Chapter 121 Chapter 121 "Gentlemen, long time no see." ...
Xie Zhiyan's eyes flashed, and he swung the long sword in his hand through the air.
The moment he gave the order, the troops of both sides collided with a loud bang. The sound of swords and fighting surged like a surging tide. The screams turned the solemn and dignified Hanyuan Hall into a battlefield with blood and flesh flying everywhere. The broken limbs and arms dyed the dark blue palace bricks on the ground into a bright cherry red.
The moment the incident happened, Sheng Puzhu's wrist was suddenly grabbed by Princess Shoukang who was standing beside her.
"Don't be afraid, just follow me."
Sheng Puzhu took a deep breath, tightly grasped the dagger he had prepared in his sleeve, and shook his head, saying, "I'm not afraid."
Prince Shoukang's face was as gloomy as water. Protected by the guards, he forced his way through the crowd and pulled Sheng Puzhu to hide behind a relatively safe place behind the pillars of the palace. His cold phoenix eyes swept across the chaotic situation sharply.
On the high platform, the sage even had some thoughts. He slowly raised his wine cup and took a sip: "Queen, do you think I will die today?"
The Queen shook her head and thought seriously, "It's best not to. You haven't issued an edict to appoint He Yin as the crown prince yet."
The saint was so angry that he laughed and coughed continuously. After coughing, he seemed unable to even stand up straight.
Prince An's expression gradually turned gloomy from his initial determination to victory.
He originally thought that as long as he controlled the Jinwu Guards guarding the palace, he would be safe. However, he never expected that Xie Zhiyan actually had an elite force hidden in his hands. Those guards who rushed out from the shadows outside the palace like ghosts looked like they had waded through a sea of blood and corpses. Killing people was like pulling out radishes from the ground. With a wave of their hands and a chop of their knives, heads fell to the ground in an instant.
Compared with them, the Jinwu Guards, even if they are huge in number, probably won't be able to hold out for long at best.
The longer the time drags on, the more unfavorable the situation will become for King An.
His original idea was to take control of Hanyuan Palace with lightning speed and use the emperor to command the princes.
After all, the crown prince has passed away and the royal family is dying out. As the eldest prince, he supports his own son. As long as Dayan is leaderless, Xiao Xuan is the only choice for the court officials. In all his plans, no matter what, the final outcome must be "what everyone wants."
But he never imagined that at the most critical moment, Princess An denied that Xiao Xuan was his son.
Now, no matter whether Xiao Xuan's life experience is true or false, forcing the emperor to appoint a crown prince is definitely not feasible. The court officials who supported him before may choose to remain silent due to the situation, but these people will never truly support a prince whose bloodline is questionable.
Prince An stared at Xiao Xuan, who was clearly panicking below him. His face was pale, his eyes bulged outward, and he growled hoarsely.
"We can't put it off any longer."
"Tell those on standby outside the palace to attack Wangxian Gate immediately. We must cooperate with both inside and outside forces to control the entire palace."
Prince An's heart sank to the bottom, knowing that everything had gone completely astray, heading towards an abyss that he could not even predict.
The night was as dark as ink, and even the stars were few and far between.
Under the thick dark clouds, the pitch-black sky was torn open by the fireworks that suddenly rose into the sky.
Compared to the fighting in Hanyuan Hall, in a relatively remote corner of the palace road, Princess Duanyang was lazily leaning against a handsome young man dressed as a eunuch, as unrestrained as ever.
"Chi Nu, do you think my good brother can accomplish his mission tonight?"
"It's only the time to change clothes, and the fighting has already started in Hanyuan Palace. My good brother is really quick."
Princess Duanyang looked at the fleeting fireworks in the sky, a sarcastic arc appearing at the corner of her lips.
"Just now I mentioned changing clothes. Could it be that Chi Nu was deliberately trying to distract me?"
The young man dressed as a eunuch lowered his head, the shadow covering most of his face, making it difficult to tell his emotions: "I dare not, it's just a coincidence."
Princess Duanyang chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in her voice, as if she were asking herself, "What a coincidence."
"But my brother, tsk..."
"It's not certain that he will achieve great things. If he dares to ruin my good life, I will kill him."
"What do you think, Chi Nu?"
Zhinu froze, not daring to speak, and lowered his head even lower.
Princess Duanyang slowly squatted down, looked up at him, and said with a smile: "Look, Chi Nu, I don't want my brother to lose."
After saying this, she stood up again, looking up slightly through the chaotic crowd. Seeing Sheng Puzhu and Princess Shoukang being escorted out by guards, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes: "Let's go and take a look. My good Puzhu must not be in any harm."
"Madam, this way."
Cang Guan and Cang Dun, one on the left and one on the right, protected the two of them as they walked through the crowd.
Sheng Puzhu looked back and asked, "How is my grandfather?"
Cang Guan nodded: "Qingshi and Bannu are here, don't worry."
After making their way through the chaotic crowd, Cang Tun bowed and said, "The Crown Prince has ordered me to protect the Princess and the Crown Prince's wife to the point of death and take them to Xingqing Palace for temporary refuge."
Princess Shoukang didn't agree immediately after hearing this. She looked around at the increasingly fierce fighting, thought for a moment, and nodded, "It's feasible."
It is definitely not the best time to leave the palace now. Xingqing Palace is the residence of the Queen Mother. Xie Zhiyan would suggest that there must be heavy guards deployed there. Moreover, the terrain of Xingqing Palace is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The group was walking quickly along the palace road. Just as they passed the Taihu rocks by the pond, they happened to meet Princess Duanyang.
It didn't look like a chance encounter, but more like a long-awaited one.
"Sister Shoukang, I don't know where you are going. Why don't you take my sister with you?"
"There's chaos and disorder in the palace, but there's someone to take care of it."
Princess Duanyang walked forward quickly, holding up the hem of her skirt, her tone smiling and with just the right amount of tenderness.
Princess Shoukang did not stop, but just looked at her deeply from the side.
The silence lasted only a brief moment before Princess Shoukang retracted her gaze: "If you want to follow, then go ahead, but remember to keep an eye on the eunuchs around you."
"Yes, sister knows."
On the way to Xingqing Palace, all the palaces were in chaos.
Some palace servants were running around like headless flies, holding their hastily packed valuables. Some timid palace maids and eunuchs were so scared that they were trembling and huddled under the palace walls, not knowing what to do.
Fortunately, the closer they got to Xingqing Palace, the quieter the surroundings became. Compared with the shouting and screaming in the distance, it was so peaceful here as if nothing had happened tonight.
"According to Master Xie's instructions, the Empress Dowager was given a tranquilizing soup early in the morning and has gone to bed."
The serving maid came forward and bowed, then ordered someone to bring hot tea and snacks.
Crown Princess Wei Yuanning was sitting on the soft couch in the outer hall, holding the young Princess Qingnv in her arms.
The child, who was less than one year old, seemed to have sensed the unusual atmosphere. He must have cried before, as his eyes were red and he huddled in Wei Yuanning's arms uneasily.
"You hold the baby, you don't have to get up, we are all fine."
Princess Shoukang stepped forward, her eyes gently fixed on Wei Yuanning's slightly pale face, and she asked softly, "Are you scared?"
Wei Yuanning shook his head, his voice relatively calm, "I've been living with Qingnu in the Empress Dowager's palace these past few days. The Empress Dowager likes Qingnu and hasn't thought much of it."
Princess Shoukang sighed, "Compared to the bloody chaos during the reign of the previous emperor, this is nothing. It's just a minor incident. The Empress is probably just pretending not to know. She's not that foolish."
"But don't take it to heart. Sanlang is in Hanyuan Palace, and Heyin is outside the palace. When daybreak comes, everything will be over."
Wei Yuanning replied "yes", and a smile finally appeared in his eyes.
Sheng Puzhu looked around and found that Xingqing Palace was heavily guarded. Those guards in black iron armor were obviously not the palace guards. Each of them exuded the cold aura of a long battle on the battlefield.
While she was secretly shocked, she also breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know what method Xie Zhiyan had used to hide the Black Armor God of War in the Empress Dowager's palace without anyone knowing.
Compared to Princess Shoukang's complacency, Princess Duanyang chose a corner a little further away to sit alone after entering Xingqing Palace. She lowered her eyes and drank tea without saying a word, as if she was out of the matter.
After a long while, she suddenly raised her head, a faint smile spreading across her red lips. She looked at Princess Shoukang and asked, "Sister, you brought me along. Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Princess Duanyang put down her teacup, tapped the tabletop lightly with her fingertips, and said in a self-deprecating tone, "Sister, aren't you afraid that I'll tell you about this? After all, the one plotting rebellion outside is my own brother, Prince Chang'an, who shares the same mother."
Princess Shoukang was not annoyed when she heard this. She calmly smoothed the wrinkles on her sleeves and asked calmly, "Then Duanyang, do you have anything to say that you would like to confess?"
Princess Duanyang was stunned for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Some things are irreversible. Talking about it now would make me seem presumptuous."
She suddenly looked at Sheng Puzhu who was silent beside her, with complicated emotions in her eyes, and her voice softened unconsciously: "Will Puzhu blame me?"
Sheng Puzhu smiled and said, "Aunt, you are kind. You have always been very kind to me. When Linlang Pavilion was first established, it was also thanks to your generous help."
She paused, her voice gradually sinking: "If I really have to say sorry, then the one who should be apologized to the most is probably Princess Changning."
"Even if you didn't know about the cake at first, Prince Ning hanged himself, and Prince An hid himself well. You should have guessed who poisoned him later, but you still didn't protect Changning."
Princess Duanyang nodded silently and looked out the window.
Outside the distant palace wall, faint sounds of fighting could be heard. She stood up and walked lightly to Sheng Puju. The distance between them was so subtle that it seemed as if she could embrace him with just one hand.
In a flash, something unexpected happened!
Princess Duanyang flipped her wrist, and a short dagger shining with cold light slipped out from her wide sleeves. The movement was so fast that only a trace of afterimage was left. The sharp tip of the knife stabbed straight into Sheng Puzhu's heart.
"Official Cang." Princess Shoukang only had time to shout outside.
Wei Yuanning screamed in horror.
Just as the poisoned tip of the knife was about to sink into Sheng Puzhu's clothes, Princess Duanyang suddenly twisted her wrist at an extremely strange angle. She turned around with the momentum, and concentrated all her strength into the dagger, and finally -
"Puchi!" The sound of the sharp blade piercing through the flesh was dull, and the dagger pierced deeply into the heart of Zhinu, who had been following her silently and was dressed as a eunuch.
"Your Excellency?" Zhinu was shocked all over, lowered his head in disbelief, and then slowly looked at Princess Duanyang.
He was as pretty as a cat, and his light green pupils were filled with astonishment and confusion, which eventually turned into dead silence.
Zhinu opened his mouth, blood oozing from the corner of his lips. He wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
Princess Duanyang didn't know whether she was crying or laughing. Her lips were raised with a relieved indifference. She looked calmly at Zhinu's eyes that were gradually losing their luster. Her voice was as light as the summer breeze, but it was hot.
"I know what you want to do, and I also know what my brother wants you to do."
"If you hadn't followed me, he would have definitely thought of other ways. I wouldn't dare bet on any of his back-up plans."
"so……"
"Have a good time on your way."
"I have no choice, and neither do you, but I can't force Zhiyan to make a choice."
The knife was stabbed very deep, obviously with all the strength. Princess Duanyang's hands were shaking, but her voice became calmer and calmer until Zhinu stopped breathing and his body completely limp.
Sheng Puzhu also had a dagger hidden in his sleeve. He was not sure if he could dodge it, but he was still frightened by the sudden bloodiness and subconsciously took a half step back.
Princess Duanyang lowered her eyes and looked at her hands covered in scarlet blood. She finally recovered and began to cry softly and uncontrollably at first. Gradually, the cry turned into a suppressed, almost insane laugh.
"It's over...it's finally over."
Princess Duanyang raised her head and without warning uttered a very inappropriate and even vulgar curse word, as if she wanted to pour out the resentment that had been pent up for many years.
"I've had enough!"
"I've had enough of these terrifying days. Even my dreams... my dreams are filled with images of my good brother's failed rebellion, rivers of blood flowing. And as his pawn, I, his sister, will naturally be implicated, imprisoned, and given the white silk."
Princess Duanyang used the back of her blood-stained hand to wipe away the tears from her face.
"Why does he force me like this? In this life, I am a princess, but so what? I have no ambition, let alone the justice of the world!"
"I just want to stay in my princess's mansion and live a carefree and drunken life."
"But that bitch, he insisted on forcing me to die."
"Whether Xiao Xuan can become the crown prince is none of my business. I'm a widow with no children. Even..." Princess Duanyang paused, "Even my most beloved Chi Nu is a pawn he placed beside me, hahahaha."
After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength and sat down on the ground without caring about anything.
"Sister, after tonight, no matter which position I take, my 'letter of allegiance' is already here." She pointed to the corpse on the ground and her hands covered in blood.
"I only ask for one thing. Whether it's confinement or getting me kicked out of Chang'an, I don't care. As long as I can close the door, drink, listen to music, eat and wait for death, that's all."
"It's good to just eat and wait for death."
*
In Hanyuan Hall, the fighting is nearing its end.
The Jinwu Guards, whom Prince An had high hopes for, were as vulnerable as paper in front of the truly battle-hardened elite troops under Xie Zhiyan.
What made King An feel most desperate was that after the fireworks were launched, there was still no sign of the reinforcements from Yongzhou that they had been looking forward to.
The deafening sound of fighting outside the hall was getting closer and closer, but there was still no signal from Roche.
Xiao Xuan wiped the blood from his face and rushed to Prince An. "Father, where are Luo Qi's troops? Yongzhou is only an hour's journey from Chang'an at full speed. Why haven't they arrived yet?"
Prince An looked like he was going mad, and roared, "You ask me? How would I know?"
He had been planning this meticulously for twenty years, a position he had coveted since the day he had a healthy son, but in the end, it turned out to be a joke.
Pale lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the dim palace like daylight, followed by rumbling thunder, and the long-brewing rainstorm finally poured down.
Amid the sounds of rain and thunder, the heavy door of Hanyuan Hall was slowly pushed open from the outside.
The rain is falling like a curtain of weaving and the air is thick with water vapor.
A tall and agile figure stood in front of the rain curtain against the dim firelight outside the door.
The dark iron armor on Xiao Heyin's body was washed shiny by the rain. He held a long spear in his hand, and a few strands of hair were wet by the rain, sticking to his heroic face.
She had a pair of extremely beautiful phoenix eyes, which at this moment revealed the coldness tempered on the battlefield, making her look even more murderous.
"Uncle Eight, I haven't seen you for many years. You don't look well."
A cold smile appeared on Xiao Heyin's thin lips. She looked quietly at Prince An who was in a miserable state in Hanyuan Palace. She spoke in a clear voice and walked into the palace confidently.
The black boots made a clanging sound as they stepped on the blood-soaked floor tiles.
Every step she took was carried with the unmatched composure of a winner.
"Gentlemen, long time no see."
"This princess has returned to fight."
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