Chapter 729 – The Emperor Falls, Chenzhou’s Royal City Crumbles (Part 2)
The Emperor raised his hand to stop her from continuing, “As long as I trust you, nothing else matters. Those ungrateful sons of mine—I’ve raised them for nothing; one by one, they all want me dead! These wretched insects plotting to kill their father and seize the throne? They deserve no sympathy!”
The ministers believed that the recent downfall of several princes, including the Crown Prince, was all instigated by Hui Jun.
But what was the reality?
Hui Jun did have a hand in it, but she was merely reacting to the situation, at best a catalyst and an accomplice; the true mastermind was not her.
So who was the real mastermind?
It was the Emperor standing right in front of her!
“Hui Er’s body is akin to an elixir that makes me feel young and invigorated,” the Emperor said with obsessive delight. “We are still so young! Let’s have ten or eight children and raise them well; they’ll be far better than those ungrateful pests…”
Why did the Emperor have murderous thoughts towards his own sons?
Firstly, the princes were young and vigorous, eyeing the throne while he himself was gradually losing power; he simply couldn’t accept it.
Secondly, under Hui Jun’s intentional instigation and plotting, the princes were already harboring thoughts of rebellion, and the Emperor would have no mercy in dealing with them.
For an Emperor, what’s more important: his sons or the throne and his life?
Needless to say, it was the throne and his life.
With the throne and his life secured, his body growing younger, he could have countless sons as long as he had women.
Rather than saying that Hui Jun secretly harmed and plotted against those princes, it would be more accurate to say the Emperor was using her as a scapegoat, killing his sons through her hands.
“Your Majesty~~~” Hui Jun shyly nodded, half-pouting. The Emperor, seeing her, let out a genuine hearty laugh, effortlessly lifting his beloved into his arms, the two of them rolling on the Dragon Throne, their intertwined breaths creating a blush-inducing atmosphere, clothing askew and fragrant sweat glistening.
A day later, a crack elite army of over twenty thousand descended like divine soldiers, surrounding the under-defended Chenzhou Royal City.
Inside and outside the city, flames of war raged.
The common people ran for their lives in terror, dazed, while ministers and nobles hurriedly packed their belongings, taking their wives, concubines, and children and preparing to flee.
Within the palace, palace maids and court officials rushed about, their expressions panicked, with some even stealing in the chaos, preparing to escape the royal city.
In the harem, concubines screamed and panicked, fumbling over gold, silver, and jewelry.
Everyone was in a frenzy except for two individuals.
The Emperor, panting heavily, raged at the ministers and the herald, his chest paining with fury, his complexion turning an ashen hue.
All of Dongqing was his empire, yet rebel traitors were about to breach its walls; they wanted his life!
The other was the current Empress, Hui Jun, who sat quietly on an exquisite couch, her palace maid swiftly gathering their belongings.
“Your Majesty, is there anything special you wish to bring?” her personal palace maid inquired.
Hui Jun toyed with a dagger encrusted with various sparkling jewels, slightly drawing it out, the blade glinting icy white.
Her gaze far away, she smiled, “I have no need for jewelry. You all handle the rest.”
The palace maid always found the Empress breathtaking, and now, seeing her, the Empress’s smile carried less of her previous seductive charm and more of a pure, innocent allure, even more stunning than ever. The palace maid snapped back to reality and continued gathering the treasures from the Empress’s palace.
Hui Jun lowered her gaze at the dagger, snapping it shut with a snap before concealing it in her sleeve, binding it to her arm.
Dog Emperor!
If it weren’t for this dog of an Emperor, she’d have had a gentle and kind father, a beautiful and virtuous mother; she would have been their prized possession. But because of this dog Emperor, her father was killed, and her mother was pregnant with her and sent into the palace to serve a stranger.
After robbing and taking everything, why throw her mother and herself into a poor hovel in the capital, making them live as lowly songstresses?
He ruined her family and her life! Now, she swore to make this man’s lineage cease to exist alongside her country’s downfall!
Hui Jun sneered coldly, already firm in her resolve.
The Emperor wanted to escape, but he hadn’t forgotten Hui Jun.
As Hui Jun was being carried away, the cries and sobs of the concubines filled her ears, all left heartlessly cast aside by the Emperor.
What would become of a concubine once caught by the rebel army?
Hui Jun couldn’t dwell on it long; she wanted to feel compassion for those women but sorrowfully realized she had none left to give.
“Why does Hui Er look so terrible?” the Emperor asked, grasping her hand.
Hui Jun replied expressionlessly, “I saw those sisters on the way, but they…”
The Emperor interrupted her.
“Those women are shallow and of lowly birth; why should you feel sad for them, Hui Er?”
Hui Jun’s heart chilled; those women had all been brought into the palace through the Emperor’s various schemes, and now he discarded them like trash!
She said, “I merely had a moment of feeling, it’s only natural to empathize.”
The Emperor held her close and comforted her gently, “Do not worry, I will never betray you; I will ensure your safety.”
Hui Jun nestled in his embrace, forcing a smile of happiness, but her eyes remained icy, lacking even the slightest hint of joy.
The Emperor and the ministers, under the protection of the Imperial Guards, secretly left the city. After all, Changshou Wang’s elite force only numbered over twenty thousand and could never fully encircle the royal city. Unfortunately, just two days later, their whereabouts were still exposed, and the enemies pressed forward.
The cavalry leading the charge against the Emperor’s forces was a vanguard—over ten thousand Imperial Guards stood ready, lined up to confront them. All around, the sounds of battle and screams filled the air.
The Emperor’s face turned pale; he could only find a sliver of peace gripping Hui Jun’s hand tightly.
“Your Majesty, you are the true dragon amongst men; surely you can turn peril into safety.”
The Emperor patted Hui Jun’s hand, his pale complexion easing slightly.
Initially, the Imperial Guards had been able to hold back the impact of the cavalry’s charge, but as the enemy reinforcements swelled, the Imperial Guards began to falter, their defenses breaking under the heavy onslaught, suffering heavy casualties. Outside, not only could the soldiers be heard screaming, but the cries of the nobles’ families filled the air too.
The Emperor’s complexion gradually shifted from pale to a dark green as a human head suddenly flew into the Dragon Carriage.
“Your Majesty—reinforcements for the rebel army are coming; we can’t hold them back any longer…”
The Emperor could no longer sit still; he ordered a eunuch to prepare ordinary clothing for him, intending to escape with the help of some loyal companions.
However, doing so would mean Hui Jun could not go with him.
His gaze hardened; it seemed memories flickered back, instructing someone to prepare poisoned wine for Hui Jun.
Hui Jun’s face paled at his words, and she gave a wretched smile, “I shall wait for you on the Naihe Bridge.”
“I’m sorry; I still failed you. You, as the Empress, must not suffer humiliation at the hands of these rebels. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Hui Jun said, her eyes shimmering with hidden tears, leaning affectionately against the Emperor, “Your Majesty, before I die, I have no other wish but for you to hear my stories—let me live fully within your heart, and I will die without regret.”
The Emperor, anxious, found some patience in her comfort, “Speak.”
“I—”
With her left hand lovingly caressing his cheek, the dagger slid down from her sleeve into her palm.
Thud—
The Emperor’s eyes widened in shock; just as he was about to struggle, Hui Jun plunged the dagger deep into his left side, using her left hand to pin him down. Her stunning features twisted in a mask of vengeful hatred, her features contorted, “I want you dead!”
