Night gradually deepened.

The lake surface at Ciguang Hall was very calm. Various aquatic plants grew along the shore, and suddenly many heads emerged from among the water plants.

Their movements were very light, making no sound. In the dense water plants, they quietly climbed ashore.

“Hiss, so cold.”

As soon as Chu Hongyu emerged from the water, he felt the cold wind blow and couldn’t help shivering.

Lin Dongdong was about to speak but realized his own clothes were also wet, so he could only give up.

After Yun Zhenjiang and Meng Shen came ashore, they lay prone in the undergrowth. The two exchanged glances, and killing intent flashed in their eyes.

Immediately after, the thirty-some shadow guards who had followed crawled toward the guards scattered in the courtyard, soundlessly and slowly approaching those guards.

More than thirty people were dispersed throughout the courtyard, with twenty-some guarding in front of the buildings.

These two groups were separate.

The Yun family shadow guards were people who lived by licking blood from the edge of knives—they were familiar with all kinds of assassination.

Before those guards could react, their necks were strangled by thin cords that descended from above. The cords quickly tightened. Those people had no time to call for help or struggle before they lost their breath and fell dead to the ground.

The twenty-some people guarding in front of the buildings not far away seemed to have heard something and sent one person to investigate.

As soon as that person walked out, an arrow pierced his throat. Instantly blood gushed forth, and he fell convulsing to his death.

At the same time, the Yun family shadow guards streamed in and subdued all the guards at the building entrances.

Not giving them any chance to speak, they were killed with a single strike.

Though the sounds coming from outside were very faint, Yun Qin still heard them.

Back when Yun Chu first established Ciguang Hall, she had volunteered to come help and eventually became the hall director, managing all affairs.

She never imagined that this morning a group of black-clad people would suddenly rush in. She was knocked unconscious, and when she woke, she found herself and all the adults and children of Ciguang Hall locked in this row of buildings. Her hands and feet were bound, her mouth was gagged—she couldn’t do anything she wanted to do.

From time to time she looked toward the children on the bed beside her. On that bed lay dozens of infants under one year old.

An entire day had passed, and these children just lay there quietly, neither crying nor fussing… One had to know that infants this age needed to drink milk and relieve themselves from time to time—they would always make some commotion. To not cry for so long was truly terrifying.

She was anxious and fearful to the extreme.

Yun Qin heard the commotion outside finally stop, and footsteps gradually approached.

Then the door was pushed open. She saw a line of black-clad people walk in. Her fear reached its peak as she struggled with muffled sounds.

She hoped these people would release the children—she would do anything they asked…

Just as she was despairing, in the middle of the black-clad people appeared a small figure who rushed toward her: “Auntie Yun Qin!”

Yun Qin couldn’t believe it.

The arrival was actually His Majesty!

Then—they were saved!

Chu Hongyu quickly pulled down the rag from Yun Qin’s mouth and drew a sword to cut her bonds.

Yun Qin had no time for formalities and quickly rushed to the bed. She reached out to check the breath of one of the children. There was still breathing. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and turn back: “Your Majesty, these children don’t know what’s wrong with them. They’ve been sleeping this whole time. We must quickly summon a physician!”

Chu Hongyu spoke: “First unbind everyone. I’ll go clear the path ahead.”

“Wait a moment first.” Lin Dongdong took a blanket for swaddling infants from the bed and draped it over Chu Hongyu. “Your Majesty, the wind is strong outside. Wrap the blanket tightly and be careful not to catch cold.”

At the main gate of Ciguang Hall, Chu Rui blocked it with his men. Before Chu Rui were Yun Chu’s people. The two sides had been in a standoff for quite a while.

“Yun Chu, how much longer do you need to think?” Chu Rui covered his chest and spoke slowly. “My life won’t last much longer. I only want to fulfill this cherished wish.”

Yun Chu’s expression was extremely cold: “You have too many tricks. I don’t dare casually agree to you.”

Chu Rui smiled bitterly: “Having come to this point, what tricks could I still have? Let me enter the palace and let me die in Jinying Hall, and I’ll release everyone from Ciguang Hall.”

His imperial mother and consort, his eldest sister—both had died in Jinying Hall and were buried in the back garden of Jinying Hall. That was why the chrysanthemums there bloomed most brilliantly.

He could already clearly feel his life draining away.

From the moment he chose to use the poison insects, he knew he wouldn’t live long.

Add to that Yun Chu’s fatal blow, and this brief lifetime should come to an end.

He only wanted to find a burial place for himself.

Even such a small request—Yun Chu wouldn’t agree to it.

“Since you won’t agree, I can only have these children accompany me in death.” Chu Rui’s lips curved into a strange arc. “I’ll only give you the time to count to three.”

Yun Chu’s eyes narrowed.

Just a moment ago, a Yun family shadow guard had come to tell her that that boy Brother Yu had led people through the secluded pond at the back mountain and infiltrated Ciguang Hall.

Fortunately, Yun Zhenjiang and Meng Shen had also gone in with him. These two were relatively much more steady, so she felt considerably more at ease.

Her standoff with Chu Rui here was mainly to delay time.

Once the Yun family shadow guards had full control of the interior of Ciguang Hall, she could make her move and directly kill Chu Rui.

“Three.”

With a face full of smiles, Chu Rui began counting.

Just like when Yun Chu had counted at the Prince Regent’s manor.

“Two.”

Yun Chu’s brow furrowed tightly.

She prepared to agree first, then slowly maneuver.

Just then.

A childish voice rang out: “Your counting is really slow. Why haven’t you counted to one yet? Count quickly—I want to see what you’re planning to do.”

Chu Rui turned his head in disbelief.

Inside the main gate of Ciguang Hall stood a small figure draped in a blanket. Who else could it be but the current Emperor?

He suddenly understood why Yun Chu had kept saying she needed to think—it was to delay time.

This mother and son had conspired together, one outside and one inside. He had lost. He had truly lost—lost utterly and completely.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Chu Rui burst into loud laughter.

More than twenty people still remained at his side, surrounding and protecting him in the middle.

Yun Chu spoke slowly: “Make your move.”

The Yulin Guards behind her could no longer restrain themselves. They charged forward and began fighting with Chu Rui’s men.

Yun Chu kept her eyes fixed on Chu Rui. She saw him cover his chest, stand up from the chair with a limp, and cough violently without restraint.

He looked at Yun Chu and smiled: “Since you are heartless, don’t blame me for being unrighteous.”

“Lin Qiang, Fan Ming!” Yun Chu called out loudly. “Hold down Chu Rui!”

Chu Rui took out a fire starter from his sleeve, blew on it, and as Lin Qiang rushed over, he released his hand. The fire starter fell to the ground.

Something had been placed on the ground—instantly a line of fire ignited. That line led toward the interior of Ciguang Hall, and while burning, it also ignited lines around it. More than ten lines of fire headed toward the buildings imprisoning the children.

“It’s—gunpowder!”

Chu Hongyu’s eyes widened in an instant.

Yun Chu cried out: “Brother Yu, run quickly!”