Divine Capital, Kagura Street, evening.
Swoosh!
In the sky, a firework dragged a long tail as it flew into the sky. Then, it suddenly exploded. The colorful firework blossomed into brilliant flowers, and then disappeared in the gradually gloomy sky in the blink of an eye.
This was a symbolic sign that the theatrical troupes on Kagura Street were about to open for business. When people saw this firework, they would know that the theatrical troupes were about to perform on stage.
At that time, the entire Kagura Street would be filled with all sorts of performers who came from all over the world. Among them, there would be circus troupes that drove all sorts of wild beasts to perform, martial artists who wielded knives and cudgels to shatter rocks, grass-roots troupes who sang in various dialects, and acrobatic ronin who wore gaudy clothes and walked on stilts. Back then, the entire Kagura Street had really been a never-ending market. Regardless of whether they were men or women, young or old, poor or rich, everyone would be able to find their own happiness here.
However, today, when this firework exploded in the sky, the children did not even have the time to be happy when they heard the ear-piercing sound of a gong ringing out.
This sound was urgent and loud, and the countenances of the children's parents changed drastically when they heard it. Some of them immediately put down what they were busy with and came out to look for their children. They ignored their children's cries and wanted to pull them back.
Some of the mischievous children threw a tantrum on the ground, refusing to go home no matter what. However, at that moment, a series of rumbling sounds could be heard from the other end of the street. At the same time, there was also the sound of whips cracking.
Hearing this sound, the children's parents panicked. They immediately lashed out without any rhyme or reason. Then they carried them up and ran toward the two sides of the street with all their might.
Just as they dashed to the two sides of the street, two Knights, who were dressed in shining golden armor and had three red, yellow, and white flags on their backs, swung their whips and spurred two huge horses, one white and one black, over.
In the Divine Capital, no horses were allowed to gallop on any of the streets. Those who disobeyed the order would be given 50 lashes!
This was the capital governor's iron rule!
However, there were exceptions to everything!
One of the exceptions was the two Knights who had been given the order!
From the tricolored flags on their backs, the people in the Divine Capital could tell with a single glance that they were carrying an extremely important order. No one was to obstruct them for any reason or in any form. Those who disobeyed the order would be executed without mercy!
Not only could they gallop freely in the Divine Capital, but they could also draw their sabers and kill anyone who stood in their way, no matter who it was!
And when such a messenger knight appeared, the people in the Divine Capital would definitely know that something big had happened!
At this time, the people of Kagura Street were hiding on both sides of the street in fear. The entertainers who would normally occupy the street were panicking and gave way to the two knights.
They saw the two riders galloping and shouting along the way. The content of their shouts was also very simple. There were only two words: "Curfew!
Curfew!! "
The Divine Capital had a population of about eight million. This was an extremely unbelievable number in an ancient city. With such a large number of people gathered in an ancient city, it was enough to turn this city into a city that never slept.
This was the truth!
Every year during the twelfth lunar month of the Lunar New Year, the Divine Capital would be the most lively and prosperous period. All sorts of celebrations and programs would be staged. Regardless of whether they were courtesans or renowned courtesans, they would display all sorts of martial arts, presenting their most beautiful postures and dazzling talents to the people of the world, allowing them to witness the splendor of the Divine Capital.
Great Qi's Emperor was very confident and charismatic. Therefore, they almost never had a curfew. However, once a curfew was imposed, it meant that something earth-shattering had happened!
Looking at the two messenger knights galloping past, the people on the streets quickly dispersed, returning to their homes and looking for their mothers.
However, when they hurried home, they could not help but sneak glances at the Divine Capital Blood Guards who had started to patrol the Divine Capital's streets through the gaps in their windows and doors. They could not help but make wild guesses.
What on earth had happened?
Why was it so serious?
Some of the older people recalled the horrifying murder case that had shaken the Great Qi Kingdom 19 years ago. The situation on that day had also been like this!
Just as the entire Divine Capital had sunk into a tense atmosphere of curfew, everyone in the Crown Prince's Manor was as anxious as ants on a hot pan. They paced around but could not do anything.
"How could this be? How could this be?!"
Crown Prince Zhan Xiao Yueping could not be bothered with his usual calmness. He was so anxious that a huge blister formed on his mouth in a short period of time. He paced back and forth in front of the hall, mumbling softly.
Currently, the Crown Prince was not the only one in the hall. The Crown Prince's Manor's' Four Great Guardian Deities', Ning Tongyi, Xiao Yueping, Gu Cangping, Zhang Datong, Liu Sumei, Zhao Feiyue, Little Bell, Su Yuehan, and the rest were also present.
After the Autumn Moon Valley murder case broke out, Li Chengfeng, Zhao Feiyue, Zhao Xiaobao, and Han Tianxing had no choice but to escape in the midst of an intense battle. However, what made Zhao Feiyue and the rest anxious was that after they escaped from the danger zone, they could no longer find Li Chengfeng.
If not for Zhao Feiyue, Zhao Xiaobao and Han Tianxing would have dragged Liu Sumei and Little Bell to turn the Autumn Moon Valley upside down. However, Zhao Feiyue was very clear that the Autumn Moon Valley was an extremely sensitive place. The Cosmos God Cult had lost more than a hundred elites here. There was no way they would not react to this.
Similarly, although the Autumn Moon Valley was in the outskirts of the capital, it was still within the capital region. With such an earth-shattering incident happening right beside the Divine Capital, how could the imperial court not react?
If they still stayed in the Autumn Moon Valley, they would only add to the chaos. If they wanted to find someone, they could ask someone to look for them.
Moreover, from Zhao Feiyue's perspective, Li Chengfeng should have already escaped. They could not find him even if they could not think of it. However, Zhao Feiyue never expected that Li Chengfeng would go in a big circle and find his way back in the end.
Looking at Xiao Yueping pacing back and forth, Zhao Feiyue's brows were tightly furrowed. Her eyes were still looking outside, obviously waiting for news. Crown Prince Zhao Hanqing walked up and patted Zhao Feiyue's shoulder. "Don't worry, Brother Li is blessed by the heavens. He will be fine."
Zhao Feiyue forced a smile and did not speak. Beside her, Zhao Xiaobao could not help but say, "Why don't we go look for him again?"
Zhao Hanqing immediately rejected his suggestion. "No!
The Cosmos God Cult and the Blood Guards must have taken over control of the Divine Capital. Going out now is a capital offense! "
Han Tianxing anxiously said, "But we can't just wait like this!"
Zhao Hanqing said without hesitation, "We can only wait now!
Wait until news comes … "
As soon as he finished speaking, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside. Everyone immediately stood up when they heard the sound. They turned their heads and looked at the door in unison.
Soon, a eunuch's voice came from the door. "Your Highness!
Eunuch Huang is here. He's in the front hall now. He's holding a jade scepter and said that His Majesty has decreed for Your Highness to enter the palace for an audience. "
This sentence seemed simple, but it was like a clap of thunder, shocking Zhao Han Qing and the others until they were dumbstruck.
The usually calm Zhao Hanqing's face was now ashen. His lips trembled slightly. After a while, he forced himself to calm down and said, "I understand. I … I will go in a while."
Crown Prince Zhan Shi Xiao Yueping waited for the eunuch to leave before exclaiming, "Your Highness, you can't go!"
Gu Cangping's face was also pale. He clenched his fists tightly and pursed his lips. His face was filled with indignation, but he could not say a word.
Ning Tongyi's brows were also tightly furrowed. One of his fists kept hitting the palm of his other hand heavily, filled with hesitation.
Hearing Xiao Yueping's words, Zhao Hanqing laughed bitterly. "If the emperor wants the minister to die, the minister has to die. If the father wants the son to die, the son has to die!"
Zhao Feiyue said in shock, "Third Brother, don't say that!
Father might not want to punish you! "
Zhao Hanqing said in despair, "Such a big thing happened in the Autumn Moon Valley, and I'm the one in charge. I can't escape the blame!
If I go this time, I'm afraid … "
He did not finish, but everyone's heart skipped a beat. They all knew what the latter half of his sentence meant!