Chapter 11 – Crisis and Peril

The endless sound of hoofbeats filled the streets, so terrifying that the common people bolted their doors and shuttered their windows, not daring to peek out, wondering what these military lords were about to do.

Outside the Lu Gate.

“Reporting, my lord — the ministers have arrived outside the Gao Gate, and the garrison troops have entered the Imperial City.” Li Mao’s expression was grim. “Do not obstruct them. Let them break through unhindered.”

“Understood.”

Li Mao gritted his teeth. “Have they found Chonghua yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Then go look faster. Dig three feet under every inch of this Imperial City if you have to — find him.”

Li Mao intended to kill the Emperor and the Crown Prince, install Li Chonghua on the throne, and then hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords — becoming Regent in name and shadow Emperor in truth. The plan had already gone too far to stop.

He had schemed for nine years, calculated the very day the Emperor would die, and yet at this critical moment, Li Chonghua had vanished. He refused to believe Li Chonghua was dead — the old Emperor must have hidden him somewhere.

But just in case, he needed a backup.

That backup was Yi Shang. If Li Chonghua could not be found, he would marry Yi Shang and oversee the realm in the capacity of Imperial Consort.

“Quickly, have Ling Huaizhi escort Yi Shang into the city!”

Outside the Gao Gate, a number of civil and military officials led their household soldiers to ram the gates. The battering rams surged forward like tigers and wolves, and the palace gates shuddered under the blows.

On the other side, Li Mao was also pressing hard against the Lu Gate. Until he confirmed whether the old Emperor was dead or alive, he could not rest easy.

Suddenly, a pigeon landed on the ground. Li Mao snatched it up and pulled off the message strip. His pupils contracted sharply — alive. The old Emperor was still alive?

With such a massive dose, death should have been absolutely certain!

Li Mao went pale with shock. If the old Emperor openly declared his support for Yi Zhan before all the court officials, what then? “Stop them! Don’t let them in!”

“Plant the explosives! Blast open this wretched gate!”

“Fire arrows — prepare!”

Li Mao had come well prepared. The explosive charges were stacked one by one, and with a series of thunderous booms, the inside and outside of the palace shook, rattling the hearts and souls of all within.

The old Emperor’s face was deathly pale. He asked Zhan Changfeng, “If the kingdom falls, what will you do?”

“The Son of Heaven guards the gates of the nation; the ruler dies with his realm.” Zhan Changfeng was fearless. “It is nothing more than one life.”

“You foolish child!” The old Emperor struck her across the face, his eyes bloodshot. “I cultivated you for so many years, and you would die like this at the hands of some treasonous villain?!”

“Remember — you are not yet the Son of Heaven. I am still the Son of Heaven!” The old Emperor raised a trembling hand and pointed outward. “Get out of here. Go to the Scripture Repository. Under the ninth bookshelf there is a secret passage. Get out of my sight!”

“Grandfather!” Zhan Changfeng could not agree to this. “An hour ago, you already passed the throne to me.”

“Yi Zhan!” The old Emperor clutched her tightly, the clouded tears in his eyes threatening to fall. “The Yin Dynasty may perish, but the Yi Family must not perish by your hand. Aside from being Crown Prince, you are still a descendant of the Yi Family!”

“Go!” The old Emperor shoved her away with force.

Zhan Changfeng pressed her lips into a firm line, conflict flickering in her eyes.

Outside, the war cries were deafening.

She dropped to both knees and kowtowed three times to the old Emperor. “Your grandchild is unfilial.”

Zhan Changfeng cast one last look at the old Emperor and led her people out. “Is everyone from the palace accounted for?”

Zero-Four said, “Most are in the side hall. However, the Lady refuses to come.”

Zhan Changfeng’s fist clenched tight. “Then so be it. Those willing to leave the palace with me, follow.”

The situation was dire. Zhan Changfeng summoned the Imperial Guards and shadow guards loyal to her, and led the palace women and children in a retreat toward the Scripture Repository.

Suddenly, a torrent of fire rained down upon them.

“Take cover!”

More than a dozen shadow guards of exceptional martial skill spun upward, their blades dancing like black lotuses blooming amid the flames, striking down countless arrows.

The Imperial Guards formed a wall of flesh, shielding Zhan Changfeng and the women and children. “Your Highness, go — quickly!”

The blazing firelight mingled with the color of blood reflected in her eyes, and her sorrow deepened. Pitifully, she could not look back.

The group took a shortcut, leaving the rain of fire behind. The surroundings grew more and more tranquil, with not a soul in sight, as the palace silently revealed the appearance of ruin.

Of more than a thousand people, by the time they reached the Scripture Repository, only three or four hundred remained.

Zhan Changfeng entered the Scripture Repository, found the ninth bookshelf, and felt around for the mechanism. Suddenly, she sensed a thread of killing intent.

“Pfft.”

A blade sank into flesh.

Zhan Changfeng glanced at the person who had stepped in front of her, then flicked her sword, pinning the assassin who had hidden among the women and children to the bookshelf.

“Are you all right?” Zhan Changfeng crouched down, brow furrowed, looking at the young girl who had blocked the blade for her.

The blade had pierced her heart. There was no saving her.

The innocent, guileless girl’s gaze grew hazy, yet a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “So you’re the Crown Prince.”

Zhan Changfeng remembered — this was the daughter of Miss Zhao, whom she had encountered in the Plum Garden that day.

“Don’t speak.” Zhan Changfeng pressed several acupoints on her body, easing her pain as she hovered on the edge of death.

“Your Highness, they’re catching up!” Zero-Three called out, casting a furious glare at the assassin — she must have left a trail of clues along the way.

The Imperial Guards surged forward with soaring morale. “Men, fight with me! We swear not to let them set foot inside the Scripture Repository!”

Zhan Changfeng wasted no more time. She found the trigger mechanism, and the entire bookshelf slid aside, revealing an opening.

The doors and windows of the Scripture Repository were splashed with fresh blood. Those who had not made it in time felt their hearts turn to ash. One of the shadow guards covering the rear swept the others aside, pressed the mechanism once more, and the tunnel sealed shut. Then, without a word, she turned and charged at the enemies pouring in.

This secret passage had always been the royal family’s last escape route, usable only once. Once the tunnel closed, the entire Scripture Repository began to tremble and collapse.

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Mao kicked open the hall doors to find the old Emperor dressed in imperial robes of black with red patterns, leaning on the Son of Heaven’s Sword, standing atop the jade steps and looking down upon him.

That sword was stained with blood. At the foot of the steps lay the dead — palace consorts, handmaidens, attendants.

Those who had not yet died stood beside the Emperor, their dress and bearing immaculate.

The consorts were dignified and noble; the handmaidens graceful and respectful; the attendants gripped their blades, ready to meet death without flinching.

“You criminals — your deaths are not even worth lamenting. I will wait for you in the underworld!” With that, the old Emperor drew the sword across his own throat.

The remaining consorts, handmaidens, and attendants all took their own lives.

Li Mao’s heart lurched. He snatched the jade pendant at his waist and deflected the sword in the old Emperor’s hand. The blade only managed to graze a bloody line across his neck.

“I am here to rescue Your Majesty, Your Majesty.” Li Mao seized the old Emperor, crippled all four of his limbs, and snarled, “Tell me — where is Li Chonghua?!”

The old Emperor’s face twisted in agony, on the verge of losing consciousness. “You — you treasonous wretch!”

“How am I a traitor? The Crown Prince sought to harm you; I came to your rescue. What is wrong with that?”

“And besides — do you not still have an imperial grandson? He is my fine ‘son.’ I will serve him faithfully. This realm still bears the Yi surname, does it not?”

The old Emperor suddenly understood. He had long wondered — though the Yin Dynasty had grown unstable under the influence of natural disasters, it was still a vast and powerful dynasty. He was still alive, the next Emperor was still alive, loyal ministers and fine generals were still alive, and the common people who revered the court were still alive. There was no reason for it to completely perish.

The old Emperor laughed until tears streamed down his face. So it had been destined nine years ago!

Li Yunqiu, oh Li Yunqiu — why did you switch the dragon for a phoenix? Why did you hand him such a tremendous opportunity?

“Heaven wills my ruin.” The old Emperor’s voice was wretched. “Give up. You will never find him.”

Li Mao smiled with cunning mystery. “No matter. Your daughter is still here. I remain entirely legitimate.”

(End of Chapter)