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It's Kunrou!

Kunrou is really back!

Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that handsome face amidst the crowded imperial guards.

After seeing Prince Mao rush alone towards the Crown Prince and the Imperial Study, she knew that Yan Ying Hall must be empty at this moment. Not only was Dou Yanxun not there, but Liao Yan, who rushed there through the secret passage, would also find nothing. The only person who could have such power to spread such false information in front of the Imperial Hall was Zhao Fu, the chief eunuch in charge of Emperor Su's affairs.

Zhao Fu must have already defected.

This undoubtedly shrouded the already complex game in even greater mystery. However, the only thing to be happy about was that she trusted Liao Yan enough, and knew that someone as intelligent, courageous, and resourceful as him would never return empty-handed once he went.

Meanwhile, Liang Si had already led his loyal subordinates from the Five Cities Garrison to firmly surround the entire palace, as agreed beforehand. Although she was currently in the most dangerous vortex, she knew that Liang Si would definitely protect her and Kunrou's safety.

Lin Xu snapped out of his thoughts and saw that in just a short while, the situation around him had reversed once again.

Liao Yan suddenly appeared with the Imperial Guard's orders. As a princess of illustrious birth and renowned for her military achievements, her appearance was like a bolt of lightning, stirring up the already fearful Imperial Guards who had been involved in the treason. Seeing Xiang Zhizhang's fall from arrogance to execution in mere moments, even seasoned guards trembled with fear.

The surrounding area was filled with the restless noise of the soldiers.

In the chaos, Lin Xu felt someone groping towards her from behind. Before she could respond, she saw out of the corner of her eye that the person was wearing armor and had already drawn a short blade from his sleeve. With a flash of cold light, he cut the rope that had been binding her wrists for a long time.

She quickly turned around and looked at the person's face.

He looked very familiar, like a former subordinate of Liang Si. He seemed to have been one of the people who helped when they moved to the new house.

"And him?"

Lin Xu quickly lowered his voice and asked.

The subordinate didn't have time to say anything, but simply nodded quickly with a calm expression, and soon disappeared into the crowded throng again.

Lin Xu steadied herself and looked at the short blade her subordinate had left her before leaving; it was cold and sharp. She didn't look back at the path she had taken, but moved towards the shadows beneath the city wall—the place where carriages and soldiers were most likely to mingle. The situation was chaotic, and she could only do her best to protect herself.

Meanwhile, Liao Yan, seated high on her horse, had already positioned herself on the steps below the Imperial Study. She let out a sharp shout, her voice like a valiant and piercing light that could cleave through all darkness.

"All generals, listen to my command—the Imperial Guards are hereby ordered! I command you all to return to your positions immediately and escort me back to the palace! The traitor Wei Cheng is to be arrested immediately; anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception!"

The wind whipped up the flames, turning the imperial road as bright as day.

The armored soldiers stood in formation, their halberds gleaming coldly, raised high and then lowered in unison. Hesitant breaths rose and fell among the ranks.

The gold bracelet on Liao Yan's wrist shone with an incredibly cold and bright light in the firelight, appearing even more awe-inspiring against the backdrop of swords and blades. Everyone in the Imperial Guard recognized it; it was the command token that commanded all the Imperial Guards in the Dayu Imperial City. Seeing this token was tantamount to paying homage to the commander of the Imperial Guards.

In an instant, even though some of Prince Mao's former subordinates were waiting for an opportunity to act in the crowd, many imperial guards had already seen the gold bracelet and couldn't help but shout in unison:

"Greetings, Commander!"

Prince Mao wiped the half-dried blood from his face with a cold smile. He had left Yan Ying Hall in a hurry and had never liked the style of the Imperial Guard's badge. He found it uncomfortable to wear on his wrist, so he casually threw it on the table that was almost submerged by the map of the country. He never expected that in a moment of carelessness, "this girl would snatch it away."

"Liao Yan, return this Imperial Guard order, and your uncle might spare your life."

It was nearly dawn, and the morning breeze ruffled Liao Yan's thick, black hair, which was already covered in blood and dust, but her eyes remained clear, shining with an unyielding light.

"Uncle, the situation is settled. You may surrender now."

Prince Mao looked behind Liao Yan and saw that the palace walls were already covered with a dense swarm of arrows. He and his former subordinates were now like turtles in a jar, with no choice but to surrender.

Behind him, Duan Jinru's short sword remained firmly pressed against the back of his neck, showing no sign of yielding. If he made the slightest move, that dagger would instantly behead him, just like Xiang Zhizhang had done moments before.

Prince Mao looked at his nephew, whom he had raised with his own hands, whom he had always treated as his own son and considered his life's masterpiece. He never expected that this same person would betray him and ruin everything. The sinister look in his eyes grew thicker and thicker like dark clouds, until finally he couldn't help but throw his head back and burst into laughter.

"I, Wei Cheng, have lived a life of bravery, yet I have been defeated by a few cowardly scoundrels—how laughable! How utterly laughable!"

Meanwhile, seeing that Prince Mao was powerless to reverse the situation, and with more and more people obeying Liao Yan, the imperial guards shouted as they returned to their original ranks, covering the escort of Emperor Su back to his palace. Crown Prince Wei Yun, having been untied by several subordinates, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Before he could even get up, he saw Prince Mao being escorted away by Duan Jinru and several tall and imposing imperial guards.

They almost brushed past me.

In the distance, at the edge of the palace walls, the sky was gradually turning white, and the dawn's light pierced through the walls, falling on the already blood-stained ground. The time for the mopping-up operation had arrived. The imperial guards who had previously sided with Prince Mao and Xiang Zhizhang were putting up a last-ditch resistance. Countless arrows pierced through the morning light, piercing their exquisite iron armor and chests one by one, and blood splattered on the imperial road, flowing down along the cracks in the stones.

In the very center of the crowd, Xiang Xingde, the second son of Xiang Zhizhang, who had witnessed his father being beheaded, was already in a bloodthirsty rage. He didn't care whether Prince Mao had been captured or not; his only desire was to avenge his father's unjust death. Around him, one group of imperial guards after another fell.

"You scoundrel! Give me back my father's life!"

Xiang Xingde's face was half-stained with blood, and for a moment no one dared to approach him. He gasped for breath, looking at the dense array of arrows on the palace wall. Many of his arrows were still stuck in the cracks between the bricks, and most of them had ribbons woven with gold and purple silk threads at their fletchings. Who else could they be but the men of the Five Cities Garrison!

If Liang Zhengyuan hadn't surrounded the entire capital city today, trapping them inside, the outcome would have been uncertain!

Thinking of this, Xiang Xingde's chest heaved violently, blood and rage churning in his mouth. Knowing these were the men of Liangping Marquis who had been lying in ambush, he roared repeatedly at the sky:

"Liang Zhengyuan! You gigolo! If you have the guts, come down and fight me one-on-one! What kind of skill is it to hide in the shadows and shoot arrows at me!"

He shouted to everyone around him, brandishing his long sword, blood dripping from its tip. The soldiers around him were terrified by his fearless killing intent before death, and for a moment no one dared to approach him.

After seeing the limp corpses lying on the ground, Xiang Xingde's eyes widened when he saw a slender woman wrapped in a cloak by the corner of the wall in the distance.

This person... seems to be Liang Zhengyuan's cousin!

He had fought countless battles in the past, and when he went south to Huidong, he had been with Liang Zhengyuan and Qin Ziyuan. During the victory celebration banquet, he had caught a glimpse of this woman from afar, and someone told him that she seemed to be Liang Zhengyuan's cousin.

Unexpectedly, now that he is so eager for revenge, everything has turned out to be a struggle!

Xiang Xingde stopped shouting, his pupils contracting slightly with excitement. Lin Xu, who was hugging the corner of the wall and heading towards Liao Yan, was focused on dodging the blood and flesh splattering from the battle ahead, completely unaware of the approaching killing intent behind her.

Meanwhile, Liang Zhengyuan, hidden on the palace wall and observing everything, froze in shock. "Xu'er! Xu'er is in danger!"

Liang Zhengyuan's hand almost instinctively stood up, reached behind him, and brushed his fingertips among the arrow fletching, instantly sending a chill down his spine.

The adjutant beside him whispered urgently, "My lord, you must not reveal yourself at this moment—!"

But he could hear nothing anymore. The flames surged, and all the blood and smoke mingled in the dim light. His gaze was fixed on that corner—beside the imperial road, completely unaware of the figure that was gradually approaching Xingde.

He didn't have time to think it through.

Then Lin Xu finally seemed to realize something and slowly turned around. When she saw Xiang Xingde, whose face was covered in blood, approaching her, she was stunned and stood frozen in place.

Xiang Xingde, his face contorted with rage, leaped over the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​fire, lunging at her, howling as if demanding her life: "It's all because of your worthless lives that you ruined the prince's grand plan!"

The next instant, the whistling arrow was fired, and the sound of it cutting through the air suddenly arose.

A whistling arrow, seemingly capable of tearing through the night, swept through the air, its sharp sound making everyone's ears ring.

In an instant, all the sounds of fighting and slaughter were drowned out by the whistling of the arrows. The first arrow, flashing with a cold light no less than lightning, shot swiftly from the distant palace wall, piercing Xiang Xingde's wrist as he held his sword with precision and force. Blood splattered everywhere, and the long sword in Xiang Xingde's hand fell to the ground with a piercing metallic sound.

He grunted and abruptly turned his head to look in the direction from which the arrow had come.

Amidst the blazing firelight atop the layered palace walls, a figure emerged. His robes fluttered in the wind, his features handsome yet dignified, his eyes narrowed as he stared intently at him. It was none other than Liang Zhengyuan, the Marquis of Liangping.

"Liang Zhengyuan—!"

Xiang Xingde gritted his teeth and roared, blood gushing from between his fingers.

Before he could finish his vehement curse, another whistling arrow shot through the air with a piercing shriek. The arrow flashed like frost, striking directly at Xingde's chest. With a muffled thud, Xingde staggered back two steps, blood gushing from his mouth. Countless flashes of light illuminated his eyes, burning away his last vestiges of madness and rage to ashes.

Before Liao Yan could even smile at the sight before the imperial steps, her heart suddenly clenched for some unknown reason. She subconsciously looked up and saw, amidst the chaos of battle, someone among the rebels picked up several arrows and bows from the ground and shot them at Liang Zhengyuan, who was now completely exposed to the sunlight without any cover.

"don't want--"

Liao Yan cried out anxiously, only to see several arrows fall in a short while. One of them landed squarely on Liang Zhengyuan's chest, who was just relieved to have managed to save Lin Xu from danger.

The world before her eyes gradually blurred, and she could no longer see the gleaming armor, the towering flames, the fighting soldiers, and the mountains of corpses...

All that remained was his astonished gaze down at the arrow, followed by his body going limp and slowly collapsing backward.