Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 652 Is the Emperor alive or dead?

Beijing.

The pale moonlight barely penetrated the thick night fog, casting a dim light on the wet, empty bluestone slabs of the main street.

The entire city was deathly silent under the curfew, like a tomb, with only the distant, weak sound of the night watchman's clapper adding to the eeriness.

suddenly--

"Da da da da... da da da da...!!!"

The rapid, torrential sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, abruptly shattering the deathly silence!

One after another, groups of imperial guards, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, with curved swords at their waists, came galloping along the wide imperial road like a ghostly torrent emerging from the dark night!

The large black flags they held aloft fluttered wildly in the wind, their bright yellow characters standing out starkly like ghostly flames:

"Imperial Envoy, Governor-General, Investigating Officials, and Eunuchs in Charge!"

"Internal transport warehouse!"

"The Imperial Workshop!"

"The Investigation Factory!"

A terrifying reputation is inscribed on this banner!

Those patrol officers and yamen runners who were originally lounging and dozing under the eaves on the street corners were terrified when they saw the black flag, which looked like a death warrant, from afar.

They scrambled into the deepest shadows, barely daring to breathe, wishing they could merge into the walls.

The factory director has arrived!

Anyone who blocks the way—die!

The elite imperial guards led the way fiercely, followed by a large number of imperial cavalrymen in gleaming armor, wielding golden maces and axes, and even more agents from the Imperial Investigation Bureau, dressed in brown with sinister eyes, forming a tight defensive formation.

They surrounded the two carriages in the center of the procession like stars around the moon, rushing forward at an extremely fast speed!

The carriage at the front was none other than the imperial dragon chariot, adorned with six horses, gold and silver, dragon and phoenix reliefs, and shimmering with pearls and jade!

It turns out the Emperor himself went out late at night!

The next carriage, entirely black and of an antique style, was unremarkable, yet it followed closely behind the imperial chariot.

Its owner's identity and power are self-evident, adding to its mystique and unpredictability.

This massive procession surged out of the new residence like a torrent of steel and power, silently and swiftly sweeping across the empty streets.

The target was the majestic, dark imperial city in the distance!

Despite the curfew and the deserted streets, and despite the fact that the new residence was not far from the palace, the entire group was on high alert!

Everyone was on edge, their eyes scanning every window, rooftop, and dark alleyway in the vicinity, searching for any potential threats.

The atmosphere was suffocating and depressing.

Standing beside the black carriage, Zhao, the bodyguard, had eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and his palms, gripping the hilt of his sword, were slightly sweaty.

What's meant to happen will happen eventually!
"Whoa—!!!"

Suddenly, the imperial guards leading the way let out a chorus of neighing and shouts of alarm as they reined in their horses!
At the end of the long street, another group of people stood like silent rocks, blocking their way.

They wore dark official robes with golden eagles embroidered on their chests, their wings outstretched as if about to take flight.

It's the Six Doors!

Zhao Bao's pupils contracted, and he spurred his horse forward a few steps, shouting sharply that echoed through the empty street:

"Six Doors! Are you trying to rebel?!"

"Obstructing the Emperor's entourage is tantamount to treason! It is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! Get out of the way at once!"

However, the crowd at the Six Doors remained silent, like cold sculptures.

Zhao Bao's face turned cold. Without another word, he turned around and said sternly:

"Ignore them! Charge!"

"Anyone who dares to obstruct us—will be killed without mercy!!!"

Upon hearing this, the troops accelerated suddenly, their warhorses neighing and their iron hooves thundering, as if they were about to charge into the enemy lines!

at this time--

The silent procession from the Six Doors slowly parted.

A figure walked out step by step with heavy but steady steps.

This man was over eight feet tall, with a robust physique like a mountain. He wore a cold, metallic dome helmet and his face was covered with a silver mask engraved with ferocious beast patterns, revealing only a pair of emotionless, cold, star-like eyes.

He simply stood there, and a fierce and violent aura, forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, swept out like a tangible shockwave!
"Hiss—!!"

The warhorses at the front of the police force were startled by this terrifying aura and immediately reared up, neighing in fear.

The knights hurriedly tried to organize themselves, and their formation instantly fell into chaos, bringing their charge to an abrupt halt!

Zhao Bao held tightly to his frightened mount, his heart pounding, and stared intently at the beast-faced man.

Although he had never seen this person before, his distinctive attire and the oppressive aura emanating from him clearly indicated his identity.

The Six Doors' top combat force, the leader of the Four Great Constables, Zhen Lei!
"Suppress Thunder!"

Zhao Bao's voice tightened as he shouted again:
"His Majesty is here! What do you want?!"

Zhen Lei's gaze swept past the cold beast-faced carriage, over the magnificent dragon palanquin, and over the tense procession, finally landing on the black carriage, completely ignoring Zhao Bao's questioning.

Then he raised his hand.

All the constables from the Six Doors knelt down on one knee before the imperial carriage in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, their armor clanging, yet carrying a silent pressure.

Zhen Lei's voice, like muffled thunder, echoed and reverberated throughout the long street.
"We, your subjects, had no intention of disturbing Your Majesty's carriage or obstructing your journey!"

"There is an extremely urgent matter concerning the very foundation of the nation, which requires an immediate audience with the Emperor!"

"We humbly request Your Majesty to appear before us!"

Inside the imperial carriage, there was deathly silence, not even the slightest sound of breathing.

A suffocating silence ensued.

From within the black carriage, a cold, shrill, and emotionless voice finally emerged, like the flick of a viper's tongue:
"Wan, go upstairs."

It's Wang Jin!
He was indeed here!
Upon hearing the order, Wan Shanglou, who was standing next to the car, instantly lost his usual kind smile, which resembled that of an old farmer, and replaced it with an almost cruel excitement.

He stepped out of the ranks, his old eyes now gleaming with a sharp light, fixed intently on Zhen Lei:
“Zhen Lei, you are the head of the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors. And I am the head of the Four Chiefs of the Investigation Division. Everyone says that we are equally famous…”

He slowly moved his wrists, his knuckles making a crisp "crack" sound.

"I, an old man, have never believed what the world says! Today, I'll tear down your signboard and see who's really in control!"

Before he finished speaking, Wan Shanglou's robes fluttered without wind, and a chilling internal force began to emanate from him.

Seeing this, Zhen Lei knew that there was no hope of meeting the emperor, so he stopped talking and slowly stood up from the ground, his burly body like an iron tower.

He slowly clenched his fists, his knuckles making a dull sound like steel ingots grinding together, and his violent aura rose again, rivaling Wan Shanglou's chilling presence!
A showdown between two masters is about to begin!
Its power is enough to reach dozens of feet, it is by no means child's play!
Zhao Bao made a decisive decision and gave the order in a shrill voice:
"Change lanes! Avoid them! Quickly!"

The large force immediately changed direction and rushed into another side road, leaving the impending earth-shattering battle behind.

however.

After a difficult journey, the team suddenly came to a halt again!
In the middle of the street ahead, another heavily armored army stood ready, exuding a murderous aura!
Although the leading general was old, his physique was as strong as a bear and his eyes were as fierce as a tiger.

It was none other than Tong Shan, the commander of the Northern Imperial Guards!
Tong Shan's voice was as loud as a bell, his angry shouts echoing through the sky:

"Wang Jin! You eunuch! How dare you hold the Emperor hostage and attempt to control the divine artifact!!"

"Our Northern Imperial Guards are loyal to the Emperor and love our country. How can we tolerate you traitors who bring disaster to the nation! Today, we will make you all pay with your lives!"

As Tong Shan finished speaking.

Behind him, the Northern Imperial Guards roared in unison:

"kill!!!"

The roar was deafening, and the sharp spears and halberds gleamed with a deathly cold light under the moonlight!

The fierce killing intent emanating from these battle-hardened elites caused many members of the police force to turn pale and feel fear.

Zhao Bao gripped the knife tighter. He could clearly sense that Tong Shan's strength far surpassed his own!
Inside the black carriage, Wang Jin's voice drifted out again, still calm, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"Sect Leader Yan, thank you for your trouble."

Upon hearing this, Yan Tingfeng, the deputy leader of the Xuanyuan Sect, bowed slightly towards the carriage, his expression solemn.

Immediately, he exchanged a glance with Elder Yu Zhuoqun, and led a group of elite disciples of the Xuanyuan Sect to step out from the crowd and face the steel jungle of the Northern Imperial Army.

Without wasting a word, Tong Shan pointed his sword forward:

"Form ranks! Crush them!"

The Northern Imperial Guards instantly changed formation, their long spears pointing forward like a forest, their killing intent soaring into the sky!

Yu Zhuoqun also drew his sword and shouted:

"Disciples of Xuanyuan, heed my command! Follow the Vice Sect Leader to break the formation!"

The sound of swords being drawn was incessant.

Martial arts masters and imperial elites clashed violently on the main street of the capital!
The police force, however, showed no interest in fighting. They took another detour, protecting the two carriages, and rushed desperately towards the imperial city.

Behind them, in the distance, came deafening shouts of battle, the sound of weapons clashing violently, and the terrifying explosions caused by the clash of internal forces between masters!

Occasionally, broken tiles and bricks, blown away by the blast wave, would land near the group with a "crashing" sound, shattering into pieces.

"Don't look back! Charge! Charge through! The imperial city is right in front of us!"

Zhao Bao roared at the top of his lungs to suppress the panic in his heart.

The group urged their horses on with all their might, and the majestic outline of the imperial city grew clearer and clearer in the night...

At this moment——

"Um?!"

An indescribable, immense pressure, like the waters of a bottomless ocean, surged in from all directions without warning!

In an instant, everyone felt their breath catch in their throats, their blood almost freeze, and their hearts were gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand!

The horses being pulled let out terrified cries, their limbs went limp, they knelt on the ground, defecating and urinating, and no matter how much they were whipped, they could not move forward even half a step!
Zhao Bao felt a chill run down his spine, and his forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.

He struggled to turn his eyes, looking in the direction from which the oppressive force was coming—

This was a terrifying aura that far surpassed that of any previous master, a despair-inducing force!
At the end of the dark alley, a figure slowly emerged.

This man was extremely tall and upright, like a pine tree. He wore a black brocade official robe, but instead of a single golden eagle, there were six eagles embroidered on his robe!

Embroidered with gold thread, it soars and circles, exuding unparalleled nobility, yet also sharp and intimidating!

His face was somber, his eyes calm and still, yet they seemed to contain the supreme authority to decide life and death.

He stood alone, yet it was as if a thousand troops were blocking his way!

Zhao Bao's heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of his throat. He cried out in a hoarse voice:
"Catch...Catch the God! Shen Wujiu!!!"

The person who arrived was none other than Shen Wujiu, the God of Arrest and the supreme ruler of the Six Doors, who was also the mortal enemy of the Arrest Bureau!

Shen Wujiu walked over step by step, each step seeming to tread on the heartbeats of everyone present, and the terrifying sense of oppression increased layer by layer!

His gaze, sharp as lightning, pierced through the crowd, locking onto the silent imperial carriage. He spoke in a deep voice, not loud, but each word like thunder, striking deep into the souls of everyone present:
"I followed it all the way, inside the imperial carriage... yet I could not detect the slightest sign of life! No breathing, no pulse!"

"Wang Jin—!"

He abruptly turned to the black carriage, his voice rising sharply as he demanded an explanation.
"Your Majesty's health! What is the state of your body?! Are you alive or dead?! Tell me clearly!!!"

Zhao Bao wanted to speak up and reprimand him.

But he found that under that vast, ocean-like pressure, even opening his mouth became incredibly difficult, like a drowning person struggling in vain.

finally--

Inside the black carriage, Wang Jin's chilling voice rang out again, this time with an unprecedented coldness:
"Shen Wujiu, His Majesty's body is of utmost importance; how dare you utter such words and curses?"

"Such treasonous words! I think you want to be stripped of your official robes and spend the rest of your life in prison!"

If it were an ordinary person, they would have been terrified by this threat.

But Shen Wujiu merely snorted coldly, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes:

"I do not believe!"

"I want to inspect it myself!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed at the dragon carriage door from a distance!
boom--!
A terrifying, immense, invisible yet tangible suction force was instantly generated, and the air emitted a shrill, tearing sound.

The heavy doors of the imperial carriage began to shake violently, and it looked as if they were about to be forcibly torn open!

"presumptuous!!!"

Wang Jin let out a sharp, piercing shriek!

next moment--

"Bang!!!"

The black carriage exploded with a loud bang.

Amidst the flying sawdust, a subtle yet unpredictable internal force, though seemingly weak, arrived first and struck precisely at Shen Wujiu's grasping motion from afar.

The two extremely powerful forces silently annihilated in mid-air, but the resulting air currents caused people and horses to fall over!

Wang Jin's figure appeared like a ghost on the high rooftop, his wide robes fluttering in the night wind.

He looked down at Shen Wujiu on the ground with a cold gaze:

"A battle between us is inevitable sooner or later."

"Since you are determined to die today, I will grant your wish!"

"Above the heavens, dare you fight?!"

After saying that, Wang Jin took off lightly and flew into the night sky.

Shen Wujiu's eyes blazed with fighting spirit:
"Everyone says that you, Wang Jin, possess unparalleled political skills!"

"Today, I will weigh whether your martial arts skills match your ambitions!"

After saying that, he stomped his foot hard!
"Boom!"

The bluestone ground instantly cracked and collapsed, creating a large pit!
He used the momentum to propel himself into the air, chasing after Wang Jin like a shooting star!

The people on the ground stared in disbelief, utterly shocked!
Who would have thought that the eunuch and the constable would actually take action!

Previously, the two had only fought in the imperial court. Even though they had been enemies for half their lives, they had never fought each other so openly.

This will inevitably be an earth-shattering showdown!

At this moment, everyone knew very well that tonight had become a matter of life and death.

Zhao Bao was the first to come to his senses, letting out a shrill scream, his voice distorted:
"Quick! Let's go!!!"

"Now's the time! Escort the Emperor back to the palace! Hurry!!!"

The survivors, as if waking from a dream, pulled and dragged their limp horses, using their last bit of strength to flee desperately toward the imperial city gates that were now in sight!
………………

royal palace.

Kunning Palace.

"Oh!"

The Empress, clad in a brocade phoenix robe, her face frosty, slammed her hand heavily on the armrest of the phoenix chair.

The distant shouts and roars of battle filled the once solemn and majestic palace with an atmosphere of unease.

Outside the palace gates, the faint sounds of concubines' terrified sobs and inquiries could be heard.

"Why is there such a commotion in the palace tonight?! Where are the sounds of fighting coming from?!"

She questioned them coldly, her phoenix eyes filled with authority as she swept her gaze over the two people in the hall.

One person knelt with his head bowed; it was Xu Long, an imperial guard dressed in his official uniform but with a terrified expression.

The other person stood quietly to one side, wearing a tattered monk's robe, with his eyes slightly closed and holding prayer beads, seemingly detached from the situation, experiencing both joy and sorrow.

Xu Long's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he hurriedly reported:

"Your Majesty!

"It's Hong Wei, the deputy commander of the Southern Imperial Guard, suppressing the rebellion at the Meridian Gate!"

"The instigator was a lowly banner commander named Liang Jin. This man was utterly depraved and actually took Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang hostage..."

The Empress frowned more and more as she listened, and impatiently interrupted:

"How could a mere flag commander cause such a commotion?"

"What is Hongwei good for? How come he still can't take it down after all this time?"

"I'm asking you, what is the current state of Zhao Yu?!"

Xu Long trembled, lowered his head even further, and stammered, unable to answer.

The Empress ordered him to kill Zhao Yu, but he was afraid of getting himself into trouble and becoming the scapegoat, so he refused to do it himself and asked his nephew Xu Xu to handle it.

But unexpectedly, Xu Xu failed in his duties and made a series of mistakes, which even caused Liang Jin to go completely mad and cause a scene in the palace.

Now that the situation is out of control, he is largely to blame.

Xu Long also knew that he could not explain himself to the Empress.

Seeing his expression, the Empress understood immediately and flew into a rage, shouting angrily:

"Useless trash! Get out!"

Xu Long felt as if he had been granted a pardon and scrambled out of the main hall, leaving behind a room filled with oppressive tension.

The Empress took a deep breath, her gaze shifting to the silent figure of sorrow and joy. Her tone softened, yet carried an undeniable air of authority:
"Master, it seems that in the end we will have to trouble you to take action yourself."

"Hong Wei has been unable to break through for a long time, probably because that opportunist First Guard is secretly hindering him. We can't count on a piece of trash like Xu Long either."

"Only you can ensure that nothing goes wrong."

"Remember, I don't care about the process, I only care about the result—Zhao Yu must die!"

Bei Huan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a chaotic mix of compassion and murderous intent.

He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly:

"Amitabha... Your Majesty, please rest assured."

"The Empress's wish is my wish."

"This old monk will now go and see the Prince of Huaiyang off...so that he may soon ascend to paradise."

He turned around, about to take a step.

Sudden--

"Ha ha ha ha--!!!"

A burst of unrestrained yet chilling laughter erupted without warning.

The sound pierced through the heavy palace walls, causing dust to fall from the beams and pillars of the halls!

The Empress was startled by the sudden laughter and turned pale, abruptly standing up from her phoenix throne:

"Who dares to make such a fuss here?!"

She could naturally tell that the person who could make such a loud noise that it would disturb the palace was not only extremely skilled in martial arts, but also incredibly audacious, daring to disregard the authority and dignity of the emperor!

Bei Huan paused, and for the first time, a solemn expression appeared on her usually calm face.

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of excitement:

"Your Majesty, do not worry. This is not a stranger, but an old friend of mine."

"He is none other than Meng Xinghun, the master of the Western Desert Green Robe Pavilion."

really.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

A cold voice then rang out, clearly reaching the ears of everyone in the hall:

"Sorrow and joy, the battle left unfinished last time should be settled today!"

"I came all this way for you, so please don't disappoint me too much!"

This person's intentions were clear: he wanted to fight a decisive battle against sorrow and joy!

Upon hearing this, the Empress was both shocked and furious:
"Master! Killing Zhao Yu is the priority! Deal with that madman first, then you can settle your personal grudges!"

Sorrow and Joy slowly shook their heads, their gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls, locking onto that powerful aura:

"Your Majesty, his appearance at this moment is no longer based on personal grudges."

"If we don't save him first... we can't save Zhao Yu."

Bei Huan had fought Meng Xinghun before, and he knew very well that if Meng Xinghun were to stop him, it would be impossible to kill Zhao Yu.

Therefore, he will defeat Meng Xinghun first!

Having said that, he said no more, and with a flicker of his body, he swept out of the main hall like a wisp of smoke, heading straight for the voice of challenge.

Inside Kunning Palace, only the Empress remained, her expression shifting between light and shadow. Gazing at the endless darkness outside the palace, her fingernails dug deeply into her palms.

(End of this chapter)