"I'm also somewhat of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a term referring to people or groups of martial arts practitioners), may I ask who the young lady's mother is?"
“My mother said she wasn’t a master; she was just a farmer in our village who worked the land.”
Are there really peasant women with such high martial arts skills?!
Xia Chao was silent for a moment, then said, "Since the young lady is my daughter's friend, could you please escort these people to a safe place? I have important matters to attend to, and I will come to find you once I have finished."
"Okay." Nan Guo readily agreed.
Feng Guang tugged at Xia Chao's sleeve, "Are you going to save...the Empress?"
"It's not just about saving your mother," Xia Chao said coldly. "I also want to take back this throne."
He didn't participate in the power struggle back then because he wasn't interested, but now, things are different.
He patted Fengguang's head again and said, "Be a good boy and wait for me to come back and pick you up."
After saying this, Xia Chao left behind a group of secret guards to protect Feng Guang, and then turned and left the prison.
Nan Guo said to Feng Guang with a blank expression, "Your father is very skilled in martial arts, so there's no need to worry."
Feng Guang smiled and said, "Thank you, Nan Guo."
However, no matter how skilled a person is in martial arts, they will eventually be defeated by strategy.
The Xia Dynasty's forces advanced with unstoppable momentum, storming into His Majesty's palace. Due to Consort Xiao's fearless and aloof demeanor, His Majesty couldn't help but straighten his back and said, "Xia Dynasty, you certainly didn't keep me waiting in vain."
"Oh? Your Majesty was waiting for me?" Xia Chao's longsword was stained with blood; he had killed many people on his way in.
“Someone told me that if something happened to Wang Ci, you would definitely come back. It seems that he was right.”
Xia Chao frowned. "Who are you talking about?"
"Who else could it be besides the disciples you personally trained?"
Suddenly, another man's voice rang out in the room, "Long time no see, Master."
Xia Chao turned around and chuckled, "So it's you, Xie Zhan."
The person who emerged from the shadows was Xie Zhan, a smile on his face, seemingly quite happy about this reunion between master and disciple.
The so-called master-disciple relationship was merely because Xia Chao had taken Xie Zhan under his wing in the military camp for a few years. Xia Chao had known long ago that Xie Zhan was too cunning and could no longer live up to being called his master.
Xie Zhan took out an earring, and Xia Chao's pupils immediately contracted.
Xie Zhan laughed again, "Master also knows that this earring belongs to the Empress. I guessed right. Master will split his forces into two groups, sending secret guards to rescue the Empress, while he will lead troops to attack His Majesty's palace."
Xia Chao lowered his voice, "This tyrant wants to slaughter your entire Xie family, why are you still helping him?"
"Naturally, it's because I have a deal with His Majesty."
"Not bad." The old emperor said smugly, "Xie Zhan wants the Xie family's property. I will kill the people of the Xie family and then exonerate them. As for Xie Zhan, he will help me get rid of you."
Xia Chao looked calmly at Xie Zhan, "You're not the kind of person who's greedy for money."
"That's not important," Xie Zhan said with a smile. "What's important is what kind of position the Empress holds in Master's heart."
Nature is more important than life itself.
Xia Chao gripped his sword tightly and asked, "Can you grant me one request?"
Intelligent people don't need to waste words. Xia Chao knew very well how ruthless Xie Zhan was.
He smiled and said, "Please speak, Master."
"After you release Aci... tell her that our child is still alive."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor was stunned, Consort Xiao was surprised, but Xie Zhan frowned, "You said you and the Empress have a child?"
“Not bad.” Xia Chao nodded.
“That won’t do…” Xie Zhan said calmly, “For the sake of a peaceful life with the little girl in the future… we have to nip it in the bud.”
Xia Chao shouted, "She's just a clueless little girl who doesn't even know martial arts. She poses no threat to you. If you intend to harm my daughter, I'll take you down with me even if I die today!"
“Daughter…” Xie Zhan hesitated, then looked up, “What you’re talking about… is glory.”
Xia Chao was taken aback. "How did you know?"
Zhao Wan was Wang Ci's good friend. Back then, when Zhao Wan was pregnant, she refused to use the doctor usually employed by the Xie family and insisted on giving birth at a temple. Not long ago, Wang Ci also stayed at a temple for three months. Moreover, Xia Chao must have gone to the Heavenly Prison... Xie Zhan was an extremely intelligent person. With all these things, he was able to guess everything in no time.
The emperor flew into a rage and shouted, "What a fine woman, Wang Ci! I thought she was a well-behaved woman, but I never expected her to dare to have an affair with another man! General Xie, kill Xia Chao immediately!"
For an emperor to be cuckolded is a great disgrace. Even Consort Xiao was extremely surprised. In her mind, the empress had always been a person who followed the rules. It was hard to imagine that she would do something so bold.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Xie Zhan sighed insincerely, drew his longsword, and pointed it directly at the person in the dragon robe. "Compared to killing my father-in-law, I still want my little girl to become a princess."
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