The dim, yellow sunlight shone on Yingyang City. At that time, a large number of soldiers surrounded the inner city of Yingyang City. The inner city was in chaos. Many ministers packed their belongings and tried to escape with their families. However, the city was surrounded on all sides. Where could they escape to?
Besides these ministers, there were also many other ministers with ulterior motives who were secretly contacting the rebel forces on both sides to discuss various terms.
As early as when the rebel army reached the outskirts of Yingyang City, Emperor Rui had entrusted all military affairs to Zhang Chao and strictly ordered him to defend the city. However, Emperor Rui knew very well that Yingyang City could not be defended, and his throne was about to be lost. So he had a lot of ideas about leaving things to fate, and he didn't want to do anything. He just locked himself in the Qin Zheng Hall and drank cup after cup of wine, just wanting to get drunk.
At that time, the palace was in increasing chaos. Many eunuchs and palace maids had no heart to work and gathered in twos and threes to discuss the impending threat of the rebels.
Amidst the chaos, Empress Jiang Tao'er arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Emperor Rui looked up at her with hazy eyes, a slight smile appearing on his face. He said, "Is it my beloved consort? Come quickly, come to my side."
Jiang Tao'er smiled sweetly, nodded, and walked step by step toward Emperor Rui.
Looking at the smile on Jiang Tao'er's face, Emperor Rui felt as if everything before him was a dream. There were no rebels outside the city, his throne was not threatened, and he could still live a life of debauchery and extreme luxury.
Jiang Tao'er walked gently to Emperor Rui's side with a smile. She sat down next to him and said sweetly, "Why is Your Majesty drinking alone? Why don't you let me drink with you?"
"Very well!" Emperor Rui laughed, reaching out to pull Jiang Tao'er's petite body into his arms, and said with a smile, "My beloved consort, drink with me!"
Jiang Tao'er poured a glass of wine and held it to Emperor Rui's lips, saying with a charming smile, "Your Majesty, drink."
"Alright!" Emperor Rui let Jiang Tao'er pour the wine into his mouth. Before the impending great disaster, he recklessly enjoyed this tenderness that he was so reluctant to part with.
Until the gentle woman whispered in his ear, her voice alluring, "Your Majesty, even now, are you still not going to tell me where the Imperial Seal is hidden?"
Emperor Rui suddenly snapped out of his daze, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, abruptly waking him from his years of confused and muddled thinking.
Emperor Rui stared intently at Jiang Tao'er, his expression unusually grave, and asked in a low voice, "Did you approach me only for the Imperial Seal?"
Jiang Tao'er just smiled and remained silent.
Emperor Rui finally broke free from the endless sweet words. At this critical moment of life and death, he was unusually clear-headed, his mind crystal clear. He thought of the moon-viewing banquet, the ten beauties from Jiangnan presented by Xuan Yuanhao and Liang Yihan, his first meeting with Jiang Tao'er, how Jiang Tao'er always spoke well of Xuan Yuanhao in his ear, and how, during his drunken moments, Jiang Tao'er would subtly inquire about the location of the Imperial Seal…
A terrifying rage and murderous intent flashed across Emperor Rui's face. He shoved Jiang Tao'er to the ground, drew his sword from his waist, and stabbed at her, shouting, "You wretch, I'll kill you!"
As Jiang Tao'er watched the sharp sword tip pierce towards her, she smiled disdainfully, quickly took out a yellow paper talisman from her waist, and threw it upwards. The talisman spontaneously combusted without fire, emitting a cloud of green mist that enveloped Jiang Tao'er, carrying her lightly backwards. They quickly retreated more than ten feet, looking at Emperor Rui from afar.
Emperor Rui was stunned for a moment. He threw down his sword, looked up at the sky and laughed loudly. There was no joy in his laughter, only endless desolation.
Suddenly, accompanied by a whooshing sound, several beams of light flew into the hall one after another. When the light dissipated, the figures of Li Molin, Liuli, and the other two demons were revealed.
Emperor Rui lowered his head upon hearing the sound. He showed no surprise at the sudden appearance of the three people and three demons. He calmly scanned Li Molin and the others, finally fixing his gaze on Yu Ke. After a moment's thought, he said in a low voice, "You are... Yu Ke. I recognize you. You were once my guard..."
Yu Ke bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Emperor Rui gave a cold laugh and asked, "What brings you here?"
Yu Ke looked at Li Molin, who nodded slightly.
Yu Ke looked up at Emperor Rui again and said loudly, "We have come here to ask Your Majesty about the location of the Imperial Seal of the State."
"Oh?" Emperor Rui chuckled. "So you're also after the Imperial Seal? But I wonder who you want it for? Is it Prince Hua Lie? Prince Yu Hao? Or one of my uncles?"
Yu Ke did not answer his question, but simply said, "Please tell me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Rui poured himself a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. He gave a mocking smile and was about to reply when suddenly, a series of whooshing sounds came from the air. Accompanied by streaks of light of various colors, several more figures appeared out of thin air in the hall.
Emperor Rui looked closely and saw that Liang Yihan and Xuan Yuanhao were standing to the left of Li Molin and the others, while four monks, Shi Chan, Shi Ning, Yuan Jue, and Hui Yan, were standing to the right of Li Molin and the others.
Emperor Rui's gaze finally settled on Xuan Yuanhao. At this moment, his eyes were exceptionally clear, faintly radiating wisdom. Xuan Yuanhao, stared at by such a gaze, felt a sudden unease, as if he had been transported back to his childhood, when he often saw his elder brother, the Ning Emperor, with such a look. Only after the Ning Emperor ascended the throne did he cease to see that look. After his ascension, a shadow seemed to shroud his eyes, obscuring the clear wisdom within, so that people could only see tyranny and desire in them.
"Fifth brother..." After a long silence, Emperor Rui narrowed his eyes and sneered, "You approach me and try to please me, is it all for the sake of the Imperial Seal?"
Xuanyuan Hao's eyes turned slightly cold as he replied in a clear voice, "If it weren't for my brother's pressure, I would never have had the thought of coveting the Imperial Seal."
"Oh?" Emperor Rui leaned back comfortably in his chair and asked, "Never before? Then what brings Fifth Brother here today?"
Xuanyuan Hao bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have come here only to tell you that just now, Lord Zhang opened the East Gate and welcomed you into the inner city. General Tianci has also breached the West Gate. At this moment, the two sides are engaged in a fierce battle in the inner city. It is very chaotic outside. Your Majesty should stay in the palace and not go out."
Emperor Rui's expression changed, and he said hatefully, "Zhang Chao!"
After a while, Emperor Rui's expression gradually calmed down. He shook his head and said lightly, "So be it. It doesn't matter now."
He turned his gaze to the monks, including Yuanjue, and asked with a faint smile, "What brings you gentlemen here?"
"Amitabha, Buddha is merciful!" Yuanjue put his palms together in a Buddhist salute and said with a smile, "The Imperial Seal is the most precious treasure in the world. I beg His Majesty the Emperor to bestow this treasure upon us with great compassion, so that we may use this treasure to benefit all living beings."
"Heh!" Li Molin chuckled coldly from the side.
Standing beside Li Molin, Liuli quietly took a step back. She peeked at Shi Chan and saw that Shi Chan was also looking at her. Liuli couldn't help but nod and smile. Shi Chan nodded gently and smiled warmly.
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