Chapter 622: Twin Blessings at the Gate
Chapter 622: Twin Blessings at the Gate
The familiar figure and aura caught Prince Jin’s eye, causing his face to pale instantly.
An uncontrollable pressure enveloped him, making his entire body stiffen.
He stared at the person, his throat frozen, unable to utter a single sound.
The court officials, though recognizing the figure, had already accepted the fact of His Majesty’s passing.
Therefore, they all began to speculate about who this person was and why he was with Prince Jian.
Emperor of Liang removed his hood, revealing his stern face.
Everyone was stunned.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
The first to cry out was Zhang Qufeng.
As Hu Lie’s confidant, he was not privy to all the secrets.
For instance, he truly believed that His Majesty had already passed away.
So, who was this man standing in the Golden Hall?
Could it be that His Majesty had risen from the dead?
Or was the news incorrect?
“Your Majesty? Your Majesty?”
The Grand Agricultural Commissioner also spoke in disbelief. “Is it really you?”
The Emperor of Liang’s stern gaze swept over the court, meeting the Grand Agricultural Commissioner’s eyes for a moment before looking away.
The Grand Agricultural Commissioner clasped his hands and knelt devoutly. “Your subject welcomes Your Majesty back to court!”
The Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, who was on good terms with the Grand Agricultural Commissioner, immediately knelt as well. “We welcome Your Majesty back to court!”
After the obeisance, he whispered to the Grand Agricultural Commissioner, “Is it really His Majesty?”
Grand Agricultural Commissioner: “Even if it isn’t, it has to be. It’s better than letting Prince Jin ascend the throne.”
“You…!”
The Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy’s lips twitched.
The Grand Agricultural Commissioner whispered, “I always felt something was amiss. The Emperor’s death, the final will and testament, and even the previous accusations of the Crown Prince’s Mansion plotting against the Emperor—all of these seem suspicious to me. Meng Ge Lao also thinks so.”
The Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy had his doubts as well.
But without evidence, he was powerless to act.
“Wait!”
Zhang Qufeng suddenly thought of something and stepped forward before more officials could kneel to the Emperor. “I heard that the Crown Prince’s Mansion has a master of disguise. Since His Majesty has already passed, this person might be—”
“Zhang Qufeng, how dare you!”
The Grand Agricultural Commissioner rebuked him.
Zhang Qufeng was terrified and turned to look at Prince Jin on the dais, hoping he would step in to restore order.
But what he didn’t know was that Prince Jin was already frozen in place.
He had imagined countless scenarios, but he never expected his father to appear alive before him.
He had set up numerous traps; not even a fly could have entered the Golden Hall.
Yet, he had overlooked his own flesh and blood!
It was this boy who had brought the Emperor here, using his position to gain unimpeded access to the Golden Hall.
This was his own son!
The son he had saved from the imperial mausoleum with great effort!
Why?
Why would his own son betray him?!
He would be the emperor, and his son would be the Crown Prince, destined to inherit the throne.
Did none of this matter to Lu Qi?
What benefit could he gain from helping the Crown Prince’s Mansion?
Even if his father had made a mistake, what great merit could he earn as a son?
Being suspected was bad enough.
How foolish!
Prince Jin glared at Lu Qi with a look of hatred.
If looks could kill, he would have already slain his own son!
The Emperor of Liang spoke with authority. “Lu Zhaohua, do you also think I am an imposter?”
Prince Jin shuddered.
“It’s the Emperor’s voice! It’s the Emperor!”
“It’s the Emperor!”
The officials grew increasingly excited.
The Emperor of Liang’s aura was overwhelming. “Speak!”
Prince Jin’s chest heaved, his clothes drenched in cold sweat.
He suddenly realized how small he was in the presence of his father, who he had tried to outmaneuver. It turned out he had only been hiding his fear because he couldn’t see him.
He simply… couldn’t resist the Emperor’s pressure!
He looked behind the Emperor.
“Don’t bother looking, brother,” Lu Zhaoyan said calmly. “Hu Lie’s army has been defeated, and the traitors in the Imperial Guards have been brought to justice. You are all alone now.”
Prince Jin clenched his fists.
No, he still had the Imperial Tutor.
Lu Zhaoyan said, “If you’re waiting for Gongsun Yanming, I suggest you give up that hope.”
The Emperor of Liang coldly ordered, “Seize Prince Jin!”
Prince Jin cried out, “Imperial Tutor, save me—”
—
The long white marble steps were stained with spots of blood.
There were several disciples from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, as well as Chen Long and Meng Qianqian.
This was a brutal battle.
Gongsun Yanming had twenty more years of internal energy than the siblings, and he had cultivated the Indestructible Diamond technique, making him nearly invulnerable to blades and bullets.
It was only at this moment that the two realized how deeply Gongsun Yanming had hidden his true strength.
"Can you still fight?"
Chen Long asked with concern.
Meng Qianqian wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes fierce. "Of course. What about you?"
"He can't hurt me."
Chen Long said calmly.
Meng Qianqian smiled. "Yes, it's just a flesh wound. That's all he can do."
Both of them knew that Gongsun Yanming's attacks were far from mere flesh wounds, especially since Chen Long had taken many hits to protect her, likely suffering severe internal injuries.
"We need to end this quickly."
She gripped the Azure Phoenix Sword tightly.
Chen Long frowned. "Where is his weakness?"
They had already exchanged over a hundred blows with Gongsun Yanming, depleting his internal energy but failing to inflict any real damage.
It was only then that he realized how difficult it had been for his sister to poison Gongsun Yanming the last time.
As if guessing her brother's thoughts, Meng Qianqian gave a self-deprecating smile. "Unfortunately, he's already on guard. Poisoning him won't work anymore."
Chen Long replied, "No matter. I'll look for his weakness again. If I can't find it, I'll just wear him down. Once I exhaust him, you can strike."
Meng Qianqian agreed. "Alright."
Chen Long lifted his heavy sword and charged at Gongsun Yanming again.
Gongsun Yanming glanced sideways.
Despite Chen Long's severe injuries, he still managed to launch such a fierce attack.
"Truly worthy of being the Loulan heir."
His fingers clamped down on Chen Long's sword blade.
Chen Long said coldly, "I am from the Shang family. My name is Shang Xu!"
He delivered a powerful slash!
"My father is Shang Jue!"
He swung his sword again!
"My mother is Zhongli Yuan!"
"Shang Jiu is my sister!"
A surge of righteous anger and overwhelming rage made his sword energy soar.
Gongsun Yanming's forearm tingled slightly.
He looked at Chen Long in shock, unable to believe the strength a younger generation could display.
"But it's not enough."
He slapped Chen Long away with a single palm!
Chen Long crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Meng Qianqian clenched her fingers. "The weakness... his weakness..."
She couldn't rush.
She couldn't be distracted.
She needed to stay calm.
Gongsun Yanming grabbed Chen Long like a sack of potatoes, hoisted him high, and slammed him down hard.
Brother!
Meng Qianqian's hand almost crushed the sword hilt.
Gongsun Yanming, with a derisive grin, squeezed Chen Long, who was bleeding from the seven orifices. "Your father, Shang Jue, was killed by me in the same way."
Chen Long, struggling and defiant, said, "My father... was stronger than you..."
"Is that so?" Gongsun Yanming asked, "When I send you both to join him in the underworld, you can ask him who is truly stronger."
He punched Chen Long in the chest.
Chen Long's body convulsed, bones breaking, and tendons tearing.
As he raised his second fist, Chen Long suddenly grabbed his fist.
Gongsun Yanming sneered. "Foolish!"
Whoosh!
A silver needle struck his wrist at the Yangchi acupoint.
His expression changed.
Suddenly, a torrent of internal energy surged from his body, flooding into his right wrist's Yangchi acupoint like a floodgate opening, pouring out uncontrollably.
Gongsun Yanming's face darkened, and he turned to Meng Qianqian with an icy glare.
Meng Qianqian slashed her sword at his arm in a reverse strike.
An unexpected event occurred.
Gongsun Yanming's arm was cut, his sleeve tearing, and fresh blood splattered to the ground.
Chen Long, lying on the ground, looked at the blood and smiled weakly but joyfully. "Gongsun Yanming, your technique... has been broken."
Meng Qianqian, panting, said, "So, you didn't lie to me after all."
Gongsun Yanming frowned deeply.
Meng Qianqian laughed. "Do you want to know who told me your weakness? It was your own daughter, Gongsun Liuying!"
"I told her about the child-killing potion you gave her, and instead of understanding your intentions, she harbored deep resentment. She revealed one sentence to me—'To defeat the victor, strike the Yangchi.'"
"I spent two nights trying to understand her words, but it wasn't until my brother tested your technique that I realized your weakness might be at the Yangchi acupoint."
"Gongsun Yanming, you have a wonderful daughter. You went to great lengths to use the Wushan Prohibition Art to change her fate, but in the end, she betrayed you without hesitation for the sake of a child that may not even exist. Isn't this karma?"
Meng Qianqian didn't receive this "retribution" from Gongsun Liuying on their first meeting. It was after returning from the Imperial Princess's fief that Gongsun Liuying contacted her.
To be honest, she was surprised as well.
This father and daughter, one willing to strip his daughter of her right to motherhood for self-preservation, the other willing to kill her own father to protect an imaginary child.
How else could they be described as biological?
Even without the Indestructible Diamond technique to protect him, Gongsun Yanming was still formidable.
But Meng Qianqian was not afraid.
“Father, I will use the sword technique you taught Little Jiu to defeat him honorably!”
---
Chen Long did not join in.
Even though he wanted to step forward several times, he saw her fall heavily, and each time, he saw her prop herself up with her sword and stand up, refusing to give in.
Even Gongsun Yanming was chilled to the bone.
He felt an aura from this young girl that even Shang Jue had never exuded.
“Who are you?”
“I am Shang Jiu, I am Shang Jue, I am Zhongli Yuan, I am all the spirits of the Shang family you have wronged!”
Meng Qianqian's Azure Phoenix Sword cut down with irresistible force!
---
“Father, what is that?”
“Ah, it’s candied hawthorn.”
“Little Jiu wants to eat!”
“Okay.”
“Brother wants some too.”
“I don’t want any.”
“Yes, you do!”
Zhongli Yuan held Shang Xu’s hand and gently patted his head, “It’s okay to eat.”
Shang Xu turned away, “Childish.”
Shang Jue bought three skewers of candied hawthorn.
Little Jiu ran over, tiptoeing, “One for me, one for brother, hmm, why is there one more?”
Shang Jue looked tenderly at his wife, “Ah Yuan, this one is for you.”
Zhongli Yuan lowered her eyes, smiled sweetly, and took the candied hawthorn.
The family of four strolled down the bustling street.
The sunset stretched their shadows long.
Shang Jue held Zhongli Yuan’s hand, “Ah Yuan, can we always be like this? Watching Shang Xu and Little Jiu grow up.”
“Sure.”
Zhongli Yuan smiled.
That moment of happiness was etched deep into her soul.
Meng Qianqian knelt on the ground, gripping the Azure Phoenix Sword, tears streaming down her face.
“Father... Mother... Uncle and Aunt... Little Jiu has avenged you all...”
She lifted her head, gazing at the dazzling sky, at the boundless expanse.
Memories flashed through her mind, forgotten, hidden, and deeply buried, surging like waves.
Her vision went black, and she collapsed in the blood.
---
Outside the palace gates.
The black-armored army and Hu Lie’s forces had decided their fate.
Cui Ping was slain.
Liu Yuan and Yang Yonghe were captured.
Seeing the tide turn against him, Hu Lie fled with his men under the protection of his subordinates.
Xu Zhongping pursued them.
As the saying goes, don’t chase a cornered enemy.
But Xu Zhongping believed that Hu Lie, a major threat, must be captured or eliminated at all costs.
The Liang Emperor was handling Prince Jin and his followers in the Golden Hall.
Such a heinous act, even by a son, could not be tolerated.
Just as he was about to pronounce the verdict, the King Miao rushed in, “Oh, don’t worry about your court right now! My granddaughter-in-law has fainted!!”
“Throw them into the Ministry of Punishments!”
The Liang Emperor said, sweeping his sleeves and leaving.
Lu Zhaoyan: “Father Emperor...”
Liang Emperor: “You stay.”
Lu Zhaoyan: Why?!
Lu Zhaoyan reluctantly stayed to handle the affairs of state, while the Liang Emperor and the King Miao hurried to the harem.
Meng Qianqian was placed in Imperial Concubine Chen’s quarters.
The King Miao was an outsider, but after all the turmoil, it didn’t matter much.
Besides, even if the Liang Emperor hadn’t allowed it, he would have climbed the wall to get in anyway.
Jiang Huiyi, hearing that Meng Qianqian had fainted, rushed over.
Lu Yuan and the fake Liang Emperor, Luo Shan, were also there.
After parting ways with Meng Qianqian, they were intercepted by the disciples of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.
It wasn’t until they heard that Meng Qianqian had fainted that Lu Yuan stopped his act, threw “Liang Emperor” to the ground, and ran off.
Luo Shan didn’t want to enter the harem, but he had nowhere else to go, so he followed reluctantly.
If the Liang Emperor had been less broad-minded, he might have entered as a man and left as a eunuch.
Meng Qianqian lay quietly on Imperial Concubine Chen’s bed.
The imperial physician was taking her pulse.
Imperial Concubine Chen, Jiang Huiyi, and Lu Yuan stood by her side.
The others waited outside.
Meng Qianqian removed her human-skin mask, revealing her true identity as Yan Xiaojiu.
“This...”
The imperial physician furrowed his brows, seemingly unable to believe the pulse he was reading.
Jiang Huiyi asked anxiously, “What’s wrong? Speak the truth! Is she sick or injured? She has a lot of blood on her, is her life in danger?”
Imperial Concubine Chen, seeing Jiang Huiyi more worried than herself, knew that she truly cared for Little Jiu.
She patted Jiang Huiyi’s hand, “I hear her breathing is still steady.”
The imperial physician bowed, “To the two ladies, Yan Xiaojiu is not seriously injured. Her wounds are just superficial.”
Jiang Huiyi asked, “If she’s not seriously injured, why did she faint?”
The imperial physician hesitated, then said firmly, “Yan Xiaojiu’s pulse... seems to be...”
Another long chapter, and a heavy one at that! Fang Fangzi is being diligent today! Don’t forget to vote, everyone! ❤ (End of Chapter)
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