Chapter 229: Entering the City

Inside the city gate, the soldiers surrounded the commoners.

Assassins from the Dark Pavilion, disguised as ordinary commoners, hid among the crowd, watching for their chance, then shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Since they treat us like lambs to be slaughtered at will, let's fight them to the death!"

"That's right! Fight them to the death!"

"Let's show them we're not so easy to bully!"

Incited by the Dark Pavilion assassins, the commoners were riled up by the provocation; their fury soared, and in a great black mass they all surged forward.

Some raised hoes, some swung cleavers and spatulas; those without weapons threw fists.

"Fight them to the death!"

"Welcome the Cheng Family Army into the city!"

Apart from the East Gate, the other three city gates were also in total chaos.

"Don't move!"

"If anyone dares step forward, don't blame us for being rude!"

At Xiao Tong's heavy wave of his hand, the soldiers one after another drew their weapons with a series of scrapes.

"All men, hear my order!"

"If anyone dares step forward, kill on sight!"

Seeing those great blades glinting with an eerie cold light, many felt a chill of fear in their hearts and gradually fell silent.

Seeing this, Xiao Tong smiled contemptuously.

A rabble of amateurs — and they dare to throw their weight around against the Bingma Si?!

Just then, thick smoke suddenly billowed in the distance, and it drew closer and closer.

"Make way, everyone make way!"

A middle-aged man set fire to a cart piled high with firewood and pushed it forward.

Many others ran over to help.

The soldiers, seeing this, were so frightened they retreated step after step.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the Cheng Family Army hidden among the City Guard rushed toward the city gate.

Another contingent quickly ran to the front of the ranks, staying on guard at all times to prevent the soldiers from acting desperately and harming the commoners.

"How dare you!"

Seeing someone preparing to open the gate, Xiao Tong was so furious he jumped in rage.

"Stop!"

"Seize them! Hurry up and seize those men for me!"

Seeing the city gate thrown open, Cheng Sitao raised his Long Sword high and gave a great shout.

"Into the city!"

At that cry, the Cheng Family Army charged into the city.

"Charge!"

In less than the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Xiao Tong and the others were captured.

"Young Lord, spare my life!"

Where was Xiao Tong's earlier arrogant manner now?

He groveled on the ground, pleading endlessly.

"Cheng Old Madam, Young Lord, this one was merely following orders — he had no choice!"

Cheng Old Madam merely gave a calm order.

"Take him away!"

"Report—"

A soldier came riding on a Horse.

"Reporting to Old Madam, reporting to the Young Lord — the West Gate has fallen!"

"Report—"

Another man came to report.

"Reporting to Old Madam — the North Gate has fallen!"

A rapid clatter of hoofbeats brought good news.

"Report… the South Gate has fallen!"

"Excellent!"

Cheng Old Madam, gripping her long spear and seated on horseback, arranged for part of the Cheng Family Army to stay behind and protect the commoners; then, with a sweep of her spear, the blade pointed straight toward the Imperial Palace, and she said in a sharp voice.

"All officers and men, hear my order — into the palace!"

Meanwhile, at the palace gate.

Commander Xu waited anxiously for news.

"Commander, bad news!"

The Imperial Guard soldiers sent out to gather information hurried back running.

Commander Xu stepped forward a few paces.

"How does the situation stand?"

The young Imperial Guard was so out of breath he could barely string his words together.

"Commander, the rebel army — the rebel army has already broken through the city gate and is heading toward the Imperial Palace!"

Hearing this news, Commander Xu seemed to lose all strength in his body; his head drooped, and even his shoulders sagged.

He clenched his teeth hard.

"How could they be this fast? Are the lot from the Five Cities Military Commission all useless good-for-nothings?!"

A young Imperial Guard said in a low voice.

"Commander, why don't we surrender too!"

There's no chance of winning at all.

"Surrender?"

Xu Mountain raised his head, his eyes blood-red, the whites shot through with red veins.

"Absolutely not!"

"The Xiyue Emperor is still inside — how could we possibly surrender?!"

He beckoned one of the Imperial Guard over and ordered him to deliver the message inside.

Then he surveyed the crowd.

"Listen up, everyone!"

"Hold the palace gate to the death!"

……

The four forces rendezvoused in the city, then made straight for the Imperial Palace.

At the palace gate, the Imperial Guard stood ready in tight formation.

Inside the Emperor's sleeping chambers, upon hearing the report brought up by the Imperial Guard, the figure in bright yellow fell silent for a long while.

The Imperial Guard kneeling on the ground was on pins and needles.

Why doesn't Your Majesty say anything?

Just as he was thinking this, the hem of bright-yellow robes was already before his eyes, followed by a hoarse voice from above.

"Take… Zhen, to go look."

Shi Gui, who had disguised himself as the Shunhe Emperor, followed behind with a somewhat guilty conscience.

Seeing that the Imperial Guard hadn't suspected a thing, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Actually, he was worrying over nothing.

The other party was just an ordinary Imperial Guard — this was his first time beholding the Son of Heaven's face; he didn't even know whether the Emperor was tall or short, fat or thin, let alone his voice.

How could he possibly suspect anything?

Stepping down from the imperial palanquin, Shi Gui felt the few Bamboo Tubes hidden beneath his broad cloak, a trace of resolve in his eyes.

But before he had taken two steps, a bucket of water came splashing down on him head-on.

"Who?!"

Xu Mountain drew his sword and rushed over.

"Protect His Majesty! Quickly, protect His Majesty!"

Shi Gui hurriedly checked the Bamboo Tubes beneath his cloak.

"Don't bother — they're soaked, they won't light!"

A small, thin Imperial Guard beside him tossed aside the water bucket in his hand, darted forward in a flash to grab Shi Gui by the collar, and shouted at the Imperial Guard who were about to rush forward.

"Nobody move!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Shi Gui froze, forgetting even to struggle.

"Hua Ru? How could it be you?"

Hua Ru ignored him, only looking at Xu Mountain.

"Listen carefully to his voice."

"The Shunhe Emperor already fled! Your Emperor has abandoned you!"

"Having you guard the palace gate was nothing but to buy time for himself!"

"Are you really going to keep laying down your lives for an Emperor like that?!"

As she spoke, she ripped the human-skin mask off Shi Gui's face in one go, revealing a clean-shaven, fair-skinned face.

"Ah! How could this be?"

"His Majesty fled, His Majesty abandoned us and fled?"

The Imperial Guard now panicked even more completely; the morale that had been so hard to rally scattered, leaving nothing behind.

"Then what are we even guarding the gate for?"

"Right! Just open the gate and let the Cheng Family Army in!"

The Gunpowder was ruined, the Imperial Guard thrown into chaos — Shi Gui didn't care about any of this, not even a flicker of expression on his face.

As long as His Majesty escaped, that was enough.

Just then, a voice came from outside the gate.

"Listen up, people inside — you're surrounded!"

"Don't put up pointless resistance, open the palace gate at once!"

Hearing this voice, Xu Mountain's eyes were full of conflict; he gripped his fists so tightly his knuckles went white, his eyes squeezed shut.

If His Majesty were in the palace, he would have fought the rebels to the death — to enter the Imperial Palace, they would have to step over his corpse!

But His Majesty wasn't here, His Majesty had already abandoned the city and fled — was there any need for them to keep holding out?

That person outside was right — why make pointless sacrifices?

He had to think about the brothers behind him.

Thinking this, he suddenly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice.

"Open the gate!"

With a long creak, the heavy palace gates were pushed open.

Seeing Cheng Old Madam and Cheng Sitao at the very front, Xu Mountain flung his Long Sword to the ground with a loud clang and lowered his head in agony.

"We surrender."

Cheng Sitao was about to urge his Horse through the gate when he was suddenly stopped by Cheng Old Madam beside him.

"Wait!"

Having said that, she glanced sideways toward those behind her.

"Bring the person over!"

Soon, two soldiers escorted the Shunhe Emperor over.

"How dare you!"

"Release me! Don't touch me! I can walk on my own!"

Hearing that voice, Shi Gui's eyes went wide in disbelief, filled with utter despair.

How could Your Majesty have been captured so quickly?

The Shunhe Emperor looked up at the Cheng Family grandfather and grandson seated on their tall war-horses.

How truly ironic!

To think there would come a day when he had to look up at someone else!

"My suspicions back then were right after all — your Cheng Family has been plotting rebellion for a long time, haven't you?!"

"I only regret that I was soft-hearted back then and failed to cut you traitors down at the root!"

He covertly shot Shi Gui a look.

What's wrong with that Servant?

Why hasn't he found a chance to come over yet?

Just a few more meters closer, and once the Gunpowder is detonated, the Cheng Family will all be caught in one net!