Chapter 23: The Token of Allegiance

Discarded!
Even a prince of the realm, in the eyes of the Empress, was nothing more than a discarded pawn.
And what, then, was he, Dou Yuan, in her eyes?
A chess piece with current utility, or perhaps another pawn to be discarded once the winds shifted?

"Someone, the Second and Third Princes are drunk!"
Looking at the two princes sprawled across the table like piles of mud, a chill ran through Dou Yuan. What did it matter if the Empress was preternaturally clever and ruthless? She was, in the end, only a woman. The throne would ultimately go to either Gao Changwen or Gao Changfei. Yet, looking at the two of them, there was not a trace of a sagacious ruler to be found. Rather than pinning his hopes on two fools, it would be better to look toward the Crown Prince.

"Or perhaps there is a third option."
"The Sixth Prince!"
At that moment, Dou Yuan’s gaze seemed to clear significantly. He strode out of the Prince’s residence, swung onto his horse, and galloped toward the Prince’s manor at the end of the long street.

Less than half an hour later, a residence that remained bustling even deep into the night appeared before him. Both at the gate and throughout the courtyards, ragged refugees and beggars were everywhere. To ward off the cold, these people had even lit several bonfires within the manor. One might easily mistake Gao Changsheng’s home for a beggar’s den.

"Who goes there?!"
Dou Yuan noticed with alertness the ghostly figures flitting through the shadows. Based on his years of experience on the battlefield, he knew these were bloodthirsty, fanatical men.
"So that’s it!"
Dou Yuan immediately understood Gao Changsheng’s motive for taking in such a large number of refugees and beggars. As Gao Changwen and Gao Changfei had said, Gao Changsheng’s situation was indeed dire.

Just then, a man wearing Taoist robes emerged from the manor. He wore a smile that made one want to punch him.
"This humble Taoist observed the celestial signs and divined that a distinguished guest would visit tonight. And sure enough, I have awaited the Great General!" Miaofa said with a smug air.
Dou Yuan’s initial impression of Miaofa was the same as everyone else’s: a charlatan. However, Miaofa’s next words made Dou Yuan take him a little more seriously.
"My master is waiting for you in the great hall," Miaofa said, bowing.

Master? Based on Dou Yuan’s understanding, the Sixth Prince had never taken in retainers before. In the past, Gao Changsheng had spent money like water; that pittance of an allowance was barely enough for his own hedonism, let alone supporting retainers. It was just that now that Gao Changsheng had finally learned to cultivate his own power, the first batch of retainers he recruited was a charlatan.
*I must find time to teach His Highness some experience so he doesn't get swindled again,* Dou Yuan thought, feeling quite disdainful of Miaofa.

Fortunately, he hadn't come for the Taoist. He followed Miaofa into the great hall. When he saw Gao Changsheng, the Prince was also taken aback.
"Miaofa, you really do have some knack; you actually guessed it," Gao Changsheng said in surprise.
"Master, please mind your phrasing," Miaofa replied, displeased. "You could say I deduced it through heavenly secrets, or that my calculations are infallible. How can you call it a guess?!"

Gao Changsheng couldn't be bothered to argue and turned to welcome Dou Yuan. "Does the Great General have business with me, coming so late at night?"
Dou Yuan glanced back at Miaofa, wondering for a moment if the man could truly see into people's hearts. He remained uncertain.
"Your Highness, I will not hide it from you. I have just come from the Second Prince’s residence. As you said, the Empress has indeed agreed to join forces with you—but it is only a surface agreement. Your Highness may not know this, but the Empress and the two princes intend to use the pretext of eliminating you to frame the Crown Prince!" Dou Yuan said with a grave expression.

What terrifying news! By all rights, such critical information should have been reported directly to the Emperor Shenwu. Yet, Dou Yuan had come instead to this prince, who was previously thought to have no means of self-preservation. This was not a visit to solve a problem; it was an act of offering a "tribute of loyalty." By revealing the conspiracy of the Empress and the princes, he had severed his ties with their faction and effectively made them his enemies. At the same time, he had voluntarily handed Gao Changsheng a weapon—the secret of the plot to frame the Crown Prince. If Gao Changsheng so desired, he could use this to destroy Dou Yuan. After all, for a minister to frame an Empress and princes was a crime punishable by the execution of three generations. Only now could Gao Changsheng be certain that Dou Yuan had fully pledged his allegiance to him.

"Is that so?!" Gao Changsheng suppressed his excitement and feigned shock.
"Your Highness, rest assured," Dou Yuan promised. "Since His Majesty has appointed you as a military advisor, it is my duty to protect you. Starting today, I will dispatch twenty elite soldiers from the army to guard your residence and ensure your safety."

Had it been a day earlier, Gao Changsheng would have accepted without hesitation. Back then, he was alone and had to accept any help to survive. But things were different now. Even without Dou Yuan’s elites, Gao Changsheng was confident he could survive the next three days. He had to consider whether these elites were truly trustworthy, or if Dou Yuan was merely pretending to defect while actually following the Empress's orders to assassinate him.

"That won't be necessary," Gao Changsheng refused immediately. "I already have my own guards. While they may not be as formidable as military elites, they are more than enough for self-preservation. General, you can rest easy—these men were carefully selected by Miaofa from among the refugees and beggars. Their backgrounds and movements are entirely trustworthy."

He beckoned to a man standing outside the door. The man rose to his feet, standing taller than the door frame itself. Dou Yuan had to tilt his head back to look at the giant, shocked that a beggar could be born so tall and powerful.
"This man is named Shi Meng, a beggar from the South Gate of Jinyong City. That place is a melting pot where brawls are frequent. When the other beggars were bullied, they would let Shi Meng handle it; if he won, they would share their food with him. Over time, he grew to be this sturdy." Gao Changsheng waved for Shi Meng to step back.

Dou Yuan’s gaze lingered on the man, reluctant to look away. He knew that while muscle could be built, a stature like that was a gift of nature. How could such a perfect material for a soldier end up in Gao Changsheng’s hands?
"General, are you wondering how such a fine specimen could come from a beggar's den?" Gao Changsheng’s eyes suddenly sharpened. "Have you ever considered that even the finest veterans of our armies can be reduced to refugees?"

As he spoke, a figure appeared at the door. When Dou Yuan turned to look, the old general, who had dominated battlefields for years, felt his eyes grow moist.
"Han Cong?" he whispered. "A centurion from my own army... how did you end up in such a wretched state?"