Li Weiyang slowly opened her eyes. Seeing her awake, Yuan Lie’s entire being overflowed with joy that nearly spilled over. He said softly: “Weiyang, are you alright?”

Li Weiyang blinked and smiled faintly: “At least I’m still alive.”

Yuan Lie felt his eyes growing slightly warm. Having witnessed with his own eyes that she had awakened, his restless heart finally settled abruptly: “If not for that Buddha amulet, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be seeing you today.” As he said this, a gloomy expression flowed through his eyes.

Li Weiyang was startled and stared at him fixedly. At first glance she didn’t notice, but upon composing herself, she discovered he had become alarmingly thin. His jawline, originally very graceful and gentle, now seemed sharpened by a layer, pointed enough to hurt someone. His complexion was even more like pale ice and snow, shrouded in a layer of bone-chilling frost.

Knowing his mood was displeased, she gently grasped his hand: “I truly have no serious injuries. There’s no need to be overly tense.” Yuan Lie paused. In an instant, his gaze became deeply concentrated: “That Wang Yan—I’ll make him regret his actions!” When saying this, a trace of killing intent faintly showed between his brows.

Li Weiyang sighed: “He was merely instigated by someone and, moreover, uncontrolled, which led him to do such a foolish thing. If you act rashly, you’ll truly fall into the mastermind’s wicked scheme!”

Yuan Lie naturally knew this. But knowing was one thing—it didn’t mean he could allow others to harm his beloved. His breathing involuntarily quickened slightly, yet he tried to keep his tone calm: “Rest assured, I know now isn’t the best time to act. Once things settle down, I’ll naturally make him pay the price!”

Li Weiyang understood what Yuan Lie meant by “timing.” The Guo family had just had an incident here, and Wang Yan lost his life there—everyone would think it was the Guo family’s deliberate revenge. Yuan Lie’s plan was very thorough. He intended to wait for this period to pass, then find another pretext to eliminate Wang Yan. This showed that Yuan Lie was no longer the Li Minde of the past. He understood how to grasp the overall situation and, to the greatest extent, keep her clear of suspicion so no one would suspect Li Weiyang. Just as she was about to say something, she heard Yuan Lie say: “Your body has just recovered. Don’t move, or you’ll definitely aggravate your injuries.” Li Weiyang laughed lightly: “What injuries? It’s just a minor superficial wound.”

Just then, Guo Dao outside the door pushed it open. Seeing Li Weiyang awake, his face filled with delight: “Jia’er?” Li Weiyang looked at Guo Dao and asked gently: “How is Mother?”

Guo Dao nodded quickly: “Mother kept watch here for three days. Just now she really couldn’t hold on, so I forcibly sent her back to rest. If she knew you were awake, she’d be very happy.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “No need to tell Mother. She needs to rest properly.”

A warm tenderness ignited in Guo Dao’s eyes, then his face showed difficulty. If the situation weren’t serious, he really wouldn’t want to speak out and spoil their good mood at this moment. Li Weiyang’s mood grew slightly somber. She saw Guo Dao’s facial expression changes very clearly and said lightly: “What happened?”

Guo Dao considered for a moment and said seriously: “I heard Fourth Brother took some troops to the Wang household.” Li Weiyang’s expression changed. She immediately pursued the question: “What’s he going to the Wang household for? What troops did he take?”

Guo Dao’s face showed difficulty: “Fourth Brother’s temperament is already impulsive. This time it seems someone deliberately provoked him, so he took the five hundred Imperial Guards under his command and went to the Wang household! Father happens to have entered the palace and still doesn’t know about this!” He didn’t say what he was going to do, but Li Weiyang could imagine the reason. She sat up abruptly and quickly instructed Zhao Yue: “Prepare for me. I must rush to the Prince Consort’s manor immediately.”

“Jia’er!” Seeing her act on impulse, Guo Dao hurried to stop her: “Your health is poor right now. Why must you go personally!”

From the corner of his eye, Yuan Lie glimpsed Li Weiyang’s face turning slightly pale. His heart ached greatly, wishing he could drag Wang Yan over and dismember him: “Whatever the matter, Guo Dao and I can arrange it. You rest well at home.”

Li Weiyang shook her head, her expression resolute: “This matter is truly far too suspicious! I must see it with my own eyes to feel at ease. Moreover, this happened because of me. How can I lie here?” As she spoke, she was already stubbornly trying to get up.

Guo Dao quickly said: “Then you must be extremely careful. I’ll go invite a physician to accompany us, so if anything happens, it won’t worsen your condition.”

Li Weiyang nodded lightly, but worry showed in her eyes.

At this time, the clamor of the Imperial Guards outside the Prince Consort’s manor gate grew louder and their emotions more agitated. Guo Dun shouted: “Wang Yan! Why don’t you come out quickly! If you don’t let me in, I’ll smash your manor!”

The Wang manor guards shouted loudly: “You dare show disrespect to the Wang family!” Before finishing the words, he received a slap across the face.

Guo Dun stared at him with a cold, stern face: “What if I disrespect your Wang family? I’m going to kill Wang Yan! Tell that cowardly dog to come out!”

The guards had already sent someone inside to report. Facing five hundred Imperial Guards, how could they not be afraid? Moreover, these people were all filled with righteous indignation and killing intent. Once they truly attacked the Prince Consort’s manor, everyone would likely suffer. Only about ten guards remained outside. How could they hold out? They could only hope the masters inside would quickly come out to take charge.

In the study, Wang Zijin pressed her lips together. Her lustrous lips drew a very tight arc: “Third Brother, with such chaos outside, what will you do!”

Wang Yan laughed coldly: “Only if I go out can I calm everyone’s anger and teach Guo Dun a lesson, letting him know the Wang household isn’t a place to barge into randomly!”

Wang Qiong snorted through his nose: “You’re still so ignorant. Having caused a monstrous disaster, you still dare point fingers here! Go out to teach Guo Dun a lesson?! You say it easily. How do you know what the situation is outside? If you rush out and open the main gate, you’ll let all five hundred Imperial Guards in. If you want to die yourself, don’t drag us down with you!”

“Does Father want me to watch helplessly as these people clamor at our gate?” Wang Yan said no more and strode outside. Wang Qiong’s face darkened, but he said coldly: “Seize him!”

“Father! What are you doing? One person does the deed, one person takes responsibility. Naturally I’ll resolve this matter!” Before Wang Yan could finish, Wang Guang and Wang Ji exchanged glances and had already restrained him from left and right. All the way he shouted unwillingly: “Father, are you so afraid of the Guo family?”

Wang Qiong’s eyes narrowed. In an instant, killing intent had already stirred. If this son continued to act so recklessly, he might as well kill him directly! Coming from a military background, he wasn’t soft-hearted. Wang Yan had already committed too many offenses. First disrespecting the imperial princess, then attempting to murder the Guo manor’s eldest daughter. Now he was suspected of murdering an Imperial Guard deputy general. Now people came to demand justice, yet regardless of everything, he wanted to go out and confront them! If he continued letting him act this way, the entire Wang family would face disaster.

Seeing the situation was bad, Wang Zijin quickly said: “Father, even if you don’t let Third Brother go out, those people outside will still barge in. The guards are in complete chaos. They can’t hold out much longer.” Wang Qiong said coldly: “Receiving the ruler’s bounty means serving the ruler’s affairs. Guo Dun is truly audacious, actually daring to incite Imperial Guards to come provoke us! I see this fourth-rank Capital Guard Command Commissioner truly doesn’t value his life!”

“Father, now isn’t the time to worry about that! Once the situation outside loses control and they storm into the Wang household, even if we can escape, there are so many female family members in the Prince Consort’s manor. If anything happens, we’ll truly become the laughingstock of the entire capital! Please go out immediately to pacify them.”

Wang Qiong naturally also heard the increasingly loud clamor outside. His heart sank involuntarily. He stood up: “Fine, summon the Wang household guards. I’ll go out and see.”

Wang Qiong strode outside with the bearing of a dragon and tiger, exceptionally vigorous. The guards outside the study quickly followed. They had all killed their way through thousands of troops alongside General Zhendong. Seeing their master with such momentum, just like before battles in the past, they simultaneously changed to solemn expressions.

Suddenly hearing an earth-shattering sound from outside the gate, they saw the Wang manor’s steward rush in with anxiety all over his face: “General, those Imperial Guards outside have already broken in!”

Wang Qiong and Wang Zijin exchanged glances and quickly walked out of the courtyard. Just reaching the gate, they saw the main gate had already been breached by those Imperial Guards. Inside and outside the gate was already in chaos. Many maids fled in all directions, while the Wang manor guards had rushed up to block Guo Dun’s path. For a moment, people shouted and horses neighed. All around was chaos like tangled hemp, stirring up dust that blocked out the sky and sun, like a pot of boiling porridge being overturned. The scene had long lost control.

Wang Qiong shouted coldly: “Guo Dun, you’ve led people to barge into my Prince Consort’s manor—what exactly do you mean?” Amid the chaos, Guo Dun raised his hand. His Imperial Guards immediately stopped attacking. The Wang manor guards also held their swords, forming a circle to protect Wang Qiong and Wang Zijin. At this moment, Wang Ji, Wang Guang, and Wang Yan had all heard the news and hurried over. Seeing the confrontation between both sides with the intense atmosphere of a battlefield bloodbath, Wang Yan’s expression was extremely ugly. He said angrily: “Guo Dun, what exactly do you want to do?”

Guo Dun snorted coldly through his nose: “You used trickery to lure my mother and sister into the manor, then actually wanted to kill them! Since that’s the case, naturally I must bring people to demand justice from you!”

Wang Qiong’s expression changed: “Guo Dun, does your father know about this matter?”

Guo Dun laughed heartily: “One person does the deed, one person takes responsibility. General Wang, I respect you as a hero and won’t make things difficult for you. As long as you hand over that turtle son of yours, I’ll take these five hundred Imperial Guards and leave the Prince Consort’s manor immediately, absolutely not harming anyone.”

Killing intent faintly showed on Wang Qiong’s face, yet his bearing remained composed. In fact, if Guo Dun hadn’t done this, he had already planned to take Wang Yan to the Guo household to apologize, then let the Guo manor handle it as they wished. But Guo Dun had stormed to their door. Any great aristocratic family always had many matters they didn’t want outsiders to know. In Wang Qiong’s view, he could secretly dispose of Wang Yan, but absolutely could not let everyone personally witness him yielding to the Guo family’s power and handing over Wang Yan. These were completely different in nature. If today he handed over Wang Yan here, then people throughout the world would say the Wang family feared the Guo manor. A hundred years of reputation would be ruined in his hands. What face would he have to meet the ancestors and Wang clan relatives! But he also couldn’t conveniently fight with a junior like Guo Dun, or he’d be accused of bullying the weak. Even winning would bring no glory. This youngster was truly evenly matched with his own son—each one more brainless than the last!

Thinking this, he said coldly: “Guo Dun, the Imperial Guards aren’t your private property. You have no authority to mobilize them! I advise you to immediately take your people back to the military camp and not expand the situation. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives reports you to His Majesty, you won’t escape punishment either!”

Wang Yan harming Guo Jia was a private grudge. His Majesty wouldn’t casually interfere. But Guo Dun leading five hundred Imperial Guards to break into the Wang household—this wasn’t in the category of private grudges. Moving troops without military orders was treason, punishable by beheading! If someone with ulterior motives ran before the Emperor to report this, not only would Guo Dun suffer, the entire Guo manor would be implicated.

Guo Dun naturally understood this principle. He snorted coldly: “If I hadn’t been pushed to desperation, I wouldn’t resort to this drastic measure. First ask that fine son of yours what exactly he did today?”

Hearing this, Wang Qiong couldn’t help but freeze. He turned around and looked at Wang Yan: “Unfilial son, what did you do again!” Wang Yan looked at his father in shock and cried out: “Today, what did I do today? I don’t know!”

Guo Dun said angrily: “If it were for a private grudge, I would never mobilize Imperial Guards! But you actually had someone kill my most capable deputy general, and not only that, hung his head high at my camp gate, mocking me, Guo Dun, for lacking the courage to avenge my subordinate. The Guo manor and Prince Consort’s manor originally had a private grudge, but you actually murdered an innocent person so indiscriminately. A person like you—if I don’t execute you to avenge my brother, how can I lead the soldiers, how can I be their leader?”

Hearing this, Wang Qiong suddenly understood. He glared at his son and said sternly: “Did you really kill that deputy general?” Wang Yan froze, completely unable to understand what was happening. He shouted loudly: “Guo Dun, don’t falsely accuse me! When did I kill your deputy general?”

Guo Dun laughed coldly, dismounted from his horse, then threw a blood-stained long sword on the ground. Wang Qiong was startled. Examining the sword carefully, he naturally recognized it. Wang Yan wielded twin swords, and both were forged by craftsmen Wang Qiong personally commissioned. On the precious swords, one was engraved with “Blue Frost,” the other with “Flowing Cloud.” The one now discarded on the ground was engraved with the two characters “Blue Frost”—clearly it belonged to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan instinctively touched his waist and cried out in shock: “How did my sword fall into your hands!”

Guo Dun’s smile grew even colder: “The ironclad evidence is here, yet you still refuse to admit it! If I hadn’t been at the military camp, the person you really wanted to kill was me, wasn’t it? You still say I came to take revenge on you for a private grudge? You first injured my sister, then killed my subordinate. Such enmity was created by you yourself. This bitter fruit must also be borne by you!”

Wang Qiong’s expression was extremely ugly. Just now he could still accuse Guo Dun of mobilizing Imperial Guards for private revenge. But now it seemed, if his son truly killed someone’s deputy general and Guo Dun remained unmoved, how could he continue commanding soldiers? Afterward, no one would listen to his orders! Thinking this, he struck Wang Yan heavily across the face and shouted: “Beast, kneel down!”

Wang Yan laughed coldly but stood in place full of fury, motionless. His gaze looked sternly at his father: “True, I did scheme to kill Guo Jia, but I never killed his deputy general. As for this sword, I also don’t know how it ended up in the military camp. Perhaps someone deliberately framed me!” As he spoke, his eyes had already fixed on Guo Dun, shouting loudly: “It’s you—you must have deliberately framed me!”

Guo Dun’s smile grew colder: “I framed you? Did I plant a spy by your side? You’ve always kept this precious sword on your person and never let it leave you. How could I steal it? Pure slander! Think you can still escape punishment? Today I must have your life!”

Wang Zijin, listening from the side, already had a very grave expression. She exchanged a glance with Wang Ji. Wang Ji said coldly: “Zijin, don’t you find this matter very strange?”

Wang Zijin naturally understood. She said in a low voice: “Killing Miss Guo—that was indeed Third Brother’s doing. But afterward, Father confined him in the manor, just waiting for Duke Qi’s anger to subside slightly before going to apologize. Never would we have imagined such a thing would happen. Could that deputy general really have been killed by Third Brother?”

Wang Guang beside them shook his head: “No, impossible! These past days I’ve had people watching him constantly. Where would he have had the opportunity to go out?”

But Wang Zijin said worriedly: “Then why did Third Brother’s sword appear in that deputy general’s tent? Though Guo Dun is somewhat reckless, he would absolutely never lie, especially at this juncture… This is undoubtedly adding frost to snow. I always feel something’s not right!” The other Wang family members naturally thought the same, but no matter how they thought, how should they resolve the current situation?

Wang Qiong stepped forward. His gaze revealed majesty amid icy coldness. He merely swept everyone with his eyes, and those Imperial Guards still full of doubt involuntarily tightened their grip on their weapons and retreated two steps: “Guo Dun, naturally I will give you an explanation for this matter. If you trust me, in three days, I will personally go to your Guo manor to explain this matter and will also explain it to His Majesty! Now please immediately order your soldiers to withdraw from the Prince Consort’s manor.”

But Guo Dun shook his head gravely: “General Wang, right now that deputy general’s parents, wife, and children are crying and making a commotion in my military camp, demanding I uphold justice. I can no longer endure! If you make me wait another three days, I’m afraid I’ll have no face to confront my own soldiers. Please hand over your son right now, General Wang. I’ll immediately take my people and leave the Wang household, and will even present generous gifts to calm the female family members of the Prince Consort’s manor.”

Wang Qiong naturally wouldn’t let him take Wang Yan away just like that. His face darkened: “Guo Dun, will you truly not withdraw?”

Guo Dun raised his eyebrows, his voice growing even colder: “Naturally I won’t withdraw!”

Wang Qiong looked at him coldly. This young man acted too impulsively. This matter was clearly a trap set by someone. They all knew this, yet couldn’t help but reach this point. The opponent’s scheme was truly brilliant! Making you completely unable to retreat, unable to advance, only able to walk step by step according to the opponent’s trap to today. Thinking this, he painfully closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his face was already covered in frost: “Guo Dun, regardless of anything, this is my Wang family’s residence. I cannot allow you to rampage here! Since you refuse to withdraw, then don’t blame me for being merciless!” Reaching this point, he suddenly ordered: “Wang household guards, listen up—guard the Prince Consort’s manor well. Absolutely do not let anyone barge in!” Then he turned to Wang Guang: “Take your third brother and leave immediately!”

Wang Guang was startled, then went forward to pull Wang Yan. But Wang Yan pushed him away and shouted: “Father, I won’t go!” Wang Qiong truly wished he could slap this fool to death. If not for him, how would the Wang family and Guo family have reached this point of even beginning to fight?

The Wang household guards had all followed Wang Qiong through battlefield slaughter and were absolutely no inferior to these Imperial Guards. But if they truly fought, it would only expand the situation. At this moment, over thirty guards, receiving Wang Qiong’s order, suddenly extended to both sides, firmly guarding the Wang family members in the center. Each face was like frost, killing intent running rampant. Compared to the Imperial Guards, they had ten parts more murderous aura. Even Guo Dun, seeing this, couldn’t help but be secretly shocked.

Wang Zijin stepped forward and said in a low voice: “Father, please don’t resort to force. I’ll find ways to restrain them and prevent them from acting. Here’s what we’ll do—you take Third Brother and leave immediately through the back gate. Enter the palace to see His Majesty and explain everything to him. Neither the Guo family nor Wang family can bear the consequences of military conflict. It’s better to let His Majesty know early, lest someone with ulterior motives play tricks before His Majesty. Also, arrange for someone to quickly notify the Guo family. I think the Guo manor’s people probably don’t know about Guo Dun’s actions yet.”

Hearing this, Wang Qiong quickly nodded and immediately ordered someone to handle it. Then he slowly retreated backward, saying to Wang Zijin in a low voice: “Since that’s the case, let them see your formations. Just try not to hurt anyone—trapping them will be enough!”

Wang Zijin understood and quickly said: “Father, rest assured!”

Guo Dun, seeing the opposition wanted to escort Wang Yan away from the side gate, immediately flew into a rage. He shouted loudly: “Capture the murderer!” Imperial Guards immediately rushed forward. However, at this moment, the originally very calm flowers, trees, and artificial hills suddenly began to move, trapping those soldiers attempting to act in the center. Seeing this scene, Guo Dun’s face immediately darkened. He hadn’t expected Wang Zijin would actually use the formations in this manor. Watching Wang Yan being escorted away, he thought: Fine! I came to capture you, but you escaped. Don’t think I’ll let this go! Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I’ll pursue you to complete this revenge! He shouted loudly: “Never mind this wretched formation—we must capture this murderer alive and avenge our brother!” After saying this, he himself led the charge forward. The five hundred Imperial Guards behind him followed along.

But the formations in this garden were like a maze, firmly trapping them within. The original five hundred people were gradually dispersed—four hundred, three hundred, two hundred, one hundred. Finally, only about fifty people remained around Guo Dun. The others had all been dispersed somewhere, all entangled by that heavy mist. Behind Guo Dun, flowers and trees increasingly accumulated, layer upon layer trapping everyone to death. Though they heard killing sounds shaking the heavens all around, they couldn’t see a single Wang household guard. Unknowingly, many of the Imperial Guards behind him were injured, their clothes soaked with blood, yet still struggling with difficulty. But they weren’t wounded by enemies—rather, because the mist was so heavy they couldn’t see the path clearly and ended up fighting their own people in confusion…

Everyone’s face was covered with thick blood and grime, making their features hard to distinguish. Even someone as brave as Guo Dun couldn’t help but feel somewhat fearful. He had fought on battlefields before but had never seen such a formation. Once a person entered, they simply couldn’t find their way out. If you stayed obediently trapped it was fine, but once you tried to resist, you’d inexplicably sink deeper into the formation. Even breaking out was useless. Those Wang household guards would pop out like ghosts from time to time and unhesitatingly kill the trapped Imperial Guards.

Though Guo Dun was protected in the middle and his life temporarily safe, his face was also pale. He was a young hero who prided himself on being both civil and martial, and had been on battlefields before. Yet he never imagined a small formation could reduce him to such a sorry state. He had wanted to capture the murderer, but this situation was beyond his imagination! A deputy general beside him said: “Commander, escaping with our lives intact is already difficult. Better to break into smaller groups and retreat.”

At this moment, Guo Dun’s robes and face were already dyed crimson red, fresh blood dripping down profusely. He raised his hand to wipe the filth from his face with his sleeve, glanced at the deputy general, and said coldly: “Since I brought five hundred people here, I absolutely won’t retreat. Otherwise, this will become the laughingstock of the entire world! Count the remaining people and escort them in retreat. I’m staying!” His meaning was clear—he was letting others go, but he himself refused to leave. After speaking, he rallied the troops’ morale and led people charging forward again.

Using the formations’ endless transformations, Wang Zijin broke the originally mere thirty Wang household guards into smaller groups, ordering them to position themselves according to different directions outside the formation. Then she used arrows she had carefully designed to rain down from all sides, surrounding those five hundred Imperial Guards. On one side dispersing the Imperial Guards, on the other side waiting for opportunities to ambush. Watching the Imperial Guards charge out only to fall row by row like wheat being harvested.

Watching clearly from outside the formation, she couldn’t help but tremble. She hadn’t expected Guo Dun to be so brave. She had thought trapping the opposition would be enough, but unexpectedly he was completely killing gods when meeting gods, killing Buddhas when meeting Buddhas. Encountering obstacles, even if injured and bloodied, he insisted on fighting through! Wang Zijin originally didn’t want conflict between the Wang and Guo families. Moreover, these Imperial Guards were innocent people. She couldn’t help but blame her third brother to the extreme in her heart. If not for his foolishness, how would things have reached this point!

But Wang Yan hadn’t left yet. Seeing Wang Qiong had already taken the lead and departed, he jumped down from his horse and, shaking off the guards, rushed back. Wang Ji went up to stop him, but Wang Yan, as if his eyes had turned red with killing, said angrily: “Since he wants to kill me, I’ll keep his life here!” With a cold laugh, he had already raised his long sword and strode quickly toward the formation.

Wang Zijin quickly shouted to stop him: “Third Brother, what are you doing?”

Without looking back, Wang Yan had already quickly entered the formation. After Wang Zijin learned formations, she never hid anything from her brothers. She had very earnestly taught each formation in this Prince Consort’s manor to her older brothers. Though Wang Yan’s learning wasn’t refined, he understood the basics. Once entering the formation, he was like a dragon entering the sea, moving freely. He consecutively killed over ten Imperial Guards, his entire head and face sprayed with fresh blood, looking like a malevolent star. Gripping his sword, he was already walking step by step accurately toward Guo Dun.

Wang Yan hid behind an artificial hill, relying on the hill’s movement to gradually approach Guo Dun. Guo Dun suddenly turned around, but only saw mist filling the sky, completely unable to see his opponent. He vigilantly gripped the long sword in his hand. Suddenly he heard his deputy general cry “Ah!” He quickly supported him, but saw the man’s chest had already been pierced with a bloody hole! He sharply raised his head, only to see Wang Yan right before him. So the opposition had ambushed them, and the deputy general had substituted himself with his own body. Guo Dun flew into a rage. He hadn’t expected Wang Yan would still have the courage to run back and use such a sinister move. Watching Wang Yan already kill his way forward, Guo Dun roared and lunged toward Wang Yan.

The two men fought fiercely within the formation. Wang Guang and Wang Ji in the distance both saw and couldn’t help showing anxiety. Wang Guang quickly said: “I’ll go bring him out!”

Wang Zijin stopped him: “No, if you go in now, I’m afraid the situation will become even more serious.”

Hearing her say this, Wang Guang couldn’t help but freeze: “Sister, what do you mean?”

Wang Zijin shook her head, her beautiful eyes slightly concentrated: “Hasn’t Third Brother caused enough trouble? First humiliating Princess Nankang, then imprisoning and trying to kill Guo Jia. Now he’s suspected of murdering an Imperial Guard deputy general. People came pounding on our door—frankly speaking, we’re completely in the wrong! Even if it reaches His Majesty, Guo Dun has justifiable reasons. The wrong is all Third Brother’s! If you go in now, you won’t be helping him—you’ll be harming him! Guo Dun barging into the manor—we can use formations to trap him. But if you brothers go up together, others will say the Wang clan has wicked intentions!”

Wang Guang’s face darkened: “Sister, are you telling me to just watch them fight each other like this?”

Wang Zijin couldn’t make a decision for a moment. Guo Dun was alone. If Wang Guang entered the field, it would be two against one—if word spread, it would also be the Wang family’s fault. Just then, Wang Qiong had already discovered Wang Yan fled midway and chased back. Seeing the current situation, he couldn’t help but feel anguished. He shook his head: “I’ve never made a mistake in my entire life, yet never imagined I couldn’t teach a good son, letting him cause such a monstrous disaster. What can be done now? How will I face the Wang family’s ancestors?”

Wang Zijin looked at her father with frost-white temples and sighed. The fierce battle in the formation was already intense and deadly. The thirty-some Imperial Guards remaining around Guo Dun had already surrounded Wang Yan, and those Wang household guards, seeing this situation, also disregarded danger and rushed into the formation. The two sides confronted each other.

Wang Yan seized an opening—his left hand sword struck. Guo Dun’s steps couldn’t help but stumble. The sword wound under his right chest went several inches deep, fresh blood still gurgling out, showing how ruthless Wang Yan’s strike was! Guo Dun saw the Wang household guards were all extremely formidable, while the Imperial Guards around him kept falling. His heart grew increasingly unwilling. His expression became more and more terrifying, yet his eyes grew brighter and brighter. Though his Imperial Guards were numerous, they had all been trapped by Wang Zijin’s formations, futilely fighting the mist for half the day. Casualties were heavy, and they were long exhausted. When charged by these Prince Consort’s manor guards, their formation quickly fell into chaos and they retreated step by step. Wang Yan’s killing intent rose even higher. Wherever his form reached, corpses lay everywhere and blood flowed like rivers.

Seeing this scene, Wang Zijin couldn’t help but bite her teeth: “Third Brother is using my formations!” Her voice was full of worry. Originally she only hoped to use the formations to trap those people, not truly strike killing blows—at most just injure them. But once Wang Yan entered the formation, he deliberately changed it, making the killing intent within extremely heavy.

Guo Dun’s right hand gripping the blade involuntarily spasmed and trembled. Though he fought to exhaustion, he absolutely wouldn’t bow to Wang Yan! Finally, he spotted an opportunity and deliberately revealed a weakness to make Wang Yan think his strength was failing. Wang Yan indeed took the bait, brandishing his long sword and charging to kill him! Guo Dun seized precisely that instant and grabbed Wang Yan’s shoulder. Wang Yan shuddered and reflexively struck with his sword. This sword hacked into Guo Dun’s body but seemed to enter stone. Though Guo Dun felt intense pain, he gritted his teeth hard, roared furiously, and violently lifted Wang Yan, actually throwing him into mid-air. Before Wang Yan could react, his entire person was already rapidly falling. Guo Dun met him with his knee, treating him like a doll and giving Wang Yan a heavy fold. Wang Yan’s entire person formed a strange V-shape. Before he could even scream, everyone only heard human bones crack crisply, then saw Wang Yan like a shrimp, actually broken alive into two sections! He rolled to the ground but wasn’t yet dead, only continuously convulsing and spitting out large mouthfuls of fresh blood!

The other Wang family members watching from afar were all greatly shocked. They had originally thought that relying on the formation’s power, Wang Yan could at least gain the upper hand. They never imagined that even in such a disadvantaged situation, Guo Dun could still be so fierce. In fact, Guo Dun’s calculations were indeed insufficient, but his decisiveness and bravery were unmatched. The Wang family ultimately miscalculated—not everything was within their calculations.

Guo Dun wasn’t stupid at all. At this moment, he even showed quick thinking. When Wang Yan charged through the formation earlier, he had already observed how the opposition moved and broke through the formation’s obstacles. At this moment, he had gained understanding. All the way dragging Wang Yan, he shouted loudly: “Everyone follow me!” Then he was already striding like a dragon and tiger, walking out of the formation.

Before Wang Zijin and others could react, they saw Guo Dun throw Wang Yan to the ground. Wang Zijin quickly went up to check. Wang Yan wasn’t dead yet, but his form was more terrifying than death! His entire person continuously twisted, spitting blood foam from his mouth, his throat hoarse, unable to even speak a word of pain. That face was ferocious—as terrifying as it could possibly be. Wang Zijin had seen such a scene before. It was when she saw a cook in the kitchen gutting a fresh fish. When all the fish scales were removed, the fish still wasn’t dead, continuously struggling and convulsing, wanting to escape and break free but helpless—exactly this terrifying scene!

Wang Zijin knew Wang Yan’s bones had already shattered. Now he was already a waste like a bent shrimp!

Seeing this situation, Wang Qiong was extremely pained. Though he had entertained killing intent, Wang Yan was after all his son. No matter what offense he committed, killing him with one stroke would be one thing, but he absolutely shouldn’t have fallen to this state. Even with a heart like iron and stone, he couldn’t help but shed old tears. Suppressing his anger, he stared at Guo Dun: “Now you’ve already injured Wang Yan. What more do you want to do?”

Guo Dun laughed loudly: “Naturally, I’ll behead him and hang his head at my camp gate for three days to display to the public!”

Hearing this, Wang Qiong couldn’t help but fly into a rage: “I’ll discipline my own son myself. There’s no need to trouble General Guo.” As he said this, he had already stood beside Wang Yan. The meaning was obvious—he absolutely wouldn’t let Guo Dun take Wang Yan away.

Guo Dun was about to step forward to sever Wang Yan’s head, but at this moment Wang Guang had already quickly stepped forward to stop Guo Dun, saying coldly: “What you’ve done today is already enough. Wang Yan has already paid the price. Please stop here.”

Wang Guang was a chess fanatic who never concerned himself with worldly affairs, only interested in playing chess. But this time, seeing his third brother end up in such a state, he also felt sorrowful. Though he knew Wang Yan was at fault, he was after all his blood brother. Seeing Wang Yan so twisted and in pain, he couldn’t help but feel shocked and naturally came out to stop Guo Dun. But Guo Dun’s eyes had already turned red with killing. He raised his long blade, pointing at the opposition: “Since that’s the case, let’s have a match. If I win, you can only respectfully present your brother’s head!”

Wang Guang couldn’t help but show sudden anger. Suddenly he heard chaotic horse hooves outside. Before he could react, he saw in the distance a white steed charge through the Wang household’s main gate. The person in front couldn’t rein in the horse in time and took several more steps forward. The horse under him suddenly knelt on one knee. Yuan Lie quickly dismounted and grabbed Li Weiyang: “I told you not to be so hasty. You still have injuries.”

Someone nearby was still fighting. Yuan Lie said coldly: “Stop!” With one glance, his personal guards had already stepped forward and executed one with a single stroke. Yuan Lie’s gaze swept across everyone’s faces one by one. Though he clearly carried no weapons, when his eyes swept over, everyone felt fearful. Though several people were defiant and refused to put down their weapons, Yuan Lie’s personal guards’ long swords ensured they were quickly executed on the spot. For a moment, the scene became quiet to the extreme.

Li Weiyang steadied herself. Disregarding propriety, she had already quickly walked over, shouting loudly: “Fourth Brother!”

Guo Dun was shocked. He looked at Li Weiyang: “You’re still injured yourself. Why did you come out?”

Li Weiyang said coldly: “If I didn’t come out, you’d have caused a monstrous disaster!”

Guo Dun’s face was covered in fresh blood, yet seeing Li Weiyang, he showed slight timidity: “It was the Wang family who killed first. You can’t blame me for being merciless.”

Li Weiyang laughed coldly and glared angrily at Guo Dun: “Of course I know your actions stem from righteous indignation, but so what? Families have family rules, the nation has national laws. His Majesty’s army can only be mobilized by his command. Though these five hundred Imperial Guards are under your command, without His Majesty’s orders, you actually led them to besiege the Prince Consort’s manor! What a grave offense this is! Don’t you understand even now? Someone is just waiting to catch the Guo family’s weak point, and you’ve conveniently delivered this weak point into someone else’s hands!”

Guo Dun shuddered violently. What the Wang family said earlier was actually the same meaning, but the Wang family was the enemy—he definitely wouldn’t believe the opposition. But Li Weiyang was different. She was his own sister. Now seeing her disregard her own injuries to run here showed the situation was truly very serious. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Li Weiyang quickly step forward, grasping his blade handle with one hand: “Fourth Brother, you’ve already committed a grave error today. Quickly order the Imperial Guards to retreat! Don’t ask why anymore. I’ll explain to you later!”

Hearing this, Guo Dun’s expression changed. He tightly gripped the blade handle, looking at Li Weiyang for a long while unable to speak. Guo Dao quickly said: “Fourth Brother, listen to Sister. She won’t be wrong.”

Guo Dun looked at his sister, then at Guo Dao. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly roared and threw the long blade to the ground. Then he said coldly to those behind him: “Didn’t you hear what we said? Why aren’t you ordering people to retreat?”

Those Imperial Guards looked at each other. They hadn’t expected their commander, hearing just a few words, would actually order them to retreat. Clearly this Miss Guo’s influence was truly extraordinary! So they said no more and quickly organized the troops to withdraw. Before they could retreat, they suddenly heard a cold snort from outside: “It’s already too late to retreat now!”

Li Weiyang’s heart jumped. Staring intently, she saw through the dust filling the sky a person wearing Crown Prince attire, brilliantly golden, leading large numbers of troops to the Wang household’s gate. In his hand was an imperial edict. He raised the edict in his hand: “Why aren’t you receiving the decree?”

The Guo family and Wang family exchanged glances and quickly knelt on the ground. They heard the Crown Prince laugh coldly and unfold the edict: “His Majesty decrees: Prince Consort Wang Yan showed disrespect to Princess Nankang and humiliated the imperial family. His crime is monstrous! He is to be immediately arrested and brought to the palace to await judgment!”

Hearing this, Wang Qiong’s heart trembled. He looked at the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, Wang Yan is already unable to enter the palace to see His Majesty.” As he spoke, he glanced at Wang Yan lying on the ground. At this moment, Wang Yan was continuously spitting blood foam and trembling in struggle. Because all his bones were shattered, the pain was beyond measure. His face was extremely twisted. In less than a moment, he was already motionless. The Wang family was greatly shocked and quickly went forward to check. Discovering he had stopped breathing, Wang Zijin’s eyes reddened and tears nearly fell. Wang Qiong let out a long sigh. He had long anticipated such an outcome. With all bones shattered, how could he survive…

Seeing this, Li Weiyang’s gaze suddenly turned cold. Yuan Lie smiled imperceptibly and called out: “Crown Prince, Wang Yan has already been executed. You came too late!”

The Crown Prince’s face was shaken. He shouted loudly: “Who killed him?” Everyone’s gaze fell on Guo Dun. Then the Crown Prince said coldly: “Commander Guo, what audacity you have! Who allowed you to mobilize Imperial Guards to come here?” His tone was extremely severe, clearly here to demand accountability.

Yuan Lie stepped forward. His handsome face appeared calmest among everyone, even calm to a strange degree: “Your Highness, whatever happened should naturally be handled by His Majesty!”

The Crown Prince looked at him askance, five parts contempt, two parts venomous: “So Prince Xu is also here. You truly are idle, appearing everywhere!”

Yuan Lie’s amber phoenix eyes stared at him playfully: “Isn’t Your Highness the same? Every time this kind of situation arises, you absolutely must come out to muddy the waters!”

The Crown Prince’s expression changed dramatically and he said angrily: “Audacious! How dare you speak this way!”

Yuan Lie said: “I’ve always spoken unpleasantly. If Crown Prince doesn’t like it, by all means cover your ears.”

The Crown Prince snorted coldly: “I won’t waste words with you! Since that’s the case, please all of you accompany me to see His Majesty! Only, Guo Dun, you unauthorized mobilization of Imperial Guards is already a capital crime. I’ll have to trouble you!”

Saying this, Li Weiyang had already understood—he wanted to bind Guo Dun to see the Emperor. Li Weiyang laughed coldly: “Crown Prince, whether or not Imperial Guards were unauthorized mobilized, everything is still uncertain. Please don’t jump to conclusions, Your Highness!”

But the Crown Prince didn’t care: “Regardless of how you put it, everyone please!” The “everyone” he mentioned naturally included all members of both the Prince Consort’s manor and Guo family. Wang Zijin and Li Weiyang exchanged glances. It seemed this trap was set by the opposition, just waiting for them to jump in.

This method truly had to be said—was viciously poisonous indeed!

Wang Zijin stepped forward, looking at Li Weiyang, saying in a low voice: “What should we do now?”

Li Weiyang let out a long sigh. Looking at Wang Yan who had already stopped breathing, she thought: what kind of fate did the Guo and Wang families truly have to fall to this point! On the surface, Wang Yan first injured her, then Guo Dun came for revenge. The two families engaged in conflict, causing countless deaths and injuries. Of those five hundred Imperial Guards, now only about a hundred remained—heavy losses. Speaking of it, the Wang family was at fault, but the Guo family gained nothing either! Both families were bound together to receive punishment. This truly made one unspeakably frustrated. The opposition was truly too formidable! Just with slight maneuvering behind the scenes, they made them openly slaughter each other. Moreover, unlike other matters, they knew full well the opposition had schemes yet couldn’t avoid them. How could this not make one’s heart furious!

A cold wind blew. Li Weiyang coughed lightly. Yuan Lie beside her quickly presented a cloak, saying gently: “You should go back first. I’ll handle this.”

Li Weiyang shook her head: “No, since I’m here, I’ll go together to see His Majesty.”