The Crown Prince's Eastern Palace guard seemed to have heard the soft sound of swords clashing in the night sky.
However, that sound was too easy to ignore. When he opened his mouth and stared blankly, the night sky had already returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
"I must be too tired …" The guard let out a long yawn and returned to his post listlessly.
Shangguan Mingde supported himself with his sword and stood sideways on the roof, blocking the three uninvited guests from entering the Eastern Palace.
The crescent moon was like a sharp knife, slowly moving to the middle of the sky.
The night wind whistled and rolled up the sleeves of his clothes, causing the knife wound on his arm to hurt.
Blood flowed down his arm and reached his fingertips. It was wet and very uncomfortable.
However, Mingde didn't move.
He couldn't move. If he moved a little, the door of the Eastern Palace would open.
His whole body was in a perfect state for battle. A little pain and blood made his mind clearer.
The three assassins looked at each other. The leader nodded and smiled. "Brother, you don't look like someone from the Imperial Palace.
May I know your name? "His voice was hoarse and old, and his accent was stiff. He didn't sound like someone from the Central Plains.
Mingde didn't answer.
However, someone behind him who seemed to be his subordinate said in a low voice, "Black clothes, black robes, and silver mask. They look like the Imperial Shadow Guards.
This brother, when did the Imperial Shadow Guards extend their hands into the Eastern Palace's territory? "
The leader who spoke in front said, "Shadow Guards?
No wonder … Second Brother, don't you think they're difficult to deal with? "
The Second Brother chuckled. "If they're shadow guards, then they have some skills. Look at this brother. His arm was touched by my 'Tricolor Blade', but does he look uncomfortable?"
The leader looked over. The black-clothed shadow guard was leaning sideways. Half of his back reflected the crescent moon, but the other half was deep in the endless darkness. His whole body seemed to be carved out of stone, and he didn't move at all.
The leader clapped his hands and laughed. He said in a hoarse voice, "Good!
Good!
Who knows, before we meet the Crown Prince, we'll have to spend some effort to send this shadow guard brother on his way. "
As soon as he finished speaking, he soared into the sky with a 'whoosh' sound. Then, he flew towards Shangguan Mingde like a giant Peng spreading its wings.
When experts exchanged blows, life and death would be decided immediately. Even the slightest change in light, position, state of mind, and vision could lead to the difference between victory and defeat.
Mingde's position was very particular. He stood in the middle of the road. No matter who wanted to pass, they had to pass by him.
The leader knew how dangerous it was to spy on the Inner Palace at night, so he knew that he had to get rid of this shadow guard as soon as possible. Thus, he decided to use his signature move. With a flash of the blade in his sleeve, he aimed for Shangguan Mingde's throat!
At the same time, his subordinate, Number Two, took the opportunity to make his move.
Mingde glanced to the side and saw the tri-colored saber light approaching from the side of the leader like a spirit snake. It was obvious that the tri-colored saber was trying to form a pincer attack.
Judging from the momentum of the blade, it had already sealed off his path of retreat!
Their cooperation was extremely tacit and swift. The leader laughed and said, "Good brother, it's time for you to die!"
However, before he could finish his sentence, he felt a chill on his wrist.
That coldness covered his wrist bit by bit. It was as light as the night frost that quietly floated down, yet it was as heavy as a thousand-catty broadsword that chopped down on his face.
At that moment, he suddenly realized that the sharp saber in his sleeve was no longer in its original position. His sleeve was empty. He glanced down and felt a chill run down his spine. His famous' Saber in Sleeve 'had slipped and landed in the hands of the imperial shadow guard!
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. He didn't intend to let the secret guard in front of him live, so when he rushed over, he used 100% of his speed.
It was too late for him to retract his momentum. The tip of the saber was right in front of him. With a speed that couldn't be retracted, he rammed his chest into the tip of the saber.
The leader's first thought was, 'How is this shadow guard so fast?'
His second thought was, 'The heavens want me dead!'
Actually, the heavens didn't want him dead.
At that moment, Second Brother's tri-colored saber had already reached Shangguan Mingde's arm. The tip of the saber had already pierced through his skin.
Shangguan Mingde felt the pain and gasped. He gathered his zhenqi and lifted his leg to kick Second Brother away.
His speed was so fast that Second Brother only had time to push the leader away. He only heard the faint sound of the saber slipping through his body. Then, the two of them fell to the ground, one on the left and the other on the right.
The leader was sent flying thirty feet away by the second brother's palm strike in a moment of desperation. When he finally managed to stabilize himself, he hurriedly touched his chest and felt that his night suit had been cut open by the saber Qi. Underneath was his still beating heart.
He lowered his head and opened his wrist. His weapon had been taken away by someone. There was a deep cut on his wrist, from shallow to deep. It looked like it had been made by a long fingernail.
His years of cultivation had been broken by someone in a single move. He was extremely angry. He laughed mockingly and asked, "What, is this shadow guard a woman?"
Second Brother was sent flying by Shangguan Mingde's kick. He fell straight onto the roof. He felt a sweet taste in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He didn't have time to reply. At this time, the third person who hadn't said anything or made a move suddenly said, "He's not a woman."
After a pause, he said, "I can roughly guess who he is among the shadow guards.
He's still young, but his speed is extremely fast. In another two years, he should be able to reach a high level of cultivation.
But there's no harm. If the three of us work together tonight, it'll be enough to kill him here. "
Shangguan Mingde's shoulder was injured again. The sea of qi in his chest was boiling. When he heard this, he glanced at the third person's face.
The three assassins were all masked with black cloth. He couldn't see their faces. Shangguan Mingde was slightly shocked. Who was this person? He was actually so familiar with the inner workings of the shadow guards. There were no more than ten people in this world who knew his identity. Who was this person?
Zhengtai Hall was shrouded in thick darkness. A few strands of moonlight seeped through the thick curtains, but they were powerless in the boundless night.
All of the bustling and luxurious scenes of the day had quieted down. The splendor of the imperial family was truly too cold. When it was late at night and there was no one around, it seemed particularly lifeless.
Qianwandi sat alone at the table. It was unknown what he was thinking.
The Tieguanyin tea beside his hand had just passed the boiling point. It was time to drink it.
A pair of eyes appeared on the roof beam of the hall, closely staring at the cup of tea.
Normal people wouldn't be able to see anything at this height and visibility. But if it was a master of poison and night attacks, then this little bit of observation wouldn't be worth mentioning.
Qianwandi acted as if he didn't feel anything. He picked up the tea and took a sip.
But after a while, his head tilted, as if he had already lost consciousness.
The black shadow jumped down from the roof beam. He sneered, "The weak emperor, isn't that all he has.
Hmm, no wonder they sent three people to kill the crown prince. I alone am enough to kill the emperor. "
As he spoke, he wanted to go forward to check. Who knew that when he got close and stretched out his hand, he was suddenly shocked. The emperor's body was clearly still alive!
Before he could recover from his shock, his hand was grabbed.
That person broke free in horror. In this one millionth of a second, a cup of tea was thrown at his face. In that instant, he thought, it's over, it's over.
The small book pavilion.
That tea was precisely the bowl of Tieguanyin that he had poisoned. The poison was so severe that the skin would fester and rot all the way to the bones. There was absolutely no reason for him to survive.
Qianwandi watched the assassin in front of him fall to the ground. He snorted coldly, got up and flicked his sleeves. "You dare to call yourself an assassin with this little trick. Is there no talent in Xi Wan Kingdom?"
He raised his voice and said, "Someone come!"
Zhang Kuo hurried in from outside the hall and lit a lamp. He saw the body on the ground, but he wasn't surprised at all. "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
Qianwandi waved his hand and said, "Drag him out and bury him."
Zhang Kuo bowed and said, "Yes."
He asked again, "Your Majesty, from what this person said, the crown prince's situation must be very dangerous. Should we send someone to support him?"
Qianwandi didn't speak for a long time.
The candlelight jumped and reflected on his face. Under the light, his expression was a little distorted. After a while, he said, "… I have intended to depose the crown prince for a long time …"
Zhang Kuo's expression changed slightly.
"The crown prince is indecisive, soft-hearted, and has no ability to govern. If he ascends the throne in the future, it will not be a blessing for the country.
Unfortunately, the crown prince has Mingde's protection, so I have been unable to depose him. "
Zhang Kuo said, "Your servant boldly asks for Your Majesty's imperial opinion?"
Qianwandi said, "I can't bear to kill my son with my own hands, so I'll let someone else do it for me."
If the crown prince was deposed, he could only be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court. If the crown prince died to an assassin, he could at least enter the ancestral imperial mausoleum.
Zhang Kuo bowed deeply. "Your Majesty is so merciful!"
It was already late at night, but the crown prince hadn't slept yet. He only sat on the edge of the bed, holding a book on the Response of the Taishang. He read it as if he was drunk, "Those who desire to become immortals should establish one thousand three hundred good deeds.
Those who desire to become immortals should establish three hundred good deeds … "
The imperial concubine in a light yellow dress served tea and whispered, "Your Highness, rest early."
The crown prince turned a deaf ear. The imperial concubine endured and said loudly, "Your Highness!
The war on the frontlines hasn't ended, and the undercurrents in the imperial court are surging. His Majesty already has the intention to depose you!
How can you still calmly read about the path of cultivation? "
The crown prince was stunned. He put down the book and sighed. "A Zui, it's not like you don't know. What's the point of being the crown prince?
If it was possible, I would have … would have … "
The imperial concubine put down the teacup heavily and said sternly, "Your Highness, what are you saying?
Is the position of crown prince something you can't just give up if you don't want to?
Your Highness, how are you going to face the empress and Shangguan Daren? "
The crown prince was speechless. He could only close the book and sigh as he drank his tea.
Who knew that the sound of metal clashing could be heard from outside, followed by a person's scream. The crown prince was so frightened that his hands trembled. "Ah!
What's wrong?
What happened? "
The imperial concubine's eyelids twitched. However, she was much more courageous than this weak and useless crown prince. She held him down and said, "Your Highness, please calm down." She then shouted, "Guards!
Protect the crown prince! "
The imperial guards broke through the door and surrounded them. "Imperial Concubine, what's wrong?"
Before they finished speaking, the sound of swords clashing could be heard from outside again.
The imperial guards suddenly pulled out their swords. Before they could rush out, they heard a cry of pain. Following that, a person broke through the door and flew into the main hall.
The way that person flew in was also strange. He didn't come in by himself. He was kicked in the chest.
Following that, a black clothed and silver masked imperial secret guard jumped down. He was covered in blood, but his movements were fierce. With a stab to the chest, a short dagger ended the life of the previous person.
The crown prince was so frightened that he screamed, "Ah!
Murder, murder! "
The imperial concubine covered the crown prince's mouth.
However, it was already too late. Another assassin pounced in from the main hall's entrance and stabbed towards the crown prince.
The Imperial Bodyguards rushed forward with a crash, but the assassin jumped out of the encirclement with a leap and attacked in midair.
The imperial secret guard looked up. Ignoring the severity of his injuries, he immediately used all his strength to rush over.
His speed was extremely fast. In a moment of desperation, he forcefully grabbed the assassin's blade.
When the assassin saw that the situation wasn't good, he didn't want to continue fighting. He suddenly pulled out his blade and turned to run.
The imperial concubine shouted, "Chase!"
The imperial guards followed closely behind. The imperial secret guard sucked in a breath of cold air. His palm had been hit by the blade. The injury was so serious that his bones could be seen. In addition to the injuries on his body, it looked like he couldn't stand anymore.
At this time, the crown prince had a rare moment of bravery. He rushed forward to support the secret guard and asked in shock, "Mingde!
Mingde, are you okay? "
Shangguan Mingde looked up and scolded, "Your Highness, what are you still doing here?
Hurry up and get in! "
The crown prince hesitated, "But Mingde, you must see an imperial physician. I will summon an imperial physician for you. Hurry, hurry up and get someone to invite imperial mother …"
Mingde raised his hand and slapped him, "Do you want everyone to know?"
The imperial concubine dragged him, "Your Highness!
Your Highness, hurry up and leave!
Hurry! "
At this time, Zhang Kuo's shrill voice came from outside the door, "The Emperor — — has arrived — —!"
The palace doors opened and the palace lanterns lit up. Everyone was stunned.
The emperor's bright yellow imperial carriage was right in front of them. Everyone knelt on the ground. It wasn't until the bright yellow embroidered dragon boots stepped on the red carpet of the Eastern Palace that they heard Qianwandi's cold voice, "What's going on?
Crown prince, do you want to rebel? "
The crown prince was so scared that his voice trembled, "Replying, replying to imperial father, this son, this son …"
Qianwandi impatiently interrupted, "Imperial concubine!"
The imperial concubine immediately stepped out and bowed, "Replying to your Majesty, an assassin came to the Eastern Palace. Fortunately, there were secret guards to protect you and have already killed the assassin."
The hall fell into an anxious silence. After a while, Qianwandi softly asked, "Where is the assassin? Why can't we see him?"
The imperial concubine was shocked.
It wasn't just her. Even Mingde froze in place.
The assassin's corpse was on the ground in the Eastern Palace. The emperor actually denied it?
"Crown prince," Qianwandi said word by word, "It's late. You should go rest."
The crown prince trembled as he knelt before the emperor and slowly retreated under the escort of the crowd.
Mingde didn't get up from the ground. He stared stiffly at Qianwandi.
No wonder when he sent out the secret guard's distress signal, no one came to help. He originally thought that it was because the secret guards didn't enter the Eastern Palace's territory. In reality, that wasn't the reason at all!
It was because the emperor didn't let anyone come to help!
Because the emperor wanted to use the assassin to get rid of the crown prince and even the empress!
The pain that had been ignored in the fierce battle came back with even more intensity.
He had probably lost too much blood, causing him to feel dizzy.
Thinking that his complexion was too bad, Qianwandi stepped forward and reached out to pick him up, "Mingde …"
"Don't come over."
Mingde stood up with the support of the wall and took half a step back.
When he stood up, there was already a small puddle of blood on the ground. Qianwandi felt his heart tighten. He shouted, "Summon the imperial physician!"
Mingde interrupted him, "This subject doesn't dare.
This subject's body is fine. This subject doesn't dare to trouble the imperial physician. "
Qianwandi half knelt in front of him. He pressed one hand on his shoulder and the other futilely pressed on the wound above his left heart. His movements were hurried, and his fingers were even trembling slightly, "This is called fine?
You call your body fine? "
"This subject is fine. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry."
Mingde pushed Qianwandi away. He leaned against the wall and slowly brushed past him, "… Tonight, everything in the Eastern Palace was fine. This subject was on duty in the palace and didn't find anything unusual … So, this subject should be 'fine'."
He turned to look at Qianwandi and smiled slightly.
That smile was indescribably beautiful, indescribably cold, and if one looked closely, there was a bit of venting hatred.
"Since Your Majesty has decreed that everything in the Eastern Palace is fine tonight, then this subject can only 'fine' for Your Majesty to see. Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"
He turned around and held the thick and beautiful wall of the Eastern Palace with one hand spasmodically. He walked down the golden and dazzling nine dragon jade steps step by step. His black clothes soaked in blood fluttered in the night wind, and then he silently disappeared into the darkness.