Suzhen looked and couldn’t help laughing. She saw a black-robed man also with his face covered, carrying a woman as he quickly flew to Lian Yu’s side.

From the posture, it was Xuanwu who had rescued Lian Xin.

By this account, Lian Jie had called for Xuanwu’s aid earlier – Xuanwu had probably already infiltrated this place to observe Huang Tianba’s movements. Knowing Lian Xin had been captured, unfortunately he didn’t know that Quan, Li and others had already set traps in the prison…

No wonder Lian Yu chose to surrender – he still had backup plans. Xuanwu would discover the situation sooner or later and find ways to rescue the sovereign.

However, whether he could wait for rescue if he fell into Quan Feitong’s hands was unknown. Fortunately, Huo Chang’an had arrived in time.

Though she found the scene before her somewhat jarring, her heart was still relieved, and the stinging pain in her hand seemed to lessen by half.

“This subordinate deserves death. Earlier, when going to rescue the Princess, I was trapped by enemies and failed to protect my master completely.” Seeing the injuries on Lian Yu’s body, Xuanwu was shocked and stepped forward to request punishment from Lian Yu in self-reproach.

He was the most mysteriously skilled among Lian Yu’s four personal guards. No one knew his face, no one knew the extent of his martial arts. If he had been there, though it might not have changed the situation completely, Lian Yu’s injuries certainly wouldn’t be as severe as now.

But Lian Yu’s face darkened: “Good. I’ll reward you with a hundred beatings when we return.”

Xuanwu made a “puff” sound and muttered as he retreated.

Here, Lian Xin threw herself into Lian Yu’s arms, sobbing: “Brother, I was captured by Huang Tianba. Quan Feitong is here too – they wanted to kill me.”

Lian Yu pushed her away. His eyes held no warmth of an elder brother, but showed severity: “You deserved it! Your Sixth Brother only knows that those who provoke others first are contemptible. If you continue being so recklessly bold, you’ll only have a dead end sooner or later!”

This kind of Lian Yu – angry without showing it but still dignified – was what Lian Xin feared. She immediately backed away several steps and finally burst into tears with a “wah.” Wei Wuyan stepped forward to hold her, while Gu Shuangcheng wanted to say something conciliatory. Lian Yu saw through her thoughts: “Shuangcheng should think about how to explain to me why you’re here.”

Gu Shuangcheng was startled. He had arranged for her to wait at the inn, but she had come here in defiance—

But she knew he wasn’t really blaming her much. The way he looked at her was always gentle beneath the calm. She said softly: “Perhaps it was fate’s arrangement – I needed to save you once.”

Lian Yu looked at her deeply and said nothing more, focusing entirely on the enemy.

Except for the proud Huo Chang’an and Wei Wuyan, Lian Jie, Lian Qin, and several of Lian Yu’s personal guards all bowed deeply to her. She quickly returned the courtesy in this chaotic situation.

Now for Chao Huang. Chao Huang knew well that Huo Chang’an’s dozen or so guards weren’t simply ordinary guards – they had been battle-hardened fierce soldiers. Though his side had masters hired by Huang Tianba and numerical advantage, keeping them here wouldn’t be easy. That Huang Tianba was observing from the shadows – seeing the unfavorable situation, he would certainly send people to the Minshan Prefecture city gates to call for garrison troops, but this round trip would take at least half an hour. If the opponents forced their way out, they might not be able to delay them that long.

Remembering Quan Feitong’s instructions – this was meant to be accomplished in one stroke, and if complications arose, they should retreat – he didn’t order further attacks.

However, what he hadn’t expected was that Huo Chang’an, who usually ignored worldly affairs, would actually intervene…

He glanced at Yu Jinglun, who understood and spoke: “Though we’re letting you rebels escape today, don’t be arrogant. We’ll certainly hunt you down. Impersonating the Emperor is a capital crime!”

Hearing this, Huo Chang’an frowned: “Impersonating?”

He reached into his robes and with a “snap,” threw something to the ground.

Everyone looked – it was a golden tablet with tiger patterns and imperial edicts, prominently carved with the character “Huo.”

Seeing this, Lian Jie simply bent down to pick up the golden tablet and returned it to his hand, smiling: “It’s useless. We also showed imperial tokens earlier, but they deliberately claimed they were forgeries. Now, even if Sixth Brother placed the Imperial Seal here, it would be futile.”

Hearing this, Huo Chang’an was stunned, then sneered coldly: “What a group of treacherous rebels!”

“You are the treacherous rebels!” Yu Jinglun held his sword horizontally, pointing at everyone and laughing strangely: “First assassinating Magistrate Huang during the day, with the assassin impersonating a princess, then tonight sending people to break into the prison, still daring to claim imperial status? How could a nation’s princess act so recklessly, disregarding human life, and assassinating court officials? The Emperor is at Chuhe Prefecture – how could he suddenly appear at Minshan? How can this convince people, convince the world?”

Everyone on Lian Yu’s side gasped. What Yu Jinglun said wasn’t without reason. The matter of Lian Xin couldn’t spread among the people, or this willful princess’s reputation would be even more notorious. As for everyone’s nighttime prison investigation, even if he knew it was deliberate “crime,” insubordination – in the future, you really couldn’t charge Huang Tianba and others with crimes, since everyone knew the Emperor wasn’t here. Huang Tianba’s mistake in thinking the visitors were imposters was also “understandable,” wasn’t it?

Quan Feitong was a great predator. He had calculated all this in advance – interconnected traps, plots within plots. If tonight’s encirclement and killing succeeded, Great Zhou’s sovereign would be rewritten. If not, Chancellor Quan would still be Chancellor Quan.

Had Chancellor Quan ever formally confronted them? No.

Lian Jie and Huo Chang’an looked at each other, but couldn’t say anything. Even the usually hot-tempered Lian Qin fell silent.

“Clap” “clap” – two gentle applause sounds rang out at the right moment. Everyone was stunned, and Yu Jinglun also tensed, looking to see it was that gentle, refined sovereign.

“Please remember an old saying: mountains and waters always meet again. Remember, be careful not to be caught by us rebels, or you’ll probably only have a dead end. Rebels aren’t emperors – we have no royal law to speak of.”

The opponent spoke indifferently, his eyes slightly curved, as if melting snow were flowing through. Yu Jinglun and Mao Hui suddenly felt somewhat afraid, not just because they knew this was the real emperor, but because of this person himself.

Lian Qin breathed out, feeling like he’d won back a round, and shouted: “Did you hear that? Be careful for your grandfather! I’ll always know who you are, who all you masked guests are. When the time comes, if I don’t serve you well, my surname isn’t Lian.”

Lian Qin was careless, but Huo Chang’an and Lian Jie knew Lian Yu was also barely holding on now, his body exhausted. Lian Jie pushed Lian Qin aside and supported Lian Yu with Xuanwu, preparing to leave.

Suzhen had encountered obstacles every time she tried to rush out. Now cursing softly, she hurried out, exposing herself in the night.

“Wait, don’t run! Your… Your Majesty, take me with you, and me…”

“Hey, why are you here too, kid?”

The originally serious two sides both erupted in commotion. Lian Qin cried out, while Lian Yu’s face was somewhat iron-colored – he could still joke and laugh before, but now that composure was completely gone.

He quickly signaled to Xuanwu to bring Suzhen over. Xuanwu hesitated slightly, but Lian Xin, who had been crying softly, suddenly walked to Lian Yu’s side: “Brother, you can’t take her. Do you know what kind of person she is? She’s not a good person – she’s a spy, one of Chancellor Quan and Huang Tianba’s people. Today, she hit me and planned to kill me. Fortunately, Gu Shuangcheng saved me.”

“Brother, think about it – why do they know you’re here? Did you tell her? Maybe she’s the one who informed Quan Feitong. Otherwise, how would she be here, and how would Huang Tianba and the others know you came?” She spoke quickly and urgently, her voice carrying deep anger and hatred.

Everyone was shocked. After hearing this, Lian Yu remained silently thoughtful, his brown eyes deepening several shades. Though supported by Lian Jie and Xuanwu, he seemed to forcibly straighten up and slowly stood upright, looking at Xuanwu and asking in a deep voice: “What did you see?”

Xuanwu’s gaze was unclear and misty. He thought carefully for a moment before saying: “What this subordinate saw in secret was indeed as the Princess said.”

Suzhen had been running but once again became a wingless angel, frozen in place. Xuanwu had seen it! Who could she blame for this…

Lian Jie and others all slightly changed expression, falling into silence for a moment. She had no way to defend herself and could only look toward Lian Yu.

Lian Yu’s eyes held light like slowly flowing ink, sometimes light, sometimes dark. His eyes slightly narrowed as he stared at her, his tall, thin figure with slightly raised chin forming the arc of imperial scrutiny.

This fierce battle had suddenly taken a sharp turn, falling into a strange situation. All around, manor servants held torches with bright flames, countless swords and blades reflecting the starlight in the green sky, the galaxy brilliant.

Suzhen couldn’t walk over. In front of her were the guards led by Chao Huang and Yu Jinglun blocking her way. She alone had no power to break through. Lian Yu and the others were a bit further ahead, and behind them on the high building were several men who manipulated power and looked down on the world, watching.

Fearing she couldn’t wait for his judgment, she looked toward Shuangcheng: “Miss Gu, though Li Huaisu may have countless wrongs, it was Li Huaisu who told you to go to the inn to find Marquis Huo and Wuyan. Please tell His Majesty, tell them, alright?”

“We did meet once here, but you never said such things to me. Given the situation then, you couldn’t possibly have said that. Princess and Lord Xuan can testify. Shuangcheng never heard it, and I can swear to the clear heavens and bright sun that you didn’t. If Gu Shuangcheng is lying, may I suffer the punishment of a thousand cuts.”

Shuangcheng looked at her steadily, her eyes remarkably clear, slowly raising her right hand to swear.

Suzhen couldn’t stop trembling all over, supporting her broken arm – she no longer argued. She had thought of a method to avoid all eyes and ears, to convey life-saving information to Shuangcheng before Quan Feitong, Li Zhaoting, and Huang Tianba, telling Shuangcheng to find Huo Chang’an, because she knew where Huo Chang’an was, because she knew that only Huo Chang’an could save Lian Yu.

She was a judge personally appointed by the Great Zhou Son of Heaven, but at this moment, she couldn’t defend herself. She had no physical evidence, much less witnesses. She could only look again at her Son of Heaven and say softly: “Stone, I know that if you take me with you, you might have to fight another battle, you might get injured, there might be many possibilities. I’m a selfish person, I’m afraid of death, I don’t want to die yet… Please don’t leave me behind.”