The Prince of Ding was dead.
Although the Princess of Pingyue had been rescued, the entire Prince's mansion was now shrouded in a haze of grief.
After an unknown period, it was Long Ziyue who first broke the silence.
"Mother had already decided not to leave the palace. She also knew that it was impossible for the two of them to leave together."
She took a deep breath, stood up, and looked at Wei Qiong and Fu Long.
"Now, we must make all arrangements before A'Li returns. I fear we cannot remain in Dragon City any longer."
"The Prince is still in the palace," Fu Ning said, her heart filled with anxiety.
Such a commotion had occurred in the palace tonight, and the Prince's guards were even more heavily reinforced.
It was likely impossible to take the Prince away now.
Rescuing someone from the palace could only be attempted once!
Tie Xin suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, his face ashen.
"Tie Xin, don't worry, we will definitely be able to rescue the Prince," Fu Long said quickly.
Unexpectedly, Tie Xin shook his head, his voice hoarse, "The Prince... never intended to return. He had long ago... made up his mind to die."
"What did you say?" Fu Ning and Fu Long, and even Long Ziyue, cried out in disbelief.
Wei Qiong's fingertips trembled, "We, we can save him..."
"The Prince will not leave. Until the Empress and the Eldest Princess have completely split, the Prince... the Prince will not return."
But the Prince had also made his plans long ago; he had no chance to return.
Tie Xin's eyes were moist, and he seemed utterly devoid of life.
"The Prince... never thought of returning."
"No..."
"Commander Fu, the Prince has a few words he wishes me to convey to you."
Fu Long was already somewhat beside himself.
If Prince Xiaoyao were truly in trouble, what would happen to A'Li? A'Li would surely die of grief!
"Commander Fu..."
"I am here," Fu Long grabbed Tie Xin and pulled him up. The two entered the inner hall, and Fu Long asked urgently, "What does the Prince want to tell me?"
"The Prince said he knows his illness, and even if it could be cured, it would require a great deal of Chu girl's effort and energy. Currently, the girl's priority is the great cause of restoring the nation, and she should not expend extra thought on other matters."
"He..."
"The Prince knows," Tie Xin knelt on the ground. When they were alone, his tears could not help but stream down.
"The Prince never truly intended to accept Chu girl's so-called surgery. The Prince does not wish to become the girl's burden."
"The Prince hopes Commander Fu can comfort the girl well, and also... also Prince Xuan."
"Prince Xuan?" Fu Long was stunned, and finally understood.
"Feng Si is Prince Xuan, isn't he?" He had suspected it for a long time but dared not confirm.
After all, disobeying an imperial decree was a grave offense!
Moreover, by doing so, he would truly be abandoning his soldiers and his people!
For Prince Xuan, defying an imperial decree and facing execution was a minor matter; abandoning his soldiers and his people was the greatest pain in his heart!
Yet, he had truly done so for A'Li!
He had also thought before that in this relationship, A'Li had suffered unparalleled pain.
But he had never imagined that Prince Xuan, too, was deeply wounded.
"Tie Xin, no matter what, we will strive to rescue Prince Xiaoyao."
Tie Xin looked at him, and finally shook his head, "The Eldest Princess and the Empress have not yet fallen out. The Prince will not give up."
"He doesn't understand court politics at all. He cannot contend with Long Tianliu!" How could someone who could be Empress be soft-hearted?
If Feng Wuya remained in the palace, it would be a dead end sooner or later.
Tie Xin, however, had already prostrated himself on the ground, tears flowing like rain, "The Prince doesn't care. As long as he can help Chu girl, the Prince doesn't care about his own life."
"I only beg Commander Fu to comfort Chu girl well and not let her enter the palace to find the Prince. The Prince will not... will not return."
Tie Xin suddenly stood up and turned to leave.
Fu Long called out urgently, "Where are you going?"
"I don't know..."
Tie Xin looked back at him and wiped his tears.
He had followed the Prince since childhood. If one day the Prince was gone, he didn't even know if he could survive.
Perhaps... perhaps now, he could still do something.
For the Prince, and for Chu Qianli, whom the Prince cared about most.
"Commander Fu, I entrust Chu girl and Prince Xuan to you!"
Tie Xin turned and left.
Fu Long's heart was filled with turmoil.
Such a major incident had just occurred in the palace tonight. To attempt a rescue now was undoubtedly suicidal.
They still had many things to do, to ensure Long Ziyue and Wei Qiong's safe withdrawal, and to rendezvous with A'Li...
But what about Prince Xiaoyao?
...
After Tie Xin left the Prince's mansion, he immediately went to the Princess's residence.
"Wu Ya entered the palace to help Long Ziyue escape?"
Long Xinghe had considered this possibility, but when she heard Tie Xin tell her himself, her heart couldn't help but tremble.
Although she had almost lost her reason for Wu Ya, she wasn't truly foolish.
Wu Ya wanted to drive a wedge between her and the Empress; at least she could see that much.
However, she truly loved Wu Ya, and even if Wu Ya had other intentions, she didn't care!
After all, he was a young man full of vigor, unlike the calm Empress.
But what did Tie Xin mean by coming to tell her this now?
"Princess, your subordinate knows that everything the Prince has done is a heinous crime in your eyes, but your subordinate is now completely out of options."
"Wei Qiong and Long Ziyue are to withdraw. They... they are abandoning the Prince!"
Tie Xin's face was filled with pain and regret.
"The Prince voluntarily entered the palace to help them. I never expected these people to be so ungrateful and decide to leave Dragon City tonight."
"Now that the Prince of Ding is dead, and Long Ziyue has escaped the palace, angering the Empress, their withdrawal tonight is as expected by both me and the Empress."
If Tie Xin hadn't come, she would have already led her men to pursue and intercept them.
Although they had a large army in Dragon City, initiating conflict was not a good thing, but she was unwilling to simply let Long Ziyue and Wei Qiong leave.
But now, with Tie Xin coming to tell her all this...
Suddenly, Long Xinghe's heart began to feel uneasy.
"Princess, our Prince has always been underutilized in the Northern Underworld Kingdom. He only has good relations with Prince Xuan and Chu girl. This time, it was also for Chu girl that he willingly did all this, helping Wei Qiong and Long Ziyue, but..."
"But they have now abandoned the Prince!"
Tie Xin suddenly kowtowed to her, "Princess, the Empress is so astute, she must know that this matter is related to the Prince! Princess, please save the Prince! At this moment, you are the only one who can save the Prince!"
Long Xinghe abruptly stood up and said angrily, "Wu Ya helped those people to deal with me and the Empress. How do you expect me to save him?"