Free Web NovelChapter 395: Chapter 397: Fallen
Several battles broke out near the South City Gate in an attempt to stop the Tiger Roar Camp from entering.
Once the buildings on both sides of the street were mostly demolished, Bian Ziming personally led his troops to storm the city.
The thundering of hooves and cries of battle tore through the night sky, leaving every citizen in fear for their lives.
Meanwhile, a palace gate collapsed in flames.
Fearlessly, the Flying Dragon Cavalry charged into the palace over the burning wreckage.
The Yulin Guards, who had only needed to defend their positions, were now forced to confront the enemy head-on.
Weapons clashed, sending sparks flying.
Seeing the dire situation, the deputy commander of the Yulin Guards grabbed a trusted subordinate and growled.
"Go! Inform Prince Dongyang that Zhengde Gate has fallen!"
The subordinate scrambled away, running deeper into the palace.
No one noticed a figure stealthily following him.
「In the Imperial Study Room.」
Li Hao paced back and forth restlessly, his brows knitted in deep anxiety.
Xianfei sat elegantly on a nearby couch, her voice gentle as she tried to soothe him.
"Don’t panic. The situation isn’t at its worst yet."
Li Hao asked worriedly, "What if Prince Zhao breaks in? What if our men can’t hold the line?"
Xianfei considered for a moment. At this point, there was no longer any need for pretense, so she spoke bluntly.
"Prince Zhao will break in sooner or later. With the few men we have, there’s no way we can hold them off."
Li Hao stopped in his tracks. He whipped his head around to look at her and said in disbelief, "You have that little faith in us?"
Xianfei replied, "This has nothing to do with faith. I’m simply stating the facts."
Seeing the signs that her son was on the verge of a breakdown, Xianfei quickly added.
"You don’t need to be so afraid. I’ve already made arrangements with Prince Dongyang. The moment the Imperial Palace is breached, we will leave this place."
Li Hao asked, stunned, "Where can we go?"
Xianfei replied, "We can go to the Southwest. The region is filled with towering mountains and treacherous terrain—easy to defend and difficult to attack. Once we establish a foothold there, it will be very difficult for the court to capture us."
Li Hao’s eyes slowly lit up.
’That really is a good plan!’
Xianfei sighed. "The living conditions in the Southwest are harsh, nowhere near as comfortable as Shangjing. I’m afraid we will face many hardships once we get there."
Li Hao clenched his fists. "I’m not afraid of hardship!"
’Compared to being executed by my father, a little hardship is nothing.’
Just then, Hua Manman was brought in.
Her hands were bound behind her back with rope.
She was flanked by two Yulin Guards.
One of the Yulin Guards briefly recounted how they had captured Princess Consort Zhao.
Xianfei and Li Hao were both surprised. They had never imagined that the seemingly frail Princess Consort Zhao actually knew martial arts.
Fortunately, the Yulin Guards had been quick-witted enough to use Hua Zhaorong as a hostage at the critical moment. Otherwise, Hua Manman would have escaped.
To prevent any complications, Xianfei did not have Hua Manman’s bonds removed, instead gesturing for her to sit.
"Why don’t you sit down and rest for a while."
Hua Manman did feel a slight discomfort in her abdomen.
Unwilling to push herself, she walked directly to a low couch and sat down to rest.
Xianfei, ever observant, asked.
"You look pale. Are you ill?"
Instead of answering, Hua Manman countered with a question. "If I were to say I am ill, would you let an Imperial Physician treat me?"
Xianfei smiled. "That would depend on your behavior. If you are willing to be obedient, I could consider summoning an Imperial Physician for you."
Hua Manman asked, "How do you wish for me to cooperate?"
Xianfei said, "You are to write a letter to Prince Zhao, persuading him to surrender to us."
Hua Manman said, "My hands are tied. How can I write a letter?"
Xianfei said, "You will dictate, and I will write. When you’re finished, I will take something from you to serve as a token of authenticity."
Hua Manman’s lips curved. "Your Highness is certainly thorough."
Xianfei asked, "Are you willing?"
Hua Manman refused politely. "Apologies, but I am not willing."
’Once that letter of surrender was sent out, even if Prince Zhao refused, it could still be used as leverage against him and bring him disaster.’
Li Hao said with a cold expression, "Even if you disagree, we can still write the letter in your tone. Don’t be so shameless."
Xianfei shot him a look. "That is no way to speak to the Princess Consort."
Li Hao huffed in dissatisfaction but ultimately held his tongue.
Xianfei turned to Hua Manman with a smile.
"Hao’er has always been this straightforward. Don’t take his words to heart."
Hua Manman retorted, "That’s not straightforwardness. That’s brainlessness."
Li Hao glared at her. "Who are you calling brainless?! Say that again, I dare you! Believe it or not, I’ll kill you!"
Xianfei’s brow furrowed. "Hao’er!"
Li Hao reluctantly shut his mouth.
He turned away, not wanting to lay eyes on Hua Manman again. Out of sight, out of mind.
...
Not long after Prince Zhao led the Flying Dragon Cavalry from Yuqing Mountain, the Emperor also departed.
Due to the Emperor’s lingering illness and the slippery mountain roads, their progress was exceptionally slow.
By the time the Emperor’s procession reached the outskirts of Shangjing City, it was the middle of the night.
Meanwhile, the vanguard troops dispatched from He Nei and Hedong Counties had also arrived outside the city. The main army was still on the march and was not expected to reach Shangjing until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.
When the Emperor learned that fighting had broken out at the South City Gate, he ordered reinforcements to be sent.
The rebels inside the city had been barely holding their own against the Tiger Roar Camp, but with the arrival of reinforcements, the camp’s forces became like a tiger with wings, sending the rebels into a steady retreat.
Seeing things were going badly, Xu Jiwu immediately ordered the release of the prisoners.
The moment the prison gates opened, the prisoners poured out like madmen. Some of the most vicious convicts, upon gaining their freedom, attempted to storm civilian homes to burn, kill, and plunder. The scene nearly spun out of control.
It wasn’t until Xu Jiwu personally cut down two of the prisoners, their blood splattering for all to see, that the frenzied convicts finally calmed down a little.
The Fourth Prince, Li Ying, was also released.
He now stood among the throng of prisoners, watching the ferocious-looking rebels with a blank expression.
’He truly never expected that Li Hao would dare to rebel.’
’This was truly a godsend.’
Under the rebels’ coercion and enticement, the prisoners were forced to go to the South City Gate and use their own bodies to delay the Tiger Roar Camp’s entry into the city.
「In the Imperial Study Room.」
A Yulin Guard burst in, stumbled to his knees, and gasped.
"Your Highness, Zhengde Gate has fallen!"
Li Hao and Xianfei’s expressions changed at once.
Xianfei rose to her feet and pressed,
"Do you know who broke in?"
The Yulin Guard replied quickly, "They were wearing patrol guard uniforms, but judging by their fighting skills, they must be from the Flying Dragon Cavalry."
Li Hao pressed, "Was Prince Zhao not among them?"
"I did not see Prince Zhao."
This answer did not reassure Li Hao. On the contrary, he grew even more anxious.
’As the saying goes, the unknown is always the most frightening.’
Prince Zhao had yet to appear, and no one knew what he was planning. It felt like a sword hanging over Li Hao’s head, leaving him terrified.
Just then, a deep voice drifted in from outside.
"Are you looking for me?"
