Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

throat!
Following a gunshot.

Bang!

The long sword in Emperor Li Zheng's hand fell to the ground.

original,

Just as Emperor Li Zheng's longsword was about to reach Hu Meier's neck, Chen Jie struck the sword.

The force of the bullet instantly knocked the longsword down.

Emperor Li Zheng's arm went numb instantly, and he turned to look at Chen Jie.

However, in that instant, Hu Meier was saved.

Li Lingyue quickly ran over, shielding Hu Meier behind her, and looked up at Li Zheng, saying:

"Father, what are you doing?"

Although Hu Meier was an imperial concubine, her identity was not simple; she was a woman who came from the Western Regions through a marriage alliance.

Li Lingyue and Hu Meier are about the same age, so they have interacted before.

She just saw Emperor Li Zheng trying to kill Hu Meier with his sword. She didn't know what had happened or why her father wanted to kill Consort Hu.

Could it be that the Consort Lin we saw on the steps outside was also killed by the Emperor?

Thinking about all this, Li Lingyue was in a state of utter confusion.

Hu Meier was also frightened by Emperor Li Zheng. When she saw Li Lingyue coming over, she collapsed to the ground and started sobbing.

Li Zheng looked up at Li Lingyue and Chen Jie, and sighed helplessly.

He knew he could no longer kill Hu Meier.

Li Lingyue quickly lowered Empress Xie from the hanging, but it was too late.

Before hanging herself, Empress Xie had taken arsenic, determined to die.

After being put down, the poison had already reached his heart, and he died!

Emperor Li Zheng found a stool and sat down, a hint of desolation in his eyes, and said with a bitter smile:

"Chen Jie, I never thought that in the end, it would be you who appeared by my side again!"

"You truly are my good son-in-law. I was wrong. I shouldn't have suspected you, and I shouldn't have doubted you!"

"I have always been kind to the great families and the important officials in the court, but surprisingly, no one has appeared by my side after the fall of the capital."

"I never imagined that only you would dare to enter the palace at this time. Even if I die, I can finally rest in peace."

Cough cough—cough cough—!
As he spoke, Emperor Li Zheng coughed violently.

His health was already poor, and after what just happened, he couldn't hold on any longer.

Chen Jie actually had a good impression of Li Zheng from the first time he saw him.

He even deeply respected the old man.

At least during their first meeting, Emperor Li Zheng did not put on airs of imperial authority in front of him.

Later on,
Emperor Li Zheng married his daughter to him, and Chen Jie respected him even more.

but,

He never expected that the closer his relationship with him became, the more Ximen Tang would reject him.

Even at the end, he couldn't sleep at night because of what happened to Ximentang.

This forced Chen Jie to withdraw all his troops from Beijing, Tianjin, and Cangzhou to Shandong.

Even so, Emperor Li Zheng was still deeply worried about the vast power under Chen Jie's command.

Therefore,
In the end, Chen Jie himself didn't know what to say. He only thought about expanding outwards and never considered getting involved in the internal conflicts of the Great Qian Dynasty.

but,

Seeing Emperor Li Zheng's appearance at this moment, he felt a deep sense of sorrow.

He thought for a moment and comforted Li Zheng:

"Your Majesty, Prince Ning Li Mu's army is about to storm the capital. The capital cannot be defended!"

"Leave the capital, take the entire royal family, and head to Jinling in Jiangnan."

"When my Ximentang army returns to the capital, that will be the day the Great Qian Dynasty is restored."

There was something Chen Jie didn't say: this day won't be long.

The tank legion of Ximentang will be built soon.

Even without a large-scale military expansion, with his powerful tank legion, Ximen Tang was absolutely confident of retaking the capital.

This time, Ximentang's forces were too small, and with the Imperial Guards of the capital not offering any resistance, there was simply no way to stop Prince Ning Li Mu's army of 500,000 men.

The situation is too complicated.

Chen Jie didn't even try to resist, especially since there were Japanese people watching him from the sidelines.

Guan Qilin's army could retreat at any moment, and Chen Jie dared not trust anyone now.

He absolutely could not possibly take Ximen Tang's 50,000 troops to face Prince Ning Li Mu's 500,000-strong army, including the Imperial Guards of the capital and the Japanese army in the Northeast.

That's fucking dangerous!
Emperor Li Zheng sighed deeply, a bitter smile appearing in his eyes, and said:

"Restore the kingdom? Since I ascended the throne, I have worked diligently and strived to change the current situation of the Great Qian Dynasty, but in the end, it still fell apart!"

"After going to Jiangnan, what right do I have to talk about restoring the country?"

"Besides, how could I possibly face the ancestors of the Li family?"

Although Li Lingyue was comforting Hu Meier, who had just escaped death, her ears were not idle.

After all, she was the commander of the Imperial Guards, and her martial arts skills had reached the pinnacle of the Marrow Transformation Realm, with an unwavering will to fight.

Therefore,
She had been listening to the conversation between Chen Jie and Li Zheng the whole time.

Hearing that Li Zheng did not want to go to Jinling in Jiangnan, she couldn't help but persuade him:

"Father, come with us! Let's leave the capital. By retreating, we can advance. Our Li family's empire will surely rise again one day!"

Li Zheng shook his head and turned to look at Chen Jie, saying:

"Chen Jie, although I don't want to admit it, I have to say I was wrong!"

"I shouldn't have suspected you; you're the one with the least rebellious heart!"

"I shouldn't have transferred Ximen Tang's army away from the capital! I was wrong!"

"Lingyue is my most beloved daughter. I hope you will cherish her in the future. Even if I die, I can die in peace!"

in fact,

Chen Jie knew that Li Zheng would not leave the capital at this time.

He couldn't get over his own conscience.

perhaps--

For him, death was a release and a relief.

Moreover, his health and age do not allow him to take unnecessary risks.

Even after leaving the imperial palace in the capital, he knew he wouldn't live much longer.

Chen Jie knew that no matter how much he tried to persuade him, it would be useless, so he nodded and said:
"Your Majesty, rest assured, Lingyue is my wife, no one can bully her."

Li Lingyue kept her head down and didn't say anything.

Li Zheng nodded, then sighed and said:

"Half an hour ago, I ordered the Crown Prince, Prince Zhi, and Prince Yi to leave the palace. If you find them, escort them to Jinling in Jiangnan."

"The throne of the Great Qian Dynasty will be inherited by the Crown Prince! If the Crown Prince is no longer alive, then Prince Zhi will succeed him!"

"Chen Jie, I hope you will do your best to assist the Crown Prince in the future, so as to restore the great Qian dynasty!"

Chen Jie thought for a moment and nodded:
"With the world in chaos, it is unlikely that a decree issued verbally will be effective."

"It's hard to say whether I can find the Crown Prince if he leaves the palace at this time!"

"Why doesn't Your Majesty issue an edict that if no crown prince is found, the imperial grandson should succeed to the throne, and the Li family's empire will naturally be inherited by the Li family's bloodline?"

"The Great Qian Dynasty has stood for over a thousand years, and the people are united in its support. Although the regional princes all share the surname Li, they are not the legitimate rulers and cannot stand at the highest point of righteousness."

"I can assure you that the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty must be inherited by the direct bloodline of the Li family to continue the legitimacy of the Great Qian Dynasty. Only then will they be qualified to command the world and attempt to restore the country!"

The meaning is simple: hand over the imperial seal and draft the imperial edict.

Since Ximentang wants to protect the Li family's empire, he can no longer keep things hidden.

At this point, if Emperor Li Zheng were to remain secretive, it would be as if Ximen Tang were to seize the throne.

Ximentang didn't care about any of that; he didn't care what happened.

Li Zheng thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

Chen Jie is right; whether the crown prince succeeds to the throne is not important.

The most important things are the imperial seal and the imperial edict.

Without these things, no one who succeeds to the throne can win the hearts of the people and stand on the high ground of justice.

He clasped his numb hands together and said:

"You're right! The rightful heirs of the world! My Li family is the true heir of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"Follow me—!"

finished,

Li Zheng, along with Chen Jie, Li Lingyue, and others, left Cining Palace and headed to Zichen Palace.

Upon arriving at the Zichen Palace, Chen Jie retrieved silk from the emperor's study and quickly stepped forward to grind ink.

Swish swish--!
Li Zheng began to write a few lines on the silk.

Then,

He took out the imperial seal and stamped it on the signature area. After the ink dried, he put away the edict and handed it to Chen Jie, saying:
"The imperial edict and the imperial seal are here; you can take them!"

Chen Jie unfolded the imperial edict and glanced at it. It clearly stated:

"As the legitimate ruler of the land, I have inherited the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty, and I intend to prosper and flourish together with all the people of the land!"

"Unfortunately, due to the misjudgment of personnel, bandits have risen up everywhere, and the country is in turmoil. I have no face to meet my ancestors. Therefore, I hereby order the Crown Prince to go to Jinling to inherit the throne. If the Crown Prince does not arrive, then the Imperial Grandson Li Heng will be established as emperor in order to restore the country!"

Below the imperial edict, a line of small print was specially noted, which read:

"A special order has been issued that Prince Chen Jie of Lunan shall travel south to Nanjing with the imperial edict to proclaim this to the world!"

Just as Chen Jie was looking at the imperial edict in his hand, Li Zheng drew up a new one and handed it to Chen Jie, saying:

"This is the imperial edict of the Great Qian Dynasty's 'King of the Same Rank,' put it away. The fate of the Great Qian Dynasty rests on your shoulders!"

One word, side by side, king!

As can be seen from the literal meaning, this is a prince who has a status comparable to the emperor, belonging to the highest rank in the Great Qian Dynasty!

Typically, the crown of a king with a single rank is named after the dynasty.

Therefore,
Chen Jie was bestowed the title of Prince Qian!
However, Chen Jie had no interest whatsoever in being granted a royal title.

He never intended to do this, so what difference would it make if he were granted a higher title?

Chen Jie accepted the imperial edict without a word and carefully wrapped it up.

call--!
At that moment, he finally let out a breath.

With righteousness in hand, I have the world at my command!
With the imperial edict and the Imperial Seal in his hands, Ximen Tang's future actions would be based on the righteous cause of the world, and he would be able to command widespread support.

Li Zheng sighed deeply and said:

"Go! Before the capital falls, you should leave first."

finished,

He took down a jade sword hanging in his study and handed it to Chen Jie, saying:
"Chen Jie, this is the late emperor's Jade Sword, used to slay treacherous officials and corrupt bureaucrats. From this day forward, you will oversee the country!"

Chen Jie glanced at the jade sword and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "What a fine sword!"

This sword is made of jade and is not meant for combat; it is only for decoration.

However, the entire jade sword looked like an immortal descending to earth, with nine luminous pearls inlaid on it, making it extremely luxurious.

Li Zheng glanced at Chen Jie and said:

"Alright! Everything has been explained, I can leave now!"

finished,

He sighed deeply, walked out of the Zichen Palace, and soon disappeared into the night.

Li Lingyue couldn't help but shout, "Father, where are you going?"

but,

Emperor Li Zheng acted as if he hadn't heard anything and made no response.

Li Lingyue was about to chase after her father when Chen Jie stopped her and said in a deep voice:
"Lingyue, let the Emperor leave. Didn't you realize it?"

"Consort Lin is dead, Empress Xie is dead, and even Consort Hu was almost killed. The Emperor is heartbroken and has lost the will to live!"

"He was determined to die, and letting him go on his own is a sign of respect for him."

Upon hearing this, Li Lingyue's body trembled violently.

She never imagined that the Great Qian Dynasty would end up like this.

The Empress is dead, Consort Lin is dead, and the other concubines are dead. The Emperor is now determined to die.

"Waaah—why is this happening?"

In an instant, Li Lingyue completely broke down and threw herself into Chen Jie's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

The family is ruined!

This was the first time she had experienced this feeling; she never imagined that the royal family would end up like this.

In the past, she wouldn't have dared to even think about it.

Chen Jie sighed and said:
"Lingyue, now is not the time to be sad. Prince Ning Li Mu's army will soon be marching into the capital. The most important thing right now is for us to go find the Crown Prince and the others."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the Crown Prince left the palace to seek refuge with the Imperial Advisor, Feng Guoxuan!"

Li Lingyue then held back her tears and remembered her next task.

She wiped away her tears and said, "Let's go, let's leave the palace and find the Crown Prince."

Chen Jie smiled calmly and said:

"Don't worry, although the whereabouts of the Crown Prince are unknown, the Imperial Grandson is safe and has been sent to Jinling by the Qianbu people."

-

Ximentang's elite troops withdrew from the palace and headed to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

After the Crown Prince, Prince Zhi, and Prince Yi left the palace, the only place they could seek refuge was the Imperial Advisor, Feng Guoxuan.

As for the Duke of Lu and the Duke of Ning, they were not from the same faction at all, so there was no way for them to pledge allegiance.

But it's a real shame.

When Ximen Tang's elite troops arrived at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, they found it empty.

The Imperial Advisor, Feng Guoxuan, had already withdrawn.

Prince Ning, Li Mu, has an army of 500,000 men pressing on the border, and has already received news that Guan Qilin's army has retreated to the grasslands.

The Japanese army advanced rapidly, heading straight for the capital.

How could Feng Guoxuan possibly stay in the capital and wait to die?

Li Lingyue looked up at the empty Imperial Preceptor's residence, her heart unable to find peace for a long time.

in fact,

Chen Jie had a lingering question: where did the Imperial Household Department and the Foreign Affairs Department of the Imperial Palace go?

When he entered the city earlier, he heard that the last line of defense for the imperial city was under the command of Cao Shaoqing.

but,

Throughout the entire process, Chen Jie did not see Eunuch Cao, nor did he see Eunuch Huang, the emperor's personal eunuch.

Xue Yin, Guan Shanyue, and others from the inner palace were also not seen.

Why didn't the imperial court intervene at the very end of the Great Qian Dynasty?

what is the problem?

Where is the person of the Imperial Palace's number one expert, the "Sword Master of Startling Clouds"?

He wanted to ask Li Lingyue, but sensed that Li Lingyue's thoughts were in complete disarray.

In fact, Chen Jie had been prepared for this upheaval in Beijing for some time.

He first ordered his thirteenth aunt to have the elite of the "undercover" force take away the Crown Prince Li Heng when Prince Ning, Li Mu, entered Juyong Pass.

From beginning to end, he never considered having the crown prince succeed him.

Where can the crown prince go after leaving the palace?
Not to mention that the Imperial Advisor Feng Guoxuan had long since left the capital, even if he were still in the capital, he would absolutely not dare to take in the Crown Prince.

At this moment, the crown prince is a hot potato.

After Prince Ning, Li Mu, enters the capital, if he wants to control the overall situation, he must first sacrifice the Crown Prince.

Whoever takes in the crown prince will be doomed!

In fact, the Crown Prince's fate was completely ruined by Li Zheng.

Because Li Zheng had foreseen the end of the Great Qian Dynasty, but he did not make any prior arrangements to allow the Crown Prince and his two other sons to leave.

As a result, it wasn't until the capital was captured that they thought of letting the Crown Prince, Prince Zhi, and Prince Yi leave the palace.

At this point, what else could one do besides flee for one's life if they left the palace?
According to Chen Jie's plan, once he obtained the imperial edict, the imperial seal, and the jade sword, he could leave immediately.

but,

Seeing Li Lingyue's appearance, he felt a little soft-hearted again.

After checking the time, based on the military situation at Daomaguan, Prince Ning Li Mu's army would enter the capital in another hour.

therefore,

Chen Jie said to Li Lingyue:

"Lingyue, since the Crown Prince is not at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, let's go."

"I'll send people to search outside the capital again. If we can't find him, we'll just have to wait for him to go to Jinling on his own."

Li Lingyue was completely flustered and couldn't make up her mind, so she could only follow Chen Jie's arrangements.

The capital city is so large that, once it leaves the imperial city, the crown prince, with his stamina, certainly won't get very far in half an hour.

However, things are too chaotic outside now, with burning, killing, looting, and war raging everywhere.

The Crown Prince and his entourage had disappeared without a trace.

If they hide, it will be impossible to find them in a short time.

Chen Jie took a deep breath and said:
"Let's take this opportunity to visit the residences of the Duke of Lu and the Duke of Ning."

These two old guys must have some connection with Prince Ning, Li Mu.

Otherwise, the Imperial Guards would not have given up resistance, allowing Prince Ning Li Mu's Northwest Army to advance unimpeded.

How could Li Lingyue possibly make any decisions right now?

She would always support whatever Chen Jie said he wanted to do, and could never oppose it.

Fortunately, the residences of the Duke of Ningguo and the Duke of Lu were not far from the capital, located in the eastern part of the city.

In less than twenty minutes, Ximen Tang's army left the palace and quickly arrived at the residence of the Duke of Ningguo! (End of Chapter)