The hall erupted in clashing swords and blades. The infiltrating assassins were not only numerous but also highly skilled, clearly outmatching most of the palace guards.

Only martial officials like Shen Yueshan and Shen Yun’an could gain the upper hand, while about half could only fight evenly. Many others fell wounded under the assassins’ blades.

These assassins had a clear target – Emperor Youning. They quickly dispatched any obstacles they could overcome, and ruthlessly killed those they couldn’t easily subdue!

The acrid smell of blood spread rapidly. Shen Xihe watched coldly, unmoved, as two young military officers fell into pools of blood. They wore Imperial Guard uniforms – at their young age, to have entered the Imperial Guard protecting His Majesty, they must have been outstanding next-generation members of prominent court families.

With pure loyalty and blood running hot, they likely hadn’t developed many thoughts of power and gain yet. It was their most innocent time of loyalty to the emperor. They probably didn’t know that the emperor they were dying to protect was the mastermind behind this assassination attempt!

These assassins’ smooth infiltration of Furong Garden and easy blending with the Imperial Guard required inside help, but few could guess the mastermind was His Majesty himself.

After all, His Majesty had invested so much, sacrificing greatly and even sustaining injuries himself – such danger! A wise man doesn’t stand beneath a dangerous wall, let alone an emperor – how could he make such an unwise move?

Of course, if the premise was to frame the Shen father and sons, many would understand.

This was the height of the Shen family’s success – the perfect time to make people believe they had developed treasonous ambitions. This was called getting carried away with success, wanting more after gaining something.

The Northern Desert battle had just concluded, with the Shen father and sons pacifying the northwestern border. Several major tribes were severely weakened – even knowing the Northwest lacked the Shen father and sons’ presence, they had neither heart nor strength to gather forces and invade again…

His Majesty wasn’t afraid of the Shen father and sons’ deaths throwing the Northwest into chaos anymore.

Currently, the common people highly praise the Shen father and sons, and their reputation is at an all-time high. The more the people valued them, the more devastating it would be when they became known as plotters of royal assassination in broad daylight. The people’s previous praise would turn to equal contempt.

This would be the collapse of faith!

With public outrage, even those in the Northwest loyal to the Shen father and sons wouldn’t dare risk public contempt by truly sacrificing their entire families or clans to rebel for the imprisoned Shen father and sons.

With the Shen father and sons in power, their supporters benefited more and naturally stood with them. Once the Shen father and sons fell, who wouldn’t protect themselves?

Hadn’t the Gu family faced the same fate years ago?

His Majesty had thought it all through beautifully. In his view, the Shen family’s sudden victory in pacifying the Northern Desert was a heaven-sent opportunity.

A heaven-sent opportunity to make the Shen father and sons fall from heaven to hell!

Little did he know this opportunity he couldn’t bear to miss had been orchestrated by Xiao Huayong from the start, understanding His Majesty’s mindset.

To prevent His Majesty from holding back due to the Northwest situation and Minjiang setback, Xiao Huayong had added fuel to the fire, making His Majesty wounded and poisoned, his health and energy declining, forcing him to make this desperate gamble!

“Beichen!” Xiao Huayong, who had been following Shen Xihe, began moving toward His Majesty. She instinctively grabbed him.

He turned his eyes to her, that gaze penetrating through the flashing blades, tender as water. Like the first warm sunlight of early spring illuminating the earth, awakening all things, melting ice and snow.

This gaze was so profound that Shen Xihe couldn’t bear it. Though his eyes were so gentle, rippling with smiles, they also carried a trace of resolute determination.

“Youyou.” Xiao Huayong held her hand, his movement gentle yet firm as he unwound her fingers one by one. His other hand caressed her temple, tracing her features, gently outlining her face as if wanting to imprint her visage in his heart through his fingertips.

“Take good care of yourself, put yourself first in everything.” Xiao Huayong smiled, then released her, gently pushing her away. The Eastern Palace guards brought by Tianyuan separated her and Xiao Huayong into two protected circles.

Shen Xihe was protected as she withdrew, while Xiao Huayong strode toward His Majesty, his hoarse voice particularly deep: “Protect His Majesty!”

The Eastern Palace guards almost immediately surged forward to engage the mysterious and numerous assassins.

At this moment, another change occurred. The chaotic hall was completely blocked, and Emperor Youning, seated high above, had no intention of leaving – he wanted to command from here.

This caused all of Furong Garden’s guards to surge toward His Majesty. Their duty was to protect him, leaving no one to clear a path for the civil and military officials to leave.

The officials waited desperately for reinforcements. Furong Garden wasn’t close to the palace, and these assassins had come prepared. Who knew if anyone had gotten out to report?

They thought about the signal system among the guards – even if they couldn’t get out, sending a signal would work. The Five Cities Army and Golden Tiger Guards were in the city; it would take at most half an hour for them to arrive in force. They just hoped these people would hurry.

But instead of the Golden Tiger Guards and Five Cities Army, they encountered another group of grey-clad men dressed completely differently from the current assassins, brazenly not even wearing masks.

Each one is grim and cold, they charged straight at Emperor Youning with drawn swords, killing all in their path. Their target was even clearer – just His Majesty!

They wouldn’t waste energy killing those who didn’t block their path.

This group’s martial skills were exceptional, no less than the first batch.

Even His Majesty’s eyes darkened when this group appeared – these weren’t his arrangement.

Of course, they weren’t his arrangement – Xiao Huayong had arranged for Xiao Juosong’s men to enter. Xiao Juosong didn’t have many men left, just a few dozen, but their remaining fighters were all top-tier. His Majesty wanted to direct his assassination drama, so he took advantage of His Majesty’s cover to insert Xiao Juosong’s men.

Thus appeared the current farcical scene – the first batch of assassins were His Majesty’s men. Though they had His Majesty’s permission to wound him, they still measured their force. The second batch were genuine royal assassins.

The first batch of assassins suffered – they couldn’t reveal they weren’t real assassins, yet had to turn to stop Xiao Juosong’s men from assassinating His Majesty.

So in many officials’ eyes, these two groups of assassins seemed to be competing to kill His Majesty!

One group attacking, one group blocking – was each trying to prevent the other from claiming first success in killing His Majesty?

What kind of brazen assassins would do such a thing?

Did they think the capital’s defenses were just for show?

However, they didn’t know that the military guards they desperately awaited were currently restricted on all sides!

The Five Cities Army commander couldn’t find his men, delaying troop assembly. The first Golden Tiger Guards to be alerted were the patrol guards, who were cut down at the gates!