Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

February 27th, construction site of the Futu Pagoda.

"The Empress is visiting today to inspect the progress of the project, so everyone must be on high alert!"

“Hey stonemason over there, put on your work clothes. If I see you working naked again, I’ll deduct two days’ wages.”

"Hey you, stop looking so down. Cheer up! Don't let people think I'm bullying you!"

Supervisors in various locations shouted instructions to the busy laborers.

After all, the Empress's visit was a very important event. Ordinary people might never see the Empress in their entire lives, so naturally they had to be on high alert.

Of course, the workers were also very excited, and they all started working with great enthusiasm.

On the other side, the usually strict overseer, for the first time ever, spoke up.

"Work hard! His Majesty is coming to inspect today, so we'll give you a special lunch: a fish for each of you, and a spoonful of stewed meat!"

Upon hearing this, the prisoners' Adam's apples bobbed uncontrollably.

During this period, their food rations were indeed much better than when they were in prison; at least they could barely get enough to eat.

The food standards for prisoners are strictly different from those for ordinary workers.

The standard meals for ordinary workers consisted of two meals a day, with unlimited rice and noodles, two vegetable dishes and one meat dish, and meat was provided free of charge by the Ministry of Works.

If they wanted an extra meal, they could pay an additional seven coins for a meal consisting of two vegetarian dishes and two meat dishes. However, many workers were very frugal and rarely spent money on extra meals.

The prisoners, on the other hand, were much worse off. Their daily food ration consisted of unlimited rice and coarse grains, plus a spoonful of pickled vegetables to go with their rice.

As for meat, there's only a chance to eat a fish or offal every two to three days; as for real meat, that's impossible.

So, upon hearing that there would be a spoonful of stewed meat today, the prisoners' eyes lit up, and they worked even harder.

While the workers were being instructed, officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War also dispatched various military commanders to maintain order at the site, specifically responsible for the Empress's safety.

All the trails and paths that might harbor assassins have been checked several times to ensure that no accidents will occur.

However, none of them expected that the assassin had already infiltrated the workers a month earlier, waiting for his chance to strike.

In front of a piece of white jade, two stonemasons listlessly chiseled the stone while cautiously looking around at the passing Marquis Wu.

A short while later, a laborer carrying a basket came down to the jade stone where the two men were standing and began to rest against it.

"I just counted, and I estimate that the number of Wuhou's men is no more than five hundred."

"It would be best to investigate more thoroughly to find out how many martial artists are among them."

"Don't worry, Elder Sun is also here. As long as the Empress shows up, let alone five hundred Martial Marquises, even five thousand Martial Marquises would be able to take her head with ease."

"I hope so. I wonder how many experts are protecting the Empress."

"Compared to those experts, I am more worried about those soldiers who are armed with firearms. They have almost no cultivation, but with the guns in their hands, even those at the Innate Realm may perish."

"Don't panic. Elder Sun's cultivation is already at the late stage of the Immortal Realm. Unless the Empress also has an Immortal Realm expert by her side, she will surely die as soon as she shows herself."

"Alright, then let's do it according to that person's plan: three steps to kill the Empress."

"Yes, I will go and inform the rest of my fellow disciples. Today, we must seek justice for our Shushan Sword Sect."

After the three finished their conversation, the laborer immediately picked up his basket and walked away into the distance.

Everything has returned to normal, and busy figures are everywhere on the construction site.

At 3:45 AM, a squad of Imperial Guards armed with Garand rifles suddenly appeared at the construction site, clearing the way.

Li Jing rode his horse into the construction site first. After scanning the area and confirming that there was no danger, he turned around and gave a look.

Before long, a magnificent phoenix palanquin slowly drove into the construction site.

The officials from the Ministry of Works responsible for overseeing the procession immediately went to greet the emperor.

The workers who were working stopped what they were doing and headed toward the carriage in the distance.

"Humph."

Among the workers, a middle-aged man wearing a straw hat and sporting a beard deliberately pressed his hat down.

But out of the corner of his eye, he had already fixed his gaze on the carriage.

"I have met His Majesty."

The carriage stopped in front of a silk carpet that had been prepared beforehand.

The Ministry of Works officials immediately bowed to the carriage.

Standing guard in front of the carriage was a valiant female guard.

She drew her sword to block the crowd, then clasped her hands in a fist and said to the Empress inside the carriage, "Your Majesty, we have arrived at the construction site of the Pagoda."

"Understood. Qingwen, Amber, help me out of the carriage."

Before long, the Empress appeared before everyone, supported by Qingwen and Amber.

Stepping down from the carriage, the Empress slightly raised her hand: "No need for formalities. I am just here for a casual visit. Gentlemen, there is no need to be so reserved. Please go about your business."

"Yes."

Apart from Li Youcai, the other officials immediately withdrew.

After they left, the Empress said to Li Jing, "You may also leave now. I have Amber and Qingwen to protect me, which is enough."

Li Jing clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your humble servant takes his leave."

After Li Jing withdrew, Qingwen, Amber, Li Youcai, and their female guards began to inspect the progress of the project.

Meanwhile, the group of assassins who had already infiltrated the construction site were beginning to stir.

Everyone, intentionally or unintentionally, turned their gaze toward the middle-aged man wearing a straw hat, as if waiting for his command to begin the operation.

The man in the straw hat first glanced at the weak defenses in the direction of the Empress, then looked at the Imperial Guards following behind...

The next moment, a smile appeared on his lips. He picked up the iron chisel and smashed it hard against a stone wall.

The moment the stone wall cracked open.

"Kill!"

Suddenly, more than a dozen martial artists at the Transcendent Realm in the crowd drew their swords and charged straight at the martial marquises.

Those military officers didn't even have time to react before they were brutally murdered by the assassins.

"There are assassins!"

But soon, the guards reacted and raised their guns to fire at the warriors.

Boom~

Suddenly, a dozen burning hay carts blocked the martial artists' path, and thick smoke obscured their vision.

"Murder."

After realizing what was happening, the workers scattered and fled, causing chaos at the scene.

"Protect Your Majesty!"

A look of solemnity and panic flashed across the Empress's face, and Amber and Qingwen shouted in unison.

The guards behind her immediately surrounded the empress.

The man in the straw hat laughed at the sight, muttering to himself, "Three moves. The first move, creating chaos, has been accomplished. Now it's time for the second move: isolating the reinforcements."

At that moment, gunshots rang out, and several assassins fell to the ground, but in doing so, they bought time for their comrades behind them to retaliate.

As the sword energy swept across, more than twenty Imperial Guards soldiers and military commanders were immediately cut down to the ground.

Just then, Li Jing arrived with the palace guards and immediately drew his sword, ordering, "Fire!"

"Bang bang bang bang-"

After a burst of gunfire, more than a dozen assassins fell.

Just when Li Jing thought he could control the situation, three more assassins, each carrying a ring of grenades, suddenly charged madly at the Imperial Guards.

"Oh no! Stop them!"

Li Jing immediately turned his gun around and fired wildly at the three men charging towards him.

However, just as the bullet struck the three people—

"Lie down!"

Li Jing shouted loudly, turned around, grabbed two of his subordinates, and tackled them to the ground.

boom--

A deafening explosion shook the earth.

The Imperial Guards, who had no time to react, were directly overturned by the blast wave of the grenade.

Upon seeing this, the man wearing the straw hat took off his hat, slapped his palm into the crevice in the rock, and slowly pulled out a blood-red spirit sword.

"The final move: a swift and decisive attack to kill the Empress!"

The moment the Blood Sword was in hand, seven more assassins suddenly rushed toward the Empress with their swords drawn.