Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

Just as the extremely tense atmosphere in the Imperial Study seemed to be crushing everyone, and a bloody storm was about to break out.

Suddenly, a series of orderly and rapid footsteps came from outside, approaching from afar.

The footsteps, like muffled thunder, struck the heartstrings of everyone present.

Before everyone could recover from the shock of the footsteps, the door to the Imperial Study was suddenly pushed open.

The first thing that catches the eye is Xiao Muyao's tall and upright figure.

Immediately afterward, Lu Yanqing also walked in, his figure agile, his face cold and stern, his eyes flashing with sharp light like cold stars.

Behind them was a well-trained and disciplined army.

The soldiers were all in high spirits and had serious expressions.

They quickly and orderly entered the vicinity of the Imperial Study, firmly surrounding the entire study like an indestructible Great Wall of Steel.

Xiao Muyao glanced at everyone in the imperial study and said in a strong and firm voice, "Father, don't panic, we're here to protect you."

Emperor Jingzhao's eyes, which had been tightly closed, snapped open upon hearing the familiar footsteps and the sound of the door opening.

When he saw Xiao Muyao and Lu Yanqing arrive at the Imperial Study with their army like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, the heavy gloom on his face instantly dissipated.

A subtle, almost imperceptible smile crept onto his lips, and his eyes gleamed with satisfaction and joy.

The tension in my heart eased slightly at that moment, as if a ship tossed about in a storm had finally found a harbor to dock in.

The expressions of terror on the faces of the concubines, princes, and princesses changed dramatically in that instant.

A spark of hope ignited in their eyes, and their faces, which had been pale with fear, gradually regained some color.

They looked at each other, and saw the relief of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes, and breathed a long sigh of relief.

They saw the light of dawn in the darkness.

Some of their trembling bodies gradually calmed down, and the fear on their faces was replaced by a look of relief.

The atmosphere in the Imperial Study gradually eased from the previous tension and fear because of their arrival.

At that moment, the Eleventh Prince's cruel and insane smile faltered slightly as Xiao Muyao and Lu Yanqing led their troops into the Imperial Study.

His eyes narrowed instantly, a flash of surprise and anger crossing his pupils.

His gaze, sharp as a sword, shot towards Xiao Muyao, and his previously arrogant and bloodthirsty expression seemed to freeze.

His clenched fist tightened even more unconsciously, his nails digging deep into his palm, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

His breathing became a little rapid, and his chest rose and fell slightly.

He gritted his teeth slightly and squeezed out a low growl: "You actually made it back, and so quickly and timely."

His voice carried an barely suppressed anger and resentment.

Even if they manage to get back, so what?

Today, it's either you die or I die!

So he straightened up, raised his chin slightly, and said fiercely, "You think you can stop me? No one will stop me today."

His voice echoed in the imperial study, carrying an almost manic resolve, as if he wanted to perish together with everyone.

Facing his madness, Xiao Muyao calmly shattered his illusions, saying, "Your 30,000 troops are currently facing off against He Jingchuan, but what do you think their chances of winning are? And can the Imperial Guards you bribed defeat the Shadow Division and the Dragon Guard? As for the others, they are completely insignificant."

Upon hearing these words, the mad look on the eleventh prince's face instantly froze.

His eyes widened slightly, and a crack began to appear in the certainty and confidence that had been there before.

A moment later, he clenched his teeth, making a "crunching" sound, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He looked at the other person again, unwilling to give up, his eyes filled with anger and panic.

Even so, I will not give up. I still have a chance. I will not lose!

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, but he felt no pain. All he felt was the resentment and mad obsession that followed the shattering of his illusions.

Xiao Muyao continued, "We have just taken control of your maternal grandfather's family, the Xu family. In order to save their lives, they have confessed your arrangements in the court and the army over the years. Now these people have also been taken into custody. So, all your paths are blocked. Accept your fate."

As if he wasn't devastated enough, Xiao Muyao continued, "Actually, your methods and scheming weren't particularly clever. You just caught everyone off guard. Plus, you've been good at disguising yourself and lying low for so many years. You also seized the right moment this time. It's just a pity that your advantage is that no one discovered you in advance, but your disadvantage is that once you're discovered, you'll have no advantage left and will be easily defeated. You'll only end up failing at the last minute."

Upon hearing Xiao Muyao's series of words, the eleventh prince stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

His face, which had been flushed with anger, quickly lost its color and turned ashen white.

His eyes were empty and lifeless, as if his soul had been emptied out at that moment.

My body swayed involuntarily, and I almost lost my balance.

His lips moved tremblingly, but he couldn't utter a single complete syllable.

Then, as if suddenly snapping out of his daze, he let out a desperate roar: "No! This can't be! You're lying to me!"

His voice was hoarse and shrill, filled with endless resentment and pain.

"I've been planning this for so many years, how could I possibly fail like this!"

He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with madness.

His hair became disheveled, and his clothes were wrinkled from his violent movements.

She stared intently at Xiao Muyao with eyes full of resentment, as if she wanted to devour him alive, but she also knew that she couldn't do anything to him.

Finally, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground, his hands hanging limply at his sides, his eyes filled with endless despair and emptiness, as if the whole world had collapsed at that moment.

He sat slumped on the ground, like a statue that had lost its soul.

His eyes were empty and lifeless; the bloodthirsty and insane light that had once filled them had vanished, replaced by a deathly dimness.

Xiao Muyao showed no mercy whatsoever to his current situation.

He simply turned and gave Lu Yanqing a single instruction.

Upon hearing Xiao Muyao's instructions, Lu Yanqing immediately stepped forward and crippled the eleventh prince's martial arts, ensuring he had no chance of escape.

His movements were clean and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

Emperor Jingzhao's expression was complicated upon seeing this.

In the end, he didn't say anything, but simply ordered Lu Yanqing to take the eleventh prince to the Shadow Division and lock him up first.

Lu Yanqing accepted the order and did as instructed.

At this time, all the concubines, princes, and princesses had been untied and freed.

Their faces showed surprise or joy, but without exception, they all revealed a deep sense of lingering fear after this unexpected turn of events.

Those Imperial Guards who joined the rebellion were all dealt with.

Only then did the Empress rush forward to Xiao Muyao, anxiously asking, "Is my son alright?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Muyao said gently, "Mother, rest assured, I am fine. You were just frightened."

The Empress replied nonchalantly, "Mother is fine. I've seen all kinds of storms. This little scene won't frighten you."

After saying that, he thought of the Eighth Princess, and saw that although she was in a sorry state, she was not very panicked or afraid.

But she still felt sorry for her and went forward to hug her tightly to comfort her.

At this moment, she only had eyes for her son and daughter, completely forgetting her husband, Emperor Jingzhao.

Because in her heart, her son ranked first, her daughter second, and Emperor Jingzhao could only rank third.