Chapter 387: Kill the enemy! Luo'er bravely rescues the Empress Dowager!

Li Qingluo listened carefully to the secret affairs of the previous dynasty.

"Died in the Zhong family? How could that be? Isn't the Zhong family the maternal grandparents' house of this prince?"

Pei Lao Furen: "Yes, it's the Zhong family."

"One could say that the Wen Chang Hou mansion's status back then was dozens of times more prosperous and powerful than its standing in the court today."

"They had a Noble Consort in the family, and the prince was greatly favored; even if there was already a crown prince back then, how could they not harbor ulterior motives?"

"But the current emperor, even back when he was crown prince, already displayed an outstanding imperial bearing that was hard to conceal."

"Nevertheless, the emperor's favor still caused the Zhong family to harbor second thoughts."

"How can one tolerate others snoring beside the bed?"

"So she took action."

Pei Lao Furen's 'she' refers to the present Empress Dowager, who was the empress back then.

Pei Lao Furen: "How could she possibly stand by and watch someone snatch away what belonged to her and her son?"

"Back then she schemed to have that prince die in the Zhong family; at first the Zhong family thought it was an accident, feeling only grief, as if the heavens had collapsed and the earth split."

"Later, after detecting something amiss and uncovering the truth, they went to complain to Emperor Taizu, but by then the Imperial Noble Consort had already gone mad."

"The Zhong family ultimately missed a move, being one step slow; more than half of the court's power was already in the Empress's hands."

"Even Emperor Taizu could only swallow his blood and endure that heartache, merely sending the Empress to the cold palace."

"Yet the crown prince's position was still preserved for Emperor Yan."

"Only when the current emperor ascended the throne did she leave the cold palace and take up the high position of Empress Dowager."

"The Zhong family was forcibly pacified by Emperor Taizu back then, and over the years they have neither contested nor grabbed anything, appearing to have let go of everything, but they likely already hate Emperor Yan and the Empress Dowager mother and son to the core."

"Although on the surface the Zhong family seems to be in its heyday, these years no member of the Zhong family has risen above the third rank, and no woman from the family has been able to enter the six palaces of the inner court."

"Although the Zhong family appears prosperous on the surface, it can no longer return to its former mighty strength."

"I also heard that the Zhong family's six sons are all outstanding talents, yet they have been continually suppressed, making promotion difficult."

"Now they have suddenly colluded with the Lotus Sect to rebel; hearing this, I am not at all surprised."

Li Qingluo wondered: "If the Zhong family is a hidden danger, why hasn't His Majesty considered gradually eliminating them over these years?"

Pei Lao Furen: "I heard it was because Emperor Taizu felt guilty, so on his deathbed he gave the current emperor a verbal edict."

"The edict required the emperor to swear that, as long as the Zhong family harbored no rebellious intent, Emperor Yan would protect the Zhong clan's prosperity for three generations."

"After three generations, all grudges would be settled."

"However, the Zhong family themselves did not last three generations."

"Li Qingluo could now understand."

"The Zhong family's sudden rebellion stems from deep-seated grudges and long-standing hatred."

"Moreover, they are dissatisfied with the current emperor's treatment of the Zhong family."

"It's like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually pushing the Zhong family to the point of rebellion……"

"It's also because Emperor Yan has become senile in his old age."

"Clearly, they used to guard against the Zhong family."

"Now they actually gave the Zhong family a chance to rebel together in Xia Miao, allowing them to find an opportunity for revolt."

"Of course, Li Qingluo only dared to think this in her heart."

"As for the Zhong family, a mere beckoning from the Lotus Sect was enough for them to jump onto the Lotus Sect's pirate ship."

"Moreover, the Zhong family's ambitions are still great this time; seeing that the Empress Dowager also came to Xia Miao, they actually wanted to wipe out both Emperor Yan and the Empress Dowager mother‑son pair, and even the Crown Prince and Empress mother‑son pair, all in one fell swoop."

"However……"

"Li Qingluo suddenly shuddered."

"Could the Empress and Crown Prince also be involved in this matter?"

"After all, the Crown Prince and the Lotus Sect also have a tangled relationship that's hard to clarify."

"Grandmother, the Zhong family cannot win."

"The Zhong family thought this was a tremendous opportunity."

"But despite all their calculations, they failed to anticipate that Duan Rongshi would come directly to this Southern Mountain Villa to report upon returning from suppressing the bandits."

"This might be the Zhong family's only oversight."

"Therefore, Zhong Liulang has been wandering in the forest, following the two princes and the princess."

"And the Zhong family also used fake civilians to lure Emperor Yan's entourage back to the Southern Mountain Villa first."

"They wanted to trap them like a turtle in an urn, shut the doors, and assassinate the ruler to seize the throne."

"But with Duan Rongshi present, today's outcome is certainly not up to the Zhong family to decide."

"Just then, another group rushed in from outside, shouting: 'The Empress Dowager old demon is right here——'"

"Kill!"

"Take the Empress Dowager old demon's head to avenge the Zhong family's great grudge——"

"Sha Wu brandished his knife and went forward to meet them."

"Not only did this group number more than ten, each individual was highly skilled."

"Li Qingluo led Pei Lao Furen in retreating backward."

"Suddenly, a long arrow burst through the window, nearly piercing the Empress Dowager's head."

"The Empress Dowager let out a startled cry, and in utter panic she immediately crawled under the table."

"Fang GuGu shouted: 'Guard the emperor! Guard the emperor——'"

"Protect the Empress Dowager——"

"Li Qingluo picked up the Azure Fall Sword: 'Grandmother, Luo'er will go check. You stay inside to protect the Empress Dowager, and wait for Luo'er to return.'"

Pei Lao Furen also had no nonsense: "Luo'er, your life is of utmost importance!"

Li Qingluo and Que'er followed and rushed out to kill.

She looked up and saw a tall young man in black clothes standing on the wall.

He resembled Zhong Liulang by seventy percent.

She immediately guessed that he must be one of the young masters of the Zhong family.

As soon as she appeared, he immediately drew his bow, shot an arrow, and lunged at her.

Li Qingluo's bow and arrow fell onto the horse's back.

All she had on her was the Azure Fall Sword.

So she and Que'er could only hastily swing their swords to block the arrows; after dodging behind a pillar, she shouted loudly: "Zhong family young master!"

"There are only innocent women, children, and elders here; you Zhong family, even if you intend to rebel and seize the throne, there's no need to massacre everyone."

"And there are many more innocent lives—must they also die in your Zhong family's treason?"

"Zhong Sanlang: 'Stop the nonsense.'"

"Today, all of you must die—!"

"Just consider it as being buried with the Duan clan."

"It will also fulfill your loyalty and righteousness."

"Once we have slaughtered you all cleanly, everything the Zhong family has done today will be unknown to the world."

"Li Qingluo: 'Then the Zhong family is really living in a big dream!'"

After saying that, Li Qingluo turned and shot her own sleeve arrow.

Que'er then brandished her sword, lifting Li Qingluo to block the incoming arrows.

Li Qingluo's flying arrow struck that person's thigh, and the successive arrows he shot also wounded Que'er's one arm.

Li Qingluo brought Que'er and shoved her into the house.

She then stood at the doorway, blocking the incessantly attacking experts, as well as Zhong Sanlang's incessantly flying arrows.

Seeing that person's archery skill was superb, he kept shooting arrows at her from that side, while the arrows also flew into the house.

Li Qingluo could only hurriedly retreat back.

After she retreated back inside, she hurriedly closed the door.

Then she lay prone and returned to Pei Lao Furen's side, who was hiding beside the pillar.

"Grandma, outside the three kills and two grannies can still hold off for a while. But you all need to first find a safer place to hide!"

"This person's archery skill is superb, and the people he brings are also highly skilled in martial arts."

"It seems he is determined to take the Empress Dowager's life!"

After Li Qingluo finished speaking, the Empress Dowager trembled all over.

She lifted her head, her somewhat cloudy eyes gazing at Li Qingluo.

"Ha, haha…"

"That despicable person's descendant is really promising."

"After all these years, you actually still want to avenge her and her?"

"Haha… haha…"

"Fine, then I'll go out to die, using my life to offset theirs—mother and son! This whole farce should end, right?"

The Empress Dowager, speaking, trembled and was about to crawl up.

Her eyes also showed a resolve to die.

Li Qingluo firmly grabbed her.

"Empress Dowager!"

"The Zhong family is not avenging Noble Consort Zhong."

"It is because they resent how, back then, you exterminated them and destroyed all their improper desires, giving rise to their unwillingness."

"They do not hate that Noble Consort Zhong and her son were destroyed by you."

"But rather that everything of the Zhong family was blocked by you."

"No matter what, the Zhong family's treason is a capital crime."

"Regardless of what happened back then, they are now wantonly slaughtering innocents, blood-washing this Southern Palace annex; that is the Zhong family's fault."

"Let's hurry and leave!"

Li Qingluo, without hesitation, forcibly pulled the Empress Dowager toward the innermost part and then opened the rear window.

"There was no one outside, but at this moment crawling out would surely make one a target."

"Only hiding in this room is still relatively safe."

Li Qingluo hurriedly pulled out the cabinets and the bed.

Seeing her actions, Fang Gugu and the Empress Dowager were shocked and widened their eyes.

"Pei Lao Furen gave a dry laugh twice: 'Heh… this girl, she's just full of inexhaustible ox-like strength, making the Empress Dowager laugh.'"

"The Empress Dowager sighed: 'Great strength, good, good!'"

"Tonight it has a use, so this great strength is certainly good."

Li Qingluo made the bed and cabinets into a safe barrier for them.

"You just stay here. Besides, if someone sets fire, you must absolutely not come out!"

After saying that, Li Qingluo again picked up the Azure Fall Sword and rushed out to kill.

Que'er still wanted to follow, but Li Qingluo glared and sent her back.

"Do you still want to distract me?"

First look after your own wound, take care of my grandmother!

Que'er thought back to when she herself had been a burden, and could only bite her lip, feeling wronged, as she watched Li Qingluo leave alone again.

Pei Lao Furen also watched her back with worry and reluctance, only wiping the corner of her eyes after she had walked far away.

How could one possibly not worry?

The Empress Dowager weakly comforted her: "This girl, she has big ideas, a heroic and bold nature, is upright and honest, can distinguish right from wrong, and is loyal and affectionate."

She's a lovable good child.

Pei Lao Furen looked at her, thinking: "Now can it finally be seen?"

Empress Dowager: "Rest assured. I understand in my heart the matter between Sha wu and her."

Pei Lao Furen warmly stepped forward to support her: "Empress Dowager, don't speak first, rest well."

Outside on the wall top, Sha wu had already forced Zhong Sanlang down.

And Li Qingluo also rushed into the courtyard, becoming entangled in combat with these people.

But she was actually already utterly exhausted.

She was merely forcing herself to keep swinging her sword.

Until someone's blood splattered onto her eyes.

She couldn't help but blink, and thus didn't see Zhong Sanlang's incoming arrow—

When the arrow was three cun from her chest, it was deflected by a long sword.

Duan Rongshi brought the guards and charged in.

Sha wu also swiftly took the opportunity, cutting off the hand that Zhong Sanlang held his bow with.

Li Qingluo also, in coordination with Duan Rongshi, struck back and killed a fighter they had been entangled with for a long time.

A booming sound came from outside.

There was also the angry roar of the horn.

In the heavy downpour, Duan Rongshi grasped her hand: "The Northern Map Army has arrived."