Chapter 696: Escape

Chapter 696 -697: Escape

Watching the Empress Dowager descend into madness, the members of the Imperial Family sighed inwardly.

Since entering the palace, this woman had received little favor. Yet she had managed to suppress the Empress and fight her way to the position of Empress Dowager, a feat that had truly astonished many.

Everyone had once envied her good fortune, believing she would live out her days in honor as the Empress Dowager.

But unexpectedly, the situation had turned on a dime.

The moment the truth came to light, everything she possessed turned to ash.

The scene fell silent, with only the Empress Dowager’s curses and sobs echoing through the air.

Princess Ningyang pulled the imperial edict from the Empress Dowager’s grasp. She looked at the Left and Right Ministers and asked in a heavy voice.

“Seeing is believing, as they say. Would you two care to accompany me to see Duke Zhen?”

The two Prime Ministers exchanged a discreet glance.

In truth, they both knew that with matters having progressed this far, it was no longer important whether Duke Zhen was alive or not.

All they needed to know was that the imperial edict was genuine.

As civil servants, their integrity and reputation were paramount.

That single edict proved that the current Emperor was not the legitimate heir.

By assisting the Regent King in righting this wrong, they were following the Mandate of Heaven. Even if this event were to be recorded in the annals of history, future generations would only praise them for distinguishing between the loyal and the treacherous.

‘Since that’s the case, why not go with the flow and curry favor with the Regent King?’

With just a single look, the two old foxes had exchanged their thoughts.

They spoke in unison.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Then, they were seen lifting the hems of their robes and prostrating themselves in Li Ji’s direction.

“We believe the words of the Regent Prince.”

Mu Qing reacted instantly, immediately kneeling as well and shouting at the top of his lungs.

“The Regent Prince is the true legitimate heir of the Imperial Family!”

When the Six Ministers saw that their superiors, the two Prime Ministers, had knelt, why would they continue to resist? They all swiftly dropped to their knees as well.

“We are willing to support the Regent Prince as Emperor!”

The members of the Imperial Family had originally just followed Princess Ningyang to watch the excitement, hoping to find an opportunity to gain some benefit. They never expected things to develop to this point.

Now the situation was almost completely one-sided. Anyone with eyes could see which choice to make.

‘In any case, the throne still belongs to someone from the Li family. It’s the same no matter who it is.’

So, the clansmen all knelt in unison and cried out together.

“We vow to support the Regent Prince as Emperor, to console the spirit of Crown Prince Li Shu in heaven!”

Princess Ningyang narrowed her phoenix eyes, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding Yulin Guards and Night Owl Guard. She questioned them sharply.

“What? You still intend to resist to the bitter end?!”

The Commanders of the Yulin Guards and the Night Owl Guard were both trusted confidants of the Empress Dowager.

The two men knew in their hearts that even if they surrendered their weapons now, when the Regent King settled scores later, they would surely face severe consequences.

‘Since that’s the case, we might as well take one last gamble.’

The two men feigned a look of dejection, preparing to put down their weapons.

At this moment, everyone felt the danger had passed.

In that most relaxed of moments, the two Commanders suddenly struck, their blades aimed straight for Princess Ningyang!

They couldn’t defeat the Regent King, but they could use Princess Ningyang’s life to threaten him.

The palace maids beside the Princess were scared witless, crying out in alarm.

“Your Highness, be careful!”

At the critical moment, Mu Qing acted in time, lunging forward and tackling Princess Ningyang to the ground.

The blades in the two Commanders’ hands struck nothing but air.

They immediately retracted their blades and reached for Princess Ningyang and Mu Qing on the ground.

Witnessing this, the Empress Dowager, as if seeing a final glimmer of hope, screamed, “Seize them!”

Given Princess Ningyang’s seniority, capturing her would be like seizing a crucial trump card.

They could use her to gain leverage for negotiations with Li Ji.

Everyone’s heart was in their throat.

Just as the two Commanders’ fingers were about to touch Princess Ningyang, a blade shot through the air and pierced both of their hearts with perfect accuracy.

Blood sprayed out, dyeing the clothes of Princess Ningyang and Mu Qing red.

The next moment, the two Commanders collapsed into a pool of blood.

Their eyes were wide open, their faces filled with disbelief.

It was as if even in death, they couldn’t comprehend how they had died.

The crowd followed the trajectory of the thrown blade and saw the Regent King, Li Ji, standing on the steps.

He retracted his right hand, his expression calm.

“Assassinating the Eldest Princess in public warrants execution.”

It was just a simple sentence, yet it clanged like colliding weapons, filled with a biting killing intent that made everyone’s heart tighten.

Hua Dingzong looked at his own empty hand, then at the Regent King, his mind still reeling.

‘Wasn’t that blade in my hand? How did it get into the Regent King’s hand so suddenly? And how did it then hit those two Commanders?’

‘That was way too fast! It’s enough to scare a man to death!’

In the moment Hua Dingzong was stunned, Li Qiong suddenly struggled free from his restraints and broke into a desperate run.

Hua Dingzong cried out, “Stop!”

He hurriedly gave chase.

Li Ji glanced at Mu Qing and ordered, “Take care of the Eldest Princess.”

Then, he set off, striding in the direction Li Qiong had fled.

Hua Dingzong shouted at the Little Emperor’s retreating back.

“Don’t waste your energy! You can’t escape!”

Li Qiong didn’t even glance back, running as if the wind were at his heels.

He was using almost every ounce of strength he had.

‘I know the Regent King has every advantage, and I can’t fight him on my own anymore. But I have one last trump card: Hua Manman.’

‘As long as I can get a hold of Hua Manman, the Regent King won’t dare to do anything to me.’

‘Plus, I still have Mr. Zhu to help me strategize.’

‘I might still have a chance to turn the tables.’

…

「Inside a room.」

Hua Manman had Mr. Zhu pinned to the floor. Her right hand gripped a dagger, its gleaming blade pressed tightly against Mr. Zhu’s neck.

Mr. Zhu could clearly feel the cold, hard touch of the weapon.

When the Yulin Guards outside received no response, they knocked harder and asked again.

“Mr. Zhu, are you all right?”

Hua Manman increased the pressure from her hand.

The sharp blade broke the skin, but no blood seeped out.

The threat was perfectly clear.

Mr. Zhu said in a low voice, “If I so much as shout, someone will come in.”

Hua Manman replied, “Then go ahead and shout. Let them see with their own eyes how your wounds heal automatically. Let’s see if they seize you as a monster and burn you alive.”

Mr. Zhu was speechless.

‘If my true form weren’t severely injured, I wouldn’t have to worry about any of this. I could just kill those Yulin Guards outside to silence them.’

‘But now, I’m extremely weak. I can barely protect myself, let alone silence anyone by killing them.’

In the end, he could only say, reluctantly.

“I’m fine.”

Hearing this, the Yulin Guards outside stopped knocking and quietly returned to their posts.

The dagger remained pressed against Mr. Zhu’s neck.

Even though Mr. Zhu wasn’t human, he could still feel the pain of the blade slicing into his neck.

He frowned and said.

“You can’t kill me.”