Chapter 300: She Was Never a Little White Flower

The Iron Sword feels icy in her hand, and Wan Tang's expression is just as cold.

Countless scenes flash through Wan Tang's mind.

When Xu Luoyan pushes her to the limit, she seeks help, and she throws herself into his arms proactively…

Again and again, Chu Yunzheng rubs her hair, repeatedly saying, "I protect you."

These images fall like raindrops, densely striking, scrambling Wan Tang's thoughts.

But what about the blood of her close kin?

What does that even count for?

Thinking of her brother's blissful face when he drank the poison, Wan Tang's nose turns sharply sour, and her eyes are already heavily reddened.

She must draw her sword!

At the instant the blade is about to leave its scabbard, Wan Tang's lower abdomen suddenly aches.

It is the child in her womb kicking her hard.

The sudden fetal movement makes her shiver, and the hatred‑clouded eyes become much clearer.

If she kills Chu Yunzheng now, how should Minghui conduct herself?

And how will the unborn child face the truth that his mother murdered his father?

Tears suddenly spill over.

In the end, she cannot bring herself to strike.

Just then, Chu Yunzheng turns his head.

A flash of rapid surprise passes through his eyes.

It seems what he expected to see was Wan Tang facing him with a sword, not tears rolling hotly.

He was certain she would act, yet he did not expect her tears.

"Tangtang, why are you crying?" his voice unintentionally softens, adding a hint of concern.

Once the chance is missed, there will be no second chance.

Wan Tang grips the long sword tightly and simply allows herself to cry out loud.

Seizing the moment, she throws herself into his arms: "Emperor, I am so frightened…"

Her voice is choked, with just the right tremor.

As expected, seeing her so soft and helpless, Chu Yunzheng's gaze instantly softens.

He gently pulls her into his embrace, stroking her back, soothingly saying, "Do not fear, I am here."

It was plainly an ordinary embrace before.

But now…

Wan Tang feels like a thorn in the back.

Yet it is just another ultimate performance.

【Ahhh, why didn't you kill the Dog Emperor with a single sword?】

【What about that child? It's just the fetus, upon sensing danger, actively secreting hormones to make you want to protect it.】

【Is that so? No doubt it's Bu Qu, Chu Yunzheng's child, truly cunning. It seems this child is indeed the San Huangzi from the original work. Indeed, those who aim for the throne resort to any means.】

【Never mind, it's fine. Anyway, the Hundred Thousand Army that Wan Tang secretly raised already has Seventy Thousand deployed. They now gather outside the City; reinforcements cannot get in. As long as Yan Wang breaks the Gongmen, the two sides will clash. Xiao Shunzi releases a second Firework, and they will storm the gate.】

【Yan Wang has said he will not be Emperor, only wants to be Regent King. The throne remains with San Huangzi, and Wan Tang remains Empress Dowager.】

【Alright, alright, that's it, this is the perfect ending I wanted.】

The excitement spoken in the Barrage chills Wan Tang's heart.

Who can hope for a road paved with slaughter and blood?

The sounds of fighting never cease.

The clang of the city gate collisions rings in the ears.

The fighting cries, the wails…

Each sound makes people's hearts tremble.

Finally, the heavy Gongmen, unable to bear the weight, collapses under repeated blows.

The city gate is breached, and the rebels surge in like a flood.

"Run!"

Chu Yunzheng grabs Wan Tang's hand, and under the elite guard's desperate protection, they fight while retreating.

The road is littered with fallen corpses and splashing blood; no trace of the former solemn dignity remains.

They are finally forced to the Golden Throne Hall.

The heavy hall doors are shut, and outside only about three hundred loyal elite troops stand in defense.

The outside of the palace is already surrounded.

Now, everyone's hope rests on the reinforcements.

Ouyang Qing kneels before Chu Yunzheng several times, kowtowing and pleading, "Emperor, I beg you."

"Allow me to escort you and the Empress out!"

"As long as the green mountains remain, I am not afraid…"

"Enough!" Chu Yunzheng cuts him off.

Chu Yunzheng cuts him off.

He shouts, "This is my realm; how could I leave?"

"No matter what, I will not surrender; we must stay here together, sharing life and death."

Ouyang Qing's persuasion fails, and he can only kneel on the ground.

His gaze steady, he said, "Subject and Emperor, we live and die together."

Chu Yunzheng nodded.

Wan Tang, hearing the commotion outside, knew that Chu Yunzheng's great momentum had already been lost.

As soon as Yan Wang arrives at the Grand Hall entrance, the last Firework will be released.

Then Wan Tang's troops will come from encircling the Capital, completely blocking any reinforcements.

The Capital is deserted; Yan Wang besieges the palace, and Chu Yunzheng has reached his end.

All of this should end!

Her heart was so heavy that she didn't even notice Chu Yunzheng had already come up to her.

Chu Yunzheng tightly grasped Wan Tang's icy hand; amid the shouts and killing cries, his voice was unusually calm: "Tangtang, are you afraid?"

Wan Tang flinched, nodded, then looked up at Chu Yunzheng and shook her head.

Chu Yunzheng's finger lightly brushed Wan Tang's nose bridge, and in a deep voice said, "Tangtang, you look just as you always have."

"Once, you also relied on me."

Wan Tang lowered her head, silent.

Golden Throne Hall had been trapped for half an hour, and within the hall, eunuchs were already wailing in despair.

Guanren fled in all directions; the clamor of chickens crowing and dogs stealing broke out in every corner.

Suddenly, the sound of killing outside Gongmen shook the heavens!

Hui Guifei appeared, brandishing a blood‑stained long sword, her swollen belly thrust forward as she charged into the encirclement.

She was drenched in blood, and seized Wan Tang with one hand: "Come with me!"

Wan Tang stood still, gritting her teeth: "I won't go."

"Emperor is present, Subject will never depart."

Only then did she notice Chu Yunzheng beside her, hesitated a moment, and changed her tone: "Will the Emperor accompany us?"

But across his brow, there was only unwillingness.

Even his eyes swirled with hatred.

Chu Yunzheng shook his head: "See the Empress out."

Hui Guifei nodded heavily, and again forcefully tried to pull Wan Tang.

"Go quickly." Chu Yunzheng turned away.

There seemed a hint of reluctance in his eyes, yet it was unclear what he could not bear to see.

Wan Tang's legs felt as heavy as poured lead, and she stood rooted, not moving a hair.

Seeing the anxiety in Hui Guifei's eyes, her own heart was in turmoil.

How could she possibly leave?

She had been part of all this from the start; if she left, how could she witness the most spectacular performance?

At this moment, Wan Tang wanted to say, "Sister, rest assured, I will be fine."

Hui Guifei, seeing Wan Tang's stubbornness, narrowed her gaze, and with a swift motion struck her on the back of the neck.

"Sister…"

All the words were choked in her throat.

Wan Tang's body went limp, collapsing into her arms.

At the foot of the palace wall, a carriage had already been prepared.

Hui Guifei was about to help the unconscious Wan Tang into the carriage, but she staggered from a sudden cramp in her abdomen,

a fine cold sweat beading on her forehead.

It was this brief delay that allowed Wan Tang to slowly regain consciousness.

"How did I end up here?" she asked in terror, looking around and struggling to get out of the carriage.

Hui Guifei forced herself not to feel ill and seized her wrist.

Her face pale but eyes blazing, she said, "I will not let anything happen to you."

She exhaled, her voice low and resolute, "You may be deeply loyal to the Emperor, but Wan Tang, Mo Family… only you remain."

Wan Tang froze, her gaze turning toward the depths of the palace wall, gradually focusing.

She gently slipped free of Hui Guifei's grip, a bitter curve forming at the corner of her mouth: "Precisely because Mo Family has only me left, I cannot leave."

She turned back, staring into Hui Guifei's puzzled eyes, and said word for word, "Let me go back."

"Consider it for Xu Yanchuan."

Hui Guifei's eyes were full of confusion, but the hand that had tightly held Wan Tang finally loosened slowly.

Yet in her voice there was a hint of hoarseness even she had not noticed: "How long must the Mo Family's loyal gallantry endure?"

"I would rather you never knew what relationship you have with the Mo Family."

Her words ultimately faded into the wind.

Wan Tang's steps were heavy as she rushed toward Golden Throne Hall…

The second Firework had already blossomed in the sky.

Yan Wang had arrived at Golden Throne Hall.

The final moment has arrived!

A pang rippled through her lower abdomen; the child within seemed to sense something, kicking frantically.

But at this moment, Wan Tang refused to stop.

She could only run faster, run even faster.

Golden Throne Hall.

"Chu Yunzheng, my good brother, how much longer do you intend to stay in there as a cowering turtle?"

Yan Wang's long sword in his hand had already been stained red with blood.

He stood outside and shouted loudly toward the inside.

The heavy Golden Throne Hall doors were slowly pushed open.

Chu Yunzheng walked out at a leisurely pace.

He was still wearing that bright yellow dragon robe, but his face was stained with a bit of grime.

He stood atop the lofty altar, behind him the empty, grand Grand Hall, and before him the black mass of rebels.

Yan Wang, clad in dark armor, his scarlet cloak rustling in the wind, stepped forward ahead of the crowd, ascending the blood‑stained Yu Jie step by step.

Behind him, tens of thousands of elite armored soldiers sealed off the entire Golden Throne Hall plaza.

At Chu Yunzheng's side and behind him were fewer than a hundred imperial guards, each wounded, their hands gripping weapons trembling slightly.

The two of them, one above the other, met eyes in the air.

"Chu Yunzheng," Yan Wang halted, "you have lost."

Chu Yunzheng looked down at him, his expression calm and unruffled, only those deep eyes.

Even in a desperate situation, his surrounding aura did not diminish in the slightest.

He spoke, his voice not loud but clear enough, "I am still standing here."

He did not roar, did not curse, only calmly stated a fact.

As long as he remains on this altar, he is still the ruler of the world.

A faint smile lingered on Yan Wang's face, and a hint of Yin Zhi flickered in his eyes.

Behind him, the army emitted a low rumble, weapons clashing, murderous aura soaring.

The hundred guards held their breath, tightening their bodies even more.

"Chu Yunzheng, you and I were brothers; if you hadn't pressed me step by step, our relationship wouldn't be limited to this," Yan Wang laughed coldly.

Chu Yunzheng remained composed in danger, still domineering: "Back then, had you not forcibly taken Li'er, I could have been a leisurely prince as well."

"I originally wanted to spend my life with my beloved."

"Isn't it you who personally destroyed all this?"

Yan Wang was startled.

He then burst into a hearty laugh, pointing at Chu Yunzheng, "You really are a fool!"

"Do you truly think that Bai Li was forced?"

"Not at all!"

Between Yan Wang's brows lay only cold sarcasm; word by word, he said, "That woman is not some pure, immaculate White Lotus."

"From the beginning she knew exactly Shei could give her what she wanted."