Chapter 689 - 690: Victory or Death!

Chapter 689: Chapter 690: Victory or Death!

Inside Zhengyang Hall, Li Qiong was sitting upright behind his desk, an open memorial spread out before him.

He stared at the memorial without blinking, appearing to be engrossed in reviewing it.

But a patient observer would notice that he had been staring at this same memorial for a very long time.

Far longer than his usual pace for reviewing them.

Zuo Ji, standing in attendance nearby, dared not interrupt. He could only quietly pick up the teacup that had gone cold and have someone replace it with a fresh, hot one.

When the teacup was placed on the desk, it made a soft sound.

As if startled from a dream, Li Qiong snapped his head up and blurted out.

"Has he arrived?"

Zuo Ji’s movements paused.

He looked at the new Emperor in surprise.

Li Qiong glanced at the empty doorway and realized he had been overthinking things.

He pressed his lips together and lowered his head to look at the memorial again.

Zuo Ji spoke cautiously, "Your Majesty, who are you waiting for?"

Without looking up, Li Qiong replied.

"No one."

Zuo Ji guessed the new Emperor was waiting for the Regent King, but he dared not say it, lest he anger the ill-tempered Little Emperor before him.

"The vermillion ink is running low. This servant will go fetch a new box."

Zuo Ji bowed to the new Emperor with his hands clasped and exited Zhengyang Hall with his head lowered.

The moment he was out the main doors, he immediately summoned a sharp little eunuch and asked in a low voice.

"Where is the Regent King?"

The little eunuch hurriedly replied, "According to news from the Yulin Guards, the Regent King entered the palace gates during the Hour of Shen. By my calculations, he should be here very soon."

"Have the Night Owl Guard and the Yulin Guards get ready to act on the Saint’s command at any moment. This time, we must ensure the Regent King never leaves!"

As he finished, Zuo Ji gritted his teeth, his voice filled with ruthless determination.

They were in the same boat as the new Emperor. If anything happened to him, they, as his personal attendants, would surely share his fate.

Therefore, they had to give it their all. It was victory or death!

The little eunuch nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir!"

He hurried away.

Zuo Ji stood on the high steps, gazing at the distant setting sun.

The fiery red sunlight dyed half the sky crimson, looking like a blazing fire from afar.

The Imperial Palace was shrouded in the red twilight, as if it, too, had been set ablaze.

It was at this very moment that two figures appeared at the edge of his vision.

They were cloaked in the afterglow of the sunset, their bodies seemingly plated in a layer of golden-red light.

The sight made Zuo Ji freeze for a moment.

He focused his gaze and quickly recognized the tall man walking in front. It was none other than the Regent King, Li Ji!

’He’s finally here!’ Zuo Ji thought to himself.

He immediately turned and ran back into the hall, exclaiming to the new Emperor.

"Your Majesty, the traitor Li Ji has arrived!"

Li Qiong quickly looked up. "Where is he?"

Zuo Ji: "Just outside the hall. Should we have the Night Owl Guard and the Yulin Guards seize him now?"

Li Qiong stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth a few steps inside the hall.

After careful consideration, he finally made his decision.

"Do it."

’Although this is dishonorable and will damage my reputation if it gets out, things have come to this point. Reputation and the like must be set aside for now. The most important thing is to quell the rebellion and secure my throne.’

Zuo Ji clasped his hands and replied, "This servant will make the arrangements at once."

As Li Ji and Hua Dingzong reached the steps before the entrance to Zhengyang Hall, nearly a thousand Yulin Guards and Night Owl Guards suddenly appeared.

Armed with weapons and shields, they surrounded Li Ji and Hua Dingzong, leaving no room for escape.

Terrified by the scene, Hua Dingzong’s legs trembled so much he could barely speak coherently.

"Wh-what are you all doing? I am under imperial orders to bring the Regent King for an audience with the Saint! Do not interfere with my duties."

"Elder Zhong’an, don’t be afraid. You have no further business here. Please, come over here."

Hua Dingzong followed the voice and saw two people standing at the top of the steps: Li Qiong and Zuo Ji.

The one who had just called Hua Dingzong over was Zuo Ji.

Hua Dingzong glanced at the Regent King beside him, wanting to leave but not daring to, his hesitation palpable.

Li Ji turned his head slightly and whispered a few words to Hua Dingzong.

After hearing him out, Hua Dingzong’s expression instantly turned grim.

Li Ji gave him a gentle push on the back.

"Go on."

Even though Li Ji hadn’t used much force, Hua Dingzong’s body stumbled forward two steps uncontrollably.

He first looked at the new Emperor standing far up the steps, his expression dark and unreadable, then looked back at the Regent King behind him, feeling extremely conflicted.

Zuo Ji couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Bo, what are you doing? Why haven’t you come over yet?"

Hua Dingzong hesitated for another moment before finally taking heavy steps, slowly ascending the stairs to stand before the new Emperor.

"This humble subject pays his respects to the Saint."

Li Qiong lowered his gaze slightly. "What did Li Ji say to you just now?"

Beads of sweat formed on Hua Dingzong’s forehead from sheer nervousness.

He answered with a trembling voice.

"He said that Manman isn’t dead, that she’s hidden somewhere in the palace."

Li Qiong: "And you believe him?"

Hua Dingzong didn’t know how to answer. In his panic, he began to sweat even more profusely.

Li Qiong’s mind was entirely focused on Li Ji. Unwilling to waste any more time on Hua Dingzong, and seeing that the man couldn’t utter a single word after a long pause, he waved his hand, dismissing him.

As if granted a pardon, Hua Dingzong hastily retreated behind Zuo Ji.

Zuo Ji turned his head, smiled at him, and said kindly, "Mr. Bo, you seem rather hot. Would you like to find a place to rest for a bit?"

Although Elder Zhong’an was timid, weak, and incapable of great things, he was, after all, the new Emperor’s maternal grandfather. His status was noble, so Zuo Ji naturally had to be especially polite to him.

Hua Dingzong wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and forced himself to appear calm. "No, no, that’s alright."

Meanwhile, Li Ji, trapped amidst enemy soldiers, showed no sign of panic. He stood perfectly straight, like a long spear, sharp and imposing.

He tilted his head up slightly to look directly at the new Emperor not far away, his voice clear and resonant.

"I’m here. Where is Manman?"

Li Qiong was dressed in magnificent robes befitting his status as Emperor, giving him an imposing air. But because he was still young and not yet fully grown, his face still held a trace of childishness.

Especially when contrasted with Li Ji, Li Qiong looked even more like a child who had yet to grow up.

Li Qiong’s hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into tight fists.

He despised this feeling.

Back when he was the Crown Prince, he was always suppressed by the Regent King. He had to listen to the Regent King’s arrangements in all matters, leaving him, the Crown Prince, with no authority whatsoever.

Now that he had ascended the throne as Emperor, he still couldn’t shake that feeling of being inferior when facing the Regent King.

’Sure enough, Mr. Zhu was right.

As long as Li Ji is alive, my throne will never be secure.’

Li Qiong curled his lips into a deliberately malicious smile.

"She has been hidden away by Us. If you want her to live, kneel and kowtow to Us."

He thought Li Ji would be humiliated into a rage.

However, without a moment’s thought, Li Ji bent his knees, knelt, and kowtowed to him crisply.

His movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.