Chapter 428: On the city wall, exposing the crown prince and Qin Yu's secret affair!

"Zongzheng Yu'er—"

"I will kill you—"

"Your mother is the DaLiang princess, and your uncle is the DaLiang emperor!"

"Moreover, you are actually a Great Chu princess, having grown up in DaLiang since childhood! You have received countless affection, beloved by the people! The blessings of both nations reside upon you."

"Yet you, you single-handedly fostered and created an evil sect, bringing disaster to the nation and harm to the people, committing heinous crimes; you didn't repent in time, and even still want to drag me down with you."

"Speak—who exactly ordered you to do this!?"

"But your father, the Great Chu emperor!?"

"Does he intend to shake the foundations of my DaLiang state, seeking to seize my DaLiang's territory?"

"If you can still repent in time, I will leave you an intact corpse."

"Otherwise, I will have you drawn and quartered, your body shattered into myriad pieces."

"Zongzheng Yu'er heard his words, then laughed aloud to the sky again: 'Hahaha…'"

"Duan Rongyin."

"As expected, you love no one."

"Crown Princess, did you hear that?"

"He constantly claims to regard you as vital as his own life, yet all he does is ask him to speak a few honest words, and he dares not utter a single one."

"He isn't afraid; I really will kill you!"

"Having said that, Zongzheng Yu'er really thrust a blade into the crown princess's abdomen."

"The crown princess let out a muffled groan, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth and flowing down the cloth."

"Her face was filled with pain."

"And the crown prince, even though his heart ached, merely stared fixedly at this scene."

"He would absolutely never ruin his future for a woman."

"He even coldly waved his hand, directing the hidden ambush forces to aim at the city wall."

"Zongzheng Yu'er, watching this scene from the city wall, felt no satisfaction at all."

"Only at this moment did she truly see this man, Duan Rongyin, for who he is."

"Back then, she really was blind."

"If he could speak a few honest words for his own crown princess, perhaps her heart would not be so disappointed."

"Because at least that would prove he is still, after all, a person."

"Except that he doesn't love her."

"But now it seems he is nothing but a living beast!"

"Although Zongzheng Yu'er felt angry inside, the helpless disappointment toward everything surged upon her like a flood."

"Zongzheng Yu'er, after all, took a misstep, and every step was wrong."

"Crown Princess, did you see that?"

"He loves no one."

"He, Duan Rongyin, loves only himself."

"The true crown princess, Su Miaoyu, stood together with Li Qingluo at the rear, her face veiled in white gauze, disguised as a maid."

"Merely, Zongzheng Yu'er did not know, so she kept hearing cold sneers beside the ear of the disguised fake crown princess."

"However, Su Miaoyu heard every word of her speech without missing a single one."

"She lowered her gaze slightly, and her pair of icy eyes were likewise filled with disappointment."

"Li Qingluo looked at her; although she said nothing, her gaze still conveyed concern."

"This time, they indeed posed as Lotus Sect members and kidnapped the crown princess."

"But Su Miaoyu's cooperation greatly surprised Li Qingluo."

"I can go with you."

"But please, do not harm my daughter."

"Su Miaoyu had her maid take away the young princess."

"She herself, alone, followed Li Qingluo's people into the underground stone passage of the charity estate."

"Only before ascending the city gate did Li Qingluo likewise appear as a veiled maid and meet her."

"Also disguised as maids were Zhui Yu and Que'er, as well as several other assassins."

"As soon as Li Qingluo appeared, everyone rose to their feet."

"Su Miaoyu immediately understood that this newly appeared veiled maiden was the master of these people."

"However…"

"You aren't Zongzheng Yu'er?"

"Su Miaoyu recognized Qin Yu."

"Therefore, upon seeing her figure, she knew it was not Zongzheng Yu'er who had kidnapped her."

"Who exactly are you all?"

"In this underground stone passage she sat motionless throughout the night."

"She had thought much about her own fate."

"But she never expected that the person who kidnapped her was not Zongzheng Yu'er at all."

"Li Qingluo naturally could not remove her own veil."

"She apologetically told the crown princess, 'Don't be afraid; we will not really harm your life.'"

"However, the crown prince has for years hidden behind the Lotus Sect, using its hands to commit numerous crimes and atrocities."

He, as the Crown Prince, yet colludes with the heretical sect.

Even many officials in the court, because of his collusion with the heretical sect, gather wealth everywhere and form factions for personal gain.

The entire former dynasty is steeped in corruption and miasma, and the harem, because of him, has seen countless innocent lives slain.

Therefore, we must expose his true nature.

Crown Princess: "Do you want to overthrow him again?"

But if it's just up to you, I'm afraid you can't accomplish this!

The power he now holds is not as simple as you imagine.

To return to the Eastern Palace position again, he has spent five years.

He is no longer the honest and gentle Crown Prince of before; he has clad himself in armor and wielded sharp blades.

Moreover, he harbors the ambition to seize whatever he desires.

I advise you to let me go quickly and abandon this matter.

Otherwise, you will surely meet a fate of being smashed to pieces!

The Crown Princess's tone did not sound like a threat.

It sounded more like an urgent admonition to them.

Her composure and calmness left Li Qingluo quite surprised.

I never expected that Duan Rongyin would have such a virtuous and broad-minded Crown Princess.

She truly possesses the demeanor and bearing of a noble lady from a prestigious family.

Such a woman is naturally the unsurpassed choice for the mistress of the world's harem.

Yan Emperor truly gave Duan Rongyin a Crown Princess without flaw.

Li Qingluo: "Whether he remains in the Eastern Palace position is not a result we can decide."

We only expose his true nature to the world.

As for whether the Yan Emperor will continue to dote on this son, and whether the common people will accept such a future heir, that is for them to judge.

The Crown Princess, hearing Li Qingluo's words, wore a stunned expression.

After a long while.

She seemed to have suddenly understood.

"What should I do?"

"I can cooperate with you."

Now not only Li Qingluo, but Zhui Yu and the others were also greatly surprised.

Li Qingluo became even more interested in her: "You don't want us to lose, do you?"

But you are the Crown Princess, sharing honor and disgrace with him; harming his interests is harming your foundation.

Crown Princess, you're not playing us, are you?

Su Miao Yu's face flashed with a hint of annoyance.

"I, Su Miao Yu, am not such a two-faced person!"

"Although I am the Crown Princess,"

"But whether I act as the Crown Princess or not, what does it matter?"

"I am not living very happily; then I might as well do something enjoyable—what harm could there be?"

After saying this, her expression again became faint.

It seemed as if she wanted to collude with Li Qingluo and the others to deal with her own husband, but that was merely a trivial matter.

Li Qingluo thought: "Could this Crown Princess not have been utterly wounded by Duan Rongyin?"

Otherwise, how could she make such an astonishing decision?

In the blink of an eye, she followed Li Qingluo and the others, disguising herself as a maidservant and standing behind Zong Zheng Yuer.

Seeing her double stabbed by Zong Zheng Yuer, while Duan Rongyin was merely furious and resentful, secretly still having his personal guards and the soldiers he brought lie in wait aimed at her, Su Miao Yu merely curled her lips in a cold smile.

Regarding the Crown Prince's decision, she was disappointed yet not at all surprised.

But her heart gradually turned completely cold.

"Zong Zheng Yuer!"

"You dare wound my wife—I will take your life!"

"I will carry out Heaven's will and eradicate you, this treacherous and demonic woman!"

"Shadow Guards!"

"Shoot them all to death!"

"Including Zong Zheng Yuer, kill without pardon—"

He waved his hand and issued a death order.

However, the guards hesitated and dared not act.

They looked at each other.

"Your Highness, the Ladyship is still…"

"Moreover, that is the Princess of Chu…"

The Crown Prince's face was a mix of grief and fury, eventually becoming a few traces of ferocious distortion.

"The Crown Princess understands the greater good; she will surely comprehend my dilemma at this moment."

"If we do not eradicate the Lotus Heretical Sect today, they will continue to bring chaos to the people of DaLiang, harming more innocents."

"For the stability of DaLiang's realm and the peace of its people, Miao Yu—I have let you down."

"Let me bear the infamy of the ages!"

I will spend the rest of my life atoning for you……

If you want to hate, then hate me!

As for Princess Qin Yu! She is the leader of the heretical Lotus Sect, and from now on she is no longer a princess of the State of Liang!

She abducted the Crown Princess, burned, looted, committed countless heinous sins—too many to record!

Today, I must use her blood to mourn the innocent lives lost because of her——

Attack!

The onlooking crowds, hearing that killing was about to begin, dared not stay and all fled in a panicked stampede.

However, how could such a packed street disperse so easily?

The Dark Shadow Guard, the Eastern Palace guards, and a portion of the Forbidden Army summoned by the Crown Prince's order all rushed out in an instant.

Arrows flew toward the city wall.

In the crowd, they seized anyone from the Lotus Sect and killed them.

Yet the crowd was chaotic—how could innocents not be harmed?

However, the Lotus Sect had also come prepared.

Zhui Yu and his companions stepped forward, raising their swords to deftly deflect all incoming arrows.

Li Qingluo then hurriedly withdrew with the true Su Miaoyu, then tossed out a box from a hidden place.

Zongzheng Yu'er, catch!

Zongzheng Yu'er lay prone on the city wall, his face grim.

After embracing the box, her resolve and the emperor's cold ferocity surged forth, no longer restrained.

Zongzheng Yu'er gave a cold laugh: "Duan Rongyin, your heart is still as ruthless."

You could have saved your Crown Princess, but you feared the world learning of your cruel, selfish nature, so you hypocritically posed as a hero who sacrificed his wife for the greater good, claiming to act for the people.

Duan Rongyin, not even a water vat could hold you.

If that's the case, then don't blame me, Zongzheng Yu'er, for forgetting our past affection!

Having said that, she flung open the box, scattering its contents of letters to the wind.

Duan Rongyin!

I, Zongzheng Yu'er, gave you my purity at fifteen!

You once promised me ten thousand li of rivers and mountains as betrothal, the dragon throne and precious seat as matchmaker.

You promised me a lifetime, likening me to your heart and liver, saying that losing me would be like losing your life!

You promised to build an ideal nation with me, to share your realm and altars.

You said you would have the world revere us as two sages.

You said——

I, Zongzheng Yu'er, am your true confidant in life.

Only I understand your vengeful ambition, able to accompany you on the road to the Yellow Springs and to the azure skies above.

Duan Rongyin——the Lotus Sect's present state is thanks to you!

My Macau Gambling House, my Spring Banquet Hall, my Hall of Blessings—every penny I earned laid the cornerstone for your return to the Eastern Palace today.

Now I, Zongzheng Yu'er, have fallen, yet you cast me aside.

You who break your promises will surely be struck by heavenly thunder!