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Gu Tingye composed himself, cleared his throat, and tried to make his voice sound authoritative: "I am ordered to summon the King of Goryeo to the palace for a meeting. You all must make way immediately and not obstruct official business!"

The head of the guards stepped forward, his face as cold as iron, his tone uncompromising: "No matter who you are, without the orders of my lord, anyone who trespasses will die!"

Gu Tingye was speechless. He was already seething with anger, itching to rush in and confront the King of Goryeo, but then he reconsidered. A fight in public would not only be difficult to explain to the new emperor, but it would also give others ammunition against him, making him appear guilty. Ultimately, he had brought a thousand soldiers today to use the imperial decree to show off and intimidate the King of Goryeo, to make him behave himself in the capital—don't think you're so great just because you've been granted a title; Gu Tingye wasn't afraid!

But in the current situation, the other party was unyielding, and he hadn't managed to show off his power. Instead, he felt like he'd been slapped hard in the face, and he couldn't save face. Gu Tingye gritted his teeth, his mind racing, and soon he had an idea.

He paused for a moment, softened his tone, seemingly backing down but actually still wanting to gain some advantage: "In that case, send someone to inform the King of Goryeo to come out and receive the decree."

In his view, having Marshal Jin personally kneel in the street to receive the imperial edict was a way of regaining some face. No matter how arrogant Marshal Jin is, he is still a subject and must bow before the imperial edict. When the whole city is watching, where will this prince's face be?

However, no matter how shrewd Gu Tingye's plan was, he severely underestimated Jin Shuai's toughness. Not long after, the personal guard who had gone to report hurriedly returned, whispering a few words in the squad leader's ear. The squad leader, his expression unchanged, turned to Gu Tingye and loudly relayed the order: "My lord has decreed—leave the imperial edict behind, take your men and get out! This is a one-time thing; there will be no next time!"

The words were resounding, like a heavy hammer blow to Gu Tingye's heart. The color drained from his face instantly, and his grip on the riding whip tightened, but he ultimately dared not resist any longer. A thousand soldiers against heavily armed personal guards—if a conflict broke out, he might not fare well; he might even suffer a great loss. In the end, Gu Tingye could only glare hatefully at that invisible line, gritting his teeth and saying, "Fine, very well indeed!" He then abruptly turned, threw the imperial edict at the squad leader, mounted his horse, and led his soldiers away in a disgraceful manner, his departing figure filled with resentment and unwillingness.

In front of the Jin Mansion, the guards still stood tall like pine trees, their shotguns gleaming coldly in the sunlight, silently proclaiming their master's bottom line.

Gu Tingye returned home seething with anger. The moment he stepped into his study, he unleashed a torrent of pent-up frustration and resentment. "Bang!" He smashed a fine celadon teacup to the floor, shards flying everywhere. Then, with a few more crashes, the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table were swept to the ground, along with several delicate ornaments.

The servants outside the door were terrified, shrinking back and barely daring to breathe, afraid of angering their master who was already furious. They even walked on tiptoe, wishing they could hide themselves away. Inside the study, only Gu Tingye's heavy breathing could be heard, which, contrasted with the mess on the floor, only highlighted his uncontrollable rage.

A short while later, Minglan arrived hastily upon hearing the news. She had barely reached the door when she saw the broken porcelain shards on the floor, and she immediately understood what had happened. When Gu Tingye saw Minglan enter, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He swallowed the angry words that were about to spill from his mouth, suppressed his violent temper, and sat heavily in his chair, his hands clenched into fists, remaining silent, his face still ashen.

Minglan stepped forward, not in a hurry to clean up the mess, but gently poured him a cup of hot tea, handed it to him, and asked softly, "My lord, what's wrong? Who made you so angry? Look how angry you are, your face is all red."

Gu Tingye took the teacup but didn't drink it. Instead, he slammed it down on the table and, still angry, recounted his ordeal in front of the Jin residence. He described everything from leading troops to surround the mansion to being stopped by his personal guards, and then to Commander Jin's words, "Leave the imperial edict here, and get out with your men." With each sentence, his tone grew heavier, clearly unable to swallow his anger.

After hearing this, Minglan shook her head and smiled bitterly, her eyes filled with helplessness and understanding: "My husband, why are you doing this? Don't you know what kind of person my brother-in-law is? He's never one to suffer a loss."

She paused, her tone gentle yet incisive: "You led over a thousand soldiers to deliver the imperial decree; anyone with eyes could see that this display was somewhat provocative. Now that you've been humiliated, why get so angry? Besides, your brother-in-law has been kind to both of us, so why do you insist on being his enemy? The new emperor has just ascended the throne; it's a sensitive time. Your heartless actions are giving him ammunition against you."

Her words, delivered gently and without accusation, extinguished much of Gu Tingye's anger like a clear spring. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but realized that Minglan's words were all reasonable; he had indeed acted impulsively and had ended up making a fool of himself. In the end, he could only sigh heavily, lean back in his chair, the anger in his eyes gradually fading, and muttered softly, "I just don't like seeing his arrogant attitude."

Minglan heard Gu Tingye muttering softly but didn't respond. Instead, she offered a few words of comfort and then went about her own business.

On the official road outside Tokyo, the Jin family's entourage moved slowly forward. The wheels rolled over the dirt road, raising fine dust that shimmered faintly in the afternoon sun. Guards on horseback escorted the entourage from both the front and back, vigilantly scanning their surroundings to ensure the safe passage of the journey.

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-red. A mounted guard captain rode up to the carriage carrying the Prince, reined in his horse, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, we have traveled about fifty miles from the capital city of Tokyo. There is a village not far ahead, which is our pre-arranged resting place. We may rest there tonight."

Jin Shuai responded from inside the car, "Understood, let's go there."

The convoy quickly arrived at the village and stopped at a large courtyard that had been prepared in advance. The courtyard was not luxurious, but it was spacious and clean, enough for the group to stay in. Soon, the servants set out a simple meal in the courtyard. On the table were freshly roasted beef and mutton, the fat still sizzling and emitting an enticing aroma. There were also a few refreshing side dishes and coarse grain flatbreads on the side. It was simple but satisfying.

Jin Shuai and several captains of his personal guards sat together, eating and discussing their upcoming itinerary. Just then, a guard hurriedly walked in from outside, bowed to Jin Shuai, and reported: "Your Highness, we have just received news from the city that all of our people left in Tokyo have been safely evacuated. They have split into several groups and are heading to Dengzhou as planned, with backup along the way."

Upon hearing this, Jin Shuai nodded, picked up a cloth to wipe his mouth, and said in a deep voice, "Alright. We'll rest here tonight and let everyone get some rest." He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes, and continued, "Pass down the order: everyone must check their belongings. Pack up anything important that you can carry. Tomorrow morning, we'll abandon the carts and ride horses, and leave as quickly as possible. As for any baggage or unnecessary items that we can't take, burn them on the spot. Leave no trace whatsoever."

"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and immediately turned to relay it.

Night gradually fell, and the village fell silent, save for the occasional hushed conversations of the guards within the mansion. Looking out at the deep darkness, Jin Shuai knew this was only a temporary respite; a long road lay ahead, and he had to ensure every step was taken safely and flawlessly before reaching Dengzhou.

A few hours earlier, Minglan was gently persuading the angry Gu Tingye when Commander Jin, along with two personal guards, headed towards the palace in the morning dew. The vermilion palace walls gleamed coldly in the early sun, and as soon as they entered the gate, a chilling aura seeped out from the cracks in the blue bricks—the armor of the guards in the corridor gleamed coldly, and even their breathing was heavier than usual.

He knew all too well that with the new emperor's ascension, the Zhao royal family would never tolerate a "non-royal prince" like him, who held considerable military power, remaining within their grasp. With his forces, he could easily escape, fleeing a thousand miles in the dead of night without anyone stopping him, yet he still came. Not for any other reason than to bid farewell to the old emperor who had treated him well during his reign, thus fulfilling the bond between ruler and subject.

Jin Shuai strolled leisurely with his hands behind his back, the sword at his waist lightly tapping against his jade belt. He passed through the empty white jade steps and walked straight into the main hall. The morning court session had ended, and only a few people remained in the hall, yet the atmosphere was oppressive, as if a storm was brewing. Zhao Zongshi sat high on the dragon throne, his bright yellow dragon robe making his face appear cold. Below him, four civil and military officials stood on either side, each holding their breath, their gazes sharp and piercing.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Marshal Jin stopped and gave a slight nod, his manners so casual they bordered on arrogance. "May I ask what important matter Your Majesty has summoned me for?"

Zhao Zongshi leaned slightly forward, his fingertips tapping the armrest of the dragon throne, and slowly spoke, his tone carrying an unquestionable majesty: "King of Goryeo, during the reign of the late emperor, you made great contributions to expanding the territory of the Song Dynasty..."

"Stop with the nonsense." Jin Shuai raised an eyebrow and interrupted directly. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake. "Get to the point."

Zhao Zongshi, seated on the dragon throne, was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting such audacity. A civil official standing nearby immediately stepped forward, glaring angrily at the Jin general: "How dare you! How dare the King of Goryeo speak to Your Majesty like this? In my opinion, you are abusing your military power and have long since disregarded the imperial family! I implore Your Majesty to strip the King of Goryeo of his military command and punish him for this grave disrespect!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the other three ministers stepped forward in unison and echoed, "We second that proposal!"

The air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly. The veins on the guards' hands, gripping their sword hilts, bulged slightly, the metallic scraping sound particularly jarring in the silence. They were just waiting for the order from the dragon throne to begin their attack. But General Jin slowly swept his gaze over the indignant ministers, watching their clumsy performance. Suddenly, a wicked smile crept across his lips, and he spoke as casually as if discussing a trivial matter: "You just want me to relinquish military power, don't you? Just say so. Why bother having your ministers put on this whole drama?"

These words were like a sharp knife, ripping through the veil of pretense in the hall with a sharp "slice." The scene froze instantly; even the dust on the beams seemed hesitant to fall. The ministers who had just been speaking so eloquently now had flushed red cheeks, their mouths agape, unable to utter a word for a long time, like actors whose tricks had been exposed. Zhao Zongshi, sitting on the dragon throne, felt a burning sensation in his ears, secretly annoyed—the "layout" they had painstakingly prepared last night, intending to gradually force the other party to submit, had unexpectedly been completely unpredictable, shattering the facade with a single sentence, making them appear petty and weak.

He cleared his throat, abandoned the formalities, and said in a deep voice, "The King of Goryeo is indeed straightforward. I do have this intention, but I don't know how to bring it up... After you hand over your military power, I will give you generous compensation."

Jin Shuai looked up at him, his smile undiminished: "I will naturally hand over military power, but—that will have to wait until I safely arrive at my fiefdom."

"Absolutely not!" Before Zhao Zongshi could speak, a minister stepped forward anxiously and said sternly, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely inappropriate! Releasing the King of Goryeo back to his fiefdom is tantamount to letting a tiger return to the mountains. If he harbors rebellious intentions in the future, the fate of our Great Song Dynasty will be in grave danger!"

"We second that!" The other ministers immediately echoed, their voices overlapping, filled with undisguised apprehension. "If the King of Goryeo establishes himself in his fiefdom with well-trained troops and ample provisions, how can we check and balance him?"

Zhao Zongshi, seated on the dragon throne, frowned deeply. The ministers' words struck a chord with him. He gazed at Marshal Jin, the enigmatic smile on the man's face making him increasingly uneasy—this man had commanded a large army for many years; if he truly returned to his fiefdom, who could guarantee he wouldn't turn against him? But now that things had come to this point, forcibly seizing the power might only provoke Jin to turn hostile on the spot. The atmosphere in the hall tightened once more, becoming even more dangerous than before.

Zhao Zongshi lowered his head in thought for a moment, then pinched the armrest of the dragon throne hard with his fingertips. At this point, pretense was futile; there was no point in feigning compliance. He suddenly looked up, a ruthless glint in his eyes, his fingers clenched into fists. Finally, he made up his mind and said in a deep voice, "King of Goryeo, I originally intended to discuss this with you properly. Since you are so stubborn and determined to resist, then don't blame me for being ruthless! Guards, seize the King of Goryeo!"

Before the words were even finished, the side doors on either side of the main hall were suddenly smashed open, and a large number of imperial guards armed with swords and spears swarmed in, forming a dark mass that instantly surrounded Commander Jin. The glint of swords flashed within the hall, the air thick with murderous intent. Several soldiers rushed to Commander Jin's side, reaching out to seize him.

Jin Shuai suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, and a terrifying aura suddenly erupted as he shouted sharply, "Get out of my way! If I don't want to hand it over, nobody can take it! Since you insist on tearing off the mask and refusing to talk things out, then we might as well perish together!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a deafening roar shook the entire hall violently, sending dust cascading down from the beams. Deep within the palace, the sounds of shattering objects could be heard, and glimpses of flames and thick smoke rose, a scene of utter devastation.

Zhao Zongshi's heart sank, and an ominous premonition instantly gripped him—this loud noise was definitely related to Commander Jin! His face turned deathly pale, and he dared not harbor any more illusions. He hurriedly waved his hand and roared at the chaotic Imperial Guards, "All of you, get out! Get out of the main hall!"

The imperial guards looked at each other, seeing the emperor's urgent expression, they dared not disobey, and put away their weapons and withdrew from the hall in an orderly manner, leaving behind only a mess and the lingering smell of gunpowder.

Just as the hall had quieted down a little, an imperial envoy scrambled in from outside, his face deathly pale, and whispered a few words in Zhao Zongshi's ear. The more Zhao Zongshi listened, the darker his expression became, veins bulging on his forehead, and his gaze toward Marshal Jin was filled with shock and apprehension.

Before he could say anything, Jin Shuai sneered first, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Can we have a proper chat now? I had planned to hand over military power to the court after safely arriving at my fiefdom, and then live the life of a carefree prince, detached from worldly affairs. But you insisted on pushing me step by step, forcing me to take real action. Did you really think that all these years of planning hadn't included any backup plans?"

That calm tone carried an undeniable air of authority, sending chills down Zhao Zongshi's spine—he had ultimately underestimated the man's ruthlessness and trump cards.