With several screams, Li Mufeng burst in.
His eyes flashed with rage, he gripped the blood-stained sword in his hand, and his entire body exuded a strong murderous aura that sent chills down one's spine.
"King Longxuan, what are you doing? Are you planning a rebellion?"
Blocking the way was Shen Tianyi, the commander of the Imperial Guards.
"Get out of the way."
Li Mufeng parted his cold lips slightly, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Han Ruyi behind Shen Tianyi.
"Prince Longxuan, listen to my advice. The Emperor is critically ill and cannot withstand any further disturbance. If you force your way into the palace and anger the Emperor, I fear..."
Han Ruyi only made some small moves in secret. People outside had no idea that Emperor Li Hongwen was dead. Shen Tianyi was also unaware. In their eyes, Emperor Li Hongwen and Consort Zhen had a very good relationship, so they naturally wouldn't think much of it.
"Shen Tianyi, when did you become this vixen's lackey?"
Last time the Emperor was poisoned, you sided with Lady Feng. I spared you because you were only trying to save your own life.
If you dare to obstruct me again today, I will settle all your old and new scores with you.
Li Mufeng's voice was as cold as ice. Startled, Shen Tianyi quickly withdrew his hand and bowed respectfully.
"As for the Dragon King's mood, I explained it last time. I am only serving the court."
During His Majesty's illness, Consort Zhen has been taking care of him diligently. His Majesty has decreed that everything must be done according to Consort Zhen's wishes, as she does not want anyone to disturb His Majesty's rest. Therefore…”
Under Li Mufeng's intimidating gaze, Shen Tianyi didn't finish his sentence.
"King Longxuan, sob sob...you're finally back, sob sob..."
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, the young eunuch, Eunuch Yu, ran over, choking with sobs.
"Eunuch Yu, how is Father Emperor?"
Upon seeing Eunuch Yu, Li Mufeng hurriedly inquired.
"I don't know either! Ever since my master died, I haven't seen the Emperor again. I miss the Emperor too!"
As Eunuch Yu spoke in his high-pitched voice, Li Mufeng grew even more anxious and shouted in a deep voice,
"Get out of the way."
"this……"
The Imperial Guard Commander, Shen Tianyi, glanced back at Consort Zhen, Han Ruyi, and then said...
"His Majesty is still taking a nap. Commander Shen, do not let any unauthorized personnel in."
"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'even if the emperor is sleeping, he wouldn't refuse to see his own son.' Shen Tianyi, have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?"
The Emperor is sleeping, not dead. How could he not hear such a commotion? There's not a sound at all. Don't you find that strange?"
Eunuch Yu, always sharp-tongued, shoved Shen Tianyi aside. When Li Mufeng heard Eunuch Yu mention the word "dead," his pupils dilated. He no longer cared about whether he was breaking into the palace or rebelling. He quickly knocked out everyone who stood in his way, pushed Han Ruyi aside, and entered the bedchamber.
At this moment, the Second Prince, Li Muchen, held Emperor Li Hongwen hostage with a knife.
"Li Muchen, you've gone mad."
Li Mufeng shouted in a deep voice.
"Second Prince, she is your father, the Emperor. You said you were there to attend to the Emperor when he was ill, how could you hold him hostage?"
Han Ruyi shouted as well.
"Prince Lin, please release the Emperor immediately, lest he be harmed."
At Han Ruyi's prompting, Zhang Mama also called out.
"you……"
Li Muchen stared at Han Ruyi in disbelief. This wasn't what they had discussed. Hadn't they agreed to let Li Mufeng commit suicide? How did it turn into him holding the Emperor hostage?
"Prince Longxuan, please save the Emperor! If anything happens to him, I won't live either! Waaah..."
Han Ruyi looked heartbroken and tugged at Li Mufeng's arm, but he shook her off forcefully.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Commander Shen Tianyi of the Imperial Guards quickly supported her, then said with some disapproval,
"Prince Longxuan, Consort Zhen is still pregnant! How could you treat her like this?"
"Release Father Emperor."
At this moment, Li Mufeng was only concerned about the safety of Emperor Li Hongwen and had no time to pay attention to Shen Tianyi.
"Well……"
Li Muchen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't make a sound. Only then did he realize that he had fallen into that bitch Han Ruyi's trap. He turned his head and glanced at the cup next to him, and immediately understood everything. He had been poisoned by Han Ruyi.
"You...kill..."
Two hoarse syllables escaped from his aching throat, and then he lunged at Han Ruyi without hesitation. He wanted to kill this vicious woman more than Li Mufeng.
"King Longxuan, save me!"
Upon seeing this, Han Ru rushed towards Li Mufeng, wanting to make Li Mufeng bear the crime of murdering his brother.
Who is Li Mufeng? He also deeply despises this woman and is unwilling to be a fool. Not only does he not intend to save her, he also pushes Han Ruyi toward Li Muchen's sword.
"Your Highness, be careful..."
To everyone's surprise, Shen Tianyi lunged forward.
With two "thud" sounds, Prince Li Muchen and Commander Shen Tianyi of the Imperial Guard were each struck by a sword. Shen Tianyi was wounded in the back, while Prince Li Muchen was struck in the chest. His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace.
"King Lin..."
When Empress Dowager Feng Xiuzhen heard that Li Mufeng had led his men into the palace, she immediately summoned all the officials. When she arrived, she found her son had been killed, and she wept bitterly.
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician! Commander Shen is injured!"
Han Ruyi called out a few times as if it were a symbolic gesture, but unexpectedly, a royal physician who had come to join in the fun stepped forward to examine Shen Tianyi, who was soon carried away.
The entire Hall of Mental Cultivation was thrown into chaos, but Emperor Li Hongwen sat upright without uttering a word.
"Father, Father..."
Li Mufeng called out twice in a trembling voice, but Li Hongwen remained motionless.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Prince Longxuan has arrived."
The eunuch Yu stepped forward and gave Li Hongwen a push, and Li Hongwen collapsed onto the bed with a thud.
"Ah... His Majesty has passed away..."
Grandpa Yu shouted in a shrill voice.
"Father..."
Li Mufeng was heartbroken, and all the officials knelt on the ground, grieving repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, why are you dead? What am I supposed to do now that you're gone? Who will protect the child in my womb? How am I supposed to live? I might as well die with you, sob sob..."
Han Ruyi cried even more heartbrokenly, and smashed her head against a pillar.
Granny Zhang quickly pulled her away.
"Your Majesty! You cannot die! If you die, what will happen to the prince in your womb? If the Emperor knew this from beyond the grave, he would surely not want Your Majesty to be so heartbroken. Waaah..."
"Your Highness, please accept my condolences and take care of the baby in your womb."
Seeing his daughter so heartbroken, Prime Minister Han Ruomo spoke first.
"Yes! His Majesty and Consort Zhen were deeply in love in Kangding. If they knew this in the afterlife, they would not be happy to see the Consort so heartbroken."
"Yes! Although the Emperor is gone, there is still Prince Longxuan. He will surely be able to protect the prince in Consort Zhen's womb, after all, he is the Emperor's last flesh and blood. He is also Prince Longxuan's brother."
...
The officials all offered their advice, one after another.
Han Ruyi's long eyelashes trembled; these were exactly the words she wanted to hear.
"As long as this child is here, I think the Dragon King will not dare to touch me, and I will have a chance to turn the tables."
Zhao Hu's only master was Li Mufeng. As long as Li Mufeng was safe and sound, he was relieved. So while others were heartbroken, he seemed to be doing nothing. His deep eyes looked around and, as he looked, he noticed that something was wrong.
"Your Highness, look."
On the bed, there was an unusual bright red mark below Li Hongwen's wrist. Li Mufeng hurriedly pulled open his father's sleeve, and the scene before him enraged him even more.
"Who did this?"
Li Hongwen's sleeve contained a skeleton, all the flesh of which had been scraped away. Li Mufeng angrily grabbed Han Ruyi by the throat, who was trying to kill herself.
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