Chapter 162: Where is she?

Xiu Ying’s strides were long as she stormed across the imperial palace toward the tower where she kept Yu Wen. The palace halls, usually busy, were unsurprisingly empty. They had all heard of her crimes and were staying away in case they were caught up in this power struggle.

Xiu Ying was plotting her escape with Yu Wen as her hostage. That was the plan, but whether it was going to be successful was yet to be seen. She swiped her phone and a floating screen appeared in front of her.

This was the entire palace’s security system. She engaged emergency mode meant for protecting the occupants of the palace during an attack on the imperial capital. This was to buy her some time.

With a twitch of her lips, she engaged it with no hesitation. An alarm was issued throughout the palace announcing the lockdown. The generals who were arguing fervently in the war room suddenly looked at the floating screen flashing red.

"Is she crazy?"

"She is going to take us as hostages."

The men and women who had the power to command fleets of warships suddenly realized the type of predicament they were in. They were now just discardable pawns on Xiu Ying’s board. In a panic, they rushed out, heading for the nearest exit before they were completely imprisoned in this golden cage. They weren’t the only ones running for their lives.

The palace attendants, imperial guards, and soldiers headed towards the exits, but for most it was too late. Every door and window was sealed. Metal shields impervious to fire, plasma cannons, or any assault slid shut. In an instant, the palace was cut off from StarNet, severing all outside connections and blocking any attempt at hacking, leaving those inside isolated in silence and steel.

Those who had made it outside thought they had escaped, but before they even reached the gates, they were sealed shut, thoroughly imprisoning them inside the walls. The defense mechanism was engaged simultaneously. This meant there was now a protective shield over their heads, preventing anyone from flying out or in. The plasma cannons were engaged, pointing at the skies.

Xiu Ying thought that would stop Li Jun while she escaped. This was only wishful thinking on her part. She had forgotten whose son he was. Ever since the day he could speak, Li Mingze had been grooming his son to be the imperial emperor. There were things he knew that she didn’t. One being that Li Jun had backroom access to all of the security of the entire Aurelia. Be it the defense shields, weaponry, or archives, etc. He had access to all of it. It was immense power wielded in a person’s hand, which was why he never passed the information to Xiu Ying when she ascended.

With a few clicks and swipes, the defense shield over the capital planet was disengaged. A massive interstellar warship, marked with a glowing blue sapphire emblem, glided forward as the defense shield fell away.

Imperial warships guarding the capital shifted aside, granting passage to its majestic form. From its hull, stealth craft detached and descended swiftly toward the imperial palace, shadows of war slipping into the heart of the empire.

The citizens of the capital watched in awe on the large screens as the impenetrable imperial palace disabled its defense system as a stealth craft materialized out of thin air. It descended on the grounds, its tremors vibrating through the citizens’ hearts.

They held their breaths in anticipation. They had already seen Li Jun’s face and heard him speak, but what if that was just an illusion created by someone with ulterior motives? Those who doubted that he was truly alive watched with bated breath as the door slowly opened.

Li Jun stepped from the stealth craft, his form towering with a dark, commanding presence. He looked domineering, his aura heavy and imposing like a shadow of dread, reminiscent of a dark overlord. Chaos reigned across the palace grounds, but the instant his foot touched the ground, silence fell. The true master of the palace had returned, and all trembled before him.

Behind him was the infamous Damian, following him with a deadly aura radiating from him. His eyes were brimming with killing intent. Princeton and his team followed right behind, armed and ready to blast anything and anyone that stood in Li Jun’s path.

The imperial guards who should have been hostile were far from it. Commander Hu had long brought his men and knelt on either side in total submission. It was as though Li Jun hadn’t even left.

The pair of black leather boots stopped in front of the commander, making the man breathless under his aura. Commander Hu had known Li Jun since he was a child. He had known him to be playful and unserious, but right now, it felt like he was in the presence of the king of hell. He lowered his head further down, not daring to breathe too hard.

"Where is she?"

When he heard that voice, he prostrated himself further, his forehead almost touching the ground as he answered, "Answering His Highness, she is headed towards the tower." He tapped his floating screen displaying the surveillance footage showing the once dignified Imperial queen trying to open the door where Yu Wen was held.

She seemed panicked and enraged. The attendants that once surrounded her and followed her every order were gone. In a disheveled state, she kicked and smashed the door, but her efforts were futile. She banged the door while yelling at Yu Wen inside.

Li Jun clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh. He tapped his chest, and in an instant, sleek armor wrapped around him like living metal, sealing him in a seamless and powerful form.

He shot into the air, hovering with predatory focus as his eyes locked onto the tower. A wicked smirk curved his lips when he saw her. Xiu Ying was disheveled and stripped of dignity, a shadow of an imperial queen unworthy of her throne.

"XIU YING!"

When she heard that roar, Xiu Ying froze, her entire body stretched taut. She knew this was coming, but she thought when it did happen, she would have Yu Wen as leverage. A searing breeze swept her loose strands, an indicator of what was coming.

She let out her caught breath and tapped her chest. A sleek white and gold armor wrapped around her, but it was still too slow. Her body was slammed hard into the wall by a plasma cannon blast.