Just at this moment, a yellow paper floated down from the sky, landing on the ground. A eunuch hurriedly picked it up and said, “Your Majesty, please look!”
Yin Tianzhao proclaimed loudly from the platform: “Although this person is beautiful and intelligent, she was born with a destiny that brings calamity to the sovereign. If this person lives, I fear it will be detrimental to His Majesty!”
At this moment, the leaden clouds in the sky grew even thicker, rotating faster, with electric serpents coiling above, as if ready to break free at any moment. After a long while, the cloud’s energy seemed to gather to its limit. A bolt of lightning thundered forth, suddenly descending from the heavens, splitting half the sky. It struck directly at the top of Yin Tianzhao’s head. Just as he was speaking with animated gestures, he suddenly let out a miserable scream. His body rolled down from the platform, a full four meters high, like a dead pig, landing with a splat on the ground. Blood splattered everywhere, his bones shattered. This triggered a piercing scream from a palace maid standing below the platform. That shrill cry immediately broke everyone’s attention, so much so that even the Emperor didn’t have time to carefully examine the person on the paper before being shocked frozen in place by the fact that the Taoist priest he revered had been struck dead by lightning.
The people standing under the wide eaves before Yongde Hall were equally dumbstruck by this scene. The Taoist priest Yin Tianzhao, who had just been commanding wind and rain on the platform, was struck like a rag doll by an electric serpent that suddenly descended from the sky. All the officials stood frozen like wooden chickens. The Emperor shouted loudly: “Quick! Quick, go see how the Taoist Master is!”
Immediately eunuchs ran forth, disregarding the torrential rain falling from above. However, when they returned, they wore expressions of profound mourning: “Your Majesty, the Taoist Master’s body was scorched by the lightning, his face unrecognizable.”
The Emperor clutched the paper in his hand, incomparably shocked, almost unable to speak.
This scene, witnessed by Tuoba Zhen and Noble Consort Wu, was equally shocking. Tuoba Zhen could hardly believe his eyes. To make the Jiang family personally witness Li Weiyang’s execution, he and Noble Consort Wu had personally arranged this performance. To make it realistic and believable, Yin Tianzhao had carefully calculated the astronomical timing. Based on his understanding of celestial phenomena, he determined that tonight would bring fierce winds and torrential rain. Such portents were most suitable for proclaiming prophecies. Because the Emperor deeply believed in Taoism, all palace matters, large and small, required calculation. Since Yin Tianzhao said today was most auspicious, the banquet was naturally held today. But Tuoba Zhen never imagined that the high platform, which originally had a lightning rod installed, would actually attract heavenly thunder! This was truly terrible. Yin Tianzhao was someone he had painstakingly searched for and sent into the palace, originally meant for much greater use, yet he so easily died here!
At this moment, a Taoist priest rushed out from the crowd, laughing loudly: “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty!”
When the Emperor looked, it was actually Zhou Tianshou. He couldn’t help but fly into a rage: “Your master met such misfortune—what is there to celebrate!” People struck dead by lightning were those who had committed offenses, but the Emperor truly couldn’t understand why a Taoist priest like Yin Tianzhao would anger heaven and earth!
Zhou Tianshou’s face was full of joy: “Your Majesty, my Taoist sect has countless cultivators. Most will die during cultivation, and only a very few can cultivate to the tribulation crossing stage. My master’s cultivation had reached this step, lacking only a heavenly tribulation to ascend. But such heavenly tribulations are rare and hard to encounter. Many people die before the tribulation comes. But my master was a highly enlightened person who accidentally encountered a heavenly tribulation just now. If he had safely passed through it, he would have directly achieved Golden Immortal status!”
“But… if one becomes a Golden Immortal, naturally they should ascend in broad daylight. How could he be struck so charred black?” The Empress couldn’t help but ask.
Zhou Tianshou sighed: “Your Highness doesn’t know—this charred body shows that Master failed to pass through, and in the future can only become a Loose Immortal!”
Hearing that Yin Tianzhao failed to successfully cross the tribulation and instead had to abandon his physical body to become a Loose Immortal, the Emperor was startled and couldn’t help saying: “Taoist Master Yin was a highly enlightened person. Why couldn’t he pass the heavenly tribulation?”
Zhou Tianshou’s joyful expression slightly subsided, replaced by a mysterious look: “Your Majesty, heavenly tribulations are one in ten thousand, rare and hard to encounter. With his own cultivation, my master could have safely passed through, but unfortunately just now he revealed heavenly secrets!”
Revealed heavenly secrets? Does this mean Taoist Master Yin failed to successfully cross the tribulation because he was punished by heaven for speaking the truth? Everyone involuntarily thought this. One couldn’t blame them for being superstitious. Usually when Yin Tianzhao said it would rain, there would be heavy rain; when he prayed for snow, heavy snow would fall—far more accurate than the Imperial Observatory. Moreover, just moments ago when Yin Tianzhao waved his arms on the platform, there was lightning, thunder, and fierce wind—truly heavenly portents. Combined with Zhou Tianshou’s detailed account before them, they couldn’t help but believe.
Li Weiyang smiled faintly. The Ninth Princess kept covering her eyes, asking: “Has that corpse been carried away?” Li Weiyang said lightly: “Princess, that’s not a corpse—that’s Taoist Master Yin’s immortal shell.” As she finished speaking, she glanced at Li Minde, who had already disappeared into the crowd. He happened to look back at her, his eyes containing a smile.
Li Weiyang finally understood what Li Minde meant by “adding a little something extra.” He must have tampered with the lightning rod on that platform—no, perhaps he tampered with something on that old Taoist’s body. Li Weiyang really wanted to know how exactly he did it… Watching that Taoist priest get struck by lightning—boom, falling to the ground, rolling his eyes, finally charred outside and tender inside—this scene was truly thrilling! Yin Tianzhao excelled at divination and celestial phenomena, but did he calculate that tonight was his death date? She had originally thought he calculated the mandate of heaven and thus sided with Tuoba Zhen, which made Li Weiyang nervous for a long time. But now it seemed he was just a charlatan who deceived people based on his understanding of celestial phenomena…
Zhou Tianshou bowed again: “Your Majesty, Master risked his life to reveal heavenly secrets. Please carefully examine the person on this paper and must eliminate this calamity!”
Upon hearing this, the Emperor truly unfolded the paper and carefully examined it for a moment. Then, as if he too had been struck by lightning, his expression became extremely ugly.
The Empress looked at him in shock and also examined the paper in his hand. After reading it, her expression was extremely strange as well.
On the paper was a person—a woman, a very beautiful woman. Moreover, the Emperor was very familiar with this beautiful woman. For a full twenty years, this woman had slept beside the Emperor’s pillow! The Emperor flew into a rage and—slap—gave Noble Consort Wu, who was standing to the side smugly waiting for Li Weiyang’s downfall, a resounding slap! Noble Consort Wu was completely unprepared. She was struck so hard that her whole body tilted sideways. With a thud, she actually rolled down from the high steps, her hairpins and ornaments scattering everywhere. Not only that, she fell covered in mud and water.
Besides a face strikingly similar to Noble Consort Wu’s, the paper also had a line of text: “The Wu clan will bring chaos to the realm.”
This paper was crumpled tightly. The Emperor’s finger pointed at Noble Consort Wu, his face filled with infinite rage: “You wretched woman! So it was you! It was you all along!”
Yin Tianzhao had said someone brought calamity to the Emperor, making him frequently ill. This person’s fate was extremely hard, able to overcome the Great Li’s mandate of heaven and overturn the Emperor’s empire! Such a woman, even if wrongly killed, absolutely could not be spared!
The Ninth Princess fearfully grabbed Li Weiyang’s arm: “How terrifying! How could Noble Consort Wu be an ominous star!”
In this instant, Li Weiyang saw the disbelieving look that Jiang Nan cast her way. Then she saw Tuoba Zhen rush out, helping Noble Consort Wu up from the steps, shouting loudly: “Father Emperor, what’s wrong with you?!” In front of the entire Marquis Yongning household, his face showed immense concern. In fact, he truly was concerned, fearing that if anything happened to Noble Consort Wu, his imperial dreams would end here.
But at this moment, he hadn’t yet realized that the Emperor’s fury was beyond what he could stop. Moreover, this fury was ignited by themselves!
The Emperor was practically jumping with rage: “Your mother consort is actually the ominous star! All these years I’ve favored her so much, yet she intends to bring calamity to my empire!” At this moment, he thought of the southern floods, western military disasters, northern droughts… Thinking this way, such events occurred every year. Noble Consort Wu truly was a natural disaster star! She brought so much calamity—hadn’t heaven long shown signs? Yet he never noticed!
The torrential rain fell, pelting Noble Consort Wu and Tuoba Zhen. Tuoba Zhen was still alright, but Noble Consort Wu’s makeup had completely run. The white powder turned to water sliding down her face, heavy rouge blooming into a mess. Her originally exquisite makeup became an absurdly ridiculous face. She wailed loudly: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This consort hasn’t—this consort is wronged!” How could this happen! How could this be! The person on the paper should have been Li Weiyang—how did it become herself!
Li Changle watched, involuntarily clenching her handkerchief. Damn it! Is this what Jiang Tian called a plan? These idiots completely botched everything! Tuoba Zhen was the man she would marry in the future. With his mother consort in such a state, how could he fare well?
Tuoba Zhen was now so angry his head was about to explode. He now completely understood that his scheme to frame Li Weiyang had turned into lifting a rock to drop on his own foot. Knowing he couldn’t save Noble Consort Wu, he still had to try to save her! Because she was nominally his foster mother. If she were dying now and he paid no attention, remaining uninvolved for self-preservation, then everyone in the world would lose faith in him, not to mention those court ministers. So knowing that pleading would only bring thunderous fury, he still had to plead to the end!
“Father Emperor, Mother Consort is innocent! She’s served you devotedly all these years. Even without merit, she has toiled hard! You know this!” Tuoba Zhen shouted hoarsely.
Consort Lian beside the Emperor said sympathetically: “Your Majesty, Elder Sister Consort Wu doesn’t seem like an ominous star at all…”
Noble Consort Wu bit her lower lip hard, almost drawing blood, her throat trembling: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You must believe this consort!”
At this moment, the people from Marquis Yongning’s household had all knelt: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Lady is wronged!”
The Empress, who had always been on good terms with Noble Consort Wu, thought that the Crown Prince still needed Tuoba Zhen’s help. A suspicious light flashed through her deep, dark eyes as she slowly said: “Your Majesty, this matter should be carefully considered. Let’s not wrongly accuse Sister Consort Wu.”
The Crown Prince also hurriedly stepped forward: “Father Emperor, even if Consort Wu did something wrong, for Third Brother’s sake, please spare her!”
The people from Marquis Yongning’s household also looked expectantly at the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at the kneeling crowd, including the Crown Prince, Tuoba Zhen, Noble Consort Wu… then swept his gaze across the Empress’s face. For a moment, he actually hesitated.
Consort Lian softly, so softly, sighed: “Your Majesty, since this matter has reached this point, why not make a big issue small, a small issue nothing? Look at Taoist Master Yin—truly pitiful…”
Thinking of Yin Tianzhao, the Emperor’s eyes immediately erupted with a terrible light. Li Weiyang couldn’t help lowering her head, concealing the smile in her eyes. Ah, Consort Lian, this performance still owes much to your brilliant acting. Some words still needed the right person to mention them as reminders.
Minde must have gone through great effort to find such a woman…
The Emperor’s eyes grew colder and colder. Looking at Noble Consort Wu, there was no trace of the former warmth and favor. Now in his eyes, Noble Consort Wu was no longer a woman he had favored for many years, but a woman attempting to harm his empire! Such a woman, even if wrongly killed, absolutely could not be spared! He waved his hand: “Drag Noble Consort Wu away and execute her immediately!”
The Emperor at this moment was extremely ruthless and cold, almost like a different person from his usual self. Even the Empress was secretly alarmed. The other consorts who had originally wanted to plead no longer dared speak. Those who had been gloating also felt the Emperor’s heartless change… Only Li Weiyang sighed. The Emperor was superstitious about Taoism and frequently consumed elixirs. Such things caused him to be irritable, angry, and increasingly suspicious… Under such circumstances, he would rather wrongly kill a thousand than spare a single one! So even though Noble Consort Wu had Marquis Yongning’s household backing her, even though countless people pleaded for her, the Emperor in his fury absolutely refused to forgive her. No one could bring calamity to his empire—no one!
Noble Consort Wu was frightened out of her wits. Her former nobility and dignity had completely vanished. She desperately kowtowed: “Your Majesty, husband and wife for one day, grace for a hundred days. If you don’t remember this consort serving you all these years, at least consider the Third Prince! Your Majesty, don’t believe that Taoist’s words!”
The Emperor said coldly: “Drag her away!”
Noble Consort Wu desperately shouted: “This consort is wronged! This consort is wronged! Your Majesty, this consort still has something to say!” As long as she revealed that Yin Tianzhao’s words were false, as long as she exposed his identity, as long as she explained that they had conspired with Yin Tianzhao, she would still have a thread of hope. Falsely accusing the County Princess was nothing compared to bringing calamity to the empire! Noble Consort Wu immediately tried to stand up—
Tuoba Zhen watched Noble Consort Wu tensely. He suddenly realized he couldn’t let her continue speaking. If she kept talking, the Emperor would learn that they had Yin Tianzhao frame Li Weiyang to please the Jiang family. He would also know his goals and ambitions lay with the throne. Because neither Noble Consort Wu nor the Third Prince had any reason to antagonize Li Weiyang. If the Emperor investigated slightly, he would discover their arrangement of Yin Tianzhao entering the palace and their courting of the Jiang family was ambitious from the start! By then, never mind the Emperor—even the Crown Prince and Empress would completely turn against him! Losing a mother consort, Marquis Yongning’s household might still support him, since he was still Noble Consort Wu’s foster son. But he absolutely couldn’t let Noble Consort Wu say anything she shouldn’t. That way, everything would be completely finished! So he quickly supported Noble Consort Wu, as if trying to hold her up. However, Noble Consort Wu’s body suddenly convulsed. She whipped her head around to look at Tuoba Zhen, her eyes wide, wide open, staring at him fixedly, almost seeping blood. Yet her mouth couldn’t make any sound.
No one noticed anything unusual. Everyone thought Noble Consort Wu was too shocked and pained to know what to say. But Li Weiyang suddenly stepped forward several paces. From an outsider’s perspective, it only seemed Tuoba Zhen was supporting Noble Consort Wu. But Li Weiyang didn’t think so. Just moments ago, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind—Tuoba Zhen’s ring had a mechanism, and this mechanism could kill…
At this moment, the Emperor’s order had been given. How could he care about Noble Consort Wu’s condition? He directly dragged her away. Tuoba Zhen desperately held on but was forcibly pulled away by the Emperor’s guards: “Mother Consort!” Tuoba Zhen shouted loudly, as if heartbroken to the extreme. Noble Consort Wu only gasped roughly, her ten fingers clawing at the ground, trying to grab something to save her life. But she had long lost all strength, only scratching several deep, dark red bloodstains on the ground—shocking to behold—before being dragged away by the eunuchs.
Marquis Yongning watched with eyes full of pain in his heart, but dared not rush forward to save his daughter. He only helped Tuoba Zhen up with tears streaming down: “Your Highness! Your Highness, please accept this loss!” He raised his head to look at the Emperor, hatred hidden in his eyes. But this hatred only flashed briefly—no one saw it at all. Everyone only saw him weeping: “Your Majesty, this old minister thanks you on behalf of my daughter. Only please don’t implicate the Third Prince.”
The Emperor stared at them coldly but didn’t speak a single word. The heavy rain had soaked Tuoba Zhen and Marquis Yongning’s clothes, making them look utterly wretched. The Emperor finally said slowly: “Forget it. I won’t blame you. I’ll only punish that ominous star. For her sake in raising Zhen’er, I’ll grant her a cup of poisoned wine.”
Clearly he had already become obsessed, believing Noble Consort Wu was that ominous star. One could see that if Noble Consort Wu’s original plan had succeeded, how miserable Li Weiyang would be now. The Emperor was so heartless even toward his pillow companion—would he show any mercy toward Li Weiyang? Li Minde sneered coldly. Noble Consort Wu truly brought this upon herself. As for Tuoba Zhen, having lost Noble Consort Wu, would Marquis Yongning still support him as consistently? Now these two still seemed tightly united, but what about later? Noble Consort Wu was the bond connecting the Wu family and Tuoba Zhen. Now it was like severing one of his arms—and an extremely important arm at that!
Tuoba Yu had been watching from the side. He vaguely felt this matter was related to Li Weiyang, but he couldn’t say what the connection was. He felt he needed to properly question Zhou Tianshou about what exactly was going on.
Soon, a eunuch came to report: “Noble Consort Wu has ascended to heaven.”
The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the Empress: “Today was the Empress’s banquet. This shouldn’t have been mentioned at this time. But this concerns the Great Li empire and must be thoroughly investigated.”
The Empress had been using Noble Consort Wu. Although the last incident with the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin created some friction, she ultimately felt a bit sorrowful: “This consort truly never imagined Sister Consort Wu was actually that ominous star. Alas, this was her fate.”
On Consort Lian’s face appeared an expression as if of compassion, only her gaze contained a trace of smugness.
The Ninth Princess trembled, pulling at Li Weiyang’s arm: “Sister Weiyang, today’s banquet should end too. Let’s go back.”
Li Weiyang stood still, not moving. She seemed to be waiting for something, her eyes shining brightly. The Ninth Princess looked at her very strangely, not knowing what she was waiting for. But at this moment, everyone in the great hall hadn’t moved. Everyone didn’t know how to react, didn’t know whether to return and continue the banquet or disperse before the Emperor gave orders. So Li Weiyang’s behavior wasn’t conspicuous but appeared quite normal.
“The banquet continues.” The Emperor glanced at Marquis Yongning’s ugly expression and slowly spoke.
Li Weiyang lowered her eyes. She knew the Emperor’s personality very well—the type to beat you and still demand gratitude. Today he suddenly flew into a rage and executed Noble Consort Wu, but absolutely wouldn’t allow Marquis Yongning to show the slightest dissatisfaction. However, for Marquis Yongning, losing a daughter was naturally painful, but the Emperor would definitely provide compensation. Sure enough, after everyone returned to their seats, the Emperor said affably: “Marquis Yongning, your youngest granddaughter is seventeen this year, isn’t she?”
Marquis Yongning’s expression still trembled uncontrollably, the muscles on his face barely controlled from shaking, as he said in a deep voice: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble subject’s granddaughter Leling is indeed seventeen.”
The Emperor nodded: “I remember she hasn’t been betrothed yet. In that case, Rui’er has reached marriageable age—the two children are just right! Today let’s grant them this marriage.”
Everyone exchanged glances. Just moments ago it was a violent storm, but now the Emperor’s smile had become incomparably warm, showing no trace of his earlier rage. This imperial heart was truly too difficult to fathom.
Noble Consort Mei laughed awkwardly: “Your Majesty, Rui’er is still young. Why be so hasty? Moreover, Third Prince Zhen hasn’t taken a consort yet. How can Rui’er take precedence?” What a joke—that Wu family girl was notoriously fierce!
The Emperor smiled: “These are two different matters. As for Zhen’er’s marriage, I’ll keep it in mind. As for Wu Leling, I’ll grant her to Rui’er as his principal consort.”
Li Weiyang couldn’t help but smile. Tuoba Zhen originally could be considered family with Marquis Yongning’s household, but the only bond connecting them was Noble Consort Wu. Once this bond was severed, Tuoba Zhen couldn’t maneuver anymore. The Emperor was doing this firstly to warn Tuoba Zhen, preventing him from harboring resentment over his foster mother’s execution, and secondly to let Marquis Yongning know that imperial grace was vast—it could destroy you or elevate you to the heavens. The position of Fifth Prince’s principal consort was a blessing countless people couldn’t even dream of.
Marquis Yongning had no other thoughts and thanked the Emperor for his grace together with Fifth Prince Tuoba Rui. When Tuoba Rui stood up, he cast a glance of complex emotions toward Li Changle. If not for her affair with Tuoba Zhen… Tuoba Rui would risk his life to marry her as his principal consort.
Li Weiyang happened to see that aggrieved look and couldn’t help lowering her head with suppressed laughter. Tuoba Rui, ah Tuoba Rui, truly a rare romantic. Only she wondered if he saw Li Changle’s previously ruined appearance, would he lose his composure on the spot?
After that scene just now, everyone’s expressions were somewhat awkward, their smiles perfunctory. Even the Empress and consorts were distracted. The Emperor said lightly: “Wasn’t there arranged song and dance?”
The Empress quickly said: “Quickly bring on the song and dance to liven things up.” The words were directed at the eunuchs, but her voice had a trace of dryness, clearly not yet recovered from the earlier shock.
The dance was carefully prepared by the Music Bureau, personally arranged by Consort Lian for the Emperor. The dancers were all first-rate beauties, graceful as willows with faces like flowers. From a distance, celestial music drifted and their dancing was beautiful. Such a dance on any ordinary day would surely be properly appreciated, but now everyone was distracted, their minds filled with images of Noble Consort Wu’s earlier downfall from high position to execution within moments.
Imperial fury was truly chilling!
The Ninth Princess was after all a young lady with simpler thoughts. She soon calmed down and earnestly watched the song and dance. But Li Weiyang beside her continued waiting, even feeling inexplicably anxious. She had prepared for so long, waiting for today. If everything went smoothly, toppling the Jiang family wasn’t impossible! They first found a suitable woman to enter the palace, then arranged for Zhou Tianshou to gain favor, then remained quietly inactive, letting the Jiang family think she took no action. All of this was waiting for just such an opportunity! A powerful opportunity! Finding an opportunity that could overturn the Jiang family!
The song and dance was soon finished. The Emperor smiled: “That lead dancer performed well. Have her come forward—I want to reward her.”
A eunuch immediately summoned the young woman forward. Just now from far away it wasn’t clear, but now close up, everyone could see she was stunningly beautiful and pitiable. Though she couldn’t compare to Consort Lian’s beauty, she was still a first-rate beauty. The young woman walked gracefully up to the hall. At one glance, the Emperor’s dragon heart was greatly pleased. He privately thought about having her serve him tonight, though he didn’t show it on his face. He just waved his hand, signaling her to withdraw.
Suddenly, the young woman proclaimed loudly: “Your Majesty, this servant has something to report.”
The Emperor was startled. The Empress and others were also stunned.
“What is it?” The Emperor reflexively replied.
The young woman raised her head. Her originally gentle eyes were like an unsheathed sword, cold energy radiating, making everyone unable to look away. Her hand rose, and the jade ruyi she held was immediately thrown out, bringing a sharp whistling sound. Her right hand, originally hidden in her sleeve, immediately revealed itself, grasping a short sword with flashing cold light. The jade ruyi struck a eunuch behind the Emperor. In this moment, the short sword in the young woman’s hand, swift as lightning and powerful as thunder, stabbed toward the Emperor.
In that split second, the Imperial Guard commander at the Emperor’s side had already reacted. With a great shout, he rushed forward to meet the young woman. The short sword was forcibly blocked by him. The young woman suddenly let out a long whistle. She pressed something, and the short sword actually transformed into a long sword. She swiftly changed moves, the sword’s momentum flat and sweeping, crossing paths with Imperial Guard Commander He Xiao. Then with a smooth motion, she slashed. The sword light’s momentum was unstoppable, heading straight for the Emperor! In his haste, the Emperor grabbed a palace maid to his right. That sword light swept in an arc. Unable to completely avoid it, in that instant the blade sliced through the palace maid’s waist and abdomen. The perfectly fine palace maid immediately died in a spray of blood on the spot.
This exchange happened in mere moments. Many people in the hall hadn’t even reacted to what occurred.
Seeing the palace maid die tragically on the spot, the various guests finally realized—there was an assassination attempt! Immediately, someone screamed—no one knew who.
“Save His Majesty!”
Shrill, ear-piercing, hoarse with exertion.
The entire great hall descended into chaos.
“Tyrant, accept your fate!”
Just as the young woman acted, more than ten song and dance performers who had been waiting to the side to receive rewards rushed into the hall, supporting the young woman. The rest looked tensely toward the hall doors, preparing to block reinforcing Imperial Guards to buy time for their companions.
Seventh Prince Tuoba Yu leaped forward. Two assassins blocked his path. Tuoba Zhen was a step slower and was actually entangled by a dancing girl. At this moment, the young woman’s sword momentum shifted, immediately stabbing toward the Emperor again. This sword’s power was greater and faster than the last, clearly about to reach right before the Emperor’s eyes.
“Clang…” A crisp sound rang out, like gold and stone striking. The young woman’s swift-as-lightning sword momentum was actually deflected to one side, narrowly grazing past the Emperor’s neck. The Emperor looked in alarm—at this tense moment, Consort Lian, who had been cowering trembling beside the imperial throne, risking death, had thrown a small table over, forcibly knocking aside the long sword in the young woman’s hand. As for Consort Lian herself, she also suddenly threw herself forward, tightly grasping the assassin’s leg, crying out pitifully: “Your Majesty, run!”
The Emperor looked at Consort Lian with great shock.
The young woman didn’t even glance at Consort Lian. With one kick she threw her off, raised her sword and stabbed again: “Tyrant! My Murong clan already submitted to you, yet you went back on your word, tore up the surrender document, broke the agreement, slaughtered my city and destroyed my nation. Accept your fate!”
The several assassins who rushed out from among the dancers hadn’t yet reached the Emperor’s throne. The various consorts were already in chaos. The hall doors were held by assassins. People fled in all directions throughout the hall. The assassins didn’t care who was who, killing indiscriminately. Inside the hall, screams were continuous, utterly chaotic. Unable to distinguish masters from servants, people rolled and crawled, cries shaking the heavens. In this critical moment, Li Minde had already reached Li Weiyang’s side. Only he had no weapon, so he protected Li Weiyang and the Ninth Princess as they moved toward the western side of the great hall to take shelter. Along the way they encountered no assassins. However, the Ninth Princess was nearly trampled by her own panicking palace maids. Li Weiyang quickly supported her. The three of them watched the tense situation in the hall, their expressions varied…
Li Weiyang and Li Minde’s eyes met. Both saw surprised expressions in each other’s eyes. The plan had changed! The original instructions weren’t like this! Damn it! Why would this young woman draw her sword? Why would she shout such things! Li Weiyang instinctively glanced at Consort Lian, meeting her apologetic, guilty gaze head-on! Li Weiyang finally understood everything. It was her—she had changed the plan at the last minute!
Tuoba Yu, Tuoba Zhen and others were now all entangled by assassins, unable to get one step closer to the Emperor. Seeing the sword light instantly reach before his eyes, the Emperor scrambled away in fear. Just at this moment, a long sword pierced through the young woman’s abdomen. Her sword stopped rigidly in mid-air, never falling upon the Emperor’s head. Then she collapsed, falling right beside the imperial throne, only half a step from the Emperor. The Emperor looked in shock at the person who saved him—it was Jiang Nan with a face full of murderous intent.
Li Weiyang watched this scene, her heart slowly, slowly sinking.
Consort Lian bit her lip, her expression changing unpredictably. She didn’t even dare look at Li Weiyang. After all, she had violated their agreement, changing the plan at the last minute! But even now, she still had a chance—what did it matter that Jiang Nan saved the Emperor? There was no way to erase the Jiang family’s crimes!
Li Weiyang, however, let out a deep, deep sigh. Li Minde just then patted her hand, as if able to understand the disappointment in her heart. Li Minde said softly: “Let’s wait and see.”
Li Weiyang nodded and turned to comfort the terrified Ninth Princess with gentle words.
Subsequently, reinforcing Imperial Guards rushed through the chaotic great hall. According to palace rules, for inner court banquets these Imperial Guards should keep their distance, so they were all stationed at the entrance. When sounds of killing erupted inside the palace, everyone immediately knew. They quickly tried to rush into the hall, but the hall doors were narrow. The Imperial Guards, despite having numerical advantage, were blocked at the entrance by panicked fleeing eunuchs and palace maids. Later, the Imperial Guards had no choice but to kill anyone who ran out, unable to care who they were killing! The situation was quickly controlled. Finally only a hall of carnage remained. Over ten assassins lay on the ground, each with countless wounds. Their originally tight-fitting dance costumes were tattered and ragged, their bodies bloodstained and shocking to behold. The hall’s originally orderly, magnificent tables were scattered in disarray. Exquisite silver candlesticks were overturned on the ground. Shattered pieces and bloodstains covered everything, making one’s heart tremble at the sight. The Empress, Noble Consort Zhang and others tremblingly climbed up from the ground, their faces full of the fear of having survived disaster. Palace maids hurried forward to support them. Consort Rou suddenly vomited, clearly frightened out of her wits by this terrifying scene.
Ministers and their womenfolk also emerged from their hiding places, their faces filled with incomparable panic. Jiang Xu had earlier fought barehanded yet killed several assassins in succession. The sword Jiang Nan used to save the Emperor was also seized from assassins.
The Emperor’s subsequent fury was understandable. Since his ascension, such an event had never occurred. The Son of Heaven had never been threatened with a sword to his face, facing the dire predicament of being killed!
The entire great hall was sealed off. All those who attended the hall banquet couldn’t leave. Though some among them needed medical treatment, some were swaying unsteadily, the Emperor ordered the palace gates sealed and this matter thoroughly investigated. All the assassins were dead. Even if any among them had survived, they had taken poison in advance and died before the Imperial Guards could capture them, leaving no survivors. However, to enter the palace required careful screening, not to mention these dancers were all recruited from among the people. There would always be clues. So the Emperor furiously ordered the Capital Magistrate and Justice Ministry officials to investigate immediately. Here, Consort Lian hurriedly knelt down, weeping: “This consort arranged this dance. This consort failed to detect their evil intentions. This consort is guilty!”
Her appearance was pitiful as rain-covered pear blossoms, looking utterly innocent. No one would suspect she had any connection to the assassins.
The Emperor thought of the earlier chaotic scene where she, a mere woman, dared rush forward and embrace the assassin’s leg. This already showed her incomparable loyalty. His heart stirred as he helped her up: “If not for my beloved consort, I would already be a corpse. What guilt do you bear!” Arranging the dance didn’t necessarily mean participating in assassination. Just now the Empress, Noble Consort Zhang and others were so frightened they froze, shrinking to the side, trembling with fear. They were after all pampered and privileged, high and mighty—how could they have witnessed such weapon-clashing, blood-splattering scenes? They only knew to watch the scene before them in terror, completely forgetting everything about being loyal to the Emperor, even forgetting to go rescue him. By comparison, Consort Lian’s exceptional nature was even more evident. Now whatever the Empress and others said was useless. Who told them when danger struck, they abandoned the Emperor and only cared about saving themselves? This was already a great crime. That the Emperor didn’t punish them was already merciful!
The Empress’s face showed extreme discomfort. The consorts all lowered their heads. No one dared make a sound. Just now among them, two of the four favored Noble Ladies had died. The high-ranking consorts had no problems, but looking at the current situation, the Emperor blamed them for not serving as human shields. So he was very unhappy. Even the Crown Prince and Fifth Prince remained silent. Just now they too were entangled by assassins, completely unable to break free, much less rescue the Emperor. As sons, they had clearly also failed in their duty. Only, who would have imagined such events occurring inside the hall? For so many years all had been peaceful. Such a large group of assassins suddenly appearing was simply unimaginable!
“Your Majesty, what that assassin said earlier seemed related to the Murong clan.” To the side, Tuoba Yu frowned. He had just heard that sentence the assassin shouted, and this sentence was clearly the real reason for this assassination attempt on the Emperor.
The Murong clan… The Emperor’s brow furrowed tightly. The Murong clan was a small border nation to the west of Great Li. He had ordered an attack. The Jiang family served as commander. Because the Murong clan would rather die than surrender, their nation was destroyed and families ruined, with not a single royal family member surviving. That they would come seeking revenge was possible… But why did that woman just now say the Murong clan was killed after surrendering? The Emperor’s expression slowly darkened. Could it be the Murong clan’s destruction had other causes? Or had someone manipulated things behind the scenes? Thinking that he had been kept in the dark and made a fool of, the Emperor felt a sense of being toyed with.
Li Weiyang glanced at Consort Lian, seeing joy in her eyes. She couldn’t help sighing in her heart. She and Consort Lian had a common target to deal with—the Jiang family. As long as they could cooperate sincerely, revenge was close at hand. However, Consort Lian was too anxious for revenge and actually changed the agreed-upon plan. From the moment that young woman suddenly drew her sword and assassins appeared throughout the great hall, Li Weiyang knew this plan had been forcibly altered. On her face was infinite panic, as if frightened, but in her heart arose a kind of anxiety. Consort Lian, ah Consort Lian, if you had followed my plan, you could have dealt a fatal blow to the Jiang family. Why were you so impatient!
Now, even Li Weiyang couldn’t predict how this matter would develop. If it succeeded, the Jiang family would fall. If it failed, she herself might very well be implicated… Li Weiyang’s mind raced rapidly. With the Murong clan matter suddenly emerging, could she still use the original method to destroy the Jiang family!