Article 739: Wanwan Protects Her Master in Times of Crisis
"Tell me, what do you want in return for the imperial seal!"
Xiao Jue strode over and grabbed the emperor by the collar.
Ming Gonggong tried to stop him, but Xiao Jue kicked him away.
The Empress and the Crown Prince were furious and wanted to step forward, but the Emperor stopped them with a gesture.
Although the emperor's collar was being grabbed, his face remained calm. He said in a low voice, "It's not impossible to get the imperial seal, but on the condition that everyone here except me is released."
Grand Tutor Lin exclaimed in alarm: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely forbidden!"
The Empress's voice trembled as she said, "If Your Majesty doesn't leave, I won't leave either."
The Crown Prince and several other princes made it clear that they would never abandon their father and leave.
Cheng Wanwan never expected the emperor to propose such a deal. If she were a minister here, she would surely follow such a monarch to the death.
"Let everyone go?" Xiao Jue looked around and sneered. "These old courtiers will definitely spread my deeds after they get out, causing unrest in the previous dynasty. That's when my throne will truly be unstable. I can release people, but only the women can leave. All the courtiers must be buried with you, the emperor!"
Before the emperor could even speak.
Rongqing immediately took the Empress Dowager's arm: "Let me help you leave here, let's go quickly."
The Empress Dowager pulled her arm away: "I am old, whether I leave or not makes little difference. I will stay here with the Emperor."
"I will not leave either." The Empress stood firmly behind the Emperor. "I am willing to live and die with Your Majesty."
Cheng Wanwan's expression was solemn.
This former crown prince was cruel and could even torture and kill innocent palace maids and eunuchs, let alone women of rank.
On the surface, they're being allowed to leave, but there's bound to be an ambush if they go this way.
Staying means death, leaving means death too.
It would be better to leave a good name in front of the emperor.
Cheng Wanwan then spoke up: "Your Majesty bestowed upon me this status, and in times of crisis, I will never abandon Your Majesty!"
The ladies behind her expressed their support, with most of them willing to stay and stand by her side.
Rong Qing's face was somewhat pale, which made her appear as if she were someone who clung to life and was afraid of death.
She just couldn't understand why these women would be of any use staying at this critical moment of life and death. They might as well leave first; as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn...
"Sui Shuren, I knew I hadn't misjudged you." The Empress Dowager pulled Cheng Wanwan to her side. "If you can successfully escape, I will certainly give you the honor you deserve."
She and the Empress were willing to stay because they were the Emperor's closest confidantes.
Sui Shuren, who had just arrived in the capital and had little connection with the royal family, was willing to stand with the emperor even before others had expressed their opinions. This sincerity was extremely valuable.
Rong Qing clenched her palms tightly, her long nails digging into her flesh, but she felt no pain at all.
"How dawdling!" Xiao Jue said impatiently. "If you refuse to leave when I tell you to, then you'll all stay and be buried with me. As for the Imperial Seal, I don't want it anymore. I'll just kill you all first!"
He drew the sword from his waist and stabbed at the emperor.
The Empress Dowager's brows furrowed, and without hesitation, she spread her arms to block the Emperor.
The surrounding ladies all screamed in alarm as the men in black and the Imperial Guards clashed.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Rongqing raised his hand and shoved Cheng Wanwan hard—since you like to curry favor with the Empress Dowager so much, then you might as well die!
With tremendous force, she aimed at the sword in Xiao Jue's hand and shoved Cheng Wanwan away.
Cheng Wanwan was taking something out of her sleeve when she was suddenly pushed, and her back hit Xiao Jue's sword.
Although she was wearing a stab-proof vest, it didn't mean she wouldn't get hurt. When the sharp blade pierced her, her back still inevitably hurt.
The Empress Dowager was unaware that Rongqing had pushed Cheng Wanwan. She assumed that Cheng Wanwan had once again shielded her from a fatal blow, and her eyes immediately reddened: "Sui Shuren, are you alright...?"
"So you're Consort Sui!" Xiao Jue stomped on Cheng Wanwan's wrist. "People talk about Consort Sui with great admiration, but in my opinion, she's nothing special. It's just your bad luck that you had to stand in front of her... So many years have passed, and you're still as cowardly as ever, always pushing others to take the fall in times of crisis. Tsk tsk, Empress Dowager, didn't you ask me how Duanmin died back then? Well, I'll mercifully tell you..."
"Something's wrong!" Rongqing suddenly exclaimed, "Sui Shuren's hand is bleeding so much!"
Everyone's attention was immediately diverted. Cheng Wanwan's wrist was being stepped on by Xiao Jue, and there were sharp stones on the ground that had cut her wrist, with blood slowly seeping out, which looked quite frightening.
Cheng Wanwan didn't notice her own injuries, but instead looked at Rong Qing with a suspicious gaze.
Rongqing has always wished for her death, so why is he suddenly concerned about her injuries... Wait, what did Xiao Jue just mention? It seems to be the truth about Princess Duanmin's death?
He Xiao suddenly leaped over and kicked Xiao Jue hard.
Xiao Jue casually grabbed a man in black to block the kick and uncontrollably retreated.
Cheng Wanwan was finally freed and was helped to her feet by Madam Ruan.
"Not bad." Xiao Jue licked his lips and raised his hand, saying, "Everyone retreat! Light the fire!"
In a direct confrontation, his side would suffer countless casualties.
He was already short-handed, so saving even one soldier was a good thing.
All the men in black immediately headed towards the north gate.
Cheng Wanwan took out the smoke bombs she had just bought from the system store from her sleeve.
That's why I fell into Rongqing's trap.
She said coldly, "Everyone, remember the direction of the north gate. After I count to three, we will all evacuate from the north!"
The others still didn't understand what she meant.
Bang bang bang!
She threw the smoke bomb in her hand to the ground, and thick white smoke immediately filled the entire underground palace.
Fortunately, no one ignored her words. Although their vision was obstructed, everyone remembered the north and helped each other head north.
Xiao Jue's men, being new to the underground palace, hadn't remembered the north gate and were lost, with voices of people asking each other for directions everywhere...
Cheng Wanwan stood behind the North Gate exit. When the men in black came over, she immediately took advantage of the chaos to throw out a few more smoke bombs.
The underground palace was filled with smoke, making it impossible to distinguish directions or friend from foe.
He Xiao led the group out of the north gate and finally arrived at a spacious platform. There were no men in black here for the time being, so it was barely safe.
Madam Ruan counted the number of people and said with a grave expression, "More than twenty people are missing. I don't know if we can escape successfully..."
The Empress Dowager said slowly, "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. Separating from the royal family may be the only way to survive."
“That’s right. Only by separating from me can you survive.” The Emperor said, “He Xiao, I now order you to leave immediately with all the women and court officials. Don’t waste any more time. Once you’re out, you must expose Xiao Jue’s actions to the public, make him a target of condemnation by the people, and ensure he never has a peaceful day again!”
The Empress stepped forward, took the Emperor's hand, and said nothing; her attitude spoke volumes.
The Crown Prince stepped forward and knelt on the ground: "Your subject is of similar build to Father Emperor. Please allow me to put on Father Emperor's dragon robe to distract Xiao Jue!"
Just as the emperor was about to refuse, the empress said, "This is the boldest decision the crown prince has made since he became crown prince, and I agree to do so."
The Empress Dowager's eyes showed pain: "I agree as well."
The crown prince is still young. If he leaves here alive, he will be unable to secure the country.
If you had to choose between the emperor and the crown prince, you could only choose the emperor.
The Crown Princess stepped forward with tears in her eyes: "Then, daughter-in-law, please change into Mother's phoenix robe..."
The Crown Princess was only seventeen or eighteen years old. She was very young, with thin arms and legs, and looked very frail. Moreover, she had just fallen and could not walk.
Cheng Wanwan said, "The Crown Princess is too thin. Why don't I do it? I am the same height as the Empress. After changing clothes and hairstyle, I will surely be able to deceive those rebels."
It wasn't that she wanted to show off, but anyone impersonating the empress here would be just throwing their life away.
She has many trump cards; she can protect herself and buy time for the royal family to escape...
She risked her life to save the royal family today, so tomorrow the royal family will spare no effort to protect her and her child.
This deal is very worthwhile.
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