General, your wife has gone to deliver another calf for your horse.

Chapter 657 Xiao Yuanshan: The Game Begins

Xiao Yuanshan raised an eyebrow and looked over. With a flash of his fan, the dagger that Xuan Ting was tightly gripping was knocked to the ground, and the little boy was thrown away.

Jiang Nuanzhi frowned and suddenly stepped forward to catch Xuan Ting.

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"

Xuan Ting's eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to tear Xiao Yuanshan in front of him to pieces.

He wasn't particularly familiar with Liu Ling; he only remembered a few encounters. The one time was when he was being mischievous, rolling around in the snow. They met by chance, and Liu Ling had helped him change his soaked clothes and shoes during a heavy snowfall. The tall, imposing commander of the Imperial Guards did such things with ease. He remembered Liu Ling mentioning that his youngest daughter was about his age and also loved playing in the snow.

But Liu Ling was now dead, his head severed from his body. Xuan Ting gritted his teeth, picked up the dagger again, and charged forward to fight desperately.

"Kill me? Heh, Xuan Lang, look at you, even your son has more guts than you!" Xiao Yuanshan looked at Xuan Ting with amusement, and the next second, he said with a smile, "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!"

As he spoke, he suddenly lunged at Xuan Ting.

With a swift movement, Jiang Nuanzhi pulled Xuan Ting behind her. The two guardians, Azure Dragon and Black Tortoise, clashed with Xiao Yuanshan, ultimately forcing Xiao Yuanshan back a step.

Xiao Yuanshan cracked his knuckles, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Jiang Nuanzhi: "Jiang Nuanzhi, I advise you not to oppose me. Don't think that just because you have the backing of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion, I won't dare to kill you!"

Jiang Nuanzhi squinted, her gaze unwavering, and reached into her robes before opening her hand: "The Emperor can't summon the Imperial Guards, but guess what? Can this bullet of mine summon Li Rong back?"

Xiao Yuanshan's smile gradually disappeared, and he narrowed his eyes, staring intently at her: "The Li Rong army has already set out on the expedition. What do you think you are?"

“It’s worth a try.” Jiang Nuanzhi smiled brightly: “With me here, no one can hurt Xuan Ting. I have no interest in court intrigues, but if anyone dares to hurt him, I will exhaust the power of the Imperial Preceptor’s Mansion and the General’s Mansion to confront him.”

"I mean what I say," Jiang Nuanzhi said firmly.

"good good good good."

Xiao Yuanshan's face was gloomy, but the next second, he laughed: "How interesting. Do you really think I don't know that you are not yet the young master of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion?"

"That token," Xiao Yuanshan glanced at her waist, "Do you think I've never had one before? It's a pity, my master, he's ruthless! If you don't pass his test, he'll discard you like trash. He'll never look at you again."

"And Li Rong, before he comes back, I think I have plenty of time to kill you all. And I mean it."

As Xiao Yuanshan spoke, he made a gesture of slitting his throat, his eyes once again fixed on Jiang Nuanzhi: "If you dare to release me, I will massacre the entire imperial city. At that time, I, Xiao Yuanshan, will be the only member of the royal family left. Do you think Li Rong will kill me?"

Jiang Nuanzhi clenched her fists tightly, and cold sweat seeped from her palms as she held Xuan Ting's hand.

Clearly, Xiao Yuanshan's words were true.

But is that really what he wants?

"Fine, then let's die together!"

As Jiang Nuanzhi spoke, she took out a signal flare and made a gesture as if to fire it.

Xiao Yuanshan clenched his fists, his eyes fixed fiercely on Jiang Nuanzhi.

"Wait!" Just as Xiao Yuanshan was about to speak, a voice rang out.

Caught off guard, a figure in black snatched the signal flare from Jiang Nuanzhi's hand and handed it to the Empress Dowager in the blink of an eye.

The Empress Dowager received the signal flare, and her expression softened. Clearly, she had no intention of being buried with these lowly people before her.

This unexpected turn of events even surprised Xiao Yuanshan.

Then, she suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha, Jiang Nuanzhi, look at the kind of people you're protecting!"

Jiang Nuanzhi's expression was also not good. The two guardians, Qinglong and Xuanwu, were staring intently at Xiao Yuanshan in front of them, but they did not expect to be tricked by the secret guards of the Empress Dowager behind them.

She glanced back at the signal flare in the Empress Dowager's hand, her eyes flashing; she knew she was just bluffing.

With the previous dynasty facing a critical war, if Le Rong didn't go, the country might not survive. How could there possibly be any signal flares?

However, if Li Rong were to find out, she would naturally have other methods.

She immediately pulled Xuan Ting aside and retreated to a safe place, watching everyone warily. This time, she was even wary of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuanshan laughed even harder: "Hahaha, Jiang Nuanzhi, are you feeling powerless? You thought that by getting some of my things from those ungrateful dogs like Zhao Xiuyuan, you could unite with these cowards to overthrow me? Now that you think about it, how ridiculous!"

Having said that, he looked at the signal flare in the Empress Dowager's hand, his expression becoming increasingly sarcastic.

Jiang Nuanzhi's expression was also not good.

She had always believed that Xiao Yuanshan wanted the military power in Wudu held by Li Rong. But he already controlled the imperial guards and had no shortage of military power. Moreover, he knew how to use Gu magic, making it incredibly easy for him to control someone.

Now it seems that his talk of a three-day agreement was just a deliberate attempt to divert her and Li Rong's attention to Wudu, thus making them neglect the defense of Kyoto.

From the very beginning, his fundamental goal was to force the emperor to abdicate!

The biggest variable is probably Li Rong and her returning to the capital.

But this madman probably also wants Ah Rong dead. He's not actually afraid of Li Rong coming back.

"I'm in a good mood today, and I have plenty of time, so I'll play with you all." Xiao Yuanshan played with the ring on his finger, staring at the crowd in front of him.

"Among you are my most beloved mother, my imperial nephew whom I watched grow up, my grand-nephew, and my siblings. Alas, I cannot bear to harm any of you."

He looked at everyone with interest: "Empress Dowager, Xuan Ting, and Physician Jiang. No matter which one of you helps me kill the Emperor, they will be the people I, Xiao Yuanshan, am closest to, and I will give them the honor they deserve. As for the past, I, Xiao Yuanshan, will not hold it against you."

After saying that, he turned to the emperor, whose face was ashen: "Of course, nephew, don't blame your uncle for not giving you a chance. Although the Ghost Doctor was killed by Physician Jiang, I'm telling you, as long as you drink the blood of your closest relative, you can still activate the life-extending Gu in your body. There is still hope for you to live. You should consider it carefully. If you come out of here alive, your uncle will continue to let you be emperor and will continue to assist you. What do you say?"

The Emperor's pupils constricted: "What did you say?"

Xiao Yuanshan glanced at him, and then, seemingly dazed, noticed the expressions on everyone's faces. He seemed increasingly satisfied, as if he were enjoying the murderous look in their eyes. He stretched and yawned, "Of course, you can ask for help. I really want to know if Li Rong will actually save you."

"Men, seal this place off!" Xiao Yuanshan ordered immediately after speaking, "My patience is limited. I'll only give you half an hour. If you haven't satisfied me by then, I'll have no choice but to kill you all..."

"The game has started. Someone come here to poison us!"

(End of this chapter)