Explosions erupted throughout the courtyard. In an instant, tiles and dust went flying, plunging the scene into chaos.
From the shadows, a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle’s fixed mercilessly on Yun Yaoyao and the others.
The man was none other than Ugemu, leader of the Xiongnu Death Riders!
He had never imagined that what he considered a secure hiding place would be discovered by the imperial troops. With heavily armed soldiers surrounding him on all sides, he had no choice but to play his trump card: firecrackers specially made from petroleum!
His plan was to cause a commotion and use the chaos to find a way out!
The Ministry of Justice soldiers began searching through the ruins, while the Dragonshadow Guards stood ready, protecting Yun Yaoyao and Tu Shanjin. The Du family guards immediately moved to protect Du Guanliu and Third Madam Du as well.
As for the Gao father and son, who had brought no attendants and were held in no one’s regard, they were simply forgotten.
The Gao father and son: Real heartbreak wasn’t loud quarrels or dramatic scenes…
Gao Dexiang grabbed Gao Chongguang by the sleeve and hurriedly dragged him behind a rockery, where the trees concealed them. The two huddled together.
Even at a moment of crisis like this, Gao Chongguang didn’t forget to advance his grand family-tree agenda. In a low, mournful voice, he said, “Father, you’ve botched two things in a row. Minister Du doesn’t trust you anymore~ Why not throw yourself into His Majesty’s arms and share in my imperial favor~”
Gao Dexiang glared at him, utterly exasperated. “What do you know, you worthless son with half a sack of water sloshing around in your skull!”
“Do you really think your imperial favor will last forever? Without deep ties of mutual interest or exceptional ability, all you have is that foul mouth of yours. His Majesty can cast you aside whenever he pleases!”
Gao Chongguang shook his head, not the least bit discouraged. “Father, you’re only fooling yourself. Your son has all the makings of a Minister!”
Gao Dexiang couldn’t be bothered to argue with his thickheaded son any longer. “Don’t try to persuade me again. I’ve managed to rise to the position of Vice Minister, and the Gao family has become an eminent clan, all thanks to Minister Du’s support. The interests binding us together run too deep… Forget it. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.”
Gao Dexiang gave him a warning look. “I’ll say this one last time: Don’t provoke the Du family, and don’t try to persuade me again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for disowning you!”
Gao Chongguang sighed, as though he were watching his father go through a rebellious phase. “Father, why do you grow more stubborn with age? His Majesty’s thigh is so much thicker than Minister Du’s! Minister Du doesn’t trust you anymore. From now on, you’ll be pushed aside and suppressed. How long do you think your glory can last?”
“You!” Gao Dexiang choked. Thinking of his current predicament, he began to worry as well. He muttered, “Three strikes and you’re out. Three strikes and you’re out. Next time, I must find an opportunity to regain Minister Du’s trust…”
“It’s useless. Your son predicts that the Du family will fall sooner or later. If you keep clinging to your delusions, then when the time comes, you’ll lose your office, your estate, and your wife—and your son will have to bail you out of prison…”
At those words, Gao Dexiang could no longer contain the anger he had been holding in all day. He snatched up a thick branch and began beating him.
“You ungrateful wretch! I’ve been putting up with you all day!”
“Ah! That hurts! Father, have you gone mad?”
Hearing the commotion, Yun Yaoyao glanced behind her. She saw the Gao father and son circling the rockery, one chasing the other with a stick.
The sight reminded her of a poem.
A loving father wields his sword,
While his wicked son takes the blows!
Twelve strikes in a single second—
Every one a critical hit!
What a perfect picture of fatherly love and filial devotion!
Bang! Another section of the wall came crashing down, startling Yun Yaoyao into ducking her head back from where she had been watching the spectacle.
As she watched the flames and smoke billowing across the scene, Yun Yaoyao's eyes sharpened.
The leader of the Xiongnu Death Riders certainly had some skill. After realizing that the Dragon Shadow Guards had been secretly watching him, he had actually managed to slip away unnoticed. With fire bombs in hand, he had put on quite a show at the Du residence.
Since it was the Du residence being blown up, Yun Yaoyao had not allowed the Dragon Shadow Guards to intervene. The leader of the Xiongnu Death Riders was cunning and ferocious, hiding in the shadows like a cat toying with a mouse.
At the rate the Ministry of Justice's soldiers were catching people, they would not have caught him while the evidence was still hot.
Yun Yaoyao's dark eyes shifted slightly, and a mischievous idea began to bubble up in her mind.
She pulled Consort Ai close again and whispered into her ear, "Do you know what entrapment is...?"
The Dragon Shadow Guards: See no evil, hear no evil.
Ugemu had already found a way out. Holding his curved saber, he moved swiftly through the ruins and smoke.
Suddenly, he stopped. His gaze fell upon a slender figure.
Ugemu had seen the portraits of the court's important figures in Tushan Ze's possession long ago. He recognized her at once. She was the emperor's favored consort, Consort Miao!
A cold, sinister light filled Ugemu's eyes.
His newly sworn master had suddenly died, the capital was under tight security, and he had already exposed himself. There was no way the Xiongnu would be able to return...
Compared with killing a few insignificant commoners and officials during his escape, killing this Consort Miao, who had brought so many auspicious blessings to Yan Chi, would clearly be more worthwhile. It would rid the Xiongnu of a great threat.
Besides, there were no elite guards protecting Consort Miao at the moment. She had only one large-headed maid who looked none too bright by her side.
A delicate, helpless palace consort and a foolish-looking maid—he could run them both through with a single thrust, then make his escape.
With that thought, Ugemu changed direction. A vicious smile spread across his face as he silently approached from behind Tushan Jin.
While everyone else was caught off guard, Ugemu suddenly lunged forward. His curved saber flashed toward their necks!
Tushan Jin had been prepared. He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the blow. Two strands of hair fluttered across his forehead and fell over his chilly, limpid eyes.
At the same time, a short arrow shot from beneath his sleeve. Swift as lightning, it plunged straight into Ugemu's chest!
Ugemu's eyes widened. He let out a muffled groan and raised his saber, intending to strike again.
But then the large-headed maid beside the woman glared at him furiously and bellowed like an enraged bull, "How dare you ambush my mistress! I, Niu Xiu'er, will beat you flat!"
The next instant, a fist as large as a sandbag swung toward Ugemu's head, moving so fast that it stirred the air.
With a sharp crack, his skull shattered...
Ugemu collapsed.
Even as he died, he still could not believe it.
How could a palace consort possess such keen senses and such swift reactions? And how could that big-headed woman crush his skull with a single punch?
He was the most elite Death Rider on the entire grassland!
Yun Yaoyao hurried back to Tushan Jin's side. She glanced at the gruesome remains of the Death Rider leader, then looked away.
Even though she knew that Niu Xiu'er possessed extraordinary natural strength, Yun Yaoyao could not help exclaiming, "Xiuer, you really are something. You're practically a masterpiece of creation!"
The only thing was, the Death Knight captain’s demise had been far too abrupt. He had made such a grand entrance, hurling firebombs everywhere, only to have his skull smashed to pieces by a single punch. Just like that, he was dead.
Niu Niu blushed, delighted that she had managed to protect her young mistress. “Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. It’s what Xiuer ought to do~”
With the danger over and the villain dead, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.
The Gao father and son, who had been playing cat and mouse around the artificial hill, also stopped. Both were panting heavily, utterly exhausted as they collapsed onto the ground.
“You unfilial son!”
“Father, you’re the one who’s lost your wits!”
Yan Qinghong, still deeply immersed in his dark and twisted villain persona, surveyed the scene of utter destruction and let out two sinister cackles—only to suddenly find himself face-to-face with hundreds of unblinking stares.
