◇ Chapter 95 (95) Death of Emperor Jianguang
Overnight, hundreds of Taoists and lay Buddhists from Linshan Temple fled the city, arriving outside the capital to join the Longxi King's men. Fortunately, Bo Kang was on guard and had a premonition of something amiss. Upon learning the news, he immediately sent someone to notify the Imperial Guards and the Minister of War in the capital.
Only now did they realize the ambitions of the King of Longxi, who had long harbored the intention of rebellion.
After midnight, faint flares could be heard from the outskirts of the city. Then, a towering blaze surged toward the city itself. Driven by the fierce winter wind, the fire spread across the mountains and forests, unstoppable. The northern sky had burned a brilliant crimson, staining the landscape crimson. Thick smoke billowed in, and the air was already thick with the faint scent of cigarette smoke.
"Sir!" The guard hurried back and reported, "Our mansion has been surrounded! No one is entering the mansion for the time being. There are too many people and horses, and my subordinates cannot enter."
"When I returned, I saw several ministers and generals surrounded outside their residences," he whispered. "Judging from their identities, they are undoubtedly the King of Longxi's men."
"How are the Minister of War's Mansion and the Imperial Guard Camp?" asked Bai Kang.
"I'm a quick runner, so I'll just pass the message on." The servant said worriedly, "Sir, I'll escort you out first! The Longxi King's army has already entered the city. Since they've surrounded our mansion, they'll discover this villa sooner or later!"
Although Bai Kang hadn't mentioned his villa to anyone, it wouldn't be difficult to find them if the city was searched. Bai Kang waved his hand, and another guard burst open the door, blood still on his body. It was the guard he had sent to ambush outside Linshan Temple. "Sir, this is bad! Fires have also broken out in the west and south of the city, near Linshan Temple! The streets are full of soldiers and fleeing Taoists!"
"Sir, please make a decision quickly!" the guard urged. Bai Kang watched the smoke of the beacon fire approaching in the distance, his eyes heavy. "Split into two groups. One group will escort the princess and the rest of the other courtyard to the posthouse. The other group will remain at the other courtyard and await my orders."
After saying that, he turned around and grabbed the sword hanging on the wall.
It was freezing cold, just like the temperature in Beijing tonight, as sharp as a knife or frost.
"Prepare the horses." Bai Kang said without turning his head.
The streets were in chaos. Most civilians, sensing the unusual atmosphere of the night, had locked their doors and windows, afraid to venture out. Some night vendors and night watchmen were fleeing the streets, while soldiers were pounding on shop doors. Flames shot up from the streets, and screams pierced the night air. Even from within locked doors, sobs of fear could be heard.
At the city gate...I'm afraid the situation is not good.
To leave the city and reach Linshan Temple, one must use the city gate. Bai Kang rode his horse and took a deserted path to the south gate. Sure enough, the sounds of fighting and weapons were already a chaotic mess. But it wasn't the rebels led by the King of Longxi, but the Taoist priests of Linshan Temple.
To be more precise, they were bandits disguised as Taoist priests. Once they'd removed their robes, they were all martial artists, muscular, powerful, and fierce-looking. The Minister of War, commanding the city defense in armor, saw him and barked fiercely, "Bai Kang, what are you doing here? Are all of you in the Ministry of Rites just collecting salaries for nothing? And no one even noticed anything was wrong with Linshan Temple!"
Bai Kang pursed his lips and said nothing. The Minister of War breathed heavily and threw the token from his waist to him: "Take this."
Before Bai Kang could reply, the Minister of War said, "Didn't you run away from the Minister's Mansion just to enter the palace to rescue the emperor? With the Imperial Guard's token, you can enter the palace and mobilize the Imperial Guards!"
Bai Kang held the token in his hand and said to the Minister of War, "Thank you."
The Minister of War gave him a strange look but didn't answer. With the token in hand, Bai Kang left. The bandits fighting with the city gate guards saw someone escape and immediately sent several men after him.
"Stop him!" the leading bandit shouted sternly.
The sword flashed like a shadow, but Bai Kang didn't stop, riding his horse to break through the encirclement. After all, the bandits were not well-trained soldiers. Although they were outnumbered, they were no match for Bai Kang. Bai Kang dodged, his body covered in blood, and his feet were full of dead and wounded bandits.
The familiar figure, whom he had just met during the inspection a few days ago, was still glaring at him, lying on the ground, staring at him intently. Bo Kang's arm was also stabbed by the long knife, but he seemed to feel no pain.
The bandits disguised themselves as monks and hid in the Linshan Temple. It was obvious that they were colluding with the King of Longxi and waiting for an opportunity to lurk.
Then... does Lianzhi know about this?
Lianzhi often goes in and out of Linshan Temple. Has she noticed this?
The fire in the city was raging, but the palace was brightly lit.
Lianzhi, dressed in the red auspicious attire of a prince, waited in the warm room of the Purple Palace. Outside the window, several figures passed by hurriedly, like palace maids delivering bedding. One of them looked very familiar, holding the pierced window paper and gazing at him from afar.
Eunuch Lu arrived quickly and was so shocked by the familiar figure that cold sweat broke out on his forehead. It was so similar that no wonder His Majesty had summoned him to the palace regardless of the consequences.
"Prince Zhulan, please follow me." Eunuch Lu bent down flatteringly, trying to hold Lianzhi's hand. The proud and reserved young man patted his face, but their fingertips touched and then separated.
Eunuch Lu's forehead suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, and a familiar feeling of fear surged in his heart. But he didn't dare to delay and simply didn't touch Lianzhi's hand again.
Inside the Zichen Hall, the light was dim.
Emperor Jianguang Chen Fengke sat upright on the dragon throne with a happy expression, seemingly completely unaware of the turmoil outside the palace. He was just waiting to meet an ally who was coming to marry him.
And that person's soul returned to his hometown after many years.
An Shiyi sat to his left, a complex expression on his face, his gaze gazing outwards into the distance. The gates of the Purple Palace were ajar. Eunuch Lu had returned, practically crawling towards him. "Your Majesty! The rebels have reached the outskirts of the Imperial City. The Minister of War is leading his troops. The Imperial Guards await your command. Please issue your decree!"
"A bunch of trash." Chen Fengke sneered and held out his palm, saying, "Bring me the imperial edict and the imperial decree."
Eunuch Lu was stunned, his mouth hanging open. Chen Fengke glanced at him and said, "I want to confer the title of Prince Zhulan. Do you have any objection?"
The rebels are already outside the palace. Hasn't Your Majesty heard? The three men at the top looked down at him, their eyes gloomy. Eunuch Lu felt strangely frightened. He hurriedly presented the imperial edict and the imperial comment, then fled the Purple Palace in a panic.
As the imperial edict unfolded, the dagger clanged and stabbed into it. Then, the dagger was placed across his neck. Almost at the same time, An Shiyi unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Lianzhi's heart.
The fire in the city gradually spread to the palace, and the sound of fighting broke through the sky.
The rebels broke through the palace gates, and several elite troops of the King of Longxi, hidden in the suburbs, rushed into the palace. The imperial guards were defeated, and the palace gates were stained red with blood. Horses' hooves trampled through the sticky blood, splattering the armor of the imperial guards who rushed to rescue the emperor. Although Bai Kang had not neglected his martial arts for many years, facing such a large number of elite soldiers, he still bore several scars. Enduring the pain, he cut down two rebels at the gate of the Golden Palace, kicked open the palace door, and shouted: "Your Majesty! I am too late to rescue you—"
The hall was completely silent; the eunuchs had already fled, taking advantage of the situation. Not even a breath of air could be detected in the empty hall.
Suddenly, a faint glow of fire emanated from the depths of the hall. In the dim light, Emperor Jianguang appeared in a state of disarray, held hostage by a young man in red. He sat slumped on the dragon throne, clutching the imperial seal and a bloodstained imperial edict.
Seeing the reinforcements coming to save him, he did not relax, but instead revealed an even more fearful smile: "Chen Fenglian, I will return the throne to you."
"Is this throne comfortable to sit on?" A cold blade slashed across his face, and the voice sounded the same as before. "This throne doesn't belong to me, but it certainly won't belong to you either. So how can you return it? During these three years on the throne, everyone has witnessed your actions and whether they are worthy of heaven and earth. The rebels who broke into the palace today are the people's will."
"What common people? Didn't you collude with the King of Longxi just to take revenge on me?" Chen Fengke sneered, "You already knew how to kill me, didn't you?"
"Killing you early would be too easy for you." Lianzhi's voice was filled with disgust. "You are also unworthy of being an emperor, Chen Fengke."
To die in infamy, burdened with the accusation of injustice, was the fate he had arranged for Chen Fengke. He was vindictive, and his enemies would have to endure a hundred times more infamy than he did to appease his hatred.
Chen Fengke sneered again.
He never claimed to be a good emperor, but he was unwilling to accept that Chen Fenglian, a mere puppet, could sit on the throne they all desired. Perhaps he was simply unsuitable to be emperor, having been forced to do so for three years. Perhaps, under the pressure of court officials and the Empress Dowager, Chen Fenglian had already done well enough.
How ridiculous! He had clearly agreed to join forces with the Queen Mother for this person. He hadn't expected that in the end, nothing would go his way. He had been searching for three years, but hadn't even found a trace of Chen Fenglian.
After finally finding him, he was about to die.
The fire almost burned into the Golden Palace. Lianzhi had no control over her strength, and the dagger had penetrated some of her flesh. Chen Fengke tightly grasped the imperial seal and the half-written imperial edict, enduring the pain and holding Lianzhi's hand in his own.
"You were crowned by me. Even if I die, you won't survive." Chen Fengke laughed, his voice hoarse and unpleasant as if it came from his lungs. Seeing the rebels outside getting closer and closer, he said with all his strength, "I didn't intend to kill you at the beginning..."
The armored figure was already approaching them. A raging fire burned across the long steps in front of the temple, and it seemed as if the will-o'-the-wisp fire on the road to the underworld could already be seen.
"It was the Queen Mother...who gave the order."
He had no intention of killing Chen Fenglian. Never.
The figure in armor gradually became clearer. Seeing Bo Kang's face clearly, Chen Fengke's eyes flashed with doubt, but soon he said proudly, "It seems that I can't die."
Lianzhi looked down at him with a look of pity.
"It's inexplicable." Lianzhi's lips curled up slightly, "It's really unlucky to be liked by someone like you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lianzhi suddenly let go of the dagger. Chen Fengke and the vigilant An Shiyi beside her were both startled. They heard Bai Kang shout in panic, "Lian'er! How are you?"
"Brother!" Lianzhi ran over with all her might and threw herself into Bai Kang's arms. She seemed to not care about the blood on his body at all and hugged Bai Kang's neck tightly. "Brother, save me!"
So that's how it is.
So that’s how it is!
The King of Longxi, the wife brought back by Bai Kang, the defeat in Mobei, the marriage... one thing after another flashed through Chen Fengke's mind. Before others could react, he had already connected everything together.
His ministers and brothers had long harbored rebellious intentions. Until this moment, Chen Fengke suddenly thought: if he had summoned Bai Kang's newlywed wife to the palace for an audience sooner, would it be possible? Would it be possible...
"You, you!" He roared with all his might, suddenly covered his heart, and fell to the ground like a broken doll, without a sound.
He was so angry that he died.
Lianzhi buried her face in Bai Kang's arms, her lips curled slightly as she smiled silently. Outside the palace, the commander of the imperial guards entered, covering his arm with his hands, and reported, "Master Bai, the rebels near the Golden Throne Hall have been wiped out... Your Majesty!"
Your Majesty has passed away.
When he died, his hands were still tightly clenched. Eunuch Lu suddenly appeared from nowhere, crying and trying to take out the jade seal and imperial edict from his hands, but he couldn't open his palms. An Shiyi also threw himself on his body, wailing loudly.
Bai Kang was instructing the commander of the Imperial Guards to quickly lead a group of men to the Cining Palace to assist in protecting the Empress Dowager. Lianzhi crouched beside An Shiyi and gently pinched the back of his neck.
"Look, he didn't even leave a word for you before he died." Lianzhi sighed lightly, and then knocked An Shiyi unconscious with a palm.
"Betraying me for someone like this. You'll regret it."
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