Life and death friendship
Mu Huaying, originally fierce and full of hatred, charged forward with all her might, determined to kill Li Chongyu on the spot, even at the cost of being severely injured, before the imperial guards and others could react.
However, Ah Qiu's palms, which subtly aligned with the yin and yang principles of destiny, stirred and pulled her entire aura. Although she had the initiative, she inevitably fell into a disadvantageous position.
In reality, A Qiu's palm technique is derived from the "flower-picking hand" of the Wu Le Dao, with postures such as "breaking branches," "picking stamens," and "holding the heart." The internal energy circulation path, body movements, and strength come from Chu Yuan Yi's thirty-six "wind and thunder slashes." However, her internal strength foundation comes from the authentic Xuanmen Daoist skill after Gu Yi cleansed her marrow with the Yi Jing. Therefore, her aura naturally possesses the wonder of reversing the universe and absorbing and attracting the enemy's true energy.
Mu Huaying had experienced countless battles and met numerous martial arts masters in his life, but he had never seen such techniques and moves before. Shocked, he was exhausted and his will to fight to the death was immediately halved.
A Qiu used both palms, feinting with the left hand and striking with the right, parrying and attacking in quick succession, sending Mu Huaying flying backward in a single move.
The newcomer was Mu Huaying. She dared not be careless and used all her internal strength to take the blow. She was also shocked and felt a dull pain in her lungs. In addition, Mu Huaying had struck her chest earlier, and A Qiu also spat out a mouthful of blood and fell backward.
At this moment, Shangguan Yuqi and Fan Liancheng arrived at the same time. With quick eyes and hands, they immediately grabbed the swords of the guards and pointed them at Mu Huaying, who had staggered to the ground with her long hair disheveled, and restrained her so that she could not get up again.
Consort Chen, Li Lanxiu, had already closed her eyes, looking as if she couldn't bear to watch any longer.
To attempt an assassination right before the emperor, especially one by a Marquis of Guannei who only visits the emperor once every five years, is an extremely serious crime.
After recovering from his initial shock, Xie Lang immediately shouted, "Remove this man's mask!"
Because the situation changed in an instant, both Mu Huaying and A Qiu made their moves extremely quickly, and the outcome was clear within a few moves. Therefore, Xie Lang could not immediately tell who this dancer and assassin wearing the Vermilion Bird mask was.
Even Zhao Lingying closed her eyes at this point.
Once as close as sisters, sharing life and death, and making great contributions to the establishment of the Dayan Dynasty, the two former Flying Phoenix Guards present could not bear to see their elder sister now revealing her true face before the emperor and being captured in front of all the civil and military officials.
Mu Huaying, the former chief of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices of the Dayan Flying Phoenix Guard, was once married off from the palace with the honors due to a princess and later became a first-rank noblewoman of the Dongguang Marquis's household.
She had a lot of blood on her hands and many people implicated and imprisoned in her life, but none of them were innocent.
Upon hearing Xie Lang's order to "remove this man's mask," Shangguan Yuqi and Fan Liancheng exchanged a glance but neither made a move. This was because they still held a degree of respect for the former Flying Phoenix, whose swords were now pointed at them.
Shangguan Yuqi gestured with her hand, indicating that she was asking Madam Pei to remove her mask herself.
Consort Chen, standing to one side, hesitated, seemingly wanting to dissuade the act of removing the mask in public. Zhao Lingying also looked as if she was about to speak up, but ultimately sighed and swallowed her words.
If the mask is not removed and the person is taken away for interrogation, then firstly, Mu Huaying's face can be preserved, and secondly, since assassination in front of the emperor is a serious crime, there will be room for him to evade the mask.
The two thought this way for the sake of Mu Huaying and Xie Lang's reputation, so that at least the conflict between the emperor and his subject would not be so openly opposed.
However, the two of them ultimately remained silent, knowing that the matter was of great importance. It involved not only Xie Lang and the former Fei Feng, but also Li Chongyu, an outsider, and the grudges between the two dynasties of the Southern Dynasty.
This is not something that can be resolved behind closed doors; Xie Lang must give Li Chongyu and the world an explanation.
Mu Huaying, who had been sitting on the ground, slowly raised her hand and removed the sash from her mask. Amidst the shocked, incredulous, and enlightened gazes of the officials in the hall, the wooden and painted "Vermilion Bird" mask clattered to the ground, and Mu Huaying's pale, aloof, and beautiful face was finally revealed to everyone.
"Madam Pei!" The first to cry out was an official who was closest to her.
After a brief silence, the hall erupted into a cacophony of voices. The initial whispers grew louder and louder, escalating into open discussion: "Why did Lady Pei attempt an assassination before the Emperor?" "Wasn't she a member of the Flying Phoenix Guard?!" "A loyal guard of the royal family becoming an assassin, and doing so right before the Emperor! It's outrageous!"
These gazes not only swept over Mu Huaying, but even Consort Chen, Li Lanxiu, and Zhao Lingying were inevitably placed under scrutiny.
The loyalty of the "Flying Phoenix Guard," the most prized asset of the Great Yan Dynasty, is now under unprecedented scrutiny.
The Flying Phoenix Guards are of one mind and advance and retreat together. Could anyone else say they were completely unaware of Mu Huaying's actions?
Consort Chen's face was as pale as Mu Huaying's, but she remained silent.
Zhao Lingying, who was usually quick-witted, remained silent at this moment.
The two women were indeed unaware of the situation, but even if they tried to explain, whether Xie Lang believed them or not was entirely up to him. Furthermore, it seemed like he was taking advantage of their misfortune to distance himself from the situation.
The Flying Phoenix Guards disdained such things.
Xie Lang stood up from the dragon throne. Beneath the swaying beads of his twelve-tiered crown, the bloodshot face that had instantly faded upon seeing Mu Huaying was now visible.
Whether from rage, shock, or a combination of both, Xie Lang's sharply defined lips were trembling.
"Madam Pei, why did you do this?"
Mu Huaying sat up straight from the ground, then slowly stood up, a mocking smile appearing on her lips.
The two swords of Shangguan Yuqi and Fan Liancheng in front of her never dared to leave her for even a moment, remaining close to her throat and moving accordingly.
Mu Huaying was now a prisoner, but her posture remained ramrod straight.
At first glance, her figure and aura still resembled those of the extremely noble and prestigious Lady of the Marquis of Dayan, the daughter of the Mu family, a family renowned for its legal expertise.
Mu Huaying spoke, her sharp and piercing voice cutting through the air like a knife: "Your Majesty, I am from the Mu family of the Pei clan. To avenge my husband, I wish to personally kill our enemy in the court, hence this action."
She made her point clear: this was a personal grudge, unrelated to the state, and had absolutely nothing to do with the Flying Phoenix Guards' loyalty to the Great Yan.
Upon hearing her words, Li Chongyu's narrow, upturned eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a sharp, knife-like glint.
Xie Lang was already furious, but upon hearing her words, he couldn't utter another word. The heavy pearls on his crown swayed like flowing water, and he could only point at Mu Huaying with his finger, panting heavily.
Seeing the dire situation, Consort Chen immediately turned to the side and said, "Where is the Junior Tutor? Quickly go and fetch him!"
Lady Pei, Mu Huaying, attempted to assassinate Marquis Li Chongyu at a state banquet in front of all the officials. This matter must be decided by someone of high standing, otherwise it would be difficult to convince the public and explain it to the world.
When Xie Lang heard Consort Chen mention Gu Yi, he finally caught his breath and managed to stop her, saying, "The Junior Tutor has matters to attend to right now, there's no need to disturb him!"
He looked at Mu Huaying again, gathered his thoughts, and said, word by word, "Assassination in court is a crime punishable by death. Does Madam Pei understand?"
This was a desperate measure, but there was no other way. With everyone watching, and Li Chongyu, the person involved, present, even if he wanted to cover it up, he was powerless to do anything.
The alliance with Li Chongyu was a national policy that Gu Yi had formulated many years ago. Over the years, the court issued edicts to the border many times, and Gu Yi also wrote letters in his own hand repeatedly. Li Chongyu also traveled thousands of miles to come in person. These were all efforts made by both sides to mend old grievances and unite against a common enemy.
Mu Huaying committed the crime in front of the emperor. The evidence is conclusive, and everyone witnessed it. There is no possibility of rebuttal or whitewashing. Mu Huaying also openly admitted to it.
If he continues to openly protect him, it will undoubtedly make Li Chongyu realize once again that the Southern Dynasty is still as monolithic as the previous dynasty, and that he is nothing more than an outsider who can be sacrificed at any time.
Both morally and logically, Xie Lang had to make a decision on this matter immediately in order to clearly demonstrate to Li Chongyu and the world that the Dayan regime had no distinction between relatives and friends, and that all people from all over the world were of one mind.
Consort Chen, Li Lanxiu, could no longer control herself and said to Li Chongyu in a trembling voice, "Elder sister was foolish and offended in a moment of anger. Please forgive her, Your Highness. We, the former Flying Phoenix Guards, will be forever grateful."
Li Chongyu, however, returned Consort Chen's gaze without backing down, and said sarcastically, "If it weren't for this Lord Dianyue stopping me with his life, I would be the one dead right now. Even if Consort Chen had pleaded for me then, would it have been too late?"
He smiled sharply again: "If it were me who died, I'm afraid none of you here would seek justice for me, would you?"
His words were both pointed and true. Behind him, A-Qiu thought to herself, "That's certainly true." Although Li Chongyu was her sworn brother, even if she wanted to avenge him, she couldn't single-handedly kill Madam Pei, Consort Chen, Zhao Lingying, and the others.
It's not just about whether she has the ability or not. At this moment, she is Gu Yi's successor and a rising star in the Southern Dynasty court. She carries the expectations of two sects and the Four Stars of Heavenly Secrets. Therefore, she cannot easily start a massacre just because of her own likes and dislikes.
Zhao Lingying stepped forward and said to Li Chongyu, "But what the Marquis said is just a hypothetical situation. The Marquis is not injured at all, but my sworn sister is in grave danger. Seeking revenge and repaying kindness are common occurrences in the martial world, and no one can escape them. Since the Marquis is unharmed, why is he so aggressive and determined to take my sworn sister's life?"
Zhao Lingying, known for her "exquisite writing skills," was the most talented woman in the Southern Dynasty. In terms of eloquence and quick wit, no one in the Southern Dynasty could surpass her.
She was not unaware that this argument was being forced and contrived, demanding that Li Chongyu pardon Mu Huaying's life. Nor was she unaware that doing so was unbecoming of the Four Guards of the Flying Phoenix and her usual arrogance.
But the Four Guards of Flying Phoenix have been together through thick and thin for life. If there is any face to put down or any feathers to discard, this is the moment.
Once this opportunity is gone, it will never come again. If Mu Huaying is beheaded now, her sworn sister will never again need the other members of the Flying Phoenix Guards to disregard their own reputations.
Therefore, both Consort Chen and Zhao Lingying were going all out at this moment, regardless of whether the court officials would launch a barrage of attacks or whether Xie Lang would blame them.
The only thing Mu Huaying was thankful for at that moment was that Sikong Zhao, the "White Horse and Silver Saddle" of the Four Guards, was not in front of the palace, but had been transferred by Gu Yi to Jianzhang Palace to take command. Otherwise, she would definitely have stepped forward and fought for her.
In this way, she truly dragged all three of her sisters down with her.
Before Li Chongyu could answer Zhao Lingying's rebuttal, Mu Huaying had already made up her mind to take responsibility for her actions. She said, "Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners. I, having served as the Minister of Justice, know very well what punishment I should receive. I beg Your Majesty to punish me and grant me death. The Mu family of Pei expresses our gratitude." She kowtowed heavily to the ground, showing that she had no more desire to resist or survive.
Li Chongyu glanced at her, and swallowed back the sharp words he was about to utter, thus saving face for Zhao Lingying, the most talented woman in Dayan.
Xie Lang let out a deep breath, having clearly grasped the situation before him, and knew that Mu Huaying's punishment was unavoidable.
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