Chapter 1283 Sweeping Them All in One Wrap

Could it be that he intends to kill the Princess Consort of Qin?

Thinking about this, Zhao Tiesheng felt a chill run down his spine—just now at the city gate, he had realized that he had been deceived by Prince Qi. Opening the Mingde Gate to let Xiao Yuansui into the city was definitely not the emperor's order. Now he was burdened with the crimes of disobeying the imperial order and letting the enemy into the city. If no one could prove to him that he had been deceived, and if he did not have enough merit to clear his name, then after everything was over, not to mention whether he could keep his head, whether his entire family could be spared was another matter!

Therefore, he must make meritorious contributions, especially great ones!

Thinking of this, he reached out and took a bow and arrow from an archer beside him, drew the bowstring, aimed the arrow at Xiao Yuansui who was galloping ahead, and suddenly released the arrow!

With a whoosh, the arrow transformed into a bolt of lightning and pierced straight ahead.

Just as Xiao Yuansui was about to be hit in the back by an arrow, he suddenly raised his right hand as he galloped forward, and with a sharp swing of his sword close to his back, he knocked the arrow to the ground with a clang. He didn't even turn his head, but swung his sword again and continued to gallop forward.

"Oh no!"

Zhao Tiesheng was shocked and dared not delay. Since the outcome of the battle was already decided, he immediately mounted his horse and pointed to a few people: "You few, come with me to protect Princess Qin!"

Those who heard his words included not only the city guards who had followed him into battle, but also some female soldiers. When they looked up, Princess Qin had already ridden her horse eastward. However, the Anshang Gate to the east of the Zhuque Gate was also tightly closed. She did not stop and continued forward until she reached the end of the south gate of the palace. With a turn, she entered the imperial horse path on the east side of the palace.

Xiao Yuansui followed closely behind, turning his horse around and catching up as well.

Zhao Tiesheng also led these few people and hurriedly followed the enemy. The group spurred their horses and galloped wildly along the city wall. Behind them, the wide Zhuque Avenue was littered with corpses and rivers of blood. The last few lonely screams and cries gradually subsided. As the sun gradually set in the west, it seemed to be tinged with the color of the tall palace gate. The dazzling sunlight was gradually stained with blood, which fell on the people and added a touch of tragic beauty.

The sun is about to set.

No one expected that after Prince Qin Yuwen Ye left the city early in the morning, Chang'an, which was originally expected to be peaceful, would fall into such chaos all day. At this moment, the sunlight slanted on the palace walls, as if the bloody battle that had just taken place on Zhuque Avenue had continued here, staining the towering walls red. One after another, swift figures were reflected on the walls, flashing like lightning, more like an absurd shadow play.

This was indeed an unexpected scene.

No one could have imagined that in Chang'an, on the Imperial Horse Road separated from the palace by only a wall, the Princess of Qin would be galloping ahead on horseback, with the Right Thousand Bull Guard General chasing closely behind, wielding his sword. Behind them, a large number of guards, including the city's elite guards and women's soldiers, would follow closely behind. The sound of hooves striking the ground was like thunderclaps in dry soil, echoing back and forth on the road.

The road beneath their feet was the imperial horse road on the east side of the palace, originally used by the cavalry guarding the palace. Therefore, the road was flat and wide, and a wall more than a meter high was built along the edge of the market on the right to prevent anyone from coming out of the market and bumping into the patrolling cavalry. As they continued north along this imperial horse road, they gradually approached the north side of the palace, which was also the north side of the entire imperial city.

There are several more palace gates leading into the imperial palace.

Among them are...

Realizing this, Shang Ruyi, who had been riding at full speed, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, but right now, what mattered more was what was behind her...

She instinctively wanted to turn around and take a look, but before she could turn her head, she heard a shout from behind: "Your Highness, be careful! We are your guards!"

It was Zhao Tiesheng and his women's army shouting.

Shang Ruyi shouted loudly, "Be careful!"

Upon hearing her shout, Zhao Tiesheng and the others were all stunned for a moment.

They clearly saw Xiao Yuansui chasing Shang Ruyi away from the Vermilion Bird Gate and were worried that he would harm the Princess Qin, so they immediately followed to protect her. Now that Xiao Yuansui is right in front of them, why is the Princess Qin still telling them to "be careful"?

What do they have to be careful about?

Just as they were greatly surprised, suddenly, another heavy hoofbeat rang out on the quiet and spacious imperial horse path, coming from behind them!

Zhao Tiesheng was taken aback and hurriedly turned around. Just then, he suddenly heard a sharp whooshing sound.

A sharp pain shot through my back!

"ah--!"

Zhao Tiesheng let out a short, heavy cry of pain, but before the cry could even reach Shang Ruyi's ears, another bolt of lightning shot from behind, cutting the cry off in his throat.

A glint of cold light emerged from his throat, and the icy, almost salty taste of raw iron sent chills down Zhao Tiesheng's spine.

Those around him were horrified when they saw it—he had been hit by two arrows in the back and the back of the neck!

The arrow, especially the one that pierced his neck, went straight through it. The tip of the arrow emerged from his throat, and blood immediately rushed into his mouth. Then, a sharp pain accompanied his groan as he swallowed the arrow, and with a "bang," Zhao Tiesheng fell off his horse.

"Brother Zhao!"

The other soldiers shouted, but it was too late. A group of cavalrymen following closely behind them pounced on him, their hooves pounding heavily on his body, instantly turning this big man into a bloody mess.

It was Yuwen Cheng and his men!

At that moment, Shang Ruyi also turned around and saw this scene. Her face turned pale and her eyes widened in horror. In fact, just now, she saw a group of people sneaking around by the roadside below the Vermilion Bird Gate, seemingly spying on her. Although these people were all hidden in the shadows, the occasional flashes of cold light made her immediately anticipate the danger hidden among them, so she immediately spurred her horse away.

Only now did she realize that it was Yuwen Cheng who had been spying on the development of the situation.

The reason he killed Zhao Tiesheng so quickly was because he had falsely conveyed an imperial edict at Mingde Gate, ordering Zhao Tiesheng to open the city gate and let Xiao Yuansui and others into the city. Now the situation in the city was chaotic, and these people had already reached the gates of the palace. Yuwen Cheng naturally had to kill them to silence them, so that the emperor would not find out about his opportunistic and treacherous actions!

This person is indeed ruthless!

Just as Shang Ruyi turned around and saw what was happening, the archers behind Yuwen Cheng drew their bows once more and fired again, aiming at the soldiers closely following them.

Then they heard several sharp whooshing sounds, and the people following behind them fell to the ground one after another, struck by arrows.

Soon, only Xiao Yuansui remained behind Shang Ruyi!