Chapter 704: Open the City Gates (2)

Chapter 704 -701: Open the City Gates (2)

The soldier reacted in a flash, instantly twisting his wrist.

The sharp blade changed course, carving a bone-deep gash into Mu Qing’s arm.

Pain shot through Mu Qing, forcing her to release her grip. ℴ

The soldier lunged with the dagger toward Princess Ningyang again, but he had already missed the perfect moment to strike.

By now, everyone had snapped back to their senses and sprang into action. Elder Zhong’an and the Left and Right Ministers shielded the Little Emperor and Princess Ningyang, while two military generals lunged forward to subdue the assassin disguised as a wounded soldier.

The assassin was pinned to the ground, his hands bound behind him.

He struggled to lift his head and flashed Princess Ningyang a savage grin.

“The blade is poisoned. Whoever is struck by it will surely die!”

With that, he bit down on a poison sac hidden between his molars.

The virulent poison took effect instantly. He coughed up blood and his body convulsed. A moment later, he stopped breathing.

Princess Ningyang looked at Mu Qing, who was clutching her wound, and asked anxiously.

“How are you?”

Mu Qing felt dizzy, her vision blurring. Her entire right arm had gone numb.

She glanced down at the wound on her arm and saw that its edges had already turned a deep black. The blood seeping out was also black.

It was a clear sign of poisoning.

She swayed and collapsed to the ground.

Elder Zhong’an rushed to catch her.

Princess Ningyang cried out, “Quick, get a physician!”

This sudden turn of events made the atmosphere on the city wall even more tense.

Li Qiong said, “Great-Aunt, a spy from the Xuanjia Guards just tried to kill you. Are you still going to protect them?”

Princess Ningyang replied, “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s something strange about this.”

‘She didn’t believe the Xuanjia Guards would try to kill her.’

‘Neither Li Ji nor Li Liao would ever want her dead.’

But the next moment, continuous battle cries erupted from below the city wall.

A military general sent someone to investigate. The man returned with a report: a troop of soldiers had appeared within the city. They had killed many of the guards at the city gate and looked as if they were trying to open it to let the enemy army in.

Li Qiong sneered. “See? These spies were sent by the Xuanjia Army. They want to attack us from both inside and out, catching us completely off guard.”

Princess Ningyang’s expression was absolutely ghastly.

Li Qiong suddenly drew a sword from a nearby guard and aimed the tip at Princess Ningyang.

“Don’t be fooled by her and Li Ji! Everything they said before was a lie to make us lower our guard! Then they planned to coordinate an attack from inside and out to slaughter every last one of us.”

Hua Dingzong cried out, “Your Majesty, don’t do anything rash!”

Li Qiong shot him a glare. “You traitor! This is no place for you to speak!”

Then, Li Qiong turned to the Left and Right Ministers and continued his persuasion.

“You know what Li Ji is like! He’s a madman who kills without batting an eye. If he really becomes the Emperor, you can all forget about ever having another peaceful day!”

The two Prime Ministers remained silent.

‘To be frank, they had little faith in the Regent King’s character.’

‘If a moody, savage, and cruel man like that took the throne, who knew what chaos would follow?’

‘But with five hundred thousand soldiers of the Xuanjia Army arrayed outside the city, the outcome would surely be tragic if they put up a desperate resistance.’

The two of them were caught in a dilemma.

A scout observed from the shadows.

After witnessing the scene on the city wall, he immediately rushed back to camp and reported every last detail to Duke Zhen.

After hearing the report, Li Liao’s heart sank.

He pressed, “Are you certain? The Little Emperor really pointed a sword at Princess Ningyang?”

The scout hastily replied, “I saw it with my own eyes, sir! There’s no mistake!”

Li Liao let out a cold laugh.

“The Little Emperor has really made something of himself. He even dares to move against his own great-aunt!”

‘Princess Ningyang was Princess Rouwan’s mother. Even for Princess Rouwan’s sake, Li Liao could not let any harm come to Princess Ningyang.’

‘More importantly, Princess Ningyang was one of the few members of the Imperial Family who staunchly supported Li Ji. She had to live for Li Ji’s ascension to the throne to go smoothly.’

In that instant, Li Liao made his decision.

‘He had to break into Shangjing City before the Little Emperor could harm Princess Ningyang!’

Li Liao immediately swung himself onto his horse and gave the order.

“Move out!”

The horns sounded.

Clad in black armor, the five hundred thousand soldiers of the Xuanjia Army poured out.

Their black capes blended into the dark night.

Like a great beast lurking in the darkness, they silently unsheathed their claws and lunged ferociously toward the enemy.