Suddenly it started to rain, and on this stormy night, Qi Guze and several guards encountered an unprecedented crisis.
Faced with the frenzied hacking and slashing of those murderers, the air was thick with murderous intent, chilling everyone to the bone.
The moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, and only the glint of blades could be seen in the darkness. Each slash was accompanied by a cruel whooshing sound.
Qi Guze was agile and nimble. He gripped his long sword tightly, and each block seemed to be done with all his might.
His face was full of determination and resolve; even in the face of danger, he showed no sign of panic.
The faces of the murderers appeared distorted and ferocious under the glint of the blades, their eyes filled with madness and cruelty.
They brandished their broadswords, slashing wildly at Qi Guze and his guards, each strike carrying a chilling killing intent.
In an instant, sword energy crisscrossed, and each clash of swords sparked bursts of fire.
Amidst splattering blood and flashing swords, Qi Guze and his companions fought back fiercely, using their swords to pry open the ropes that had bound them.
Their movements were swift and precise, as if their innate fighting instincts had been unleashed.
With a loud thud, a guard fell heavily to the ground, his left arm slashed and bleeding profusely.
But he endured the pain, gripped the longsword tightly in his right hand, and continued to fight the murderer.
His eyes were filled with determination and unyielding spirit; even when seriously injured, he did not back down in the slightest.
Qi Guze's heart tightened upon seeing this. He knew these guards were loyal and reliable comrades-in-arms; they had fought side by side for many years and were as close as brothers. He couldn't let his brothers fall here.
So he swung his sword even harder, forcing the murderers back one by one.
After a fierce fight, Qi Guze and his team finally brought the murderers to the ground. The murderers screamed in pain on the ground; their madness and cruelty vanished in that moment, replaced by fear and despair.
They never expected that they would be defeated in this fight.
Qi Guze was panting heavily, feeling that his body had reached its limit. But his eyes were filled with determination and the joy of victory.
He glanced back at the guards, who were all exhausted, but each of them wore a victorious smile.
They knew that they had ultimately won this life-or-death struggle.
Night gradually faded, and dawn broke on the horizon. Qi Guze and his group tidied their clothes and equipment, then continued on their way.
They knew this was just a small episode in their long journey, and many more challenges awaited them. But they also firmly believed that as long as they were united, no difficulty was insurmountable.
"You murderers have finally been caught!" Qi Guze said coldly, his eyes revealing disdain and mockery.
The murderers were bound and lay helplessly on the ground, their faces pale. They knew they were powerless to change anything, and could only silently endure the pain and punishment of defeat.
Qi Guze and his guards then took them back to the palace and handed them over to Qi Hanlin for disposal.
Qi Hanlin ordered that the murderers be interrogated thoroughly to find out who was behind them.
After several days of interrogation, the murderers finally confessed. They admitted that they had been bribed to set fire to the Empress and that the mastermind behind it was a confidant of the Marquis of Ningyuan.
Qi Hanlin sat in his study, his face grim, his gaze coldly fixed on the confession in his hand. His brows were furrowed, clearly contemplating his next move.
"Give this evidence to the court officials so they know the crimes of the Marquis of Ningyuan," Qi Hanlin said in a deep voice. "At the same time, send men to the Marquis of Ningyuan's residence to arrest all his family members and put them under strict guard."
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai stood aside, their faces solemn as they awaited his decision.
They knew that the next steps would be even more dangerous and difficult. But they also understood that in order to avenge the Empress Dowager, they had to press on.
The next morning at court, Qi Hanlin presented the evidence to the public, which shocked and angered the court officials.
They all expressed their support for Qi Hanlin in punishing the real culprit and avenging the Empress Dowager.
Meanwhile, the guards dispatched by Qi Hanlin successfully arrested all of Ningyuan Marquis's family members.
In the days that followed, Qi Hanlin personally presided over the case and conducted a severe interrogation of the Ningyuan Marquis's family.
After several days of interrogation, it was finally discovered that the mastermind behind it all was Zhao Hong, a confidant of the Marquis of Ningyuan.
Zhao Hong had held an important position in the palace for many years and enjoyed the deep trust of the Marquis of Ningyuan. For his own benefit, he actually ordered his subordinates to murder the Empress Dowager.
Upon learning this news, Qi Hanlin ordered Zhao Hong to be arrested and brought to trial by the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice subjected Zhao Hong to a brutal interrogation, which ultimately led him to confess to all his crimes. Zhao Hong admitted to murdering the Empress Dowager and several palace maids and eunuchs, and to setting fire to the palace.
His crimes were heinous, arousing anger and condemnation from the court officials.
Ultimately, Zhao Hong was sentenced to death and executed. His family also received corresponding punishment, and their property was confiscated.
As a result, the Ningyuan Marquis's family declined and never had a chance to recover.
Qi Hanlin avenged the Empress Dowager and rid the people of a notorious criminal. He was well aware of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders and knew he had to remain vigilant and clear-headed at all times.
Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai also breathed a sigh of relief, knowing their mission was complete. They had avenged the Empress Dowager and rid the court of a malignant tumor.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze arrived at the palace to bid farewell to Qi Hanlin.
Qi Hanlin stood respectfully to the side, his hands clasped in front of him, head bowed, looking at the ground. Hearing footsteps, he immediately looked up at Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze who were walking in.
"Royal Uncle, Imperial Sister-in-law, you've arrived." Qi Hanlin stepped forward and bowed.
Xu Yuehua nodded without saying a word. She knew that at this moment, saying anything would be superfluous.
Qi Guze walked up to Qi Hanlin, looked into his eyes, and said earnestly, "Hanlin, you are now the emperor of the Great Zhou Kingdom. This country is entrusted to you. You must govern it well and ensure that the people live a peaceful life."
Qi Hanlin nodded and said firmly, "Uncle, don't worry. If I don't do well enough, you and sister-in-law can come back at any time. This position was originally yours."
Qi Guze frowned and said with displeasure, "Hanlin, you are now the emperor of the Great Zhou Kingdom. You should act like an emperor and not say such things."
Qi Hanlin realized that his words had been somewhat impolite. He lowered his head, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.
After a while, he raised his head, looked at Qi Guze and Xu Yuehuai, and said earnestly, "Royal Uncle, Royal Sister-in-law, rest assured. I will do my best to manage this country well. I will not let you down."
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