The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Chapter 608

A night breeze, carrying the scent of locust blossoms, swept across the ruins of the dilapidated temple, only to be suddenly ripped apart by a deafening crash. The decaying temple doors collapsed with a deafening roar, and from the rising dust, dozens of the Crown Prince's personal guards surged in like a tidal wave, their heavy black armor clanging coldly against the metal. The leading general removed his helmet, revealing a scar that snaked from his left eye to the corner of his mouth, grotesquely resembling a centipede in the flickering candlelight: "Prince Zhennan, I have heard that you are colluding with traitors. I am here on the Crown Prince's orders to arrest you!"

The Prince of Zhennan shielded Dongfang Wan'er behind him, his sword tassel sweeping across the rubble with a soft, rustling sound. He glanced at the dragon-engraved token at the general's waist and suddenly chuckled, a hint of mockery in his voice: "The Crown Prince is truly ruthless, sending the 'Blood Eagle Guard' to take my cousin's life." Before his words were finished, the sword was already drawn like a dragon from its sheath, its cold light aimed directly at the general's throat. The general barely managed to lean back and dodge, but the red tassel on his helmet was sliced ​​off, tracing a vibrant arc in the air.

Dongfang Wan'er gripped the black iron token tightly, the icy touch spreading from her palm throughout her body. She dodged the thrusting spear, her dagger sliding down the shaft towards the guard's wrist; a flash of cold light left a bloody gash. The stench of blood quickly filled the small temple hall, the candlelight flickering in the air from the fighting, casting everyone's shadows onto the mottled walls, making it seem as if demons were dancing wildly.

The Prince of Zhennan's swordplay grew increasingly fierce, each strike precisely aimed at his opponent's pressure points. But the Blood Eagle Guards, worthy of being the Crown Prince's personally trained elite troops, formed a battle formation, their longswords weaving an impenetrable net. Dongfang Wan'er caught a glimpse of blood seeping from the Prince of Zhennan's shoulder, her heart tightening. Suddenly, she threw her dagger, embedding it between the brows of one of her guards. However, more enemies surged through the gap, their blades almost touching her cheek.

At the critical moment, a deafening battle cry erupted outside the temple. A dark figure burst through the window; the instant his longsword was drawn, the candlelight flickered violently from the sword's aura. Dozens of men in black appeared like ghosts, their attacks ruthless, specializing in lower body strikes, instantly shattering the Blood Eagle Guard's formation. The leader removed his mask, revealing the strategist's gaunt face; his silver-embroidered shoes were still stained with mud from the docks: "Your Highness! The transport fleet is ready, awaiting your command!"

A flicker of surprise crossed the Prince of Zhennan's eyes. His swordplay abruptly changed, his movements perfectly synchronized with his strategist. Dongfang Wan'er seized the opportunity to retrieve her dagger, but as she turned, she noticed something unusual in the corner—a guard was reaching into his robes, where half a bamboo tube was faintly visible. Her pupils constricted, recalling the poisonous smoke used by the assassins at the Prince's residence. She immediately lunged forward. The dagger barely touched the guard's wrist; the bamboo tube shattered on the ground with a crisp sound, but no smoke was emitted as expected.

"Watch out! It's a signal arrow!" the strategist suddenly shouted. Before his words even finished, a crimson flame burst forth above the dilapidated temple, staining the dark sky blood-red. The Prince of Zhennan acted decisively, wielding his sword to cut off the last guard's retreat: "Retreat!" The group fought their way back, exiting the city through a secret passage behind the temple. The strategist shoved an account book wrapped in oilcloth into the Prince of Zhennan's hands; the paper still carried the dampness of the river: "The canal transport records have been altered in seven places, especially..."

The sound of horses' hooves shattered the night. Dongfang Wan'er looked back and saw that the distant flames had merged into one, like a winding red serpent spreading towards the dock. She gripped the reins tightly, feeling the jade pendant in her bosom pressing against her heart. As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, their fleet was sailing into the middle of the river, while on the opposite bank, the Crown Prince's banner fluttered in the wind, the embroidered golden dragon seemingly gazing upon the turbulent waves that were about to engulf the court.

Dusk fell like ink, staining the river a thick, dark purple. Prince Zhao Xuan of Zhennan, clad in black iron armor and a dark cloak, stood alone at the bow of the boat. The river wind howled, whipping his robes high into the air. The distant city walls gradually blurred in the night, the prince's flag fluttering atop the tower like a glaring red stain, stinging his eyes.

He slowly tightened his grip on the ledger, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. The yellowed pages were densely filled with records of the Crown Prince's various corrupt practices in the grain transport system over the years. Each of these figures was like a sharp dagger, enough to pierce the Crown Prince's meticulously woven web of power. "The Crown Prince thought that by striking first, he could put me to death," he muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Unfortunately, he underestimated me."

The strategist Chen Mo bowed and said, "Your Highness, this account book is indeed a fatal blow. But the Crown Prince has been cultivating his influence for many years, and his cronies are spread throughout the court and the country. If we leave the capital rashly this time, I'm afraid..." Before he could finish speaking, Chen Mo suddenly stopped and looked warily at the river.

“Mr. Chen is absolutely right.” Dongfang Wan’er, sword in hand, strode forward. Moonlight shone on her beautiful face, yet it couldn’t conceal the worry between her brows. “The Crown Prince is inherently suspicious and will never allow the Prince to leave with the account books. I have already ordered increased vigilance, but waterways are easy to defend and difficult to attack; we must be fully prepared.”

Just then, a sudden roar came from the river. Several warships emerged from the thick fog ahead, their bows flying the prince's banners. Under the moonlight, their armor gleamed with a cold, silvery light, and countless archers were already in position, arrows nocked, ready to fire.

"Prince Zhennan, you have colluded with traitors and plotted rebellion! Surrender at once!" General Li Wei, the leader, stood at the bow of the ship, his voice booming like a bell. He held a long spear, looking imposing, and the battle flag behind him fluttered in the wind.

The crescent moon hung like a hook in the sky. Zhao Xuan's laughter still echoed across the river, but Li Wei said no more. He suddenly swung his arm, and instantly, a loud whooshing sound filled the air as countless arrows rained down on the Prince of Zhennan's fleet like dark clouds obscuring the sun.

"Shieldbearers, form ranks!" Zhao Xuan shouted, his voice echoing throughout the fleet. A rapid thud of footsteps filled the deck as the shieldbearers swiftly assembled, raising their shields high to form an impenetrable wall. Arrows struck the shields with crisp "thuds," sparks flying. Some arrows pierced the shields, embedding themselves in the deck, their fletching still trembling slightly.

Just then, Li Wei's warship suddenly accelerated, its ram gleaming coldly in the moonlight, charging straight towards the Zhennan King's flagship. Zhao Xuan's eyes sharpened, and he decisively ordered, "Hard to left, fire all the crossbows!" The ship tilted sharply to the side, and at the same time, the crossbows on both sides of the ship were ignited, blazing and roaring as they shot towards the enemy ship.

The crossbow bolts struck the enemy ships, instantly igniting flames and billowing thick smoke. Li Wei, however, showed no fear, shouting, "Ram them! Sink them!" His warships, like raging beasts, continued their rampage. Seeing this, Zhao Xuan sneered and gestured. A small boat laden with hay emerged from the fleet and swiftly rowed towards the enemy ships.

The soldiers on the small boat lit dry grass, and instantly, the boat transformed into a ship of fire. Fueled by the wind, it charged towards Li Wei's warship like a burning beast. Li Wei's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly ordered a turn, but it was too late to evade. The fire ship slammed into the enemy vessel, and the flames quickly spread, engulfing the entire warship.

However, the Crown Prince's fleet was large, and soon several more warships surrounded them. These warships were well-equipped, and the soldiers were highly trained. They used grappling hooks to attach themselves to the Prince of Zhennan's warships, attempting to force their way on. Zhao Xuan stood with his sword drawn, his eyes like an eagle's, and shouted loudly, "Soldiers, today's battle concerns life and death! Repel the enemy, and a great reward will be given!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he charged towards the enemy soldiers boarding the ship. Swords flashed, their cold light gleaming; Zhao Xuan's swordsmanship was extremely fierce, each strike aimed straight for vital points. Under his leadership, the soldiers of the Prince of Zhennan were greatly encouraged, brandishing their weapons and engaging in fierce combat with the enemy. On the deck, blood flowed freely, screams and the clanging of weapons mingled together, creating a deafening roar.

Dongfang Wan'er, wielding a longsword, moved nimbly through the enemy ranks. Her swordsmanship was exquisite; each strike felled an enemy. Chen Mo, though not skilled in martial arts, also held a longsword, protecting Zhao Xuan and shielding him from attacks from behind.

The battle intensified, the river stained crimson with blood. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, yet neither side would yield an inch. At that moment, Zhao Xuan suddenly noticed that on the enemy's command ship, Li Wei was gathering troops, preparing for a new attack. His eyes turned cold; he silently calculated that he must eliminate Li Wei first to turn the tide of the battle…

The night was thick and dark, like an impenetrable ink, and the spray from the colliding warships on the river was tinged with blood. Zhao Xuan parried a spear aimed at his face, the blade severing the opponent's wrist in the process, warm blood splattering onto his black cloak. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Li Wei standing on the deck of the command ship, raising a command flag to direct the right flank fleet. He suddenly leaned close to Chen Mo's ear and whispered, "Go get the sulfur oil from my hold, and take the 'Swiftwind' to the rear of the enemy lines."

The strategist Chen Mo's pupils constricted, and he immediately understood. He turned and took two quick steps, then turned back to warn, "Your Highness, beware of fire attacks! Li Wei's ship is equipped with twelve ballistae!" Before he finished speaking, the roar of machinery could be heard from the opposite bank, and three crossbow bolts as thick as bowls pierced the air. Zhao Xuan spun and leaped up, his sword tip precisely striking the fletching of the bolts. Using the force to deflect them, the mast of the main ship behind him snapped with a crash, scattering countless splinters of wood onto the deck.

"Fight to the death with me!" Zhao Xuan roared, blood splattering as drops of blood dripped from the tip of his sword. He charged forward, stepping over the scattered corpses, his sword flashing like a silver serpent, shattering armor wherever it went. Suddenly, a mournful horn sounded in the chaos, and three warships from the Crown Prince's army broke through, forming a triangular encirclement. The massive rams at their prows, covered in iron, gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Seeing Zhao Xuan surrounded, Li Wei finally revealed a sinister smile: "Slice him alive!" His voice was broken and fragmented by the sound of war drums, but it greatly boosted the morale of the Crown Prince's army. Just then, Dongfang Wan'er suddenly swung her soft sword, wrapping it around the neck of an enemy general, using the momentum to leap to a higher vantage point. Looking around, her expression suddenly changed drastically: "Your Highness! There's a hidden fire moving in the southeast!"

Zhao Xuan's heart tightened; he knew it was the Crown Prince's ambush fleet of fire ships. At the critical moment, a burst of fire suddenly erupted on the northwest bank of the river. Chen Mo's "Swift Wind" charged out like a ghost, its elite sailors, all blindfolded in black, hurling sulfur-soaked oil barrels at the command ship. Fire arrows pierced the air, igniting the sails already soaked in tung oil; flames instantly engulfed the entire warship, and amidst the crackling explosions, countless burning wood chips fell into the river like meteors.

"Change formation! Put out the fire first!" Li Wei's roar was completely swallowed by the sea of ​​flames. The Crown Prince's army was thrown into chaos; soldiers forgot about fighting and grabbed buckets to scoop water. Zhao Xuan seized the opportunity, slashing the grappling hooks with his sword and shouting, "Archers, fire a volley at the sails!" Three hundred powerful crossbows roared simultaneously, a rain of arrows obscuring the moonlight and riddling the sails of the remaining enemy ships with holes. The powerless warships spun on the river, colliding with each other with a piercing sound.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Li Wei turned to try and board a smaller boat. Dongfang Wan'er lightly touched the mast with her toes and swooped down like an owl, her soft whip transforming into a silver snake that coiled around his neck. This battle-hardened general was dragged back onto the deck, slamming heavily at Zhao Xuan's feet. "Tell the Crown Prince," Zhao Xuan said, using the tip of his sword to lift his chin, the cold blade drawing a bloody gash on his Adam's apple, "that this game has only just begun."

As the first rays of dawn painted the river red, the Prince of Zhennan's fleet broke through the blockade. Torn sails fluttered in the wind, and bloodstains on the decks were washed away by the river, leaving a mottled pattern. Zhao Xuan stood at the bow, watching the enemy shipwrecks gradually disappear into the morning mist, and sheathed his blood-stained sword. The distant sound of drums heralded the start of a new day, while the undercurrents in the capital were only just beginning to surge.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the river surface crimson. Zhao Xuan, gripping the gunwale, gazed at the broken halberds and shattered blades drifting with the current, the shouts of last night's battle still seeming to echo in his ears. The river wind, carrying the stench of blood, swept over him, ruffling his tattered cloak, but unable to dispel the frost that had settled between his brows. On deck, soldiers were clearing the battlefield; the groans of the wounded mingled with the hammering of planks being repaired, creating a particularly oppressive atmosphere in the twilight.

"Your Highness, this is the list of casualties." Chen Mo walked over, holding a bamboo scroll, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on his face. "More than three hundred men were lost in this battle, and five warships were destroyed. Now, our provisions are only enough to last ten days." Before he finished speaking, a long and urgent gong sounded from the lookout post at the top of the mast.

Zhao Xuan looked up sharply and saw the river shimmering in the distance, with a few lights flickering in the twilight. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the effort. Only when he saw the banner of the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion flying over the approaching ship did his tense body relax slightly.

"Your Highness, the southern port is just ahead." Chen Mo gazed at the gradually emerging city outline, his tone tinged with caution. "This is the territory of the Crown Prince's faction. If we rashly dock..."

"How can we regroup without entering the port?" Zhao Xuan turned around, the candlelight illuminating the bloodshot eyes. "Send the order down: the entire army must remain on high alert and dock at midnight tonight. Send the secret guards ahead to assess the city's defenses." He paused, his gaze drifting towards the dimly lit area. "And while you're at it, find out how close the Southern Border Governor has been to the Crown Prince lately."

As night deepened, the fleet silently entered the harbor. Zhao Xuan stood on the deck, looking at the shadowy guards on the dock, and suddenly remembered the wrist guards that the princess had sewn for him before his departure, which were now tucked into his clothes.