Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

On the night of the full moon, the moonlight, like quicksilver, spilled over the streets and alleys of the capital. The old granary in the west of the city appeared particularly quiet under the moonlight. This long-abandoned granary was surrounded by overgrown weeds, and its dilapidated walls cast mottled shadows under the moonlight, exuding an eerie atmosphere.

Fu Heng personally led a team of elite men, who quietly lay in ambush around the old granary. Dressed in black, they blended into the night like a pack of lurking cheetahs, waiting for their prey. Fu Heng hid behind a crumbling wall, his eyes fixed on the granary's gate, his gaze revealing determination and coldness.

"Sir, will the Shadow Cult come again?" one of his men asked in a low voice.

Fu Heng frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Since the code is so explicit, they will definitely come. We must not act rashly. We must wait until they are all here before taking them down in one fell swoop."

Time passed slowly in silence, and just as everyone was growing impatient, a soft footstep sound came from afar. Fu Heng immediately gestured for his men to remain quiet.

Several dark figures gradually became clear in the moonlight as they cautiously approached the old granary. The leader was a tall man who walked with a fierce air, followed by several people of varying builds, all dressed in black night clothes and with their faces covered by black cloths.

"That's them. Prepare to move in." Fu Heng gave the order in a low voice, and his men gripped their weapons tightly, ready for battle.

The Shadow Cult members arrived at the old granary, looked around to make sure everything was alright, and then gently pushed open the door. The hinges creaked, the sound particularly jarring in the quiet night.

Fu Heng and his men quickly surrounded the old granary and blocked the exit. Then, he led his men to sneak into the granary.

A musty, stale smell permeated the granary, while moonlight streamed through holes in the roof, casting bright beams of light. Members of the Shadow Cult were gathered in the center, conversing in hushed tones.

"This operation must be foolproof; we must not let the imperial court discover our plan," the leading man said, his voice low and cold.

"Don't worry, boss. Everything is arranged. As long as Chen Qiming succeeds, we can launch the final offensive," another person said.

Upon hearing the name "Chen Qiming," Fu Heng's heart skipped a beat. He knew this was the crucial information he was searching for. With a wave of his hand, his men charged out like tigers.

"Don't move! You're surrounded!" Fu Heng shouted.

The Shadow Cult members were startled by this sudden turn of events, but they quickly recovered and drew their weapons, preparing to fight back.

"Hmph, Fu Heng, do you think you can capture us so easily?" The leader sneered, brandishing his long sword and slashing at Fu Heng.

Fu Heng dodged to the side, his longsword flashing out like lightning. The two instantly clashed, their blades gleaming and sparks flying.

The other subordinates also engaged in fierce combat with the Shadow Cult members. Shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons mingled together, shattering the tranquility of the night.

In the fierce battle, Fu Heng gradually gained the upper hand. He seized an opening and stabbed the leader of the men in the arm with his sword. The man cried out in pain, and the long sword in his hand clattered to the ground.

"You have nowhere to escape, surrender!" Fu Heng shouted.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the members of the Shadow Cult laid down their weapons and knelt down to surrender.

Fu Heng stepped forward and looked at the man in the lead: "Speak, what is Chen Qiming planning? What is your overall offensive plan?"

The man snorted coldly, turned his head away, and refused to speak.

"You think I can't find out if you don't tell me?" Fu Heng's eyes sharpened. "If you confess the truth, you might get a lighter sentence. Otherwise, you're doomed!"

The man hesitated for a moment, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes: "Chen Qiming is going to the imperial kitchen to poison the emperor's food. As long as the emperor dies, we will unite with all forces to launch a general offensive and overthrow the court."

Fu Heng was greatly alarmed, knowing the situation was extremely urgent. He immediately ordered his men, "Leave a few men to guard these prisoners; the rest of you come with me back to the palace to protect the Emperor!"

Meanwhile, in the inner palace, the palace maids who went to approach the Shadow Cult captives also made their gains.

"Your Majesty, when we were delivering food to the prisoners, we overheard them whispering, saying something like, 'If Chen Qiming succeeds, everything will be easy.'" a palace maid reported to the Empress and Consort Ling.

The Empress's expression changed: "Chen Qiming? Could he be the Shadow Cult's mole in the court?"

Consort Ling was also shocked: "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. We must inform the Emperor immediately."

Just then, a eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness Consort Ling, Lord Fuheng requests an audience, saying he has urgent business to discuss."

The Empress and Consort Ling exchanged a glance and said, "Quickly, invite him in."

Fu Heng rushed into the palace, not even having time to bow, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, Your Highness Consort Ling, something terrible has happened! Chen Qiming, under the orders of the Shadow Cult, is going to poison the Emperor's food in the Imperial Kitchen. We must take action immediately!"

The Empress stood up, her expression stern: "Lord Fuheng, what are your plans?"

Fu Heng said, "I have already arranged for people to lie in ambush around the Imperial Kitchen. As soon as Chen Qiming appears, we will take him down immediately. But just in case, I would like to ask Your Majesty the Empress and Consort Ling to arrange reliable people to strengthen the protection of the Emperor."

Consort Ling nodded: "Your Majesty, I will take care of it immediately."

The Empress said, "Lord Fuheng, you must ensure the Emperor's safety. The Shadow Cult is so audacious as to plot against the Emperor; their crime is unforgivable!"

Fu Heng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will protect Your Majesty even at the cost of my life."

A crisis concerning the Emperor's safety and the fate of the court is about to erupt. Will Fu Heng be able to stop Chen Qiming's conspiracy in time? How will everyone in the palace deal with this sudden crisis? The entire palace is shrouded in a tense atmosphere, and everyone is making final preparations for this unknown battle.

This chapter concludes here. Stay tuned for the next chapter.