"Release the arrows!"
With the rebel captain's furious roar, dozens of rebel archers simultaneously released their bowstrings!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!"
A dense rain of arrows, like a black swarm of locusts, pierced the night sky with a sharp whistling sound, pouring down towards the walls of Kunning Palace!
"Raise your shields!"
"hidden!"
On the palace walls, the captain of the guards, in command, shouted sternly. The guards immediately raised their makeshift wooden shields or hid behind the battlements to defend against this first wave of deadly attacks.
"Puff puff puff!"
The arrows pounded into the wooden shields and brick walls with dull thuds. Suddenly, a forest of arrows rained down, creating a perilous situation. Several palace maids, unable to dodge in time, were struck by stray arrows, letting out a painful groan before being hastily dragged away by their companions.
The battle situation instantly became extremely fierce!
However, in this critical moment when arrows were flying everywhere and everyone was desperately dodging, a figure went against the flow of people and into the rain of arrows, resolutely walking towards the Observatory, the tallest building in Kunning Palace, behind the palace wall.
It's Lin Wanwan.
"Your Majesty! Danger!"
Qin Zheng gasped and tried to grab her, but Lin Wanwan stopped her with an unwavering look.
"Hold this place!"
She left behind those four simple words without pausing for a moment, and carrying her elaborate and beautiful phoenix robe, she climbed the steps leading to the observatory step by step.
The Star Gazing Platform is the highest point in the entire Kunning Palace, offering the widest view, but it is also the most exposed.
Reaching that point would be tantamount to turning yourself into a sitting duck for the rebel archers!
"Look! That wicked empress is going to the observatory!"
"Shoot her! Shoot her dead, you bastard!"
The rebel captain below immediately realized Lin Wanwan's intention. His eyes flashed with wild joy and venom, and he pointed his knife at the crimson figure climbing upwards, roaring madly.
In an instant, at least half of the archers turned their arrows around and concentrated all their firepower on the tall observatory!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
An even denser rain of arrows, like maggots clinging to her bones, chased after Lin Wanwan's figure, constantly shooting at her feet and onto the stone steps beside her, scattering sparks everywhere!
Several times, deadly arrows even grazed the hem of her clothes, kicking up a sliver of fabric!
Everyone who witnessed this scene had their heart in their throat!
However, Lin Wanwan's steps were unwavering, without the slightest hesitation or retreat.
There was no fear on her face.
Only the resolute determination to burn!
She knew what she was doing.
She also knew what she had to do!
Finally, after passing through the rain of arrows woven from death, she reached the top of the observatory!
This is the highest point behind the entire palace. Standing here, you can clearly see the towering flames of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the distance, hear the deafening shouts of battle, and even take in the entire night view of half of the capital.
In the center of the observatory, as she had instructed, a huge bonfire had already been erected. On top of the bonfire were piles of firewood soaked in grease, as well as a kind of wolf dung grass that had been specially treated and would produce a lot of thick smoke when burned.
Lin Wanwan walked to the fire and took out a tinderbox from her bosom.
She pulled off the lid and gently blew into it.
A small, orange-red flame flickered stubbornly in the night wind.
The flame was so small, it seemed as if it might go out at any moment.
But Lin Wanwan knew that it would ignite a storm that would sweep across the entire capital!
She looked down at the rebels below who were once again pointing their arrows at her, at their hideous and twisted faces, and a cold, slightly pitying smile slowly curved her lips.
idiot.
Do you think you can win by killing me?
You don't realize that while you've focused all your attention on me, your death knell has already tolled.
Without further hesitation, she gently tossed the tinderbox in her hand into the pile of firewood soaked in grease.
"boom--!!!"
The pent-up energy erupted at this moment!
Towering flames shot into the sky, instantly illuminating the entire observatory as if it were daytime!
Immediately afterwards, the wolf dung grass mixed in with the firewood began to release its true power under the scorching heat!
Three incredibly thick, pitch-black plumes of smoke, like three black dragons breaking free from their restraints, roared and rolled with an unwavering will, breaking free from the observatory's control and soaring straight into the sky!
These three plumes of smoke were so thick and so conspicuous!
In the chaotic night sky illuminated by the firelight, they were like three beacons from hell, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the capital!
...
Outside the capital, at the capital's main camp.
Shen Ce, clad in full armor, had already assembled 30,000 iron cavalry. All the warhorses had their hooves bound. All the soldiers had their swords drawn and bows strung. In the darkness, they waited silently, like a pack of lurking tigers, awaiting only the final signal.
Just then, a scout on lookout duty suddenly let out an excited exclamation:
"General! Look! A signal from the palace!"
Shen Ce suddenly looked up, towards the direction of the palace!
Three thick plumes of smoke rose slowly into the dark night sky!
A terrifying glint flashed in his eyes!
This is... the highest level of signal!
This is... the signal for a final assault!
With a clang, he drew his sword from his waist, pointed it at the imperial city, and with all his might, let out a deafening roar:
"His Majesty is in danger! Purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the traitors!"
"All troops! Attack!"
"Boom—!"
Thirty thousand iron cavalry, mobilized simultaneously! The earth began to tremble! A torrent of steel, powerful enough to destroy everything, launched its final assault on the city gates, which had already been opened by an inside agent!
This is the first death knell! It is the final battle drum sounded for Chen Ce of the capital's main camp!
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