In the palace.

The witch gods continued their dance.

The heavy snow grew heavier and heavier.

But everything seemed very calm.

And far too calm.

Everyone drank wine and made merry.

All immersed in the joy of the new year.

Prince Huyi also beamed with delight, watching the witch gods dance, completely unaware of the lurking dangers all around.

Nayan was completely oblivious as well.

He drank a few cups of wine, then scanned through the crowd but didn’t see Song Zhi’s figure.

He raised his hand and summoned over his own guard.

“Where is that Young Master Song? Didn’t this prince have someone bring him into the palace?”

The guard looked over at the seats and found Song Zhi’s position empty, puzzled: “He was here just a moment ago.”

Nayan frowned: “Go find him quickly. We can’t have anything happen.”

After all, this was the royal palace.

His purpose in bringing Song Zhi into the palace was to introduce him to Prince Huyi. They couldn’t have any mishaps at this time.

The guard acknowledged the order and went to search.

Duke Wangguo, sitting beside Nayan, noticed and turned his head to ask: “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Nayan took a sip of wine: “Nothing, just looking for someone.”

Duke Wangguo didn’t probe further.

Marquis Pingyang, sitting not far across from them, had been observing the situation here all along.

Seeing Nayan order someone to do something, he also quickly sent someone to monitor.

After a moment, Li Qiao arrived.

He spoke a few words in his ear.

After listening, Marquis Pingyang’s hand resting on his leg tightened, but his face remained nonchalant.

To avoid anyone detecting anything.

He scolded softly: “How did you handle this? How could you let Acheng find out?”

“Your son has already ordered someone to escort him out of the palace.”

“Hmph! Tell your men to be more careful. If there are more slip-ups, they’ll lose their heads.”

“Yes, your son will be careful.”

“Go.”

Li Qiao’s face was ashen as he hurriedly withdrew.

Marquis Pingyang acted as if nothing had happened.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the witch gods’ sacrificial dance had ended.

The eunuch called out loudly: “The grand sacrifice begins.”

As the words fell, everyone rose and walked to the sacrificial platform.

Lining up one by one.

Very solemn.

Prince Huyi stood at the very front, with Nayan and Marquis Pingyang on either side.

A witch god picked up a torch and placed it into a large cauldron on the sacrificial platform.

Immediately fierce flames shot up.

Burning fiercely in the great cauldron.

Eunuchs delivered incense sticks into everyone’s hands.

Preparing for the Heaven-worshipping ceremony.

Prince Huyi held the incense candles, about to perform the ritual kowtow.

Suddenly—

From somewhere unknown flew several sharp arrows wrapped in fireballs, striking the pillars, lanterns, and silk hangings under the corridor.

Immediately a great fire erupted.

Marquis Pingyang, seeing the perfect timing, immediately shouted: “Quick! Protect the Great Prince.”

Over ten to twenty guards rushed out from all around, surrounding Prince Huyi in the middle.

Prince Huyi’s incense candles fell to the ground as he was escorted away from the sacrificial platform.

The crowd also began fleeing in all directions.

At this moment, the great cauldron still burning with fire suddenly toppled over.

Flames rolled out…

Sparks flew everywhere.

Burning quite a few people.

“Ah!”

“Run quickly!”

The great fire spread wildly across the sacrificial platform…

Marquis Pingyang took advantage of the chaos and quickly followed behind Prince Huyi to leave.

Nayan seemed not yet to have reacted.

He looked with disbelief at everything happening before his eyes.

The incense stick in his hand was forcefully snapped in half.

Everything had clearly been properly arranged—how could this still happen?

He felt his life had reached its end, the position of heir apparent now forever beyond his reach.

At this moment, he would rather perish in the sea of flames.

But several of his guards rushed out in time, protecting him.

“Your Highness, leave quickly!”

Like a puppet, he let the guards pull him out of the sacrificial platform.

Just as he withdrew from inside, he saw a group of guards leading Prince Huyi toward the direction of Tongzhi Hall.

At least Royal Father was safe!

Otherwise, he would surely die.

But—

He saw that one of the guards was the same one he had seen outside Prince Huyi’s bedchamber that day.

He had felt the man looked familiar before but couldn’t recall at the time.

At this moment, memory suddenly surged forth.

That guard… seemed to be one of Natuo’s men.

When they searched his Second Prince’s manor last time, that person had been among them.

If he was Natuo’s man, how could he be Prince Huyi’s guard?

Something was wrong.

All of this was wrong.

Tonight was far too calm!

There must be treachery involved.

Just as he vaguely sensed something, a guard hurriedly reported: “Your Highness, this is bad! The palace is suddenly filled with many troops.”

“Not good, we’ve fallen into a trap!” He finally realized.

The guard: “Then what do we do?”

“Leave the city immediately to mobilize troops.”

“But the city gates are already closed!”

Ugh!

Nayan nearly lost his footing!

His face deathly pale!

He never expected that Natuo would make this move.

Surrounding the palace to force abdication!

And tonight was actually a great massacre!

For now, the only option was…

“Leave the palace immediately!”

He led his men straight for the palace gates.

Hoping to make it out in time. As long as they got through that door, there was still a chance of survival!

At this time, the sacrificial platform was filled with raging fires, extremely similar to the palace siege scene from over twenty years ago.

Extremely tragic.

Terrifying.

From inside, cries for help continuously rang out.

Weeping.

Shouting.

Utterly tragic!

The fire was completely out of control, spreading wildly.

At the same time, those officials who had sided with Nayan were captured one by one.

Duke Wangguo couldn’t escape either.

Nayan, before the palace gates closed, left the royal palace with over ten guards.

Immediately boarding a carriage to flee.

The carriage drove at breakneck speed. Inside, Nayan calculated.

Never expecting he would overlook this step!

With all his calculations and schemes, he never calculated that Natuo would rebel!

In his heart, Natuo was just a prince without strategy or courage. No matter how much courage you gave him, he wouldn’t dare raise troops in rebellion.

But looking at today’s entire arrangement, it must have been planned long ago.

From the city gates to the palace gates, every location calculated with precision.

He had truly been thorough in everything except this one oversight!

So foolish.

No wonder Marquis Pingyang had let that wastrel Li Cheng guard the city gates—today it finally made sense.

But it was too late now.

What he needed to do now was find a way to immediately leave the city and mobilize the several thousand troops outside the city to enter and protect the sovereign.

But how to leave the city?

At this time, the city gates must be filled with Natuo’s men.

Security would be tight.

Messages definitely couldn’t be sent out.

Just thinking about this—

“Whoa!”

The carriage suddenly stopped.

Violently shaking.

He nearly tumbled out from inside.

Could it be Natuo’s troops had caught up?

“What happened?”

He pulled open the curtain to look.

He saw a group of people had appeared ahead.

Blocking his path.

And the person standing at the very front, he recognized.

Lian Que!

That assassin who had broken into his prince’s manor.

After these days of recuperation, Lian Que’s body had mostly recovered.

He held a long sword, wore armor, and looked at Nayan in the carriage with eyes full of killing intent.

The countless whip wounds on his body—he would return them one by one.

Nayan’s grip on the curtain tightened.

His men also drew their swords one after another, preparing for bloody battle.