter 146: Chapter 100: Severing Life

’Why is Xie Yanfang here?’

The Third Prince’s expression was grim.

He had always known that Xie Yanfang was not to be underestimated. That was why the Xie family, just like the Yang Family, had been surrounded at the first opportunity.

The city gates had also been sealed, cutting off all communication. He hadn’t expected to keep it a secret forever, not as long as he had enough time to kill the Crown Prince.

But not only had the Xie family avoided being cornered and annihilated, they had fought their way out.

’That damn Xie family.’

Uncle Zhao spat hatefully, "To think the Xie family was hiding so many soldiers. They’re a pack of wolves with wild ambitions."

The Third Prince wanted nothing more than to capture Xie Yanfang and flay him alive.

"Xie Yanfang!" he roared. "How audacious of you to keep a private army! Are you plotting a rebellion?"

The sound carried over the walls of men on both sides. Hearing it, Xie Yanfang smiled.

"I’m not plotting a rebellion," he said, signaling for the guards before him to part. He urged his horse forward a few steps, getting a clearer view of the Third Prince.

His eyes were frosted over with ice but tinged with red, like a piece of blood-jade, erupting with undisguised hatred.

’I hate the Third Prince, a man with a wolf’s ambition, just as I suspected. I hate myself for not being by the Crown Prince’s side, especially when Miss Chu had warned me again and again—’

’I hate that I was on guard, yet still one step too late.’

’I hate the heavens for their cruelty, and I hate myself for my powerlessness—’

"I’m here to kill you."

Xie Yanfang put away his crossbow and drew the long saber from his back, his voice faint as he spoke.

The soft voice carried over the wall of men to the Third Prince’s ears. Paired with that blood-red gaze, even a man as bloodthirsty and murderous as the Third Prince felt his heart skip a beat.

He was a scholar in the eyes of the world, as was Xie Yanfang. And a scholar knew better than anyone just how terrifying another scholar could be.

"Xie Yanfang is a madman," Uncle Zhao whispered at his side. "If we don’t eliminate him now, he’ll be endless trouble later."

"Of course I know," the Third Prince said through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed viciously on the white-robed, saber-wielding man across from them.

But fighting Xie Yanfang to the death right now would do him no good.

The Crown Prince was dead, but that bastard son of his was not, which meant endless trouble down the line.

Worse still, if anything were to happen to him—

"Xie Yanfang—" The Third Prince let out a great laugh and shouted, "I may not have made it to the Hunting Ground myself, but my men have already killed the Crown Prince!"

It didn’t matter whether they were his men or not. All that mattered was that the Crown Prince was dead, and he just needed to make sure Xie Yanfang knew it.

Uncle Zhao couldn’t tell if Xie Yanfang was startled, but he certainly was. ’Isn’t this just provoking Xie Yanfang even more?’

"Ah Zhong," he blurted out, using the Third Prince’s childhood name.

The Third Prince signaled for him to be patient and raised his voice in another laugh.

"You oppose me because I oppose the Crown Prince. Now that the Crown Prince is dead, you have no reason to kill me!"

Uncle Zhao seemed to realize something. A smile touched his lips as he fell silent. ’Not bad, not bad at all,’ he thought. ’This could work.’

In the distance, Xie Yanfang remained silent on his horse.

"You oppose me simply because you want to be the Imperial Uncle, don’t you?" the Third Prince continued. "That’s an easy problem to solve. Just find another sister from your family to marry me, and everything will be as it was before, won’t it?"

’Find another sister to marry the Third Prince?’ Xie Yanfang remained silent, listening to the Third Prince’s speech.

"Xie Yanfang, you schemed to have your sister marry the Crown Prince only because he *was* the Crown Prince, didn’t you?" the Third Prince asked with a smirk. "Or were you truly an admirer of his character?"

At this, Xie Yanfang laughed. "Of course not," he replied.

’As long as he’s talking, there’s a chance,’ the Third Prince thought, then exclaimed, "Third Young Master Xie is refreshingly candid! We are all born to chase fame and fortune."

He sighed with emotion as he said this.

"Third Young Master Xie, when you think about it, you and I are kindred spirits. His Majesty has only one son left—me. That makes me the new Crown Prince. So, marry one of your sisters to me. She will be the Crown Princess Consort, and you will still be the Imperial Uncle. What’s not to like? It’s a joyous outcome for everyone! Why must we try to kill each other?"

His tone was earnest and persuasive.

"Third Young Master Xie, the Crown Prince is dead. He’s in the past."

The Xie family had countless daughters. It didn’t matter which one became the Crown Princess Consort; the Xie family would remain connected to the Imperial Family by marriage.

The Crown Prince was dead. Nothing could change that now. A man has to look forward, find a new path to survival.

Xie Yanfang looked at the Third Prince, but his gaze suddenly shifted to the man at his side—Lord Zhao, standing guard quietly.

When Xie Yanfang’s gaze fell upon him, Lord Zhao felt a sudden numbness, as if he’d been targeted by a viper.

"If Your Highness is sincere in your offer, then kill Lord Zhao," Xie Yanfang said with a smile. "Let there be only one Imperial Uncle in this world."

’Xie Yanfang, you son of a bitch!’ Lord Zhao cursed inwardly. ’I knew that bastard was no good! He—’

He opened his mouth to speak, but before a sound could escape, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen as a blade pierced his flesh.

’What’s happening?’

Lord Zhao turned his head in disbelief and saw the Third Prince’s pale face—

He had watched this face since the Prince was a boy. The boy looked so much like him, just as the old saying goes: a nephew takes after his mother’s brother. He had always been happy about that, proud of it, even.

He had cared for this nephew more than his own son.

He had gathered men for him, raised funds for him, plotted for him, committed evil for him, and even shielded him with his own body.

When those arrows had flown at them just moments ago, he had shielded the Third Prince without a second thought.

He cherished the Third Prince as he cherished his own life.

But it seemed the Third Prince did not feel the same way—

’That Xie Yanfang... it was just one sentence! Just one sentence! You didn’t even question it, didn’t try to stall, didn’t even try to bargain—’

Uncle Zhao clutched his chest, his eyes fixed on the Third Prince.

"Ah... Zhong—" he stammered, his teeth chattering as he called out the Third Prince’s childhood name.

The Third Prince pulled his hand back, yanking the long saber free, and then kicked out.

Uncle Zhao’s breath caught in his throat. He tumbled from his horse, the rest of his warning—"Ah Zhong, be careful of him..."—left unsaid.

The sudden turn of events startled everyone, especially the men of the Zhao Family, who began to back away.

The Third Prince’s expression remained unchanged. He wiped his blade on Uncle Zhao’s corpse. "My uncle cherished me," he said. "He was more than willing to sacrifice his life for the success of my grand plan."

With that, he looked toward Xie Yanfang.

"Third Young Master Xie, now my future sons and I will have only you for an uncle. Are you satisfied?"

Xie Yanfang burst out laughing, sheathing his long saber. "Satisfied!"

He sheathed his saber. The Third Prince’s smile widened. Now that he had won over Xie Yanfang, it didn’t matter so much that the Crown Prince’s bastard son was still alive.

Perhaps, to show his sincerity and to secure his future position as Imperial Uncle, Xie Yanfang might even eliminate the former Crown Prince’s son himself.

’Former Crown Prince.’

’That Crown Prince is now a thing of the past.’

The Third Prince said, "Third Young Master Xie—"

He was just about to make another generous promise when, as Xie Yanfang sheathed his long saber, the men beside him suddenly drew their bows and aimed at the Third Prince—

"Xie Yanfang!" The Third Prince’s face twisted in fury. "You dare—"

His only answer was a sharp WHIZZ as three feathered arrows flew toward him, following Xie Yanfang’s cold gaze.

The events of that single moment caught everyone off guard. First, Uncle Zhao had been killed, throwing the guards into disarray. So when Xie Yanfang suddenly attacked, they failed to react in time.

By the time the guards reacted, the Third Prince had already been struck by three arrows. He fell from his horse, landing on the corpse of the freshly killed Uncle Zhao.

Xie Yanfang sat on his horse, hands at his sides, and said coldly, "Kill them!"

’Leave no one alive!’

’Third Prince, only with your death will there truly be just one Imperial Uncle in this world—one from the Xie family.’

’There will never be a New Imperial Uncle.’

...

...

Hoofbeats thundered and fires blazed across the Hunting Ground, but the sounds of battle had ceased.

People were no longer running about in chaos. Instead, they crouched or lay flat on the ground, trying to avoid being trampled to paste by the charging cavalry.

"Young Master! Young Master—"

A Palace Maid stumbled forward, waving frantically at the sight of a white-robed young master galloping toward her on horseback.

"My lady! Please, save my lady—"

Xie Yanfang galloped toward the Palace Maid and asked urgently, "Where is Yu’er? Is Yu’er all right?"

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