The Princess Cannot Escape: The Cunning Prince Is Not to Be Messed With

Chapter 83 The Crown Prince's Coup

Everything happened in the blink of an eye, so much so that no one was aware of what had actually occurred.

With her eyes wide open, Yin Quan stared unblinkingly at the extremely glaring dark red gemstone on the black floor tiles, and then heard a deafening shout that almost shook the altar: "Protect the Emperor!"

Yin Ru threw away the canopy and rushed towards Emperor Tianxi. Immediately afterward, a figure flashed out from among the few lightly dressed concubines like lightning, knocking her far away with a single palm strike. She then caught Emperor Tianxi's stiff body in her arms and leaped to stand behind Xiahou Ying.

Pressing her finger against Emperor Tianxi's neck, the thinly dressed woman's eyes narrowed sharply. She immediately pried open his stiff, bluish-purple lips and inserted a pure white pill into them. At the same time, rows of heavily armored guards appeared from all directions, crisscrossing before the crowd.

"It's the Eastern Palace Guards! Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!" A concubine recognized the Eastern Palace insignia and immediately turned from shock to joy, shouting out. However, before she could finish speaking, she was pierced through the body by a cold, heavy sword that shone with a blue light.

The concubine's body went limp, and her eyes immediately dimmed, the joy that had just stirred within her still lingering in them.

Upon seeing this, the glimmer of light that had just appeared in everyone's eyes suddenly dimmed, like the ashes of burnt-out charcoal, utterly lifeless.

The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present. Some gasped, some were stunned, and some seemed to have suddenly lost their composure and reason, falling into a state of extreme frenzy, shouting and rushing towards Xiahou Jue behind the heavy guards like madmen.

With another "whoosh," the sound of a sword piercing through a body made the silent crowd tremble.

The clanging of metal and steel shook the frigid air, wave after wave crashing against each other, like a ferocious, bloodthirsty beast unleashing a deafening, piercing roar.

Taking a step forward to shield Yin Quan behind him, Xiahou Ying glanced at Emperor Tianxi, then put his hands behind his back and slowly walked to the heavy guards.

He remained expressionless, as if everything that had just happened was insignificant to him and had nothing to do with him.

He walked forward calmly, his bright red brocade boots embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes stepping on the dark tiles. Each step seemed to leave a trace of blood in the bottomless blackness, alluring, eerie, beautiful to the point of being ethereal, and stunningly beautiful to the point of being chilling.

The imperial guards of the Eastern Palace, dressed in scarlet overcoats and iron-blue armor, were forced back by his ever-advancing figure. It was not that they were not skilled enough, but that Xiahou Ying's imposing and cold aura was too powerful and intimidating, as if anyone who touched him would be shattered to pieces and fall into the endless hell of eternity.

The guards of the Eastern Palace all fixed their gazes on him. As he took a step forward, they took a step back. The clanging of their fine iron armor sounded particularly crisp in the fierce wind, like the melodious sound of striking a bronze jar. It was carried by a wisp of cold wind and scattered across the dazzling white sky.

At the end of the heavily guarded compound stood the composed Xiahou Jue.

He wore a bright yellow robe with a white dragon embroidered on his chest, which stood out against the pale sky.

Meeting Xiahou Ying's deep, cold black eyes, his thin, knife-like lips remained slowly curved, his sharp, hawk-like eyes were now restrained and composed, replaced by a rock-solid calm.

The guards, one after another, parted rapidly to both sides like a torrent. There were a hundred or so of them, yet not one dared to draw his sword and step forward to stop him.

Xiahou Ying stood with his hands behind his back in front of Xiahou Jue, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Xiahou Jue lowered his gaze and slowly said, "Fourth brother, you are my smartest and most beloved brother. Today is your wedding day. If you just ask, I will spare your life..."

His voice was extremely slow and his tone was very low, as if he were persuading someone, as if he were not only speaking to Xiahou Ying, but also to himself.

Looking forward at Xiahou Ying, whose back was to her, Yin Quan quickly looked away and glanced at Emperor Tianxi, whose face was still ashen.

Although she knew from the beginning that Xiahou Ying would place spies around the emperor to prevent any unforeseen events, she never imagined that the person he placed would be one of the concubines in the harem.

She pursed her lips and looked around. She found that several exits had been blocked by the Eastern Palace Guards. Xiahou Ying had brought fewer than ten people. Although these people were all top-notch experts who could take on ten men each, it was inevitable that they would delay things. It was hard to guarantee that Xiahou Jue wouldn't cause any more trouble.

Looking towards the direction of Phoenix Terrace, Song Chen's clasped hands were covered in sweat. Although it was winter, and it had even snowed the day before, he felt no cold at all.

Half a month ago, he had already asked Meng Kuo, a military officer stationed in Beijing, for help, as instructed by Xiahou Ying. Now, Meng Kuo's troops had been borrowed, but there was still no movement from Phoenix Terrace, and he couldn't help but start to get impatient.

It was good that His Majesty was safe and sound, but he was greatly alarmed when he saw hundreds of Imperial Guards from the Eastern Palace moving toward Phoenix Terrace.

"Lord Song, two hours have passed. Could the Prince's intelligence be wrong?" Baizhang Zhao Ting leaned closer to him, his tone tinged with suspicion.

"Wait a little longer. Once His Highness releases the signal smoke, we can set out... Please, Zhao Baichang, be patient." Withdrawing his gaze from the burly Baichang before him, the slender Song Chen gave a slight bow.

"No, no, Lord Song, you flatter me."

"Lord Song, if His Highness the Crown Prince intends to force the emperor to abdicate, wouldn't choosing a place like Phoenix Terrace be a foolish move? Although that altar is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it also makes it difficult to obtain external assistance and supplies. Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince has other plans?"

After listening to Zhao Ting's analysis, Song Chen stroked his gray-black beard and fell into deep thought.

Zhao Baichang is right; Prince Duan must have thought of this as well.

Just as he was pondering this, a green firework suddenly shot out from the dark blue Phoenix Terrace in the distance, instantly making Song Chen's eyes widen in surprise.

On Phoenix Terrace, Gu Lounan and four figures resembling black mist shielded Xiahou Jue behind them.

The concubines, officials, and princesses have given up resisting, and as for the palace servants, the Eastern Palace Guards have dealt with them all.

The Phoenix Terrace, which was originally adorned with red silk and flickering with wedding candles, was suddenly filled with desolation and bloodshed.

The clanging of clashing weapons and the muffled thuds of flesh being pierced filled the entire altar. Suddenly, taking advantage of the chaos, Xiahou Ying rushed towards the altar pavilion, his figure disappearing from Gu Lounan's sight like a streak of white silk.

Upon seeing this, he was startled and immediately realized his intention. He then leaped up.

Seeing two figures suddenly leap out from the crowd, Yin Quan's heart tightened. She looked at Xiahou Ying's purposeful figure, her mind racing.

He didn't aim for Xiahou Jue, but instead flew towards that inconspicuous little building... Could it be for something, or... someone...?

Almost instinctively, she thought of Qin Chang'an, and then gave a playful smile.

Capturing his first love does seem like something Xiahou Jue would do, but would he really bring her to a place like this?

Wouldn't it be better to use it to threaten him before their wedding?

As Yin Quan was thinking this, Wei Jun suddenly grabbed her from behind. Then, there was a clang of cold weapons clashing, and two figures like black mist immediately surrounded her and Wei Jun from the front and back.

Back to back with Wei Jun, Yin Quan suddenly felt somewhat helpless.

What should we do now?

It seems that many highly skilled individuals have infiltrated the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace, making it difficult even for Shen Sha and Gui Zhan to deal with them.

Pang Ban was wounded, while Kou Yun and the other white-clad guards were dealing with the imperial guards. The lightly dressed concubine had to protect Emperor Tianxi's safety, and she only had Wei Jun by her side. The figure in front of her looked particularly strange. What should she do...?

Standing atop the pavilion, Gu Lounan smiled, but his dark green eyes were as cold as ice.

"She's inside."

"You found out, that's really a headache." He answered casually, and before he finished speaking, he rushed towards Xiahou Ying.

The two did not use any weapons, but fought purely with their internal strength. After a series of muffled "bangs" sounds, neither of them showed any change in their expressions.

Suddenly, at that moment, Gu Lounan's tall and straight figure suddenly leaned forward, and then he spat out a mouthful of blood with a "poof".

"You are no match for me." Xiahou Ying's cold, clear eyes swept over the bloodstains on his chest without leaving a trace. His voice was as cold as snow.

"You won't get her..." Gu Lounan chuckled softly, his thin, blood-stained orange lips curving upwards, showing no trace of sinister intent despite his internal injuries.

Her long, narrow phoenix eyes, brimming with alluring charm, were always curved into crescent shapes, appearing perpetually warm and gentle like a spring breeze.

With his lips pressed straight, Xiahou Ying stood motionless with his hands behind his back, pulling out a green firework from behind him.

As a striking emerald green firework burst open in the pristine white sky with a bright trail of light, Gu Lounan's smile deepened. Suddenly, he pressed his feet against the roof with all his might. A series of crashing roof tiles echoed as he grabbed the woman in plain clothes, whose hands and feet were bound and who was blindfolded, by the throat.

With his brow furrowed, two crimson lights flashed from Xiahou Ying's deep, dark eyes, which shone like the cold moonlight.

"If I were Your Highness, I would not abandon Yin Quan for the sake of a mere Qin Chang'an." Grabbing the woman's slender throat, Gu Lounan curled his lips as he led her out of the pavilion and into the chaotic crowd.

Suddenly, an eerie silence descended, as if death itself had arrived.

Upon seeing this, Yin Quan felt a chill run down his spine.

really!

Suddenly, her heart started racing.

Despite the distance between them, which was neither too close nor too far, the figure was unmistakably Qin Chang'an from every angle!

Her thoughts raced, and she suddenly turned her gaze to Xiahou Ying. There stood his tall, elegant figure, as straight as a towering mountain, unwavering in his composure, as if nothing and no one could affect him.

He led that slender figure to the edge of the altar and said, "She, or the imperial power, the choice is yours."

While everyone's attention was focused on the two people by the city wall, a figure was steadily approaching Yin Quan.

Although it was only a momentary lapse in concentration, Wei Jun was struck hard by a palm, and then Yin Quan was dragged to Gu Lounan's side by the sudden black shadow.

His brows furrowed even deeper than before, Xiahou Ying pursed his lips, his face ashen as plaster, devoid of any light.

He glanced at Wei Jun subtly, then slowly looked away.

Looking at him, Yin Quan then glanced at the frail Qin Chang'an beside her, her eyes slightly opening.

Holy crap, what a ridiculous plot twist!

Is it possible...

"It's your choice: spare their lives or yours!" Xiahou Jue laughed loudly as he walked up to Xiahou Ying, his hawk-like eyes sharper and more piercing than ever before.

"master!"

Upon hearing this, Pang Ban and the others immediately roared, but Xiahou Ying seemed not to hear them at all and did not react at all.