Gao Ying recognized the one in the lead as Changshui Officer Zhao Shun. His heart couldn't help but sink.
Zhao Shun’s father was King Yi, the East Defense Chief General Zhao Huang; someone of virtue and prestige in the royal family. When Gao Ying connected that information with Zhao Quan's presence on the other side, didn’t that mean the royal family was collectively revolting?
What was an even bigger headache was that Changshui Officer Zhao Shun was in charge of one of the six field armies near the capital. Now, he had actually led these troops into the city, and yet the Liu clan had no idea about it at all. Just how many of the six field armies had already turned traitor?
Just then, Zhao Quan said coldly, “If I hadn't promptly arrived, they would have almost gotten away.”
Zhao Shun said in annoyance, “This kid looks honest, but he’s as slick as a ghost. I didn’t expect him to have seen through our plan.”
“It seems Li Mian has already fallen for your plot,” Gao Ying said with a sigh. He tried to stall for time while thinking of a way to get out of this situation. However, he just couldn't think of anything. This was nothing but a situation of inevitable death.
“If that Li Mian had been as careful as you, I wouldn’t have succeeded so easily. The Liu clan’s people are useless after all,” Zhao Shun said disdainfully.
“As members of the royal family, you already have enough riches and honor, and yet you’re colluding with traitors. What is this all for, really?” Gao Ying asked, although he knew that he was dead for certain. He took a deep breath. All he sought now was to die with understanding.
“Traitors?” Zhao Quan roared with laughter. “You really overestimate yourself! The ones who have committed treason are clearly your group. We are acting in accordance with his majesty’s orders to completely capture all of the Liu clan traitors!”
Gao Ying’s expression immediately changed. He exclaimed, “That’s impossible! The empress would never issue that kind of order!” In the past, he had even fought side by side with the empress. Besides, Zu An had an extremely close relationship with the empress, so there was no way she would agree to such orders.
“Is there something wrong with your ears? We are following his majesty’s orders and not the empress’ orders,” Zhao Quan said with a sneer.
Gao Ying said with a sigh, “So you’ve fooled his majesty. Once her highness reacts tomorrow morning, all of you will get what you deserve.”
“Just who is it that's fooled his majesty?” Zhao Shun retorted angrily. “Just who doe your Liu clan people think you are? You merely rely on your relationship with the empress. Your clan is clearly filled with useless trash, and yet you occupy all kinds of important positions!
“Forget about the idiot duo Liu Guang and Liu Yao, even a brat like you was able to easily rise up to the position of Right Guard General. Do you know how many people strive their entire lives, and yet will never be able to sit in your position? That bastard Liu Guang would even put a dog from the clan into the court if he could. Does this world actually belong to our Zhao clan or your Liu clan?”
Gao Ying said with a cold laugh, “So all of you did this out of jealousy.”
He inwardly sighed with relief. He'd actually predicted that this kind of thing would happen. He'd tried to advise his maternal uncles many times, but they refused to listen. The only thing they knew how to do was continue to put the Liu clan’s people in vital positions. Now, the consequences had finally arrived, and they were far more intense than the clan elders had imagined.
“Jealous of those Liu clan trash?” Zhao Shun retorted with a scowl. “We’re just getting rid of the rubbish and replacing them with the competent.”
Gao Ying smiled calmly and said, “Even though the Liu clan doesn't have any ability, treacherous sorts like you aren’t much better than us.”
“You’re courting death!” Zhao Shun roared furiously, charging straight at him.
Gao Ying’s eyes lit up. The reason why he had taunted his opponent was precisely for this moment. He abandoned all defenses and allowed the opponent’s weapon to enter his own chest. Meanwhile, his own blade sliced at the enemy’s neck. He knew that there was no chance of him surviving today, so he decisively chose to swap life for life.
Zhao Shun was horrified. He reflexively wanted to pull his sword back to defend himself, but Gao Ying grabbed his sword with his hand and held it in place. He couldn't pull it out at all. He had expected Gao Ying to fight back while cornered, but he hadn’t expected to injure a ninth rank cultivator that easily. However, his first attack had ended up seriously injuring his opponent, so all of his following strategies were useless. In a battle between strong individuals, life and death was often decided by a sliver of an opportunity. This slight mishap made it so that he could only watch as the grim reaper approached. His eyes were full of regret and despair.
Suddenly, Gao Ying’s head flew into the air. It turned out that Zhao Quan had arrived promptly. How could Gao Ying still have the leftover strength to guard against the surprise attack of an older generation expert?
A burst of hot blood flew through the air. Gao Ying's eyes were wide as he reflexively looked in the Imperial Palace’s direction. His last thought was that the empress dowager was a grandmaster, so she'd definitely be able to subdue this conspiracy.
...
Meanwhile, in the empress’ personal palace, Liu Ning had been resting in her chambers. Suddenly, she sensed weapons clashing in Cloud Dragon Gate’s direction. She flew out from her room and looked at the flames from afar. Her restless mind made her just about to rush over and examine the situation when she suddenly stopped. She looked to her left with a grave expression.
Under the moonlight, a long-haired, black-clad beauty stood atop a roof ridge. The moonlight seemed to serve as her backdrop, making her figure look even more enchanting and moving.
However, while the empress was looking at her, she was also sizing the empress up. When her eyes landed on the empress' /bottom, a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.
Your ass is huge!
When she looked at that beautiful and dignified face, Liu Ning called out with a grave expression, “Devil Sect Master Yun Jianyue!”
The woman, whose long hair reached all the way to her bottom, nodded. “I'm surprised that your highness still remembers me.” It was when she first invaded the palace that she'd first met that little devil Zu An.
“Sect Master Yun’s stunning figure is something no one would forget after a single glance,” Liu Ning said; she also remembered that assassination. In the past, her cultivation still hadn’t recovered. In the end, it was also Zu An who had saved her. At that time, how could she have known that she would be fiercely subdued by that guy?
The two women couldn't help but blush at the same time, but then they each gave the other a strange look. They didn’t know why the other’s reaction was so strange. How could they possibly know that they had actually thought of the same man at the same time?
“The Devil Sect’s evil intentions have not ceased, and you wish to invade once more?” Liu Ning replied with a sneer. After she received the help of Zu An’s essence, her cultivation had not only recovered, but even grown a level stronger. She didn’t fear Yun Jianyue. Besides, this was the Imperial Palace, her own home field.
“I'm here with a single mission, which is to borrow your highness’ decapitated head.” Yun Jianyue’s voice was calm, but she spoke words filled with killing intent.
Liu Ning narrowed her eyes. “I fear that the sect master doesn’t have the ability to do so.”
Yun Jianyue chuckled. She didn’t say anything more; rather, she rushed forth like lightning and attacked. At the same time, a crescent moon suddenly appeared in the sky behind Liu Ning and rushed at her neck.