Outside the hall, Tong Rushi staggered and said hoarsely, “Then why did you…”

Why put on such an affected act!

He Zi looked him up and down and smiled, “It’s only because this old man wanted to see you disappointed once more.”

Tong Rushi suddenly lowered his head, clenched his fists, the veins on his neck bulging as he hissed, “Who was it!”

Who could have thought of even this and given advice in advance?

A person said clearly and indifferently, “It was me.”

The crowd parted as a figure in white robes and white cloak slowly approached, wearing a white silk headband that made his divine countenance appear snow-like.

Everyone’s expressions showed shock.

He Zi couldn’t help but say, “What is this…”

Rong Pu bowed to the assembled officials and said solemnly, “Pu hereby respectfully informs all honored officials that my grandparents both departed this world today, one after the other.”

The officials showed shocked expressions, so much so that for a long while no one spoke.

Inside the hall, Tie Ci sighed.

He Zi couldn’t help but ask, “What was the cause?”

It wasn’t to deliberately expose someone’s wounds, but rather because Grand Secretary Rong’s position was too important – the manner of his death would determine the future fate of the Rong residence and changes throughout the entire court.

“My grandmother fell at the city gate,” Rong Pu said quietly. “To atone for his crimes through meritorious service, when the Xiao traitor came to pressure and threaten him, my grandfather chose to perish together with him.”

The crowd erupted in commotion.

After a pause, Rong Pu added with slight regret, “The Xiao traitor’s preparations were too thorough, and he escaped with heavy injuries.”

He recounted what had happened earlier. Afterward, an entire street in front of the residence collapsed, many cavalry were trapped and injured in the ground. At that time, he led his people to pursue, but they couldn’t find Xiao Liheng. They only saw a large pool of blood and a severed arm at the place where Xiao Liheng had originally been. The clothing on the arm belonged to Xiao Liheng.

Presumably, death warriors had rescued him in that moment of chaos.

“I have already ordered a city-wide search,” Rong Pu said.

Everyone sighed with emotion. Today had brought three shocks in one day – they simply didn’t know what to make of it all. From inside the hall came Tie Ci’s voice, distant but clear: “Academy Director Rong, please accept my condolences.”

Rong Pu slightly lowered his head, “Your Highness, please accept my condolences.”

Tie Ci’s second question was about Shengdu: “How are the people?”

“In the outer city, General Qi is leading troops in battle against the Shengdu garrison that entered the city, blocking the fifty thousand camp troops outside the inner city. The blood cavalry and Scorpion Battalion left behind by Commander Di are mainly assisting in defending the inner city gates. The Xiao clan had several thousand people who had already infiltrated the inner city. Most were injured and lost at the Rong residence entrance. The remaining small portion followed Xiao clan members to plunder various officials’ residences. After failing, they scattered and fled to various streets and markets, making them difficult to locate at the moment.”

He Zi frowned, “These scattered and fleeing ones are all Dayan cavalry, aren’t they?”

Rong Pu nodded and sighed, “I didn’t bring enough people. I could only capture the leaders but couldn’t track down the rest.”

The Dayan people were both cunning and vicious. Taking advantage of the chaos to scatter into Da Qian’s inner city, hiding and killing people while stealing treasures, would certainly bring extreme danger to the inner city’s civilians.

In the distance, Xia Houchun raised his hand, and several pigeons landed on his arm one after another.

Everyone knew the latest intelligence had arrived, their gazes burning with anticipation.

Xia Houchun glanced toward the hall and read aloud, “General Qi has successfully blocked those fifty thousand troops, luring them to Guanghua Gate, preparing to gather all military forces within the city before annihilating them completely.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that although caught off guard, Qi Ling hadn’t lost his vigilance and hadn’t allowed the fifty thousand troops that suddenly surged into the city to control the situation.

One must know that although their forces were roughly equal, with surprise night attacks and insider help opening the city gates, it would be very easy to achieve victory with fewer numbers and quickly seize control of the situation.

It was clear that the military preparations within the city hadn’t slackened even after the Xiao family’s downfall – they still slept with their eyes open.

Minister Zhang, coming from a military background, praised loudly, “Old Qi is excellent!”

Minister Gu folded his hands in front of his abdomen and chuckled, thinking that Old Qi was originally someone with many ideas. What made him fight so desperately was nothing more than fear that if the Crown Princess fell, his own son would have to eat sand forever in Hanli Khan.

Xia Houchun read the second note, “Many civilians in the inner city have been killed by Dayan bandits. Countless people are fleeing and crying for help in the streets and markets. Fortunately, Gui Qizhai, Tian Records, and… Wanqian Manor’s numerous shops opened their doors for rescue in the middle of the night. These three establishments deployed over a thousand able-bodied men to protect civilians on the streets where their shops are located.”

The officials praised again, “Righteous heroes!”

“Though of humble station, they dare not forget their concern for the country!”

“When today’s affairs are concluded, we must bestow honors and rewards upon these three establishments, ensuring their names flow through the ages.”

Some people remained silent, with several important ministers showing strange expressions.

One vice minister was praising eloquently when suddenly his clothing was tugged. He turned around in surprise to see his colleague continuously winking at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you know who Wanqian Manor belongs to?” that person whispered in his ear. “It belongs to Murong Yi, the heir of Liaodong!”

“What?”

Everyone unconsciously looked toward the hall.

But the words coming from inside the hall had no connection to this matter at all: “Xia Hou, spread the news that His Majesty has died, the Crown Princess has perished, the palace is in great chaos, and all palace servants and guards have fled. Then, open the palace gates.”

Xia Houchun’s expression showed shock.

“Your Highness!”

The officials could hardly believe their ears.

Throughout history during times of upheaval, the imperial palace was always the most important place, with layers of guards and myriad military formations. If there were any problems, to stabilize people’s hearts, news would always be suppressed.

When had anyone ever heard of the royal family still being in the palace yet opening the palace gates wide and spreading dire news themselves?

Only He Zi seemed to understand something, while Rong Pu sighed softly.

That was because the scattered criminals were difficult to capture, and every moment of delay meant countless innocent civilians would suffer.

Therefore, His Highness did not hesitate to use himself as bait, opening the imperial palace to those naturally greedy, lustful, and bloodthirsty bandits, luring them all to come here.

After all, what place had more treasures and beauties than the imperial palace?

“The people are most important, the state comes second, the ruler is least important.” This famous saying has endured for millennia.

But looking back through thousands of years of history, through all dynasties and hundreds of rulers, who could truly achieve this?

Only His Highness.

He looked toward the hall, where in the dim light the lamplight cast a gentle glow over that person. She was silent and calm, treating the world’s ultimate evil, danger, and pain as if they were nothing, but this only made his heart ache more.

Fine and dense, gnawing endlessly.

After she left Haiyou, he had tossed and turned restlessly. Many times in the middle of the night he would rise and dress, repeatedly going over their plans. Although everything seemed secure, he still couldn’t put his mind at ease. Finally, ten days ago, he set everything aside and selected the most excellent students in riding and archery from Yueli Academy to race toward the capital.

Perhaps there was some mystical connection, or perhaps Heaven took pity – it allowed him to arrive at her side at this moment.

For an instant, looking at the weary silhouette of the person in the hall, he thought how wonderful it would be if she could just let go.

This world was already monumentally heavy, yet it was crashing down, forcing her to grit her teeth and bear it.

But he wouldn’t say this, because he knew she wouldn’t retreat a single step.

Then he would accompany her all the way to the end.

To be that promised lifelong loyal minister and close friend, confidant in the hall.

In the hall, Tie Ci looked toward those outside and said, “Opening the palace gates will inevitably place all honored officials in danger. I apologize in advance. However, please rest assured – the palace guards and the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards will certainly prioritize ensuring all officials’ safety.”

Inside the hall, Duan Yande bowed deeply. Outside, led by He Zi, the officials bowed and said in unison, “Your Majesty need not worry about us ministers. We are willing to follow Your Majesty and jointly eliminate the Dayan criminals.”

They had all changed their forms of address simultaneously.

Tie Ci merely smiled.

But this was no different from slapping Tong Rushi across the face.

Xia Houchun suddenly smiled maliciously and unfolded the third note, saying, “I have another piece of news here… Please listen carefully, young master.”

Tong Rushi’s expression changed, instinctively sensing trouble.

“Reports from the outer city: Prince Zhao has brought three hundred guards and entered the city together with the Shengdu garrison. Xiao Liheng sent people to meet them immediately and bring them into the inner city. They are now heading toward the imperial palace.”

Tong Rushi’s face went pale as he staggered back a step.

Xia Houchun smiled mockingly, “Thought you were manipulating the chess game? Little did you know you’re just a chess piece yourself!”

Rong Pu smiled and said, “And a discarded piece at that.”

Tong Rushi seemed to have been stabbed viciously, retreating another step. After standing wooden for a moment, he shouted, “Impossible!”

No one paid him attention. The people from Lingquan Village looked at each other in dismay.

Tie Ci turned to the Lingquan Village people in the hall and said, “Aunt Li, Shepherd Boy, Er Xi, Brother Hua…” She called out their names one by one, then smiled at the end, “Will you listen to a few words of advice from me?”

Tong Rushi called out urgently, “Don’t listen to her!”

Tie Ci ignored him and said to the Lingquan Village people, “Today my palace faces great upheaval – father dead, mother gone, in these precarious times, yet I see old friends entering the palace. It’s quite unexpected.”

Most of the Lingquan Village people looked somewhat embarrassed.

“You’ve come to kill me and seize my home, but since you entered the imperial palace, I have never once tried to kill you,” Tie Ci smiled. “Don’t say I lack this ability. Whether I have this ability or not, you should know clearly.”

The Lingquan Village people fell silent.

They were all masters, yet facing the mechanisms in this Chongming Palace and Tie Ci’s various targeted tactics, not one had gained any advantage. In the blink of an eye, several had fallen or fled.

“Of course, if you truly wish to fight to the death, there will certainly be heavy casualties here as well,” Tie Ci said softly. “But too many people have already died.”

She said this sentence very lightly, yet very heavily, causing many present to feel tears welling in their eyes.

Some from grief, some from being moved.

The ordinary guards had long prepared for bloodshed in the palace today. Before great upheavals, in the eyes of those in power, human lives were merely numbers.

Meeting a master who held every life dear was everyone’s good fortune.

“In today’s situation, you’ve also seen that Tong Rushi’s ambitions were illusory from the start,” Tie Ci said. “You originally lived hidden in the mountains, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, uninvolved in worldly affairs. Now, are you truly willing to sacrifice your own lives and those of your companions – your most precious possessions – for this vain ambition?”

Heaven and earth fell silent in the vast expanse.

“Let it go. I said too many people have died already. Whether old friends or my own guards, all are precious living beings with no need to be wasted on meaningless struggles of others,” Tie Ci said. “I know your difficulties. I can spare his life, but he will need permanent confinement. As for you, if you lay down your weapons and leave Shengdu, I will allow you to settle permanently in Lingquan Village with no one to disturb you. Of course, if any of you wish to remain by my side, I would welcome that even more.”

Li Zhi shouted, “Don’t believe her! Don’t believe her! Once you surrender, she can turn around and kill you!”

“Don’t assume others think like you,” Tie Ci said indifferently. “Back at the academy and in Dongming, you wanted to kill me plenty of times, and I exposed you to your face. Did I take revenge on you?”

Tong Rushi said coldly, “That’s because you knew I had Lingquan Village – you couldn’t kill me!”

“Since I knew Lingquan Village was full of masters serving you, why didn’t I find a way to eliminate Lingquan Village earlier?” Tie Ci raised her eyes to look at the people on the snowy ground. “But the me now is no longer the me of the past. The me then would consider old feelings and not want to exterminate completely. Now you have exhausted all the sentiment from those days. If you still don’t accept this final kindness of mine, then I don’t mind a few more deaths either.”

She said, “I hereby warn everyone: within Chongming Palace, one step further means death without mercy.”

In the silence, no one advanced, including Tong Rushi.

But someone chuckled darkly. Shepherd Boy licked his lips, his gaze fierce, saying, “I don’t care about those principles, and I don’t believe you still have mechanisms and treasures. You used tricks to injure me from the start – this grudge I must repay.”

Li Zhi immediately said, “Right, right! She’s already used so many mechanisms, she must be at the end of her rope. That’s why she won’t act and wants to use words to trap you. Think about it – if she really held winning cards, why would she need to say so much? Having come this far, to be driven away by this woman’s few words – where would your dignity be in the future?”

Tong Rushi said, “Everyone, Tie Ci isn’t this kindhearted. If you retreat now, you’ll only fall into the encirclement of the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards and be hunted to death. I think she’s just putting on a fierce front while being weak inside. Right now if we all charge together and capture her, the future world can be shared with all of you!”

As he spoke, he gestured excitedly with raised hands, pushing against Shepherd Boy’s back.

Shepherd Boy, who was already at the very front, immediately rushed forward a step.