Chapter 1402: Huyan Wei Rescues His Sovereign

People were weeping below the walls. Officials who rushed to the battlements and looked down saw their own families among them, and pain seemed to pierce straight through heart and bone.

One man ran back to Huyan Wei, cupped his hands, and pleaded, “Grand Commander, my family is here. They were only one step too late. I beg you to show mercy and allow cultivators to bring them up!”

Blood streaked Huyan Wei’s face, droplets still clinging to his full beard. He suddenly barked, “Pass down my military order! The palace gate is sealed. No one may enter without authorization, no matter who they are. Anyone who forces their way in will be killed without mercy!”

“You...” The official stared at him in shock.

Huyan Wei swept a hand. “Men! Drive them off the wall and keep them under guard!”

“Huyan Wei, you’re abusing your authority! You’re abusing your authority...!”

The officials shouted and protested, but soldiers forcibly drove them down from the battlements.

Huyan Wei raised a hand and wiped the blood from his face, then let out a long breath. Never had he imagined that one day he would kill a senior court official, much less personally strike down in public a man who had committed no real wrongdoing.

He turned to look outside the walls. It was not only the families of court officials. Large numbers of civilians with nowhere to flee had followed their example and crowded toward the palace as well.

Glancing at the enemy forces rapidly approaching in the distance, Huyan Wei gave another order. “Archers, loose! Drive them away!”

The deputy general beside him was startled. “Grand Commander, those are officials’ families and civilians from the city down there.”

Huyan Wei pointed toward the charging enemy. “If we don’t drive them off now, once the enemy gets here, not one of them will escape. If they run now, they may still have a chance to live.” He turned his head and shouted, “Archers, loose!”

A line of archers stepped forward. Bowstrings snapped in unison, and a volley of arrows plunged down. Cries of pain immediately rose from below, and the crowd scattered.

Some of those struck fell to the ground wailing. Others were dragged away by their families. The people beneath the walls fled in despair.

Huyan Wei could see hatred for him in some of their eyes. Never before had he felt the cruelty of war so deeply. Standing alone in responsibility for this position and personally issuing such orders was, for him, far crueler than the first battlefield slaughter he had ever experienced.

Pulling his thoughts back, he turned to one of his family retainers. “The people admitted earlier got in because I made the decision on my own. Send men at once to watch them. Keep them detained together in one place and don’t allow them to wander around. We have to prevent enemy agents from slipping into the palace and causing trouble. If anyone runs around without permission, no matter their identity or background... kill them without mercy!”

“Yes!” The retainer cupped his hands and accepted the order. Before leaving, he gave Huyan Wei a long look. It seemed the Third Young Master had matured greatly in the span of a moment.

What he did not know was that Huyan Wei simply had no other choice. Driven to this point, he had been forced to use his head and think through every possibility more carefully.

Huyan Wei looked into the distance. If the enemy had managed to breach city walls that high, could these palace walls really stop them? Could they hold until the reinforcements arrived tomorrow?

His heart was full of worry.

Che Buchi and the others escorted Prince Ying Hao Zhen and his party through the chaotic streets toward the imperial palace. They intended to take refuge there from the danger. For the moment, the palace still seemed the safest place in the city.

Hao Zhen and Shao Liuer had already changed out of their fine robes and into ordinary commoners’ clothing. Enemy agents were causing trouble throughout the city, while others took advantage of the chaos to loot and rob. Dressing too well would make them far too conspicuous.

“Princess Consort!” a woman called out.

The group turned. Shao Liuer paused in surprise. “Guo Man?”

They allowed Guo Man to approach. She said, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, the enemy has broken into the city. I’m afraid even the imperial palace may not hold. Why not come with me and take shelter at the small courtyard instead? The venerable Ghost Doctor is there as well. The enemy probably won’t dare behave recklessly around him. The small courtyard may actually be safer than the palace.”

Warmth rose in Shao Liuer’s heart, and she bit her lip. She understood immediately. This was certainly not something Guo Man could decide on her own. It had to be Wuxin’s idea.

Hao Zhen hesitated. “Would that be convenient?”

In truth, he did not want to enter the palace either. Once he fell under Hao Hong’s control, there was no telling what a cornered Hao Hong might do.

Guo Man smiled. “Mr. Wuxin said the Princess Consort sent quite a few medicinal herbs in the past, so this is a small repayment. Your Highness, Princess Consort, please don’t hesitate any longer. If we wait, it may become difficult to get there.”

Hao Zhen looked toward Che Buchi and the others, silently asking their opinion.

Che Buchi immediately leaned close and said in a low voice, “Once we enter the palace, we’ll have to follow the sect’s arrangements as well. I’m afraid many things will no longer be in our hands.”

Hao Zhen understood. Since there was a safer place available, this was no time to stand on ceremony. He immediately cupped his hands to Guo Man. “Many thanks. I’ll trouble you to lead the way.”

Guo Man smiled. “No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Mr. Wuxin. Hurry and follow me.” She gestured for them to come.

The group quickly followed her. But when they reached the small courtyard, the servants, attendants, and assorted household staff traveling with them were refused shelter. Che Buchi and the other cultivators were not permitted inside either. They would accept only Hao Zhen and his wife, along with several children.

Two of the boys were sons born to Hao Zhen’s former Princess Consort.

Che Buchi and the others did not press the issue. Under the circumstances, they too had to return to their sects, receive orders, and submit to unified deployment. They took their leave.

As for the other servants, Hao Zhen told them to find places to hide on their own.

Chaos raged outside, but the Ghost Doctor’s reputation alone was enough to protect this place. Besides, the Ghost Doctor was working for Yuan Se this time. No matter whom they faced, they had ample standing to order them away.

Wuxin appeared accompanied by Yan Baoru. Hao Zhen and Shao Liuer quickly called their children over and bowed together. “Mr. Wuxin.”

Shao Liuer looked at Wuxin with complicated eyes. Even she could not put the feeling in her heart into words. She understood this man’s feelings for her, but there truly was no road back for her now.

Wuxin waved a hand, signaling that there was no need for ceremony. His gaze lingered on Shao Liuer’s son for a while. This was the first time he had seen her son.

Collecting himself, he turned and instructed, “Take them to the side courtyard and settle them in.”

Guo Man immediately gestured for them to follow, but Hao Zhen said, “I heard the venerable Ghost Doctor is here as well. Might we be permitted to pay our respects?”

Wuxin replied calmly, “My master dislikes being disturbed by outsiders. Better not.”

“Very well. We’ll follow your advice.” Hao Zhen cupped his hands.

At that moment, however, Wuxiang approached wearing a black-cloth conical hat. “This must be the Princess Consort, I presume? My master would like to see you.”

Hao Zhen was taken aback. He did not know whether Wuxiang meant the Ghost Doctor. If so, why would the Ghost Doctor want to see Shao Liuer?

He had no idea that the Ghost Doctor simply wanted to see what sort of woman had left his disciple so thoroughly besotted, and what she was actually like.

Several eunuchs burst into the place where Hao Yuntu was being kept under house arrest.

“Your Majesty, forgive us. You’ll have to choose one yourself.”

The leading eunuch carried a tray. On it lay a length of white silk and a flask of poisoned wine.

The fall of the city had dealt too severe a blow to the army’s morale. Some troops still held their ground and fought the enemy. Some surrendered. Others lowered ropes from the city walls and slid down them to flee.

As far as Qi’s Three Great Sects were concerned, there was no longer any reason to keep fighting to the bitter end. They were already preparing to withdraw. They would not expend their main strength against the enemy in a place where all hope was lost.

Nor could the Three Great Sects take everyone in the palace with them. It simply was not possible. They could only take a number of the most important people.

On that point, Hao Hong and the Three Great Sects disagreed.

If they withdrew, where could they go? Naturally, to Huyan Wuhen.

Take Hao Yuntu with them to Huyan Wuhen? The thought alone frightened Hao Hong. Hao Yuntu was still emperor in name. Once Hao Hong lost his power base in the capital and the support of the court officials, what would happen when they reached Huyan Wuhen? Would Huyan Wuhen obey him, the Crown Prince, or Hao Yuntu, the Emperor?

There could be only one outcome: whoever Huyan Wuhen was willing to acknowledge as sovereign, the Three Great Sects would have no other opinion under such circumstances.

And if Huyan Wuhen chose to acknowledge Hao Yuntu, Hao Hong could easily imagine what fate awaited him as Crown Prince.

Thus, the scene unfolding now.

After staring at the tray for a while, Hao Yuntu suddenly laughed coldly. “It seems that unfilial son can’t hold the city. He’s preparing to run.”

The leading eunuch said, “Your Majesty, please be on your way quickly. If you keep delaying and force us to send you on your way ourselves, it won’t be pretty.”

The eunuchs on either side immediately stepped forward and surrounded Hao Yuntu.

“What a fine son I have!” Hao Yuntu nodded repeatedly. He said nothing more. He knew he had no choice. Rather than let this pack of wretches humiliate him, he would rather end things cleanly himself. He reached out and took the flask of poisoned wine.

Just as he was about to drink, a squad burst in. Huyan Wei charged through the doors at the head of a group of Imperial Guards.

Striding inside, Huyan Wei saw the objects on the tray. The blood on his face had not yet dried, and his expression turned savage with fury. “What are you trying to do?”

Seeing that the person who had arrived at the crucial moment was his own son-in-law, Hao Yuntu held the poisoned wine in one hand and watched with interest.

The eunuchs immediately panicked. Their leader hurriedly said, “Grand Commander, we’re only carrying out orders. Please... please don’t make things difficult for us.”

“Nonsense!” Huyan Wei flew into a rage. His sword came out of its sheath, and with one thrust he stabbed the eunuch, sending him down screaming.

The Imperial Guards drew blades and leveled spears, killing the remaining eunuchs on the spot.

Huyan Wei sheathed his sword and cupped his hands toward Hao Yuntu. “This humble general arrived too late and caused Your Majesty alarm.”

Hao Yuntu did not know whether it was his imagination, but something about his son-in-law’s bearing seemed different. “Your face is covered in blood. What, did you personally go into battle and kill the enemy?”

Huyan Wei chuckled. “Your Majesty gives me too much credit. I don’t have that kind of ability. Some of my family’s old retainers are directing things outside in my place. They’re leading the Imperial Guard in resisting the enemy attack. They followed my father on campaigns north and south. They may carry a few old disabilities, but their experience is still there. They’re much better at it than I am.”

Hao Yuntu chuckled. “You’ve finally been honest for once. I still remember the first time you came back from a battlefield. The way you bragged to the heavens left quite an impression on me!”

Huyan Wei immediately looked embarrassed. “Your Majesty, look at the situation we’re in. Hurry and come with me.”

Hao Yuntu looked at the poisoned wine in his hand and said casually, “These dog slaves just said they were acting on orders. What, you don’t believe them?”

Huyan Wei scratched his full beard, his eyes darting about. “I’m a muddleheaded man. There are plenty of things I can’t make sense of. My father is always beating me half to death over it. Asking me won’t get Your Majesty anywhere.”

Just then, a woman carrying a sword flew in. It was Hao Qingqing.

As soon as she learned that preparations were being made to withdraw, she had rushed here. Finding that there were not even any guards outside, she was badly alarmed and barged straight in.

When she saw the scene inside, the dead eunuchs, and especially the strip of white silk, she understood at once what had happened. Having grown up in the palace, how could she not? Her heart lurched. “Father Emperor, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Your husband saved me.” Hao Yuntu answered, then continued staring at Huyan Wei. With a cold snort, he said, “I think you understand perfectly well. You simply don’t want to say it aloud. Tell me, then. You’re the Commander of the Imperial Guard. Instead of directing the Imperial Guard against the enemy, how did you happen to appear here at exactly the right time?”

Huyan Wei chuckled. “Father sent word. He told me to guard against anyone trying to harm Your Majesty. He said that right now, I’m the only one who can make the Three Great Sects wary. As long as I’m willing to fight to the death to protect Your Majesty, the Three Great Sects won’t dare force the issue, and no one inside the palace will be able to harm you. I don’t understand what it’s all about either. I just do what I’m told. My men noticed these dog things sneaking around suspiciously. The moment I heard, I rushed over. That’s all there is to it.”

[End of Chapter 1402]