Chapter 690 - 691: Turning the Tables

Chapter 690: Chapter 691: Turning the Tables

Li Qiong truly hadn’t expected Li Ji to kneel so quickly.

And looking at Li Ji’s expression, he showed no sign of humiliation or anger from kneeling. It was as if the act meant nothing to him at all.

It made Li Qiong feel the stifling frustration of punching a bale of cotton—deeply unsatisfying.

Li Ji urged, "Is this good enough? Let me see Manman now."

Li Qiong’s expression was grim.

"You’re just going through the motions."

Li Ji found this baffling. "You told me to kneel, so I knelt. You told me to kowtow, so I kowtowed. How am I going through the motions?"

Li Qiong was speechless.

He had deliberately made Li Ji kneel and kowtow before everyone to viciously humiliate him, to crush his dignity underfoot. It was to prove to the world that the legendary, invincible Regent King was nothing special after all.

But now, Li Ji didn’t look the least bit humiliated!

Li Qiong was furious!

His face darkened as he said, "I promised to let her live, but I never promised to let you see her."

It was obvious the other man was toying with him, but Li Ji felt no shame or anger. He pressed on.

"What will it take for you to let me see Manman?"

Li Qiong slowly uttered four words.

"I want you dead."

Each word landed with resounding force.

Everyone present stared at Li Ji, wanting to see if he would give up his precious life for a woman.

But Li Ji just chuckled.

His laughter was deep and penetrating.

Li Qiong frowned. "What’s so funny?"

Li Ji stood up and replied casually.

"I’m laughing at your naivete. Do you really think this rebellion will just end easily if I die?"

Li Qiong didn’t answer, merely staring at him with hostile eyes.

’In his mind, that was exactly the case.’

The reason the rebel army had advanced so unstoppably, reaching the gates of the Celestial Capital in such a short time, was Li Ji’s commanding presence.

The moment Li Ji died, the rebel army would surely collapse!

Li Ji casually brushed the dust from the hem of his robes.

Despite being heavily surrounded by enemy troops, he acted as if he were in his own home, completely calm and at ease.

As if oblivious to the predatory enemies watching him, he spoke slowly.

"I don’t mind telling you, even if I die, the five hundred thousand strong Xuanjia Army outside the city will not retreat. I believe that under the command of Duke Zhen, breaking through the Celestial Capital’s defenses will be a simple matter."

The color drained from Li Qiong’s face.

"Hasn’t Duke Zhen been dead for many years?"

Li Ji smiled. "Are you referring to the battle at Ghost Wind Castle? Duke Zhen did indeed suffer a terrible defeat in that battle, but he didn’t die. He lived in obscurity among the common people for a long time. Duke Zhen’s contribution was indispensable to my rapid advance on the Celestial Capital."

After he finished speaking, Li Qiong’s expression had turned exceedingly grim.

When Li Qiong was born, Duke Zhen had already been dead for many years. In Li Qiong’s mind, Duke Zhen was just a name, a figure who lived on only in the memories of others.

He never imagined that a man who had been dead for so long would suddenly be alive again!

Li Ji continued, "I have already arranged it with Duke Zhen. If I die, they will immediately breach the city walls. Once they succeed, they will enthrone Li Xun. So, are you sure you want me to die right now?"

Li Qiong was choked speechless.

Li Ji said, "If I were you, I’d be praying to every god and Buddha to keep me alive. Because only as long as I’m alive will the Xuanjia Guards have reservations and not storm the city immediately. That will at least buy you a little more time to prolong your pathetic existence. Don’t you agree?"

Li Qiong stood rigidly on the spot like a statue, only speaking after a long silence.

"You planned all of this from the start, didn’t you?"

He had thought that by holding Hua Manman’s life in his hands, he could control Li Ji.

He never expected Li Ji to turn the tables on him so completely.

’No wonder Li Ji dared to enter the Imperial Palace alone.’

’He had a counter-plan ready all along!’

Li Ji clasped one hand behind his back. As if an elder lecturing a child, he spoke in a grave, heartfelt tone.

"I watched you grow up. I know your character very well.

You were too sheltered by Princess Consort Zhen. You may seem clever, but you are actually quite naive.

You saw me as the key to this conflict, thinking that if I died, you could achieve an easy victory.

In truth, that idea isn’t wrong.

But you missed the perfect opportunity.

If you had used this tactic against me right when I first raised my army, you might have gotten what you wanted.

After all, I was just starting out then. No one was confident, and it was my personal leadership in battle that rallied morale and united them.

If I had died, their will to fight would have immediately shattered.

But now, our great undertaking is nearly complete. We are just one step away from final victory.

Even if I die, they will not give up on a victory that is within their grasp.

The chess pieces are all in their proper places. The game is already decided. My existence is no longer so important."

In that instant, Li Qiong had the strange sensation of being transported two years into the past.

Back then, he was still the Crown Prince. Every day after court, he had to follow the Regent King to the Imperial Study Room to review memorials.

The Regent King would occasionally pick out difficult issues from the memorials to test him.

If his answers were unsatisfactory, the Regent King would, just like now, begin to lecture him in front of others, showing no regard for his dignity as the Crown Prince.

Just like now, Li Ji was criticizing him from a superior position, making him feel utterly worthless.

Li Qiong despised this feeling of being ordered around and lectured.

He said viciously,

"You think you know everything? No, you know nothing at all.

I may not kill you, but I can kill Hua Manman."

Li Ji stared at him, his voice ice-cold.

"If Manman dies, I will capture Princess Consort Zhen and flay her alive right in front of you."

Li Qiong roared, "You dare?!"

Li Ji gave an arrogant laugh. "I even dared to rebel. What is there that I wouldn’t dare to do?"

Rage consumed Li Qiong. He wished he could hack this treacherous rebel to pieces right then and there.

He snarled through gritted teeth.

"Someone! Go and chop off one of Hua Manman’s fingers! Bring it here for the Regent King to admire. I want to see if you can still be so high and mighty when you see your beloved’s finger with your own eyes!"

The moment he finished speaking, he was gratified to see the color drain from Li Ji’s face, and a feeling of immense satisfaction washed over him.

Zuo Ji was about to go arrange it when Hua Dingzong grabbed his arm.

Hua Dingzong stammered.

"Is Manman... really not dead?"

Zuo Ji said politely, "This servant is in a hurry. Can we talk about this later?"

With that, he pushed Hua Dingzong’s hand away and hurried off.

Hua Dingzong’s mind was a tangled mess, completely consumed with thoughts of Manman.

Although he had many complaints about Manman, had often argued with her, and had even disciplined her with family punishments...

...regardless of everything, Manman was still his own daughter.

No father could be indifferent to his own daughter’s life or death.