Free Web NovelChapter 1260: Chapter 1260: Escape Is Futile
Xie Yu ran all the way to the outer Imperial City wall.
The Chief Eunuch and the close bodyguards were running so fast they were panting for breath.
"Your... Your Majesty, please slow down a little!"
But Xie Yu’s cold eyes were filled with shock as he looked down outside the wall.
The Regent King and Yuan Zhen, father and son, were leading their private soldiers in a fierce battle against a troop of Iron Cavalry of unknown origin.
"It really is them..." Xie Yu could hardly believe it.
The confidant Ministers who had rushed over were also quite stunned.
They muttered in low voices—
"Wasn’t the Regent King going to rebel?"
"Yeah, why is he suddenly defending the Imperial City?"
Xie Yu saw that although the Iron Cavalry had no commander, their formation shifted unpredictably.
Very soon, the Regent King and Yuan Zhen were defeated.
Judging from Yuan Zhen’s sluggish reactions, he seemed to be wounded.
Xie Yu was silent for a moment, then turned and ordered, "Go send troops to support them."
An old official exclaimed in surprise, "Emperor? If we go all out now, that traitor the Regent King can die at someone else’s hands."
"Once he’s dead, we can loose cold arrows; what have we to fear from those Iron Cavalry? Emperor, you must not show mercy to a traitor!"
Xie Yu ground his teeth. "When I tell you to go, you go! Enough nonsense."
He looked back down at the battlefield. "The Regent King is disloyal; when I punish him, that is a family matter of Yan Country."
"Now that an external enemy is before us, of course I must stand together with the Regent King."
Hearing this, the old official hesitated no longer and at once went to pass the order to the troops.
Once Xie Yu’s reinforcements arrived, the Regent King and his men clearly turned the tide!
The mysterious Iron Cavalry army was beaten back step by step.
Soon, they seemed to receive some sort of command, turned their horses, and galloped away.
The army pressed the advantage and pursued, but the moment they crossed the moat, this troop of Iron Cavalry vanished as if they had burrowed into the earth, disappearing in an instant without a trace!
Seated on horseback, Yuan Zhen looked around in all directions, unable to see even a single straggling soldier.
He furrowed his brows slightly. "What’s going on..."
However, before Yuan Zhen could pause to think it over, he saw a eunuch galloping over on horseback, an Imperial Decree in his hand.
"Regent King, hear the order. The Emperor summons you to the palace!"
Yuan Zhen was instantly on alert.
Xie Yu already knew about their plan to rebel and assassinate; this time, the Regent King entering the palace was very likely a one-way trip!
Yuan Zhen grabbed his father’s wrist. "Father, don’t go."
If they fled southwest now, Yuan Zhen still had a last reception force waiting; they would not necessarily lose their lives to the last man.
"So long as the green hills remain, one need not fear for firewood!" he urged bitterly one last time.
However, the Regent King had just gone through a fierce battle; he was already exhausted, and there were many small wounds on his body.
His graying hair was in disarray as he raised his head to gaze at the sky, now clear after the first snow, and let out a heavy sigh.
"Zhen’er, your father’s life ends here today. Even if I flee again, it will be to no avail."
With that, he shook his head and waved his hand, then followed behind the eunuch, step for step, as they departed.
Seeing this, Yuan Zhen hurriedly moved to follow.
Even if there was guilt to be borne, he was willing to bear it in his father’s stead!
Yet upon entering the palace, he discovered that Xie Yu had not arrayed elite troops in formation, waiting.
Instead, he had merely summoned the Regent King to the study.
At this moment, Xie Yu was bowing his head over memorials, his lowered brows and eyes exceedingly calm.
He had likely thought everything through before the Regent King arrived.
The eunuch led the Regent King through the door.
The Regent King did not kneel, but lifted his head and said, "If the Emperor wishes to kill or flay me, do as you please!"
Now that matters had come to this, he would struggle no more, but he would never kneel—this was his final dignity as an old official who had served two reigns.
