"Dog Emperor, write your abdication decree and I might spare your miserable life. Otherwise, I''ll kill you right now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Is that so?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor gently ced Noble Consort Rong on the carpet, letting her lean against a pce maid. He stood up and positioned himself in front of the assembled consorts, his back as solid and imposing as a mountain, tall and reassuring.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His disheveled hair didn''t make him look unkempt, but rather added a touch of rugged handsomeness. In the night, he appeared especially dashing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Particrly striking was the smile ying at his lips, carefree and unrestrained: "Well then, General Ye, why don''t you try and see if you can kill me?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even as a defeated dog, he dared to be so arrogant. Ye Gaoliang was infuriated that the emperor could still outmatch him in presence even in this situation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With a wave of his hand, he shouted angrily: "Whoever can cut off this dog emperor''s head, I''ll appoint him as Grand General of National Pacification, enjoying... ugh..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A three-pronged de suddenly pierced through Ye Gaoliang''s chest from behind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Drip... drip... drip..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Bright red blood mixed with bits of flesh slowly... slowly began to fall faster, sttering onto the glossy ck floor of Taihe Hall.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ye Gaoliang''s eyes widened in disbelief as he copsed, dying without ever seeing who had struck the blow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Amidst the shocked gasps of the crowd, the guards who had apanied Ye Gaoliang and crowded into the hall all dropped to one knee: "We have fortunately not failed our mission, Your Majesty. The traitor Ye Gaoliang''s closest followers have been eliminated. We await Your Majesty''s further orders."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Ye tried to run, but where could she possibly escape to?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Before she even reached the main doors of Taihe Hall, she was caught by guards and dragged back.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As arrogant as she had been moments ago, she was now equally pathetic: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I was wrong. I was... I was blinded by jealousy. I was jealous of Noble Consort Rong and that''s why I did such a foolish thing. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of my deep love for you, please spare me!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wept pitifully, but the Xuanwu Emperor''s heart remained unmoved. He pulled out an opened letter from his sleeve: "Aren''t you curious why the messenger you sent back with the letter never returned?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Because that young eunuch had already been thrown in prison and was being tortured for information.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But Consort Ye had thought her father was about to stage a coup, so the eunuch must be at the general''s mansion.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The letter that had fallen to the ground was the very one Consort Ye had written to General Ye, telling him to start the uprising tonight.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Empress Zhu had intercepted the first letter, so she was also aware of the plot.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She took the box with the voodoo doll from an attendant''s hands and removed the cloth strip inside: "Your Majesty, look, Consort Ye''s handwriting matches this exactly."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The emperorpared the two and found they were indeed identical...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You poisonous woman!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor kicked Consort Ye down the steps, still not satisfied as he said: "You even wanted to drown Noble Consort Rong in a chamber pot, and dared to call our little dumpling a bastard. You must be tired of living."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At that moment, the eunuchs who had been sent by Consort Ye to fetch a chamber pot arrived carrying arge vessel emanating a foul stench.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wang Dequan immediately ordered Tang Shiliang to stop them, lest the smell offend the emperor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor raised his hand, covering his nose and mouth with his sleeve: "Since this is what you prepared, you might as well enjoy it yourself."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He jerked his chin: "Wang Dequan, throw this poisonous woman into it. Let her relish the grave she dug for herself."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"No! No! Ahhh... No, Your Majesty! I was wrong, I was truly wrong! Ahhh... Save me, save me... I..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everyone present felt nauseous just imagining the scene of Consort Ye being thrown into the chamber pot. It was enough to make them want to vomit upst night''s dinner.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Fortunately, the pot had been stopped before entering Taihe Hall, so they didn''t have to witness it firsthand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Rong..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The crisis here was over, but they didn''t know the situation at Hexi Pce. Noble Consort Rong had taken an arrow for him and was now covered in blood. He couldn''t just leave her unattended.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Tang Shiliang, have the imperial physicians from the side halle treat Consort Rong''s wounds. They must ensure she survives."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The assembled consorts'' mouths fell slightly open. One arrow and she went from Noble Consort Rong to Consort Rong?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If they had known, they would have thrown themselves in front of the arrow too. Noble Cons... no, Consort Rong had lucked out.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Empress Zhu observed the dissatisfied expressions on the faces of the other consorts with disdain. Her own swollen face was still red and puffy, yet she maintained an air of nobility.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Earlier, several consorts had been closer to the emperor than Consort Rong, but when they saw the arrow flying towards His Majesty, they all acted as if they were blind, hiding behind pce maids and eunuchs and pretending not to see.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If they had truly been asked to risk their lives, would they have dared?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Rong dared, which is why one word from the emperor elevated her to Consort.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At Hexi Pce—<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A ck Armor Army soldier leapt onto the wall. Seeing no danger outside, he nodded to another soldier below.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Witnessing this, Jiang Xinyue seized the opportunity. She pushed open the door and, despite Xi Que and Shuang Jiang''s attempts to stop her, ran out of the flower hall crying: "Didn''t you hear? His Majesty has been hit by an arrow. Don''t try to stop me, I must go save the emperor."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With her pregnant belly, no one dared use force to restrain her, allowing her to break free.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Xinyue ran to the entrance, then turned back. She approached a ck Armor Army soldier and took a bloodstained sword from his hand: "I''ll borrow this."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Holding up her skirts, she charged out with the sword in hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shuang Jiang and Xi Que exchanged a nce. Jiang Chuan and Xiao Xuanzi immediately understood, rushing forward with a shout. The four of them copsed in a heap like dominoes, blocking the doorway.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They writhed and iled about, clinging tightly to any ck Armor Army soldiers who approached, knowing the soldiers couldn''t use force against them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In the end, it took several ck Armor Army soldiers working together to pull them apart.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
By the time they were ready to chase after Noble Consort Jiang, she had vanished.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As Jiang Xinyue walked, she let down her hair and used her fingers to smear some blood from the sword on her face. She tore her clothes a bit to create the illusion of having been through a fierce battle. She walked a few steps, then rested, heading towards the pce halls where there were bloodstains and bodies.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she reached the pce walkway not far from Taihe Hall and saw people everywhere, she knew she had found the right ce.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She pinched her thigh hard, causing tears to flow naturally. After letting the wind blow on her face for a while without blinking, her eyes became bloodshot.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her heart-wrenching cries caused the imperial physician treating Consort Rong to jerk his hand, pressing a bit too hard.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hiss—"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Consort Rong sucked in a sharp breath of pain even in her unconscious state, indicating the wound must be very painful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Xuanwu Emperor released her hand and stood up to listen: "Yue''er..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had nned to go to Hexi Pce as soon as Consort Rong''s wound was bandaged, but the physician said extracting the arrowhead would take some time.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The impatient emperor thought he was hearing things due to his worry for Noble Consort Jiang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But as the woman''s heartbroken cries drew nearer, the Xuanwu Emperor could no longer sit still. He rose and ran towards the entrance.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Why was Yue''er so distraught? Could it be that their child...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Where was the ck Armor Army?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How had they let here out alone?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0