Chapter 575 Li Rong, who came treading on blood
"General, this is the palace! Trust me, your wife and children are all safe and sound. Please do not act rashly! I will make sure your whole family is reunited later."
"I'll ask you one more time, where are Anuan and the child?"
Commander Liu had no choice but to clench his fists and say, "In...in...Qianqing Palace."
Li Rong didn't glance at him again and walked heavily toward the Qianqing Palace.
After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and gave Lord Xie a cool look: "Go back and tell your master that I'll settle accounts with him later."
The little guard in front of Lord Xie was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he nodded vigorously with his chin trembling.
At the same time, the guards inside the palace heard the noise and quickly surrounded Li Rong. When the newcomers saw their commander there and then saw Li Rong in front of them, they looked at each other in bewilderment: "General Li, you have trespassed into the palace and killed a minister. Do you know what your crime is?"
"Who said Arong trespassed through the palace gates? The Emperor said he would summon Arong immediately as soon as he woke up!"
Chi Heng said urgently, "Why don't you send someone to inform the Emperor that Li Rong requests an audience!"
"General, please don't be offended, but I cannot let you in this time!"
Commander Liu, with a resolute expression, led his men to stop him.
Li Rong's eyes remained emotionless: "You're welcome to try."
His cold gaze swept over them, and although the crowd was terrified, they had no choice but to block him. In no time, a large number of them were taken down by Li Rong. This included Commander Liu.
Amidst the crimson sunset, Li Rong continued his journey without pause, treading on the blood-soaked path as he went.
The Qianqing Palace.
"Your Majesty, it's time to administer the medicine."
Eunuch Li, head bowed, carried a gilded medicine bowl into the hall; steam still rose from the jade-rimmed edge. He gently placed the bowl on a low sandalwood table beside the dragon bed.
The Emperor yawned heavily, then put down the memorial in his hand and let Eunuch Li help him lean against the soft pillows.
He was quite tired today, after all, his health wasn't good, and he had only been able to hold on for so long thanks to Jiang Nuanzhi's medicine. He leaned back on the soft couch and coughed heavily twice before picking up the bowl of medicine and drinking it all in one gulp.
"Your Majesty, would you like a piece of candied fruit?" Eunuch Li held up a glass bowl containing candied fruit. "The divine physician said that this medicine is mixed with Coptis chinensis, so it may be more bitter than usual."
The Emperor released his grip, his fingertips tracing the icy patterns on the empty medicine bowl: "After taking medicine for so many years, even the bitter ones have developed a unique flavor."
Eunuch Li laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you have never been afraid of hardship since you were a child. Even the late Emperor praised you for being different from all the other princes."
The Emperor remained noncommittal, glanced at the sky, and frowned: "Why has it suddenly gotten dark outside?"
Eunuch Li frowned and looked over. The next second, he suddenly heard a bang as the door was kicked open, and a young eunuch stumbled in, crying, "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"
"How dare you! Where did this ignorant brat come from? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Can't you see the Emperor is drinking his medicine? What are you panicking about? What's wrong?" Eunuch Li shouted sternly.
"It's Li Rong! Li Rong has stormed into the palace! Commander Liu and the guards are clearly overwhelmed!"
As soon as he said that, the air seemed to fall silent.
The emperor's brows furrowed suddenly as he looked over.
Startled, Eunuch Li's hand trembled, and the bowl of candied fruit slipped from his grasp and shattered into pieces. But he couldn't care less at that moment; he immediately turned back to help the Emperor.
Just then, a commotion was heard outside, and the stench of blood poured into the bedchamber through the main door, spreading an oppressive atmosphere.
A guard was thrown like a rag doll under the dragon pillar of the bedchamber, his steel sword clattering to the ground, the blade slicing through the gold bricks and sending sparks flying.
Li Rong strode in, his black boots soaked with dark red blood. His dark, close-fitting clothes were stained with blood, and strands of disheveled hair at his temples were stained with undried blood. His eyes were cold and indifferent. He was like a drawn blade, full of unyielding sharpness.
The Emperor clenched his fist tightly beneath his sleeve, veins throbbing on his forehead. A shadow crossed his eyes for a moment, but when he looked up again, a hint of surprise appeared on his face: "Arong, what are you doing?"
Li Rong looked up, his sharp eyes landing on the Emperor's face, devoid of any emotion: "Where are A'Nuan and the child?"
The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly: "Li Rong, do you know what you're doing? Is this how you treat your monarch?"
"Or perhaps," the Emperor paused, a dark glint in his eyes, "you're actually trying to force me to abdicate!"
The two faced each other in a daze, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
The Emperor's fingernails, almost digging into flesh beneath his sleeve, finally loosened. He took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and said, "Arong, when you return, I will consider our past passion and treat this matter as if it never happened, and I will forgive and forget."
"I'll say it again, where are the children?"
As Li Rong spoke, he took a few steps closer, and with a "crack," the large pillar that a person could barely hug was cracked by Li Rong's punch.
Eunuch Li turned pale with fright and immediately stepped in front of the Emperor, spreading his arms like he was protecting a chick: "Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"
The Imperial Guards immediately surrounded Li Rong, leaving no room for escape. Several guards stood protectively in front of the Emperor.
Out of breath, Chi Heng ignored the sweat on her face and her own gasps for air. She grabbed Li Rong tightly and looked at the Emperor urgently, saying, "Your Majesty, A Rong is worried about my sister-in-law. He has just recovered from a serious illness and his mind is still not clear. Please don't get angry with someone who isn't thinking straight!"
The darkness in Li Rong's eyes deepened: "The last time, where are A Nuan and the others?"
"General Li, what are you doing? The ladies are all fine, and the Emperor has not made things difficult for them! Physician Jiang should be at the Regent's Palace by now. The young master and young lady are all in the Sixth Prince's Chengqian Palace, and they are all unharmed. Why don't you put down your weapon at once?"
Eunuch Li urged him urgently, picking up the sword that had fallen to the ground and staring at Li Rong with his eyes full of wariness.
"Are you out of your mind? Does he have a weapon? His fists are weapons!" Chi Heng rolled her eyes and turned to grab Li Rong tightly, as if afraid that he would punch that overconfident eunuch Li to death.
This old eunuch has been taking care of the emperor since he was a child; if he really dies, something bad might happen.
"Father, it really is Father!"
Just then, a soft, sweet voice was heard. The little girl's innocent call seemed to shatter the somber atmosphere in the hall.
As Xuan Ting stumbled towards Li Rong, he almost pleaded, grabbing Li Rong's sleeve, his eyes brimming with tears: "Master! I've brought Xiao Er and Bao Zhu. Master... please don't be angry."
Li Rong's dark eyes fell on Xuan Ting's face, and the black mist in his eyes finally dissipated a little.
"Father!"
Baozhu, with her short legs, stretched out her little arms from afar, wanting a hug.
Li Rong placed his hand on Xuan Ting's head, touching him briefly before pulling away, as if to comfort him, or perhaps to push him away.
Then, he bent down and picked up the pearl.
Goodnight, my darlings!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
