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

Chapter 730 Escaping the Palace
Zhu Xiong Ying felt his life slipping away; he was like a walking corpse, devoid of any desire to live.

He closed his eyes and waited for death to come.

……

Just as Zhu Xiong Ying was on the verge of death, Xiao Die secretly slipped into his room.

Xiaodie looked at Zhu Xiong Ying, who was covered in wounds, and her eyes filled with tears.

She carefully helped Zhu Xiong Ying up and gave him some water.

"Your Majesty, you must hold on." Xiaodie's voice trembled.

Zhu Xiong Ying opened her eyes weakly and looked at Xiao Die in front of her.

Xiaodie was his former palace maid, and she was his only solace in this cold palace.

"Xiao Die..." Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible.

"Your Majesty, I'm here." Xiao Die held Zhu Xiong Ying's hand tightly.

"I...I'm so tired..." Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes were filled with exhaustion.

"Your Majesty, please rest. I will stay with you." Xiao Die's tears fell onto Zhu Xiong Ying's hand.

Zhu Xiong Ying slowly closed his eyes. He felt as if he had returned to the past, to the era when he was still the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

He saw those ministers who had once been loyal to him, and the people who had once loved him.

He saw his father, his mother, and his brothers and sisters.

He saw a prosperous and flourishing Ming Dynasty.

……

Suddenly, Zhu Xiong Ying opened her eyes wide.

His eyes were full of light, and his body was full of power.

"I...I am still alive!" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was filled with excitement.

Xiao Die looked at Zhu Xiong Ying with surprise and delight. "Your Majesty, you've finally woken up!"

Zhu Xiong Ying sat up in bed, feeling his body full of strength.

Bai Suzhen's torment did not destroy him; instead, it made him stronger.

He looked at Xiaodie, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Xiaodie."

"Your Majesty, this is what I should do." Xiaodie's tears flowed uncontrollably.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Xiao Die, and a strange emotion welled up in her heart.

He reached out and gently stroked Xiaodie's cheek.

"Xiao Die, would you like to leave this place with me?" Zhu Xiong Ying's voice was full of tenderness.

Xiao Die paused for a moment, then nodded. "This servant is willing."

A smile appeared on Zhu Xiong Ying's lips.

He knew that his life was about to start anew.

……

Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die secretly planned to escape from the palace.

They knew that Bai Suzhen wouldn't let them off easily. They had to be careful and proceed cautiously.

One night, Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die secretly slipped out of the palace under the cover of darkness.

They evaded the guards as they fled towards the outside of the palace.

Just as they were about to escape from the palace gates, Bai Suzhen suddenly appeared.

"Where do you want to go?" Bai Suzhen's voice was icy cold.

Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die stopped in their tracks; they knew they had been discovered.

Bai Suzhen walked up to Zhu Xiong Ying, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "Your Majesty, do you think you can escape my grasp?"

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Bai Su Zhen, his eyes filled with determination. "Even if I die, I will never let you control me again!"

Xiaodie held Zhu Xiong Ying's hand tightly, knowing that they were about to face a life-or-death battle.

Bai Suzhen sneered and reached out to grab Zhu Xiong Ying.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die, blocking Bai Su Zhen's attack.

"Who are you?" Bai Suzhen looked at the figure in front of her, her eyes filled with doubt.

The newcomer was dressed in black, with a handsome face and extraordinary demeanor.

He looked at Bai Suzhen, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I am Yan Chixia."

Yan Chixia's appearance instantly froze the tense atmosphere. Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die were both stunned; they hadn't expected anyone to appear at this time, especially such a complete stranger.

Bai Suzhen narrowed her eyes, sizing up Yan Chixia, a hint of doubt flashing in her gaze. "Yan Chixia? Never heard of him. Who are you, daring to interfere in my affairs?"

Yan Chixia sneered and drew his long sword from his back. "I was just helping someone in need. How could I stand idly by while you bully the weak like this?" His tone was laced with a cynical frivolity, as if he didn't take Bai Suzhen seriously at all.

"Weak?" Bai Suzhen burst into laughter as if she had heard a joke, her laughter sharp and piercing. "Zhu Xiong Ying, did you hear that? He said you're weak! The former emperor of the Ming Dynasty has now fallen to the point of needing someone else's protection, how utterly ridiculous!"

Zhu Xiong Ying's face turned pale and then red. Bai Suzhen's words pierced his pride like a sharp knife. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, almost drawing blood. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said to Yan Chixia, "Thank you for your chivalrous help, but this is my family matter, so I won't trouble you to interfere."

"Family matters?" Yan Chixia raised an eyebrow, his eyes sweeping mockingly over Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die's tightly clasped hands. "So, this young lady is your...family member?"

Xiaodie's cheeks flushed instantly. She tried to pull her hand back, but found that Zhu Xiong Ying gripped it even tighter. She secretly glanced up at Zhu Xiong Ying and saw that he was staring intently at Yan Chixia, his eyes full of provocation.

"That's right." Zhu Xiong Ying admitted without hesitation, deliberately emphasizing the word "family members," as if to show his power to Bai Suzhen.

Bai Suzhen's face grew even darker. She snorted coldly, "Fine, very well! Since you two are so in love, then die together!" With that, she waved her sleeve, and a powerful demonic aura swept over her instantly.

Seeing this, Yan Chixia stopped talking and brandished his longsword, unleashing a sharp sword aura that slashed towards Bai Suzhen. The two forces collided, producing a deafening roar.

Zhu Xiong Ying and Xiao Die were forced to retreat by the powerful force, clinging tightly to each other as if afraid of being torn apart.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Xiao Die exclaimed. She saw that while Yan Chixia was confronting her, Bai Suzhen had secretly launched an attack on Zhu Xiong Ying.

Zhu Xiong Ying also noticed Bai Suzhen's actions. He quickly shielded Xiao Die behind him and mobilized the remaining power in his body to prepare to resist Bai Suzhen's attack.

However, Bai Suzhen was too fast. Zhu Xiong Ying had no time to react and was struck in the chest by her palm. He flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Die exclaimed, rushing to Zhu Xiong Ying's side and helping him up. "Your Majesty, how are you?"

Zhu Xiong Ying's face was pale, and his breath was weak. He barely opened his eyes, looked at Xiao Die, and said weakly, "I...I'm alright..."

"You said you were fine!" Xiaodie's tears flowed uncontrollably. "You even vomited blood, and you still said you were fine! You fool, why did you have to pretend to be strong!"

(End of this chapter)