543-546
Chapter 544: That Night
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
With a dink, the knife in the eunuch's hand grazed by the Third Prince's young body and plunged ruthlessly into the ground of the Chen corridor. It actually sent up a few pieces of stone. One could see how powerful the strike was.
The Third Prince twisted his body and cried out wildly. His legs kicked blindly. He just happened to dodge the strike while he wildly waved the dagger in his trembling hand.
With two rips, the bottoms of the eunuchs' robes were sliced open, revealing two wounds. The eunuchs' faces became cold. It seemed they had not thought a precious prince would carry a dagger with him at all times and that it would be so sharp.
The first time he had pulled the dagger from his shoe, it did not have the effect it should have had. Although the dagger was sharp, it was held in the hands of youth.
In his moment of life and death, Li Chengping learned courage to kill that Fan Xian had at age 12 but did not learn his teacher's ability to kill. Although the murderous eunuchs did not know any martial arts, they were strong and powerful. They were not people he could resist.
A eunuch pinned Li Chengping tightly to the ground with his foot while the other eunuch stood on his elbow, rendering him unable to move. Looking at the rip of his clothes, he shook his head. One hand pressed against Li Chengping's throat. Holding the knife in his other hand, he brought it down once again.
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…
Li Chengping's breathing became more and more difficult. He watched as the knife came down and knew that he was going to die. Involuntarily, boundless regret welled in his heart. Thinking about the strike earlier, he didn't even manage to graze his enemies' side. Filled with hopelessness, he couldn't help but give up, close his eyes, and begin to cry.
He waited for a long time.
Li Chengping seemed to feel the pain of a sharp object piercing into his chest. The metal hand on his throat cut off his breathing. But, he was still alive. The two feet on his body and hand seemed to not be stepping down any further.
He opened his eyes in fear and saw a sight that astonished him. He saw that the two eunuchs above were like him with their eyes open wide in fear. Two streaks of black blood flowed out from the corners of their eyes.
Li Chengping knew that a chance to live had come again. Crying out wildly, he pulled his right hand from below the eunuch's foot and stabbed it viciously into the foot that stood on his chest.
The dagger entered the flesh and sent up a bloom of blood.
Li Chengping struggled to stand. He couldn't help the fear rise as the two vicious eunuchs fell down like two blocks of wood. His legs trembled. He didn't have the courage to move forward and see what exactly how the two eunuchs had blood come out from the corners of their eyes and then fallen down.
He lowered his head and saw the knife stuck in his chest. Only now did he feel endless pain and began to cry wretchedly.
Fortunately, when the eunuch had stabbed down with the knife, his strength was already gone and could not continue exerting force. The tip of his knife only pierced a third of the way in. This allowed Li Chengping to narrowly escape and keep his life.
Li Chengping dragged his watery legs to the two already dead eunuchs. Despite his fear, he had endless confusion in his heart. He wondered if the heavens were helping him by cursing these two eunuchs.
It was not a curse. The Third Prince finally understood this as he recovered his wits. He stared at the two tears on the abdomen of the eunuchs' robes in a daze then lowered is head again to glance at the black dagger in his hand.
The dagger in his hand was sharp. Although he only waved it wildly earlier, it had sliced through the eunuchs' clothing and grazed their skin underneath. Because the dagger was too sharp or his teacher had smeared some drug on the dagger, the two eunuchs had not felt anything.
The dagger was coated with the Overwatch Council's most powerful poison. Once the blade broke the skin, the drug entered the blood. Only a moment was needed for the two eunuchs to be poisoned, leaving not even a last moment to kill someone.
What a powerful poison!
Having escaped death by the skin of his teeth, there was not a part of his body that wasn't trembling. He held the dagger tightly and looked at the two eunuchs at his feet, whose faces were gradually turning black. Finally, he could not stand anymore and fell to the ground. He knew that if the dagger didn't have such a powerful poison, then no matter how much he struggled, he would not have been able to escape death.
His whole body trembled as he sat next to the two bodies. His face was pale. He didn't know what he should do next. This was his first time being attacked and first time killing. Even though he was an incredible prince who had matured early, his state of mind had suffered a great shock.
After sitting for an indeterminable amount of time, the 12-year-old finally came to his senses and climbed to his feet with some difficulty. Looking at the two bodies beside him, a complicated emotion that a child should not have appeared in his eyes. This emotion included fear, helplessness, unhappiness, and a glimmer of excitement. It gradually turned to calm and anger.
Who wanted to kill him? Li Chengping didn't know but was aware that his brothers could not escape being implicated. He suddenly gave a cry and began to sob. He grasped the dagger by his hand tightly and plunged it down with force.
One stab, two stabs, three stabs. He numbly and mechanically plunged the dagger into the body of the eunuch next to him. Endless amounts of fresh blood flowed out which, in the end, turned to black blood.
He hated these people, so he had to make sure that they had died completely. He was careful to not allow the poisoned blood to touch his body.
After some time, he stopped his terrified crying and stood up by holding onto the columns in the corridor. He looked at the long length of the quiet and empty Chen corridor. His lips trembled slightly. He then began to call out in a high voice.
At the end of the Chen corridor was the Cold Palace. There were no serving girls there.
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"Mother, I can't let you go live in the Cold Palace."
The beginning of autumn was not cold, but the Third Prince was tightly wrapped in a large blanket in a side room at the rear of Hanguang Palace. He looked at Yi Guipin, who was looking at him with tear-filled eyes. Lowering his voice, he said in a determined and cold tone, "I don't want to die, and you can't die either."
Yi Guipin's eyes were red. She held him tightly.
Earlier, the Cold Palace had come with a message. Only then did everyone know that the Third Prince had secretly slipped out of Hanguang Palace and had almost been assassinated deep in the Palace. In a great rage, the empress dowager had ordered the internal palace to increase defenses. Not only did she want to capture the assassins, she also heavily punished all the eunuchs and serving girls in Hanguang Palace. Even Yi Guipin did not escape it.
Earlier, the empress dowager had stayed by the bed of the fainted Third Prince for a while. She had only left a little while ago.
After the empress dowager left, Li Chengping woke and said these words to his mother in a trembling voice. It was clear that he had been faking the fainting in front of the empress dowager. The Third Prince had a secret fear of the empress dowager and didn't want to face his grandmother.
"Don't worry…" Yi Guipin held her son, her shock had not yet passed. In a trembling voice, she said, "In Hanguang Palace, there is the empress dowager watching. They won't dare try anything."
Li Chengping's face became dark. He knew that his mother was only comforting him, but he didn't say anything. Yi Guipin lowered her head to look at her son, wanting to speak but stopping. Finally, she couldn't resist and quietly asked, "Those two eunuchs… How did they die? Who did they belong to?"
"I don't know." Lin Chengping had not told anyone about the dagger. As he was calling for help, he had already hidden the dagger in the woods beside the Chen corridor. A glimmer of fear shone through his eyes as he looked at his mother. "They just suddenly died. I don't know who wants to kill me."
Yi Guipin became silent and glanced around. She realized that many people made for chatty mouths. There were many eunuchs and serving girls waiting outside. It was indeed not convenient to say too much, so she hesitantly closed her mouth.
After they learned the news of the Emperor's assassination, she and the Third Prince had essentially been under house arrest in Hanguang Palace and did not know what was happening outside. They only knew that Fan Xian had already been cast as an imperial criminal and the Fan and Liu families were both under control by the internal court. The empress dowager's gaze on them was also becoming more and more indifferent.
Looking at the Palace today, Yi Guiping felt a bone-piercing cold. She thought to herself, Hanguang Palace may not be very safe.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman walked in. It was the Great Prince's birth mother, Lady Ning. Yi Guipin quickly stood up and bowed. The two mothers met each other's eyes and sighed without end.
The Crown Prince had also come to visit and comforted his brother. He promised to find out who the real culprit was. These words were said with great sincerity, but Yi Guipin just could not believe them. After night gradually fell, the people left, and the room became silent, Yi Guipin gazed at her son hiding under the blankets. Faintly, she said, "If it wasn't the Crown Prince, who could it be?"
Which of the powers in Jingdou right now would benefit the most from the Third Prince's death? Unwillingly, Yi Guipin thought of a person's name but didn't say it.
Li Chengping watched his mother's thoughtful expression. His heart jumped. He knew who his mother was suspecting and shook his head firmly. "It wasn't teacher."
Yi Guipin had suspected Fan Xian. There were a great number of civil officials in court presently who stood firmly on Fan Xian's side and were using the so-called posthumous edict and the name of justice to attack the Crown Prince. If the Third Prince had really died in the Royal Palace, no matter what, the Crown Prince would not be able to clear his name. He would be disadvantaged in public opinion. If Fan Xian truly had the confidence to defeat the Crown Prince, what was the point of leaving the Third Prince? Yi Guipin looked at her son and faintly said, "Although he is your teacher, he is not your true cousin."
"He is my trueborn brother," the Third Prince said as he bit his lip.
Yi Guipin sighed. "In the royal family, what affection is there between brothers, and teachers and students? Earlier, you didn't tell the empress dowager and the Crown Prince that the two eunuchs had used an item of trust to trick you to go to the Chen corridor. If it wasn't your teacher's people, how could they have those items?"
The item was actually simple. It was from the Peng family's country estate next to Xi Lake in Hangzhou Jiangnan. It was a page from the Third Prince's favorite book.
Li Chengping lowered his head. "I won't suspect teacher. I trust in his abilities. If he truly wanted to kill me and cause the Palace to be in turmoil for longer, he would not use an item of trust. These are all things that can easily go wrong. And, teacher would never make such a mistake."
Yi Guipin forced a smile and didn't say anything. Emotionally speaking and based on the current dangerous situation, she wanted to believe in her son's judgment of Fan Xian. Other than Fan Xian, the mother and son had no one else to rely on.
Yes… But, I wonder when Sir Fan junior will be able to rescue us, Yi Guipin thought to herself. If Fan Xian truly backed the Crown Prince into a corner, the Crown Prince could only brave the risk of offending the world and use bloody methods to subdue the officials' hearts. At that time, they would probably no chance of survival.
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In the front of Hanguang Palace, everyone was silent. The entire Palace was enveloped in a suppressive and tense atmosphere. The Crown Prince and empress sat on either side of the empress dowager and gently massaged her back, The situation of this mother and son was much more relaxed than Yi Guipin and her son. However, they knew that nothing could go wrong with the old woman beneath their hands.
"Aunt," the empress glanced at the empress dowager and timidly said. "The Third Prince is fortunate and lucky…" She glanced at her again. "To be able to survive in such a situation. Looks like Fan Xian, that traitor, has taught him a great deal."
The Crown Prince furrowed his brows. He saw the skin at his grandmother's temple tighten and knew that his mother's words had foolishly angered the empress dowager. Huffing coldly, he said, "It is good that brother is alive. There is no need to talk about other things for now."
The empress dowager breathed heavily a few times and forced down the anger in her heart. She patted the back of the Crown Prince's hand and thought that of all the children and grandchildren in the royal family, probably only the Crown Prince truly understood what she was thinking. Thinking of this, the empress dowager felt that her choice was not wrong. Qing Kingdom needed a person who was as filial as the Crown Prince.
"You can all go out." The empress dowager coughed. She appeared unusually tired. Waving her hand, all of the eunuchs, serving girls, housemaids, and even the somewhat dissatisfied empress was chased out of the Palace, leaving only herself and the Crown Prince.
The empress dowager turned and looked at the Crown Prince with spiritless eyes. Holding his hand, she faintly said, "I don't want you brothers to kill each other. That is why I am pushing this body to watch all of this. I appreciate that you can understand all of this."
The Crown Prince didn't answer. He only sighed. Maybe he had thought of his brother Fan Xian.
The empress dowager's gaze immediately became cold and seemed to pierce through to the Crown Prince's inner heart. "As a monarch, one needs to make a decision when the time comes and be generous when the time comes. As for Fan Xian, he is the wicked culprit that assassinated your father. His surname is Fan, not Li. What is the point of thinking of all of this?"
The Crown Prince lowered his head and accepted the lecture. "I understand, some people cannot be forgiven."
"It is a pity we have not caught him yet." The empress dowager slowly closed her eyes. "Where are Shu Wu and the other officials being held?"
"They're being held in the prison of the Ministry of Justice." The Crown Prince smiled bitterly. "Presently, they cannot be placed in the Overwatch Council's prison. However, for some reason, these officials have either been deceived by Fan Xian or are very confused. They refuse to give in."
The empress dowager laughed coldly. "Deceived? They're nothing but a group of putrid scholars. Only your father would allow them to be so impudent. Perhaps they had already seen the posthumous edict in Fan Xian's hands and that is why they dare to be so tough."
The Crown Prince's expression changed slightly before immediately becoming calm again. "There is no posthumous edict."
"Correct." The empress dowager looked at him in approval. "How do you think we should discipline these wild speaking officials who are threatening the royal family?"
The Crown Prince's expression changed again. He knew that the empress dowager wanted him to make up his mind. After a long time, he said in a heavy voice, "Those who deserve to die should die."
"Very good." The empress dowager's face gradually became cold. "If you want to do things firmly, don't be afraid to kill people."
"However, the people of the Overwatch Council are not listening to royal command and are acting ruthlessly," the Crown Prince said after some thought. "A number of officials have been assassinated. The people are fearful, and the court is in turmoil. Fan Xian organizes it all while he hides in the darkness. At this time, I can't think of a way to deal with him."
"Fan Xian is using blood and heads to intimidate officials to try and cause large-scale turmoil in Jingdou," the empress dowager looked at her grandson and gently said. "Say what you want to say."
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment. He then raised his head and said in a firm voice, "I would like to ask you to move the troops into the capital to quell the disturbance!"
Hanguang Palace fell silent once again. After a long time, the empress dowager slowly opened her mouth and said, "Today in Taiji Palace, Yan Hangshu also suggested this. How was it rebutted in the end?"
The Crown Prince laughed bitterly and shook his head. "No one thought that after the all the scholars from the Hall of Governmental Affairs entered the prison that someone would jump out today."
The person would jumped out in court did not hold a high position, but his identity was special because he was the Left Imperial Censor of the Imperial Censorate, He Zongwei. He had always been on the side of the Eastern Palace and once helped the Eldest Princess chase Prime Minister Lin Ruofu out of Jingdou. He always had an unclear hatred of the Fan manor.
The Crown Prince always thought that he would be one of his staunch officials in court in the future. Unexpectedly, when he was about to give the order to move the army into the capital, he had jumped out in objection.
He Zongwei's objection was extreme. He took off his official robes, removed his official hat, and led a dozen other Imperial Censors in kneeling in front of Taiji Palace. In a great rage, the Crown Prince had given him 12 strikes with the wooden board and was going to have him thrown out of the Palace. However, this once famous talent of Jingdou, knelt with bloody spots in front of the Palace wall and refused to move a single step.
"Imperial Censor He's objection makes a great deal of sense," the empress dowager lowered her eyelids slightly and tiredly said. "I have actually prevented the Qin family from entering the capital and was also worried about this problem. Court precedent strictly prohibits the military from entering the capital to interfere in politics. Once the precedent was broken, I'm afraid it will bring endless troubles in the future."
The Crown Prince was silent. He knew what the empress dowager was worried about. She still hoped that he would be able to take power peacefully. As he did not have supreme authority in the military like his father, once the military was involved and the Ye and Qin families were powerful, what would the future Qing Kingdom look like?
"The Qin family has been loyal for generations, so there is no need to worry," the empress dowager said coldly. She had a deep connection to the Qin family. "But the Ye family? Ye Zhong is your second brother's father-in-law."
The empress dowager looked at the silent Crown Prince and, after taking a deep breath, opened her mouth to say sinisterly, "However, with Fan Xian… This shadow is acting too wildly. If there is no army to subdue him, Jingdou will never calm down. Even if you kill the dozens of officials in prison, what will it fix? If the situation drags out for a few more days, once the other five Roads of elite troops become restless, the situation will become very worrisome."
The Crown Prince bowed silently and said, "I need the military to enter the capital. Compared to the troubles in the future, Fan Xian is a dagger placed in front of me."
He furrowed his brow slightly. "What about He Zongwei's side? He is, after all, the Left Imperial Censor. He has a group of Imperial Censors below him who are unafraid of death and playing at a deadly remonstration outside the palace walls."
The Crown Prince's worries were not without reason. It was not rare to see officials being killed throughout history but killing an Imperial Censor was a great taboo.
Even with the Emperor's supreme authority in the military, when the Imperial Censors as a group attacked his illegitimate child Fan Xian, he still only doled out a few beatings as a show.
"Someone has to be the wicked one," the empress dowager stared into the Crown Prince's eyes and lovingly said. "I'll send down the edict to punish these people."
The empress dowager paused and said, "After the army enters the capital, your elder brother's Command post can be handed over."
The Crown Prince bowed with sincerity, moved and speechless.
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In Guangxin Palace not far from Hanguang Palace, the Eldest Princess, who had formed this plan from the beginning and then watched with cold eyes as countless roles played out on the stage, finally, for the first time, sank into worry. Everything that had happened made her feel that something was strange.
"Why has Fan Xian not been caught yet?" she looked at Eunuch Hou beside her and asked frostily. "The internal court has aces and the Jingdou government has put in great effort. How long do I have to wait before I can see his head?"
She said these words in front of her daughter. To the side, Lin Wan'er listened with a slight smile as if not worried at all about her husband's safety. A number of days had already passed. Since the Palace had not managed to catch him, then he would never be caught.
After chasing Eunuch Hou out of the Palace, the Eldest Princess' face immediately changed expression and became calm. It was impossible to tell that she had just been very angry.
She knew that Fan Xian was not that easy to capture. Since this young man could come down alive from Dong Mountain, it proved that he had some ability.
This was a massive plan that involved the entire world. The focus of the Eldest Princess's thoughts had always been on Dong Mountain and not in Jingdou. From the beginning, she had not thought that Fan Xian would be able to return to Jingdou alive. This alone had intimidated the foundations of her state of mind.
Since Fan Xian was alive, then Yan Xiaoyi had died. Li Yunrui's lowered her eyelids slightly and restrained the coldness in her eyes. She wondered just what realm Fan Xian's cultivation had reached to challenge the authority of the Royal Palace through such impudent assassinations in Jingdou.
She suddenly furrowed her brows and looked at the cold Guangxin Palace. "This Palace is giving off a smell of death and ash. I want to go out."
Lin Wan'er watched her mother quietly and said, "You're afraid."
"What is there to be afraid of? That Fan Xian would attack and enter the Palace tonight?" The Eldest Princess gently patted her daughter's slightly think cheeks. "I understand Fan Xian too well. He will forever be an assassin and mouse that causes little troubles in the night. He never has the courage to carry out open resistance against his enemies because he is more afraid of dying than anyone."
The Eldest Princess tilted her head slightly and looked at her daughter, "I have been thinking about a question. If I use your life to threaten him, what exactly would he do?"
"I am very curious about the answer to this question." The Eldest Princess smiled. "I am waiting until Fan Xian can kill his way to me."
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Fan Xian still thought that he knew the empress dowager's thoughts very well. The grandmother of the old Li family still hoped for a peaceful transfer of power and was unwilling to let the military's impudent and uncontrollable power to turn the entire Qing Kingdom into a chaotic mess. That was why he was regularly and thoroughly carrying out his plan.
It was clear that he had underestimated the strength of his image as a god of death in the darkness in the hearts of the nobles in the Royal Palace. He had not thought that his assassinations in Jingdou would push the empress dowager and Crown Prince into moving the military into the capital to quell the disturbance.
The next day, the Jingdou Garrison in Yuantai camp would enter the capital to quell the disturbance. If Fan Xian could not control the Royal Palace before then, a wretched end would greet him.
He had not thought that the timing of the Qin family entering the capital would be forcefully delayed by one night with bloody courage by the three surnamed slaves he had a deep and absolute hatred for.
In this case, He Zongwei had given him a great help.
The empress dowager and Crown Prince's determination had clearly come one day too late.
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The heaviness of night was the time for the Imperial Army to switch guard. The Imperial Army controlled the front half of the Palace as well as a number of important streets outside the Royal Palace. As the present situation was very tense, the imperial soldiers coming off duty temporarily stayed in the private residences in these streets, not daring to return to the camp to await orders.
A group of about 200 soldiers wearing full armor walked with unusual composure to the front of the Palace gates. They exchanged defensive formalities and commands with the soldiers on guard.
Given the present situation, the Commander of the Imperial Army, the Great Prince, had already not returned home in three days. He stood on the palace walls and watched the exchange below with cold eyes. After a moment of pause, he slowly walked down.
In a full suit of armor, he stood in the Palace doors like a god blocking all attacks from the outside of the Palace.
He coldly watched this group of soldiers and silently nodded his head a moment later. The personal officer next to him swallowed and nervously went forward to check all the paperwork. He then waved his hands and allowed the clearly unfamiliar imperial soldiers into the Royal Palace.
The Great Prince stood at the Palace door and had the on-duty soldiers split into two lines to march past him. This group of soldiers coming to take over the watch walked without sound and in strict military order.
As the last of this group of soldiers walked through the Palace gates, the Great Prince suddenly gave a sigh. The last person of the nodded slightly at him.
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"Commander, what next?" The officer was the Great Prince's trusted aide, a general that had climbed up through the Western Expedition Army. Such a small matter as exchanging paperwork did not need to be handled by him personally. He knew that in this exchange, he had to handle it himself.
Looking at the soldiers gradually disappearing on top of the thick palace walls, the officer swallowed and forcefully suppressed the fear in his heart. He asked for instructions in a trembling voice.
The Great Prince slowly gripped the sword at his waist tightly. The line of his face that was turned to the wind was particularly hard. "Have everyone wake up for a last minute meeting."
Once he said this, a thick sense of murder appeared outside his body. Although the Great Prince was not a martial ace, he had spent many years killing on a battlefield. Countless lives had fallen to his sword. Since he had made up his mind, the first thing he had to do was get rid of the restless fellows within the Imperial Army.
The officer knew that the Commander was going to kill people tonight. Yan Xiaoyi's trusted aides in the Imperial Army were probably going to be all killed. At this moment, he didn't feel fear. Rather, he felt a boundless excitement. He immediately went to send out the order.
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The front wall of the Royal Palace was wide. Four horses could ride abreast. It was completely built by green bricks and naturally gave off a murderous air.
A group of imperial soldiers lined up and watched the square below the Royal Palace. They were strictly on guard, as if preparing to greet an attack from outside the Palace at any moment. One person among this group of soldiers gazed deeply into the Palace.
Fan Xian gently tidied his soldier clothing and looked at the familiar Palace. It was completely dark inside. He didn't know where his family or enemies were. He knew he had brought 200 people into the Palace. They were going to face the internal soldiers and ace eunuchs of the internal court. No one knew the chance of success for such a risk.
Because he was unable to judge whether the Great Prince would be able to completely control the Imperial Army when the killing began, he could not depend on the power of the Imperial Army.
"Never do what an enemy wants you will do. The reason is simple. They want you to do it."
Fan Xian spoke to the Deputy Commander of the Black Knights next to him.
"This was said by a person named Napoleon. The door to the Royal Palace is already open, but the door to the rear of the Palace is still closed. They won't expect us to forcefully attack the Royal Palace with so few people."
He did not know of the Eldest Princess's judgment of him. If it had been the Commissioner Fan of old, the immortal poet, he would indeed not have chosen such a direct and courageous attack.
However, Fan Xian had changed from the moment he had risen in the meadow.
Chapter 545: Idly Pushing The Door Below The Moon And An Explosive Entrance
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The walls of the Royal Palace were thicker than the skin on the Jingdou nobilities' faces. Horses could ride across, and objects could be stored below. Even the Imperial Army's meeting rooms were placed among the giant green stones. In the darkness, it emanated a solemnness. There were only a few flickering lights illuminating everyone's faces and eyes, startling them away.
The Imperial Army generals and officers were exhausted. Ever since the three riders arrived in the capital and reported on the incident at Dong Mountain, a storm arrived in Jingdou. The Royal Palace they were responsible for guarding had become the center of the storm that all factions kept a close eye on. For many days in a row, no leading officer could leave the Royal Palace. Even when they were off duty, no one returned to their manors to rest.
The fire in the Great Prince's eyes became a burning light. He looked slowly at the dozen of generals in the room and said in a cold voice, "Does everyone understand what I said?"
The room was absolutely silent. A general with a heavy face knelt with one knee on the ground and said with gritted teeth, "I don't understand."
"Do you need me to read the posthumous edict once more?" The Great Prince watched his eyes and asked icily. "The Crown Prince colluded with Northern Qi and Dongyi assassins to kill the Emperor on Dong Mountain in an attempt to steal the throne. Afterward, he framed Sir Fan junior. Since I have already accepted the former Emperor's imperial edict, those who need to be disciplined will be disciplined!"
The general glanced at the thin piece of paper at the Great Prince's side and narrowed his eyes. "Your Highness, who knows whether the so-called posthumous edict is real or fake?"
The Great Prince looked at him coldly. He then slowly took out a box from his clothes and placed it on the table.
The box was opened. Inside it was a small seal. It was the Emperor's Royal Seal that had been missing for many days, preventing the orders from the Palace from being smoothly passed on.
Once the Royal Seal came out, the expressions on the generals' faces changed dramatically. They all knelt on the ground and bowed in the direction of the seal. No one said a word.
"Awaiting Your Highness' military orders."
"Sir Fan junior is getting rid of the rebels according to imperial orders and has ordered me to help."
The Great Prince's gaze slowly slid past the faces of the generals kneeling on the ground to read many people's thoughts. Although he had listened to Fan Xian's advice and inserted many of his trusted aides into the Imperial Army after he had settled into the command, there were still many remnants of Yan Xiaoyi's power from when he controlled the Imperial Army. If he wanted to rely on this Royal Seal and posthumous edict, he had to make these people serve him willingly. The corners of the Great Prince's eyes twitched. He laughed mockingly and coldly in his heart. Nothing in the world was that easy.
"Those generals willing to follow me to rescue the country from danger, please, stand up." The Great Prince spoke calmly. The light from the oil lamps in the corners of the rooms enveloped his face, making it seem like it was gradually filling with blood.
All the generals in the room stood up. Circumstances were stronger than people. At this moment, everyone in the room were the Great Prince's trusted officers. Even the generals who had other thoughts in their hearts did not make things difficult.
The general who came forward to speak tasted bitterness in his mouth. He had always maintained contact with the Eldest Princess in the Palace but had not thought the Great Prince would suddenly rise in revolt and gather all of the generals for a meeting in the secret room. Furthermore, the message had come so quickly, so it did not give him any time to react.
All of the generals of the Imperial Army were in the room. No one had been left out. If the Great Prince chose to kill people, no one would be able to resist. Thus, Yan Xiaoyi's subordinates could only make a pretense of complying for now.
Zhang Hao, Chen Yijiang…" The Great Prince suddenly named five generals.
Their faces turned cold. They met each other's eyes with a feeling of misfortune as they walked out of the ranks. All five were subordinates that had been promoted during Yan Xiaoyi's time.
The Great Prince looked coldly at these five people. After pausing for a moment, he faintly said, "You all know why I have called you out."
One general's face was the color of dirt. With a thud, he knelt in front of the Great Prince and said, "Your Highness! I swear I follow you blindly and have no other thoughts."
The Great Prince looked at him and nodded. Gently, he said, "I'll have to ask you to stay in this room for half a day. Is that alright?"
The general's expression changed, but he nodded his head in the end and returned back to the side of the wall.
The emotions in the hearts of the other four were complicated. If they were guarded by the Great Prince's trusted soldiers in this secret room, how could they send a message into the Palace?
The four men met each other's eyes. It was the person who had spoken first who opened his mouth, Chen Yijiang. He had been personally promoted by Yan Xiaoyi and was his trusted aide. Knowing that the Great Prince had rebelled, he knew he would not be tolerated. His identity had already been set, so he could not just wait helplessly to be tied up.
Chen Yijiang was silent for a moment ad then said, "Your Highness, at this moment, at least 600 or 700 of the 2,000 imperial soldiers are our subordinates. Dare I ask, Your Highness, how will you suppress these soldiers without our help?"
He abruptly raised his head and smiled coldly. "The Jingdou Garrison could enter Jingdou at any time. The Imperial Army moved a third of its forces to Dong Mountain. What will you use to resist those savage beasts? I dare ask that you consider again so that you won't put your own life in danger."
Although these words were spoken severely, the silent officers in the room all knew that this was nothing more than Chen Yijiang's weak final struggle.
"I never need to think again about the things I have already decided."
The Great Prince looked coldly at Chen Yijiang. A sense of murder gradually filled his eyes. It was a cold killing intent that had honed when he had killed Hu people in the West.
Chen Yijiang's heart trembled as hot blood rushed through him. With a roar, he grasped the knife at his waist and pulled it out with a clash before charging toward the Great Prince.
The angry roar was cut off in the middle. The knife fell to the ground. Three long spears pierced with unusual cruelty into Chen Yijiang's body, skewering him and hanging him in mid-air.
Fresh blood sprayed out from Chen Yijiang's mouth. He gazed with dissatisfied hopelessness at the Great Prince a meter away. His body twitched on the long spears as his head drooped and he died.
At the same time Chen Yijiang pulled out his knife and charged, the other three generals Yan Xiaoyi had left behind also pulled out their knives and charged bravely and hopelessly forward. However, the room was filled with the Great Prince's trusted aides. A number of swishes rang out. Knife light flashed under the red lanterns.
The bodies fell to the ground. The stench of blood gradually rose. The four generals of the Imperial Army died sullenly.
The Great Prince calmly looked at the bodies by his feet. He suddenly turned his head to glance at the last general. The man's legs trembled. He did not have the courage to go forward. Involuntarily, he shook his head and quietly cursed something.
"Watch him well." The Great Prince ordered his trusted aides and then walked out of the meeting room without turning back.
…
…
Walking up to the tall palace walls, the Great Prince stood in a tower building. His hand gently stroked the city-guarding crossbows that were firmly secured. His eyes followed the black light of the crossbow and toward the square outside the Royal Palace, as well as the four streets already controlled by the Imperial Army.
"As per your orders, the 600 people are all off duty right now." The trusted aide that arranged for Fan Xian to lead a group into the Palace stood behind the Great Prince and reported in a low voice.
Using half a day, the Great Prince made some changes to the Imperial Army's guard schedule. He successfully moved the 600 imperial soldiers out of the Royal Palace without alerting the four already dead generals.
The Great Prince faintly said, "Is everything ready?"
The officer raised his head to glance at the Great Prince and reported with unswerving determination, "One thousand, two hundred people have already surrendered the area and can take action at any time."
At this moment, imperial soldiers were resting inside the campground as 1,200 soldiers loyal to the Great Prince had snuck in the dark and surrounded the 600 soldiers. Once the order came down, they would raise their knives and clean out the last of the restless faction.
"Those soldiers should still be sleeping." The Great Prince's expression was a bit complicated. "It should be pretty good to die in one's dream."
In the past, the Great Prince had personally led tens of thousands of troops on a Western expedition and completed many meritorious feats by Xi Lake. His most commendable quality, which also inspired his troops to be loyal to him to the death, was his love of his soldiers like they were his children. However, kindness could not maintain an army. When it came to matters that implicated Qing Kingdom's future, the Great Prince's heart was like metal.
"Awaiting your orders, Commander." The trusted aide didn't know what the Great Prince was thinking and was a bit worried. He thought to himself, Sir Fan junior already entered the Palace. If His Highness's heart suddenly turned soft at this point, no one knew what would happen tomorrow.
The Great Prince smiled self-mockingly and pulled his gaze back from the private residences in the dark to turn his head and look at the Royal Palace enveloped by a dark night.
He watched for a long time. He still did not give out the order because the rear of the Palace was so quiet.
"It is not my decision for when we move." The Great Prince gently patted the heavy city-guarding crossbow under his palm. "If we act first, we may surprise the people in the Palace. Fan Xian will decide when it is time to make a move."
He looked at the silent Palace and couldn't help but shake his head. He actually had a lot in common with the city-guarding crossbow on the palace walls. Although he had great power, he was bound, hand and foot, by specific and illusory things. He could only point the crossbow toward the outside and not allow it to be pointed inside the Palace.
…
…
The entire Royal Palace was split into three areas. At the very back were the Cold Palace, autumn gardens, and little buildings. Barely any nobility lived there. It was basically a forgotten corner. The area the wall at Junling Square encircled ws a group of stately buildings that included Taiji Palace, where the Qing Emperor and officials discussed and decided all Qing Kingdom matters.
The place the concubines lived was behind Taiji Palace and made up of countless Palaces. Internal guards and eunuchs from the internal court were responsible for managing and guarding it. It was usually called Harem or rear palace.
Many people thought that once they entered the Royal Palace, they could successfully enter the rear palace. They seemed to have forgotten how much a strange masculine creature like the Emperor cared about his territory and female companions.
Generations of emperors had placed high importance on this matter because they had too many women. No matter how talented and well-endowed, it was inevitable that many would be neglected. Naturally, the Emperor became the easiest person to wear a green hat.
In order to not wear the green hat, the emperors invented eunuchs and built a tall wall between the rear and front of the Palace, scattering large numbers of trusted guards. Thus, in history, the perverts who had some illicit relationship with the concubines in the rear of the Palace were always guards, imperial doctors, or eunuchs.
Although the tall wall could not stop these illicit affairs, they successfully stopped many people who wanted to rebel.
History had long proven this point. A hundred years ago, during the Wei Kingdom rule, there had been a civil official who wanted to rebel while the Emperor was far away on tour. Like Fan Xian, he only brought a thousand people into the Royal Palace. He mysteriously passed through the Imperial Army's defenses and was about to succeed. Suddenly he was blocked outside the Palace doors by the empress, who had been left in the rear palace, leading a large group of guards, eunuchs, and serving girls who successfully keep the rebellious soldiers out.
In the end, the daring civil official discovered hopelessly that the women, youth, and eunuchs were actually more powerful than the Imperial Army. They kept him out of the Palace for three days.
In the end, this rebel died to conclude the matter. Other than the empress' calm bravery and the hearts of the eunuchs, serving girls, and guards in the Palace, the most important factor in successfully preventing this rebellion was the tall wall the Emperor used to keep his women locked away. It was truly too strong.
However, where there were walls, there had to be a door. People did not like to climb in and out of windows, so they always had all kinds of doors.
If there were doors, then there was someone to open them. When deciding whether or not a place is easy to attack, what was important was not how thick the door was or whether or not the door frame was made of metal. Rather, it was whether or not one controlled the person who opened the door.
Fan Xian dared to exceed expectations and attack the rear palace because he controlled the person who opened the door.
Two hundred "imperial soldiers" followed the usual path, patrolling silently and nervously above the tall walls of the Royal Palace toward the west. Just as they were about to reach the bright star, a cloud suddenly blew by. The starlight gradually faded, making the wall grow dark. The soldiers followed the return stairs down.
There was not a single light in Taiji Palace. Occasionally, one could see a few guards holding lanterns on their patrol and the eunuchs, with their bodies bent over, who were responsible for sounding the night watches.
The group of soldiers gathered below the wall in the place closest to the rear palace. Then, they all dispersed like the wind.
Fan Xian looked coldly at his subordinates as they dispersed like countless eagles, heading toward the few people and lights left in the front of the palace. In a moment, the few guards were silently stabbed to death.
He nodded his head. These 200 people were a mixed group. One hundred were chosen from the 500 Black Knights. The other hundred were the last batch of assassins the Sixth Bureau took in. Working in the dark, they were ruthless and powerful.
Jing Ge, the Deputy Commander of the Black Knights that was by his side, glanced at him and then at the tall palace walls of the rear palace about 30 meters away. In a low voice, he asked, "Forced entry?"
Fan Xian slanted his gaze at the unremarkable door at the bottom of the wall and shook his head. "We're going through the door."
"Through the door?" Jing Ge glanced at the Commissioner with astonishment, thinking that his words were truly miraculous. Had he learned the legendary skill of walking through walls during his trip to Dong Mountain?
Fan Xian didn't pay any attention to him. He took off the heavy soldier armor and revealed his black tight-fitting night walking clothes. Using the woods in the front palace as cover, he moved closer to the door.
Jing Ge made a hand gesture behind him. The members of the small attack squad scattered in all directions immediately flew over like bats. With Fan Xian as the center, they lined up in two straight lines and stuck tightly to the wall of the rear palace.
Jing Ge followed him and stood about six meters behind Fan Xian. He raised his head and glanced at the wall, thinking, It's not too tall. At least half of the 200 could flip over it.
The clouds in the sky suddenly dispersed slightly. A stream of bright moonlight shone through the faint layer of cloud. The silvery moonlight shone on Jing Ge's silver mask. It was very beautiful.
Fan Xian stood in front of the door and gently knocked under the moon.
…
…
The knuckle landed lightly on the thick wooden door and made a gently buzzing sound. It was only one sound. No one replied from behind the door. Immediately after, the slight sound of door springs rang out.
The 200 black-clothed people hidden on either side of Fan Xian couldn't help the shock rise on their faces. They had followed Sir Fan junior and made their way into the Palace because of the previous Emperor's posthumous edict. Although they had courage and bravery, sorrowfully, they had made preparations for certain death.
Unexpectedly, Sir Fan junior had easily knocked open the rear palace door.
All the subordinates who had come into the Royal Palace immediately felt a boundless respect for Fan Xian. Everyone's confidence in their victory also grew by manifold.
The wooden door to the rear palace was very thick. It was clear that the spy inside was struggling greatly. Fan Xian closed his eyes and placed the flesh of his palm against the wood door. Furrowing his brows, the zhenqi in his body circulated slightly. The gently Tianyi Dao zhenqi flowed out of his palm and onto the door, rocking it open the width of two people.
The door opened gently without a glimmer of sound.
Fan Xian flashed through the door like a gust of wind. He then glanced at the nervous eunuch behind the door with fear filled eyes and nodded slightly, "You've worked hard."
Eunuch Dai swallowed and looked around in fear at the oppressive darkness. He didn't dare comment.
The Eldest Princess' side had probably never expected that there was someone in the Palace who would brave the risk of having their entire family wiped in order to be Fan Xian's spy. Even fewer people would have thought that this spy was the common and pitiful old Eunuch Dai, who had long lost his initial power.
Eunuch Dai owed a great debt of gratitude to Fan Xian on at least three major occasions. However, this eunuch had braved such danger to help Fan Xian not just to return the favor. First, he wanted to regain the power he particularly missed by helping Fan Xian. Second, over these years, his connection to Fan Xian had grown deep. If the Crown Prince truly became the Emperor, he probably wouldn't be able to keep his task in the laundry facility and could only wait for death.
Most importantly, Eunuch Dai knew that this nephew had always been under Fan Xian's surveillance. Eunuch Dai still hoped that his nephew would look after him in old age and send him off in death.
Eunuch Dai looked in fear around him. He was actually rather confused. Why had he opened the door so easily? Why had the guards looking around not seen him?
"Sir, let me lead the way…"
The door has opened the width of two people. In a moment, the black-clothed people floated through. They moved quickly. In less than a moment, they had all entered the rear palace and found a spot to hide. Eunuch Dai looked at this scene with fear trembling in his heart. He knew that these were the people Sir Fan junior was going to use to cause chaos in the Palace. However, was there too few people?
"Go find a place to play dead."
Fan Xian spoke quietly to Eunuch Dai. The determination gradually grew thicker in his eyes. He was familiar with the geography of the Royal Palace, which was the something no one expected. Ever since the first time he had entered Hanguang Palace to steal the key, he had acted out the sudden attack of the Palace and the retreat path countless times in his manor.
Opportunity was always left to those who were prepared.
Eunuch Dai heard these words and quickly bent his body. He disappeared into the dark night. He obeyed Sir Fan junior's words to find an unremarkable place to play dead.
Fan Xian glanced at Jing Ge. His thin lips were slightly raised. He then spat out an incomparably icy word. "Go!"
The tasks had been planned out long before entering the Palace. He had spies that no one expected in the Palace who had various ways of helping Fan Xian learn information. He was clear on the layout of the Palace and had divided these 200 people into four groups. Among them, the most important ones were the two groups led by him and Jing Ge.
Fan Xian was going to lead the swordsmen assassins of the Sixth Bureau straight to Hanguang Palace. He had to rescue Lady Ning, Yi Guipin, and the Third Prince from under the empress dowager's personal watch before anyone reacted.
This was the most important matter. The Great Prince led the Imperial Army in revolt because he trusted that Fan Xian would be able to save his mother. Fan Xian could not disappoint a brother who trusted him so much.
Jing Ge mostly commanded the single riding aces in the Black Knights. They were to head straight to Guangxin Palace with their element of surprise and succeed in one try.
The Eldest Princess was in Guangxin Palace. If he didn't kill this woman, Fan Xian would always feel that there was a poisonous snake watching him.
Fan Xian had already discovered that Wan'er and Da Bao were in Guangxin Palace, yet he wasn't going to go personally. Hanguang Palace was more important. Additiionally, perhaps unconsciously, he was also afraid of facing that situation and had Jing Ge take the lead.
…
…
The 200 black-clothed people moved like 200 spirits, splitting into countless lines under the faint moonlight. Following the arrowhead, they headed toward various locations in the palace.
Fan Xian headed quickly in the direction of Hanguang Palace. Along the way he passed flowers, trees, lakes, and pavilions. He then saw a few guards.
Poisoned guards with knives.
Fan Xian didn't even look at the guards that stood dumbly on the side. He only thought this to himself. The guards responsible for scouting this area during this time period had all been replaced. It looked like that fellow did not fail.
He didn't glance at these guards because they were already unable to move. Either they had been poisoned or cursed. The guards closest to the Palace gate that Eunuch Dai had opened spun their eyes wildly but could not make any sound. Their entire bodies were frozen. No wonder Eunuch Dai had opened the Palace door for Fan Xian so easily.
It was a very strange sight. A number of the guards responsible for protecting the rear palace watched as black-clothed men floated past their eyes, yet they were unable to have any response.
With a few spluttering noises, the last two swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau in Fan Xian's group pulled out metal drills. Cleanly and quickly, they split the guards' necks and killed them. It also allowed them to leave the entrapment of these nightmare-like feelings.
Passing by more trees, flowers, lakes, and pavilions, Hanguang Palace was right before their eyes.
Fan Xian waved his hand. A silent crossbow bolt flew out, piercing through a eunuch on night guard duty who had opened his mouth to cry for help after seeing him.
Fan Xian needed speed. He needed the feeling of surprise that this speed brought. He needed the intimidation this feeling brought to everyone in the Palace. That was why he didn't care about being seen.
The drug could only be used against the first rota of guards and ensure that the guards found him a little later. He had never dreamed that he would be able to bring 200 people unto the Royal Palace and not be discovered by a single guard until he stood in front of the empress dowager's bed.
Being discovered would happen sooner or later.
Hanguang Palace was only 90 meters away from these black-clothed killers, who were like arrows from a bow.
In the distance behind them and to the side, there suddenly came a surprised cry and metallic sound of countless knives crashing about soldiers. Fan Xian didn't turn his head. He knew that it had not come from the direction of Guangxin Palace. It should be the other two groups who were going to drug the soldier's living quarters.
His heart tightened as a drop of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He knew that they had finally been discovered."
"Release, disperse!"
Fan Xian's figure did not stop. His right hand was clenched into a tight fist as he dispersed rapidly. Seeing this order, the well-trained swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau immediately dispersed from behind him. Following the lake to the side of Hanguang Palace, they dissolved into countless arcs as they wound around the path and sped toward the isolated Palace under the cover of the trees.
The Overwatch Council swordsman at the end abruptly stopped. He plunged his metal drill into the dirt and took out a small tube from inside his clothing. Narrowing his eyes as he glanced up at the bright moon, he pulled back with force.
The firework flew into the sky. In an instant, the quiet and dark Palace was illuminated clearly. It also sent out a clear signal to the people hiding all around Jingdou.
The hiding phase had come to an end. They had formally entered the killing stage.
…
…
A knife came flying over, chopping into the right arm of the Overwatch Council swordsman. At this moment, the swordsman was still holding the fireworks and did not dodge it. Fresh blood sprayed out. After a muffled grunt, he pulled the metal drill up with his left hand and battled with the two guards who had leapt over.
Fan Xian was less than 30 meters from Hanguang Palace. He did not look at the firework or have time to consider the life and death of his loyal subordinates. He only stared coldly at Hanguang Palace and found that there was already movement inside. Involuntarily, his heart grew cold. The reaction speed of the defenses in the rear Palace was quicker than he had estimated.
All around, it seemed the soldiers had regained their senses. Fan Xian faced Hanguang Palace. Narrowing his eyes and releasing his murderous intentions, the Tyrannical zhenqi inside his body rose to the peak of what his meridians could endure in a moment. He stepped on the stone railing to the side of the Palace, making it shatter.
Using the powerful rebound power, Fan Xian flew like a big black bird. Under the moonlight, he used a crude and unbridled posture to fly to the top of Hanguang Palace, exposing his determination.
Having reached the highest point, his zhenqi gradually slowed. His body had a tendency to slide down. Giving a muffled huff, he slapped out with his right hand. Using the Coffin-Breaker technique, he moved his body across a little and slapped it against the glazed tiles on top of Hanguang Palace.
With one slap, the tiles flew wildly. Under the moonlight, it gave the impression that in a split second, the entire Hanguang Palace shook with the slap.
No one could catch up to Fan Xian's present speed. No one dared to stand against such relentless power. Under the moonlight, he used the power from the slap to fly up again, like a big bird spreading its wings. Before he landed on the roof of the Palace, he circulated the qi in his entire body and fell down.
With a giant boom, he smashed a huge hole in Hanguang Palace with all the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body.
Just as a serving girl in Hanguang Palace lit the first lantern with fear, Fan Xian in all black clothing fell down like a rock and landed on the floorboards in the rear hall. Shattered tiles and dust covered the ground around him. Below his feet were floor tiles that had been cracked into pieces.
In his hands was that Emperor's sword.
Chapter 546: Courage Because Of Determination
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A dim light lit up the side hall of Hanguang Palace. Faint light seeped out from the lantern on the table, making the entire room appear more sinister. It wasn't as bright as the moonlight shining in through the large hole in the ceiling.
The serving girl looked with terror at the dust-covered Fan Xian and opened her mouth to scream. No sound came out.
With a thud, Fan Xian's feet moved. He abruptly took eight steps. Holding his sword out flat in front of him, it pierced through the serving girl's throat.
Blood sprayed out in a bloom. Fan Xian lowered his head slightly. His wrist turned gently. The Emperor's sword in his hand pulled out and slyly slid out from under his armpit to strike at a eunuch's throat.
He quickly took three more steps and spun around on the tip of his left foot. He turned as beautifully as a dancer. The Emperor's sword in his hand glittered with a cold light. Following this spinning motion, a streak of cold light appeared meters in front of him.
Where the cold light reached, the eunuchs and serving girls, who had been startled awake, fell to the ground in puddles of blood.
His right foot once again landed on the stone boards, which slightly shattered them. Fan Xian's body was like a large bird. With a strange pose, he abruptly retreated back and crashed ruthlessly into the arms of another person.
He lowered his head. Suddenly, he sprung up like there was a spring attached. The Emperor's sword left his hand and flew straight toward the chest of a person charging toward him.
His sword-less right fist swung heavily to the left and punched the last person to the ground. With a clatter, the person had no chance to react and fell heavily to the ground. His head had shattered like a watermelon.
In the space of a breath, he had killed eight people.
…
…
After Fan Xian had ruthlessly charged into Hanguang Palace, he had not said a word and silently attacked with all his strength. The Emperor's sword and his Tyrannical zhenqi made him seem like an invincible spirit. In a moment, he had stolen the lives of all of his enemies and had not let them make a single sound.
His sword technique was said to be that of Sigu Sword, but it lacked some of Sigu Sword's endless killing intent. It had more of the Shadow's natural coldness.
His fist technique was supposedly that of the Ye family, but it completely lacked Ye Liuyun's confidence, ease, and simplicity that comes from the sea. Rather, it had the sense of bravery that naturally flowed out from the Tyrannical zhenqi.
To kill in such a way, who could stand in the way?
Other than the dead people on the floor, there were only Yi Guipin, her son, and Lady Ning in the side hall. Lady Ning had come to check in on the Third Prince's injury and had not returned to her own room. This brought Fan Xian a great deal of convenience.
None of the three nobles had been able to sleep. After Fan Xian had charged into the Palace like a god, they had reacted in the first instance. Through a thin layer of gauze, the nervously watched Fan Xian's every action.
No matter how much confidence they had in Fan Xian, they had not thought that he would use such an explosive method to kill all the people sent by the internal court to watch and guard them in so short a time.
Lifting the silk curtain, the three of them walked out. Looking at Fan Xian, the expression on their faces were all different but had the same shock. They felt that the Fan Xian before them seemed, in some ways, to be different than the Fan Xian before he went to Dong Mountain.
Yi Guipin's face was filled with joy. Since Fan Xian had braved the danger and entered the Palace to rescue her and her son, then the worries she had said to Chengping earlier at dusk no longer existed. While they lived under supervision in Hanguang Palace, Yi Guipin had no idea when she and her son would die. Abruptly seeing their savior, her state of mind relaxed. Then, she looked at the room full of corpses and dismembered limbs. She involuntarily felt her legs turn to water and began to fall.
The Third Prince, Li Chengping, stood to the side and supported his mother's body. He gazed at his teacher with gratitude and nodded his head vigorously. His eyes were suddenly moist.
They were deep in Hanguang Palace. No one knew how many soldiers had surrounded the outside. The eunuch ace from the internal court at the front of the Palace was still there. Fan Xian knew that although his explosive surprise attack could successfully bring him into contact with these three people, if he couldn't rescue them, it was still a hopeless situation.
Thus, he didn't waste any words talking to the Third Prince or his aunt. Instead, he said coldly and straightforwardly said, "Follow me and charge out!"
Charging out was easier said than done. With the 200 people he had brought into the Palace, it was impossible if they wanted to control the entire rear palace. As for the Imperial Army, Fan Xian didn't know if the internal purging was over or whether or not it could be resolved before the situation became dangerous.
Fan Xian pulled out his long sword from the body of the eunuch and used it to slant light into the silent Lady Ning's eyes. Seeing a glimmer of a gratification on Lady Ning's face, he couldn't help also smiling. He pulled out a black dagger from inside his shoe.
The Third Prince's dagger was already hidden in the trees and bushes beside Chen corridor. Seeing his teacher pull out a dagger, he thought he was going to give it to him for self-protection. He wanted to move forward a step while supporting his mother.
Unexpectedly, Fan Xian turned the dagger around and gave it to Lady Ning.
Lady Ning held the slender black dagger. She immediately gave off a heroic air. She had been a female slave that who survived the Northern battlefield. After all these years, she had not forgotten that iron-blooded incident.
Fan Xian did not look at again at the women and child. He directly headed toward the hall's side door.
This door did not lead to the outside of the Palace. Instead, it led to the front hall. If it was not easy to charge out of the Palace, then they may as well charge inward.
…
…
A hand landed on the wooden door. Without any warning, the wooden door was pulled apart by powerful forces, like it was made of paper. It shattered. The shards danced through the air.
Before the wood shavings landed, Fan Xian's palm was already stuck to a eunuch. Fan Xian gave a muffled huff and pushed all of his zhenqi forward. Exchanging just one palm, he had already felt this eunuch's power. There were indeed hidden talents among the guards in the internal court. Eunuch Hong's disciples and grand disciples were not to be trifled with.
With a pop, the eunuch's facial features began to flow with fresh blood. His body was overwhelmed by the Tyrannical zhenqi and could not withstand it. However, his task was only to delay Fan Xian for a moment to allow the aces in the front Hall and empress dowager to get ready.
Fan Xian did not give him a chance to stall for time.
Smoke rose between his palms. The poisonous fog forced its way toward the face of the martially powerful eunuch.
The eunuch's expression changed.
Fan Xian's right hand shook. With a loud buzzing noise, the long sword past above his shoulder. This was a difference in strength. Under the combined attack of the Tyrannical zhenqi and poisonous smoke, the eunuch had no extra strength to retaliate. He could only watch as the smear of light flashed through his eye.
Fan Xian's left wrist flipped. He withdrew the Emperor's sword back into his sleeve, without giving the eunuch martial ace another glance. His legs bent slightly as his body charged forward like a giant bird flying into the woods.
He didn't head toward the path where countless aces were surging through. Instead, he headed straight for the wall of the side hall.
With a giant boom, a large hole appeared in the wood and brick walls. Fan Xian's didn't pay attention to the safety of the three people behind him. He flew straight through the big hole.
A cracking sound came from the neck of the eunuch ace frozen by the door. His neck snapped in the middle. His bloody head fell down.
Yi Guipin and her son looked dumbstruck at the scene. Lady Ning set her face. Lifting the black dagger Fan Xian had given to her, she led the shocked mother and son toward the large hole. She had guessed why Fan Xian was so rushed and had smashed a large hole into the front hall. She also knew that before Fan Xian controlled the situation, their three lives were completely placed on the dagger he had put into her hands.
…
…
What did a surprise attack need? It needed speed like lightning and to be as unexpected as lightning on flat ground. Fan Xian's actions had perfectly implemented this objective. From when they entered the rear palace to until after they were discovered by the guards, he and his subordinates' speeds had abruptly increased. They moved like gusts of wild wind through the rear palace.
He stepped on the stone railing, shattered the golden tiles, landed in the hall, and killed everyone in the briefest amount of time. If one began to count from the first cry of the guards, he only used the time it took to throw 10 punches to successfully kill his way into the nucleus of Hanguang Palace.
Not only did the enemies not have time to react, Fan Xian didn't even leave time for himself to think and judge. He depended on the numerous years of intelligence reports from the Royal Palace, spies in the Palace, and his superhuman senses to kill his way in.
The mission this time mostly depended on the courage he usually lacked—an arrogant anger to fight desperately for his life while in mortal danger.
When Fan Xian killed his way into Hanguang Palace as quickly as possible, the 56 swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau that followed him also fanned out in the darkness and surrounded Hanguang Palace. However, they purposely limited their speeds so they just happened to finally arrive outside Hanguang Palace.
The Overwatch Council swordsmen were excellent in killing in the darkness, while the internal guards were the elite of Qing Kingdom's fighters. Although they could not compare to the knife-wielding Tiger Guards Fan Jian had secretly trained for the royal family, their fighting power was still strong.
Outside Hanguang Palace, the killing began in all directions. In a flash, knives and swords met. Countless people were killed as endless amounts of fresh blood sprayed out. In just a few breaths, the boundary line formed by dozens of black-clothed swordsmen were forced back a fair distance toward Hanguang Palace.
If one observed closely, one could see that the swordsmen's retreat was not forced. Instead, it was an active choice. Although it appeared they were being forced back by the guards, they had reduced the size of the circle and surrounded Hanguang Palace more closely.
The smaller the defensive circle, the stronger the rebound power. Many people had already fallen. However, the black-clothed assassins also blocked Hanguang Palace's main door. If the people inside wanted to escape out, it would be difficult.
This was precisely the battle strategy of chaos surrounding a blooming center that Fan Xian had planned. The Overwatch Council's loyal subordinates used the darkness to contend with the increasing number of internal guards. At the center of the entire Royal Palace, inside Hanguang Palace, a bright and deadly flower was going to bloom.
This flower had to be held between Fan Xian's fingers.
…
…
When the turmoil initially began in the Palace, the guards and internal court aces had reacted quickly. The nobles in the Palace did not have this ability. The old housemaids in Hanguang Palace opened their dazed eyes and cursed silently but didn't know what was happening outside.
Some agile serving girls heard coughing from the bed and quickly climbed up to help the true mistress of Qing Kingdom rise.
The empress dowager had a headache these few days. There was a yellow thread tied around her forehead. She leaned tiredly in the serving girl's arms. A glimmer of confusion flashed through her eyes.
The elderly woman's ears were not good, so she didn't hear the giant noise of Fan Xian breaking through the roof of the side hall. She also didn't hear the sound of Fan Xian killing eight people in a flash. This old woman had lived for many years within the Palace and had experienced countless wild winds and weathered many storms. Steeped in politics and conspiracy, it caused her to immediately become alert.
A cold light flashed through her pupils. She abruptly sat up from the serving girl's arms. In a severe voice, she cried, "Close the Palace doors! Everyone retreat in!"
The empress dowager's reaction was not fearful or hurried. Since she had guessed that there was trouble in the Palace, at the first instance, she was going to gather all the fighting power she commanded to her side. She understood her importance. Since enemies had entered the Palace, she was the first target.
Her reaction was just like the first time she heard of her son's death. Simple and accurate. It was impossible not to admire her.
However, she was destined to be disappointed. Before she had gathered her strength, someone had already struck at the heart of Hanguang Palace.
Just when the guards outside the Palace and the Sixth Bureau Swordsmen had exchanged blows for the first time, the wall to the rear and side of Hanguang Palace suddenly gave a giant boom.
Brick and wood flew wildly. A hole suddenly appeared. A dark human shadow flew out from the hole. Like a dragon moving through the night, it flew through the air in a breath and charged directly toward the empress dowager's phoenix bed.
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The closest distance between the rooms was not the distance between the doors. Rather, it was the wall. Two rooms that appeared to be very far apart were often just separated by a meter-thick wall. If one went through the wall, the horizon was right before their eyes.
How many people in the world could be like Fan Xian? He circulate his innate Tyrannical zhenqi throughout his entire body and use Tianyi Dao's pure Heart to protect his heart meridian so that he would not be hurt by the Tyrannical zhenqi's rebound. Thus, he turned himself in a large metal hammer and smashed straight through the thick wall.
Fan Xian, clothed in black, charged toward the empress dowager with the power of lightning and thunder.
As he passed through, the air gave a tearing cry. One could imagine what terrifying level his speed had been raised to.
The distance between the hole and bed the empress dowager was sitting on was about 12 meters.
Along this path, the old housemaids and serving girls that were only brushed by the edges of his clothing were rocked to the ground by the Tyrannical zhenqi, which was present everywhere on his body. Their robes were askew as they were shaken to the ground by wildly bounding blood.
The eunuch aces that had been waiting in the empress dowager's sleeping chamber finally moved with four explosive cries. Four dry and withered palms clawed toward the body of the rapidly moving Fan Xian. Like old trees blooming, they had to catch the giant dragon in the woods.
Within the four old and withered palms contained pure zhenqi that could only be formed through many years of practice. The empress dowager sat calmly in the Palace. If she didn't have great martial power as protection, how could she use Lady Ning's life to threaten the Great Prince, who held great military strength in his hands?
Hearing the sound of the wall being torn like paper, the empress dowager turned her head and just happened to see this sight. Her gaze was icy cold and filled with confidence. It was as if she thought the presently god-like Fan Xian would become a dead corpse in the next moment.
Out of everyone's expectations, Fan Xian did not reduce his speed. The power on his body completely disappeared in an instant. It was as if he had disappeared in midair.
Both tyrannical and gentle, these two different zhenqis had actually appeared on the same body for a moment.
The pupils of the four powerful eunuchs constricted. They felt great astonishment in their hearts. In their lives, not only had they not seen such a thing, they had not even heard of someone who was able to reach the peak of both of these zhenqis, which were very different and contrary in nature.
Furthermore, the techniques of both of these two zhenqis were clearly powerfully protected secrets.
Although they were shocked, they didn't relent or lose any confidence. They were four powerful martial artists of the internal court aces that Eunuch Hong led. They had always been responsible for the empress dowager's safety.
They believed that no matter how powerful Fan Xian was, he wouldn't be able to ignore their combined attack.
Fan Xian was not a Great Grandmaster, but he was the second quickest person in the world. That year on the meadow, even the tip of Haitang's sword could not pierce his rolling body. Now, his nature had changed. He had gradually combined two types of zhenqi. What chance did they have?
There was only one Wu Zhu in this world.
Fan Xian's body suddenly contracted in the air. Raising his left knee and twisting his right shoulder, his body trembled. He mysteriously turned his body in the air without any help.
His trembling in that moment changed his trajectory slightly.
The first withered and skinny hand grabbed Fan Xian's right shoulder, but it was like it had grabbed a bundle of cloud, unable to exert any force.
The second withered and skinny hand grabbed Fan Xian's left arm, but it grabbed the edge of the sword he had hidden sinisterly in his sleeve. The edge of the blade slid out of the sleeve and left a long cut on the hand containing pure zhenqi. It exposed the white bone inside. The fresh blood was stimulated by the zhenqi and completely sprayed out, covering half of Fan Xian's body.
The third withered and dry hand grabbed onto Fan Xian's right knee and tore off a piece of his clothing.
The fourth withered and dry hand caught nothing. It only grabbed one of Fan Xian's shoes.
Watching this scene, a glimmer of coldness flashed through the empress dowager's eyes. Before the coldness had retreated, it reflected a cold light.
Like a gust of wind, the sword in Fan Xian's left hand already rested on the empress dowager's neck.
Blood dripped down from Fan Xian's split sleeve and landed on the empress dowager's clothes and her face.
Fan Xian's face was pale white. There was a streak of blood at the corner of his lips. Half of the black clothes on his body were soaked in blood. In the end, he had still been injured by the four eunuchs, but his gaze remained firm. He froze everyone in Hanguang Palace's heart with the icy edge of his sword.