Chapter 386 Treason? Luo'er Kills the Enemy!

Who are we?

"Naturally, they are the nameless heroes who have come to bring about the downfall of your Duan Dynasty!"

"An incompetent and foolish ruler who only seeks pleasure and disregards the people's livelihood deserves to die!"

"We swear to die for our cause; today we will tear apart this tyrannical ruler's rule!"

Before the traitor could even finish his wild roar, Duan Rongshi slit his throat.

After wiping out the rebels in the camp, not a single one was left alive.

These people are incredibly tight-lipped; even if a knife is stuck in their flesh, they will still keep shouting their own version of what they say.

"We are the unsung heroes who work for the well-being of the people of Liang—"

Now the 'heroes' are lying all over the ground.

Naturally, no clues were obtained.

After settling all the servants in, the few imperial guards who remained came over to report, "Your Highness Prince Su."

Duan Rongshi: "Where are the others?"

Where are His Majesty and the Empress Dowager? Are they safe?

Imperial Guard: "Your Highness, rest assured, His Majesty and his entourage left this place under the cover of the Imperial Guard after the incident. However, there are still dozens of traitors chasing after His Majesty and his entourage."

Duan Rongshi sheathed his sword: "What are we waiting for? Chase them!"

The Crown Prince, under the cover of his subordinates, had already gone after Emperor Yan.

So now, apart from some abandoned servants and the imperial guards who were cleaning up the mess, there is only Duan Rongshi and his guards from the Prince Su's mansion at the camp.

On the way to Nanshan Villa, there was blood everywhere and corpses lying across the road.

Duan Rongshi: "What exactly happened? Where did these traitors come from?"

Imperial Guard: "Your Highness, an hour ago, a group of people suddenly arrived from outside the mountain."

"These people claimed to be villagers from the surrounding area. Knowing that the royal family was spending the last two days in Nanshan, they said they had made a 'Ten Thousand People Umbrella' and signed their surnames on it, intending to present it to His Majesty as a token of their sincere prayers for His Majesty's well-being."

"After the umbrella of ten thousand people was handed to His Majesty, His Majesty was very pleased."

"When we heard that the people had not yet left and were waiting to see the Emperor in person, the Emperor suddenly became very interested and immediately allowed his subordinates to bring the people forward."

"Who knew that these people, who were originally kind and sincere, would show their true colors as soon as they arrived."

"They said that the 'Umbrella of Ten Thousand People' was not just an umbrella, but also had a hidden mechanism, a special surprise that the people had painstakingly prepared to present to the Emperor."

"His Majesty was very interested and let them demonstrate how to open it. Who knew that when the umbrella was opened, more than a dozen thin swords were drawn out from the ribs."

"The incident happened suddenly, and the chief steward Wang He was stabbed to death on the spot."

"After our Imperial Guards rushed up and killed more than twenty hundred... no, traitors on the spot, those traitors also began their counterattack."

"The camp had a lot of swords and knives set up for His Majesty to perform martial arts demonstrations, but these people took advantage of them, grabbing the swords and knives and slashing at anyone they saw."

"Before His Majesty and his entourage withdrew, many of them had already been seriously injured."

Duan Rongshi: "How many traitors have come?"

Imperial Guards: "One hundred and thirty-six men."

Duan Rongshi immediately frowned: "So many? Such a strange thing, even Father Emperor didn't notice?"

"Father's actions today are so absurd, is there no one to stop him?"

The imperial guard dared not say much, and could only say in a deep voice, "From the moment His Majesty wanted to meet these traitors, he was met with opposition from many princes and nobles, but His Majesty insisted on going his own way this time..."

Ultimately, it was Emperor Yan's vanity that made him completely arrogant.

Duan Rongshi sneered: "A bunch of random people suddenly appear, saying they want to sing his praises, and they're so happy they don't even care about their lives."

The Imperial Guards immediately lowered their heads and dared not utter a word.

The words spoken to Prince Su today can only remain unspoken in their hearts.

After all, they had also criticized the Emperor's actions today...

However, to say that Emperor Yan was a foolish ruler would indeed be an oversimplification.

Emperor Yan was diligent and hardworking in his youth, and he also launched a large-scale military campaign to stabilize the country and recover much lost territory.

Over the years, taxes and levies have been kept low, and granaries have been opened to provide relief to the people in the event of a disaster.

He also personally went to the disaster area with Consort Yue to comfort the people. Because of his benevolent and wise rulership, the people shouted that Emperor Yan had created the "prosperous reign of Emperor Yanzong".

Moreover, he made many reforms and achievements in the imperial examination system, the Ministry of War, and the civil service system.

He was indeed a good emperor.

However, after the emergence of the Lotus Sect, and as he gradually grew older, he began to exhibit some confused and arrogant behavior.

He not only turned a blind eye to the many disturbances caused by the Lotus Sect, but also continued to condone their expansion of power.

He began to favor newly rich and powerful figures like the Qu family, who were both corrupt and decadent.

They also tolerated corrupt old clans like the Pei family, who committed heinous crimes but were not taken to a thorough investigation.

He treated the official laws that he had personally revised and outlined stroke by stroke as mere decorations, as if they were nothing.

They turned a blind eye to the Crown Prince's concentration of power, the Empress's family's collusion with ministers, and their forming of cliques for personal gain.

He no longer cared about the common people, and the government became more efficient and just.

It is said that before his serious illness, he suddenly asked Qingyangzi if there was really a path to immortality through cultivation.

When Duan Rongshi and the others arrived at Nanshan Villa, the battle was still raging.

The entrance was covered in corpses and blood.

Inside and out, everything was lying on its side.

"There's an ambush!"

"Your Highness, quickly—"

"Summon the Northern Army to rescue the Emperor!"

A palace servant, despite being stabbed, still risked his life to come out and seek help, clinging to the door frame.

Duan Rongshi stepped forward and grabbed the palace servant, his heart filled with alarm: "What has happened now? Where is His Majesty?"

Palace maid: "There's... a spy..."

After saying this, the palace maid breathed her last.

Zhuiyu: "If it were just a few dozen traitors, how could the thousands of Imperial Guards not be able to take them down quickly?"

"Your Highness, it seems there really is a traitor, and an ambush has been set up from within!"

Duan Rongshi took out the military tally that had not yet been returned: "Zhuiyu, take the military tally and summon the Northern Army to come to the rescue immediately."

"Royal Guards, you all come with me and charge in!"

Everyone: "Yes!"

Inside the Nanshan Villa.

Li Qingluo, panting heavily, hid in a side room with Que'er.

Outside, there was the sound of hurried footsteps.

After exchanging a glance, the two women, mistress and servant, charged out together with their swords drawn as the side room door was kicked open.

After killing five or six more people, the courtyard was finally cleaned up.

Li Qingluo looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, panting heavily.

"Where's Kill Five? Find him quickly!"

Sparrow: "Miss, don't worry. He'll find the old lady faster than we will."

"Let's just wait here and meet up, otherwise we'll get separated again, and the old lady will worry about you again."

Li Qingluo looked up at the sky filled with rolling dark clouds.

It's going to rain.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a thunderclap boomed across the sky.

Then, large raindrops began to fall.

Half an hour ago, after Li Qingluo led his men back to the Nanshan Villa, the place was already a river of blood, engulfed in a chaotic battle filled with screams.

Li Qingluo led her men in, frantically searching for Madam Pei's whereabouts, and quickly learned why the situation had developed to its current state.

It was the Zhong family who colluded with the Lotus Sect, setting up an ambush at the Nanshan Villa from the inside.

This is the best opportunity for the Zhong family to kill Emperor Yan and the Crown Prince.

So they persuaded Emperor Yan to transfer half of the Imperial Guards early on.

They secretly replaced most of the palace servants at Nanshan Villa with members of the Lotus Sect.

The Zhong family, at the height of their power, actually became traitors.

Just then, Granny Zheng returned, carrying a blood-dripping knife and panting heavily.

“Miss, the old lady is busy. I’m just letting you know so you won’t worry.”

Seeing that Li Qingluo and Que'er had cleaned up the courtyard, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Qingluo stepped into the rain: "Have you found Grandmother? Where is she? Quickly, take me to her!"

Granny Zheng wanted to say something more, but seeing Li Qingluo's resolute expression, she did not stop her.

The three of them, master and servants, hurriedly rushed to Madam Pei's place in the rain.

He would draw his sword and kill anyone who rushed towards him.

When they arrived at Madam Pei's place, the three of them were soaked to the bone, covered in blood and rain.

Li Qingluo took several deep breaths to calm herself down.

She was soaked in foul-smelling, fragrant blood water today, and her whole body was in a state of chaos.

Fortunately, she is still relatively conscious.

"grandmother!"

When Li Qinglu saw that Old Madam Pei was personally killing a traitor with a knife, she rushed over.

After the group cleared the courtyard, the grandfather and grandson embraced each other.

"Luo'er, I'm so glad you're alright, I'm so glad you're alright."

"Quickly, come in with your grandmother!"

The grandfather and grandson entered the house and were surprised to find that the Empress Dowager was also there!

"Greetings, Empress Dowager!"

Li Qingluo quickly greeted him.

The Empress Dowager, still in shock, screamed in fright when she saw Li Qingluo covered in blood.

The injured Aunt Fang looked at Li Qingluo with difficulty: "Miss Li, please... step aside for a moment, or perhaps change into a less conspicuous outer garment?"

"The Empress Dowager was greatly alarmed today."

"He has a high fever now and is a bit confused."

The Empress Dowager was, after all, nearly seventy years old.

This trip out of the palace was already a struggle.

Seeing this kind of scene again today is truly difficult.

Li Qingluo quickly walked to the side and took off her blood-stained outer garment without saying a word.

Sha Wu somehow found a black outer robe and brought it in, which Li Qingluo quickly put on.

Another person broke in.

Sha Wu, along with Granny Zhang and Granny Zheng, immediately stepped forward.

This place is a relatively safe place for now.

Li Qingluo slowly calmed down.

"Grandmother, the Zhong family is quite influential in the imperial court, how could they be involved with the Lotus Sect?"

"Do they really have the confidence to defeat the Duan Dynasty today?"

Li Qing was puzzled.

Why did the Zhong family plot this rebellion?

It was raining heavily outside. Madam Pei looked at the somewhat confused Empress Dowager and sighed.

"Isn't this all her fault?"

"The Zhong family also produced an Imperial Noble Consort back then."

"Emperor Taizong's most beloved son was not the current emperor, but the youngest son born to Consort Zhong."

"This prince is both scholarly and martial, has an outstanding appearance, and his temperament is more similar to that of Emperor Taizong."

"Because he was the youngest son of Emperor Taizong, who was forty years old, he was pampered from a young age. Emperor Taizong also nurtured this prince with the same care he would give to a crown prince."

"Later, when this prince was fifteen years old, he died in the Zhong family."