Xiao Chi snorted coldly, turning sharply on his heel before striding over to Sima Qing’s side.
"Traitors and rebels—they all deserve death!" His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Prince Ping.
Prince Ping was momentarily stunned, an unusual hesitation flickering across his face before he raised his blade with a mocking laugh.
"I truly wonder what Qi Mingchuan and Sima Qing have promised you, to make you cast aside the vengeance of the Xiao family… Did your five-year-old grandson, trampled beneath hooves, ever imagine his grandfather would still serve his enemies?"
Xiao Chi remained silent.
Sima Qing, however, was all too happy to reply. "Has Prince Ping lost his mind? The young master of the Xiao family is alive and well in my residence. Surely you wouldn’t curse another man’s child just because you’re throwing a tantrum?"
Prince Ping’s eyes widened abruptly, his gaze darting between the two men before realization struck.
"You dare deceive me?!" His face twisted with venom as he stared at Xiao Chi. "Then you can die too!"
With Xiao Chi’s betrayal, Prince Ping’s earlier confidence shattered.
There was no turning back now—today, he had to succeed.
Xiao Chi let out a disdainful huff and stepped forward to confront Prince Ping.
"You insolent brat! Today, this old man will teach you a lesson in place of your dead father!"
The two clashed, their battle spilling out of the throne hall. Meanwhile, a group of men emerged from the rear of the palace, cutting down the traitorous guards with ruthless efficiency.
"Your Majesty, this way!" The leader of the imperial shadows guided the emperor.
The emperor’s gaze swept over the courtiers—Prince Ping’s conspirators—before issuing a cold command. "Arrest every last one of them."
The conspirators paled. Only now did they realize—this was a trap.
A meticulously laid scheme by the emperor and the regent!
They had been too careless. Not a single one had seen it coming.
Some trembled in fear, others seethed with resentment. As they were dragged away, one man passed Sima Qing, his voice dripping with malice.
"To stake your life as part of the game—Regent, you truly have no regard for survival!"
Sima Qing waved a modest hand. "Flattery, flattery. If I hadn’t risked it all, how else could we have lured out you cowardly rebels?"
The man burst into mad laughter. "Hah! You won’t live much longer anyway. How long can you gloat?"
Sima Qing shook his head pityingly. "Ah, what a shame to disappoint you. The imperial physicians say I’m fit as a fiddle—good for another five years at least. Five whole years… A dying man like you wouldn’t understand such bliss."
The man: "…"
Choking on his rage, the man lunged straight onto the shadow guards’ blades.
The emperor: "…"
The other courtiers: "…"
Sima Qing dusted off his robes with exaggerated solemnity, feigning confusion. "I merely spoke a few honest words. Was it truly so unbearable to hear?"
Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, the emperor motioned for the shadows to escort the remaining officials to safety. Noticing the blood staining the shadow leader’s face, he frowned.
"How are the consorts?"
"The other palaces are secure. Only Yuxi Palace was heavily targeted. When we arrived, Leng Ying was fighting her way out with Consort Xue—"
"Was Consort Xue injured?" Panic flashed in the emperor’s eyes as he quickened his pace. Before the leader could answer, he spotted Consort Xue being ushered into the rear hall.
"My love!" The emperor rushed past the courtiers, straight to the shaken consort.
Yuxi Palace had been a primary target—Prince Ping had sent men to abduct Consort Xue.
Previously, it had all been an act, so she had no intention of cooperating. Leng Ying had stayed by her side, cutting down wave after wave of attackers until the shadows arrived.
Thanks to the emperor’s foresight, the rear palace remained largely under control. The other consorts were safely guarded in their quarters—only Consort Xue had been relentlessly pursued, forcing Leng Ying and the shadow leader to bring her to the throne hall.
Now, witnessing the bloodshed in the court, Consort Xue’s face drained of color, her voice failing her.
"Do not fear, my love. I am here." The emperor clasped her hand reassuringly.
Consort Xue forced herself to steady.
Once she had calmed slightly, the emperor returned outside. He wouldn’t rest until he saw Prince Ping breathe his last.
"My lady…" Leng Ying stayed close, soothing her mistress—until Consort Xue suddenly gasped, her eyes widening in horror.
"Leng Ying!" Her voice broke, panic surging anew. "The princess! We forgot the little princess!"
Leng Ying stiffened, quickly holding her back.
"My lady, don’t distress yourself. The princess went to the imperial gardens after breakfast. The shadows are still sweeping the rear palace—she’ll be safe. Fortune favors her."
The chaos came without warning.
Jiu Yue couldn’t hear the commotion inside the hall—she was too busy being everyone’s target.
Xiao Chi’s men attacked her.
The palace guards attacked her.
Prince Ping’s forces attacked her.
What the hell?!
Jiu Yue was done. So she didn’t belong to any faction now?!
Mei Wuchang, ever the opportunist, had vanished after delivering her.
Eyeing the three groups who clearly didn’t recognize her, Jiu Yue decided to play her hand.
Xiao Chi’s men? She pulled out the Xiao-family token—personally gifted by Xiao Chi himself.
Prince Ping’s forces? She brandished the one-of-a-kind gold medallion—crafted by Prince Ping’s own hands.
As for the palace guards… Well, they probably wouldn’t recognize Sima Qing’s late mother’s heirloom jade. No point flashing that.
With two factions off her back, slipping through the chaos became easier. By the time she glanced back toward the hall, Xiao Chi and Prince Ping were locked in combat.
Xiao Chi, a seasoned warrior, was formidable—but unarmed against Prince Ping’s sword, he was at a disadvantage.
Jiu Yue’s pulse raced. Kicking aside a guard, she sprinted toward the duel.
Prince Ping, though skilled and armed, could barely hold his own against Xiao Chi. Time was not on his side.
Gritting his teeth, Prince Ping maneuvered Xiao Chi into the fray of his elite soldiers.
"Kill him!" he snarled, swinging his blade—only for a figure to dart into its path.
"Jiu Yue!" Prince Ping’s eyes lit up with genuine relief.
If Xiao Chi’s betrayal had shaken him, Jiu Yue’s arrival restored his confidence tenfold.
"Jiu Yue! Slaughter them all!" Prince Ping’s laughter was manic as he eyed Xiao Chi like a corpse.
Surrounded by soldiers, Jiu Yue landed gracefully beside Xiao Chi. Before she could speak, Xiao Chi threw his head back in laughter.
"He’s right!" Xiao Chi’s gaze turned feral as he took the blade Jiu Yue offered, glaring at the encircling foes.
"Kill them. Leave none alive."
Jiu Yue's gaze was fixed solely on Prince Ping behind the assassins, like a beast locked onto its prey. The calm in her eyes faded, replaced by a terrifying surge of murderous intent.
That look—how eerily familiar it was!
Prince Ping's pupils trembled as he stared at her in disbelief.
"Jiu Yue… you deceived me?"
Her expression was icy, her fingers tightening around the dagger in her hand.
"Save your excuses for the King of Hell!"
As the words left her lips, she seized the opening Xiao Chi had created and lunged forward. In a flash, she broke through the encirclement, her dagger aimed straight for Prince Ping's throat.
Instinctively, Prince Ping raised his sword to block, but her foot slammed into his abdomen with brutal force, sending him flying like a kite with its string cut.
The metallic taste of blood filled his throat, but he dared not waste a single moment. Only one thought consumed him:
Escape.
No one could overpower Jiu Yue.
His only chance of survival was to flee!
Yet Jiu Yue had already seen through his plan.
Escape? Did he really think he could? When it came to fleeing through palaces, she had plenty of experience herself!
Her eyes coldly tracked Prince Ping's retreating figure before she smirked and turned, sprinting in another direction.
Today, Prince Ping would meet his end—one way or another.
