Liang Zhu did not pursue after unleashing his full-power strike. A very long hook extended from his left hand, and after catching it onto the wall of the Cold Palace, he fled as fast as he could.
Before leaving, Liang Zhu even picked up the injured Chuchu.
Liang Zhu discovered that the “Annihilation Lock” skill could not only hook enemies over; if it hooked onto a fixed building, it could also become a shortcut for fleeing for one's life.
Thus, Liang Zhu drew the Heaven Measuring Ruler and struck Chu Xiaoxiang viciously, then swiftly used the Annihilation Lock to begin his escape.
This feint to the east and attack to the west worked as expected. Liang Zhu quickly escaped the main hall of the Cold Palace and was just about to slip out over the wall.
Chu Xiaoxiang felt that she had been toyed with, and immediately erupted in anger.
Chu Xiaoxiang formed a sword art incantation, then pointed her hand toward Liang Zhu's back.
The Azure Cloud Sword broke through the air, flying straight toward Liang Zhu's back to pierce him!
Hearing the wind-piercing sound behind him, Liang Zhu felt his heart turn utterly cold.
At this critical moment, a gaunt figure appeared atop the wall of the Cold Palace.
The Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Palace, Wei Jiuxian, lightly flicked a dry finger and deflected the flying sword's attack.
“So you were hiding in the Imperial Palace, girl...” Wei Jiuxian let out a cackling weird laugh. “Why don't you surrender immediately?!”
Liang Zhu hurriedly said, “Eunuch Wei, please wait.”
Wei Jiuxian was slightly stunned. “Little Pillar, what are you doing?”
Liang Zhu set Chuchu down, then scampered over toward Chu Xiaoxiang again.
Wei Jiuxian sensed that Little Pillar possessed only a trace of weak power, and could not help being impressed by Liang Zhu's courage.
Liang Zhu walked up in front of Chu Xiaoxiang and said with a smile, “Sister Xiaoxiang, my earlier proposal still stands!”
The strength of this Old Eunuch before them was on par with Chu Xiaoxiang's. With him present, it would be very difficult for Chu Xiaoxiang to escape.
Moreover, even if Chu Xiaoxiang managed to escape after going through countless hardships, the plan to kill Wu Shixiong this time would also end in failure.
The Chu Family and Wu Family bore hatred that could never coexist under the same sky. If she missed this opportunity, Chu Xiaoxiang would regret it for the rest of her life.
Liang Zhu's proposal gave Chu Xiaoxiang a new choice: cooperate with him and find a way to kill Wu Shixiong.
Although the other party's terms of exchange would certainly be harsh, they should be worth accepting.
More importantly, twenty or thirty years had already passed, and the restoration of the Chu Kingdom was hopeless. If she cooperated with the Imperial Court, the old women and widows of the Chu Family's Imperial Clan could at least enjoy a relatively good old age.
Seeing Chu Xiaoxiang's complexion shift unpredictably, Liang Zhu knew that she had finally been moved.
Liang Zhu hurriedly struck while the iron was hot. “Sister Xiaoxiang, the Empress has just ascended the throne. She is a woman, so she will certainly need a female master as her personal guard. If you follow her, you will definitely be entrusted with important duties.”
“Oh? Entrusted with important duties?” Chu Xiaoxiang asked with a half-smile. “The Imperial Court wants me to kill someone, doesn't it?”
Liang Zhu did not conceal anything. “That's right! Long Baitian is called a Han chancellor, but in truth he is a Han traitor. Every one of us Loyal and Righteous Men has the right to execute him! If Sister joins forces with Eunuch Jiu, we can definitely butcher that old idiot Long Baitian!”
Wei Jiuxian rolled his eyes, thinking, “How can a little eunuch like you also claim to be one of the ‘Loyal and Righteous Men’?”
Can you have some shame for once?
Chu Xiaoxiang, meanwhile, was genuinely considering the possibility of cooperating.
She also knew that Long Baitian's reputation was poor.
After her brief clash with Long Baitian today, Chu Xiaoxiang confirmed that his combat power was slightly higher than hers.
Moreover, Long Baitian had thousands of troops under his command. She certainly could not defeat him.
But now that the Imperial Court wanted to kill Long Baitian, she would face little danger by helping from the sidelines.
With herself, this Old Eunuch Wei Jiuxian, and this eccentric and clever Little Pillar, killing Long Baitian should be feasible!
Helping the Imperial Court kill Long Baitian, then borrowing the Imperial Court's blade to kill Prince of Zhenxi Wu Yongyan afterward—this was the best way to take revenge!
At this thought, Chu Xiaoxiang finally nodded. “All right, I agree! However, I have several conditions!”
Liang Zhu said with a smile, “Sister Xiaoxiang, whatever your conditions are, shall we go and present them to Your Majesty in person?”
Chu Xiaoxiang gave a cold laugh. “Would that powerless Woman dare meet me?”
“Don't worry!” Liang Zhu thumped his chest loudly. “Isn't there me, risking my life to protect her?”
Everyone rolled their eyes in unison, thinking that this little eunuch was truly arrogant beyond all limits...
Wei Jiuxian walked in front, Liang Zhu followed behind him, and Chu Xiaoxiang and Chuchu came after them.
In the palace, Wei Jiuxian was the highest-ranking leader among the eunuchs and palace maids. As they traveled along, no one dared question this Eunuch Martial Saint.
When they reached the entrance to the Imperial Study, Wei Jiuxian went inside to report. He soon came back out and said that the Empress had ordered everyone to enter and speak with her.
Chu Xiaoxiang found this quite unexpected.
She had not expected that after the old emperor's death, this newly enthroned Empress would be so bold and wise.
She actually was not afraid that Chu Xiaoxiang would suddenly attack and injure someone, and readily announced that she would meet with her.
Inside the Imperial Study, the Empress had already risen and was standing at the door to meet Chu Xiaoxiang.
“I am Xiao Yanran,” the Empress said calmly. “Azure Cloud Sword Saint, feel free to state your requests. Whatever the Imperial Court can agree to, we will certainly do.”
Chu Xiaoxiang got straight to the point. “First, I will not kneel and kowtow to you.”
The Empress smiled. “The Azure Cloud Sword Saint is a master at the peak of martial arts. How could I make you kneel? However, your identity cannot be revealed for the time being, so you will have to bear the wrong of disguising yourself as a palace maid. As for kneeling and kowtowing, as long as I am alive, you are excused.”
Chu Xiaoxiang nodded and continued, “Second, I hope the descendants of Western Chu can be pardoned.”
The Empress readily agreed to this request as well.
Back then, after the Imperial Clan of Western Chu was betrayed by Wu Yongyan, all the men were slaughtered.
As for the female members of the Imperial Clan, some were humiliated to death, some committed suicide, and some, like Chuchu's mother, entered the palace and became slaves.ŴŴŴ.
Now, only a few old women and old widows remained of the Imperial Clan of Western Chu. Pardoning them was a trivial matter.
The Empress had readily agreed to both of the first two requests.
A smile appeared on Chu Xiaoxiang's face, and she seemed considerably more relaxed.
Just then, Chu Xiaoxiang turned and glanced at Liang Zhu.
Liang Zhu immediately felt that something was wrong: this crazy woman was about to set him up!