Chapter 100
The candlelight in the hall was shaken violently by the draft, casting the expressions of the people on the blue brick floor, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.
Li Yin's clenched sleeves were already soaked with cold sweat, his knuckles were white as frost, and anxiety spread along every blue vein to his limbs.
The Prime Minister stood on the west side, the crane pattern on his brocade robe seemed to be flapping its wings in the light and shadow. He lowered his eyes and stroked his beard, and the smile at the corner of his mouth, which was "just what he wanted", could not be hidden, and leaked out along the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, mixed with a bit of sinisterness.
Wei Dao froze in the hall, his dark eyes swirling with struggle. While everyone's gaze was glued to the argument, he quickly glanced at Lord Shang, standing beside His Majesty. His gaze, hidden within the folds of his court robes, was as still as an ancient well, with only the slightest pause in his jaw, like a stone dropped into the center of a lake—light yet powerful enough to determine the direction.
The next moment, Weidao's tall figure moved suddenly.
He took half a step forward, blocking Li Yin's side. The sword at his waist was unsheathed with a clang, and the cold light went straight to the glass ceiling of the hall, and was firmly placed on Li Yin's neck.
At that moment, even the candle flames seemed to have forgotten to jump, the breathing sounds in the hall suddenly disappeared, and everyone's movements froze in place, leaving only the slight sting of the sword blade against the flesh.
Li Yin's pupils suddenly shrank, and his lacquer-black eyes were filled with turbulent waves. He looked at the familiar profile of the person in front of him, and his Adam's apple rolled as he squeezed out two words: "Tail Knife?" His voice was as light as a candle in the wind, with a tremor of disbelief.
Weidao suddenly turned his face away, his eyelashes drooping, casting a thick shadow under his eyes. He didn't dare look into those eyes filled with trust and astonishment, fearing that if he looked any longer, the sword at his neck would collapse before his heartbeat. But the blade remained as steady as a rock, not shifting a single inch.
"Don't come over! If you come over again, I will kill him!" Wei Dao's voice broke through the silence, with a deliberately suppressed hoarseness, and every word seemed to be ground out from between his teeth.
"Quick! Arrest this traitor!" His Majesty slammed the table on the dragon throne, the hem of his dragon robe swept across the steps of the throne, and his face turned red with anger.
"Don't move!" A loud shout suddenly rang out, causing the dust on the beams of the hall to fall down.
Lord Shang had stepped forward to support the staggering emperor. Although his fingertips turned white from the force, his voice was surprisingly steady: "Your Highness's safety is the most important thing. Let them go." His deep eyes swept over the guards' hands holding the scabbards tightly, with an unquestionable majesty.
The guards retreated hesitantly, and the sound of armor clashing gradually faded away.
The members of the Red Maple Society in the dark took the opportunity to step forward and helped Hong Jingxiu and Luo Sanrong, who were covered in blood, to move out of the hall.
When Luo Sanrong looked back, she saw Weidao's sword touching Li Yin's neck. The sight was like a blunt knife, cutting her heart and causing her pain. Even when someone dragged her arm and pushed her into the crowd, the dazzling cold light was still imprinted in her sight.
Li Yin had long since lost all hearing of his surroundings. The only thing in his world was the figure before him. He stared at Wei Dao's taut jawline, at the sword that had once blocked an arrow for him, his gaze burning.
Finally, Weidao raised his eyes.
Those eyes that were once filled with loyalty were now filled with thousands of words, including guilt, determination, and unspoken instructions.
Li Yin held his breath, waiting for his explanation, but Wei Dao only spoke softly, his voice as gentle as a sigh: "Your Highness, I'm sorry. The world that the Red Maple Society wants to build is exactly what you want. Let's tear down the high wall between Your Highness and the people. If possible, I really want to see the dynasty you will create in the future."
The sword blade began to shift slowly, and a relieved smile appeared on Weidao's lips, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Don't put away the sword!" Li Yin suddenly stretched out his hand and grasped the sharp blade. Blood flowed down through his fingers and dripped onto the blue bricks, blooming into dark red flowers. "The moment I put away the sword, I will lose you." His voice was very low, but it was filled with heartbreaking earnestness.
Wei Dao looked at his bleeding hand, pain flashing in his eyes, but he still shook his head gently and sheathed his sword. "Your Highness," he called out, his eyes scanning the shrinking encirclement, a hint of sadness etched into his smile.
Li Yin leaned forward again, his neck almost touching the sword tassel that had not yet been put away. His voice broke with anxiety, "Don't put it away! This is my order!"
"Please forgive me, I cannot obey your command." Wei Dao's voice was so light that it seemed to be dispersed in the wind.
Li Yin's eyes suddenly turned red, tears welling up inside, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall. He murmured, as if begging, as if talking to himself: "No... No..."
"Swish—" The air suddenly ripped apart with a sound of breaking air! A cloud-breaking arrow, accompanied by a sharp sound of wind, shot straight through Wei Dao's chest.
Blood spurted out, staining his chest and Li Yin's sleeves. Then, more arrows rained down, densely piercing his body.
Wei Dao stumbled to his knees, propping himself up with his sword. He looked at Li Yin, who was running towards him, and with great effort, he managed to raise the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile uglier than crying. Li Yin rushed over and hugged his limp body, his voice completely broken: "Stop! Stop it, everyone!"
Blood foamed from the corners of Weidao's mouth. He looked into Li Yin's bloodshot eyes and shook his head gently. Li Yin sobbed, pressing against the bleeding wound. The warmth from his fingertips flowed through his fingers. "Weidao, remember... the only person I trust in this world is you."
"Thank you... Thank you, Your Highness..." Weidao's voice became softer and softer, and scenes from his childhood gradually appeared before his eyes.
The little prince tugged at his sleeve, raised his delicate face and asked, "Can we be friends in private?" At the moment when his consciousness drifted away, he seemed to hear his past self respond crisply, "Okay." The hand holding the sword finally fell down weakly, hitting the blue brick with a dull sound.
"Tail Blade... Tail Blade!" Li Yin's shouts bounced against the hall wall over and over again, but he never received a response.
Meanwhile, torches at the city gates burned the night sky ablaze. Hong Jingxiu was surrounded by members of the Red Maple Society disguised as guards, the bloodstains on his prison uniform gleaming darkly in the flames.
"Stop! Do you have a pass to leave the city late at night?" The guard blocked the way with his gun, his eyes full of vigilance.
"His Majesty has ordered that the prisoner be escorted out of the city immediately for execution." The guard beside him lowered his voice and deliberately imitated the tone of the palace guard.
Just as the guard was about to call for verification, he heard familiar footsteps behind him. Lord Shang's figure appeared in the firelight. He nodded to the guard, his voice calm and composed, "It is Your Majesty's order. Let him pass." His court robes, stained with the incense from the imperial study, became the ultimate proof.
The guard immediately put on a flattering smile: "Yes, Lord Shang!" The city gate creaked open and a group of people moved out in order.
Just as the last person crossed the threshold, there was the sound of hurried horse hooves in the distance, accompanied by a stern shout: "Stop them! They are traitors!"
Shang Gong's expression suddenly changed. He pushed the last man out of the city and then held the gate tightly. Through the crack of the gate, he looked at Luo Sanrong outside the city and said in a hoarse but clear voice: "Hurry up, I'll block it for you!"
Luo Sanrong froze in place, watching helplessly as a large number of guards surged forward, their butcher's knife repeatedly striking Shang Gong's back. Blood trickled down his court robes, pooling on the ground. Shang Gong turned around, his eyes sharp as a knife even as blood streamed from the corner of his mouth. "What are you standing there for? Take your father away!"
"Sir..." Luo Sanrong covered his mouth, tears bursting out of his eyes, but he was pulled by the person next to him and helped onto the horse.
The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away. When she looked back, she saw Shang Gong still standing in front of the city gate, like an unshakable stone statue, gradually turning blood-red in the firelight.
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