Both men were firmly pinned down by the Imperial Forest Army. They looked at the gleaming small knife in unison, their lower bodies tightening. From today onward, they would…
“Father! Father, save me!”
The two kneeling old fathers were scared out of their wits. Their grown sons becoming eunuchs?
How could they face their ancestors?
The two exchanged a glance and, in unison, kowtowed and begged for mercy, “Bixia, spare us!”
“Considering our loyalty to Bixia, even if we have no great achievements, we have toiled hard. Please forgive our young sons.”
They kowtowed desperately, begging for leniency.
Murong Yao paid no attention to any of this. He turned around and said, “Find a secluded place. Don’t dirty my eyes.”
“Your servant obeys.”
After that, the Imperial Forest Army dragged the men into the private room next door. Closing the door and gagging them was done in one swift motion.
Eunuch Feng said to the two old fathers, “Your Excellencies, save your breath.”
“Don’t sacrifice your entire families for your worthless sons.”
Hearing this, both men immediately fell silent.
Listening to their sons’ muffled sobs was like a knife, cutting into their hearts one slice at a time.
“Ah!!!”
A piercing scream pierced the sky. Everyone present broke out in a cold sweat. The two old fathers felt as if all their strength had been drained, collapsing to the ground.
After the matter was dealt with, Murong Yao also left, striding toward the carriage in the neighboring alley.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Yuzhou and Xiao Changning huddled together like children who had done something wrong.
A moment earlier, Murong Yao had sent someone to escort them down first.
After all, the scene was too bloody, and he feared they couldn’t bear it.
“Has Bixia arrived?”
Encouraged by Xiao Changning’s gaze, Jiang Yuzhou asked, “Have the people been dealt with?”
Seeing that Murong Yao, still in a rage, remained silent.
Xiao Changning also began to scold, “How dare those villains be so bold? In broad daylight, they dared to assassinate the emperor?”
“If they are caught, they must be severely punished!”
“Guifei sister speaks wisely,” Jiang Yuzhou said. “This consort supports it.”
Only then did Murong Yao open his tightly shut eyes. At the same time, the carriage began to slowly move toward the palace, its wooden wheels rolling forward.
“My consort is quite skilled at pretending to be innocent and foolish.”
He looked down at Xiao Changning from above. Jiang Yuzhou, noticing this, distanced herself from her.
His cold fingers slowly caressed her cheek, his thumb lingering on the tear mole at the corner of her left eye. “Does my consort truly not know why I am angry?”
Xiao Changning pouted, helplessly looking at Jiang Yuzhou. What should I do? He won’t go mad and bite me, will he?
Jiang Yuzhou looked at her, blinking her eyes. Don’t worry, sister, he won’t.
Bixia cares for you the most. How could he bear to?
Turn the tables on him. Checkmate him.
Xiao Changning looked at Jiang Yuzhou. Checkmate him? How?
Um… beg him for mercy, admit your mistake. Guifei sister, you can do it.
After their silent exchange, Jiang Yuzhou silently clenched her fist to cheer her on.
“My consort, what are you thinking?” Murong Yao’s voice interrupted the two.
Xiao Changning turned her gaze to him, looking earnest and devout. “Bixia, your consort knows she was wrong.”
“Oh? What was wrong?”
“I… I shouldn’t have sneaked out of the palace with the Empress.” As she spoke, she fidgeted with her fingers, lowered her head, her fluttering eyelashes still adorned with teardrops, and sniffled.
“Just now, I was truly terrified. Those two men were so fierce and menacing, I was so scared~”
Jiang Yuzhou stared in astonishment, silently giving her a thumbs-up. Guifei really has her ways.
I refuse to believe this won’t win over Murong Yao!
Sure enough, upon seeing this scene, Murong Yao felt as if his heart had been struck hard. How could he bear to blame her?
Murong Yao reached out and wiped the tears from her face. “Alright, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have been harsh with you.”
He lowered his gaze and saw her bandaged wrist. “Does your hand still hurt?”
Xiao Changning curled her lips into a smile and shook her head.
“After applying the medicine, I feel much better.”
Murong Yao nodded. “From now on, you may leave the palace if you wish, but remember, you must not shake off the guards again.”
“The streets and alleys are filled with all sorts of people. With just the two of you women, I cannot rest easy.”
“Yes!” Xiao Changning promised. “If I leave the palace again, I will surely seek Your Majesty’s permission.”
Murong Yao was appeased, and the gloom in his heart completely dissipated.
The carriage stopped at the palace gates, and Murong Yao sent someone to escort Xiao Changning back to her sleeping palace.
He dismissed his attendants and led Jiang Yuzhou through the deserted Gongdao.
“Yuzhou, today, were you really just taking Changning out of the palace for leisure?”
Murong Yao asked directly, and Jiang Yuzhou had no intention of hiding it from him. “That’s right, I did it on purpose.”
“My spies reported that Kelai Restaurant is colluding with Nanxiao.”
“That’s why I took Guifei to the restaurant.”
Murong Yao knew he meant well for Beiyuan and did not blame him. “Did you find anything?”
Jiang Yuzhou produced the assassin’s dagger. “Isn’t this it?”
“You suspect it was Nanxiao people trying to assassinate me?”
“Yes!” Jiang Yuzhou added, “After all, your grand ambition is to unify the world. The courtiers of Nanxiao are no fools. Killing you would at least slow down their demise.”
Jiang Yuzhou asked solemnly, “If Xiao Changning stood with Nanxiao and wanted to kill you, what would you do?”
Murong Yao took a deep breath. “I only know that, no matter what, I could never harm her.”
“But she wants your life!”
“Enough, let’s discuss this later.” Then, he hurriedly fled.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Yuzhou chuckled softly and said mockingly, “I’m the fool. I already knew the outcome, yet I refused to give up, asking again and again.”
Jiang Yuzhou gazed at the empty Gongdao before him, the magnificent palace, and the splendid rivers and mountains, recalling how the two of them had once vowed to protect this land together.
He seemed to have made up his mind. “If that day ever comes, I will help you deal with her!”
While some rejoice, others grieve.
Not long after, Minister Cao and General Feng sent their disgraced sons into the palace.
The two, who had fought outside the palace, now found themselves within the palace walls, still glaring at each other with hatred, though they dared not resort to violence. They could only try to outdo each other in sheer animosity.
As the year-end approached, the imperial mausoleum rituals were already fully prepared.
On a clear and pleasant day, Murong Yao set out early with his civil and military officials, as well as the palace concubines, heading to Dongshan Imperial Mausoleum.
The grand procession traversed the streets, with the common people kneeling and bowing, shouting “Long live the Emperor!”
Murong Hao had stationed a large number of men on Dongshan. Over the years, he had wandered in exile, leading death warriors to plunder and accumulate wealth, recruiting a group of homeless roving bandits.
Wearing a white mask and using the snow to conceal his tracks, he watched as the procession gradually emerged from behind the mountain, gripping the long sword in his hand tightly.
“Murong Yao, today is your day of death! Once I kill you, I will rightfully become the Emperor of Beiyuan.”
His men were ambushed on the eastern hillside, occupying a favorable position, waiting only for Murong Yao to enter so they could trap him like a dog.