Chapter 344: You Have No Choice

A faint sound.

Countless men in black surged around.

One by one, their footwork was superb; the assassin who had just been swaggering invincibly crumbled before these people.

Earlier, Su Yanci could still handle the few people with ease.

When so many experts surged out, Su Yanci couldn't help but change his expression.

His complexion darkened instantly; he gripped his long sword tightly and fought to the death.

"Stop!"

Wan Tang spoke, whispering, "They're all our own people."

Two of the assassins were still alive, now bound tightly with five‑flower ropes.

"We have seen the master!"

Over twenty experts knelt in unison on the ground, paying respects to Wan Tang.

Xiao Shunzi, panting heavily, ran out, wiped the sweat from his face, and stared at Su Yanci with a bewildered expression.

"Lord Su?"

"Your Majesty, how could Lord Su..."

Seeing Su Yanci and Wan Tang's actions, Xiao Shunzi instantly understood and hurriedly said, "Take the people down for thorough questioning at once."

"You few, stay here."

"Go change into the assassins' clothes."

Su Yanci seemed still unable to process the scene; his hand still gripping Wan Tang's waist remained forceful.

Someone watching, Wan Tang's face was scorching hot, and she whispered, "Let go of me quickly."

The grip loosened; the two stepped back a pace, and the warmth vanished.

Su Yanci gave a self‑mocking smile, then relaxed, extending his hand; before it could reach Wan Tang's hair, he abruptly pulled it back.

His eyes were full of satisfaction, his voice slightly hoarse: "You really scared me just now."

"Fortunately, you're no longer the fool you once were. You finally have the ability to protect yourself."

He rejoiced at Wan Tang's growth, yet also mocked his own superfluous effort; in any case, Wan Tang's safety was more important than anything.

Within just a few seconds, Su Yanci's emotions had swung wildly.

Wan Tang inhaled deeply, softly explaining, "Bai Li's heart is vicious; she will never let me go. Even outside the palace, I must prepare in advance."

"Chu Yunzheng wants to treat this woman as the treacherous Daji who brings disaster to the nation."

"And I only wish for him to become King Zhou."

"The current situation is not yet severe enough; Chu Yunzheng is ultimately of the Chu family bloodline, the legitimate successor. Until a certain critical point, the people will not expect a savior's arrival."

Wan Tang's voice grew gradually weaker.

She did not know how Su Yanci would view such a scheming woman.

Between breaths, Wan Tang solemnly lifted her head again.

Even if no one understands her, these matters must continue.

They locked eyes; Wan Tang's smile was bitter: "The hundred thousand troops you know are only a part of my unmaskable strength."

"The Imperial Guard is my talisman of survival."

Su Yanci smiled.

Even though tonight the moon is dark and the wind high, he replaced that bright moon.

He said, "I am relieved."

He brushed aside his disheveled hair, clearly sighing, "The situation is tense now; I cannot stay at Baoguo Temple."

"The Emperor has sent me to Huaibei for disaster relief; this winter, I fear I cannot return."

"You must take care."

Su Yanci's gaze swept the surroundings, landing specifically on Xiao Shunzi.

The current Xiao Shunzi is no longer the useless eunuch he once was.

He works swiftly and cautiously; many tasks can be handled quickly even without Wan Tang's orders.

Su Yanci smiled, as if recalling something, and added, "By the way, I heard yesterday that former chief eunuch Li Defu was terribly insane."

"He was thinking of illusory things at midnight, claiming he had a daughter waving at him."

"He reached out to grab, fell into a lotus pond, and was found lifeless."

Wan Tang's heart trembled ever so slightly.

Her complexion paled a few shades.

He thought she would anticipate Li Defu's death, that the day Li Defu died she would be moved to tears.

Just as she had once treated Xu Luoyan.

Shei would have thought her heart could be so calm.

Even for someone she once hated to the point of grinding teeth, the news of death is merely a breeze, gently passing.

"Hmm!"

Just a single word.

A hint of surprise flickered in Su Yanci's eyes, but his gaze quickly steadied.

He turned and mounted his horse.

"Ride!"

The sound of hooves rang out, and Su Yanci's figure vanished into the night.

Only then did Xiao Shunzi walk up to Wan Tang.

Her eyes were full of worry, yet she dared not mention it, and simply asked, "Master, everything has proceeded according to the plan."

"News also came from within the palace: Nanzhu has been captured successfully."

Wan Tang's gaze lost its last trace of tenderness, and she said coldly, "Very well, then continue."

She glanced at the people outside and said slowly, "Cooperate with the palace and put on a good performance."

"Yes!" Xiao Shunzi replied.

A hint of confusion on her face, she asked softly, "Master, are we to start the net now?"

"Yes," Wan Tang said slowly, "The game can keep going, but the common folk cannot wait."

She raised her hand to wipe the blood from her face, her fingertips cold, and said, "If we don't act quickly, the snow will fall and many will die."

Xiao Shunzi's expression suddenly grew serious, and she nodded repeatedly, "Nubi understand."

Changchun Palace.

Nanzhu was hung from the beam of a side chamber, Bai Li sat on the Grand Preceptor's chair, with several robust old women beside her.

A bucket of cold water poured over her head, making Nanzhu shiver all over, and she hurriedly opened her eyes.

In terror she looked at Bai Li before her and hurriedly said, "Madam?"

"What… what is happening?"

Bai Li leaned against the chair back, her face chillingly cold, with Nanzhu's reflection in her eyes.

Accompanied by a grinding‑tooth sound, Bai Li said, "Still pretending to drink from my palace?"

"If I hadn't sensed something was off and sent someone to follow, would you have taken me as a fool?"

"Never could I have imagined you'd be that scoundrel's person!"

She gripped a braid in her hand, and with a swift strike of the Whip hit Nanzhu, saying, "Tell me, why did she send you to my side?"

Nanzhu winced in pain, yet clamped her lower lip tightly, voice and tears flowing, "Madam, I am wronged!"

"I am indeed a servant of the Empress, but I have never done anything to harm you; I truly wish to follow you."

"After all, before you, I have always been someone you trust, unlike the Empress; she even cannot recall my name."

"But now you intend to act against the Empress; I know the situation is grave. If I do not report, my whole family may not survive."

Bai Li snorted through her nostrils.

She gave a signal to the old maidservant beside her.

The old maidservant understood, took the Whip from Bai Li's hand, dipped it in salt water, and struck.

The Whip fell, and the person in pain screamed in agony.

Nanzhu endured at first, then could bear it no longer.

The wailing continued, and finally her eyes filled with tears as she fainted.

"Wake up," Bai Li said, her voice icy.

"Ah!" another wail sounded.

Nanzhu looked at Bai Li, her eyes full of terror.

She trembled and shouted, "Madam, spare me, I know I was wrong."

"I beg you, Madam, to forgive me."

"I will never dare again."

"Please, Madam, spare my life!"

Bai Li stepped forward, her sharp nails lifting Nanzhu's chin, and asked, "You claim to be alive, yet you do not report to the Empress; what will happen to your family?"

"Can you just abandon their lives?"

Fear instantly filled Nanzhu's eyes.

Bai Li still smiled, her smile seeping.

"To be honest, in your little brain there are indeed many things I appreciate."

"If I truly were to kill you, I would feel reluctant."

"How about this: I will give you a solution that benefits both sides."

Nanzhu clutched at a lifeline, pleading desperately, "Please, Madam, give me some guidance."

Bai Li's mouth curled lightly, her eyes like a viper, "Where are your family? Tell me, and I will protect them."

"Then, you will go to Kunning Palace and tell those people, 'I want the Empress dead.'"

Nanzhu's expression almost froze, leaving only a mechanical shake of the head.

Bai Li increased the force, her nails cutting the skin, blood oozing, "You have no choice."

"Do you understand?"