Chapter 578

Zongzheng Wuheng joyfully discovered that he really wasn't in pain anymore!

"You all go out."

"Don't give this prince the chance to regret not killing you!"

After confirming this, he immediately turned away, stopped looking at them, and issued an expulsion order.

A Duo and Jin Ning picked up their things and also left quickly.

After they went out, A Duo touched her waist and coldly smiled: "Good thing my pinch was concealed. He won't notice the flesh on her waist turning black and blue."

"Master, why didn't Junior Uncle simply let us kill Zongzheng Wuheng?"

A Duo has no good feelings toward anyone of the Zongzheng clan.

Even though Zongzheng Wuheng has actually been fairly decent to her these days.

His attentive care everywhere is no different from protecting a treasure.

However, A Duo clearly knows that he's only afraid that if she gets hurt, he'll also suffer.

So, she wasn't fooled by some of Zongzheng Wuheng's sugar-coated bullets.

Jin Ning: "Your junior uncle naturally has her own plans."

"Any rash move by this Zongzheng Wuheng will only be courting death."

"We don't need to know either."

"Right, A Duo, once things here settle, we should indeed return to MiaoJiang."

"When we left, we ambushed several other sects; they must have suffered heavy losses. Otherwise they wouldn't keep coming to Nan'an in waves to scout and look for us, apparently seeking revenge."

"Just going back like that, aren't you afraid?"

A Duo firmly shook her head: "Master, disciple isn't afraid!"

"They destroyed our Witch Moon Sect; are we still afraid of them?"

"But Master, we only have two people now; if we just go back like this… how should we first protect ourselves?"

"Also, will Junior Uncle not be coming back with us?"

Jin Ning: "Of course we can't just foolishly return directly like that."

"As for your junior uncle, she's already helped us enough."

"Without her, we wouldn't have so smoothly taken revenge and killed Zongzheng Wuxie. Moreover, she was originally forcibly kept by us in the Witch Moon Sect; now it's time to return her freedom."

"She doesn't belong to MiaoJiang."

"Her world lies outside."

"By Prince Su's side. Also in a broader expanse."

"Right, from your junior uncle's letter with her elder brother, I heard your senior sister is already pregnant. We could perhaps first go to Rongle to check."

"The plan to return to MiaoJiang can be made in detail after we get past this."

Upon hearing this good news, A Duo couldn't help but be delighted: "Yes, Master!"

"Our Witch Moon Sect also has successors now! I hope Senior Sister gives birth to a daughter, so we can pass all the Witch Moon Sect's skills to her!"

Jin Ning nodded, her eyes full of anticipation for the future.

The second day was already the three-day appointment that Duan Rongshi and Zhang Tingji had with them.

Now the court situation has become increasingly stable.

After all, the Chu Emperor has been missing for so many days.

A household cannot go a day without a master, nor a state a day without a ruler.

Therefore, the ministers of the crown prince's faction in the court have consecutively for several days petitioned to let the crown prince directly ascend the throne.

The crown prince has yet to make a firm decision, also fearing that if the Chu Emperor is truly found again, then sitting on the throne he would be accused of usurping the throne.

He does not want to obtain the position illegitimately.

Moreover, he does not want to suffer the wrath of his violent father emperor.

Not only that, some of the fourth prince's followers have remained silent, not speaking.

They seem to be watching like tigers, looking for an opportunity to let the fourth prince make a comeback.

Since the fourth prince fell, the crown prince has frantically begun to suppress the fourth prince's faction.

But with the Qin King's support, the fourth prince's forces have, over these years, become deeply entrenched, occupying the entire court inside and out, making them extremely difficult to eradicate.

Until three days prior, Zhang Tingji and Yang Qilang brought back the corpses of the Qin King and the fourth prince, Zongzheng Wuxie, together to Nan'an.

Moreover, rumors spread throughout the imperial city that Zongzheng Wuxie is actually not the Chu Emperor's bloodline at all.

Rather, he is the illegitimate offspring of the Qin King and a shamaness.

That Qin King, back then, swapped his illegitimate child with the princess born to Consort Ning, passing off his own bloodline as a prince, which is why he has wholeheartedly supported the fourth prince, hoping to have him contend with the crown prince for the heir position.

These rumors have been spread vividly, not seeming like fabrication.

Moreover, Consort Ning is said to have gone mad.

Every day she wails in the palace, demanding her princess.

The Qin King's wolfish ambitions have been completely exposed to the world.

Upon hearing these news, the crown prince in the Eastern Palace has almost laughed himself crazy.

"The fourth prince isn't even the father emperor's bloodline?"

"This Qin King uncle really is bold as brass, daring to do such a thing?"

"And the father emperor was actually deceived by him for so many years. The Qin King uncle's death was not unjust!"

"Consort Ning is indeed pitiable, but this way my predicament would be solved, wouldn't it?"

"Now look at those fourth prince's faction in the court—how can they still oppose me?"

"I am the only legitimate heir apparent!"

However, the rumor that the Qin King was the true culprit who kidnapped the Chu Emperor was still circulating.

But now it seems that someone else was actually behind the kidnapping of the Chu Emperor.

The Crown Prince personally summoned Yang Qilang.

He asked whether he had seen what identities those rebel traitors actually had.

Yang Qilang said with absolute certainty, "Your Highness, those are wandering bandits of the jianghu. Your Majesty was indeed first abducted from the palace by that rebel Qin King."

"Only later did those wandering bandits appear, seized Your Majesty again, and even killed the Qin King and Zongzheng Wuxie!"

This was the testimony jointly given by Yang Qilang, Zhang Tinggui, the dandy sons of the Gong and Xie families, and Qingyangzi.

It was a royal secret; who would dare claim they saw the whole truth?

Wasn't it that the entire clan that came knocking was annihilated?

They only dared say that they happened to meet right after the two sides had just finished fighting, and that's why they were able to retrieve the bodies of the Qin King and Zongzheng Wuxie.

Yang Qilang, feeling guilty, dared not look at the Crown Prince.

After all, the Yang family had always been a steadfast faction of the Crown Prince.

After all, they are the Crown Prince's maternal clan.

But he could not betray Li Wu!

Putting brotherly ties aside, Li Wu dared to plot something this huge, clearly indicating he would have further schemes.

Moreover, Zhang Tinggui and Yang Qilang inexplicably trusted Li Wu.

They always felt… perhaps he might change Great Chu?

Temporarily defecting and allying with him would cause no serious problem.

In any case, it wouldn't hinder the Crown Prince's ascension.

The Crown Prince naturally would not doubt him.

In a fit of anger, he immediately ordered the Qin King and Zongzheng Wuxie to be thrown into a mass grave, letting wild dogs gnaw their father‑and‑son corpses.

He further proclaimed to the world: the Qin King and his son, treacherous rebels, were disloyal and unfit to be interred in the Zongzheng clan's imperial tomb.

Then the Crown Prince called Zhang Tinggui over and asked more clearly.

He learned that those rebels not only employed bizarre tactics and possessed formidable martial skill, but also uncovered the true nature of the Qin King and his illegitimate son.

To this day, the Chu Emperor remains in their hands.

The Chu Emperor's life and death have become even more uncertain.

But the Qin King is dead; how could the tyrant Chu Emperor remain unharmed?

Upon hearing the news, the Crown Prince collapsed on the steps of Qianyuan Hall, wailing loudly.

"Father, it seems his fate is already grim."

"But I will not give up continuing to search for Father."

"Regardless, the living must be seen, the dead must be seen as corpses!"

"I fear those rebels might hold Father hostage, using the Son of Heaven to command the vassals. Then Great Chu… would not fall into turmoil and war?"

The ministers were all deeply worried.

Each one wept and knelt, begging the Crown Prince to ascend the throne soon to stabilize the court.

And to promptly revive the governance and military that the Chu Emperor had neglected, they must quickly rebuild them.

In their hearts, the ministers actually hoped the Chu Emperor would soon die out there.

That would be Heaven's justice, a tremendous boon for Great Chu.

Otherwise this nation would sooner or later be completely destroyed by the tyrant.

However, no one dared to show it.

The Crown Prince was beset with difficulties.

But seeing the entire court of civil and military officials pleading, he had no choice but, amid the ministers' cries, cover his eyes with his sleeve and reluctantly step onto the throne of the Nine‑Five Sovereign.

Your Highness!

"A sealed urgent letter has arrived from outside the city—"

Here, the Chu Emperor lifted a slit and looked out the window.

His eyes were filled with green.

The sea is vast for fish to leap, the sky is high for birds to soar.

Fish in the river are clearly visible in the clear water.

Flowers by the roadside exude fragrance.

The farmhouses in the fields tower over people.

Clusters of bountiful fruit hang together.

Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, he seemed able to smell the sweet scent of corn and the fragrance of wheat ears.

The Chu Emperor only recalled that the last time he came to the countryside, he was with Yue'er.

At that time, he and Yue'er slipped out of the towering palace walls.

She had not yet grown up.

He himself was still just an extremely caring older brother.

It was their first time tasting the freedom of this world.

Their first embrace of the wider sky beyond.

If they were merely an ordinary brother and sister, what would happen?

Perhaps he would not develop those unwarranted longing and possessive desires.

Yue'er would also not be forced into a distant marriage to another country, nor would she meet a tragic death in a foreign land.

They will surely be a brother and sister who can peacefully spend their whole lives.

The Chu Emperor's tears fell dazedly.

He couldn't help but look forward, gazing at Duan Rongshi's back.

Although he again donned the human‑skin mask, regaining Li Wu's identity.

But knowing he was there, the Chu Emperor's heart felt an inexplicable peace.

Only because he is of Yue Er's bloodline.

The Chu Emperor felt regretful; only now does he understand what he missed by having stayed away from this child before.

"Be careful—"

With a sudden urgent shout.

A flying arrow sliced past the Chu Emperor's eyes.

A guard was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse.

Sha Zi, standing nearby, immediately leapt onto the horse, lifted it high and jumped away quickly, preventing anyone from being trampled to death.

"An assassin—"

"Stand guard!"

All the guards and Sha Zi instantly drew their knives and swords.

And everyone halted in place.

Today they must escort the Chu Emperor back to the palace.

Thus, for safety, they take the official road.

But now they have been ambushed!

Someone knows the Chu Emperor is here and intends to kill him—

Who is it?

Who is the traitor?

Everyone watches each other.

When the rain of arrows comes down like a storm, the guards and Sha Zi instantly react at top speed.

"Southwest!"

Sha shouted loudly.

Then he led his men, fending off arrows while charging toward the southwest to break through.

The people around the Chu Emperor's carriage gradually dispersed.

Soon, he was left alone, standing in place.

A few flying arrows quickly pierced the carriage.

Had the Chu Emperor not already taken precaution by hiding in the northeast corner and holding a shield, he would by now have been pierced through.

The surroundings gradually fell silent.

The Chu Emperor seemed to have been abandoned.

He was about to step out and look when the carriage curtain was lifted.

"Father Emperor, your son has come to rescue you—"

Zong Zheng Wu Heng struggled to crawl on the carriage, and upon seeing the Chu Emperor still alive, his face broke into joy.