flstandardbreds Chapter 234 Hostage Takeover
Chapter 234 Hostage Takeover
Gu Chang'an knew that his Ah Li's presence here was no coincidence; only others would believe an excuse like seeing the Empress.
But he was also worried about her safety.
In the blink of an eye, the other side was breached again, and a slender woman with a wounded figure rushed in, knocking away the King of Chess's sword and pointing it directly at Emperor Cheng.
Shen Li had already released Gu Chang'an earlier, and just as the woman's longsword was about to reach Emperor Cheng, she raised her hand and waved her jade flute.
"when."
The woman felt a tremendous force strike her, causing her hand to go numb and lose its grip on the sword. She watched helplessly as her sword flew away.
Her beautiful eyes, visible through her veil, stared at Shen Li in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe that such a young woman could be a top-notch expert.
If it weren't for the pure internal energy of a top-tier master, how could he possibly knock her weapon away with a single move?
It seems she's going to die here. It doesn't matter if she dies, it's just that she failed to kill the dog emperor.
Not wanting to reveal too much, Shen Li refrained from making a move, and imperial guards swarmed around her.
The woman was taken aback for a moment, then immediately snatched the knife and prepared to fight her way in again, but it was too late.
Shen Li's move surprised everyone around her. She was actually able to deal with an assassin of this caliber. Sure enough, those who have the blood of the Xiao family are not to be trifled with.
In other words, it's not easy being a man of the Xiao family bloodline. He can never win an argument with a woman, and he can't even win a fight.
"Your Majesty, the assassins are already at their last gasp. Their annihilation is only a matter of time. Please return to your tent and await further news," Shen Zizai said.
The setting sun gradually disappeared below the horizon, and the surrounding light dimmed. The assassins were all surrounded, making it difficult to get close to the tent, let alone set it on fire.
"Very well, all my beloved ministers, please come in together." Emperor Cheng glanced at Shen Li with satisfaction, then turned and returned to his tent.
Shen Li originally wanted to sneak in as well, but the man who had been forced back by his mother's arrows suddenly charged in again. Seeing that the emperor had gone in, he aimed his sword straight at Shen Li.
"No, don't you assassins have any principles?" Shen Li dodged to the side and pushed Gu Chang'an into the tent.
That way she can act freely.
She noticed that the man was seriously injured, and even without her, he would have been stopped by the emperor's guards. The imperial guards behind him would arrive immediately, and the man no longer had the strength to fight his way through again.
He's dead.
"You ruined my plans." The man's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly increased the speed of his movements, making them somewhat unpredictable.
Shen Li held the flute, determined to teach him a lesson.
However, at that moment she suddenly felt a whooshing sound in her ear. An arrow was shot at her from the darkness. As she deflected the arrow, the man was already in front of her.
Before Shen Li could react, the man's two fingers, held together, had already touched her body. She felt a numbness in her shoulder, and then she couldn't move her body.
Acupuncture?
Which bastard just ambushed her? She could tell that the arrows were made by the Ministry of Works, not by the Red Lotus Cult!
The man seemed to chuckle softly, then raised his hand to grab her shoulder, shielding her in front of him. With his sword against her neck, he shouted to the charging soldiers, "Don't move, or I'll kill her."
When Emperor Cheng came out of the tent again, this was the scene he saw. Gu Chang'an's eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at the man and said, "Let go, or I'll make sure you all die without a burial place."
Shen Zizai's eyes were filled with panic. He believed that the emperor would never let these people go because of Shen Li.
Emperor Cheng merely narrowed his eyes and coldly said, "You have already lost, why fight like trapped beasts? Release them."
"What if I don't release her?" The man's voice was deep and sinister: "Then you'll kill her too?"
"You dare!" Gu Chang'an clenched his fist.
I should have known better than to let Shadow investigate the Zhou family's background. At this moment, only Shadow can save them.
“Archers,” Emperor Cheng began, “I believe that Minister Shen will not be coerced by you. To serve the country loyally is the glory of a subject.”
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Gu Chang'an immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, I will definitely bring everyone to justice. I beg Your Majesty to save A-Li."
Shen Li felt sorry for him, but the acupoint technique was strange. Not only could she not move, she couldn't even speak. She could only desperately try to signal to Gu Chang'an with her eyes.
There's no need to plead for her; she hasn't reached the point of desperation yet.
"See that? That's the dog emperor you risked your life to protect?" the man behind Shen Li whispered in her ear, his tone full of sarcasm.
Shen Li rolled her eyes inwardly. She had known this all along, but the emperor couldn't die now. If the emperor died, Zhou Zhen would definitely support the crown prince to ascend the throne, and all her planning over the years would be for nothing.
Once the Crown Prince and the Zhou family settle scores, it will be the same ending as in the previous life. She cannot let history repeat itself. She and Gu Chang'an do not yet have a strong enough foundation to confront the imperial court.
"You dog emperor, this girl just risked her life to stand in front of you, and you're so heartless?" the man in red said to the emperor again.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cheng knew he could not act unilaterally, as this would lose the hearts of the people, and who would be willing to risk their lives for him in the future?
He looked down at Gu Chang'an kneeling below. The tax reform had just begun, and apart from those who were both shrewd and capable of implementing every detail, Gu Chang'an was the only one in the entire court.
Because the few people in the Red Lotus Cult are not worth it.
"Please rise, Minister Gu. How could I possibly disregard Li'er's life?" Emperor Cheng helped the man up and then said to him, "I can let you go, but you must release her as well."
"No rush, let this girl see us off." The man smiled wickedly and led the gathered Red Lotus Cult members backward.
There were hundreds of people when they arrived, but now only a dozen or so remain, and almost everyone is injured.
The assassination attempt ended in a crushing defeat for the Red Lotus Sect, but the officials also knew that if it weren't for Xiao Bailing and Shen Li's rescue, the emperor would probably be in grave danger.
The court will be plunged into great chaos, and the people, who have just begun to recover, will suffer again.
Gu Chang'an looked at Shen Li being pulled back, his eyes reddening, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, and he moved forward as Shen Li moved backward.
Shen Li felt sorry for him and kept giving him reassuring looks, assuring him that she wouldn't get into trouble so easily.
"Prepare horses for us, and you are not allowed to chase after us. We will return the people to you when we reach the next town," said the man in red.
The emperor nodded, and immediately the imperial guards brought the horse forward.
"If you dare to harm a single hair on her head, I'll make you regret ever being born." Gu Chang'an looked at the man, his reddened eyes deep and cold, calm yet captivating.
Even the man in red, who considered himself fearless, hesitated for a moment before sneering, "That depends on whether you have the ability."
After saying this, he threw Shen Li onto the horse, sat behind her, and rode away in a cloud of dust with a flick of his whip.