Chapter 88: The Free and Easy Young Marquis (21)
Huo Xian felt as if a heavy stone had dropped into his heart as he stepped out of Emperor Haoyuan’s bedchamber. It was an oppressive weight.
However, he soon noticed that Huo Yuan had vanished.
Just as he was about to start searching for him, Huo Yuan scurried out and dove straight into his arms. “Huo Xian…” He started to speak, then realized something and switched to mental communication.
[Thereâs something wrong with Xiao Jinliâs luck.]
Huo Xianâs brows knitted slightly. [Wrong with his luck? What do you mean?]
[He has obtained luck that doesnât belong to him,] Huo Yuan explained.
[How does one obtain luck that isn’t their own?] Huo Xian was puzzled, then recalled his first actual mission world. [Perhaps… he has a rogue system on him?]
Huo Yuan dismissed the idea. [I donât sense the presence of any mechanical lifeform.]
To have luck that didn’t belong to him without the interference of a mechanical lifeform… Huo Xian had to admit his knowledge was lacking; he couldn’t solve this riddle.
After Huo Xian left, Emperor Haoyuan propped himself up again. He summoned the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and the Duke of Wei, then called for the Imperial Decree and the Jade Seal. Huang Yuâs heart hammered against his ribs as he attended to them. He desperately wanted to catch a glimpse of what was happening, but there were only the three of themâthe sovereign and his ministersâinside the bedchamber. No one outside could hear a single word of their conversation or what was written in the decree. Even after the two ministers departed, Huang Yu never saw the document.
The news of the Noble Consortâs suicide should have been suppressed immediately within the palace walls. However, it wasn’t long before rumors were spreading like wildfire outside the palace. The narrative claimed that the Empress, disgruntled by the Noble Consortâs monopolization of the Emperorâs favor, had framed her for poisoning the Emperor. To prove her innocence, the Noble Consort had supposedly taken her own life by slamming her head against a pillar.
In the following days, the rumors spiraled further. They escalated to branding the Empress as the most venomous woman under heaven. It was claimed that the Crown Prince, being her son, was undoubtedly just as wicked and unfit for his position, and should thus be deposed.
Even though Huo Xian was quick to sense the direction of the rumors and took immediate action to stop them, the speed of this disinformation campaign far exceeded the one used against him previously. Clearly, the person behind the curtain was exceptionally well-prepared.
When the rumors reached the palace, the Empress collapsed from the shock. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The most devastating blow was that the rumorsâwhether by design or coincidenceâfound their way to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince, who was already physically frail, was overcome with rage and grief. Unable to withstand the blow, he passed away at dawn.
If the death of a favored consort didn’t impact the imperial court, the death of the Crown Prince was of undeniable gravity. The Crown Prince was the heir to the nation. Even if the whole world knew his health was poor and that he might not live to see the day of his enthronement, his sudden death was a massive shock.
The Eastern Palace, the Imperial Palace, and even the entire Capital felt as though they had fallen into the maw of a great beast. Everyone breathed the air with trembling fear.
Even Huo Xian hadn’t expected the situation to develop as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button. Everything was far beyond his predictions.
What took everyone even further by surprise was that, a few nights later, the Capital Guards surrounded the Princessâs Manor. No, it wasn’t just the Princessâs Manorâhalf of the ministerial residences on East Changping Street were under siege.
“Yang Jindong, how dare you?” Marquis Huo looked at Yang Jindong, the commander of the Capital Guards who had led the charge into the Princessâs Manor, with a face full of astonishment.
Yang Jindong had once been Marquis Huoâs right-hand man in the military. He had risen through the ranks to his current position as Commander of the Capital Guards. Marquis Huo had a good relationship with him and they often drank together. Now, they were standing on opposite sides of a confrontation. Naturally, Marquis Huo was deeply shocked.
A flash of reluctance passed through Yang Jindongâs eyes, but he still said, “Marquis, the situation is out of my hands. Please forgive me.” Seeing that Marquis Huo intended to resist, he paused and lowered his voice in warning. “Marquis, do not make a pointless sacrifice.”
Hearing this, Marquis Huo knew that the entire Capital was likely in chaos.
“Why?” Marquis Huo asked with a complex expression, struggling to control his emotions.
“Why?” Yang Jindong gave a self-deprecating laugh, but his expression soon turned eerie, his tone becoming sinister. “Naturally, it is for… the Third Prince.” As he spoke those last four words, there was a faint sense of pride in his voice.
Pride?
Huo Xian felt there were still some things he had overlooked, or perhaps things that had never been uncovered in the original host’s timeline.
[Huo Xian, what do we do now? Should we let ourselves be captured?] Huo Yuan gripped his short staff tightly and asked Huo Xian.
A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Huo Xianâs mouth. [No.]
When the soldiers came forward to bind him, his eyes narrowed. With a swift movement, he grabbed one soldier’s wrist, drew the saber from the manâs waist, and kicked the other person aside. The tip of his blade pointed straight at Yang Jindong.
His sudden outburst stunned the Capital Guards. Yang Jindongâs gaze turned sharp. “Stubborn fool!”
However, he wasn’t facing a feint from Huo Xian, but Marquis Huo, who had likewise drawn his blade at the same time. Their sudden movement acted as a signal. The guards of the Princessâs Manor, who had been cowering and feigning submission, transformed instantly. They moved with lightning speed to neutralize the Capital Guards.
Yang Jindong was horrified. Realizing the other side was prepared, he didn’t stay to fight but tried to head outside to call for reinforcements.
However, a sharp pain shot through his legs accompanied by the sound of rushing wind. Before he could react, he slammed face-first into the ground. He looked to the side in horror only to see a youth standing there with a staff. The youthâs face was as calm as still water, his eyes clear and bright.
Because of Huo Yuanâs brutal strike, Yang Jindong was instantly incapacitated. After a brief moment of panic, Marquis Huoâs blade was already pressed against his throat.
“There are five thousand Imperial Guards and ten thousand Capital Guards. Even if the Imperial Guards are currently protecting the palace, they ultimately cannot withstand the Capital Guards.” Yang Jindong didn’t look like a prisoner at all; he was even able to smile. “The Third Prince is destined by heaven. This throne will only be his. If you submitâ mgh!” Before he could finish his sentence, a hand reached out from the side and stuffed a wad of cloth into his mouth, blocking the rest of his words.
Huo Xian coolly gave him two words: “Too noisy.”
The Princessâs Manor could handle its business, but the residences of other officials might not be able to resist successfully. Although Marquis Huo had connections, they were clearly useless now, and there was no time to utilize them.
“Yi-er, what should we do next?” Marquis Huo asked for Huo Xianâs opinion.
Huo Xian didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked Yang Jindong, “Commander Yang, where were you planning to take us?”
“Mgh…” Yang Jindong signaled for Huo Xian to remove the cloth from his mouth.
Huo Xian ignored him. “I ask, you nod or shake your head. If you donât answer, don’t blame me for being impolite.” He gave the man a few seconds to process this, then asked, “Were you ordered by Xiao Jinli to bring everyone to the palace?”
Yang Jindong froze for a moment before realizing Huo Xian had addressed the Third Prince by his name. His eyes instantly widened at such treasonous behavior.
Huo Xian gave a guard a look. The guard understood immediately and threw a heavy punch into Yang Jindongâs stomach. However, Yang Jindong was wearing armor; his expression didn’t even change, while the guardâs knuckles turned red.
Under Yang Jindongâs slightly smug gaze, Huo Xian said calmly, “Hit his face.”
Thus, the Commander Yang, who considered himself noble and peerless, suffered a fierce assault to the face. In moments, he was unrecognizable, his nose and mouth bleeding.
Huo Xian nonchalantly repeated his previous question, but this time, Yang Jindong still kept his back straight, maintaining a posture of unyielding defiance.
“Strip his armor,” Huo Xian ordered in a flat voice.
Hearing this, Yang Jindongâs pupils shrunk violently. He began to struggle with immense strength, nearly breaking free from the two guards holding him.
Huo Xian looked away and gave another instruction.
“Huo Xian, Ning Chen is over there.” As Huo Xian stepped out of the door, the sharp-eyed Huo Yuan caught a figure on the wall.
Huo Xian paused and called out, “Ning Chen, come out.”
A moment later, a head popped up over the wall. It was indeed Ning Chen. But when Ning Chen wanted to speak to Huo Xian, he suddenly noticed a major event occurring in the courtyard of the Princessâs Manorâthe Capital Guards were being stripped of their armor.
Ning Chen: [???] A small head filled with big questions.
Seeing that the situation at the Princessâs Manor was well under control, he didn’t hesitate and jumped into the courtyard. “Whatâs going on?”
“Weâre going to the palace in a bit,” Huo Xian said succinctly. “What about you? How is the Duke of Weiâs Manor?”
Ning Chen shook his head. “The Capital Guards surrounded our manor but didn’t break in. My father is worried about trouble in the palace, so he told me to climb the wall and check the situation at the Princessâs Manor.” He frowned as he spoke. “The residence of the Minister of Personnel next door was also surrounded. Their gates were wide open, and when I left, I heard the Ministerâs angry shouting… Huo Xian, what exactly is happening in the palace?”
“Itâs hard to say right now. Weâll find out when we get there,” Huo Xian said.
“Iâm going too!” Ning Chen said immediately.
Huo Xianâs expression was serious. “Itâs dangerous.”
“So what if itâs dangerous? Am I, Master Ning, someone who fears death?” Ning Chen raised his eyebrows high, looking every bit the debonair young master.
Huo Yuan couldn’t help but say, “Then change your clothes first.”
Ning Chen: “…Huh? Change into what?”
Naturally, they were changing into the armor of the Capital Guards. Before Ning Chen arrived, the guards of the Princessâs Manor were already switching into the armor. It was fortunate that Emperor Haoyuan doted on Princess Jinâan; when he built the manor for her, he had assigned three hundred elite soldiers to guard it. Though the guards had changed over the generations, every one of them was an expert. This was why many Capital Guards had been sent to the manor, which now conveniently provided armor for the manor’s own guards.
Tonight, the Imperial Palace was brightly lit, and the scent of blood permeated the air.
This was especially true in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
“Heh, youâve finally arrived.” Standing at the highest point before the Dragon Throne, Xiao Jinli held a blood-stained precious sword. His expression was manic. In Huo Yuanâs descriptionâhe was a total psycho.
Huo Xian almost broke his expression when he heard the description. He really wanted to teach Huo Yuan a lesson; in a situation like this, how could he make him want to laugh?
However, compared to Huo Yuanâs description, Huo Xian actually believed that the former Duke of Liang and the Noble Consort were blood-related. That would reasonably explain Xiao Jinliâs split personality. Of course, even if there wasn’t a blood relation, there was clearly something wrong with his head.
Inside the hall, more than a dozen ministers were kneeling on the ground in disarray, trembling with fear. Among them was Ning Chenâs neighbor, the Minister of Personnel. The old minister was no longer shouting; beside him lay a severed arm and a corpse with its throat slit.
When people face death directly, they cannot suppress the terror in their hearts.
Emperor Haoyuan sat slumped on the Dragon Throne. When he saw the bound Huo Xian, his eyes nearly split with rage. He opened his mouth to speak, but the moment the air rushed in, he broke into a heavy coughing fit.
“Uncle…” Huo Xian looked worried and tried to move forward, but he was held back by two men, one on each side.
“Yi… Yi-er… cough cough…” The terror in Emperor Haoyuanâs eyes was impossible to hide.
Xiao Jinli watched from the side, the smile on his lips growing colder and colder. “What a wonderful scene of ‘a devoted father and a filial son,’ what a pair of loving uncle and nephew.” A manic glint of malice erupted in his eyes as he glared at Emperor Haoyuan, his mouth stretching into a terrifying arc. “Weren’t you hell-bent on grooming Huo Xian, wanting him to be the Emperor? Then today, I shall destroy him with my own hands. I want you to watch with your own eyes as Huo Xian dies a miserable death right in front of you. I want you to know that this world, this empire, all of it will belong to me! Hahahahaha!”
“You… you monster! Back then, I… I should never… never have given you to the Noble Consort!” Emperor Haoyuan gasped heavily. In that short sentence, he revealed a piece of vital information.
Xiao Jinli was not the Noble Consort’s biological son!
Translator’s Note: Hi everyone! Iâm back! Things are really heating up in the capital. The “Mind-Bewildering Grass” (迡ĺżč – MĂxÄŤn CÇo) mentioned in earlier chapters is coming back into play. Also, the term for the palace guards here is Huangchengjuan (çĺĺ), which literally means “Imperial City Army.” Hope you’re enjoying the drama!
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