Through Wei Prince Consort and Princess Imperial Ruyang, Xiao Huayong unexpectedly found Crown Prince Jiachen still alive. The Crown Prince even had his plans, though he knew his persistence in cultivating forces stemmed merely from unwillingness to give up. However, the forces he had built were insignificant, and couldn’t even get close to Emperor Youning.

Since he had no opportunity, Xiao Huayong would provide one. Whether it succeeded or failed didn’t matter much to Crown Prince Jiachen – he just wanted one attempt against Emperor Youning. Success would bring overwhelming joy; failure would let him end his precarious existence with dignity.

“Princess, these people’s identities are unrecognizable. Their killing methods are extremely cruel, yet they don’t seem like trained death squads or assassins,” said Zhenzhu. She and Moyu were protecting Shen Xihe as they evacuated the temporary palace. They had encountered these skilled fighters on the way.

Had their target been Shen Xihe, and had she not been prepared, they likely would have been injured.

“Just focus on evacuating the temporary palace. Those searching for the Crown Prince will return soon,” Shen Xihe instructed.

These people weren’t Xiao Huayong’s men, nor were they sent by him. He had somehow drawn in the Emperor’s enemies – this would reverse all disadvantages.

This group knew time was tight and opportunities were fleeting. As long as bystanders didn’t rush in, they wouldn’t kill indiscriminately, instead heading straight for the Emperor’s location. Shen Xihe easily found the Empress Dowager and, along with her attendants, helped escort her to safety.

While retreating with the Empress Dowager, they briefly passed an elderly man on horseback in the shadows. The Empress Dowager’s pupils contracted, and even as she was supported away in another direction, she couldn’t help turning back to look at the retreating rider.

Shen Xihe noticed this and knew the Empress Dowager must recognize that elderly man. Though it was a deep night, the attackers held high torches, illuminating the old man’s face. Even through a wall, Shen Xihe caught a glimpse of his features through a window.

He appeared weathered, about the same age as the Empress Dowager. Shen Xihe wondered – could this be a grudge from the Empress Dowager’s generation?

After leaving the temporary palace, they could still hear the deafening sounds of combat, no different from a battlefield between two armies. Under the Imperial Guards’ protection and without deliberate interference, the imperial women safely evacuated the temporary palace, gathering anxiously at the mountain’s foot.

They all knew that if His Majesty fell, they would not escape death. Yet no one dared suggest fleeing to the capital now – the crime of abandoning one’s sovereign was too grave to bear.

Fortunately, as Shen Xihe had predicted, the military guards who had been ostensibly searching for Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changying, but suppressing Xiao Huayong’s remaining forces, quickly returned from their search to protect the Emperor at the temporary palace.

This confrontation held little suspense. Though these attackers seemed fierce, their chances of successful assassination were practically zero. Even without the military guards, basic palace patrols remained. Emperor Youning had several princes protecting him, along with Marquis Pingyao, General Pei, and other commanders. Reaching the Emperor was impossible in such a short time.

Through the thick night, Shen Xihe watched the flickering lights at the mid-mountain temporary palace. The sounds of fighting gradually weakened until they could no longer be heard. This was a one-sided battle; they could return to the palace soon.

Xiao Huayong’s true objective wasn’t here. If assassination attempts were happening here, then where Xiao Huayong was…

“Drip-drip-drip—”

Just then, the gyrfalcon’s cry came from afar. Everyone’s attention was on the temporary palace, and the sound was distant – only Shen Xihe turned to look. Under the night sky, its spread wings traced a fleeting shadow before vanishing into the dark void.

Its appearance confirmed Shen Xihe’s thoughts – Xiao Huayong intended the Emperor’s elite troops to never return!

Unlike the one-sided battle at the temporary palace, where Xiao Huayong was turned into a true bloodbath with flashing blades. Even though he and Xiao Changying were bound in the cave, both were martial artists with heightened senses.

Besides hearing the intense fighting, and clashing of blades outside, they could smell the thick scent of blood.

Xiao Changying’s expression darkened with gravity. “Your men?” he asked.

Xiao Huayong didn’t answer directly, but his calm composure gave Xiao Changying his answer and brought him relief.

They had been trapped for two days, yet Xiao Huayong remained unruffled. Xiao Changying knew he must have everything planned out.

Soon, two black-clad masked men rushed in. They only covered their lower faces, and their black clothes bore embroidered flames on the chest. Upon seeing Xiao Huayong and Xiao Changying, they both raised their blades to strike at their faces.

Xiao Changying instinctively dodged. Bound together with him, Xiao Huayong seemed to anticipate his movement and followed his force to dodge the attack.

The two rolled to the ground, then simultaneously kicked up at the descending blades, striking the assassins’ wrists and forcing them back. Supporting each other, they jumped up together and stood firm.

Xiao Changying completely forgot about Xiao Huayong’s presence. Xiao Huayong calmly followed his movements against the assassins, waiting for the right moment. With his feet planted, Xiao Huayong suddenly spun, ramming Xiao Changying into one assassin. After knocking the assassin down, he kicked up the fallen blade, shouting, “Catch!”

Xiao Changying looked up, turning his body to follow the blade’s trajectory. His bound hands’ fingers precisely caught the handle. While Xiao Huayong engaged the other person, he quickly rotated his wrist, using the blade to cut through their bonds.

Once separated, he gripped the blade and moved to slash one black-clad man’s throat, but Xiao Huayong grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the exit.

“What… what play are you acting out?” Xiao Changying couldn’t understand. “These people – are they your men or not?”

If they were, why did they attack them and why did Xiao Huayong fight back? If not, why did they seem to pull their punches, and why wouldn’t Xiao Huayong let him kill them?

Xiao Huayong didn’t answer, just dragged him outside where two groups fought fiercely. All wore black masks, but one side had only two holes for eyes, while the other was exposed above the nose bridge.

Xiao Huayong discreetly exchanged glances with someone before leading Xiao Changying in one direction. Both groups pursued them, leaving Xiao Changying even more confused!

However, he no longer needed Xiao Huayong’s pulling to cooperate in moving forward.

Of the two groups, whoever caught up would attack them, though the first group only blocked without killing, while the latter group used lethal force.

Xiao Huayong again pretended to be unskilled in martial arts, making Xiao Changying suspect someone else was watching from the shadows.