nashuaworldcup Chapter 325: Holding the Emperor Hostage to Command the Lords?
Chapter 325: Holding the Emperor Hostage to Command the Lords?
Chapter 325: Holding the Emperor Hostage to Command the Lords?
Tian Dou City, Imperial Palace, outside the Emperor's bedroom on a snowy night.
At this moment, the atmosphere here was already tense and ready to fight.
Led by Tang Xiao, the sect master of Haotian Sect, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and several Haotian Sect elders and elite disciples had already gathered outside the main gate of the palace.
The banners of the Haotian Sect fluttered in the wind among the procession, indicating the identity of the newcomers.
However, their path was uncertain.
They were still firmly blocked by the Crown Prince's personal guards, whose eyes were cold and whose soul power was faintly visible.
Ahead, spears stood like a forest, their soul power faintly intertwined, forming an invisible high wall.
Tang Xiao held a letter bearing the imperial seal, his face grave, his voice booming, carrying the authority of someone long accustomed to a high position and a hint of undisguised anger as he spoke:
"I am Tang Xiao, the Sect Master of the Haotian Sect. I have been summoned by a personal letter from Emperor Xueye and have urgent business to discuss with His Majesty! You mere guards, how dare you obstruct me? Get out of the way immediately, or you will be held responsible for delaying His Majesty's important matter!"
He specifically emphasized "Your Majesty" rather than "Crown Prince" in his words.
He clearly wanted to use his status as the Snow Night Emperor to overpower everyone.
The leading soldier captain was the same one who had previously blocked Ning Fengzhi. He remained expressionless, ignoring the letter in Tang Xiao's hand, and said in a cold, hard voice:
"Sect Leader Tang, His Highness the Crown Prince has issued a strict order: His Majesty is unwell and requires absolute rest. No one is permitted to disturb him, lest his presence be alarmed. Even if it were an old letter, or His Majesty's own decree today, we would not dare let anyone in without His Highness's personal accompaniment or written permission! This is our duty, and we beg Sect Leader Tang not to make things difficult for us!"
"Is it part of my duty?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao was furious and laughed instead:
"Your duty is to protect His Majesty's safety, not to prevent him from seeing whomever he wishes to see! I suspect you intend to commit treason! If you do not step back, you will be openly defying His Majesty's decree, tantamount to rebellion!"
"presumptuous!"
The captain of the soldiers' faces darkened, and he said sternly, "We only obey His Highness the Crown Prince and are responsible for protecting the palace! If Sect Leader Tang continues to speak nonsense and force his way into the forbidden area, don't blame us for being impolite!"
"You're welcome?" Tang Xiao's eyes flashed with cold light. He took a step forward, and the soul power pressure of a Title Douluo-level being was released from his body. Then, it crushed forward like a mountain.
"I'd like to see just how impolite you are! Get out of my way!"
As he took that step, the auras of the Haotian Sect members behind him also rose simultaneously, their hammer intent was awe-inspiring, and they collided fiercely with the soul power barrier of the opposing guards!
In an instant, the surrounding air became incredibly viscous!
"Form ranks! Stop them!" the soldier captain shouted sternly without backing down.
"Clang clang clang!"
As his words fell, all the guards slammed their spears to the ground, their soul power shone brightly, the formation was activated instantly, and their auras became one, barely resisting Tang Xiao's pressure.
"Stubborn to the end!"
Seeing this, Tang Xiao's expression changed, and he completely lost his patience. Or rather, this was exactly what he had planned in his plan to intimidate others. If the other party insisted on obstructing him, a conflict would be inevitable!
"Disciples of the Haotian Sect, heed my command!"
"Come with me to the palace to see His Majesty!"
Tang Xiao stepped forward and shouted.
"Roar—!" Instantly, the Haotian Sect members responded in unison, their soul rings lighting up as they all summoned their martial soul, the Haotian Hammer, and violent soul power surged into the sky!
"Trespassers will be killed without mercy!" The soldier captain, his eyes red with anger, warned again.
Almost at the same instant the order was given.
Several Spirit Hall Soul Masters who had been hiding in the shadows suddenly appeared. They instantly completed their Spirit Possession and then shot towards Tang Xiao and the others who were at the forefront!
Just when the conflict was about to erupt.
"stop!"
A clear and somewhat authoritative voice came from inside the tightly closed doors of the palace.
Then, the door slowly opened inward.
A man dressed in bright yellow prince's everyday clothes, with a calm and gentle expression, walked out slowly, accompanied by two old men with solemn auras and cold eyes.
Upon seeing Xue Qinghe suddenly appear, Tang Xiao and Ning Fengzhi, who were about to launch a fierce attack, were both taken aback and subconsciously slowed down their attacks.
They had always assumed that Xue Qinghe was either being held hostage and controlled by the Spirit Hall like Emperor Xue Ye, or at least that he was being kept out of contact.
But the Crown Prince in front of us was calm and composed, with a steady gait, and even seemed to be in control of the whole scene. There was no sign of him being coerced at all.
Could it be... that the Crown Prince himself is actually controlling the palace?!
Or rather, the Crown Prince has already made contact with the Spirit Hall...
The thought, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly burrowed into the minds of Tang Xiao and Ning Fengzhi, sending chills down their spines.
The two exchanged a quick glance, both seeing deep surprise and confusion in each other's eyes.
Tang Xiao quickly sent a telepathic message to Ning Fengzhi, his voice filled with disbelief, saying:
"Sect Leader Ning, what's going on? The Crown Prince doesn't seem to be under control, could it be that he...?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback. After a moment of silence, he said in a heavy tone:
"But the Crown Prince... has no reason to side with the Spirit Hall! He is the heir apparent of the Heaven Dou Empire, the future ruler of the country. What can the Spirit Hall offer him? Unless... unless the Crown Prince in front of us is a fake, or he has a bigger scheme."
He didn't dare to think too deeply about that last point.
Although I was puzzled, now was clearly not the time to delve into it.
"Your Highness," Ning Fengzhi said, regaining his composure first. He stepped forward and asked tentatively, "We heard that His Majesty is unwell and were deeply worried, so we came to visit him. Sect Leader Tang Xiao also came to pay his respects with an old letter from His Majesty to discuss the alliance. However, we were stopped by the guards, and even faced with weapons. What is the meaning of this?"
Because of the special circumstances, Ning Fengzhi even changed his form of address. As the Crown Prince's teacher, he used to call the latter Qinghe, but now he called him Crown Prince.
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe calmly swept his gaze across the crowd, lingering for a moment on the Haotian Hammer banner and Tang Xiao, before speaking gently, "Sect Leader Ning, Sect Leader Tang, and everyone else, please calm down. My father is indeed seriously ill and needs to rest very quietly. The imperial physicians have repeatedly instructed that he must not be disturbed in the slightest. My strict orders to the guards not to let anyone in are precisely for my father's safety, and I have no other intentions."
"The Emperor Tang has come from afar as a guest, and the fact that he brought old letters shows his sincerity."
"However, my father is truly unable to receive guests at the moment. Why don't you all rest in the side hall for a while, and I will personally introduce you once my father has recovered somewhat? What do you say?"
...............
Meanwhile, at the main gate of Tianxing Academy.
Dugu Bo had just received an urgent report from his informant in the city, informing him that Tang Xiao and Ning Fengzhi had led their men straight into the palace. He was about to go and investigate the situation himself, but he had barely stepped out of the gate...
"Is that Poison Douluo, Senior Dugu Bo, ahead?"
Just then, a loud voice, tinged with a hint of weariness, rang out.
Dugu Bo looked up and saw two burly old men, whose breathing was unsteady and who bore obvious injuries and a dusty appearance, standing not far away.
One of them had long black hair cascading down his back and sharp eyes; he was Yang Wudi of the Po clan. The other had a ruddy face but a weak aura; he was Niu Gao.
"It is indeed I. And who are you?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, stopped in his tracks, and asked in confusion.
Upon hearing this, Yang Wudi stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:
"I am Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan, and this is Niu Gao of the Controlling Clan. We two... have come to Tianxing Academy on the orders of Palace Master Tang Chuan to seek refuge with Senior Dugu!"
"Tang Chuan?"
Upon hearing this name, a glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, and his surprise deepened.
Wasn't this kid supposed to go to the far north?
How did we get involved with the Broken Clan and the Imperial Clan again, and even have people come to seek refuge with us?
"Indeed." Yang Wudi took out a sealed letter from his bosom, handed it over with both hands, and said solemnly, "This is a letter from the Palace Master himself. Please take a look, Senior Dugu."
Dugu Bo took the letter and quickly opened it to read.
The handwriting on the letter was messy yet powerful, typical of Tang Chuan's style. The letter briefly explained that he had persuaded the Yu and Po clans to join his cause, and now ordered the two clans to come to Tianxing Academy to await Dugu Bo's orders. He also stated that he was currently handling some matters in the Star Dou Great Forest and would return soon.
But the latter part of the letter made Dugu Bo's expression suddenly turn serious.
In his letter, Tang Chuan explicitly stated that the Spirit Hall was very likely planning and launching the Heaven Dou Palace Coup in the near future, with the intention of seizing power from the Heaven Dou Empire in one fell swoop!
He demanded that Dugu Bo must find a way to unite with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Clear Sky School, which might enter the city, and do everything possible to stabilize the situation in Heaven Dou City and prevent the Spirit Hall's conspiracy from succeeding!
At the end of the letter, Tang Chuan also explained why he did this.
"If the Heaven Dou Empire falls into the hands of the Spirit Hall, we will likely have no place to stand in Heaven Dou City and will be completely annihilated."
"Conversely, if we can thwart this palace coup, we can seize the opportunity to install an easily controlled royal puppet on the throne, thus holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords and completely controlling the entire empire! In this way, we can attack or defend as needed, and have the resources to contend with or even resist the Spirit Hall!"
"Time is of the essence; I urge you to make a swift decision, senior! I will return soon to discuss this important matter!"
After reading the letter, Dugu Bo took a deep breath and felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Tang Chuan's prediction was exactly in line with the current situation!
Moreover, this kid not only hasn't returned, but he has already brought the Po and Yu clans under his control, and even planned out a political blueprint after the palace coup... His scheming and planning are truly terrifying!
Suddenly looking up, Dugu Bo saw Yang Wudi and Niu Gao, who had just recovered from serious injuries but whose eyes were firm. He also remembered the news of the conflict in the palace that he had just received, and he had already made up his mind.
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(End of this chapter)