Chapter 301: My Lord, I Arrive Too Late to Save You

Shut up!

Even with the army at the city's gates, Chu Yunzheng's emotions barely shifted.

But when his idealized love was mentioned, he finally became angry.

You are not allowed to slander her.

"Slander?" Yan Wang laughed, his tone dripping with cruelty: "You've always thought that I stole the woman you love, haven't you?"

"All these years I've kept these matters rotting in my heart, all for today."

"When I can take everything from you, I will tell you the truth."

Yan Wang sneered repeatedly: "Bai Li and her birth mother are both shameless women."

"Back then, her mother learned from the Duke of Ning that the late emperor favored me. She also instructed the Mo Family, telling the Mo Duke to later definitely help me become a wise ruler."

When recalling the past, Yan Wang remained unwilling.

He said bitterly, "That woman only wanted to become Empress."

"So, before the late emperor issued the decree, she drugged me, causing me to be with her."

"Otherwise, do you think I could sleep with a woman without someone catching me in the act?"

Chu Yunzheng's face looked so ugly it seemed it would drip water.

His breathing grew increasingly heavy.

But to Yan Wang, that expression was sheer delight.

He couldn't help but burst into a wild laugh, then said slowly, "Chu Yunzheng, actually Bai Li is the woman I want; I desire a woman who thinks she's clever."

"Having the Mo Family's support isn't enough; the Duke of Ning's power is also what I need. So I'm willing to go along and marry that woman."

"As for what the truth is, or how the outside world talks about it, it doesn't matter at all."

Although he didn't say it, everyone understood.

The important thing is how much benefit this brings.

With the Mo Family and Ning family in Yan Wang's hands, the throne is secured.

Chu Yunzheng's complexion turned pale.

It's rare to see such a desperate expression on his face.

Wan Tang has arrived at the Grand Hall.

At first some tried to step forward, but upon seeing her, they all halted.

Wan Tang's steps were heavy and slow, advancing step by step toward Yan Wang and Chu Yunzheng.

Yan Wang and Chu Yunzheng's gazes simultaneously fell on Wan Tang.

Chu Yunzheng's voice was cold and absolute: "Do you think this can make me suffer?"

Dream on!

You rebel, I won't believe a single word you say.

"Hahaha," Yan Wang laughed: "Did you really think that woman was a pure, spotless little white flower?"

Do you truly think she's kind?

Only you can, with just a little sugar, keep someone in your heart forever.

Yan Wang said.

He even tilted his head, looking at Wan Tang.

His voice was teasing: "Empress, losing to such a woman, are you content?"

Content?

Chu Yunzheng and Bai Li's story?

I don't care anymore.

There was indeed a time when I wanted to know the reason.

But now, it doesn't matter.

Because even the play of prolapse is clear, everything must end.

She had made an agreement with Yan Wang: when she is ten steps away from him, Yan Wang will shoot Chu Yunzheng.

Wan Tang wants to see with her own eyes Chu Yunzheng die before her.

She wants his blood to splash onto her skirt hem.

Only with his blood can the entire Mo Family be offered a sacrifice, for her younger brother's spirit in heaven.

Wan Tang's mouth corner began to lift.

Even over such a short distance, her breathing grew heavy.

Yan Wang slowly raised his hand; a personal guard behind him immediately handed him a heavy iron bow.

"Alright, that's it!" His voice was steady, yet carried a sense of finality.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze flickered from Yan Wang, then slowly settled on Wan Tang.

Such a close distance.

If shot now, it would be impossible to dodge.

Death is the conclusion.

He still remained steady, his voice gentle as he asked, "Tangtang, aren't you leaving?"

Yes!

Why come back again?

To see you die with my own eyes!

Such a thrillingly cruel remark, but Wan Tang could not bring herself to speak.

Her throat was extremely dry and rough.

Yan Wang, however, did not feel that way.

Only by silently enduring and waiting for over ten years did the urgent wish finally come true.

He nocked the arrow, drew the bow, his movements smooth.

The arrow cluster precisely aimed at Chu Yunzheng.

The bowstring was slowly drawn back, all sounds faded away, leaving only the taut string's humming, poised to release.

Chu Yunzheng stood still, his gaze beneath the crown ribbons piercing the space, meeting Yan Wang's eyes without a hint of evasion.

That deadly arrow was ready to leave the string at any moment.

【Not good, not good, a big trouble.】

【Dog Emperor really hid too deep, how could there be someone as doglike as him. From the very start when he poisoned Xiao Chuan, it was already planned. There was never any real border garrison. The soldiers gradually recalled had long been lying in ambush, and right inside the capital.】

【The scheme Wan Tang thought of, Dog Emperor had already employed first. Now Dog Emperor, once he changes, will expose the troops Wan Tang hid, and can also completely eliminate Yan Wang. Everything is within his calculation.】

【As soon as Yan Wang shoots an arrow, Imperial Guard will mobilize immediately. The Xiao Family's cultivation of so many Imperial Guard had long been taken into Chu Yunzheng's grasp.】

【How terrifying, if Yan Wang dies. Wan Tang exposed, Chu Yunzheng will follow the trail, and everyone connected to Wan Tang must die. Xiao Shunzi and others need not be mentioned, Qi Qi's followers, Lin Zehai and the like, none can escape.】

【All that Wan Tang painstakingly built will fill the Guoku, and those one hundred thousand troops will be disguised as Chu Yunzheng's forces.】

【Wuwu, I really cried to death. In the end, Wan Tang's meticulous scheming was just to make a wedding dress for the person of this deep blood feud.】

What!

Wan Tang felt a shock in her heart.

【68】 In that instant, her legs became even more terribly weak.

In that instant, the legs went terribly limp.

Her mind was a mess.

Clearly she had plotted for so long, step by step, even Xiao Luzi's side…

No…

It wasn't her plan that had a flaw.

But Chu Yunzheng had never trusted anyone.

Even the Xiao Luzi personally sent to Wan Tang's side was never trusted.

Among all these court officials, who else has he ever trusted?

What he wants is to grasp everything, all of it, entirely in his own hands.

"Enough!"

"It should be returned to me!"

Yan Wang's eyes were full of disgust, and he roared.

His fingers loosened…

"Don't!"

Wan Tang, disregarding everything, sprinted wildly toward Chu Yunzheng.

She didn't hesitate at all, flinging her arms wide, resolutely blocking Chu Yunzheng's path.

At that moment, she no longer knew what fear was.

She only knew that if disaster struck, how many lives would be involved.

Almost simultaneously, the bowstring cracked!

"Pfft!"

The arrow brutally pierced her towering abdomen, blood gushed out instantly, staining the phoenix embroidered in gold thread on the Phoenix Robe.

Wan Tang lowered her head, watching the droplets of blood fall, watching the phoenix's eyes turn blood‑red.

How laughable!

It really got stained with blood.

Only, this blood is still of Mo Family lineage…

Chu Yunzheng's calm shattered suddenly, his pupils contracting, he grabbed her collapsing body: "Tangtang!"

Wan Tang trembled with pain, yet still forced herself to look toward Chu Yunzheng.

All her unwillingness, all her hatred, still pressed heavily in her heart.

Even now, she still had to keep acting.

She wanted to dispel Chu Yunzheng's doubts as much as possible.

The blood‑stained hand gently grasped his sleeve, voice thin as a wisp: "Emperor… this time… let me, your concubine, protect you…"

"Nonsense."

"I have said, as long as I am here, you will be safe."

"You shouldn't… shouldn't have rushed forward…"

Chu Yunzheng's voice began to tremble.

That cold gaze, upon seeing Wan Tang's continuously flowing blood, began to gradually melt.

Even a hint of suspicious red appeared.

So…

So there were also people who could, for him, rush forward so recklessly.

Even knowing this would surely mean death.

"Fool!"

"Fool…"

Chu Yunzheng murmured, his words tangled, only desperately clutching Wan Tang's hand, caressing her face, calling out repeatedly: "I will not allow you any harm."

"Not allowed..."

He had clearly intended for Wan Tang to die.

But at this moment, he was so terrified that Wan Tang might truly depart forever...

Yan Wang's hand that held the bow froze in midair, the expression of confidence on his face solidified, turning into an incredulous shock.

He had calculated countless possibilities, yet he hadn't foreseen that Wan Tang would, in such a tragic manner, block this lethal strike.

At the instant Wan Tang was struck by an arrow and fell...

On the eaves and behind the corridor pillars... countless black silhouettes suddenly appeared like specters. Their numbers were so great that, in an instant, they partially surrounded Yan Wang's tens‑of‑thousands rebel army, and a murderous aura spread throughout the arena.

Chu Yunzheng held the faint‑breathing Wan Tang tightly, without raising his head: "Execute."

A single‑character command, concise and deadly.

However, Yan Wang, faced with this sudden reversal, not only remained unflustered but looked up to the heavens and laughed loudly: "Chu Yunzheng, you truly still have this Imperial Guard hidden."

"What a pity, what a pity..." His laughter halted abruptly, and he coldly pointed outward of the Gongmen: "Can these people stand up to several ten‑thousand troops?"

Beyond the Gongmen walls, the deafening sounds of horse hooves and clashing armor rolled in from afar, massive in scale.

Clearly, an enormously massive army was advancing toward the Imperial City!

Yan Wang's face again displayed a smug and ferocious grin, his confidence evident as he glared at Chu Yunzheng: "With this few men, how long can you hold out?"

"From this commotion, my Hundred Thousand Army has already arrived!"

He said so, and a cruel smile briefly appeared on his face.

Turning his gaze to Wan Tang, he spoke: "The accurate one is you..."

Wan Tang's heart tightened.

Cannot speak!

"Swoosh!"

A sound of cutting through the air rang out.

An arrow suddenly flew in, striking Yan Wang's shoulder and cutting off his words.

From the Gongmen direction came a deafening clamor of fighting, and the rebel army's rear formation fell into chaos.

A figure appeared at the far end of the Golden Throne Hall plaza.

The person stood against the backlight, holding a long bow, its string still trembling faintly.

He no longer wore the once‑elegant brocade robe, but a set of light armor.

He walked slowly, his steps steady, passing through the automatically parting countless cavalry.

That face, once strikingly handsome and bearing a hint of youthful vigor, now bore even sharper, clearer lines, with brows settled by wind‑worn frost and composure.

The aura of clear wind and bright moon still clung to him, as if he hadn't emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, but had stepped forth under the moon.

Behind him, banners fluttered, murderous aura soaring, precisely the troops that Wan Tang had secretly marshaled.

Xiao Shunzi stayed beside him, eyes full of worry.

He glanced at the dramatically changed Yan Wang, his gaze first sweeping quickly and anxiously over Wan Tang, who was cradled in Chu Yunzheng's arms.

Seeing Wan Tang's bright eyes, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

He then knelt on one knee, his voice clear and resonant:

"Subject, I arrived too late to rescue Your Majesty; my crime deserves ten thousand deaths!"