Sludge suction system

Unlike the bustling Fourth Prince's mansion, the imperial palace was shrouded in gloom, brewing a horrific disaster.

Night fell over the palace, its towering walls exuding an aura of majesty and mystery. Crown Prince Lan Yan, clad in black robes, stood tall yet radiated a chilling presence. Behind him, the Fourth Prince's guards, like phantoms of the night, were all masked and dressed in black, only their eyes gleaming with a cold light visible.

Lan Yan raised his hand and gestured for everyone to move. The guards moved swiftly, like black lightning, towards the palace gates. However, the palace guards had already noticed something amiss. The archers quickly formed ranks on the city wall, their bowstrings drawn taut, the arrowheads gleaming with a cold metallic luster in the moonlight.

"Who goes there? How dare you break into the palace at night!" the guard captain shouted. Lan Yan ignored him, a disdainful sneer playing on his lips, and continued to advance steadily.

In the blink of an eye, the guards launched their attack, raining down arrows upon the secret guards. The well-trained guards drew their weapons, deflecting the arrows with swords or nimbly dodging them. A clanging sound filled the air before the palace gates.

Several guards, using their comrades as cover, attempted to force their way through the gate, displaying their swift and agile skills as they leaped high into the air. However, the palace gates were incredibly sturdy, and the guards behind them fiercely defended the area with their halberds, repelling the guards time and again.

Seeing this, Lan Yan's eyes flashed with anger, and he personally joined the battle. His longsword was drawn, its light illuminating his cold, handsome face. He moved like lightning, his swordplay ruthless, and guards fell wherever he went. But the palace guards were numerous, surging forward wave after wave, tightly entangled Lan Yan and his companions.

At this moment, the Imperial Guards from within the palace also rushed to provide support upon hearing the commotion. Their ranks were impeccable, their steps steady, their shields forming a formidable defensive line, their spears protruding from the gaps like the quills of a hedgehog, sending chills down the spines of all who beheld them. Lan Yan and his Dark Guards were surrounded. Despite their desperate resistance, the palace's defenses were too strong; every step forward came at a heavy price. The shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons mingled within the palace, shattering the tranquility of the night. A thrilling battle for the throne was unfolding fiercely within this ancient palace.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Crown Prince has rebelled!" A blood-covered Imperial Guard interrupted the wedding.

At this moment, the Fourth Prince suddenly sobered up considerably. Upon hearing the news, he disregarded Hua Xiang beside him, got up, and rushed out the door. Hua Xiang, a strange smile playing on her lips, also got up and headed towards the Great Fish Kingdom's palace.

When they arrived at the palace, the ground was littered with the corpses of palace servants and guards. A group of masked men in black were committing a frenzied killing. Upon closer inspection, Lan Feng realized that they were his own secret guards. The Fourth Prince seemed to understand something, turned around and slapped Hua Xiang, who was standing to the side, and cursed, "You wretch! When did you collude with the Crown Prince? You even gave my secret guard token to the Crown Prince to plot a rebellion! How dare you!"

Hua Xiang covered her swollen cheek and burst into wild laughter: "Didn't you love my sister Hua Yu the most? Knowing that I hate Hua Yu the most, you still fawned over her, trampling my dignity underfoot. I'm going to make you suffer, hahaha..."

At this moment, the Crown Prince stormed into the Emperor's palace, only to find that the Emperor was not there. He went berserk, roaring and ordering his men to search for the Emperor's whereabouts.

At this tense moment, the Fourth Prince Lan Feng and Hua Xiang rushed to the Emperor's bedchamber. For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to freeze; the three remained in a stalemate, none of them speaking first.

Finally, the Crown Prince, unable to contain his smugness and mockery, broke the silence. He said to Lan Feng with a forced smile, "Fourth brother, congratulations on your marriage! Hahaha..." As he spoke, he glanced at Lan Feng with an extremely sarcastic look, as if waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Upon hearing these words, Lan Feng flew into a rage, his eyes widening and veins bulging on his forehead. He clenched his fists tightly, trembling slightly with anger. The next second, he swung his fist out, aiming straight for the Crown Prince's repulsive face. With a muffled thud, the Crown Prince's lip instantly swelled up, and a trickle of bright red blood slowly flowed down his cheek.

The crown prince was clearly caught off guard by Lan Feng's sudden attack, and staggered from the blow, but quickly regained his balance. He raised his hand to gently wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, then sneered disdainfully, "How pathetic! How pathetic! You're already on the verge of death, yet you still act like a fool, completely oblivious. Hahahaha..."

However, something even more shocking and heartbreaking happened to Lan Feng. Hua Xiang, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly stepped forward to the Crown Prince's side and spoke in a chillingly cold tone: "Fourth Prince, now that things have come to this, I might as well tell you the truth. In fact, I have long been the Crown Prince's woman. Moreover, the child I am carrying is not your flesh and blood at all, but the Crown Prince's." After speaking, she deliberately reached out and lightly stroked her still-flat belly, a triumphant and cruel smile appearing on her face.

The atmosphere inside the palace was tense. Crown Prince Lan Yan had a cold expression, Hua Xiang looked worried and fearful, and the Fourth Prince Lan Feng had a furrowed brow. The three of them faced each other, and the air was filled with a suffocating tension.

At this critical moment, General Ning led a group of trusted men, rushing to escort the emperor. Although the emperor was protected in the center, he could not hide his panic, and his dragon robe was slightly disheveled. General Ning stood tall and straight, his gaze firm and vigilant, and the long sword in his hand was still stained with blood, clearly indicating that the escort had been fraught with danger.

Crown Prince Lan Yan's eyes suddenly changed, and a wicked thought instantly arose in his mind. He flashed forward like a ghost, and in the instant everyone was stunned, he had already reached out and grabbed the emperor. A sharp dagger was pressed against the emperor's throat, and the emperor's body trembled slightly, but he tried to remain calm.

"Don't come any closer! Or I'll send Father to his grave!" Crown Prince Lan Yan roared, his voice hoarse with rage. Hua Xiang gasped in shock, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "Your Highness, please don't do this! This is an act of treason!"

Fourth Prince Lan Feng clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at the Crown Prince: "Lan Yan, release your father! How are you any different from a traitor?" The Crown Prince, however, laughed loudly, his laughter echoing through the palace, filled with endless sorrow and determination: "Traitor? I'm merely reclaiming the throne that rightfully belongs to me. You all oppose me, forcing me to have no other choice!"

Seeing this, General Ning slowly stepped forward, trying to find an opportunity to rescue the emperor. He said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, do not make another mistake. It is not too late to turn back now." However, Crown Prince Lan Yan tightened his grip on the emperor, and the emperor's face showed pain. No one dared to make a move, and the situation fell into a stalemate, like the calm before the storm, waiting for an opportunity to unleash a storm.

At that moment, a flying knife whistled past, slashing straight at Crown Prince Lan Yan's arm. The Crown Prince, in pain, released his grip on the Emperor. General Ning pounced, subdued the Crown Prince, and protected the Emperor, returning him to safety.