Transmigrated into Li Chengqian, he effortlessly ascended the throne and became emperor.

That narrow side door, which was usually only used for the passage of carriages and horses, had now become the only passage to hell and glory.

As the heavy wooden door creaked open with a teeth-grinding sound, the first rays of morning sunlight, which should have symbolized hope, were instantly obscured by the intense stench of blood.

Outside the gate, two thousand elite Changlin soldiers, like a black tide, had already filled the open space in front of Xuanwu Gate completely.

"Kill the traitors!!!"

The horizontal sword in Jing Junhong's hand was no longer just a fancy move; every swing was accompanied by a crisp sound.

There was no formation, no cover, and not even a way to retreat.

This was not a war, but a suicidal charge.

The vanguard of the Changlin Army was clearly not expecting that these guards, who were already trapped, would dare to launch an attack. The shield bearers in the front row froze for a moment in shock.

In that instant, Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng, like two red-hot nails, were driven deep into the enemy ranks.

Just as Lü Shiheng's longsword severed the neck of a rebel soldier, several spears shot out from the gaps in the shields like venomous snakes spitting their tongues.

"Pfft—"

That was the dull thud of a sharp blade piercing flesh.

The general, who had just been shouting "I'll be a hero in eighteen years," suddenly froze.

Three spears pierced his chest and abdomen, lifting him into the air.

But he did not back down.

In his final moments, blood and foam gushed from Lü Shiheng's mouth, yet his hands gripped the gun barrel piercing his body tightly. With his last ounce of strength, he let out a mournful roar: "Don't let them... pass...by!"

He used his body to firmly lock the enemy's weapon.

On the other side, Jing Junhong's situation was even more dire.

He was General Yunhui, the commander of Xuanwu Gate, and naturally the primary target of the Changlin Army's concentrated fire.

Xue Wanche's bloodthirsty eyes had already locked onto him, and the lance in his hand slammed heavily onto Jing Junhong's shoulder armor with a whistling sound.

The steel-forged shoulder guards twisted and deformed under the immense force; that blow was enough to shatter tiger bones.

Jing Junhong groaned and knelt on one knee, the stone slab beneath his knees cracking inch by inch.

The surrounding soldiers swarmed forward, and countless swords fell in that instant.

Just before his vision was completely obscured by blood, for some reason, the image of that child reappeared in Jing Junhong's mind.

That was the only thing in this filthy Tang Dynasty palace that was as clean as snow.

If even a divine figure like His Highness the King of Qin is to be defiled by these treacherous officials... then this world is truly beyond saving...

This old minister's bones will pave the way for you and Your Highness today.

"May the Great Tang Dynasty be victorious! May the Prince of Qin be victorious!!"

Jing Junhong suddenly straightened his already riddled body, ignoring the sharp blades slashing at him, and lunged at the two Changlin Army captains at the front, taking them with him into the muddy and blood-soaked dust.

The commander-in-chief was killed in battle.

This scene unfolded within a few dozen breaths after the side door opened.

This horrific scene, seen through the open side door, was unreservedly witnessed by every guard inside.

They were initially fearful and wavering.

But at the moment he saw Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng being hacked to pieces, a more primal and violent emotion exploded in the ashes of fear.

"General!!!"

A young guard's eye was split open, blood and tears mingling with sweat as he cried out, "Damn you Changlin thieves! I'll fight you to the death!!"

"Kill!! Avenge the general!!"

"Anyone who dares to back down will be haunted even in death!"

There is no need for a supervisory team, and even less need for military orders.

When the commander-in-chief ignites this fire with his life as fuel, what remains is the potential for it to spread like wildfire.

The guards, who had been hesitant to advance, now had red eyes and charged towards the side door like enraged beasts, howling as they rushed towards the battlefield that had swallowed their commander.

The narrow doorway instantly turned into a meat grinder.

Someone who lost a hand used his teeth to bite the enemy's throat.

If someone's intestines spilled out, they would stuff them back in and continue wielding the knife.

When someone's weapon broke, he grabbed the enemy and rolled down the steps, dying together with him.

Xue Wanche, standing outside the gate, was horrified to discover that this small group of ragtag troops, who should have collapsed at the first touch, were now like an unyielding, indestructible copper pea, firmly stuck at the throat of Xuanwu Gate.

Every step forward comes at a heavy price.

The corpses of the two commanders, along with hundreds of other corpses from both sides, formed a low wall of flesh and blood in front of Xuanwu Gate.

The shouts of battle from Xuanwu Gate, carried by the morning breeze, pierced through the layers of palaces and echoed over Chang'an City.

……

At the same time, at Hongyi Palace.

Inside the main hall, there was no more of the usual joyful music and singing; only a suffocating silence and the sound of pacing back and forth.

Princess Consort Changsun Wugou of Qin wore a plain-colored, narrow-sleeved everyday dress, which further accentuated her graceful and dignified demeanor.

Her usually gentle and dignified face was now covered with a layer of frost.

"Report—"

A scout, drenched in sweat, stumbled into the hall, barely managing a proper bow, and cried out, "Your Highness! Urgent report from Xuanwu Gate! Generals Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng... have been killed in battle! Two thousand elite troops under Xue Wanche of the Crown Prince's Palace are fiercely attacking Xuanwu Gate, and General Zhang Gongjin is about to be overwhelmed!"

"What?"

The teacup in Changsun Wugou's hand wobbled slightly, and scalding tea splashed onto the back of her hand, but she seemed not to notice.

Is Jing Junhong dead?

Empress Zhangsun's heart suddenly clenched.

Although she was a woman, she was well-versed in military strategy.

Xuanwu Gate was the key to this battle. Once Xuanwu Gate fell, Xue Wanche's army would advance unimpeded and form a pincer movement with Li Shimin inside the palace.

At that time, not only Erlang, but the entire family of her household will die without a burial place.

"We can't wait any longer."

Empress Changsun whirled around, her previously gentle voice now sharp and resonant, like the clash of metal: "Pass on my order! Open the armory!"

The maid and the old steward beside him were both stunned.

"Your Highness, His Highness has taken away all the elite troops in the manor, and now only..." The old steward tried to dissuade him, his voice trembling.

"Only what?"

Empress Changsun's phoenix eyes widened as she shouted sharply, "Only cooks? Only grooms? Only accountants? Those are people! Anyone can wield a knife! Anyone can kill thieves!"

She strode towards the outside of the hall, her wide skirt creating a gust of wind.

In the courtyard, hundreds of servants and laborers who remained were gathered together in fear and trembling as they listened to the shouts of battle coming from afar.

Empress Zhangsun stood on the high platform, her gaze sweeping over these usually humble faces.

"I know you're afraid."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears: "I'm scared too. Outside are two thousand ruthless and vicious soldiers. If we lose, not a single person in the Qin Prince's mansion will be spared."

A suppressed sob came from the crowd.

"but!"

Empress Zhangsun suddenly drew a decorative sword from the shelf, its blade pointing straight to the sky. At that moment, her figure seemed to overlap with that of the invincible King of Qin on the battlefield.

"Behind you stands Hongyi Palace! Behind you is your Highness the Crown Prince! He is the future hope of our Prince's Mansion!"

Upon hearing the words "Your Highness the Crown Prince," the previously agitated crowd suddenly quieted down.

In the Prince of Qin's mansion, who doesn't like that little prince who looks like Guanyin?

Even when she was unwell, she would instruct the kitchen to give the servants an extra bowl of ginger soup in winter.

The Prince Chengqian who would hand over his expensive hand warmer when he saw that the coachman had frostbite on his hands.

That child who always had a sweet smile, like a little glutinous rice ball, making it impossible for anyone to have a single bad thought about her.

If the rebels were to break in... what would they do to that beautiful little princess?

Many of the servants clenched their fists quietly.

Empress Zhangsun keenly noticed this change in emotion.

"When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?"

Empress Zhangsun descended the steps, personally took the heavy armor from a guard, and threw it in front of a trembling young groom.

"Put it on!"

"As long as I, Empress Zhangsun, have a breath left, I will not allow anyone to harm my child or anyone in this manor!"

"Today, whether you are a groom or a cook, as long as you pick up a knife, you are a loyal servant of the Prince of Qin's mansion! You are a hero of the Tang Dynasty!"

"If you win, the Prince's Mansion will be generous with gold, silver, and land! If you die, the Prince's Mansion will support your wives, children, and elderly parents for three generations!"

"Who is willing to go to Xuanwu Gate to meet the King of Qin?!"

After a brief silence, the young coachman picked up the armor from the ground with trembling hands.

He had no concept of national righteousness in his mind; he only remembered that last month when he was sick and had no money for medicine, a eunuch from Prince Chengqian's side brought him a string of coins, saying it was a reward from the prince.

That was a life-saving favor.

"I'll do it!" the coachman roared hoarsely. "For the young prince, we'll risk it all!"

"I'm going too! My life was given to me by the King of Qin!"

"Count me in! We can't let those scoundrels disturb the Crown Prince!"

The crowd was agitated and their blood was boiling.

What was originally a ragtag group of servants suddenly displayed a spirit that rivaled that of a regular army.

The warehouse door was violently kicked open.

The dusty spear was polished to a shine, and the leather armor that only guards were usually entitled to wear was put on the accountant's thin body. The kitchen knife was also sharpened to a gleaming shine.

Even those without armor grabbed wooden sticks and shovels.

Fifteen minutes later.

The gates of Hongyi Palace were suddenly flung open.