Chapter 148: Then Offer Up Your Lives

A few sturdy-looking matrons and four eunuchs who clearly had martial arts training closed in on Xiao Li.

It was obvious they had been specially chosen, aware of Xiao Li’s fighting prowess.

’A well-laid trap, indeed.’

The Empress Dowager sat upon her high seat, her face cold as she watched.

Chen Pingting, clad in palace attire, entered from a side door. Seeing Xiao Li being forced back step by step, her eyes gleamed with the triumph of her impending revenge.

Xiao Li understood everything perfectly.

’The evidence had been conclusive, and Chen Pingting had even confessed. How could the Empress Dowager not know she was the one behind it?’

’The reason for this sudden attack is simply that the Empress Dowager knows Chen Pingting’s poison wasn’t meant for the Consort, but for me.’

’It’s because I refused to be a quiet victim, or to swallow the truth after discovering it. Instead, I had the poison sent to Princess Consort Hui, which led to Chen Pingting being punished and the Empress Dowager losing face.’

’This isn’t about justice. This is misplaced anger. This is revenge!’

Since the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xiao Li had secluded herself in her residence, refusing all visitors. The Empress Dowager, busy with New Year festivities, had no time to deal with her.

Now that the Lantern Festival was over, the Empress Dowager had time on her hands. And with Xiao Li coincidentally entering the palace, it was the perfect opportunity!

She didn’t regret saving Wang Wanqing last night. After all, that He Chengfeng was a real scumbag. If she hadn’t seen it, that would be one thing, but having seen it, she couldn’t possibly ignore it.

She never regretted the decisions she made.

Besides, it was inevitable that the Empress Dowager would move against her. It was only a matter of time.

’Instead of regretting the past, I need to find a way out of this situation.’

’It was my mistake for not seeing through the Empress Dowager’s plan sooner. Otherwise, I would have fought off those eunuchs and never come to see her.’

Xiao Li couldn’t attack the Empress Dowager, nor could she kill her people right now. Doing so would place her in direct opposition to the Empress Dowager, and she feared she wouldn’t even make it out of the palace gates today.

To deal with the Empress Dowager, her only leverage was the Emperor. She couldn’t openly harm the Empress Dowager and push the Emperor to his mother’s side. If she did that, she would be completely trapped.

Xiao Li’s back hit a pillar. There was nowhere left to retreat.

"Surrender quietly, Princess, and you’ll suffer less," one of the matrons sneered, her grin so vicious she looked like she could eat someone alive.

Several of them grabbed her arms, twisting them forcefully and viciously shoving her to her knees.

Xiao Li didn’t resist their force. Instead, the moment she hit her knees, she suddenly twisted, kicked away the person who looked the weakest, and rolled on the ground, breaking right through their encirclement.

Seizing the opening, she didn’t hesitate for a second, bolting straight for the doors.

Startled, the Empress Dowager clutched her Buddha Beads. "Seize her!"

"This is absolute defiance!"

The Empress Dowager had never taken this daughter, whom she had suppressed her entire life, seriously. No matter how vicious or cruel the rumors about Xiao Li were, the Empress Dowager had never imagined Xiao Li would have the audacity to defy her.

She had prepared extra people merely because she feared Xiao Li might struggle, making the punishment difficult. She never considered that Xiao Li would actually dare to run, so the palace doors hadn’t even been closed.

"Get her! Seize Princess Xuanyang!"

"Over there! Stop her! Don’t let her get out!"

Instantly, everyone in the Empress Dowager’s palace scrambled to capture Princess Xuanyang. The eunuchs skilled in martial arts were especially quick, using their Qinggong to fly over and yank Xiao Li back just as she was about to escape through the door, throwing her heavily to the ground.

Xiao Li rolled to absorb the impact. Despite the pain, she didn’t dare stop, quickly dodging another attack and lunging for the door again.

’I have to at least get out this door, or I won’t even know what killed me.’

Chen Pingting clutched a railing, frantic. "Quick, get her! Go! Useless trash, you can’t even catch her!"

She was stamping her feet in frustration. A palace maid beside her tugged at her sleeve, reminding her, "Your Ladyship, be careful! You’re with child."

Chen Pingting shoved her away irritably. "Don’t bother me!"

’I don’t want any child! I want Xuanyang dead!’

"Close the doors! Hurry up and close the doors!"

Two eunuchs pushed at the heavy palace doors, which were just about to shut.

Xiao Li tried to rush past but was blocked by the eunuchs skilled in martial arts, forcing her to fight as she advanced.

Suddenly, she saw an opportunity. Taking a direct palm strike, she used the force of the blow to fly backward. Just as the people at the door tried to stop her, she ducked and rolled right through the one-person-wide gap between the closing doors.

Her back and shoulders ached, but she couldn’t stop.

The servants from the Empress Dowager’s palace pursued her relentlessly, but the Imperial Army guards in the palace hadn’t received orders, so none of them tried to stop her.

Xiao Li ran for her life. She could not fall into the Empress Dowager’s hands. She could accept death, but not torture.

’With that thought, she suddenly felt better. The worst that could happen was death, after all.’

She snatched a broadsword from an Imperial Army guard. Pointing the tip toward the ground, she ran so fast that the blade scraped along the stone, kicking up a trail of golden sparks.

Finally, a eunuch caught up to her from behind and reached out to attack. Without a second thought, Xiao Li swung the sword backhandedly.

"Aaargh!"

A hand, severed at the wrist, fell to the ground. Blood gushed out, instantly stunning the pursuers behind her.

Blood splattered across Xiao Li’s face, but she only broke into a dazzling smile. "If you want to capture me, then be prepared to offer up your lives!"

The sight of her—holding the bloody sword, spattered in gore—froze those who were about to charge.

’A madwoman! Princess Xuanyang really is a madwoman!’

Only when she started moving forward again did they resume the chase, but their ferocity was gone.

As Xiao Li moved forward, the Imperial Army guards exchanged uncertain glances, not knowing whether they should stop her. In front was a princess; behind were the Empress Dowager’s people.

A commander of the Imperial Guards made a token attempt to stop her. "Princess, you can’t carry a blade in the palace!"

Xiao Li tossed the sword directly to him. "Hold this."

With that, she sidestepped and ran past him.

"Princess!"

Lou Yan, who had rushed over after hearing the news, was stunned to see Xiao Li with blood spattered on her face and clothes.

It wasn’t that he had never seen Xiao Li covered in blood before, but this was the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Li didn’t spare him a single glance, appearing at the entrance of the Imperial Study Room still covered in blood.

The Emperor had also heard the reports and quickly came out. He was shocked to see Xiao Li in such a state and hurried over. "Xuanyang, what happened? Are you hurt?"

At this moment, he actually seemed like a normal older brother.

Xiao Li looked at him, her eyes hollow and numb, as if her soul had fled her body. "Brother... the Empress Dowager wants to kill me..."

The Emperor couldn’t believe his ears. "What did you say?"

She reached out and gently clutched his sleeve. "The Empress Dowager accused me of giving Princess Consort Hui a vile drug. She said I violated palace rules and sent a group of people to hold me down and beat me to death."

"I would never do such a thing. Brother, you must see the truth..."

How could the Emperor not be clear about the incident with Princess Consort Hui?

Wasn’t that Chen Pingting’s doing?

Chen Pingting had indeed admitted she had intended to poison Xiao Li. It was only because the Palace Attendant serving the food made a mistake that it ended up with Princess Consort Hui, who was seated nearby. How could Xiao Li be blamed for this?

The Emperor’s face instantly darkened. He knew without asking that this was related to Chen Pingting. This wasn’t the first or second time the Empress Dowager had done something foolish to protect her.

"This has nothing to do with you. Your brother will see that justice is done!"

Xiao Li gave a weak smile. "Thank you, Brother."

Then, she collapsed.

’Her injuries weren’t serious enough to make her faint, but at a time like this, fainting would make her seem much more like the victim.’