The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 702 It felt like the whole world was collapsing.
This news surprised and delighted Zhu Xiong Ying.

He immediately ordered that the best imperial physicians and midwives be prepared for Liu Ran to ensure a safe delivery.

At the same time, he began to consider how to give his unborn child a memorable name.

While Zhu Xiong Ying was immersed in joy, little did he know that a huge conspiracy was quietly brewing...

One evening, Zhu Xiong Ying was reviewing memorials when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

He was startled and quickly got up and went to the window to look outside.

Flames soared into the sky outside the palace, and the shouts of battle were deafening.

"What's going on?" Zhu Xiong Ying's face darkened, and he asked sternly.

A guard rushed in, knelt down, and cried out, "Your Majesty, there are assassins outside the palace!"

"Assassins?" Zhu Xiong Ying frowned. "How many?"

"Your Majesty, the number is large, at least several thousand!"

"What?!" Zhu Xiong Ying exclaimed in shock. "Who is it? How dare they be so bold as to launch a night raid on the palace!"

Just then, a eunuch rushed in, panicking: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Her Majesty the Empress... Her Majesty the Empress..."

"What happened to the Empress?!" A sense of foreboding rose in Zhu Xiong Ying's heart.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty has suffered a miscarriage!"

"What's wrong with the Empress?!" Zhu Xiong Ying felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His dragon eyes widened, and he asked sharply.

The eunuch trembled, barely able to speak: "Her Majesty the Empress... has suffered a miscarriage, and I fear... I fear there are signs of premature labor!"

Ignoring the shouts of battle outside the palace, Zhu Xiong Ying pushed aside the eunuch and rushed towards Liu Ran's bedroom.

Inside the palace, Liu Ran lay pale on the bed, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Several palace maids and imperial physicians surrounded her, flustered but helpless.

"Ran'er!" Zhu Xiong Ying rushed to the bedside and grabbed Liu Ran's hand. "How are you?"

Liu Ran weakly opened her eyes, saw Zhu Xiong Ying, and forced a smile: "Your Majesty, I...I'm alright..."

"Nonsense!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared. "What kind of time is this to say nothing's wrong! Imperial Physician, how is the Empress?"

An old imperial physician knelt down tremblingly: "Your Majesty, the Empress has suffered a miscarriage, and her condition is critical... I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what?!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was icy, filled with intense killing intent.

The old doctor was so frightened that he trembled all over and dared not continue speaking.

"Speak!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared.

"I'm afraid... I'm afraid his life will be in danger..." the old doctor stammered.

"Bullshit!" Zhu Xiong Ying kicked the old imperial physician over. "How could anything happen to my Empress! Guards, summon all the imperial physicians! If anything happens to the Empress, I will have you all buried with her!"

Chaos reigned within the palace, with maids and eunuchs rushing back and forth in a flustered manner. The shouts of battle outside grew ever closer, suggesting that the palace's defenses had already been breached.

Zhu Xiong Ying held Liu Ran's hand tightly, his heart filled with anxiety. He had never felt so helpless, so afraid. He could conquer the world, but he couldn't defeat this illness. He could control life and death, but he couldn't prevent the premature birth of the child in Liu Ran's womb.

"Your Majesty..." Liu Ran called out weakly, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

Zhu Xiong Ying quickly bent down and put her ear to Liu Ran's mouth: "Ran'er, tell me."

"I...I'm afraid...I'm afraid..." Liu Ran said haltingly, "...I can't save...this child..."

"No, it won't happen!" Zhu Xiong Ying held Liu Ran's hand tightly. "You can do it! I won't let anything happen to you! And I won't let anything happen to my child either!"

A sorrowful smile appeared on Liu Ran's face: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I have a request..."

"Tell me, I'll grant you anything you ask!"

"If...if I...are really...gone..." Liu Ran's voice grew weaker and weaker, "Please, Your Majesty...take good care of...our child..."

"No! You'll be alright!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice trembled. "I won't let you leave me!"

Liu Ran's breathing grew weaker and weaker, her eyes slowly closed, and her hands fell limply to her sides.

"Ran'er! Ran'er!" Zhu Xiong Ying held Liu Ran tightly, calling out hoarsely. Inside the palace, there was a deathly silence.

Outside the palace, shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Just then, a figure appeared silently at the entrance of the palace.

It was a person dressed in black and wearing a mask.

He held a sharp dagger in his hand and walked step by step toward the bedside.

Zhu Xiong Ying was so immersed in grief that she was completely unaware of the approaching danger.

The man in black walked to the bedside, raised his dagger, and pointed it at Zhu Xiong Ying's back.

Just at this critical moment, a figure suddenly flashed in from outside the door and stood in front of Zhu Xiong Ying.

"clang!"

With a crisp metallic clang, the man in black's dagger was blocked.

The visitor was none other than Jiang Huan.

"Protect the Emperor!" Jiang Huan shouted, and engaged in a fierce battle with the man in black.

Inside the palace, chaos erupted instantly.

Zhu Xiong Ying held Liu Ran's body, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost her soul.

He had no idea what was happening outside, nor who wanted to assassinate him.

All he knew was that he had lost the woman he loved most and his unborn child.

He felt like his whole world had collapsed.

Just then, a palace maid rushed in, panicking: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! The Western Depot has broken in!"

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly raised his head, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes.

West Factory?

Yuhuatian? !

It's him!

He must be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes!

He killed Liu Ran, and he killed my child!

I will make him pay for his crimes in blood!
Zhu Xiong Ying slowly put down Liu Ran's body and stood up.

His eyes burned with fury.

He drew the sword from his waist and walked step by step toward the entrance of the palace.

"Guards!" he roared, "Follow me and fight your way out!"

Outside the palace, shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Flames shot into the sky, illuminating the night sky in crimson.

A bloody battle is about to unfold...

Zhu Xiong Ying walked mechanically, the world before him seemingly veiled in a blood-red gauze. The agents of the Western Depot flooded into the palace like a tidal wave; with each swing of his sword, a life was taken. Yet, his heart was empty, like a walking corpse.

"Yu Huatian! Get out here!" Zhu Xiong Ying's roar echoed throughout the palace, but received no response. His eyes were bloodshot, and his sword was aimed at the henchmen of the Western Depot. Blood splattered, staining his dragon robe and the gold bricks beneath his feet.

"Your Majesty! Be careful!" Jiang Huan's voice came from the side. He desperately blocked a sharp blade aimed at Zhu Xiong Ying, but another guard took the opportunity to stab his arm.

"Jiang Huan!" Zhu Xiong Ying swung his sword, killing the spies who had attacked him, and caught the swaying Jiang Huan. "How are you?"

"Your Majesty...I'm alright..." Jiang Huan gritted his teeth, his face pale. "Protecting Your Majesty...is my duty..."

"Bullshit duty!" Zhu Xiong Ying roared, "I don't want a corpse! I want you alive!"

(End of this chapter)