Chapter 412: Who Are They Chasing?

He roared out recklessly, bearing the youth's sincerity and pain, echoing through the vast hall.

Prince Qing watched from the side with a cold eye, and only now spoke slowly, his tone full of mockery: "Brother Wang, it seems that the worthy nephew has been well educated by the Emperor during these years in Jingcheng."

"All his thoughts are of the Emperor's kindness, and also that little girl from Xiao Yuanhang's family."

"Tsk tsk, Brother Wang, your household is unsettled; how can you bring peace to the world?"

"I, Prince Qing, would never let my own son harbor such a 'great rebellious' mindset."

Prince Chen's face turned ashen, and after a long while of looking at the son before him, both familiar and strange, he said:

"It seems that Jingcheng's feng shui truly nurtures people, having turned my son into Xiao Jieyun's loyal hound."

"Since you are not aligned with me... bring the men!"

"Here!"

"The Crown Prince is overthinking; send him back to the manor to recuperate."

"Effective immediately, you may not step beyond the manor gate even a single step!"

"Yes!"

Chen Hao swayed slightly, his face pallid.

He knelt slowly, bowed his head heavily: "Son, obey." He rose silently, turned, and left.

Prince Qing looked at Prince Chen's still extremely displeased expression, sighed softly: "Brother Wang, you sent this legitimate eldest son to Jingcheng from childhood, causing his heart to develop foreign thoughts; it's no wonder."

"If you were like me, having early appointed a Crown Prince, keeping him close and teaching him attentively, father and son of one mind, it would not be so."

Prince Chen slowly sat back in his chair, glanced at Prince Qing: "Indeed, you love your son dearly, appointing an heir early, thinking the household is at peace."

"Yet you never imagined that Xiao Jieyun would hold the Crown Prince in Jingcheng as a hostage, right?"

"Had it not been so, I suppose you wouldn't have so quickly allied with me and taken this path."

Prince Qing's complexion changed.

Prince Chen smiled faintly: "If I hadn't sacrificed this legitimate eldest son, letting Xiao Jieyun be at ease, how could I have gained these years of breathing room?"

"You early bestowed the title of Crown Prince on your beloved son, yet that gave you an additional soft spot the Emperor could manipulate, forcing you to reveal your blade prematurely."

"Who is superior or inferior, judging now is still premature."

Prince Qing hummed, no longer offering a rebuttal.

The next day at noon, Luoyan Slope.

A gust of wind blew, and Xiao Jieyun's bright yellow cloak fluttered gently.

In front of the two armies' formation, he, clad in golden armor, back straight, sat upright on his horse, gazing across.

The black, oppressive rebel forces stretched like mountains and seas, endless to the eye.

The battle array of 120,000 troops exerted a pressure so intense it left onlookers breathless.

Under the great banner bearing the character Qing, rebel commander Lu Yi rode his horse to the front of the formation.

He gathered his inner Qi, his voice booming: "Xiao Jieyun! You have lost virtue before the world and have been stripped of the throne! Today we present Heaven's decree, to punish the unrighteous!"

"If you still have any remorse, step out of the formation yourself, sparing these tens of thousands of soldiers from dying innocently for you!"

Behind Xiao Jieyun, the generals glared angrily, and the soldiers gripped their weapons, breathing heavily.

He untied a bright yellow brocade sack from his waist and held it aloft.

He shouted loudly: "I have the Jade Seal here!"

"My throne was personally passed down by the former Emperor! Appointed by Heaven, my name is rightful!"

"Xiao Jichang and Chen Sheng are merely royal relatives! They have received the Imperial Court's favor, yet think not of absolute loyalty to the state!"

"While I personally lead the campaign, they collude with the Empress Dowager, forging edicts to usurp the throne!"

"They further slander meritorious officials and wreak havoc upon Jingcheng! Such deeds are those of treacherous rebels!"

"You soldiers are all citizens of my fierce nation, your parents, wives, and children are in your hometown!"

"If you follow the rebels and attack the royal forces, you become traitors, bringing shame upon the nine families!"

"If you can awaken at once, abandon darkness for light, I will not hold it against you!"

As his words fell, many rebel soldiers exchanged glances and slowly lowered their heads.

Lu Yi's complexion changed; he could not let the Emperor continue speaking!

He suddenly drew his long sword and roared fiercely: "The dim-witted ruler's slick words and gestures confuse our troops! All forces, obey! Execute the tyrant, restore the state! Kill!"

"Kill—!"

A roar like a mountain and sea surge erupted, and the rebels surged like a broken dam toward the Emperor's formation!

Xiao Jieyun slung the Jade Seal back to his waist, drew his sword, and its blade flashed a cold gleam in the sunlight.

He shouted loudly: "Form ranks! Meet the enemy! Soldiers! Follow me to slay the rebels!"

He personally led the cavalry, at the forefront, charging into the enemy lines.

The Son of Heaven's presence, willing to sacrifice life, greatly inspired all the soldiers.

Arrows rained down, striking the rebel vanguard, splashing a spray of blood.

Yet as those ahead fell, those behind immediately surged forward over the corpses.

The soldiers, eyes reddened, roared while following that golden figure, holding back the rebels' fierce assault for a moment.

It was only for a moment.

120,000 against 70,000—the disparity in forces was truly massive.

Moreover, Xiao Jieyun's 70,000 troops had been without supplies for many days, far inferior in stamina to the rebels.

The rebels surged like endless waves, one after another.

The lines began to be squeezed and fragmented, with small formations constantly swallowed by the rebels.

Half an hour later, Xiao Jieyun, under his bodyguards' desperate protection, retreated to the central camp.

He breathed heavily, and fresh blood splattered all over his golden armor.

"His Majesty!" A commander covering his arm rushed into the tent, kneeling on one knee: "General Liu of the left wing fell in battle, three thousand men were completely annihilated!"

"General Wang of the right wing is gravely wounded, the defensive line has broken! The rebels are simply too many!"

"I dare to speak, Your Majesty, please temporarily withdraw the troops! Preserve the green mountains, Your Majesty!"

"Retreat?" Xiao Jieyun took the jade seal off, placed it on the table, grabbed a tea cup and gulped, "If I retreat, where shall these soldiers who die in battle be placed? The jade seal is here, I am here."

Outside the tent, shouts and cries of killing grew nearer.

The ground trembled faintly; evidently, the rebels were making a full assault on the central army's main tent.

Suddenly, the personal guards outside the tent shouted in unison: "Protect Your Majesty!"

Immediately followed the fierce clashing of weapons and several muffled thuds of bodies hitting the ground.

The tent curtain was torn away, and a dozen or so people dressed in rebel uniforms rushed in.

They wore expressionless faces, exuding a cold, forest‑like aura entirely different from the soldiers on the battlefield.

The personal guards protecting from outside were instantly knocked down in great numbers.

Then, with a slash, the tent roof was cut open, and several equally expressionless soldiers fell from the sky.

"Protect His Majesty!" The personal guards inside the tent widened their eyes, drew swords to meet, and blood splattered.

A personal guard beside Xiao Jieyun pulled him behind, then stepped forward.

These people were silent as crows, their techniques were cunning and ruthless, a fight‑to‑the‑death style.

They ignored the engaged personal guards and lunged straight at the Emperor, who was being protected in the middle by several guards!

Two of them, one on the left and one on the right, thrust directly at the Emperor's vital points!

Xiao Jieyun's eyes narrowed, he blocked with his sword, and with a "clang" his arm jolted violently; his sword was shaken out of his hand by the assassin's oddly shaped short blade and flew away!

Another assassin, seeing the Emperor's defenses wide open, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, swung his blade toward the Emperor's neck!

A nearby guard pressed close, using his shoulder to hardily take the blow, splattering blood everywhere!

The two who reached the front, one went straight for the Emperor's face, the other's hand seized the jade seal on the table!

A hair's breadth!

"Poof!"

A heavy knife plunged into the chest of the person closest to the Emperor.

Another person was struck on the right shoulder by a full‑speed punch from the incoming attacker, flew out and fell to the ground!

A towering, blood‑soaked figure as tall as a mountain stood in front of Xiao Jieyun.

The Emperor rejoiced: "Xiao Ningchen!"

"Second Brother!" Xiao Ningxun also rushed in, and at a glance saw the person who had fallen to the ground, still clutching the brocade bag containing the jade seal.

Xiao Ningchen shouted, "I will protect His Majesty, you keep an eye on the jade seal!" After speaking, he brandished his long sword, stood before the Emperor, and kept the enemies inside the tent at bay with his sword light.

"Good!"

That person, clutching the jade seal, sprang up quickly, turned and slashed through the tent, fleeing outward.

"Stop!" Xiao Ningxun barked, and chased after.

But the person's footwork was extremely swift, sprinting toward the rebel direction, about to vanish into the smoke of the battlefield ahead.

In his haste he shouted, "Ni Ze! Leave the items behind!"

"Huh—" a carriage halted nearby.

Xiao Er, seeing the situation, sprang forward fiercely to intercept the person Xiao Ningxun was pursuing.

Tuan Tuan leapt down from the carriage, Chu Yuan hurriedly followed, holding her tightly in his arms: "Don't go over there."

Gongsun Yue stuck his head out: "Tuan Tuan, who are they chasing?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head.

Hearing Third Brother shout to leave the items behind, she didn't think, crouched, her small hand groped at her feet, grabbed an unknown object, and threw it forcefully toward the person's silhouette.

She shouted, "Make everything on him fall off!"