Chapter 47 Forcing the Palace

Xiao Rang shouted excitedly, "Quick, capture the Crown Prince, take him alive!"

Then, Xiao Rang glanced at the two Qi practitioners and yelled, "What are you waiting for? Do it!"

Right at that moment, a piercing, blood-curdling scream chilled everyone to the bone.

Xiao Rang turned his head back just in time to see Yang Jin’s facial features twisted in agony—evidently beaten by Yang Zhan!

Suddenly!

Yang Zhan grabbed Yang Jin and surged forward rapidly, the soldiers stepping back in panic wherever they passed.

Xiao Rang thrust his long spear straight at Yang Zhan.

Without hesitation, Yang Zhan used the Third Prince as a human shield right in the path of the spear.

Xiao Rang’s expression shifted dramatically, and he retracted his move instantly.

However, Yang Zhan had no intention of entangling with Xiao Rang. Dragging the Third Prince along, he dashed straight to the entrance of the Mingde Hall.

Blocking his path, however, were the two Qi practitioners.

Yang Zhan frowned. "What? Do you no longer care about your Third Prince's life?"

One of the young men spoke coldly, "Release the Third Prince, and we will spare your life!"

Yang Zhan looked at the two of them and sneered, "Who gave you the confidence to speak to me like that? It matters not if you refuse to let him go—we couldn't care less whether the Third Prince lives or dies!"

With that, a sudden surge of vital energy erupted from one of the youths, and a sword flashed toward him.

Yang Zhan immediately pulled Yang Jin in front of him once more as a living shield.

"Ah..."

Another agonizing shriek tore from Yang Jin's throat.

Yet Yang Zhan had no intention of killing Yang Jin just yet; he merely had his shoulder pierced, sending a spray of blood into the air.

Simultaneously, the young man who had just attacked felt a blur before his eyes.

*Bang!*

With a dull thud, Yang Zhan delivered a ferocious blow directly to the youth's head, sending him crashing face-first to the ground.

The remaining young man turned pale with terror and hurriedly formed hand seals, but before he could execute any technique, a flash of cold steel swept across his neck.

The youth's head instantly rolled off, his headless torso standing rigid for a fleeting second before collapsing to its knees.

In the blink of an eye, two Ninth-Heaven Qi practitioners were dead.

Yang Jin was so stunned he forgot his own pain. After all, he had paid a tremendous price to invite them to guard the Xining Palace. If not for the presence of the Qi practitioner Xu Zhen by Yang兴's (Yang Xing's) side, he would never have deployed three formidable Qi practitioners from his own palace just to be safe. Nor would he have allowed Yang Zhan to seize the opportunity to storm the Xining Palace and easily take him hostage.

Yet now, Yang Jin's heart trembled with terror.

Those two Ninth-Heaven Qi practitioners had been as helpless as infants before Yang Zhan!

The surrounding soldiers did not dare to make a move, retreating in unison.

Xiao Rang's face turned livid with rage. A direct assault now would only force Yang Zhan to drag everyone down with him. If Yang Jin died, all of them were doomed.

For a moment, Xiao Rang was utterly at a loss, left with no choice but to merely surround the Mingde Hall with his men.

Yang Xing’s voice trembled with excitement. "Second Uncle, you've saved my family once again!"

Yu Shu ran back, clutching his saber, equally thrilled. "Second Uncle is truly unmatched—capture the ringleader first!"

Yang Zhan chuckled. "It's just that this little fool doesn't know the first thing about leading from the front. If he were hidden deep within a massive army, I truly wouldn't have been able to grab him."

Yang Jin's expression turned unimaginably ugly.

Following that, Yang Zhan tossed Yang Jin to Chen Shu. "Hold onto him tight. If any of these rebel troops dare to make a single move, you stab the Third Prince twice—aim for the meatiest parts!"

"Understood!"

Chen Shu's spirits soared as he grabbed hold of Yang Jin. The soldiers around him instinctively puffed out their chests, looking as though they had already won a sweeping victory.

In the distance, the two Profound-Realm experts were still locked in combat, occasionally setting off earth-shattering shockwaves.

As for the large army led by Xiao Rang, they neither dared to advance nor retreat, trapped in an agonizingly difficult dilemma. Nonetheless, they maintained their tight encirclement of the Mingde Hall.

Moments later, Xiao Rang mounted a horse and galloped toward the rear, presumably to consult others on a countermeasure.

Meanwhile, inside the Wende Hall, Yang Wu still sat in his chair, eyes closed with a calm expression, seemingly unconcerned about the situation unfolding in the Eastern Palace.

Han Zhong walked in from outside. "Your Majesty, Yang Zhan has ordered the prison guards to quietly transfer the three prisoners."

"Transferred, or executed?"

"Transferred."

Yang Wu opened his eyes, a glint flickering within his deep gaze. "Where were they taken?"

"Even Yang Daniu doesn't know. He only knows they were removed from the cells."

Yang Wu fell silent for a moment before Han Zhong caught the sound of commotion outside.

"Your Majesty..."

"Go."

Han Zhong stepped outside, returning in a flurry shortly after.

"Your Majesty! The gates of the Eastern Palace have been breached, and Xiao Rang has led his forces inside!"

At this, Yang Wu’s expression finally shifted. "Has the Eldest Prince met with misfortune?"

"No. Somehow, Yang Zhan took the Third Prince hostage and dragged him into the Eastern Palace."

Yang Wu paused in surprise, then frowned. "The boy only went to take the Third Prince hostage? He didn't do anything else?"

"There is one more matter, though this old servant cannot be certain if it was orchestrated by Yang Zhan."

"What is it?"

"The Jinwu Guards have rushed to the Eastern Palace."

"What about the Left and Right Guards who were supposed to intercept reinforcements?"

"The moment the Jinwu Guards crossed paths with them, for reasons unknown, the two grand generals of the Left and Right Guards were subdued by their own subordinates. Shortly after, they joined forces with the Jinwu Guards and headed straight for the Eastern Palace."

Hearing this, Yang Wu furrowed his brow. "Could this truly be Yang Zhan's doing?"

Han Zhong muttered worriedly, "Your Majesty, if this is indeed Yang Zhan's doing, he is terrifyingly formidable. He stripped the commanders of the Left and Right Guards of their authority with such ease."

Yang Wu nodded. "He has the capability. Many of the generals across the various guards once served under the banner of the Shenwu Army, campaigning against the northern barbarians and achieving countless merits. Over the past decade, many have been promoted into the southern imperial guards. Moreover, this is rebellion led by the Third Prince, lacking the backing of the military hearts. The Third Prince thought a few generals siding with him would be enough, but when Yang Zhan stepped forward and raised a rallying cry, defections were only natural."

He looked at Han Zhong. "Did the Left and Right Xiaowei Guards, or the Left and Right Wei Guards, experience any defections?"

"The Left and Right Wei Guards were tasked with sealing the gates, while the Left and Right Xiaowei Guards attacked the Eastern Palace. None of them defected."

Yang Wu’s aged eyes narrowed slightly. "The Third Prince still holds some competence; his grip on these four guards is remarkably strong."

With a wave of his hand, Yang Wu commanded, "Withdraw and continue keeping watch."

Han Zhong hesitated. "Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace is still locked in a standoff. This..."

"I want to observe a little longer."

Han Zhong lowered his head. "Understood. This servant takes his leave."

Yang Wu leaned back into his chair once more, closing his eyes.

Not long after, Han Zhong rushed back inside, panic etched across his face. "Your Majesty, disaster has struck! The Third Prince is dead!"

At these words, Yang Wu sprang to his feet, a fierce and piercing aura erupting from his body. "How did he die?"

"It is not yet known!"

"What is the situation at the Eastern Palace now?"

"Fighting has broken out anew. The four-guard army led by Xiao Rang has clashed with the arriving Jinwu Guards and the Left and Right Guards. Utter chaos has engulfed the area."

Yang Wu’s expression darkened considerably. The situation had far exceeded his expectations.

"Han Zhong! Immediately convey my decree: grant amnesty to the rebel troops of the four guards, and arrest their commanding generals—hurry!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Han Zhong scrambled out frantically.

Yang Wu walked over to the window, gazing in the direction of the Eastern Palace. His eyes were as sharp as blades. "How could it come to this?"

Right at that moment, Han Zhong's voice echoed from outside: "This old servant pays respects to the Empress."

"Chief Steward Han, there is no need to step outside. It is too late, and the night wind is cold."

Empress Xiao walked into the Wende Hall. Outside, the sound of numerous footsteps could be heard, as if the entire hall had been surrounded.

Yang Wu turned his head to look at his Empress. Her complexion was slightly pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

"Did you also take part in the Third Prince's rebellion?" Yang Wu asked calmly.

The Empress nodded. "Yes."

Yang Wu frowned. "You knew about the Third Prince's plot?"

"I knew." Tears streamed down Empress Xiao's face.

"Then what is the meaning of this?"

The Empress smiled a bitter, desolate smile. "My son is dead. Someone must be buried with him."

"Whom do you want to be buried with him?"

"Yang Zhan. Yang Xing."

Yang Wu furrowed his brow deeper. "Are you forcing the throne?"

"Yes!"