FAREWELL TO THE IMPERIAL CITY
1004 Words
The first rays of sunlight stretched across the rooftops of the Imperial City, painting the glazed golden tiles with a warm crimson glow. The palace, usually alive with music and ceremony, felt unusually quiet. Every servant walked with careful steps, and every official wore a solemn expression.
Today was the day the four princes would leave the capital.
The news had spread beyond the palace walls. Merchants in the markets paused their work to discuss the Emperor's decree. Scholars gathered in teahouses, debating which prince would return as the future Crown Prince. Even farmers arriving at the city gates had heard the rumors.
Never before had an emperor entrusted the fate of the throne to the judgment of the people.
Within the Palace of Heavenly Virtue, Zhao Yun packed the few belongings he intended to take with him.
Unlike his brothers, who prepared dozens of wagons filled with gifts, silk, and attendants, Zhao Yun chose only a travel chest containing several books, a change of clothes, his sword, and a worn bamboo flute he had learned to play as a child.
Captain Lu Feng entered the room and bowed.
"Your Highness, the horses are ready."
Zhao Yun smiled faintly.
"How many guards has Father assigned to me?"
"One hundred, Your Highness."
Zhao Yun shook his head.
"I only need thirty."
Lu Feng looked surprised.
"Your Highness, Qinghe Province is far from the capital. The roads are dangerous."
"If I arrive with a hundred soldiers, the people will fear me before they know me."
Lu Feng hesitated for a moment before bowing again.
"As you command."
---
Across the palace, the First Prince inspected nearly a thousand elite cavalrymen lined up outside his residence.
General Xu Jian stood proudly beside him.
"Your Highness, every soldier here would gladly give his life for you."
Zhao Wei mounted his black stallion.
"Good."
He glanced toward the northern sky.
"The Black Wolf Tribe has threatened our borders for too long."
"This journey will end with their defeat."
---
Meanwhile, the Second Prince met secretly with Scholar Shen.
The old adviser presented him with a small wooden box.
Inside were dozens of folded papers.
"What are these?" Zhao Ming asked.
"The names of magistrates, merchants, and scholars who may prove useful in Qing Province."
Zhao Ming closed the box with a satisfied smile.
"A wise ruler gathers information before gathering allies."
---
The Third Prince's residence was filled with laughter.
Noble families had come to wish him a safe journey, bringing expensive gifts and heartfelt blessings.
After the guests departed, his adviser, Wen Qiao, spoke quietly.
"Your Highness, many admire you."
Zhao Rui looked at the gifts piled high in the hall.
"Admiration is pleasant."
He picked up a jade ornament before setting it back down.
"But loyalty is priceless."
---
Before leaving, Zhao Yun made one final visit to the Imperial Garden.
The lotus pond reflected the clear morning sky, and the fragrance of blooming plum blossoms drifted through the air.
He found Master Li Wen waiting beneath an ancient pine tree.
"I knew you would come," the old master said.
Zhao Yun bowed respectfully.
"I wished to thank you for everything you have taught me."
Master Li smiled.
"The greatest lessons cannot be taught inside palace walls."
From his sleeve, he withdrew a small cloth pouch.
Inside was the dragon-shaped jade pendant Zhao Yun had received days earlier.
"This pendant once belonged to someone who loved this empire more than her own life."
Zhao Yun looked at it carefully.
"There is an inscription on the back."
Master Li nodded.
"When the time is right, you will understand its meaning."
Before Zhao Yun could ask another question, the old master placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Remember this."
"When everyone praises you, remain humble."
"When everyone doubts you, remain steadfast."
"And never judge a man by the mask he wears."
The words lingered in Zhao Yun's mind.
---
At the Meridian Gate, the four princes gathered before the Emperor.
Rows of officials lined both sides of the avenue, while thousands of citizens waited outside the palace walls to witness the historic departure.
Emperor Zhao Tianlong descended the palace steps with the help of Chief Eunuch Gao.
Although his face betrayed signs of fatigue, his voice remained firm.
"My sons."
The four princes knelt.
"You leave today not as heirs to the throne, but as servants of the Empire."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"The people will remember not how many victories you claim, but how many lives you protect."
Then, one by one, he handed each prince a jade command token bearing the imperial dragon.
"Carry this with honor."
"It represents not power..."
"...but responsibility."
The princes accepted the tokens together.
"We obey Your Majesty."
As the palace gates slowly opened, the processions departed in four different directions.
The cheers of the people echoed through the capital.
Yet not every pair of eyes watching the princes belonged to loyal subjects.
Hidden among the crowd stood a young man dressed as a traveling merchant.
His face was ordinary enough to escape notice.
Only his eyes were unusual—cold, patient, and watchful.
He quietly followed Zhao Yun's procession until it disappeared beyond the city walls.
Only then did he slip into a narrow alley, where another cloaked figure waited.
"The Fourth Prince has left the capital," the disguised spy reported.
The cloaked figure handed him a black jade token engraved with the head of a wolf.
"Good."
"Our master has issued a new order."
The spy lowered his head.
"What is it?"
The cloaked figure's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Do not kill the prince..."
"Not yet."
"First, destroy everything he believes about the Empire."
Far ahead on the western road, Zhao Yun rode beneath a bright blue sky, unaware that his journey had already become the center of a deadly conspiracy.
Behind him, the gates of the Imperial City slowly closed.
With that sound, the life he had always known came to an end.
- Writer
