Chapter 797: The Kill in the Struggle for the Throne
The scale of the chaotic battle outside Hibiscus Garden far exceeded "Xiao Changyan's" expectations. With more important matters at hand, he no longer held back, his sword striking fiercely toward Xiao Changtian.
Originally intending only to force Xiao Changtian back—an attack he could easily evade—Xiao Changtian not only refused to dodge but instead met the blade head-on.
By the time "Xiao Changyan" realized this, it was too late to withdraw. He swiftly twisted his wrist, redirecting the sword that would have decapitated Xiao Changtian. The blade veered aside as Xiao Changtian lunged forward, piercing straight through his shoulder blade.
Xiao Changtian’s own sword followed immediately, thrusting toward "Xiao Changyan's" chest. Fortunately, Xiao Changyan reacted in time, sidestepping so the tip only grazed his arm, leaving a bloody gash from chest to shoulder.
Just as "Xiao Changyan" steadied himself, he turned to see a blade protruding from Xiao Changtian’s abdomen. His face paled.
The Feathered Guard soldier holding the knife trembled. He had acted in panic upon seeing "Xiao Changyan" nearly impaled, rushing to intervene. With Xiao Changtian’s skill, he could have evaded both attacks—avoiding "Xiao Changyan’s" sword and abandoning his own lethal strike would have spared him the fatal blow from behind.
Yet no one anticipated that Xiao Changtian wouldn’t dodge. Caught between two fronts, he suffered "Xiao Changyan’s" non-lethal strike (thanks to timely restraint) and the guard’s fatal stab from behind.
Xiao Changtian stood rigid, a grotesque, relieved smile twisting his pained, convulsing features...
The bewildered guard seemed to snap back to reality, retreating hastily. As Xiao Changtian collapsed, "Xiao Changyan" rushed forward, catching him before he hit the ground.
Though the surrounding factions continued their bloody struggle, none dared approach. Xiao Changtian, cradled in "Xiao Changyan’s" arms, gripped his arm tightly, words labored yet clear: "You... you are not... my eighth brother!"
"Xiao Changyan" froze. The Crown Prince’s disguise artistry had never been exposed—except by the Crown Princess—and he had been personally transformed by the Crown Prince himself!
Xiao Changtian’s smile widened.
He wasn’t bluffing. Only during their clash had he sensed something amiss, unnoticed at first. As he coughed up blood, his vision darkened and limbs grew cold.
He tightened his grip on "Xiao Changyan’s" arm: "Beg Qilang... for a favor... bury us... together..."
His final word faded into silence. His hand slipped from "Xiao Changyan’s" arm, falling limp.
His avoidance of conflict and mediocrity didn’t equate to ignorance or incompetence.
Perhaps from his detached position over the years, he had seen more clearly than anyone: among the brothers, the Crown Prince was the most deeply concealed and strategically formidable.
The assassination attempt at Hibiscus Garden, Xiao Changyan’s mobilization of the Feathered Guard Army—which required imperial decree—only one person could orchestrate this: His Majesty himself.Had it been anyone else capable of reaching this point, Your Majesty would not have survived to this day. Perhaps there was another possibility—that Your Majesty had long seen through it all and was merely playing along, which was why the assassination attempt could occur at Hibiscus Garden.
Yet, who would attempt to assassinate Your Majesty at such a time? The Eastern Palace would not choose the moment when the Daughter of the Shen Family was to be married, much less when the Shen father and son were at the peak of their glory. Even if the Crown Prince wished to kill two birds with one stone—first assassinating Your Majesty, then framing the Shen family, and finally upholding justice by eliminating his own kin, even killing his wife to avenge his father—it would be impossible!
Whether there is affection in a person’s eyes, whether it is genuine or feigned, is something only one who holds another in their heart can discern. He believed the Crown Prince’s gaze toward the Crown Princess was one of unfeigned sincerity.
Therefore, the Crown Prince would not place the Shen family in a position of disloyalty. Even if the Crown Prince were truly a master of deception and could fool him, he could never deceive the Crown Princess.
If this assassination attempt were truly instigated by the Crown Prince, the first to oppose him would undoubtedly be the Crown Princess.
Such an assassination would never have occurred.
Aside from the Eastern Palace, no one else would have reason to harm Your Majesty at this time. Combining this with the Feathered Guard Army and Xiao Changyan, Xiao Changtian boldly speculated that this was the Emperor’s scheme, with its blade pointed at the Shen father and son!
Yet, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The oriole, however, was the cicada’s good son-in-law. Your Majesty believed himself to be the master of the game, unaware that beyond his plot lay another. He was the architect of others’ schemes, yet also a pawn in someone else’s game.
From the moment he passed the message to Li Yanyan, Xiao Changtian knew that Your Majesty and the Eighth Prince could not win.
After discovering that the Eighth Prince was not the real one, he became even more certain that Your Majesty would be forced to swallow his bitterness, unable to speak of his suffering.
Such is the way of the imperial family—between father and son, mother and child, brothers, the open and covert struggles are endless, a fight to the death!
He knew that if he died, his wife would not live on alone. She had endured suffering all this time for his sake.
He was aware of her love for him, but between them lay a chasm as vast as mountains and seas—the enmity of nations and families, impossible to bridge.
More than once, he asked himself: What could they gain from clinging to such an entangled existence, other than tormenting each other?
He was truly weary, and perhaps she was too.
Why not seek liberation together?
The Eighth Prince was an imposter; everything was under the Crown Prince’s control. As this assassination attempt drew to a close, someone had to step forward to tidy up the aftermath—and that could only be the real Eighth Prince, now a prisoner of the Crown Prince.
As everyone knew, if he died at the hands of Jing Wang, he would be remembered as a meritorious hero who quelled the rebellion and saved the Emperor.
His princess, deeply devoted to him, could not bear his death and would take her own life. This way, she would not be seen as a Li Dynasty princess who died under persecution, nor would it bring shame upon the imperial family. The old officials of the Li Dynasty would not need to live in constant fear, driven to foolish, suicidal acts.
On the contrary, in due time, Your Majesty would surely reward merit and treat the old officials of the Li and Liang dynasties with generosity. As a son-in-law of the Li family, he would have done right by his wife’s family.
She, too, could rest in peace, free from worries, ending her life of unbearable suffering.
He could only hope that in their next life, neither would be born into an imperial family, and they could reunite to share a lifetime together.
"Xiao Changyan" carried Xiao Changtian’s body to the main gate of Hibiscus Garden, propped him against a stone lion, and then, gripping his sword, charged into the garden, leaving the various factions staring at one another in confusion.
Now, with a sliver of rationality returning, they temporarily ceased fighting, warily eyeing one another as they rushed into Hibiscus Garden together, killing any assassins they encountered."Xiao Changyan" fought his way to the main hall entrance with his sword. No one yet knew who was behind the assassination attempt against Your Majesty. Seeing "Xiao Changyan," the court officials remained unsuspecting, and indeed, "Xiao Changyan" had been cutting down assassins along his path.
"Your Majesty, your son has brought the Lingyu Guard to your rescue!" A loud shout echoed through the hall.
Naturally, these words boosted the courtiers' morale, while the assassins seemed provoked, striking with increased ferocity.
(End of Chapter)
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