https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-378-Su-Shaoying-s-One-and-Only-Suspicion/12536608/
Chapter 377: Returning to the Peak of the Purple Forbidden City
Chapter 377: Returning to the Peak of the Purple Forbidden City
Wei Ziyun and Lu Xiaofeng walked ahead, while the rest of the group trailed behind at a distance.
With such a ruckus unfolding, it would be a lifetime regret to miss it. So, with Su Shaoying leading the way, the group followed closely by his side.
Yin Xian and the other imperial guards also felt grateful for Su Shaoying's earlier warning. As long as they didn't get too close to the emperor's sleeping quarters in the South Study, they didn't obstruct their path.
Just as they were still some distance away from the South Study, a sharp cry rang out from that direction.
Old Monk's face changed, and then they heard Ouyang Qing exclaim, "It's Big Sister's voice!"
Su Shaoying nodded, "Big Sister has saved the emperor, and now the Red Shoes have backing."
Ouyang Qing turned to Su Shaoying, "You really knew beforehand!"
Everyone looked at Su Shaoying, and Yin Xian said with some resentment, "You knew all along but didn't tell us?"
Su Shaoying blinked, "But I had no proof. What if nothing happened? That would've been embarrassing."
The group gave Su Shaoying disdainful looks. Just based on his calm expression earlier and the way he goaded Sikong Zhaixing, they would believe a pig could climb a tree before doubting that he didn't have a grasp of the situation.
The next moment, a white figure pierced through the night and landed on the roof of the adjacent hall.
"It's Ye Gucheng!" Yin Xian cried out.
Dressed and looking exactly like the fake Ye Gucheng from earlier, he also held a uniquely designed black-sheathed longsword in his hand. His light and agile movements were like an immortal ascending to the heavens, floating in the air.
Sikong Zhaixing couldn't help but click his tongue. Up until now, he finally believed it, "He really went to assassinate the emperor!?"
In the next moment, another white figure suddenly appeared at the end of the roof where Ye Gucheng was standing.
Ye Gucheng abruptly halted his steps.
The person who appeared before him was none other than Ximen Chuixue!
At the same time, two more figures emerged from the night fog behind Ye Gucheng. One was Lu Xiaofeng, and beside him was an ordinary-looking palace maid. However, the pair of short swords in her hands revealed her true identity.
"Big Sister!" Ouyang Qing exclaimed.
Gongsun Big Sister flew over, "You're all here too!"
Ouyang Qing quickly asked, "What's going on?"
"Ye Gucheng and the Prince of Pingnan conspired to usurp the throne and murder the emperor, intending to replace him with the Prince's son," Gongsun Big Sister explained.
"Replace him with the prince's son?" Ouyang Qing asked in surprise, "Don't they fear suspicion?"
"The Prince of Pingnan's son looks exactly like the emperor," Gongsun Big Sister elaborated, "and Manager Wang is their inside man in the palace."
"Manager Wang?" Ouyang Qing said, "The Manager Wang who went to Yiqing Palace?"
Gongsun Big Sister nodded, "That's him."
Lu Xiaofeng moved closer to Su Shaoying and said bitterly, "You knew everything beforehand, yet you didn't tell me anything?"
Su Shaoying blinked innocently, "You said you wanted to investigate it yourself. How can you blame me now?"
"Me!" Lu Xiaofeng was speechless, "Aren't you afraid that Gongsun Big Sister can't stop Ye Gucheng?"
"Gongsun Big Sister indeed can't stop Ye Gucheng, but she can delay him. Moreover, the information you obtained is more than enough for you to figure things out," Su Shaoying replied.
Receiving praise, Lu Xiaofeng felt proud, but he still asked curiously, "Since you knew everything, why didn't you come here yourself?"
Su Shaoying glanced at Lu Xiaofeng, "Are you stupid?"
Lu Xiaofeng didn't understand, "What do you mean?"
Su Shaoying raised his first finger, "I am the heir to the Emei Sect. The Emei Sect and the Shu Kingdom's royal family are openly cooperating. Would the emperor trust me?"
Then he raised a second finger, "If I really gained the emperor's trust and grew close to him, would the Shu Kingdom's royal family continue to trust the Emei Sect in the future?"
"I would never do something that displeases both sides. You and Gongsun Big Sister are enough to handle this," Su Shaoying said calmly.
Lu Xiaofeng was left speechless, "You actually considered all of that?"
"That's why I'm the heir to the Emei Sect, and you're just a lone wanderer," Su Shaoying said.
Lu Xiaofeng pouted, "I'd rather be a lone wanderer!"
...
At the same time, Ximen Chuixue, who had blocked Ye Gucheng's path, suddenly spoke up, "Do you study the sword?"
Ye Gucheng's heart sank, but he also calmed down, "I am the sword."
"Do you know the true essence of the sword?" Ximen Chuixue asked.
"Tell me."
"It lies in sincerity," Ximen Chuixue said, "Only with sincerity and wholehearted devotion can one reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Those who are insincere are not worth discussing the sword with."
Ximen Chuixue replied indifferently, "Learning is endless, and swordsmanship is even more so."
"Since you study the sword," Ye Gucheng said, "then you should know that those who study the sword only need to be true to the sword and not necessarily to people."
Su Shaoying nodded. Ye Gucheng's swordsmanship had surpassed Gu Yang, and his state of mind was far superior to that of Lu Fengxian. Even in such an unfavorable state, his heart remained unwavering.
After Ye Gucheng shared his definition of the sword and sincerity, Ximen Chuixue fell silent, for there was nothing left to be said.
The end of the road is the horizon, and the end of words is the sword.
However, the imperial guards, whose hearts were already pounding with fear, hoping to make up for their mistakes, did not give Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue a fair chance to duel. Dozens of swords, knives, and spears surrounded them, their cold gleams flickering.
In the next moment, the crowd parted, and Wei Ziyun appeared at the forefront of the guards, his face dripping with cold sweat.
"Lord Yunlai." Wei Ziyun said, his confusion evident, "Your sword skills are divine, and you move like an immortal. Why debase yourself in the mortal realm and commit such an unwise act?"
Ye Gucheng replied coldly, "You wouldn't understand."
Standing right behind Wei Ziyun was Tu Fang, his face also covered in cold sweat. He spoke angrily, "We may not understand, but we do know that your crime warrants a thousand cuts and the extermination of your entire clan!"
Ye Gucheng humphed, unfazed by the threat, "Your skill with the blade is lacking, and your swordsmanship is inadequate. To dare be impudent towards me is also a capital offense."
"You!" Tu Fang was left speechless, unable to comprehend why Ye Gucheng still exuded such confidence when he was clearly doomed.
Tu Fang's anger knew no bounds, and he was about to strike out at Ye Gucheng. However, Ximen Chuixue suddenly spoke up, "Wait a moment!"
Even amidst the forest of blades, the protagonists remained Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue, so when Ximen Chuixue spoke, he instantly captured everyone's attention, and no one dared to disobey him.
But Ximen Chuixue's words surprised them all, "If I were to join forces with Ye Gucheng, who under the heavens could stand against us?"
Wei Ziyun, Tu Fang, Yin Xian, and Ding Ao, the four commanders, simultaneously broke out in a cold sweat.
If Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng were to stand back-to-back, no one could harm a single hair on their heads before their strength waned. And if they wanted to break through the encirclement, they could indeed escape the palace.
Ximen Chuixue turned to Wei Ziyun, "Do you understand my intention?"
Wei Ziyun shook his head immediately.
He understood, but he pretended not to, for he was not Ximen Chuixue. Beyond his reputation as a master swordsman, he was also the leader of the four commanders of the imperial guards.
He had to capture Ye Gucheng himself to make up for his previous mistake.
The matter had already escalated, even implicating the emperor. If he allowed Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue to continue their duel and the emperor sought accountability, how could he explain his actions?
However, Ximen Chuixue didn't give him time to hesitate.
"At this moment, I only seek a battle with Lord Yunlai," Ximen Chuixue said calmly, "Life and death, honor and shame, I no longer hold them in my heart. What joy is there in life, and what fear is there in death? To gain a bosom friend is to die without regret, and to face an opponent like Lord Yunlai is to die without the slightest regret."
Wei Ziyun spoke with difficulty, "Although I understand your intention, how can I possibly..."
"Are you forcing me to break out with him and then fight elsewhere?" Ximen Chuixue asked.
Wei Ziyun couldn't answer, so he had no choice but to turn to Lu Xiaofeng and Gongsun Big Sister. These two had just saved the emperor, and they also had the right to speak at this moment.
Gongsun Big Sister remained silent, but Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but sigh, "What are you still waiting for?"
Wei Ziyun asked, "Waiting for what?"
"Don't tell me you don't even know how to write the character for 'benefit' in 'fishing for benefits'?" Lu Xiaofeng asked.
Wei Ziyun thought about it. Indeed, the only path remaining seemed to be to force Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng to join forces and escape the palace. If he really did that, his crime would be even greater.
So, this veteran swordsman decided to go all in, "Since this battle is inevitable and will be renowned for eternity, let there be no regrets."
Thus, the group returned to the peak of the Purple Forbidden City.
(End of Chapter)
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