Zhaixing Tower was about two to three li to the southeast of the Royal Palace. At such a distance, under the cover of the wind and snow, no one noticed the glimmer of movement in the distance. The expensive white fur coat on Zhaixing Tower shook slightly. The muzzle of the gun made a loud sound accompanied by smoke and fire. However, the speed of sound was much slower than the speed of the bullet.
At least in this moment, the people on the walls of the Royal Palace and in front of the corner tower were still quietly watching the warriors waiting to die in the snow in front of the Palace. The Qing army elites all around them did not notice that the scythe of the god of death had already sliced through the air and was using a method no one in this world could imagine to get close to their Emperor.
From Zhaixing Tower to the top of the palace walls, the ripple that represented death would last for over a second. It was enough for a person to blink a few times. The Emperor, who had been calmly watching below the palace walls with narrowed eyes, did not notice the occasional flash of light in the wind and snow two to three li away.
Therefore, there was very little time left for this Great Grandmaster to react. When he sensed that a fatal aura had suddenly appeared in the world, an aura that even he could not resist, he only had time to blink his eyes. His face turned pale, and the light in his eyes condensed before dissipating. His body was like a cloud of dust as he rapidly retreated!
The Emperor was injured and had used up a lot of zhenqi. At this critical moment of life and death, he exploded with an energy that no human could possess. In an instant, he disappeared into the distance. Like a wandering spirit, he suddenly smashed into the corner tower.
…
…
Bang! A muffled sound rang out. The bullet, which was spinning at high speed and did not have a chance to flip, brushed past the shoulder of the bright yellow figure and shot past. It blasted a large hole about a foot wide and immeasurably deep into the sturdy walls of the Royal Palace.
At this moment, the bricks and hard gravel left their bodies and shot out in a ray like a flower blooming.
Other than the Emperor, who had retreated like a wisp of smoke, there was still no one above or below the city walls who had reacted. No one even realized what had happened. At that moment, the ferocious flower that had bloomed from the black brick wall was still flying. The sharp stone shards seemed to maintain a motionless state in the air, mixing with the surrounding snowflakes and stabbing into one place.
Did His Majesty just dodge this shot? No. No matter what psychological reason the assassin in the snow on the roof of Zhai Xing Tower had, he paused for a moment at the moment when he lightly flicked his finger, causing the seemingly fatal shot to miss. But immediately after, the second shot came, followed by the first shot with a thunder-like muffled sound.
The sound of the first shot had just reached the square in front of the Imperial Palace when the second shot arrived like a shadow. Like cutting through tofu, it broke a fist-sized hole in the wooden door of the turret and shot into the dark and quiet turret.
There was no such thing as a sure-kill gun in this world, especially when the target was an unfathomable grandmaster. Due to Jingdou's tight security, the assassin in the snow on the roof of Zhai Xing Tower had chosen a rather remote place to snipe. He could clearly calculate the time needed for the bullet to fly through the air. He had never had the extravagant hope that such a shot could kill the Emperor. However, he knew that in order to dodge this shot, the Emperor would tremble all over and not be willing to hold back. The physical and psychological shock would certainly make the Emperor use all of his abilities.
Speed. The assassin on the roof of Zhai Xing Tower had clearly calculated the direction the Emperor would dodge, the speed at which he would dodge, and the instantaneous movement. His finger moved a second time with unusual stability and struck toward the spot where the Emperor was rapidly retreating. He had placed all of his hopes on this second shot.
To be able to calculate so much in such a short amount of time and come to a certain conclusion about the Emperor's choice, it was clear that the assassin understood the Emperor's personality very well. He also understood the Emperor's understanding and fear of this gun, or chest, as everyone knew it.
Most importantly, the assassin from Zhai Xing Tower was able to know the speed a Great Grandmaster could display at a moment of life and death. Only then could he accurately calculate the Emperor's final landing point and the landing point where it would be difficult for him to drift a second time.
This was something that could not be calculated, nor could it be verified. This was because, in this world, apart from the few Great Grandmasters, no one could truly force a Great Grandmaster into a dead end, let alone understand the speed of a Great Grandmaster.
Unless there had once been a Great Grandmaster who had personally helped the assassin on the roof of Zhai Xing Tower and personally trained him countless times.
…
…
In less than half the time it took to blink, the Emperor's previously calm and cold emotions were suddenly taken over by terror. Countless Tyrannical zhenqi exploded out of his body in that instant. His face was pale, and his pupils constricted slightly. Floating with all his strength, he disappeared from his original spot in an instant and crashed into the corner tower that had been silent the entire time.
The Emperor, who had always been incomparably confident, powerful, and never known fear, finally felt a glimmer of fear, a glimmer of fear toward death. Although he couldn't see what the aura that moved him so much was, he knew that the box he feared the most … had finally appeared.
A muffled explosion rang out through the walls of the Royal Palace. The second shot pierced through the wooden door of the corner tower. Following a straight, formless line, the killing bullet shot toward the chest of the Emperor, who had just fled wretchedly to the back of the quiet room in the corner tower.
This shot was too ruthless. It was so ruthless that it had calculated all of the Emperor's thoughts and actions. The Tyrannical zhenqi in the Emperor's body had already exploded into an invisible current of air on the walls of the Royal Palace. At this moment, there was nothing in his body. It was impossible for him to instantly make another immortal-like evasive movement. Even more terrifying, the second shot arrived without any pause in between. When the Emperor sensed the soul-devouring aura coming like a wave, he was unable to react at all.
The assassin on Zhaixing Tower had calculated all sorts of things, but he was unable to calculate that the quiet room behind the Emperor in the corner tower of the Royal Palace was not quiet. There were many people standing inside. A dozen silent, seemingly not even breathing, people wearing armor and holding thick steel shields like ghosts.
These people seemed to have stood in this quiet corner tower for countless years. They had never changed their posture, sealing off all possibilities of shooting toward this room in the corner tower. During the Jingdou rebellion three years ago, there had been a blood-like slaughter on and below the walls. Regardless of whether it was Fan Xian or the Great Prince, neither of them had found anything strange in this room. At that time, where were these armored, shield-holding spirits?
Were these shield-bearers, who appeared to have stood indifferently for countless years, the final arrangements the Emperor had laid down in order to calm the fear in his heart? These shield-bearers, who had stood for countless years, only had one mission in this life to help the Emperor block the fatal bullets fired from that chest.
How could these steel shields from the palace treasury block the most powerful gunpowder killing weapon in the world? This was the last dragon saber the mistress of the palace treasury had left in this world, the last Emperor's sword. How could the other legacies she had left block it?
No one could clearly see what had happened in that instant. However, the shield-bearer standing to the Emperor's left trembled. The dust covering the steel shield he held tightly in his hands trembled. Immediately after, the Emperor behind the shield trembled.
The shield-bearer fell with a crash. A hole appeared in the steel shield.
It was as if the heavens had dropped a hammer of heavenly punishment. It was as if the Emperor had been viciously struck by this hammer. He abruptly retreated and smashed through the back wall of the corner tower. He came out through the wall and fell wretchedly onto the icy snowy ground.
Fresh blood flowed out from the left side of the Emperor's chest. Earlier, when he stood in Taiji Palace, the wounds on his body had been torn open again by the violent movements. The wound Thirteenth Wang had sliced open on his right chest and the wound Fan Xian's fingertip had sliced open on his neck had begun to bleed again, turning this powerful ruler into a pitiful bloody man.
The Emperor lay on the snowy ground and breathed rapidly. His jet-black eyes focused and then scattered. The left side of his chest caved in slightly and was covered in blood. It was impossible to see the true wound clearly. The snowy ground was under his head. His eyes were wide open as he looked at the icy sky flowing with tears of snow. His two hands outside his sleeves clenched tightly to prevent himself from sinking into darkness.
Boundless terror and anger surged into his mind. The chest had finally appeared. In this world, the Emperor had always thought that he was the person who understood the chest the best, even more so than Chen Pingping. Back then, Xiao Yezi had used this chest to silently kill two Princes and send King Cheng's manor onto the dragon chair.
There was no one who did not fear the existence of such an item. However, back then, the heir of King Cheng and the Crown Prince had not been afraid because this chest belonged to her, which was equivalent to it belonging to him. But, ever since the Taiji Courtyard incident, the Emperor had become afraid. Every day and night, he was afraid. He was afraid that he didn't know when the chest would appear, where a spark would suddenly fly out, or like a divine hand descending from the sky, take his life, and avenge his master.
Because of this fear, after the Taiji Courtyard incident, the Emperor rarely left the Palace. No, it was just as Fan Xian had heard when he first entered Jingdou. After that, the Emperor had not left the Palace at all.
Although he had never seen the chest, he knew the terrifying use of the chest. He was like a turtle hiding high up in the Royal Palace, surrounded by palace walls for protection. It was impossible to find any buildings in Jingdou that could pass through these walls.
The Emperor's subjects all thought that the Emperor was diligent in state affairs, which was why he was always locked up in the Palace. Who knew that he was afraid? They all thought that the Emperor was benevolent and loved the people. He could not bear to disturb the local areas, so he did not patrol the country. Who knew that he was still afraid?
This situation continued until the fourth year of the Qing calendar. The child from Danzhou finally entered the capital. Lao Wu seemed to have truly forgotten many things. No one connected him to the Taiji Courtyard incident. Only then did the Emperor gradually relax and occasionally leave the Palace in casual clothes. Even so, he still did not leave Jingdou. Who knew if there was a fire of revenge hidden in the darkness waiting for him in the endless fields of the Qing Kingdom? For the Dong Mountain incident, the Emperor had to leave Jingdou. However, at the first instant, he summoned Fan Xian back to Danzhou and to his side. Only with his son at his side could he feel that he was safe.
Speaking of which, what a sorrowful life it was. The Emperor possessed boundless land and millions of subjects, yet, he could not see or feel it. It seemed that he had everything in the second half of his life. In reality, he was nothing more than a prisoner he had imprisoned in the Royal Palace.
…
…
The Emperor was not afraid of death. He was only afraid that before he died, he would not see his grand plans become reality. There were not many people or things in the world that could kill him, other than that blind man and that chest. Thus, when Chen Pingping returned from Dazhou with unusual coldness and cruelty, the Emperor felt a glimmer of coldness in addition to his anger.
The soldiers covered in dust and holding shields hid in the corner tower of the Royal Palace. When the Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and put his hands behind his back as he watched the old dog die in the autumn rain execution field, those people had been waiting silently behind him. However, that day, the chest did not appear.
Now, the chest had appeared, and it had appeared very suddenly. The Emperor discovered with some sorrow that he had still underestimated the terror of the chest. At least, he had underestimated the power of the person using the chest. He had not thought that the aura of death would be able to accurately find his position under the protection of the corner tower, easily pierce through the steel shield, and then mercilessly land on his body.
The pure white snow was dyed red by the blood flowing from the Emperor's body. Only now did the people on the corner tower finally react. Although they still did not know what had happened, they at least knew that something had changed.
Eunuch Yao crawled to the Emperor's side with a face full of terror. His voice was so hoarse that he could not speak a word. His entire body trembled as his hand unconsciously pushed at the wound on the Emperor's chest. He pulled out some broken pieces of metal and pulled out some flesh, but he still could not find where the murder weapon was.
The Emperor's body rose and fell with his rapid breathing. His slightly unfocused gaze looked at Eunuch Yao beside him. "I … will not … die!"
The Emperor gritted out these words. After suffering such a heavy injury, no matter how ruthless his words were, they still appeared weak. The Emperor's gaze passed over Eunuch Yao's face and continued to stare viciously at the falling snowflakes in the sky. He howled mournfully in his heart. I have received orders from heaven. Who can kill me? If I don't die today, it means that heaven doesn't want me to die.
The assassin on the roof of Zhaixing Tower had calculated everything. In the end, he had not calculated just how powerful the Emperor's Great Grandmaster's physical body was. More accurately, he had not calculated that the Emperor, who loftily looked down on the world, would be so afraid of death that he would place a heart-protecting mirror on his chest under his dragon robe.
The soul-devouring line from the heavy sniper rifle passed through the distant sky above Jingdou and pierced through the steel shield. In the end, although it did not deviate and accurately struck the Emperor's chest, it was already an arrow at the end of its flight. It only shattered a large part of the Emperor's sternum. It did not tear apart all the flesh and blood it came into contact with and immediately and completely destroy the Emperor's life.
Earlier in the abandoned garden, when Fan Xian had taken out the steel plate in front of his chest, the Emperor had scolded him mockingly. Small tricks could not accomplish great things. Who would have thought that the Emperor would rely on such a small trick to luckily escape with his life?
However, to achieve great things, caution, no matter how extreme, was necessary. To cherish one's life, no matter how embarrassing and boring, was necessary. From this perspective, the Emperor and Fan Xian were actually two similar shameless people in the world.
"Zhaixing Tower." The Emperor's slightly unfocused gaze stared at the gray sky. He knew that the person who had used the chest today was certainly not Lao Wu. If the person who had come was Lao Wu, he would probably have long charged into the Royal Palace. He panted and said, "Kill them all."
…
…
The Emperor had suddenly been assassinated and was unconscious. No one knew if he was dead or alive. This sudden change shocked all of the officials and generals on the palace walls. No one knew what to do next. The warriors surrounded by countless people on the palace walls still had not escaped. If this second volley of arrows shot out, everyone would probably die, including the still unconscious Fan Xian.
The imperial doctors were rushing over from the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Gong Dian had already rushed to the Emperor's side with a deathly pale face. He took out the medicine he always carried and tried to staunch the Emperor's bleeding. However, the effect did not seem to be very good.
Eunuch Yao still firmly remembered the Emperor's final orders before he fell unconscious. His body trembling, he moved around the corner tower and carefully approached the side of the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army. In a raspy voice, he read the Emperor's final order to kill them all.
Eunuch Yao curled up on the palace walls. He looked strangely comical, but he was truly afraid. He knew how powerful the Emperor was. Yet, such a powerful ruler had been so heavily injured by an invisible assassin. How could he not be afraid? He was even worried that in the next moment, he would be torn into pieces by invisible lines in the air.
The scene that followed made Eunuch Yao's pupils constrict. His entire body fell to the ground, once again confirming his fear.
…
…
With a muffled thud, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army, who was standing coldly on the palace walls, was about to wave his flag and give the order for the soldiers on and below the palace walls to rain down arrows again. However, his shoulder only moved when his entire head suddenly disappeared.
That's right. Just like a ghost story in broad daylight, the head of the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army suddenly exploded like a ripe watermelon or a skin bag filled with water. It burst for no reason and turned into a pool of blood and bone fragments on the city wall, scattering all over the sky …
What was even more horrifying was that after the head of the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army exploded, his body seemed to be unaware of the fact that his head had turned into a splatter of brain matter. His right arm was still raised for a moment before he slumped to the ground. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, he collapsed to the ground!
A wave of shocked and wretched cries rang out on the palace walls. Such a hair-raising scene had happened in front of countless soldiers. How could they not be shocked and afraid? Everyone began to tremble and desperately kept their eyes open. On the palace walls, below the palace walls, among their comrades, and even in the empty, snowy sky, they searched desperately.
Of course, they couldn't find anything. They had no idea what had happened. They only knew that the Deputy Commander's head had suddenly exploded. These elite imperial soldiers of the Kingdom of Qing had no idea that the assassin was miles away. They shouted in vain and searched angrily.
The fruitless search gradually turned into fear. This kind of invisible assassin, this kind of unstoppable killing, was not something that mortals could stand against.
Boundless terror began to spread rapidly over the palace walls. All of the soldiers searched helplessly. Some people were about to collapse under the pressure of this silence. The bows and arrows aimed at the people below the palace walls unconsciously relaxed.
The Qing army's military discipline was strict. It was impossible for them to become a ball of loose sand just because of the Deputy Commander's tragic death. On the battlefield and during rebellions, the Qing soldiers had seen countless strange and tragic deaths. However, a divine blow like the one today made the common people have no choice but to think in a strange direction.
Another general bravely roared a few times, trying to calm the emotions of his Imperial Army subordinates. At the same time, he gave the order to attack. However, his roar only lasted a few times before it came to an abrupt end. Because the killing intent that terrified the soldiers on the city wall came again, this general's chest and abdomen were blasted open, and his intestines turned into a ball of rotten blood. He did not even have time to groan before he fell down.
At this point, the atmosphere of panic could no longer be suppressed, and the city walls of the Imperial City were in chaos.
…
…
The changes on top of the Imperial City walls had naturally spread to the foot of the city. However, the soldiers who had been ordered to seal off all directions did not know what had happened. The archers who had aimed at the people waiting to die in the snow felt that their hands were about to become sore, but they still did not receive the order to shoot. The generals furrowed their brows tightly. They were very worried about what had happened on the palace walls for it to become so chaotic.
If it was an ordinary battle, if the Imperial Palace was just a simple battlefield, then no one would foolishly wait for His Majesty's order before shooting arrows. However, it was not the same today. Tens of thousands of arrows were aimed at Sir Fan junior.
Everyone knew what killing Fan Xian meant. Everyone also understood the grudge between Sir Fan junior and the Emperor. Without the Emperor's clear order, no one dared to rashly shoot. The generals below the palace walls did not know that the Emperor was heavily injured and had fallen into a coma. It was unknown whether he was dead or alive.
This strange silence did not last for long. Outside, faced with a tense situation, the generals had to have their own reactions. Even if it was just outside the Palace, the Qing military generals had their own initiative. Hidden behind the archers, General Shi Fei furrowed his brows and stared at the center of the snowy ground. He found that the surrounded assassins seemed to have already sensed the strange change on the palace walls. They began to have the courage and thoughts to break out.
However, Shi Fei was, after all, a powerful figure who had single-handedly subdued Yan Xiaoyi's Northern Camp. No one knew where it came from, but he did not directly give the order to attack. Instead, he had the deputy beside him give it. For one, it was a nameless fear that made him make this choice. For another, Shi Fei was like all the civil and military officials of the Qing Kingdom. He never, ever wanted Fan Xian to die by his hand.
This thought saved Shi Fei's life. The deputy beside him had just raised the flag in his hand when he fell to the ground.
It was not because he did not ride his horse steadily or for some other reason. Following the deputy's body, the horse under him also fell into the snowy ground. Countless drops of fresh blood quickly dyed the white snow red.
Shi Fei's pupils constricted. With a slightly pale face, he looked at the flesh and blood of the deputy beside him. He knew that if he had given the order earlier, then he would already be dead. Who could block such an invisible and unpredictable attack from the heavens?
Shi Fei also understood why the strange movement on the palace walls was happening. However, was the Emperor still alive?
…
…
After a moment of chaos, the Royal Palace recovered its silence. Amidst the death-like silence, the Qing army's military discipline was indeed the best in the world. Under the terrifying killing threat of the attack from beyond the sky, who dared to move without permission? All of the soldiers' faces were pale and even green. They were waiting for the Emperor's order. However, the Emperor never appeared on the palace walls again.
Another gunshot pierced through the silence of the square in front of the Royal Palace. An Ascetic Monk wearing a straw hat tried to use his bravery to lead the silent soldiers to charge. He was accurately shot down into the snowy ground. Without even twitching, he became a corpse.
A death-like silence.
Another gunshot rang out.
Another deathly silence ensued.
Another gunshot rang out.
This happened four times. There were four more corpses on the snowy ground. The gunshot also fell silent. It was as if it would never ring out again. Everyone on the palace walls understood that this top assassin, who could complete an attack from the heavens, was warning everyone in the Qing court not to try anything. Anyone who dared to move on this vast expanse of white snow was a target he had to kill.
One gunshot, one person died, and a bloody corpse lay in the snow. There had never been an exception. This cold and silent announcement froze everyone's hearts.
This was a person challenging a country.
…
…
The death-like silence continued for an indeterminable amount of time. The horses began to kick their hooves uneasily, kicking up some white snow. The powerful warriors surrounded in the snow did not seem to want to touch on the powerful Qing army's tense nerves. They did not choose to forcefully break out of the encirclement.
No one knew what the muffled sounds that pierced through Jingdou's snowy sky were or how those people had died.
Fully armored, Ye Zhong sat coldly on his horse. The elite riders he led were enough to guarantee that two charges would kill these powerful warriors in the snow. However, he did not move. Although, with his powerful ninth-level strength, he could hear that the muffled sounds came from behind him. He faintly sensed that the assassin with the attack from the heavens could not cover the entire area. It was still a problem of the arrow's blind spots. If the riders charged over at this moment, presumably, the assassin would not be able to stop him.
However, Ye Zhong only sat silently and steadily on his horse. At this moment, the Emperor's life or death was unknown. The person with the highest status present was him, yet he did not say a word. Just like his image in the Qing court, he never revealed himself, but no one dared to underestimate him.
The reason Ye Zhong did not move was simple. It was not because the Emperor had not given an edict. It was because he knew what the life-taking, otherworldly thrusting thing was and what those muffled sounds were.
It was the chest. The chest had finally appeared in the world again. Ye Zhong's eyelids drooped slightly. Ignoring the burning gazes of the deputy generals beside him, it was as if he had fallen asleep. In reality, waves of shock had already surged in his heart.
When the Taiping Courtyard incident broke out, he had been moved to Dingzhou by the Emperor as a rear guard. It was clear that the Emperor did not trust Ye Zhong's position between him and Ye Qingmei. He remembered that when Ye Qingmei had first entered Jingdou, she had fought with the young Ye Zhong. Ye Zhong understood those people too well. Although he had never expressed any opinions, it did not mean that he did not know about the chest, the Taiping Courtyard incident, and why Chen Pingping had betrayed the Emperor.
Many images flashed through Ye Zhong's mind. Many people from back then. He also felt a bit tired. His gaze finally became clear and landed on the young man in the snow. He thought of the young man's mother, the young girl who had refused his inspection at the city gates with the chest.
On this matter, Ye Zhong felt that the Emperor was in the wrong, so he remained silent. Before there was an edict, he would not move.
…
…
How long could the death-like silence last? How long would it take for the wind and snow to stop? A young man wearing a light yellow robe walked step by step up the walls of the Royal Palace. Standing on the edge of the walls, he looked calmly at Fan Xian in the snow below.
At this moment, the Imperial Guards on top of the city walls were in a state of chaos. Most of them subconsciously lowered their heads to avoid the possibility of death that might come from beyond the heavens. That was why this young man in light yellow robes appeared so tall and so brave as he stood on the city walls.
"According to the Qing law, since the Emperor is unconscious and cannot attend to matters, should I automatically become regent?" the Third Prince, Li Chengping, asked as he clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves.
Beside him, Eunuch Yao, who was looking around wildly with a deathly pale face, replied in a trembling voice, "But, the Emperor has just fallen unconscious. It hasn't been more than seven days."
"Can the situation at hand wait? Do you want to see the Qing Kingdom's famous generals and generals be struck to death by the heavens? "Li Chengping turned his head and looked sinisterly at Eunuch Yao.
Eunuch Yao's heart chilled. "Your Highness, this is a matter of national importance. I should not speak out of turn. If the Emperor wakes up, I'm afraid …"
"There's nothing to be afraid of. Have everyone withdraw." The coldness in Li Chengping's eyes grew stronger and stronger. The coldness in Eunuch Yao's heart grew stronger and stronger. During these years, although the Third Prince seemed to have become a gentle and kind prince under Fan Xian's education, Eunuch Yao knew what a vicious character this young prince had once been. Once he was pushed too far and remembered this great hatred, how could he live in the future?
Furthermore, the Qing Kingdom would eventually pass to the Third Prince. If the Emperor truly did not recover this time, the Third Prince would probably sit on the dragon chair tomorrow.
"Wait until they leave the square before we pursue them. At least we can give father an explanation. What is the point in wasting them to death here?" Li Chengping narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at his brother and teacher in the snow. He did not reveal any emotions that he should not have.
…
…
In the snow on the roof of Zhaixing Tower, the metal pipes under the pure white expensive fur coat made loud noises endlessly, tearing through the air and harvesting lives in the distant Royal Palace. These noises were very loud. Although the reaction had been greatly reduced, the white snow on the roof of Zhaixing Tower was still shaken until it gradually slid down. These noises traveled far and startled the people in the surrounding streets and residences.
The Jingdou government bailiffs had long discovered the strangeness of this place. However, Zhaixing Tower was a forbidden area of the court. Although it had been abandoned for many years, no one could go in and investigate without proper procedures. Additionally, it was still early in the year and the new year was still being celebrated. The bailiffs thought that perhaps some naughty child was releasing spring thunder inside. However, the spring thunder seemed to be a bit loud.
In the end, the internal court's reaction was faster. Before the Emperor fainted, he had calmly said Zhaixing Tower's name. The aces of the internal court quietly snuck out of the Royal Palace. Following the imperial river to the left of the Royal Palace, they went straight through the woods and came to the east of Jingdou as quickly as possible.
Two streets away, they could still hear the loud noises coming from Zhaixing Tower. The internal court aces' spirits rose. Forcefully suppressing the nervousness in their hearts, they split into four directions and leaped over. They believed that since the terrifying assassin was still on Zhaixing Tower, he would not be able to escape before they surrounded him.
When the aces of the internal court charged bravely into the garden of Zhaixing Tower and finally reached the roof, they still didn't find anyone. There was only a clear mark in the thick layer of snow on the roof. Other than this mark, there was nothing else. It was as if no one had ever been there. It was so quiet it made one's heart feel weak.
Snowflakes continued to fall. The internal court aces carefully examined the marks left in the snow on the roof. They found that the terrifying assassin had not left behind any clues. Although the marks were clear, they had already been cleaned up. It was impossible to even see the person's figure.
An internal court guard stood guard at the entrance of an alley outside Zhaixing Tower. His face was slightly pale as he warily watched the few pedestrians. Suddenly, he saw a person who looked like a servant walk over. His heart thumped.
The servant was a youth. What made the internal court guard suspicious was that the person was wrapped in a thick layer of fur. Although the fur looked ragged and not worth much, it wrapped the green clothes firmly inside. However, the knees were turned over, revealing the other side of the fur.
It was as white as snow. This was an extremely valuable fur. Which family's manservant could afford to buy such an expensive thing?
The internal court guard's pupils constricted. He immediately blocked in front of the servant and was about to call for his companions. Unexpectedly, his vision blurred. Immediately after, he felt his chin go numb. The internal court ace leaned against the wall of the alley and died immediately. His body was stiff and did not fall to the ground.
The servant wiped the tip of his finger and took out the thin needle he had stuck under the person's chin. He wrapped it tightly around the thick fur covering his body as if afraid of the cold. Walking out of the alley, in an instant, he disappeared into Jingdou's wind and snow.
…
…
The wind and snow in Jingdou were heavy. There was a lot of activity. However, not many people knew what was happening in front of the tightly sealed Royal Palace. The Imperial Censors who had knocked on the door in the Imperial Censorate had long been forcefully escorted back to their manors in the night. The officials of the various departments had also been notified by the Overwatch Council and forcefully kept in their manors. Even Hu the Scholar was unable to get close to the Royal Palace.
This kind of oppressive tension and fluctuation did not take long to spread to that street in the south of Jingdou. Who knew how many noble families lived on this street, but everyone's wary and suspicious gazes were only focused on one family: Fan manor.
The Fan manor was as usual. There was no panic, sorrow, or nervousness. Those who needed to boil water were boiling water, and those who needed to cook were cooking. The results of Fan Xian's negotiations with the Emperor in the Palace were clearly not reflected in the manor. The mistress of the manor, Lin Wan 'er, did not take her family and leave the capital for Danzhou with the Emperor's tacit permission during this short period of time. She continued to remain in the manor in a somewhat frightening silence. Sitting in the Flower Hall, she waited for the man's return. If he did not return, then what was the point in her leaving Jingdou?
"Why hasn't Ruoruo gotten up yet?" Lin Wan 'er smiled warmly, but there was a faint sorrow in her smile. She looked at Sisi, who was feeding the child, and said, "Did you call for her?"
As she spoke, the young lady of the Fan family, who had been released from the Royal Palace last night, slowly walked in from outside the hall. Her body was as clean as usual. Her brows were as cold as ever. The shoes on her feet were not stained by a drop of snow. She looked at her sister-in-law and smiled. She then sat by the table and picked up a pair of chopsticks. Her hand holding the chopsticks was steady and did not tremble at all.
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