Chapter 1659: Protecting the Emperor

King Yao’s behavior indicated his firm belief that the contents of Jade Spring Palace would render him invincible.

Nevertheless, Bai Hengbo’s unexpected demise was a significant setback for Qingyang’s plan. She glanced at Frost Immortal Hall, as if able to pierce through its walls and see King Yao’s triumphant smirk: Without their leader, would Bai Hengbo’s subordinates still follow Qingyang’s orders? They barely knew her.

Furthermore, King Yao’s summons for her to enter the hall now made Qingyang detect a hidden murderous intent. Did the old man intend to separate her from the Fourth Prince and the ministers, then lure her into Frost Immortal Hall for an ambush? Needless to say, Frost Immortal Hall was prepared; if she entered, it would be difficult to leave unharmed.

As the other party feigned ignorance, Qiu Long had to speak plainly: "His Majesty wishes to speak with the Regent and Special Envoy Wu first."

Qingyang showed concern, speaking softly and slowly: "How is His Majesty’s health? I just noticed his eyes were heavily bloodshot, his breathing labored, and his voice hoarse with phlegm. He seemed truly exhausted. I have some spirit elixirs that can restore energy, calm the mind, and soothe the spirit. Would His Majesty like to take some?" She quietly calculated, time was running out. What was Bai Tan doing?

Qiu Long muttered inwardly, *Isn’t this all your fault?* But he forced a smile, saying, "His Majesty rested for two quarters of an hour and is much better."

Qingyang sighed empathetically, "Old folks like us can’t burn the midnight oil once we reach a certain age. It takes spirited young people like His Highness to have that kind of energy." She gently placed a hand on the Fourth Prince’s shoulder, her face radiating affection. The Fourth Prince found it awkward to shake her off and looked slightly uncomfortable.

With Bai Hengbo dead and the enemy holding the strategic advantage, she needed to neutralize their upper hand. King Yao, that old man, had likely figured out why she intended to gather the officials in charge of the Tianshui Eastward Expansion Project, and was now eager to separate them from Qingyang. Indeed, her intention tonight was to catch them all in one net. Most of those involved in the Tianshui Eastward Expansion Project were King Yao’s staunch loyalists, forming his primary power base. He Xiao, using just one project, had efficiently identified all those who needed to be eliminated for her.

Especially the Fourth Prince. This young man was intelligent, studious, and favored by his father. Since Qingyang was initiating an uprising, the Fourth Prince was a crucial target. He typically resided outside the palace, surrounded by heavy guards. If she couldn’t find a pretext to lure him in and eliminate him, Qingyang feared he might escape the city after the palace coup, leading to endless future troubles. Prince Rui was very popular among the common people and ministers. If he were to escape and rally support, many generals would likely back him. The gods desired widespread chaos in the Golden Plains, but Qingyang disliked the unpredictable element the Fourth Prince represented.

Qiu Long was also growing anxious. This old sorceress had likely deduced something; she neither fled nor entered the hall, simply standing her ground and holding onto the Fourth Prince! He had no choice but to step forward, positioning himself halfway between the Fourth Prince and Qingyang. "Your Highness," he said, "His Majesty requests your presence in the back hall."

Prince Rui had already sensed that something was amiss with the atmosphere. He acknowledged the request and began to walk away.

Just then, Qingyang felt a slight tremor in her arms. She casually took out her water mirror and glanced at it, her eyes narrowing slightly, her heart swelling with delight. On the mirror’s surface appeared four large characters: "Palace Gate Crossed."

Excellent! This is it! This was Bai Tan’s good news: he had successfully led his troops through the palace gate and was now entering the royal palace! The first major obstacle of tonight’s operation had finally been cleared.

Qingyang secretly let out a breath of relief. Dropping her pretense, she smiled at Qiu Long and said, "I believe the Fourth Prince should enter the hall with me." According to her pre-arranged plan, once Bai Tan breached the palace gate, Bai Hengbo’s forces were supposed to act immediately. But Bai Hengbo was already dead. Qingyang had initially wanted to avoid direct involvement, but now she had no choice.

The Fourth Prince had already taken three or four steps away, but with a wave of her hand, the young man stumbled back. Qiu Long reacted quickly, stepping in front of Qingyang and drawing a short battle-axe, which he swept between Qingyang and the Fourth Prince—Qingyang had secretly attached a silk thread to Prince Rui’s shoulder, allowing her to pull the unsuspecting Fourth Prince back like a puppet with a single tug.

Simultaneously, Qiu Long let out a thunderous roar: "Protect His Highness!" He was only two years younger than King Yao, yet his movements were as vigorous as a dragon and tiger, completely devoid of his usual aged appearance.

The silk thread on the Fourth Prince snapped. Qiu Long swung his elbow outwards, and his short battle-axe suddenly extended and sharpened, thrusting directly towards Qingyang’s chin. He wielded a pair of Zi-Wu double battle-axes, which differed significantly from ordinary axes. These were slender, sharp, and narrow, resembling scythes mounted on the arms, and could generate six feet of slicing wind. This pair of battle-axes originated from an ancient battlefield, a relic of a great general. Qiu Long had them heavily modified and meticulously maintained for over two decades, making them perfectly suited to his grip.

A clear "ding" sound rang out, like the striking of jade chimes. Naturally, his battle-axe couldn't easily wound Qingyang. Her opponent raised a short staff to parry the blow, then executed a scooping motion with her wrist, effortlessly deflecting all the battle-axe's force and simultaneously entangling Qiu Long within an invisible vortex of energy.

Qiu Long felt as though he had been pulled into a whirlpool, barely able to maintain his footing. Impressive. His opponent had maneuvered him into a defensive position without even resorting to supernatural abilities. As for the long staff in Qingyang’s hand, the battle-axe struck it repeatedly, yet left not even a scratch. Even centuries-old ironwood would not possess such hardness, yet the staff was entwined with vines and still bore a few green leaves.

Qingyang’s other hand, previously held behind her back with a string of red beads on her wrist, now moved its five fingers lightly, swiftly forming a hand seal as if plucking a string, and projected it towards Qiu Long. The gesture appeared to push something forward, and a blue rune glowed in her palm. Qiu Long didn’t perceive anything unusual, but the surrounding air suddenly grew incredibly dense, weighing him down and immobilizing him. To onlookers, he simply froze in place, unable to lift even a single finger.

A paralysis spell! This spell had been lost since the Middle Ages, and no one expected it to resurface in Qingyang’s hands, let alone be used with such fluidity. When successfully cast, it could instantly immobilize enemies within a seven-foot radius. The duration of the immobilization depended on the opponent’s size, strength, and resistance. Against ordinary practitioners, Qingyang’s technique could immobilize for at least six breaths. However, due to the interference of vital energy, Qiu Long could only be held for approximately three breaths. If used against Aunt Zhu, who famously wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, it’s uncertain if it would even last a moment, considering she was wearing the ancient Spider Immortal’s exuviae and was larger than a straw hut.

But against Qiu Long, Qingyang was supremely confident. The moment the paralysis spell was cast, she angled the tip of her staff and, to Qiu Long’s horror, plunged it into his throat! In her hands, the staff’s tip was like a needle, piercing straight through him and creating a gaping blood wound in Qiu Long’s neck. A few faint lights flickered across Qiu Long’s body, indicating activated protective artifacts, but they could not withstand Qingyang’s immense power. Three breaths were all she needed.

The entire sequence was executed with such seamless fluidity that Qiu Long lost his life before anyone else could even react. Qingyang’s movements were effortless, as if she hadn’t expended an ounce of energy. Even the killing blow to Qiu Long appeared gentle and restrained, devoid of any overt aggression.

The imperial guards under the eaves had just rushed forward when they witnessed Qiu Long’s defeat by Qingyang in just two moves. They were stunned and immediately moved to protect the Fourth Prince. "Your Highness, quickly enter the hall!"

There was no need for further urging. While Qiu Long bought him time, the Fourth Prince was already striding towards Frost Immortal Hall. As he ran, he felt a numbness in his shoulder, making it difficult to swing his arms, but with immediate danger behind him, he disregarded this strange sensation. Qingyang did not pursue him.

Prince Rui ran breathlessly to the topmost steps, and only once he felt safe did he turn back to look. Imperial guards filled the steps, facing Qingyang and Bai Hengbo’s subordinates with drawn weapons. The two sides stood in confrontation. Other ministers, awakening from their stupor, hastily rushed to the steps of Frost Immortal Hall, seeking refuge behind the imperial guards. "W-why, of all days, did we happen to stumble upon a rebellion when entering the palace today?" However, the gathered officials were mostly civil servants, with no military generals among them who could assist in defense.

Qingyang’s long staff was planted on the ground, and she remained unhurried. However, Prince Rui noticed that, in addition to the familiar green leaves, a small purple flower had blossomed at the staff’s tip. It was light and graceful, much like a clematis.

Then, something on the ground moved. Prince Rui looked, and was utterly horrified: Qiu Long was actually getting back up! Prince Rui was alarmed rather than relieved because Qiu Long’s movements were utterly inhuman. He first crawled on all fours, then unexpectedly lurched upright, staggering and bumping into things, devoid of his usual composure and caution.

"Qiu Long!" Prince Rui had known Qiu Long since he was a child, and seeing the familiar old palace servant with distorted eyes and mouth, making gurgling sounds and unable to speak, he couldn’t help but demand furiously, "What have you done to him?"

Qingyang held her wooden staff, the small purple flower on its tip swaying gently in the breeze. Its serene beauty was utterly incongruous with the tense atmosphere. "This flower is called the Soul Flower," she said with a faint smile. "When my staff ‘consumes’ a person, it extracts their living soul along with them, leaving no chance for them to feign death." She pointed at Qiu Long, who had stumbled into a tree and fallen. "Though Sir Qiu Long’s body lives," she explained, "his soul is gone. This body has become a living corpse, a mere husk without a soul!" Qiu Long likely possessed a death-defying treasure, which had automatically activated after her attack to his throat. However, Qingyang was one step ahead; she casually extracted his living soul. His body, though newly revived and still capable of movement, was now devoid of consciousness.

"Vile woman!" The doors of Frost Immortal Hall burst open, and King Yao strode out, his face contorted in fury. "How can such wickedness exist? I treated you with the highest respect, yet you murdered my general, harmed my son, and conspired with Bai Tan to usurp my throne!"

Qingyang’s expression subtly shifted. "Bai Tan?" she echoed.

"Don't feign ignorance," King Yao retorted, narrowing his eyes. "I’ve already stripped Bai Tan of his office, and he’s being dealt with as we speak! You’ve been trying every trick to buy time, haven’t you, waiting for Bai Hengbo to return? Well, he’s back, and you’ll see him if you just turn around!"

Suddenly, a crowd surged into the outer courtyard entrance of Frost Immortal Hall, positioning themselves directly behind Qingyang and her guards. At the forefront was Zhao Song. He held aloft a severed head, his voice sharp and severe. "Bai Hengbo’s head is here! Why haven’t you surrendered? Kneel, and you shall live!"

The severed head was still dripping blood, its features contorted, frozen in the terror of its final moments. Yet, this did not prevent everyone from clearly recognizing it: it was indeed Bai Hengbo!