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The hot air balloon flew north with the wind.
Li San glanced at the hot air balloon in the sky, then turned and headed along the small path in the Royal Garden towards the Chang’an pier.
These days, he had been planning the famous retreat route day and night, and now his hard work had not been in vain. After descending the mountain, he and the remaining secret guards rushed to the pier.
At this time, most of the soldiers, officials, concubines, and palace maids on the pier had already boarded the ships, and some merchant ships had already departed for Qingzhou before he arrived.
Now, the last merchant ship was docked at the pier.
Glancing at the hydrogen balloon in the sky, Li San and the secret guards boarded the merchant ship. With the boatman’s chants, the merchant ship drifted downstream along the rapid currents of the Yellow River. Once they were on the ship, the Prince of Zhao’s cavalry could only watch them leave due to the Yellow River’s breadth.
However, to prevent being encircled and pursued by large numbers of cavalry, he still ordered the hydrogen balloon to take off. On the hydrogen balloon, secret guard members had changed into Concubine Zhen’s clothes, and they were responsible for luring the Prince of Zhao’s pursuing troops.
As Li San and the others boarded the ship, the Prince of Zhao’s forces had already completed their encirclement of Chang’an City. In front of the imperial palace, the Prince of Zhao and Zhao Yuanliang rode their horses and grandly entered the imperial palace through the main gate.
“Father, I never thought that one day we could ride horses into the imperial palace,” Zhao Yuanliang said, looking at the magnificent buildings within the imperial palace.
The Prince of Zhao laughed heartily upon hearing this, “Hahaha, from now on, we can all ride in and out of the imperial palace. Not only that, we can also live in the palace.”
“Father is absolutely right. However, living in this imperial palace without beautiful women accompanying us—your son will now find some beauties in this imperial palace for you. After all, there are three thousand beauties in the imperial palace, which can be said to gather all the beauties of the world.”
The Prince of Zhao became even happier. He said to Zhao Yuanliang, “You truly understand my thoughts best. Not just beauties, this Chang’an City is very prosperous and can provide us with the money to forge firearms.”
“Yes, Father.” Zhao Yuanliang reined in his horse and led a detachment of cavalry into the inner court of the imperial palace.
Just then, a contingent of imperial guards and the Crown Prince came from the direction of the Eastern Palace. Seeing the Prince of Zhao, the Crown Prince was overjoyed. His wound had already been bandaged. Enduring the severe pain, the Crown Prince said, “Prince of Zhao, you have finally arrived.”
The Prince of Zhao sat on his horse, showing no intention of dismounting. He looked at Xiao Wenxuan’s corpse on the stone bridge and said, “The Emperor was killed by you?”
“Of course, just as planned.” The Crown Prince said through gritted teeth, “Now that the Emperor is dead, I shall soon call myself ‘Emperor’. This time, the Prince of Zhao has rendered meritorious service in protecting the imperial carriage, and I will surely reward the Prince of Zhao handsomely.”
“Is that so? Then I must thank the Crown Prince.” The Prince of Zhao said indifferently, then he said to his generals, “The Crown Prince committed regicide and usurped the throne. Someone, take down this ruthless and ungrateful person!”
The Crown Prince’s smile froze instantly. He looked incredulously as the Prince of Zhao’s soldiers approached him. He said anxiously, “Uncle, what do you mean by this?”
“What do I mean? Regicide and usurpation are capital offenses. This old official is loyal to the Emperor, and naturally, I must enforce justice on behalf of Heaven.” The Prince of Zhao said loudly, with a righteous appearance.
At this moment, even if the Crown Prince was foolish, he understood. His face turned pale with fright.
“Clang, clang.” Just as the Crown Prince hesitated, there was a sound of weapons falling behind him. All the imperial guards behind the Crown Prince dropped their weapons.
The leading imperial guard general said, “Your Highness, the regicide has nothing to do with us. This was all done by the Crown Prince alone. Prince of Zhao, spare our lives.”
“Hmm, as long as you can serve this King, this King will pardon your sins.” The Prince of Zhao laughed heartily.
The Crown Prince suffered the pain of a severed arm and now carried the crime of regicide. At this moment, his body trembled violently, and fear rapidly spread in his heart. Then, he remembered Xiao Wenxuan’s words.
‘The Prince of Zhao would never let him become emperor!’
At this moment, he finally understood that everything was the Prince of Zhao’s conspiracy.
Thinking of this, he fell into complete despair. To survive, he said tearfully, “Uncle, I am your nephew! Uncle, I beg you, spare me!”
The Prince of Zhao remained unmoved. He said to the generals, “What are you waiting for? Take the Crown Prince to prison to await judgment after the new Emperor ascends the throne.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A group of wolf-like soldiers immediately swarmed forward, seized the Crown Prince, and dragged him away. The Crown Prince cried out on the way, but no one sympathized with him.
At this time, the Prince of Zhao asked the imperial guards, “Where are the Empress and the Thirteenth Prince?”
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress and the Thirteenth Prince are both in the Eastern Palace under strict guard.” The imperial guard general said.
“Lead this King there.” The Prince of Zhao said.
The imperial guards nodded, rose, and led the Prince of Zhao towards the Eastern Palace. Guided by the imperial guards, the Prince of Zhao arrived at a side hall in the Eastern Palace.
“Your Highness, the Empress is here.”
The Prince of Zhao nodded. After a moment of hesitation, he pushed open the door of the side hall.
“Wan Rong.”
In the side hall, Empress Zhao was holding the Thirteenth Prince and softly singing a mournful song.
The movement at the door made her look up. Seeing the face of the newcomer, she suddenly sneered, “So it’s the Prince of Zhao. Congratulations, Your Royal Highness, your many years of plotting have finally come to fruition today.”
Empress Zhao’s coldness made the Prince of Zhao’s heart ache. He said, “Wan Rong, why do you speak to me this way? We are family.”
“Family?” Empress Zhao sneered, “Since you’re here, His Majesty must surely be dead. The Crown Prince didn’t come along, so he must have been imprisoned by you on the charge of regicide. Why are you here for me, and not for the Thirteenth Prince in my arms?”
With Empress Zhao having guessed everything, the Prince of Zhao’s face hardened. He said, “Wan Rong, you and Xiao Wenxuan are merely husband and wife, but we are bound by flesh and blood. Now that our Zhao family has gained the world, aren’t you happy?”
“Should I be happy?” Empress Zhao’s eyes filled with hatred, “My husband is dead, and my son is about to die. The infant in my arms will become nothing but your puppet, and his future life and death are uncertain, yet you ask if I am happy.”
The Prince of Zhao choked. He said, “Wan Rong, for the sake of this world, everything is worth it. I know you have lost a lot, but you have brought supreme imperial power to the Zhao family. When the Thirteenth Prince grows a little older, I will make him abdicate to me, and I promise not to kill him.”
“You wish.” Empress Zhao’s eyes suddenly turned bloodshot. She violently lifted the infant in her arms. “I would rather throw him to his death than let your scheme succeed.”
The Prince of Zhao was startled. He immediately said nervously, “Wan Rong, why must you do this? Do you truly have the heart to harm your own flesh and blood? I promise you, I will not make him abdicate, and I will assist him as Emperor, how about that?”
Empress Zhao shook her head and said, “I don’t believe you. You will never get the throne. You will only be a traitor and a rebel of Great Yu Empire.”
With that, she violently threw the infant in her arms.