Chapter 579: Father Emperor, your favoritism has gone this far! As long as you have Rongshi!

Zongzheng Langri: "How is it you?"

What about Rongshi?

The Chu Emperor anxiously wanted to rush out to see what condition Duan Rongshi was in.

Zongzheng Wuheng grabbed him and stopped him.

Father Emperor!

It's him again, Duan Rongshi, Duan Rongshi!

How could I not be your son, Father Emperor?

Even if he is your aunt's son, he is only your nephew!

I am your own flesh and blood, Father Emperor.

Zongzheng Langri kicked him down in anger.

Get lost!

You worthless wretch, how dare you compare yourself to Rongshi?

Zongzheng Wuheng fell to the ground, staring in disbelief at the Chu Emperor who had burst out.

Father Emperor——

I am a worthless waste, but do you know who crippled my legs?

It's none other than Duan Rongshi and that Li Qingluo!

They, as a couple, locked me in a stone prison, humiliating me like a prisoner, severed the tendons in my hands and feet, bullied and insulted me like a dog, and finally smashed my legs to pieces!

What I hate most is them.

Why do you insist on having Duan Rongshi?

Chu Emperor: "Enough!"

Your situation today, isn't it self-inflicted?

If you had secretly gone to DaLiang to provoke them, would they have treated you this way?

You must have done something even worse.

Otherwise, given Rongshi and Li Qingluo's nature, they wouldn't be this cruel. Not exterminating you completely is already the utmost benevolence and righteousness; what more do you want?

Zongzheng Wuheng lifted his head to keep the tears from flowing quickly.

But unable to control himself, he still blurred his eyes.

He even started to laugh.

Each sound was like self-mockery, even more like pity for himself.

They all say that, in this world, aside from your grandmother and aunt, you show no affection or righteousness to anyone.

Indeed, I have now witnessed it.

You favor him so much just because he is your aunt's son!

I went to DaLiang, wasn't it for our Great Chu?

I wanted to steal the underground city defense map and present it to you, to make you happy.

But you actually said I deserved it... Father Emperor, you are unfit to be a father, unfit to be a ruler.

You even deserve to die.

The Chu Emperor narrowed his eyes: "What did you say?"

Could it be that today's assassins were all summoned by you——?

The Chu Emperor wore an expression of disbelief.

I never expected this unfilial son to be so ruthless!

Zongzheng Wuheng did not answer him, but picked up the crutch from the ground and forced himself to stand.

The grass rustled softly.

Then seven or eight of his close bodyguards emerged.

They stood behind Zongzheng Wuheng, and looking around, there were no other guards besides them.

As for Duan Rongshi, he apparently led people to attack the southwest mountains.

The two guards originally left beside the Chu Emperor were also diverted by Zongzheng Wuheng's guards, and their fate is unknown.

So now, the Chu Emperor is isolated and helpless, and a single order from Zongzheng Wuheng could take his life.

However, he would not commit the act of patricide.

Father Emperor, I only want you to see these people's true colors.

So you can know who is truly loyal to you.

Chu Emperor: "Sincerity? Do you have any?"

I see you as a wolf-hearted, ambitious beast!

Zongzheng Wuheng gave a cold laugh: "Father Emperor, you can't distinguish good from bad, close from distant; I don't mind helping you get to know them properly today."

I already used a scheme last night to lure away Li Qingluo and her dozen or so personal guards.

She is probably busy in Nan'an City today, her feet not touching the ground as she tends to her several shops, with no leisure to worry about your return to the palace.

Without her and most of her guards, what can Duan Rongshi possibly do?

Moreover, as a traitor from DaLiang who faked his death and came to our Great Chu, even kidnapping the emperor, such malicious intent deserves death by dismemberment and slow slicing!

You still want to rely on him?

You cannot rely on him!

Otherwise, how could I easily bring people over to capture you, Father Emperor?

In his heart, you are the least important. Don't you understand?

"And even if today he, Duan Rongshi, had heavenly abilities, he only has thirty men under his command! How could he possibly stand against over a thousand elite troops lying in ambush in the forest?"

"A hint of worry involuntarily appeared on the Chu emperor's face."

"He also kept glancing toward the southwest."

"You beast! Even if Rongshi were alone, he could kill a hundred of your troops! Do you still want to fight him?"

"First, realize what a fool you are!"

"The Chu emperor, so angry he spoke without restraint, watched Zongzheng Wuheng's face grow darker and darker, and he felt utterly annoyed."

"Why on earth are you doing this?"

"These elite troops—could they all be your privately raised soldiers trained in secret?"

"Do you know that raising private troops is a capital offense?"

"You actually dare to do this—I see that you no longer wish to live!"

"Zongzheng Wuheng clenched his fists tightly: 'Your subject simply does not have such ability.'"

"Father Emperor, those who came today to kill you are all the Crown Prince's."

"Zongzheng Langri exclaimed: 'What did you say!? The Crown Prince!?'"

"Is the Crown Prince trying to kill me!?"

"Seeing Father Emperor's face show such shock and disbelief, Zongzheng Wuheng felt utterly delighted."

"Hasn't he always been the one who dotes most on the Crown Prince?"

"Today he wants to see whether Father Emperor dotes more on the Crown Prince or more on his aunt's son!"

"Anyway, he has already tried it."

"He is the one most despised."

"On the face that Zongzheng Wuheng had lowered, an uncontrollable ferocious twitch appeared."

"Father Emperor."

"Your subject merely wrote a secret letter and sent it to the Crown Prince."

"Saying that you were recuperating at this manor and would return to the palace today."

"Look, he has today sent people to kill you to silence you."

"He fears your return, for his throne is still unsteady; thus the one who truly wants to commit patricide is him!"

"Father Emperor, only your subject is truly loyal to you—why won't you believe?"

"Having said that, Zongzheng Wuheng turned his head to look at the guards behind him."

"Come on, quickly support His Majesty!"

"Let's set out, return to the city! Enter the palace——"

"Today, Zongzheng Wuheng intends to achieve two goals with one arrow."

"Using the Crown Prince's hand to kill this Duan Rongshi."

"Once Duan Rongshi dies, Li Qingluo will naturally collapse in grief."

"Then, taking the opportunity, expose her identity as a DaLiang spy, making it easy to strike at her again?"

"And once the Father Emperor learns the Crown Prince's true nature, he will certainly not forgive him again."

"Moreover, given the Father Emperor's temperament, the Crown Prince might even struggle to preserve his life."

"Over time, there will be hardly any capable son left by the Father Emperor's side."

"Can he still not see himself?"

"Zongzheng Wuheng thought this to himself, and his face involuntarily showed an urgent, excited smile."

"Until he turned around."

"Seeing behind him."

"The guards' necks were all held at blade point."

"Li Qingluo came out of the cornfield wearing vigorous attire, her hair tied in a high ponytail."

"Duan Rongshi then appeared slowly on horseback from the other side."

"Moreover, they had a dozen or so guards surrounding them and their subordinates, eyes like tigers."

"Zongzheng Wuheng looked at them, shocked."

"How could you be here?"

"He couldn't help but let out a scream; seeing them was as unbelievable as seeing a ghost."

"No, no!"

"Li Qingluo let out a cold laugh and strode forward."

"If not here, where should one be?"

"Zongzheng Wuheng, it's not that I, Li Qingluo, look down on you."

"But your methods are simply too crude."

"The tricks you play are nothing but what my grandmother used to play with and left behind. My attendant Zheng Mama has followed my grandmother for so many years; if she had never seen such scenes, would my grandmother have entrusted her to me?"

"There's no need for me to act; the noise from my shops will subside on its own."

"Do you think you have successfully diverted me?"

"We merely wanted to see what trick you were trying to pull."

"As it turns out, you were aiming to achieve two goals with one arrow."

"The scheme was completely seen through, and Zongzheng Wuheng, furious out of embarrassment, shouted: 'You actually dared to deceive me——?'"

"Duan Rongshi: 'It's you I'm deceiving.'"

"Otherwise, how would I have given you the chance to kill me?"

"Zongzheng Wuheng, you should have died long ago."

He said, drawing his sword from his side, then spurred his horse forward and stabbed at Zongzheng Wuheng.

Zongzheng Wuheng let out a miserable cry and quickly dodged backward.

The guards behind him immediately stepped forward to block for him.

Zongzheng Wuheng turned his head and saw the Chu Emperor right before him, and shouted loudly: "Seize him!"

After the guards beside him grabbed the Chu Emperor tightly, Zongzheng Wuheng had already personally drawn a dagger and held it to the Chu Emperor's throat.

"Who dares to move again?"

"I will kill him immediately!"

He was almost going mad.

Clearly Zhou Xiang had planned everything, yet the outcome was that this ruthless couple actually turned the tables on him.

Everything—could it be that we are going to lose again?

He was unwilling!

Absolutely unwilling!

Fortunately, he still had a trump card in hand.

As long as his father the emperor remained in his grasp, he still had a chance to turn things around.

First escape, then he could make use of the remnants of Zongzheng Wuxie and the Qin Prince; if he incited them, how could he not have another chance to rise again and take revenge?

Li Qingluo: "Indeed, a beast!"

She stared at Zongzheng Wuheng with a mocking look: "Zongzheng Wuheng, you want your father's approval, yet you personally tied him up."

"You have no chance in this lifetime."

Zongzheng Wuheng originally did not want to hear his father insult him again, so the first step after seizing the Chu Emperor was to have someone plug his mouth.

Now being mocked by Li Qingluo like this—what could be more intolerable!

"Kill her, kill them all——"

Zongzheng Wuheng shouted hoarsely, exhausted, then had the guards escort the Chu Emperor to quickly climb onto the carriage the Chu Emperor had previously sat in.

He left four guards behind and took another four with him.

Thus, with him and the Chu Emperor added, the carriage now held six people.

Right under the noses of Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi, his carriage sped forward without obstruction.

Zongzheng Wuheng should have felt pleased.

But now his heart was filled with anxiety.

Too smooth.

Too strange!

Why, why did they clearly still have more than ten guards beside them, yet not all go to the mountains to oppose the Crown Prince's troops?

Moreover, they had no intention of blocking his carriage.

They could not possibly let him and his father leave so easily.

Besides, although fighting sounds came from the mountains, if there were more than ten guards here, wouldn't the force sent to the mountains be even fewer?

With so few people, how could they still hold out against the Crown Prince's elite for so long?