Lin Changshi watched Qing Xia’s figure gradually disappear at the end of the long street before turning his horse around and galloping toward the direction of the Military Command Camp.
Soon, the long streets of the capital were filled with the chaotic sounds of chickens flying and dogs jumping as the Imperial Guards who had followed Qing Xia out of the palace went throughout the city to arrest the suspicious people they had in mind.
Qing Xia emerged from a small alley, her gaze cold as frost. Wearing blue military armor, she possessed an indescribable heroic bearing and sharpness. Having easily dealt with those five unsuspecting soldiers, she looked at the chaotic situation she had orchestrated. This way, even if that bookworm Lin hadn’t been able to notify Chu Li, Chu Li would see that something was wrong and certainly wouldn’t rashly enter the palace. As long as he remained on guard, no one in this imperial city could do anything to him.
Things had gone more smoothly than expected. Qing Xia’s brow furrowed slightly as she mounted her horse and galloped back toward the palace.
Leaving the palace was difficult, but entering was easy. Qing Xia effortlessly entered through the West Flowery Gate with just a simple report about the outside situation. This group of Imperial Guard soldiers, their minds in complete chaos, heard the tumultuous situation outside the imperial city and had long since lost their composure. Seeing Qing Xia was like seeing a lifeline – they all surged forward asking about the situation.
Quickly crossing the West Garden’s main path, she could see Imperial Guards patrolling everywhere. Qing Xia moved with agile stealth all the way, leaving no trace as she headed toward the palace where the people from Lanting Hall were being held. Just as she reached the luxurious and bustling Yingge Villa, thunderous commotion came from the direction of the Main Flowery Gate by Baili Lake. Qing Xia immediately stopped, crouched down, pressed her hand against the bloodthirsty dagger in her boot, and peered out through the layers of flowering shrubs with alert eyes.
The Imperial Guards originally stationed at Yingge Villa also noticed the anomaly and panicked, all helplessly gazing eastward.
In the sky, countless bright yellow torches rose skyward, and enormous shouts could easily be heard even from this distance. The low, characteristic shouts of soldiers were like roaring male lions, radiating powerful and intimidating presence. The uniform sound of hoofbeats quickly surrounded the entire imperial city. Suddenly, everyone clearly understood that Crown Prince Chu Li of South Chu – who had inherited the imperial blood of his ancestors and returned from foreign lands after narrow escapes from death – was launching his counterattack against tonight’s rebellion.
Any conspiracy, trickery, or hidden attacks appeared pale and powerless before an iron-blooded army. Watching those trembling Imperial Guards, Qing Xia suddenly understood that Chu Li had already won this battle without even fighting.
Suddenly, piercing screams came from the direction of the Eastern Palace. Qing Xia looked up in shock and saw a mass of black smoke shooting straight into the sky above the brightly lit Eastern Palace. Miserable screams echoed piercingly throughout the inner courtyard of Chu’s imperial palace. Where voices clamored, countless people came running from the Eastern Palace, their clothes carrying the heavy scent of smoke and fire.
The Eastern Palace was on fire!
Qing Xia’s eyes immediately turned cold, and a terrible thought flashed through her mind. Though shocked, her hands didn’t stop moving. She quickly stripped off the guard uniform and put on Xiangju’s loose maid’s clothing. Qing Xia immediately jumped up from the flower bushes, no longer caring about hiding her form, and ran toward the Eastern Palace through the chaotic crowd.
“Your Highness!” Le Song’s face was pitch black, his entire suit of armor also blackened by smoke. He stumbled up to Chu Li and said in a deep voice: “The fire is too intense – we can’t get in at all.”
The young prince wore full military attire, no longer resembling the person who had been bullied by Qing Xia in Lanting Hall. His silver-white armor fit perfectly on his body, with a wide dark blue cloak behind his shoulders. A cold helmet covered his head, with blue tasseled cords hanging behind. The upright white collar was embroidered with dark white dragon patterns against a dark background, tightly wrapping around his slender neck. Chu Li’s face was frosty, his emotions unreadable, but his mouth was pressed into a straight line. His nose bridge was prominent, his eyes ice-cold, staring intently at that ruined palace surrounded by flames. His fists hanging at his sides couldn’t help but clench tightly!
“Report!” A sharp, powerful voice suddenly rang out. A soldier in blue armor nimbly jumped down from his horse, his heavy armor clanging as it hit the ground. The soldier knelt on one knee and shouted: “General Li has completely surrounded Zhengyang Palace. Prince Yan and Concubine Xiao have been captured. Our Emperor is safe!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of low cheers rose from the army. Everyone’s face showed relief, though no one dared express it openly. Chu Li kept his gaze straight ahead, still staring fixedly at the burning palace, as if deaf to everything, saying not a word.
The guard looked at Chu Li with some confusion. After a long silence, he continued: “The disturbances everywhere have been quelled by our army. They are all now detained at the martial training ground awaiting Your Highness’s disposal.”
The resonant voice echoed in the air as a cool wind blew gently past. Everyone stared with wide eyes waiting for Chu Li’s instructions. But this Crown Prince who had led them charging into the imperial palace now seemed under a spell, his eyes sinister, anger gradually rising. Suddenly he pushed aside Le Song who was blocking his path and strode toward the burning palace.
“Your Highness!” A tremendous cry of alarm rang out simultaneously. Le Song reacted fastest, lunging forward to grab Chu Li’s shoulders and shouting: “Your Highness, you mustn’t!”
“Stand aside!” A deep voice issued from Chu Li’s mouth. Le Song couldn’t help but stiffen all over. He raised his eyes to look carefully and saw that Chu Li’s eyes were black as deep pools, as if a massive storm was slowly gathering within them. His sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, his phoenix eyes half-narrowed as he looked coldly into Le Song’s eyes and said icily: “Don’t make me say it a second time!”
“No!” The soldier stubbornly replied, saying in a deep voice: “The fire is too intense. The people inside are probably already burned to death. Even if Your Highness goes in, it won’t help anything. Moreover, Your Highness has a body worth ten thousand gold – to rashly risk danger…”
“Bang!” Le Song’s body was immediately kicked away by a tremendous force, violently hitting the ground and raising clouds of dust. Dimly, they could see Chu Li’s figure charging toward the fire like a leopard. Not bothering to rub his split posterior, Le Song shouted sternly: “Stop His Highness!”
Several guards rushed forward but were pinned in place by Chu Li’s icy glare. By the time they reacted, Chu Li had already charged recklessly into the raging inferno!
“Quick! Save His Highness!” Le Song was beside himself, shouting hoarsely!
“Boom!” A huge beam suddenly fell, its tremendous weight violently blocking everyone’s path. Several soldiers screamed and were instantly pinned under the beam. Other soldiers nimbly rushed forward to rescue those trapped, but when they looked back at the palace, another wave of flames surged up, and wide logs blocked the passage, making entry impossible.
“Move the logs, quick! Pour water!” Le Song’s eyes nearly split with rage as he shouted.
Just as everyone was in complete chaos, a white figure suddenly flashed into the crowd. Le Song raised his eyebrows and called out alertly: “Who goes there? Seize them!” Several nearby soldiers heard this and raised their spears to charge forward, but the newcomer simply blocked with one hand and easily seized several spears, then threw them back, perfectly landing them in front of several people about to rush forward. This beautiful counterattack flowed like clouds and water – even though it was hard to distinguish friend from foe, these simple soldiers couldn’t help but cheer.
Le Song was uncertain and suspicious, just about to step forward to capture the mysterious person. Then he saw a flash before his eyes as the person suddenly appeared beside the water buckets, grabbed a soldier by the collar, and somehow managed to tear off the soldier’s cloak in the blink of an eye, throwing it over themselves. They picked up a wooden bucket and poured it over their head, becoming like a drowned rat, then rolled on the ground to dodge the attacks of two soldiers and leaped into the fire in one bound!
Le Song came to his senses and roared for everyone to quickly put out the fire. Many guards picked up water buckets and quickly sprang into action.
“Qing Xia!” A broken voice suddenly rang out. Chu Li’s body was already on fire in multiple places, but he paid no attention, stumbling all the way into the main hall. Seeing the palace maids lying scattered about with charred corpses, he felt a chill instantly assault his mind. He swung his long blade and cut through the wood blocking his path, rushing deeper inside.
“Qing Xia!” Chu Li shouted sternly, with only the roaring sound of flames responding to his voice. His face was flushed red, sweat pouring down, eyes wide open. He tore off his military uniform and nimbly rushed into the inner rooms. Seeing the tightly closed door of the eastern wing, Chu Li kicked up, and with a thunderous crash, smashed the door panels. Using his elbow to shield his face, he charged through the sky-high flames and immediately jumped inside.
The fire here was even more fierce than outside. Chu Li frowned tightly, and when his eyes could adjust, he looked around and saw that everywhere he looked were charred corpses. The hideous bodies scattered throughout reminded Chu Li how ridiculous his current actions were.
The people inside were probably already burned to death! The people inside were probably already burned to death!
Le Song’s words suddenly echoed in his ears like a curse. Chu Li’s eyes seemed ready to spew blood. He kicked aside a charred corpse, roared fiercely, and cried out loudly!
“Mmm…”
A faint low moan immediately struck Chu Li’s heart like thunder. Even in such a noisy situation, that voice brought Chu Li’s soul back to his body. “Qing Xia, where are you?” Chu Li nimbly wielded his long sword, sweeping away the fallen debris blocking his path as he rushed forward.
Light blue concubine palace clothing immediately caught his eye. A water jar, already red as blood, stood in the corner of the room. Chu Li knew this was used for washing by the people in the palace, and immense joy immediately surged in his heart. Could Qing Xia be hiding there? Like a mad tiger, he rushed forward and eagerly looked inside.
He saw that the water in the jar had long since dried up. A woman lay unconscious inside, her long hair disheveled, many parts already burned to the scalp, her face swollen and festering, extremely hideous and frightening. But her clothing was unmistakably the light blue palace dress that Qing Xia wore daily, and on her head was the jeweled necklace he had bestowed upon Lanting Hall just a few days ago.