Chapter 110: Deadly Intent on a Rainy Night (Third Update)

Zhang Yu fell into deep thought upon hearing Zhao Huan’s words.

"As the saying goes, minor hermits hide in the wilderness, while great hermits hide in the city. A true assassin should be indistinguishable from an ordinary person, living a normal life. Only in this way can one avoid suspicion and achieve the goal of the assassination," Zhao Huan continued.

Zhang Yu nodded and replied, "You are right. I will be more mindful in the future."

"Good, that’s better. To recognize one's mistakes and correct them—that’s a good child!" As he spoke, Zhao Huan gently patted Zhang Yu’s small head. Of course, he did this deliberately; teasing such an ice-cold beauty provided a certain sense of accomplishment.

Zhang Yu frowned, clearly unaccustomed to such gestures, but she endured it without lashing out, appearing as if she had truly been successfully brainwashed by Zhao Huan.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Xian, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, requests an audience," a voice announced from outside the room.

"Come in," Zhao Huan said.

After Zhang Xian entered, he was startled to find a woman in the room and instinctively reached for his sword to protect Zhao Huan.

Zhao Huan quickly waved his hand and said, "Do not be nervous; she is one of our own."

Only then did Zhang Xian relax. He reported to Zhao Huan, "Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor has arrived."

Zhao Huan nodded and asked, "He finally came. How many people did he bring?"

"Zhang Jun is leading five thousand soldiers of the Imperial Army, and there is also..." Zhang Xian hesitated.

"What else?" Zhao Huan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"There is also Wang Gui leading one thousand men of the Imperial Guard," Zhang Xian said with a hardened expression.

"Wang Gui?" Zhao Huan was slightly surprised, not expecting Wang Gui to be involved. "Very well. It seems they truly believe I am incapacitated, to have turned traitor so quickly."

Zhang Xian wanted to offer a defense for Wang Gui, but the facts were laid bare before them. He could only shake his head helplessly and say, "Your Majesty, I shall go and capture them now."

Zhao Huan shook his head and ordered, "Command the Flying Feather Army to take action."

Zhang Xian accepted the order and departed. Just as he reached the doorway, Zhao Huan called him back. "Pass on my verbal order: all those who abandon the darkness for the light shall be spared. As for those who remain obstinate, kill them all."

Zhao Huan wanted to give the ordinary soldiers a chance; it remained to be seen whether they would seize it.

The Daqing Hall was already tightly surrounded by five thousand Imperial Army soldiers. Zhang Jun and Wang Jun stood before the troops and commanded, "Men, break down the hall doors."

Several soldiers rushed forward to batter the doors.

However, before they could strike, the doors were opened from within, and Zhang Xian strode out with a commanding presence.

"Zhang Jun, Wang Jun! You bring the Imperial Army to besiege the Daqing Hall—do you intend to commit treason?" Zhang Xian shouted.

"Commander Zhang, you are mistaken. We are acting under an imperial decree to protect the Crown Prince," Wang Jun said, stepping forward with a sinister tone.

"Nonsense! His Majesty is right here in the Daqing Hall. You claim to have an imperial decree—where did it come from?" Zhang Xian retorted with a cold sneer.

"It is, naturally, the decree of the Retired Emperor. He has resumed control of the government. Zhang Xian, if you are wise, step aside now and you may be spared. If you resist, there is only death," Wang Jun threatened.

"With just a few small-fry like you, you think you can kill me? Hahaha..." Zhang Xian laughed loudly. "Listen up, soldiers! By the decree of His Majesty, all who abandon the darkness for the light shall be forgiven for tonight’s events. If you remain stubborn, do not blame me for my ruthlessness."

"Do not waste time. Take action!" Qin Hui ordered from behind. For some reason, he felt uneasy tonight, and eager to avoid further complications, he pressed for the attack.

"Kind words cannot save those determined to die. Zhang Xian, since you seek death, we shall grant your wish. Men, charge in!" Zhang Jun ordered.

With that, the five thousand soldiers began to swarm toward the Daqing Hall.

However, they were met with a wave of sharp arrows.

From behind Zhang Xian, a group of soldiers clad entirely in black emerged. Without a word, they unleashed a volley from the repeating crossbows in their hands. Zhang Jun and his men had never expected such an ambush within the Daqing Hall. Caught off guard, they barely escaped being skewered by the rain of arrows.

"Men, charge! His Majesty has decreed that whoever captures the Crown Prince shall be promoted to General and appointed as a Regional Commander!" Zhang Jun shouted from the back of the crowd, too afraid to press forward in the face of the lethal arrow fire.

"I repeat: those who abandon the darkness for the light shall be spared; the obstinate will be shown no mercy!" Zhang Xian genuinely did not want to slaughter these soldiers. With the enemy at the gates, it would have been better if they were fighting on the front lines, rather than engaging in fratricide.

"Don't listen to his nonsense! There are only a few of them. Charge in! There will be great rewards for those who enter!" Zhang Jun bellowed.

True to the saying that heavy rewards bring forth brave men, these common soldiers knew nothing of political factionalism. They did not know which decree was authentic; they simply obeyed their commanders. Thus, the five thousand soldiers began their assault once more.

This time, however, they did not swarm forward blindly. Instead, they raised their shields and pushed forward cautiously. The repeating crossbows were too powerful; they did not want to be shot down before even reaching their objective.

Seeing the shields, Zhang Xian shook his head. Wooden shields might withstand crossbow bolts, but they were no match for the fire-lances.

Following a series of "thump-thump-thump" sounds, the front row of soldiers holding shields collapsed. The gunpowder projectiles from the fire-lances pierced through the shields, striking down the men behind them.

The Imperial Army soldiers were stunned. What kind of weapon was this, capable of shattering even shields?

The rain intensified. A flash of lightning cracked across the sky over Bianjing, illuminating the plaza in front of the Daqing Hall as bright as day. Only then did the soldiers realize they had been surrounded by the black-clad Flying Feather Army.

Under such conditions, trapped by the shadowy figures, the soldiers' mental fortitude crumbled. Someone screamed, "Oh no! The Black Impermanence has come to claim our souls!"

The five thousand soldiers fell into chaos and began to scatter in flight. But where could they run?