The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 446: Poor picture
Zhu Zai stared blankly at Li Miao for a long while, then suddenly gritted his teeth.

"No, Da Li will not die."

"Lord Zhu...you—"

“You are superior to me in martial arts, but you do not understand Da Li as well as I do. He will never lose, and he will never die... It’s just that some things have changed, yes, some things have changed.”

Zhu Zai murmured, his voice gradually rising, as if trying to persuade others, or perhaps himself. But by the last sentence, all weakness vanished, and his tone became resolute again.

"Keep using your methods, don't stop."

"……Yes."

The worshippers had no choice but to comply.

Zhu Zai watched, his fist clenched tightly in his sleeve, but his face showed no emotion.

He cannot lose his composure.

These worshippers are not loyal. If he shows weakness, they might also become disloyal... He believed that Li Miao would wake up, but he had to hold him off for the time being.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Two people ran in, both panting heavily.

One of them was dressed in Imperial Guard armor, covered in blood, with blood-soaked bandages on his arms. He entered, knelt on one knee, and spoke urgently.

"My lord, something has happened to Lord Tang!"

Another man, dressed as a member of the Imperial Guard with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, was panting and sweating profusely. He knelt on one knee and then spoke.

"My lord, Commander An reports that Liu Jin is colluding with martial arts figures and is heading towards the palace via a secret passage. He is pursuing them, but it may be difficult to intercept them outside the palace!"

"Furthermore, Commander Zhu Shoujing reports that he has brought back a celestial being from Yingzhou. His Majesty is currently engaged in battle with An Qisheng, and the two are heading towards the palace!"

Zhu Zai felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head.

See the picture poorly.

His decision to finally carry out the purge now seems to have played right into the other side's hands!

But he quickly suppressed his emotions.

"Have Zhu Shoujing lead the Yingzhou Celestials away, heading north out of the city, and they are not allowed to return!"

"Have Cao Hanyan stop the purge of the palace staff, bring the imperial guards back here, and summon all the retainers to come and protect us!"

"Have the Heavenly Guards of Xiaoling take the Gu worms to investigate the locations of An Qisheng and His Majesty. The three of them should take turns, reporting every sixty breaths!"

The Imperial Guard accepted the order and left.

Zhu Zai then steadied himself on the table and went to ask the imperial guard who had reported back.

"What has happened to Lord Tang?"

--------

Let's turn back the clock two hours.

Tang Lanzhou was riding his horse, and his back was already too weak to straighten up.

He was too old, and having suffered a great calamity and mental trauma, he hadn't slept a wink since the night before. In a fit of rage, he killed Ke Hongwen with his own hands, which, while satisfying, only added insult to injury.

My heart was throbbing with pain, and my vision was going black.

He could no longer even maintain his composure, and could only sit steadily on his horse by having his subordinates walk beside him and support his legs.

Fortunately, there's only one left.

Tang Lanzhou thought.

The Imperial Guard leader had just gone to investigate, and the officials of Jiangmi Lane had also received the news and spontaneously gathered together in order to protect themselves.

But that would have been perfect for capturing them all at once.

After killing this last one, he could go see his old wife.

The sound of horses' hooves clattered, and a moment later they arrived at the gate of the mansion where the officials of Jiangmi Lane had gathered.

Tang Lanzhou stared at the plaque on the door for a while.

After a long pause, he waved his hand.

"Kill them, kill them without mercy."

He was nearing delirium and no longer had the energy to argue with the dead. In any case, his subordinates would handle the sentencing and other such matters. Now, all he needed to do was kill the man and take the matter to his grave; that would fulfill his promise to Zhu Zai.

"Yes!"

The leader of the Imperial Guards cupped his hands and drew his sword.

He cleaved the gate in two with a single stroke!
"By order of Lord Tang, kill without mercy!"

"Yes!" The Imperial Guards answered in unison and filed into the gate.

Tang Lanzhou, panting heavily, waited, supporting himself on the horse's back.

After a long while, no cries of pain or pleas for mercy were heard.

He slowly frowned.

Then a rustling sound of clothes being pulled by the wind was heard. The leader of the Imperial Guards leaped up from the courtyard and landed in front of him. He threw a person to the ground and said sternly.

"All the officials in the manor have disappeared, leaving only servants and household attendants. This is the steward... Tell me! Where did all those officials go!"

The steward trembled, looked up and met Tang Lanzhou's gaze. He was instantly intimidated by the cold killing intent in Tang Lanzhou's eyes. Before the Imperial Guard leader could ask any more questions, he spilled the beans.

"My lord, my lord, about half an hour ago, several military officers came to the manor and had a private conversation with those officials. When we went to serve them again, they were nowhere to be seen... We don't know what happened!"

"Little one, little one..." Tears streamed down her face.

Tang Lanzhou closed her eyes and asked softly.

"Describe the appearance and clothing of those officers, and tell me every detail you can remember."

The commander of the Imperial Guards raised his hand and pressed the knife against the steward's neck.

"Say!"

The blade was cold and the blood was still wet. The steward got goosebumps all over and recounted everything he had seen and heard without any need for interrogation.

Before Tang Lanzhou could react after he finished speaking, the leader of the Imperial Guards' expression changed drastically.

"Lord Tang, those people are..."

"Iron scale armor, firearms, crimson robes... Shenji Battalion."

The Shenji Battalion was one of the three major battalions guarding the capital, and the only army in that era equipped with firearms as a complete unit.

Tang Lanzhou said calmly.

“Those officials were taken away by the Shenji Battalion. Moreover, I have met the leader; he is a vulgar brute who speaks and acts extremely rudely, completely different from his description.”

"That's Liu Jin."

"The Divine Machine Battalion has been infiltrated by Liu Jin."

The leader of the Imperial Guard gritted his teeth.

"Lord Tang, how are things now?"

Tang Lanzhou gave a cold laugh.

"Judging from their uniforms, the officers who brought the men aren't high-ranking. It seems the Divine Machine Battalion isn't completely under their control. Let's go to the Divine Machine Battalion's headquarters. I'd like to see if they dare to rebel!"

The group quickly prepared their troops, turned their horses around, and headed straight for the Shenji Camp's encampment.

As they walked to a street near the city gate, they heard a sharp shout coming from the rooftops along the street.

"put!"

The Imperial Guard leader's expression changed drastically. He flashed to Tang Lanzhou's side and grabbed a shield to block the way in front of him.

Bang bang bang bang——

A series of musket shots rang out.

The acrid smell of gunpowder was carried by the wind, shields clanged, and the sounds of men and horses falling came from all directions.

With a loud shout, he was in front of them in an instant.

"Come die!"

A celestial being with a pale face and no beard, and a high-pitched voice, leaped down from the roof and struck the leader of the Imperial Guard with a palm.

The Imperial Guard leader gritted his teeth, reached out and grabbed Tang Lanzhou by the collar, then gently pushed him away into the distance.

"Lord Tang, please go first. I'll hold them off here!"

Tang Lanzhou was flung far away, though by a gentle force, he still staggered and nearly fell to the ground upon landing. Two Imperial Guard experts rushed over to support him.

"Lord Tang!"

Tang Lanzhou's vision went black, and he felt that his body could no longer support him. His gaze swept over the long sword in the hand of the Imperial Guard expert, and with a grit of his teeth, he raised his hand and slashed at the blade.

"hiss--"

The cut was so deep that bone was visible, and the pain instantly brought him back to his senses.

Tang Lanzhou covered her hand and said sternly.

"Let's go! To the Divine Machine Camp!"

(End of this chapter)