The Patrol Battalion’s blade… was already pressed against Bi Heng’s neck, making it impossible for him to rise again.

With Fan Yuhuai and the Patrol Battalion in front, and Prince Xian with the Nandu army behind, they had no way up to heaven or down to earth.

Bi Heng closed his eyes in resignation and raised his head. Rain flowed down his eyelashes in torrents – their men… There weren’t many left! Some Imperial Guards, seeing the tide had turned, laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Fan Yuhuai walked before Bi Heng, taking a deep look at Bi Heng and Prince Xin, who had suddenly collapsed lifeless on the ground. His voice thundered as he shouted: “His Majesty has awakened! Prince Xin is dead! Those who surrender will not be killed!”

Heaven and earth seemed to fall silent for a moment.

Imperial Teacher Old Tan rushed out from the palace in haste: “Minister Fan! Beware of Prince Xian and Prince Liang!”

Fan Yuhuai turned back, looking toward Imperial Teacher Old Tan above the great hall.

Prince Xian gripped the sharp blade in his hand tightly. In the heavy rain, he curved his lips upward, raising his eyes to reveal a look of certain victory as he shouted: “Prince Xin rebelled and murdered His Majesty and the Crown Prince! We arrived too late to protect them! We must kill every last rebel without exception to avenge His Majesty and the Crown Prince!”

As soon as Prince Xian finished speaking, his bloodied, cold blade slashed straight toward Fan Yuhuai.

“Sir, be careful!” The Patrol Battalion soldiers’ eyes widened as one grabbed Fan Yuhuai, who hadn’t had time to turn around, and yanked him backward with force.

Fan Yuhuai turned back in disbelief, his eyes wide, watching helplessly as the cold blade that had been aimed at his head swept past his eyes. His left eye was suddenly covered in scarlet red as sharp pain spread rapidly from his left eye across half his face.

Fan Yuhuai covered his eye with one hand and screamed in agony. The sound of clashing blades and battle cries once again echoed throughout the imperial palace.

The Nandu army, led by Prince Xian, fought desperately against the Patrol Battalion and Imperial Guards led by Fan Yuhuai.

Fan Yuhuai, dragged to the rear and protected by his subordinates, covered his continuously bleeding eye with one hand. He pushed away his subordinates, gripped his blade with one hand, and shouted: “Prince Xian and Prince Liang are rebelling! Protect His Majesty!”

Inside the brightly lit great hall with flickering candle flames, the awakened emperor’s eyes were bloodshot with fury. He struggled to raise his hand, pointing toward the outside of the great hall, breathing rapidly with wheezing sounds from his chest, yet unable to utter a single word.

How could he believe that his beloved legitimate son, Prince Xin, whom he had lovingly raised, would want to commit patricide and fratricide to usurp the throne?

How could he believe that Prince Xian, who had lost even his descendants for his sake back then, would rebel?

Yes… yes! Prince Xian’s only daughter carried imperial blood in her womb, so Prince Xian had also developed such thoughts, wanting the Lin family’s realm!

The emperor’s face turned purple from anger, his sunken cheeks and eye sockets appearing somewhat terrifying under the flickering firelight.

“Father Emperor! Father Emperor!” The Crown Prince knelt beside the emperor, tears flowing continuously. “Father Emperor, you must take care of yourself!”

The Grand Princess looked outside through the carved partition, then walked toward the inner chamber, leaning on her cane. Gao Demao quickly ordered the trembling young eunuchs to lift the curtains on both sides and hang them on the golden twisted-branch copper hooks, then pulled open the bright yellow gauze curtains.

Seeing the Grand Princess enter, leaning on her cane, the emperor’s pupils trembled. He wanted to speak but began coughing while holding his chest, his gaze fixed directly on the Grand Princess.

The Crown Prince quickly took the spittoon that Gao Demao handed over and knelt closer to the emperor: “Father Emperor!”

The emperor waved his hand, supporting himself with his elbow and slowly leaning against the hidden pillow, his rapid breathing gradually calming down.

“Your Majesty!” The Grand Princess bowed her head slightly to the emperor.

The emperor calmed down and sincerely thanked the Grand Princess: “Aunt… thank you for watching over me these days!”

“Your Majesty, rest assured. Bai Qingyan has already gone to bring the Anping Camp soldiers to rescue Your Majesty. Your Majesty can be at ease! The Bai Family has protected Jin State’s realm for generations. Even if only one person remains, they will sacrifice their lives to protect Your Majesty and the Crown Prince.” The Grand Princess lowered her eyes and bowed slightly to the emperor again.

The emperor gazed at the sachet hanging beside the curtains and pressed his lips together.

The Bai Family…

The Bai Family had protected Jin State’s realm for generations.

Inexplicably, the emperor thought of Bai Weiting, of Bai Qishan.

He even thought of someone he had seen in childhood… Bai Weiting’s father.

At that time, he was only six years old. When the Bai Family army returned triumphant from the eastern campaign, that aged man with silver hair, mounted high on his horse in military attire, was dignified and illustrious – exactly the heroic and mighty appearance his Second Imperial Brother had described to him.

For hundreds of years, Duke Zhenguo’s mansion had been like a heaven-supporting heavy sword, weathering storms yet still standing tall, its mighty reputation known throughout the world.

The emperor’s fists tightened at his sides. If this time… Bai Qingyan could truly be so loyal, bringing troops to rescue him and the Crown Prince.

Then the emperor was willing to leave the Bai Family a way to live, letting Bai Qingyan serve the Crown Prince loyally.

Outside the great hall, the sounds of armor and swords clashing with screams came from beyond the hall, growing closer and closer. Inside the hall was deathly quiet, everyone trembling with fear.

Fan Yuhuai fought while retreating. Prince Xian and Prince Liang were protected within heavy shields. Amid the “Huh-ha!” sounds of the heavy shield soldiers, they advanced steadily step by step in the rain up the stairs.

Prince Xian, wearing heavy armor, seemed afraid that Prince Liang’s cowardly nature would make him weak-kneed at seeing this scene of rivers of blood and severed limbs. He gripped Prince Liang’s arm with one hand while holding his sword with the other, stepping up the stairs. Seeing they were getting closer and closer to the palace’s main entrance, Prince Xian’s eyes held a look of certain victory that was obsessive to the point of madness: “Quickly! It’s right before us!”

Right before them…

He would leap to become the national father-in-law. Once his daughter gave birth to a prince, he would kill Prince Liang, and this world would belong to the Liu family.

Prince Xian’s mind was full of the Liu family’s future glory. Not paying attention to his footing, he stepped on a severed arm and his foot slipped, but he was steadily supported by a strong hand.

Prince Xian looked back in surprise at Prince Liang beside him.

Prince Liang lowered his eyes, his voice calm and steady. He showed no fear or panic: “Father-in-law, be careful…”

Before Prince Xian could think deeply about this sudden, strange feeling, earth-shaking battle cries suddenly came from behind.

Prince Xian turned back sharply.

Bai Qingyan rode upon her fine horse, charging as the vanguard at rapid speed. Her horse trampled the Nandu rebel soldiers and leaped up in the rain, rainwater splashing down from the horse’s mane.

She clenched her teeth, her eagle-sharp and calm gaze targeting Prince Xian’s stunned expression. She steadied herself, tensed her arm, nocked an arrow to the bow, exerting all her strength as the bowstring creaked.

Prince Liang only saw that in the heavy rain, the silver-armored woman’s horse suddenly leaped up. A chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, too late to cry out…

The arrow pierced through rain and air, so fast that Prince Liang only felt a gust of wind by his ear. Prince Xian was suddenly pulled backward by a force, his entire body falling back.

Prince Liang turned to look at Prince Xian, only to see him lying motionless on the ground with wide eyes, tightly covering his neck in the heavy rain as blood gushed out continuously. When he opened his mouth, fresh blood kept pouring out.

“Prince Xian!”

“Your Highness!”

“Prince Xian!”

The Nandu army generals protecting Prince Xian cried out in alarm. Suddenly losing their backbone, they fell into complete chaos, their military morale scattered.