Shengjing.
Chu Jinxuan, dressed in heavy black armor and a scarlet cloak, and holding a sharp longsword, gathered his 30,000 private soldiers, whom he had secretly trained for many years, in a side hall of the East Palace.
His voice was deep yet seductive, “Tonight is the night for us to accomplish our great cause. Follow me, the Crown Prince, into the palace, slaughter the Dragon Shadow Army, and rescue the coerced Emperor Chu. After we succeed, everyone will be granted high-ranking positions and generous rewards!”
The 30,000 private soldiers were all burly and strong, with sharp eyes, and exuded a chilling aura of seasoned warriors, clearly ready for a desperate battle.
Several years ago, when the Emperor of Chu intended to depose him as Crown Prince and appoint Chu Jiuqing as the heir apparent, Chu Jinxuan had already raised 30,000 private soldiers from the mountains outside the capital.
To support them, he colluded with the magistrates of Anyang, Fengyang, Deyang and other places to smuggle salt, sell ironware, and drive up grain prices, all in order to obtain a large amount of money to buy grain and weapons.
"We are willing to die for the Crown Prince!" the private soldiers shouted in unison. Although they deliberately lowered their voices, they exuded a chilling killing intent.
"Alright, everyone, let's try our best to take down the Dragon Shadow Army and rescue Emperor Chu."
"Slay the Dragon Shadow Army and rescue the Chu Emperor... Slay the Dragon Shadow Army and rescue the Chu Emperor..."
Chu Jinxuan led his private army away from the East Palace silently, like a black venomous snake, swiftly and stealthily winding its way towards the core area of the palace.
The palace guards along the way were powerless against this sudden and elite force.
The private soldiers' blades gleamed coldly, each swing accompanied by a splatter of blood, and the guards of the imperial city fell dead one after another...
When Chu Jinxuan arrived outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation with his private soldiers, he finally encountered fierce resistance.
Wang Meng, the commander of the Dragon Shadow Army, led several thousand Dragon Shadow soldiers to block the prince's path.
Wang Meng held a long spear, the tip of which was pointed directly at Chu Jinxuan, his eyes blazing with fear.
"Your Highness, we are under orders from Prince Ning to protect the safety of Emperor Chu. Please leave immediately."
Chu Jinxuan sneered, "Wang Meng, stop spouting nonsense. My father has not attended court for a month and may have been killed by Prince Ning long ago. Your high-sounding words are just a way to stall for time."
"You're talking nonsense. Prince Ning is filial and respectful. He went to Anyang to find a divine physician for the Chu Emperor, leaving us to guard the palace. But His Highness the Crown Prince, without being summoned, led so many soldiers into the palace. What is his intention? Could it be that he intends to seize power?"
Chu Jinxuan's lips twitched a few times, his face gloomy.
"Wang Meng, I'm giving you one more chance. Get out of the way now and stop this futile resistance. Take me to the Chu Emperor, and the truth will come out. If my father is well, I will personally apologize with thorns on my back."
If anything were to happen to my father, the Emperor, I am the heir apparent. After I ascend the throne, you will certainly receive your due rewards.
Wang Meng remained unmoved and roared, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but we are under the command of Prince Ning. We will fight to the death rather than let a single fly in unless he gives the order personally."
A bloodthirsty killing intent flashed in Chu Jinxuan's eyes. He waved his hand forcefully at the private soldiers behind him and ordered, "Kill them all, leave no one alive."
The private soldiers charged at the guards like hungry wolves. In an instant, swords flashed and the shouts of battle were deafening.
The Dragon Shadow Army is an elite force personally trained by Chu Jiuqing, capable of taking on a hundred enemies single-handedly.
Although Chu Jinxuan's private army was large in number, they had no practical combat experience and failed to capture Yangxin Hall for a long time.
The two sides fought fiercely, neither willing to back down, and the two groups remained locked in a stalemate.
Chu Jinxuan was so angry that his face turned pale.
They're all useless! A bunch of useless trash!
Tens of thousands of people couldn't even handle a few thousand; they've been wasting their time eating for over a decade.
At this moment, court officials rushed to the palace.
"Stop! All of you, stop!" the Prime Minister shouted.
Wang Meng and Chu Jinxuan's men stopped fighting and looked at each other arrogantly, their eyes filled with hatred as if they wanted to devour each other alive.
Chu Jinxuan stepped forward and said, “Prime Minister, you have come at the right time. Chu Jiuqing’s Dragon Shadow Army is putting up a stubborn resistance, and Chu Jiuqing has also disappeared. My father must have been killed by him. Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven and expose the lies of this traitorous minister.”
The Crown Prince's tutor echoed with a cold laugh, "Yes, yes, yes! The Emperor's life is uncertain, and the Great Ning Dynasty cannot be without a ruler for even a day. The Crown Prince's purge of the court is in accordance with the will of the people!"
The Prime Minister trembled with rage, pointed at the Crown Prince, and shouted angrily, "When Prince Ning went to Anyang to invite the divine physician, he specifically instructed this old minister to wait for his return before making a decision. Now, the Crown Prince's actions have violated the principles of heaven and human ethics, and he will surely be punished!"
Chu Jinxuan's eyes were icy cold. "Prime Minister, are you senile? The best doctors in our Great Ning Dynasty are all in the Imperial Hospital. How could there be a miracle doctor in Anyang, a poor and remote place? This statement must be Chu Jiuqing's way of stalling for time and creating an opportunity for him to rebel."
“Prince Ning is upright and incorruptible; he would never commit treason,” the Prime Minister argued forcefully, then retorted, “But Your Highness, what are your intentions in leading so many soldiers into the palace?”
"Of course I'm doing this to protect my father. I can't rest easy if I don't see him," Chu Jinxuan said with a slight smile, spouting nonsense.
Just as the two sides were locked in a dispute, a sudden, loud sound of horses' hooves came from outside the palace.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chu Jiuqing riding at full speed, followed by a group of elite cavalry, rushing towards them with great momentum.
Behind him was Chen Qingqing.
A hint of panic flashed in Chu Jinxuan's eyes. He hadn't expected Chu Jiuqing to return so quickly. He cursed his subordinates inwardly for being useless, unable to even take down a Dragon Shadow Army.
But even if he comes back, what can he do? No one in this world can cure the poison that Zi You has cast.
He quickly composed himself, forced a smile, and stepped forward. "Third brother, you're back? How was the journey?"
After speaking, he looked Chen Qingqing up and down beside Chu Jiuqing.
"It went relatively smoothly, thanks to my elder brother's help along the way." A dark glint flashed in Chu Jiuqing's eyes as he looked at the people still facing off not far away, and said in an icy voice, "Is my elder brother trying to force a coup?"
"No, no, no, Third Brother, what are you saying? I was just worried about Father's safety. These ignorant fools are blocking my way, so I had no choice but to mobilize the army." Chu Jinxuan denied it outright. He would never admit that he was plotting a rebellion.
The Chu Emperor was doomed to die sooner or later, and might already be dead. Once the ministers realized the Emperor was beyond saving, he could inherit the throne.
Killing Chu Jiuqing would be a piece of cake.
"So it was because you were worried about Father's safety, elder brother. In that case, you should wait outside!" Chu Jiuqing said, and then walked inside.
Chu Jinxuan raised his hand to block their way. "Third brother, don't be in such a hurry. Could this young lady be the physician you invited back for Father?"
"That's right, she is the goddess doctor who can cure all kinds of poisons in the world."
......
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