Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 184 Xiao Minghao Risks His Life to Save the Emperor

"Chen Jinhuan, if you want to save your lover, then behave yourself. As long as you bring the dog emperor to me, I will release Ning Zhanyan." The Wolf King proposed his terms, his eyes fixed on the somewhat flustered Chen Jinhuan and Emperor Huizong below the steps.

"Jin'er, don't listen to the Wolf King... You should protect His Majesty and leave. The Wolf King won't kill me easily... because I still have value to him." Ning Zhanyan said weakly to Chen Jinhuan, his voice extremely hoarse.

"Ning Zhanyan? Wasn't he burned to death by the high-ranking official in the Underworld Cave? How could he be here?" Emperor Huizong looked at Ning Zhanyan on the steps with surprise, then glanced at Chen Jinhuan, whose face was full of grief. He couldn't believe that Chen Jinhuan would betray him, so he called out to Chen Jinhuan:

"My beloved consort, I heard from Du Shiniang that you were forcibly taken by Ning Zhanyan in the Mingfu Cave, and that you did not love him. Before I came into your life, you had no choice. Now, I am devoted to you and grant you the title of consort, so that you may enjoy wealth and honor. You must not betray me!" Emperor Huizong said, looking deeply into Chen Jinhuan's eyes.

"Forced plunder? Wealth and glory? Heh!" Chen Jinhuan murmured softly after hearing Emperor Huizong's words, then sneered, her face filled with resentment. She pointed at Emperor Huizong and cursed, "You dog emperor, you also forced plundered me, so what right do you have to talk about Liu Lang here?"

"Liu Lang did force me from the beginning, but he did so much for me afterwards. First, he faked his death to free me from the Wolf King's control. Later, he sacrificed himself to cure me of the love poison and even accompanied me into the palace to protect me. Each and every one of these things proves how much he loves me. What have you truly done for me?" Chen Jinhuan questioned Emperor Huizong of Song.

"Accompany you into the palace?" Emperor Huizong lowered his eyes in confusion, unable to believe that what Chen Jinhuan said about Ning Zhanyan faking his death to escape, and the fact that the two of them had been secretly connected, had actually happened right under his nose.

Seeing this, the Wolf King couldn't help but mock Emperor Huizong, saying, "It seems Your Majesty is unaware that my own nephew disguised himself as the Imperial Guard Commander, Chen Ge, to accompany Consort Luo in the palace. You initially thought Chen Ge was loyally protecting Consort Luo, and sent him to guard Qixia Palace day and night, which actually created a perfect opportunity for the two of them to have an affair!"

"What? Ning Zhanyan and Chen Ge are actually the same person? How is that possible?" Emperor Huizong said through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely at Ning Zhanyan, who was being held at knifepoint by the Imperial Guards on the steps. He thought to himself, how dare this Ning bastard cuckold me right under my nose! He's utterly despicable! I will exterminate Ning's entire family and tear him apart by five horses to vent my anger.

"Chen Jinhuan, why don't you bring Emperor Huizong before me and exchange him for your lover?" The Wolf King impatiently urged Consort Luo. He didn't want to waste any more time on the matter of the concubine mocking the dog emperor for having an affair.

"Jin'er, don't worry about me! Quickly take His Majesty to find Lin Chong and Wu Song. They are the only two we can trust right now. Gao Qiu and his son have long been in cahoots with the Wolf King. You can't listen to the Wolf King." Ning Zhanyan said loudly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he deliberately brought his neck close to the blade of the imperial guard.

When Chen Jinhuan saw a long, bloody gash appear on Ning Zhanyan's neck, with blood dripping to the ground, she cried out in fright, "Liu Lang, don't hurt yourself! I only listen to you."

When Emperor Huizong saw Ning Zhanyan mutilating himself to persuade Chen Jinhuan to help him escape, he looked on with suspicion, wondering if Ning Zhanyan had gone mad. Wasn't he competing with him for a woman? Besides, he was a disgraced official; faking his death to escape was a crime of deceiving the emperor. What was his purpose in saving him?

Wolf King and Bai He, along with everyone else present, were stunned by what they saw. Ning Zhanyan's act of risking his life to persuade Consort Luo to take Emperor Huizong away was illogical. Enraged, Wolf King drew his sword and ran towards Emperor Huizong. Chen Jinhuan reached Emperor Huizong faster than Wolf King, grabbed his hand, and they raced towards the football field, with Liu Guangyu close behind.

Chaos erupted at the Imperial Palace's football field after the Wolf King's appearance. Dozens of Jin guards, disguised as imperial guards, surrounded the Song ministers with swords and spears, threatening them to remain seated in the stands and not leave. Anyone who dared to move would be beheaded. Because Xiao Minghao had previously had considerable contact with the Jin delegation and had offered Mohart many suggestions, Mohart was currently protecting him and not restricting his freedom.

Xiao Minghao was positioned close to Emperor Huizong in the stands, and he overheard the entire conversation between the Wolf King, Emperor Huizong, Consort Luo, and others. Although he didn't know why Ning Zhanyan had urged Consort Luo to rescue the Emperor first, he knew this was a golden opportunity for him to rise in the ranks. He also recalled that his spies had overheard the Wolf King's planned coup at Gao Qiu's Grand Commandant's residence the previous night. He had already secretly prepared to rescue the Emperor, and some of the Imperial Guards were people his father-in-law, the Left Prime Minister, had previously placed there.

As Chen Jinhuan and Emperor Huizong ran past Xiao Minghao, Xiao Minghao quickly ran out to cover them and shouted to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, your minister has come to your rescue! You two escape to the Cuju field first. I have already sent a signal to my men, and they will protect Your Majesty and the Empress from below."

"Minister Xiao is indeed loyal to me, unlike some who say one thing to my face and another in secret, deceiving the emperor!" Emperor Huizong spoke to Xiao Minghao, but his eyes darkened as he glared at Chen Jinhuan beside him, squeezing her delicate hand harder. Chen Jinhuan sensed the emperor's resentment, but she pretended nothing was wrong and continued to run forward, pulling the emperor's hand.

Suddenly, Gao Qiu appeared out of nowhere. Emperor Huizong was both surprised and delighted. He shook off Chen Jinhuan's hand and said to Gao Qiu, "Minister Gao, you've finally come to my rescue! Quickly take me away." Chen Jinhuan's hand was suddenly empty, and he immediately stopped and looked at Gao Qiu, who was blocking his way.

Gao Qiu's face was dark and inscrutable, a fake smile playing on his lips. He said to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, please forgive my late arrival! You should leave with me now. I have already arranged for the imperial guards to escort Your Majesty away." After saying this, he turned away without even glancing at Chen Jinhuan.

Emperor Huizong of Song trusted Gao Qiu implicitly. He followed Gao Qiu without a second thought, disregarding Chen Jinhuan's life or death. This woman had cheated on him; how could she possibly be genuinely trying to save him? This woman probably wanted to take him to the Cuju field and hand him over to the Wolf King's men.

Xiao Minghao, however, already knew that Gao Qiu and his son were colluding with the Wolf King. He shouted to Emperor Huizong, "No! Gao Qiu and his son have long been colluding with the Wolf King. Your Majesty must not fall for their tricks! Do not go with them!"

Emperor Huizong wouldn't listen to Xiao Minghao's words. The person he trusted most right now was Gao Qiu, the one who kept him company while playing football and helped him ascend the throne; he trusted no one else. Liu Guangyu saw Emperor Huizong being taken away by Gao Qiu and quickly followed after him.

Seeing that Emperor Huizong was so blind to talent, Chen Jinhuan didn't bother with this scoundrel anymore. Saving her lover was the priority. She ran in the opposite direction towards Ning Zhanyan, who was on the steps of the viewing platform. Ning Zhanyan was still being held by two imperial guards. Chen Jinhuan gripped her long sword and quickly killed the two guards, rescuing Ning Zhanyan.

"Liu Lang, you hurt your neck. Let me bandage it for you." Chen Jinhuan said as she forcefully tore a corner of her Cuju uniform and carefully bandaged Ning Zhanyan's wound.

“I controlled my strength just now, the wound on my neck isn’t deep, Jin’er, there’s no need to worry! You should just advise His Majesty not to go with Gao Qiu.” Ning Zhanyan muttered, “But it’s good this way, His Majesty can finally see the true colors of Gao Qiu and his son. Today’s football match was actually a grand drama of Gao Qiu and his son plotting against the Wolf King to force the emperor to abdicate.”

"What's all this charade about, Ning Zhanyan? You almost lost your life today, and you still have time to worry about that tyrant?" Chen Jinhuan said irritably in Ning Zhanyan's ear. Ning Zhanyan felt a sudden itch on the wound on his neck, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"Sixth Prince, why did you tell me to save that tyrant first? The Wolf King has exposed your identity. If that tyrant doesn't die today, he definitely won't let us go. We'll all be beheaded by him. Why don't we run for our lives now?" Chen Jinhuan said gently to Ning Zhanyan.