Rebirth (Bing Hu Chong Sheng)

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone was shocked!

For a moment, the entire Fanggui Hall fell into dead silence. The crowd remained silent for a long while, digesting the young princess's astonishing statement. Then, a tremendous uproar erupted, like a surging tidal wave, instantly engulfing Zhao Chun'er's frail figure!

"Nonsense!" Consort Shu snorted coldly, her pretty face frosty. With the Muhe Empress deceased, all matters regarding Zhao Chun'er's marriage had been handled by her personally. Hearing the young princess openly utter such rebellious words infuriated her to the extreme.

Zhao Chun'er knelt on the ground, raised her head, her eyes red and face pale. Pressing her lips together, she kowtowed once more and repeated, "Father, please revoke your decree. Chun'er does not wish to marry anymore."

Consort Shu raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "The Heir of Yanbei's wedding procession has already arrived outside the city gates. Your marriage was announced to the world a month ago. Now, in front of envoys from various nations, you say you won't marry? Is this how Sister Muhe taught you?"

"The departed are gone. Sister Shu, let us not disturb the spirits," Consort Zhuge said softly, her phoenix-like eyes narrow and her face as radiant as spring peaches. She tilted her fair neck slightly and smiled gently at Zhao Chun'er. "Chun'er, you must be reluctant to leave your father. Be obedient. Even after marriage, you can still return often to visit His Majesty."

"Consort Xuan, it's not that. Chun'er simply does not wish to marry anymore. Please help me beg Father to revoke his decree."

Zhao Chun'er knelt on the ground, slowly raising her head. Her eyes glistened with tears, yet her expression was unusually resolute.

"Attendants, take the princess away. Prepare her properly and await the wedding carriage from Yanbei." Emperor Xia did not even glance down at her. In the dazzling lamplight, the emperor's face flickered between light and shadow, making it impossible to look directly at him. His voice was calm, as if he had not heard Zhao Chun'er's words at all. The palace maids outside the hall hurried in with light steps, ready to take Zhao Chun'er's arm.

"Let go of me!" the young princess shouted sharply, pushing the maids away. She knelt on the ground and crawled forward, tears immediately streaming down her face. Wiping them away with her hand, she boldly met the gaze of the father she had feared since childhood. Her voice trembled slightly, but she straightened her back with effort and said slowly, "Father, please revoke your decree."

"Chun'er!" Zhao Che frowned deeply and said sternly, "What are you doing? Stop this nonsense!"

The faces of the civil and military officials varied in expression. In the vast Fanggui Hall, only the sound of the wind outside echoed back and forth.

"Seventh Brother," the young princess said, her eyes red as she turned to look at Zhao Che. "Please help me. I don't want to marry anymore. Help me beg Father."

"Che'er, take your sister away. Young Master Yan's carriage is about to enter the city."

Zhao Che frowned deeply, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded. He pulled Zhao Chun'er up and said solemnly, "Your son obeys the command."

"Father!"

Zhao Chun'er suddenly cried out, lifting her head. Crystal tears rolled down from her eyes as she wept bitterly, "Please grant your daughter this wish. I would rather marry into the Western Wastelands, marry into the Southern Frontier, or even be sent to the borderlands as a peace offering. I beg you, issue the order quickly!"

"Chun'er, stop this. Come with Seventh Brother!""Father!" Zhao Chun'er shoved Zhao Che aside, stubbornly kneeling on the ground and knocking her head loudly against the floor, the sound echoing through the grand hall.

"Father, I beg you, please give the order quickly. I'm begging you, please issue the command."

Emperor Xia didn't look at Zhao Chun'er, instead speaking to Zhao Che with a darkened expression: "Che'er?"

Zhao Che's brows furrowed deeply. Finally, he lowered his head and pulled Zhao Chun'er up, leading her toward the exit. Zhao Chun'er, who had been holding back her tears, suddenly burst into loud sobs, crying out as she went: "Father! Please give the order quickly! Father, Chun'er won't marry anymore! Father, I beg you..."

Blood dripped from Zhao Chun'er's forehead onto the white yak-hair carpet of the hall, a shocking sight. The entire Fanggui Hall fell into dead silence, everyone cautiously watching Emperor Xia from the corners of their eyes, not daring to lift their heads.

"Chun'er has always been the most filial child. Your Majesty need not be angry. She's just a girl reluctant to leave home."

As Consort Xuan spoke these words, all the court guests immediately voiced their agreement, and the atmosphere instantly became lively again. Cui, the Grand Academician from the Secretariat, swayed his head as he said: "The princess's benevolence and filial piety are truly rare. There is an ancient tradition of crying before marriage—the princess's actions demonstrate great righteousness."

"His Majesty is benevolent and cares deeply for the princess and princes. The children are leaving home and won't be able to hear Your Majesty's teachings often, so naturally they are heartbroken."

"Exactly, exactly, that must be it."

Taking advantage of the lively atmosphere and while no one was paying attention, Chu Qiao carefully stood up, intending to leave. But as soon as she rose, a hand grasped her sleeve. Zhuge Yue was drinking with his head lowered. When she looked over, he slowly raised his head, red wine still staining his lips, making them appear crimson and his face all the more bewitching. The man parted his lips slightly, his voice low and hoarse like mulberry leaves in the wind, his tone slightly rising: "Where are you going?"

Chu Qiao half-crouched, bringing her face close to Zhuge Yue's eyes, a mocking smile at the corner of her mouth: "Am I that familiar with you, Fourth Young Master? Aren't you overstepping?"

Zhuge Yue leaned forward until his nose almost touched Chu Qiao's, his warm breath brushing against her face: "The banquet isn't over yet. Leaving midway is very impolite."

"So what?" Chu Qiao's eyes flashed with sharpness as she coldly replied: "This is the Daxia imperial palace, not your Green Mountain Villa. Does Fourth Young Master always stretch his hands so far?"

No sooner had she spoken than the girl's hand shot out below, swiftly seizing Zhuge Yue's wrist. With a deft twist, she pressed his palm to the floor, freeing her sleeve.

Zhuge Yue's narrow eyes, dark as ink, held a faint smile: "When the road is uneven, someone will tread it. And I happen to be someone who loves meddling in others' business."

His fingers formed a claw, twisted, and seized her wrist. Zhuge Yue's palm slipped like an eel from Chu Qiao's grip, once again catching hold of her sleeve.

"Is that so? After all these years, Young Master has really changed. I always thought you were cold-blooded and heartless, unmoved by external matters."

Two fingers thrust sideways, sharply sweeping past Zhuge Yue's elbow. With a light tap, she skillfully targeted the tendons and pressure points, bending his arm back and pinning it down.

"Flattery will get you nowhere. When it comes to being cold-blooded and heartless, I bow to your superiority."The two were engaged in a fierce and swift exchange of blows beneath the banquet table, hidden by the long tablecloth, completely unnoticed by others. The main hall was filled with joyous clamor, and no one would cast a glance toward the side chamber.

"Haha, what are you two chatting about so animatedly? Let me in on it too."

Li Ce suddenly leaped behind the two, leaning in with a beaming smile. As soon as he finished speaking, two sharp gazes shot toward him, filled with anger. The two who had just been secretly contending now shared a unified resentment at being interrupted.

This man always spoke like this. At this moment, both of their expressions were stern, with not a trace of the "animated" demeanor he described. Yet he still used such a clumsy excuse to disrupt their conversation.

Chu Qiao shot a cold glance at Li Ce before turning back to Zhuge Yue with a smile. "This commoner is heading to the privy now. Does the Fourth Young Master intend to follow me there?"

Zhuge Yue was taken aback, never expecting a young woman to come up with the excuse of "needing to relieve herself" in front of men. The usually aloof Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family frowned, his fair cheeks flushing red, adding a touch of bewitching allure to his features.

Chu Qiao stood up, feeling quite pleased. She even reached out and patted Zhuge Yue's cheek, letting out a soft laugh. "Don’t follow me, now. Mind your status—you’re a noble from one of the seven great families. What would people think if you trailed after a commoner?"

The crisp patting sound echoed faintly. Zhuge Yue’s face grew even redder as he flushed with rage. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Chu Qiao swagger out of the side chamber and disappear into the thick darkness of the night. Meanwhile, strange looks shot toward him from all directions. The young ladies from various families covered their mouths in shock, staring in horror at the exalted prodigy of the Zhuge family. Clearly, the entire scene had been witnessed by these young women, whose gazes had never strayed.

The lofty Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family had actually—actually been teased by a lowly commoner?

With a sharp "smack," Zhuge Yue slammed his wine cup heavily onto the table, his brows furrowed into a deep crease.

"What a rare opportunity!" The Crown Prince of Biantang, who had long sought such a chance but never obtained it, sat nearby, gazing at him with burning, envious eyes. Zhuge Yue suddenly realized that this man was truly irritating.

Disgusted, he turned away and boredly watched the songs and dances in the main hall.

As soon as she stepped out of the chamber, the wind outside rushed toward her. Chu Qiao frowned and turned around to see Li Ce holding up the hem of his brocade robe, pretending to sneak after her. When he noticed her looking, he rubbed his hands together somewhat sheepishly and said, "It’s dark outside. I’ll accompany you."

Chu Qiao’s eyebrows arched slightly, her expression darkening. Li Ce quickly retreated two steps, adopting a defensive posture as if expecting a blow. "I’ll wait for you out here."

"Where exactly do you plan to wait?" The young woman’s lips curved into a sweet smile, but her tone carried a palpable killing intent as she slowly approached.

Li Ce’s hair stood on end, and he immediately waved his hands repeatedly. "I’ll just stand right here and wait for you."

Chu Qiao’s expression softened at once. She rose on her tiptoes, reached out, and patted Li Ce’s head, her smile blooming like a flower. "Good, be obedient."

But Li Ce felt that her smiling face was far more intimidating than her usual aloof demeanor.Chu Qiao was Yan Xun's most trusted subordinate. For Yan Xun's grand wedding, she had to be present to stabilize morale and lull those with ulterior motives into complacency. Swiftly taking a shortcut toward the predetermined location, the young woman thought to herself: I must thank Zhao Chun'er for this—otherwise, slipping away unnoticed would have required considerable effort.

The timing was perfect. The girl raised a finger to her lips and suddenly let out a sharp whistle, piercing through the night like the cry of a mournful owl.

Shadows hidden throughout the imperial city instantly received the signal to act. Countless figures leaped into motion, the dark night serving as their perfect cover. The girl's expression remained cold, a faint, mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips:

"Zhenhuang, welcome to hell."

Her figure moved like a swift panther, darting through the dark corridors and alleyways. The biting wind whistled past her ears like hidden beasts of the night. Her target was an inconspicuous relay station, located near the northwest Xi'an Gate of the imperial city.

The target was whistling casually, lying on the bed with his legs crossed, utterly carefree.

Without hesitation, she slipped inside.

No longer concealing her presence, she strode boldly into the room. The relay officer had just noticed her when Chu Qiao struck—swift and ruthless. Her left arm swung, clamping tightly over the target's mouth to stifle any cry, while her right hand rose, a cold glint of steel flashing as it swept lightly, deliberately across his throat.

A deep thrust! A horizontal slash! No fancy techniques.

Killing, in many cases, was as simple as that.

A crimson line appeared on the relay officer's throat, curling open as beads of blood seeped out. Chu Qiao released her grip. The target's throat emitted gurgling sounds before the bleeding wound split wide, gushing with scarlet blood. More and more blood flowed as the target's pupils dilated, his body slumping limply. The crimson pool soaked through, spreading across the entire bed.

Chu Qiao pulled the quilt over the man's body, then turned and left, heading toward her next destination.

This was her mission with the Great Alliance Society: a coordinated strike inside and outside the palace, paralyzing the entire empire's military and communication systems within the first hour of Yan Xun's rebellion, turning the capital of Zhenhuang into a slumbering city of death!

Within that hour, the Great Alliance Society's assassins achieved remarkable results. Watching the blue signal flares soaring into the sky outside the city and hearing the successive "owl cries" echoing within the imperial grounds, Chu Qiao slowly let out a sigh of relief. Crouching in the deathly silent imperial garden, she used her finger to complete the final stroke of a character on the ground, where rows upon rows of tally marks already lay.

That night, far too many people had died without cause. Their positions varied widely—some had never met in their lifetimes, nor had any connection whatsoever.

Among them were liaison officers of the capital guard, senior officers of the Seventh Army, low-ranking gatekeepers, informants from carriage houses, dispatch soldiers from outer-city offices, on-duty soldiers from the water bureau, the influential eunuch Sun Yunpu, and sentries posted at every city gate.

The Great Alliance Society's purpose was to uphold justice across the continent, build a society of great harmony, eradicate slavery, and advocate for equality among all people. Thus, despite wielding power capable of shifting the world's balance, they never resorted to indiscriminate slaughter.Of course, what was happening before her eyes could hardly be considered indiscriminate slaughter. Miss Chu Qiao's methods of killing were exceptionally refined—she never took a life unnecessarily, yet never spared those who deserved it. Her actions were clean, precise, and methodical. She understood perfectly which targets to eliminate and what effects would follow. In her hands, killing became an art, with countless threads all held in her grasp. Now, she was slowly beginning to pull them taut.

With the preliminary work completed, it was time to attend to the main task.

Chu Qiao rose to her feet, but as she turned, she caught sight of a tall, slender figure standing in the boundless night. The cold moonlight bathed him, casting a faint silver glow around him.

"Impressive skills," the man in the darkness said in a low, icy tone.

Her initial shock had long since faded. Chu Qiao stared coldly ahead, discreetly scanning her surroundings to see if anyone else had accompanied him.

"No need to look. There's no one else," the man said, taking two steps forward. Under the moonlight, his purple robe seemed veiled in a silvery mist. His features were strikingly handsome, almost feminine, but his eyes were as cold as ice. He advanced slowly and spoke gravely, "Where do you think you're going? Who else do you plan to kill?"

The young woman's expression darkened as she spat out two words coldly, "Step aside!"

"Naive!" Zhuge Yue sneered with a contemptuous snort.

A muffled whoosh sounded as Chu Qiao moved like the wind, her heavy fist striking upward. With a twist of her waist, her body darted forward like a leaf. Caught off guard by her sudden attack, Zhuge Yue immediately countered. Their movements were swift, their techniques exquisite, and for a moment, they were evenly matched. Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through, followed by two dull thuds—their fists crossed paths, each landing a blow on the other's chest. The force was so great that both grunted in pain, stepping back simultaneously and returning to a stalemate.

"Yan Xun will never succeed in his rebellion. Ba Lei and Wei Shu Ye have laid an inescapable net. Opposing the empire? Traitors and rebels have only one fate—death."

Chu Qiao let out a cold snort, wiping the sweat from her chin with the back of her hand. "Lackey!" she said icily.

Zhuge Yue's anger flared instantly. "What did you say?" he demanded sternly.

"Zhuge Yue, I used to think you were just an arrogant, heartless, and self-righteous nobleman. But today, I see you're nothing but the Zhao family's lackey and lapdog."

Zhuge Yue's face turned ashen. "My loyalty is not to the Zhao family, but to Daxia."

"What difference does it make?" Chu Qiao retorted with a cold laugh. "Spare me your nonsense about traitors and rebels. The victor becomes king, the defeated, a bandit. How do you know the history books won't one day brand you as a sycophant aiding a tyrant? History only records the words of the victors."

"You certainly have faith in him," Zhuge Yue sneered coldly. "I'll keep my eyes wide open and see just how he plans to escape the gates of Zhenhuang."

Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes, a sudden killing intent flashing within them. "I'm afraid you won't have that chance."

The air grew thick with murderous intent as their moves intertwined. The young woman drew her dagger and engaged Zhuge Yue in combat. Under the moonlight, their figures moved with breathtaking speed, like two shadows leaping and darting among the flowers and grass, exchanging blows.

"If you follow him, you'll only meet your end sooner or later!"

With a swift motion, Zhuge Yue deflected her dagger-wielding wrist, pressing his advantage relentlessly."Thank you for your concern, but you'd better take care of yourself first!"

Chu Qiao flipped through the air, delivering a fierce kick to Zhuge Yue's shoulder before ruthlessly thrusting her blade forward without mercy.

"Those who commit many wrongs will inevitably meet their doom—don't force me to get truly ruthless!"

"Since we've always been mortal enemies, why hold back?"

"Who's over there?"

The sound of chaotic footsteps suddenly approached. Both of them froze, immediately ceasing their fight and simultaneously darting toward a dense thicket of flowers to the left. However, after just a few steps, they realized the other was heading in the same direction. Forgetting the pursuers for a moment, they resumed their battle.

"Over in the east, follow me!"

The palace guards closed in rapidly. Frowning deeply, Zhuge Yue seized Chu Qiao's attacking wrist and growled in a low, furious voice, "Do you have a death wish? Still fighting?"

Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows angrily. "Why are you following me?"

Zhuge Yue retorted with equal fury, "Who's following you?"

"They're right ahead, hurry!"

With a swift motion, Chu Qiao kicked Zhuge Yue in the shin. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes as he cursed, "You reckless madwoman!"

The young woman half-knelt on the ground, coldly replying, "You persistent lowlife!"

"Hurry!" The voices drew nearer, now just ten steps away. Startled, both of them simultaneously halted their attacks, rolled sideways, and hid within the dense flower bushes.

"Where are they?"

"Captain, are you sure you heard right?"

The lead guard shook his head cautiously. "Impossible. I clearly saw several dark figures."

"Captain, it must have been cats. There are plenty of them in this garden."

"No, I saw it with my own eyes." The leader said gravely, "Everyone, search the area. It's His Majesty's birthday celebration tonight—we can't afford any mistakes."

"Yes, sir!"

The crowd gradually faded into the distance. Two pairs of vigilant eyes cautiously watched from their hiding spot, following the soldiers until they were far gone.

Suddenly, a "thud" sounded as Zhuge Yue felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. Before he could counterattack, Chu Qiao's body lunged forward, pinning him beneath her. Caught off guard by her sudden move, Zhuge Yue was momentarily stunned—a lapse that was more than enough for someone of Chu Qiao's skill. Her knee struck him hard, and the intense pain nearly made him cry out. In the next moment, he was tightly bound with ropes.

"Since you didn't call the guards to capture me earlier, I'll spare your life today."

Chu Qiao stood up, looking down coldly at Zhuge Yue, who glared back at her with fury. Her voice was stern as she said, "Zhuge Yue, eight years ago, you didn't expose me and gave me a chance to live. For that, I am grateful. But that doesn't erase the enmity and hatred between us. As a noble from a powerful family, killing a few slaves might be trivial to you, but those particular individuals were people I cared about. Later, you shot and wounded Yan Xun, preventing our escape from the capital and subjecting us to eight years of imprisonment. From the very beginning, we have been on opposing sides—a divide that can never be reconciled or changed. I hope you understand that. Sparing you today doesn't mean I won't kill you in the future. So the next time you see me, you'd better be careful."

Zhuge Yue's face turned ashen with rage. As she turned to leave, he suddenly said in a low voice, "If you leave the imperial city now, you'll surely die. How will you kill me then?"Chu Qiao turned around with a radiant smile. "Are you so lacking in confidence in him? I don't think so. Shall we make a bet?"

Zhuge Yue looked back coldly, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but he remained silent.

"You must be betting that we can't escape and will all die without a proper burial. But I'm certain that not only can we get out, we can do so with great fanfare—letting everyone across the entire land of Ximeng know, letting all the people of Yanbei know: their king has returned!"

At that moment, the girl's face suddenly radiated an irrepressible brilliance, as if standing under the dazzling morning sun. A divine, miraculous glow shone through the dark night, making her appear utterly magnificent.

It was a wholehearted trust and admiration, an absolute certainty without the slightest trace of doubt or worry. Suddenly, Zhuge Yue found that smile unbearably glaring. He even felt a pang of resentment—why wasn’t he the one being trusted so completely?

The young girl looked at him, brimming with confidence, and declared, "Zhuge Yue, just you wait and see!"

That night became one Zhuge Yue could never forget for the rest of his life. Years later, he would still recall the expression on the girl’s face as she left and her confident words: "Zhuge Yue, just you wait and see." And so he did wait and watch—he watched her briskly disappear from his sight, like a gust of wind, like a passing cloud, just as she had eight years earlier when she had fiercely shouted, "Zhuge Yue, Lin Xi will not have died in vain!"

She had always been a person of her word. When the world underwent drastic changes, when the chaotic tides of a turbulent era swept across the land they lived on, disrupted the rhythm of their lives, and overturned their once-cherished dreams, he would often look back on that night with regret. If he had known what would follow, would he still have watched her leave so passively? Would he have let her go without a word? But there were no "ifs" in this world. And so, lying quietly in the cold grass, he watched her figure vanish into the layers of darkness—like a proud phoenix departing his sight, entering another vast world where she would radiate a brilliance that captivated the entire world!

The horizon was ablaze with splendor, fireworks like none other!

"Your Majesty!" A panicked voice suddenly rang out outside the hall. A eunuch hurried in on small, quick steps, dropping to his knees with a thud and crying out, "Your Majesty, Princess Chun... Princess Chun, she..."

"What’s happened to my eighth sister?" Zhao Song stood up, his voice filled with anger.

The old eunuch’s face fell as he wailed, "Princess Chun... she’s run away!"

"What?" Consort Shu’s willow-like eyebrows shot up as she demanded sharply, "How could she run away? Where did she go? With so many of you watching, how could you let the princess escape? What use are any of you?"

"This old servant deserves death, this old servant deserves death!" the eunuch cried, sobbing. "Your Majesty, spare me!"

With the wedding approaching and the bride having fled, everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Zhao Che rose to his feet and said sternly, "Enough! First, explain clearly—when did the princess run away, and where did she go?"

Just as the old eunuch was about to speak, the sudden clamor of gongs and the sharp, urgent blare of horns echoed from outside, sending shivers down the spines of all who heard it.

"What’s going on out there?" the Emperor frowned and asked gravely.

"Report!" A drawn-out shout came from afar as a guard in blue robes rushed in without waiting for permission, his tone resolute. "Your Majesty, Consort Shu, Your Highnesses, and esteemed officials, please move to a safe location at once. The palace is on fire—the flames are massive and uncontrollable."

"On fire?" The Third Prince, Zhao Qi, stared in disbelief. "Where is the fire? Where is the Water Dragon Bureau? Why hasn’t anyone been sent to extinguish it?"

"Messengers have already been dispatched to the Water Dragon Bureau, but there has been no response so far. As for the fire... this humble servant does not know exactly where it has spread, but flames are everywhere. Your Majesty, please leave quickly—the fire is nearing Fanggui Hall!"

"Outrageous!" Zhao Qi snapped coldly. "Sun Yunpu, the head of the Water Dragon Bureau, must not want his position anymore!""Arguing about whose fault it is now is meaningless, Father. The fire is spreading dangerously—we should evacuate immediately," Zhao Che said gravely.

Emperor Xia frowned and nodded, rising to his feet. Eunuchs on both sides hurried forward to assist him, but before they could smooth the wrinkles from the emperor's robes, another urgent report came through. A soldier knelt on the ground and declared loudly, "Your Majesty, please do not leave Fanggui Hall! It's unsafe outside. A large number of assassins have infiltrated the palace and have already killed over sixty people. The death toll is still rising!"

At these words, the already panicked officials grew even more frantic, buzzing with discussion. Zhao Che frowned and quickly asked, "Who exactly has been assassinated?"

The soldier replied, "Commander He of the Imperial Guards, Garrison Chief Lu of the West Gate, Garrison Chief Yu of the South Gate, sentries from various posts, Director Sun Yunpu of the Water Dragon Bureau, guards stationed at the Southwest Gate..."

As the soldier continued reciting the list, Zhao Che exchanged a glance with General Meng Tian, the most seasoned military officer present. Both saw immense terror in each other's eyes. Though the assassinated individuals seemed randomly selected and unrelated, upon closer analysis, they formed an extremely precise pathway for rebellion. The deaths of these few dozen people had wiped out the empire's mid-level command structure at once, leaving the massive imperial army temporarily paralyzed and crippling the high command's ability to relay orders.

What unknown events had transpired this night?

"Report!"

Another announcement rang out, causing everyone to shudder. By now, they had almost developed a conditioned fear of these reporting soldiers, dreading further bad news. Before the soldier could speak, Zhao Qi asked first, "Have more people been killed?""

The soldier blinked in confusion and shook his head. "No."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the hall. Just then, the soldier continued, "Your Majesty, a major disaster has occurred! Fires have broken out inexplicably at Purple Toad Square outside the palace, the Southwest Ancestral Temple, Da'an Temple, Jiuwei Street, south of Chishui River, Huarong Market at Xizhi Gate, Western Residential District, Eastern Antique Market, Eastern Bank Barracks, and the Southern Academy... Additionally, bandits are everywhere, looting and killing, storming into shops to murder and set fires. Jiuwei Street is in complete chaos with countless casualties. Preliminary estimates suggest over thirty thousand people are involved in this riot."

Upon hearing this, several elderly ministers nearly fainted from shock. Zhao Song angrily said, "What's going on?" Is this a rebellion? Where is the Elite Cavalry Camp? The Green Camp Army? The Southwest Garrison Commander? Are they all dead?"

"Reporting to the Thirteenth Prince, Deputy Commander Song led several hundred imperial soldiers to maintain order and discovered that those looting and killing were ordinary civilians—some local ruffians, some students from the Imperial Academy, some out-of-town escorts from carriage services, and even civilians trying to reclaim their stolen belongings. Oh, and also... soldiers from various guard stations."

"Guard station soldiers are looting too? Have they lost their minds?"The messenger soldier was drenched in sweat: "Third Highness, the garrison soldiers were the first to go out and maintain order, but they ended up being robbed. Some were furious, some were blinded by greed, some were terrified—they took off their military uniforms and joined the looting. The chaos is too great; a few hundred garrison soldiers are like a drop in the bucket! Highness, there's no news at all from the Elite Cavalry Camp and the Green Camp Army, and the Southwest Garrison Commander's troops are nowhere to be seen. Deputy General Song says this riot is definitely not accidental—someone must have intentionally incited the unrest and is fanning the flames. Your Majesty, Deputy General Song says the chaos is growing, more and more commoners are joining in, and once all the capital's citizens get involved, it will be uncontrollable. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision quickly!"

All eyes instantly converged on the emperor. Emperor Xia stood on the high platform, his face dark, remaining silent for a long time.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

A series of panicked shouts suddenly erupted. A soldier drenched in blood, as if he had crawled out of a pool of gore, sent a chill through everyone's hearts. Overwhelming, unconcealable fear seized them. Watching another messenger rush in from outside, no one dared to ask a single question.

Zhao Che stood among the crowd, his brow furrowed tightly, maintaining his usual composure as he asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

"Yan Xun has rebelled! He's leading the Southwest Garrison Commander's army in an attack. The Green Camp Army, Elite Cavalry Camp, Seventh Army, Ninth Army, Sixteenth Battalion, and the Capital Magistrate's Office—all have lost contact. The roads are completely blocked, all communication stations in the city have been destroyed, with no survivors. The south, north, and east gates have all been seized by the enemy. The division commanders of the Twelfth, Nineteenth, and Thirty-Sixth Divisions are leading their troops to reinforce the imperial city, but they're being intercepted by rioters and can't even break through the outer ring of Jiuwei Street. Yan Xun has already reached the Purple Gold Gate. Deputy General Song is holding the line alone, but we have less than three thousand imperial guards left. We're about to be overrun!"

It was as if a thunderclap had exploded over everyone's heads. Their vision went dark; several elderly ministers staggered and collapsed into their seats. Everyone's faces turned deathly pale.

Was the sky truly about to turn upside down?

Emperor Xia slowly closed his eyes. Only at this moment did he have to admit that Ba Lei and Wei Shu Ye's assassination plan had completely failed. They had dispatched a thousand troops to assassinate an unarmed caged bird, yet he had struck back brilliantly, even using the chaos to reclaim the Southwest Garrison Commander for his own use. Eight years—what kind of monster had he been nurturing by his side all this time?

The aged Emperor Xia sighed inwardly: "Shi Cheng, how could I have forgotten—he is your son after all."Throughout the Great Xia Dynasty, and indeed across the entire land of Ximeng, no one believed that Emperor Xia Zhao Zhengde would allow the Heir of Yanbei, imprisoned for eight years, to return to Yanbei unscathed. Similarly, no one expected the Heir of Yanbei to surrender meekly. It was widely assumed that Yan Xun, who had once dared to confront the imperial army at the execution grounds, would devise a series of escape plans. For instance, he might poison someone, disguise himself, or blend in with commoners to slip out of Zhenhuang City, only to be pursued like a stray dog for thousands of miles by the soldiers of the Great Xia capital. If lucky, he would escape with his life and live in obscurity, occasionally stirring up trouble. If unlucky, he would die at the hands of the imperial army, leaving not even a trace of his bones.

In their eyes, the Heir of Yanbei, trapped in the capital for years, could only manage such trivial tricks. After all, what great capability could he have developed under the emperor's watchful eye for nearly a decade?

But no one anticipated that Yan Xun's final strike would be like this: seemingly humble, obedient, and ordinary in his daily life, yet once he acted, it was with the force of thunder—burning his bridges, fighting with his back to the river, raising a storm of blades, and unleashing waves of blood. He orchestrated defections, assassinations, mutinies, set the capital ablaze, incited civil unrest, and attacked the imperial city—fearless, risking everything for survival, and emerging victorious from the tiger's den.

Yan Xun truly lived up to being the son of Yanshicheng, the Lion King of Yanbei! His profound cunning, immense patience, and unparalleled audacity made him the most reckless man of his time!

"Report!"

With a loud "thud," the elderly Grand Scholar Cui's heart could take no more. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

"Panicking and shouting! What's happened now? Has Yan Xun broken in?"

The soldier was taken aback and replied, "Your Highness the Seventh Prince, no."

"Then why are you so flustered?"

"Your Majesty, this humble servant is here to deliver a message. You must evacuate immediately—the fire is spreading this way!"

...

That night, the entire Zhenhuang City was reduced to scorched earth, filled with the heart-wrenching screams of the suffering. Zhenhuang had truly become a living hell.

"Young Master! This humble servant has finally found you!"

Frantically untying Zhuge Yue's bonds, Zhu Cheng said urgently, "The master sent me to find you. I was worried to death. Let's go quickly—the palace is engulfed in flames."

Zhuge Yue frowned deeply and asked in a grave tone, "Zhu Cheng, what's happening outside?"

"Young Master Yan has rebelled! He's leading the Southwest Garrison Commander's troops to attack the imperial gates. The common people have gone mad, staging riots. The Elite Cavalry Camp, the Green Camp Army, and other divisions are paralyzed, with no news at all. The Twelfth Division can't break through—it's total chaos!"

Zhuge Yue's expression darkened, and he made a swift decision. "No, I must return home and lead the Zhuge family's army to suppress the rebellion."

"Young Master, the master said not to act rashly. The other families haven't responded either. We—"

"If we don't act now, it'll be too late!" Zhuge Yue roared, his eyes blazing with fury. "What is Father thinking? Is this the time for internal scheming and strife? I've long said that fool Ba Lei couldn't kill Yan Xun!"

Zhu Cheng looked panicked. "The master said the Elder Council would handle this matter. It's beyond your authority, Young Master. You need not intervene.""The Elder Council?" Zhuge Yue laughed in extreme fury. "What do they know? All they care about is scheming against each other, undermining one another, amassing wealth through internal strife, and pursuing their own interests. The rise and fall of the nation, the life and death of Daxia—damn it all! When would they ever have time to bother with such trivial matters? Zhu Cheng, step aside!"

"Young Master," Zhu Cheng's face was deathly pale as he stammered, "Why must you do this? If none of the other families are sending troops, and only our Zhuge family acts... Ah, what will others think?"

"I don't care what they think!" Zhuge Yue frowned deeply and sneered. "If the nation falls, how can the family survive? If Daxia perishes, where will the Zhuge family go? I'm not doing this for the Zhao imperial clan—I'm doing it for the people of Zhenhuang City, for the millions of commoners of Daxia!"

"Is... is it really that serious? The master said the imperial city walls are sturdy enough to withstand a siege of a hundred thousand troops for three days straight. The rebels outside can hold out for at most an hour. Once the division commanders of the Twelfth Army arrive, Yan Xun's forces will be marching to their doom. It's just a minor rebellion."

"A minor rebellion?" Zhuge Yue laughed in sheer exasperation. "Do you think Yan Xun is a fool? Would he fight to the death until reinforcements arrive to break the siege? Just watch—he's about to flee. With the capital in chaos, who can pursue him? What consequences will arise if such a meticulous and vengeful person escapes Zhenhuang and returns to Yanbei? He is ten thousand times more dangerous than Yanshicheng. A minor rebellion? This is a storm powerful enough to destroy the entire empire! These fools—they're courting death!"

"Young Master!"

"Let go of me!"

Thud! A blunt strike suddenly landed on Zhuge Yue's head. Frowning, he collapsed unconscious.

"Young Master, I'm sorry. This was the master's order." Zhu Cheng slowly shook his head. "Everything you said is right, but we are a noble house. Noble houses must abide by their own rules of conduct. Besides... are you really only doing this to eliminate Young Master Yan? After all these years, you still haven't let go, have you?"

Having lived in the capital for eight years, Chu Qiao had never seen Zhenhuang like this.

Everywhere, there was burning, killing, and looting. Everywhere, the sounds of weeping and wailing echoed. Everywhere, mad laughter and furious curses filled the air. Fires raged, robberies ran rampant, and blood clashed with blood. The once-law-abiding citizens had shed their skins of morality and righteousness, transforming into ferocious beasts.

Thugs pried open shops along the streets, charged inside, and killed the pleading owners. The owners' sons, witnessing this, picked up blades in turn, slaughtered the thugs, then laughed maniacally at the sight of the blood-filled rooms. They then rushed out to join the frenzied crowds in looting and killing. Some stormed into stores, taking all that was edible or usable, smashing or burning whatever they couldn't carry—not for profit, but purely for destruction and release.

Everywhere, people were killing; everywhere, people were being killed. Everywhere, filthy corpses and raging flames sprawled across the streets.

Some wandered the avenues with a blade in one hand and a liquor bottle in the other, drinking while swinging their knives and weeping bitterly. Between sobs, they cried out, "The end is here! The end is here!"

An atmosphere of despair and madness hung over Zhenhuang City, the thick stench of death permeating the entire imperial capital.

Was this what Yan Xun had called the divine troops descending from heaven, who would hold off the Twelfth and Nineteenth Armies for them?Chu Qiao suddenly felt a chill run through her body, her hands and feet turning icy cold. Setting fires in the imperial capital to create chaos had always been their firm strategy, but she never expected it would lead to such devastating consequences. Too many people had gone mad, too many had died, and too many innocent lives had been caught in the crossfire. As despair and unforeseen calamity struck suddenly, and as instigators stirred trouble while rioters cheered and celebrated, the entire city of Zhenhuang descended into the Avici Hell, scorched and tempered by raging flames, with no hope of redemption.

The people of Zhenhuang, long oppressed under harsh rule, finally broke down completely on the night of May 20th.

"Young lady!"

A fast horse suddenly galloped over, scattering the terrified commoners on the street. A Jing, drenched in blood to the point where his original clothing was unrecognizable, shouted, "The Crown Prince is retreating from the Purple Gold Gate and heading toward the West Gate. Hurry, follow me!"

Chu Qiao silently nodded, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts in her heart as she followed behind A Jing.

Intense cries and wails trailed closely behind them, stretching all along the way.

Turning past Zihui Square, they saw the Iron Eagle battle flag of Yanbei fluttering menacingly in the crimson-lit night. Countless soldiers in black armor stood along the long street in front of Zihui Square, their blades sharp and their killing intent palpable. A man clad in black robes sat upright on his horse, proud and unyielding, his gaze fixed ahead. His face was as pale as jade, his eyes shining like stars—handsome and elegant, yet radiating immense killing intent and sharp edges, like an unsheathed sword!

Chu Qiao suddenly froze, unable to step forward for a long moment, as if she no longer recognized him. A Jing, standing behind her, was slightly taken aback. "Young lady, why aren’t you moving?"

"Oh, it’s nothing."

Her voice was so soft that even A Jing could barely hear it in the chaotic night. Yet, the man standing a hundred paces away suddenly furrowed his brows, swiftly turning his head. His eyes, sharp as swords, instantly pierced through the young woman.

His cold expression melted away like frost. Yan Xun smiled, urging his horse into a gallop as he called out loudly, "A Chu!"

Eight years had passed, and Chu Qiao had never seen him smile so joyfully. The young woman slowly exhaled, casting all those tangled thoughts from her mind. So be it—even if mountains of corpses and seas of blood lay ahead, she would walk through them with him. At a time like this, how could she cling to such concerns? As long as he was here, as long as he was safe, as long as they could still smile at each other, that was enough.

The young woman urged her horse forward, her smile bright and clear.

Just then, the crisp sound of hoofbeats suddenly echoed from the direction of the Purple Gold Gate. Both Chu Qiao and Yan Xun were startled—who would be leaving the palace at such a time?

"Brother Xun!" A young woman in bright red wedding robes suddenly dismounted and blocked Yan Xun’s path. Her eyes were swollen, her expression panicked, and her words came out in a jumble: "Don’t do this, please don’t! Chun’er won’t marry anymore, Chun’er won’t force you. Hurry and leave! Father will kill you! No, you can’t go—you must go apologize to Father! Brother Xun, it’s Chun’er’s fault, it’s all Chun’er’s fault!"

Yan Xun frowned in confusion, turning to look at Chu Qiao. Her heart sank as she gazed pityingly at Zhao Chun’er’s disheveled hair and pale face. The disgust she once felt for this princess vanished in an instant—this foolish girl still didn’t understand, even now?

"Brother Xun, don’t do anything reckless!"The young girl burst into tears and suddenly collapsed weakly onto the ground, covering her face with her hands. She was utterly exhausted from this night's events. Large teardrops fell through her fingers, staining her bright red wedding dress.

"Yan Xun! You madman! How dare you rebel? After all these years I considered you a friend, look what you've done!"

Another warhorse suddenly galloped over. Zhao Song, dressed in pine-green brocade robes, quickly approached. When he suddenly spotted Zhao Chun'er, his face darkened with anger as he said, "Chun'er! Come over here at once! This man is committing treason and rebellion, yet you still stand by him?"

Zhao Chun'er scrambled to her feet in panic and turned to look at Zhao Song. Though terrified, she made a move that shocked everyone present - she slowly spread her slender arms, shielding Yan Xun and the massive dark army behind her. Stubbornly shaking her head, she said, "Thirteenth Brother, that's not true. He just doesn't want to marry me, he just wants to protest against Father Emperor..."

"Fool!" Zhao Song roared angrily. "He's doing this for Yanbei's military power! You idiot!"

Zhao Chun'er frowned, her face turning deathly pale as she whispered, "Mili... military power?"

"If you don't believe me, turn around and ask him yourself!"

Zhao Chun'er, like a wooden puppet, slowly lowered her arm. She turned around gradually, her eyes wide open as she whispered in disbelief, "Brother Xun, he's lying to me, right? You're not planning to rebel, are you? You just want to reason with Father Emperor, don't you?"

The cold wind was bleak, and the land was filled with the smoke of war. Zhao Chun'er, small and frail, her face pale and bloodless, gazed at Yan Xun with eager eyes, as if he were the last hope in her life.

Yan Xun raised an eyebrow slightly, showing a hint of impatience, and finally said in a deep voice, "I've wanted to rebel for a long time. It has nothing to do with you, and I never once thought of marrying you."

A fierce wind howled through the ancient capital of Zhenhuang, now in ruins, as screams erupted into the sky. On the twentieth day of the fifth month, the grand drama of the Great Alliance Society's revenge had just begun.