Chapter 542: Protect the Throne! Eyes Turned Blood‑Red?

"Foolish ruler, bring your life—"

The heir of Marquis Wei Wu let out a loud shout, drew the soft sword hidden at his waist, and leapt forward to thrust.

Chen Yi led four Imperial Guard squads to the Fourth Prince's manor.

Today, in this wine pool and meat forest, all the guards surrounding the foolish ruler combined are no match for the father and son, the Marquis Wei Wu.

He, the Marquis Wei Wu, is not only the Great General who has guarded the border passes for thirty years, defending the nation.

He is also a peerless master whose martial skill surpasses anyone in all of Chu.

His legitimate eldest son could never be such a mediocre fellow, could he?

Seeing his son take action, the Marquis Wei Wu could only spring to his feet.

He turned, swung the short blade in his hand, and the four guards behind him fell to the ground in an instant.

The entire wine pool and meat forest erupted into chaos in an instant.

The servants of each household protected their masters; some, terrified, rolled into the pool.

And the heir of Marquis Wei Wu had already reached the stage.

The Chu Emperor almost failed to dodge; the heir's sword nearly pierced the emperor's throat.

He fell to the ground, and while Grandfather Ji shouted in panic, "Protect the throne—protect the throne—", the Chu Emperor swiftly picked up the sword from the ground and raised it himself.

All the guards rushed out.

However, only a few could get close to the heir of Marquis Wei Wu.

One after another were slain by the heir, falling to the ground; as the number of people surrounding the Chu Emperor dwindled, his expression showed no hint of tension.

The heir of Marquis Wei Wu vaguely sensed something was wrong.

Why could this tyrant remain so calm and composed?

It was as if he had long foreseen what would happen and had no worry about the ensuing situation.

Is it confidence, or… is all this part of his calculation?

Although the heir thought the Chu Emperor was more of a foolish fool, when he considered the emperor's methods… his chest involuntarily thumped heavily a few times.

His eyes darkened, and he swiftly eliminated all the guards on the stage.

"Foolish ruler, you are brutal and unkind, slaughtering the innocent and harming the loyal—"

"For years you have accomplished nothing, and have plagued all of Chu, leaving the people in misery; the border soldiers suffer because you waste money and cut their pay beyond endurance."

"Today I will act on behalf of Heaven and kill you, foolish ruler—"

Just as he raised his sword again to press toward the Chu Emperor, a figure in silver armor wielding a long sword burst out from the darkness beside him.

With a 'ding', a sword deflected the heir's killing strike.

The person was unusually tall, broad‑shouldered and narrow‑waisted, with a pair of long, straight mantis legs, and an aura of killing intent that could not be hidden as he closed in on the sword tip.

Seeing him, the heir's hair stood on end involuntarily.

This man's martial skill was certainly not inferior to his own.

"You, are you Li Wu?"

So the foolish ruler feels fearless only because this person is present?

Duan Rongshi: "Who am I, and does it have anything to do with you Marquis Wei Wu and your son's treason?"

"Anyway, today you will all die beneath my sword."

"You! Ignorant fool, arrogant words. How could you, alone, take down the two of us, father and son?"

"Seeking death!"

Here, the heir of Marquis Wei Wu and Duan Rongshi fought one‑on‑one.

Meanwhile, the Marquis Wei Wu himself nearly slaughtered all the charging guards.

He was drenched in blood, as if back on a battlefield, facing an army of thousands rather than the citizens he once defended with his life.

He killed wave after wave.

His eyes turned blood‑red with killing; anyone who came near was cut down without mercy.

The other officials and their families, seeing the scene, were already terrified to the point of almost wetting their pants.

Families clutched together; those who could run hurried toward the bamboo forest.

Those who couldn't escape hid in the corners.

But the royal relatives seated in high positions could not escape at all.

For example, the Seventh Princess.

For example, Sixth Prince Zongzheng Wuheng.

The other princes and princesses were also blocked in the middle, unable to hide, and the attendants dared not rush forward to rescue.

In front lay the wine pool already mixed with human blood; behind was a fake mountain.

Above was the high platform where the heir of Marquis Wei Wu stood.

Below, Marquis Wei Wu had already become blood‑red with killing.

Surrounded on all sides, these princes and princesses had no way to escape.

But Zongzheng Wuheng knew that this master‑disciple pair from MiaoJiang must have a way!

"What are you still waiting for? Run!"

Zongzheng Wuheng scolded Jin Hua and A Duo.

A Duo's life is linked to his; he fears any slip on her part.

Otherwise, the master and disciple would be ground into mush, and he would not care.

Yet they remained calmly seated, only looking at Li Qingluo, who was equally unflustered.

Li Qingluo is a madwoman, need not mention; what cruel deed could this woman not commit?

Zongzhu Wuhen even strongly suspected that everything tonight targeting the Fourth Prince was probably her doing.

But he no longer wanted to torment himself to death.

At least, now is not the time.

"If you don't leave, I'll expose your identities—"

Zongzhu Wuhen had no choice but to threaten Master Jinni and her disciple.

A Duo rose, picked up a cup of wine, and slipped something into it right in front of Zongzhu Wuhen.

Then she walked over, ignoring how Zongzhu Wuhen resisted, pinched his mouth and forcibly poured it down his throat.

"Sleep."

With a soft murmur, Zongzhu Wuhen's head soon drooped limp.

"What have they done to my Sixth Imperial Brother——"

The Seventh Princess was already frightened, yet she did not happen to see A Duo administering the drug to Zongzhu Wuhen.

She anxiously rose to go over, but Li Qingluo grabbed her tightly.

"Princess, Marquis Weiwu has already come to kill."

Looking up, Marquis Weiwu was indeed coming this way to kill.

Is he intending to kill a few more princes or princesses to vent his anger?

The Seventh Princess turned deathly pale from fright: "What do we do?"

"Father Emperor, I'm worried about Father Emperor——"

Li Qingluo: "You'd better worry about yourself first!"

With Duan Rongshi present, the Chu Emperor will certainly not die tonight.

But if this Seventh Princess doesn't leave, I can't guarantee her little life.

Thinking of this, Li Qingluo seized the Seventh Princess and hurriedly ran toward the artificial hill.

This artificial hill has no hollow underneath, so if one wants to hide on it, the only way is to climb up.

The Seventh Princess was still trembling with fear, but Li Qingluo had already lightly stepped up in a few paces.

Que'er followed closely behind.

As the two lowered their heads again, a group of people below were looking up at them.

Master Jinni and A Duo also pushed Zongzhu Wuhen over.

The two dropped Zongzhu Wuhen and quickly climbed up the artificial hill.

The Seventh Princess flailed her hands and feet, exerting all her strength, but no matter what, she just couldn't climb up.

Before Li Qingluo could speak, the palace maid and granny beside the Seventh Princess, already anxious, exclaimed: "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and carry the princess on your back!"

"Miss Nangong, don't forget your status. You are merely a merchant's wife; the princess's favor today lets you follow by her side, yet this blessing—do you not know to be grateful and repay the princess?"

"If you don't come down now, you will certainly be held accountable afterward!"