Chapter 200 Death
The square outside the Xuanhui Palace was piled with corpses, and the wind was filled with a strong smell of blood, but the fighting continued.
The princes and concubines had all taken refuge in the palace. They did not dare to disturb the sick Emperor Tongxu and could only hide in a corner and cry silently.
Li Yanchang's vision had begun to blur and he could not see clearly in the distance, but he could hear the sounds of killing.
Li Jifeng squatted down beside him, "Seventh Brother."
Li Yanchang's blood was almost drained out, and there was a sound of air leaking from his throat, "Help...Help me..."
"You are finally afraid of death." Li Jifeng laughed, "I thought you were really not afraid of death."
Li Yanchang was not afraid of death at first, but he slowly tasted the flavor of death in the flow of blood and the passage of time. He saw that there was no afterlife, only endless darkness, so he began to be afraid.
Chen Yu achieved her goal, which was to prolong his pain indefinitely.
"You have planned everything, and this is what you got today." Li Jifeng glanced at his neck and sighed twice, "This knife was really sharp. I didn't expect that she would dare to do it at that time."
The imperial guards held the steps tightly to prevent the rebellious imperial guards from attacking, but they were still at a disadvantage in terms of numbers.
The rebellious imperial guards were gradually shrinking the encirclement.
"Kill—" the deputy commander's eyes were red with anger, "We are about to win!"
Li Zhaonian did not retreat into the Xuanhui Hall. He wanted to remember today clearly.
He wanted to figure out what all this was all for, and whether it was worth it.
Someone drew the bow and an arrow shot towards Li Zhaonian.
Just when it was about to hit, it was cut into two pieces in mid-air.
Li Zhaonian: "Ninth brother, you..."
"Just to save my life." Li Jifeng threw away the knife he picked up from the ground.
Li Zhaonian was stunned for just a moment, then his eyes were filled with relief.
Everyone in the palace wore a mask, the emperor, concubines, even the eunuchs and palace maids. They had two faces in front of people and behind their backs, one for themselves and the other for their lives.
Li Jifeng took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands and asked, "Why doesn't Fourth Brother hide inside?"
Li Zhaonian glanced at Li Jifeng and asked, "Where can I hide?"
inside? "
"You don't seem worried at all."
Li Zhaonian looked towards the palace gate and said, "I believe her."
"But she's gone." Li Jifeng reminded.
"But she left a way out for everyone." Li Zhaonian said, "Wait a little longer."
Amid the deafening shouts and cries of killing, Li Jifeng faintly heard the sounds of marching troops.
"Deputy Commander!" A member of the Imperial Guard shouted, "The people from the Five Cities Military Command are here!"
"What?" The deputy commander's heart sank. He parried the knife of a guard and retreated hastily, "No, retreat!"
"I can't retreat. They've already attacked me!"
"Where is Jiang An? He left us and ran away? Doesn't he understand that it is better not to chase an enemy who is desperate?" The deputy commander spat a mouthful of blood.
"Brothers, hold on for a while longer. When Marquis Xuanping's army arrives in Beijing, we will be the first to achieve the credit!"
The imperial guards suffered more than 2,000 casualties, and half of their manpower was taken away by Jiang An, so they were unable to stop the reinforcements.
The imperial guards retreated towards the palace gate, but were pushed back by the soldiers from the five cities.
"Is this her back-up plan?" Li Jifeng smiled slightly, "It's a pity that we are a little late."
Li Zhaonian said, "It's not too late. The battle line was drawn too early. Father's order to capture Old Seven was way ahead of schedule. The original plan was to capture Li Yanchang at 1:00 pm. Jiang An rebelled, and the troops from the Five Cities were just able to arrive and surround and kill the rebellious imperial guards inside the palace gates. However, there was a first variable with Father's order."
"That's because father was so angry with the seventh brother that he couldn't stand it anymore." Li Jifeng said.
Li Zhaonian sighed, "The second variable is me. I didn't arrange the women in the harem and the rest of the brothers well. Someone took the hostages and held her back."
Li Jifeng thought for a moment and said, "Then the third variable is Xie Tingzhou."
"Yes." Li Zhaonian said, "She is holding Li Yanchang hostage. If we can hold out for a while longer, the troops from the Five Cities may be able to arrive."
"But she didn't expect Xie Tingzhou to come back and risk his life for her." Li Zhaonian looked far-sightedly, "This is her variable, and it is also our variable. There is no perfect plan in this world. We can only fight to the death."
Li Jifeng crossed his arms, still looking relaxed despite facing a powerful enemy.
"She could have been in no rush to kill Li Yanchang and could have delayed it a little longer."
"For Xie Tingzhou." Li Zhaonian whispered, "She was afraid that once the reinforcements arrived, Xie Tingzhou would not be able to leave."
The soldiers from the five cities quickly surrounded the remaining troops of the imperial guards.
Commander Qi Ping rode his horse to the front of the palace, dismounted, and said, "Your Highness, I am sorry for being late in coming to your rescue. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Li Zhaonian looked at the square where blood was flowing like a river and said, "I leave it to you, Commander Qi."
"Yes! I obey your orders." Qi Ping turned around, "All soldiers in the five cities obey my orders! Kill all the rebellious imperial guards without mercy!"
Li Jifeng said: "Let's go in and see our father."
Li Zhaonian was the first to step into the gate and said to the princes and palace ladies who were huddled in a corner, "Go back to your own palaces."
The people in the hall retreated until only the two brothers and Emperor Tongxu were left.
Li Zhaonian knelt in front of the dragon couch and called softly, "Father."
Emperor Tongxu slowly opened his eyes, "Is it resolved?"
"The troops from the five cities have taken control of the situation."
"Where's Old Seven?"
Li Zhaonian and Li Jifeng looked at each other and said, "He tried to murder me, and was killed at the door."
Emperor Tongxu: "Chen Yu..."
"She is needed outside." Li Zhaonian lied without looking into his father's eyes.
Whether it was hiding the person who killed Li Yanchang or lying to Emperor Tongxu, he wanted to protect her.
"That's good. As long as they are still here, it's good." Emperor Tongxu reached out and grabbed the hands of Li Zhaonian and Li Jifeng. "I will hand over your brothers and this mess to you."
Li Zhaonian's eyes were red. "Don't worry, Father. I will do my best."
Emperor Tongxu nodded slightly, looked at Li Zhaonian and said, "Don't let me, don't let the country be destroyed in your hands, please, please don't..."
Li Zhaonian felt the hand holding him loosen.
He raised his head and saw that Emperor Tongxu's eyes were open. There was no life in his eyes, but they were filled with his lifelong ambitions and unwillingness.
The funeral bells tolled and the wails were heard.
Emperor Tongxu reigned for nineteen years and ended his life amid the sound of war.
…
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