TBR CH159

Chu Huaicun had guessed correctly; this group of people wasn’t here for him, but for another purpose. When they received the bloody command from the old man in the Golden Throne Room, they certainly didn’t expect their supposed sheep-like victims to scatter and flee. Thinking of His Majesty’s wrath, the guards’ faces instantly looked worse than those fleeing people.

Arrows were unhesitatingly aimed at the defenseless crowd in the dim night:

“Don’t move! You traitors, now bow your heads in confession, mend your ways, and His Majesty may spare your lives.”

The bloody hint, however, did not sway the will of these people as intended. The moon hung in the sky like a bluish rock, indifferently illuminating everything happening on earth. The prisoners, finally free, would rather spill their blood on the ground than return to their cold cells.

They ran towards a certain direction, their steps faltering yet determined, their eyes—those who still had eyes—as dark as the guards’. Witnessing such gazes, some guards, for some reason, seemed to hesitate slightly, their hands trembling.

However, they only heard the unquestionable command from the leading eunuch: “Draw bows, fire arrows!”

The eunuch who spoke was a trusted confidant of His Majesty. He had watched the old man issue this command. The old man in the hall had a grim face, his pupils cruelly dilated, only a thin sliver of white remaining in his eyes. He was like a malevolent spirit cloaked in a dragon robe, his gaze filled with intense resentment. As he spoke, he summoned Ji Ying to his side, seemingly enjoying watching his eyes:

“…Let them hear what foolish lies their eldest son told that led to their deaths. This is your punishment; your clansmen all died because of you.”

His Majesty was truly enraged, so those below naturally dared not equivocate. Even if their hearts wavered slightly, they quickly composed themselves, fingers on bowstrings, the scent of blood about to erupt.

However,

Precisely at this moment, a sound of something hitting the ground suddenly came from an unknown source.

Before they could abruptly look towards the source, a burst of smoke, its origin unknown, suddenly billowed up, rapidly spreading across a corner of the imperial garden. A milky white screen temporarily obscured everyone’s eyes. Arrows quickly became misdirected; some still left their bows by feel, but it was unknown who they hit in the midst of the confusion.

“Thunderclap powder!” the eunuch leader shrieked, “You fools, quickly protect me! These ruffians… ruffians… what…”

His voice came and went, then suddenly fell silent. Fortunately, the smoke bomb’s effect was limited in the open outdoors. In just an instant, the swirling white dust had settled, as if an outdoor snow had concluded its performance. As their vision gradually cleared, the guards’ aimless footsteps slowed down again. They looked in one direction, incredulous and as if facing a formidable enemy.

Standing there was a stranger wearing a bamboo hat.

Dressed in white, the tip of his sword gleamed like cold water, poised at the neck of His Majesty’s most trusted eunuch, as if it could effortlessly sever his head in the next second. He possessed a cold demeanor, his eyes, hidden beneath the veil, were icy, as if he remained perfectly composed amidst everything happening.

The eunuch, held captive by Chu Huaicun, let out a shriek like someone being strangled.

This was not an opponent they could contend with, a thought that subconsciously flashed through the minds of all martial artists present. But fortunately, he was still just one person. A behemoth could still be devoured by ants, let alone him, who was carefully protecting an old man behind him.

The old man, leaning on his left hand, stared with empty eyes, his footsteps unsteady and useless except for holding him back.

After only a moment of hesitation, the guards drew their sabers and lunged at the white-clad swordsman. Chu Huaicun held the eunuch leader hostage, the blade almost pressing a crimson bloodstain onto the man’s neck. Using him as a shield proved effective; the pursuers were not only disturbed by his miserable screams but also had to be careful not to accidentally harm his body.

Chu Huaicun concentrated.

His most important task was to buy time.

The sound of hurried footsteps behind them and the flickering torchlight in the guards’ hands illuminated the night, suggesting that news of an assassin in the palace had spread. The people opposite had found his weakness and specifically attacked Uncle Lin behind him, forcing him back a few steps. The white-clad swordsman, fighting against many, suddenly slashed his sword through the darkness, instantly illuminating people’s eyes.

Then, the unfortunate eunuch leader was heavily pushed from behind and stumbled forward.

Fortunately, he was unharmed.

Following the trajectory of his push, the attackers there, who were about to endanger the old man beside the white-clad swordsman, now had to scramble to catch him. And the eunuch, still shaken, instead loudly scolded them.

“You damned, cursed, freeloading devils—” his shrill voice almost ripped a hole in the night sky, “Didn’t you see I almost died? You, you, and you, hurry up and protect me, quickly get me to a safe place!”

His official rank was originally much higher than that of these guards, and his life was naturally more valuable. His hands waved erratically, pointing at several of the most skilled imperial guards. The others could only obey. He was soon surrounded and protected.

Chu Huaicun’s veiled eyes, however, flashed with a faint hint of a smile.

The hostage he had released quickly merged into the protective crowd. Then, somehow, the guards surrounding him suddenly collapsed in circles. Before losing consciousness, they all smelled a strange sweetness in the air, and this eerie scent came precisely from the eunuch they had just rescued.

At this moment, the eunuch pulled off the mask on his face, revealing a pair of goatee that didn’t match his shrill voice.

As early as when he threw the smoke bomb, he had already exchanged identities with that arrogant official.

Mr. Fang and Chu Huaicun exchanged a distant glance. He didn’t need to look into the other’s eyes to know what the other intended at this very moment: to fight a hundred alone, yet possessing a strangely convincing calm. The total number of people who had been through the jianghu might not be as crazy as him. If Mr. Fang had anything to say, his old bones couldn’t take such torment. Even now, Chu Huaicun still refused to abandon anyone, making him arrogant and stubborn.

—Just like his master.

Mr. Fang used the last of the mist to incapacitate a group of guards around him. He closed his eyes and shouted to Chu Huaicun:

“I’ll take them, including the one beside you. Your task is heavy; you must hold back everyone else until you’ve bought us enough time. I know this sounds difficult…”

The white-clad swordsman stood still, as if snow had fallen on his robes, and the moonlight vaguely illuminated his veiled eyes.

“Also,” Mr. Fang said, cautiously omitting a title, “you’ll have to figure out how to conclude this. We didn’t anticipate such a commotion.”

This statement, appearing here, subtly implied many humorous elements that could be explored.

For example, even though Mr. Fang had dealt with a group of people, guards receiving orders in the palace were still continuously pouring towards this spot. Another example: their original plan for quiet infiltration had become a pipe dream; now they had alarmed at least half of the palace city, disrupting the birthday banquet, likely to cause serious harm to the old man celebrating his birthday in the palace.

The blade was like a narrow white line. Chu Huaicun severed the silk cords connecting a dozen lanterns between the palace halls—these were decorations specially arranged for His Majesty’s birthday. The lanterns, heavy with wax, fell to the ground. The guards, who had finally caught up, had to quickly dodge the heavy impact and also be careful not to slip on the lamp oil.

At this moment, Mr. Fang had already taken the old man Chu Huaicun had been protecting. This arduous journey was too much for the scarred old man, and he needed immediate medical attention. A temporarily safe area had formed behind Chu Huaicun, where a large, discreet carriage waited quietly. Before leaving, the old man suddenly looked deeply at Chu Huaicun.

“I originally thought,” his voice was only audible to Mr. Fang, “that after seeing his appearance, I had something I had to tell Lin Ying.”

Mr. Fang smiled for some reason: “Not anymore?”

Uncle Lin was about to speak when he saw the other person make a shushing gesture with his other hand: “You should save that to tell Prime Minister Chu—though by then, perhaps he shouldn’t be called Prime Minister Chu anymore.”

The carriage, having received its last guest, finally began to move slowly, like a behemoth gradually awakening. Soon, it had awakened into a means of transportation swiftly gliding forward in the darkness. Four magnificent horses, entirely black with white limbs, moved with agile strides. Many tried to catch them but always fell short by a hair’s breadth. The night covered too many accidents and schemes.

The white-clad swordsman spoke softly, and the distant guards could only see the veil covering his face seemingly stir slightly:

“I will not fail the mission.”

The old man in the hall, surrounded by imperial yellow, was basically consumed by hatred. Every vein in his body flowed with the venom of betrayal, and his gaze sent shivers down everyone’s spine. Prince Duan even felt a little bewildered—His Majesty had always detested Chu Huaicun, and now with a more justifiable reason, why did his expression instead become uncontrollably grim?

He summoned Ji Ying to his side to speak.

Because he deliberately lowered his voice, no one could hear what His Majesty said to his obedient lapdog. They only saw Ji Ying’s complexion, exceptionally pale against the deep purple official robes. The serpents embroidered on his robes, always ready to devour, now seemed to turn their sharp fangs on their master, making him even more bloodless.

“What are you hiding for him?”

His Majesty’s voice was like thunder striking him, “Did Chu Huaicun recognize you again? He didn’t at all. Ji Ying, even dogs know that their master’s pity and grace are what’s worth wagging their tails for, yet you’ve hidden such a huge matter from me, debasing yourself to rush to be his dog. Do you know? I wouldn’t have believed Prince Duan’s words so easily, but I suddenly realized something—”

Ji Ying lowered his eyes, his neck bending into a fragile curve.

“You say,” His Majesty spoke maliciously, “Is Qin Sangzhi, whom Chu Huaicun cherishes as a treasure, exactly like you?”

This sentence struck straight at his heart. The Emperor was satisfied to see Ji Ying’s pupils slightly contract. He suppressed the itching sensation in his fingers and, right in front of Ji Ying, commanded his inner eunuch, word by word, to send men to kill his beloved clansmen. The anger of betrayal even surpassed his anger at Chu Huaicun; everything should have been in his control.

If he had known earlier that Ji Ying was Chu Huaicun’s Achilles’ heel, then why would Chu Huaicun still be such a major concern for him until now?

His Majesty’s reaction was naturally crucial, but the hall had already erupted into a boiling cauldron. With Chu Huaicun’s identity as a rebel confirmed, those allied with Prime Minister Chu who remained in the hall were quickly brought under control. Prince Duan licked his lips and continued:

“Chu Huaicun is an ambitious and treacherous man. Since everyone here knows this today, then you know this man is a great disaster for the nation and must be eliminated.”

“Prince Duan means—”

Having been in seclusion for so long, Prince Duan had truly endured hardships, all to maximize the impact of this critical piece of information. He said with smugness and immense hatred:

“Even if Chu Huaicun is powerful alone, he cannot contend with the justice of the world. Moreover, today is the best opportunity. Father Emperor, the military officials attending the banquet today are not permitted to carry weapons inside. Prime Minister Chu has always been known for his swordsmanship, yet his sword has now been stored in the armory. Why don’t all of us here work together? I have already mobilized the Prince Duan’s private guard; His Majesty could also quickly issue a white feather command and summon hundreds of elite soldiers. Seize this opportunity, kill Chu Huaicun first, and then slowly deal with his remaining poison.”

The Emperor’s gaze slowly shifted to this prince.

He sat solemnly on the dragon throne, but his hands were already showing bulging veins. He pulled the token for mobilizing troops from his sleeve and threw it to the ground with a crisp sound. He spoke faintly:

“Ji Ying, pick it up and give it to His Royal Highness Prince Duan. Tell him to mobilize the troops.”

Ji Ying was like a soulless puppet standing before him. His empty eyes seemed unresponsive to everything he had discovered. It was only when everyone’s gaze gathered on him that he reacted sluggishly, a hint of emotional response emerging from his empty shell. The knuckles of his right hand gently lifted, as if subconsciously moving to obey His Majesty’s command.

However, at this moment, the internal turmoil within the palace finally slowly swept through this magnificent front hall.

A sandstorm takes considerable time to form and spread.

But its eruption only takes an instant—a blood-stained guard suddenly rushed into the hall. Perhaps it was his first time speaking in front of the Emperor, and the blood on him was not his own, yet he trembled uncontrollably:

“Assassin—”

His first words were even breathless, which made him realize something was wrong. So he immediately shouted: “An assassin has infiltrated the imperial garden and is heading straight for the Golden Throne Room! Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”

What he said was actually incorrect. For instance, Chu Huaicun’s true destination was the corner gate beside the palace, but merely moving in that direction would easily be mistaken for a dangerous plot against the most revered old man in the entire world. Besides, he couldn’t be blamed; only a small portion of the palace knew of the Lin family’s existence, so how could he know what was in the carriage the assassin was escorting?

He could only gesticulate: “There’s also a large carriage, probably with more assassins inside. General Zhenbei has already rushed over, and so has Prime Minister Chu, Your Majesty!”

The young messenger only knew that General Zhenbei had rushed over after receiving the news, and then heard that Chu Huaicun was with the general, so he said this purely out of instinct. Then he suddenly felt light-headed, let out a heavy cry, and fell to the floor of the Golden Throne Room with a muffled thud.

He fell closest to Ji Ying. The person wrapped in deep purple robes seemed to hesitate for a moment, then bent down to fumble, and then straightened up, his voice very light, with a calmness that seemed to forcefully suppress emotion:

“He was startled…”

Ji Ying naturally rose. The civil and military officials in the hall had already been bombarded with startling news today, then faced unimaginable changes. Even His Royal Highness Prince Duan showed a hint of bewilderment, hesitating whether to follow the original plan or shift focus to this assassin from an unknown origin—but he was absolutely unwilling to abandon his current achievements.

Moreover, the arrow was already on the string; it had to be loosed.

Having come this far, if Chu Huaicun wasn’t eliminated today, when could he be?

Prince Duan couldn’t care about anything else. He quickly stepped forward, and without waiting for Ji Ying to bend down and pick up the token according to His Majesty’s decree, he himself bent down, picked it up, and then hurriedly rushed out of the hall. No one stopped him; after all, those remaining in the hall also needed a sense of security and wished they could immediately deploy the soldiers prepared by this former Crown Prince.

As for the current Crown Prince… he was probably speechless.

The chaos in the hall was imaginable. However, the guards around His Majesty also quickly reacted and guarded the hall doors. The original singing and dancing in the room had stopped, and the palace maids’ pomegranate skirts were scattered in various corners, as if battered by wind and rain. The banquet’s food and wine were only half-eaten.

The Emperor, after all, was the Emperor. He was protected by countless masters, and at this moment, he had somewhat regained his composure. This old man hadn’t anticipated receiving so many blows on his birthday. He leaned on the imperial yellow chair, his breathing heavy and hot, but his eyes were terrifyingly bright:

“Prince Duan will take my men to mobilize the troops,”

His Majesty’s voice hissed from his constricted throat as he spoke, “Why are you ministers alarmed? This place is heavily guarded, with imperial masters in command. No one is allowed to act presumptuously. I am the Son of Heaven’s bloodline, the legitimate ruler of the world. Do those who attempt to spread false doctrines, those arrogant rebels, truly dare to oppose the world? You must choose the right path.”

His words carried a warning.

Among those in the hall, there were indeed Chu Huaicun’s partisans, and not a few. But even as that thought flashed through their minds, they still felt terrified. The imperial court was such a place. His Majesty saw the fear deep in their pupils. He sat majestically on the dragon throne, and at this moment, his mood had even calmed considerably due to the renewed pleasure of feeling in control.

And Ji Ying very naturally took a step forward.

It wasn’t that no one saw it, it was just that people didn’t pay that much attention. In the current chaotic situation, the Emperor, as the sole authority on the scene, his power was almost unshakable. And Ji Ying, given that His Majesty did not openly display his anger, remained in the eyes of most people His Majesty’s loyal lapdog.

They couldn’t be blamed; even His Majesty probably thought so.

After tonight, Chu Huaicun’s power would be gone. He couldn’t shake off this accusation of identity placed upon him, and this identity, stained with blood and revenge, would naturally make him an enemy of the established order. Moreover, Chu Huaicun should currently be weaponless, and it was even unknown if he would be caught up in the assassin incident sweeping through the palace.

Naturally, he had troops at his disposal.

But as long as he didn’t have the opportunity to mobilize them to threaten the palace now, he wouldn’t pose much of a threat in the future.

His Majesty coughed. He seemed to have already seen that scene, his eyes rolling in their cloudy whites, apparently already reflecting the vision he had long awaited. He would regain everything. Of course, Prince Duan was a meritorious minister, but he was already somewhat tired, especially by the role the other party played today, which even made him feel a little wary.

He would continue to live for a long time, firmly clutching the power that had once been delegated.

As His Majesty thought this, a cold, slight smile graced his lips, but he quickly realized that something was wrong with that smile, because the coldness was not entirely stimulated from within his body, but rather originated from a more tangible sensation.

For example…

A gleaming blade pressed against his aged and fragile neck.

Ji Ying finished checking on the messenger guard, then rose with an unchanging expression—and at the same time, naturally picked up the short knife the guard wore at his waist. He stood with his back to His Majesty, acting so matter-of-factly that no one at first realized this was a huge mistake. And Ji Ying was already close enough to His Majesty; he took two more steps, this was the second mistake.

Ji Ying felt his fingers grow cold; he had to suppress his trembling, otherwise, he would cut the skin of the old man in front of him.

Under the emperor’s horrified gaze, he knelt on the steps, feeling that the scene before him was gradually aligning with the one he had long anticipated, especially those eyes he had imagined for so long. The guards around His Majesty didn’t even have time to react. Ji Ying, calmly using his kneeling posture, pushed the blade inward. Now the blade had broken the skin slightly, bringing an imperceptible sting and a dazzling crimson on the blade.

His Majesty valued his life; he wouldn’t risk it.

He would only gasp out a few disbelieving words, staring at the young man who had suddenly revealed profound malice, feeling a dizzying lightheadedness. He absolutely refused to believe this would happen, but the blade was already there.

The hall was as silent as death, as if the air was filled with sticky threads, and anyone who moved slightly would change the situation.

In the dead silence, the old emperor spoke first:

“Ji Ying, do you understand what you are doing? Think of those people, think of the poison in your body; it could take effect at any moment. For the sake of a mere Chu Huaicun, have you abandoned even your most basic reason?”

Ji Ying lowered his eyes, trying hard to suppress the upward curve of his lips, not wanting to look like a madman. But his body still trembled as if restraining those smiles, even causing the knife tip to move, making His Majesty the Emperor’s situation appear even more perilous. This also made his threat seem exceptionally powerless, because His Majesty had already begun to activate the Gu poison within his body, but nothing happened.

He believed he had paused for a long time, battling with those thoughts. But in reality, he only remained silent for a moment.

“At least one thing is true,” Ji Ying’s voice was hoarse, tinged with a mocking smile, as if he wasn’t pressing a blade to the emperor’s neck, but had seen something amusing.

He first admitted:

“I believe that compared to being His Majesty’s dog, being Prime Minister Chu’s dog is indeed—and clearly, much better.”

Then, he calmly said:

“Since that’s the case, let’s talk about the unethical things Your Majesty has done. Your Majesty wouldn’t tell me you’ve forgotten, would you?”