CHAPTER 1869: CHAPTER 1862: SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE CAPITAL CITY

After being stunned for a long time by Jing Guan’s sharp words, Bailong An finally reacted, instantly becoming furious and pointing at him in exasperation: "Are you questioning my ability?"

"Yes, exactly!"

Unexpectedly, Jing Guan decisively admitted it. His eyes stared straight at Bailong An, coldly questioning: "The Emperor esteems martial over literary, all to leverage the Wu Family’s power to seize the previous Emperor’s throne. However, the Wu Family’s incompetence has led to a muddled court, with factions colluding, driving out dissent. The country is worsening daily, uprisings are rampant, and the state apparatus is shaky. Is this the situation His Majesty hoped to see?"

"What I’ve done bears no shame to the late Emperor, nor to the royal family!" Bailong An stubbornly defended.

"Is that so? Then why is His Majesty so worried, to the point of losing appetite, taking meals as mere sips?" Jing Guan continued to question.

Stimulated by Jing Guan, Bailong An suddenly calmed down despite his anger, staring at him and asking: "Who exactly are you? Your words don’t sound like those of a commoner?"

"Has His Majesty finally realized?"

Jing Guan lowered his head, gradually revealing a sinister smile. He suddenly looked up, his eyes staring intently at Bailong An.

He took a deep breath, calming his mind, and began to gather the magic within him to his hands, simultaneously raising his head with an arrogant bearing, pointing at Bailong An and gritting his teeth: "I am Yichuan Sheng, indeed a descendant of the Yichuan Clan. You slaughtered my entire family, and I wish to tear you to pieces!"

"Yichuan Sheng," Bailong An couldn’t help but exclaim, pointing at him tremblingly, "you are a remnant of the Yichuan Clan!"

"That’s right, I am but a remnant. Your Majesty, have you considered how you want to die? With your ascension relying on your daughter, you undoubtedly lack the strength to confront me," Jing Guan sneered.

"Guards, quickly..."

Bailong An exclaimed, but just as he shouted a few words, Jing Guan pounced forward like an arrow and seized him by the throat.

"Whom does His Majesty wish to call? I am your close attendant!" Jing Guan showed a hysterical smile, gritting his teeth as he said so.

However, their actions caught the attention of others. Female officials and eunuchs, witnessing this terrifying scene, shrieked in alarm and fled the palace.

Soon, the fully armed armor-clad soldiers guarding the entrance rushed in and surrounded the two.

"What are you doing, Jing Guan? Quickly release His Majesty!" The leading armored soldier pointed a spear at him and shouted.

"By the Manor Lord’s orders, if His Majesty has rebellious intentions, I shall execute him!" Jing Guan spoke without looking back.

"Rebellion? What are you talking about," the leading armored soldier exclaimed in shock, "His Majesty, revered as the Martial Sovereign of the world, how could there be talk of rebellion?"

Bailong An widened his eyes, being lifted high by Jing Guan, struggling incessantly. Hearing Jing Guan’s words, he twisted his body continuously, attempting to escape Jing Guan’s control to explain the truth to the armored soldiers.

"Believe it or not, I only follow the Manor Lord’s command. If the Manor Lord desires His Majesty’s death, then I shall execute it," Jing Guan continued.

"Wait a moment, release His Majesty and allow me to go out of the palace to report to the Manor Lord for further discussion," the leading armored soldier attempted to persuade.

"No need," Jing Guan said, "His Majesty deserves death, no need to report!"

With that said, he abruptly struck, transforming his right hand into a blade of air and stabbed through Bailong An’s heart, protruding from his back.

At the same time, he clamped his left hand tightly, actually breaking Bailong An’s neck alive. Bailong An couldn’t even make a sound and thus died in Jing Guan’s hands.

"Jing Guan, what are you doing? You dared to kill the Emperor!" The leader of the armored soldiers couldn’t help but exclaim, unable to believe what was happening before him.

Jing Guan threw down the still slightly trembling Bailong An, slowly turning around. His face and body were covered in blood, yet he revealed a strange smile: "I act under the Manor Lord’s command, without regret in death. If you are not afraid of death, come and take me!"

"Charge!"

Upon seeing this scene, the leader of the armored soldiers’ eyes turned red, immediately pointing at Jing Guan and commanding loudly.

The armored soldiers charged at Jing Guan with their spears, only to see him once again channel magic, taking a stance to confront them unto death. He seemed long resigned to dying with no intention of fleeing.

"If you don’t fear death, then all of you come," Jing Guan grinned maliciously, "I owe a great debt of gratitude to the Anxiang family, even if I die, I can repay the Manor Lord’s favor of recognition."

"Anxiang Liang actually inserted his own people by His Majesty’s side, using this to coerce Emperor Wu with orders to disloyalty, how heinous!" The armored soldier leader grit his teeth and said.

Immediately, both sides clashed fiercely, turning the entire palace into chaos. Magical power fluctuated violently, and debris shattered, splattering all around.

Although Jing Guan had extraordinary talent, he ultimately wasn’t a match for so many palace guards. After less than fifty bouts, he was battered and bruised, dragged to the leader by these armored soldiers.

"I ask you, was it really the Anxiang family’s order for you to assassinate His Majesty?"

"Pah!"

Jing Guan spat a mouthful of blood-stained spittle at him, his face ferociously saying: "My loyalty is as firm as the heavens and earth, without regret even in death..."

In the last moments of his life, Jing Guan took a deep breath.

Thinking about the grand feat he accomplished alone was satisfying. Not only did he assassinate Emperor Wu, but he also stirred up internal conflicts within the Wu Family.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel gratified, and his entire being relaxed, unwittingly revealing a contented smile.

"Why are you smiling?" The armored soldier leader asked, his eyes widened.

Jing Guan grinned, suddenly his face twisted with bitterness, black blood flowing from the corners of his mouth, emitting a pungent odor.

"Poisoned, how despicable!"

The armored soldier leader clamped his mouth tightly, but by then it was too late. Jing Guan’s body convulsed, vomiting large amounts of black blood, his eyes gradually losing their brightness.

"The Yichuan Clan..."

"What did you say?"

The armored soldier leader hadn’t heard his words, so he leaned in closer to listen.

"...revenge will not...end here..."

Jing Guan’s voice grew weaker until even his breath eventually quieted down. As the armored soldier leader looked at him, his eyes had already dimmed completely, and his body listlessly sagged.

The news of Emperor Wu’s assassination quickly spread, despite the Wu Family’s attempts to conceal it, it still became widely known. The Wu Family experienced severe internal fractures, and Anxiang Liang was immediately imprisoned. Until his death, he couldn’t comprehend how Jing Guan, whom he deemed reliable, would assassinate Emperor Wu.

Under the current political situation, Bailong An’s existence was the cornerstone of peace among various factions. However, with Bailong An’s assassination, this balance was suddenly disrupted.

Feng’s departure led to the Wu Family struggling to find a suitable successor for the throne. The throne thus remained vacant, naturally attracting covetous eyes.

After the news of Emperor Wu’s assassination spread, the situation the Wu Family dreaded most occurred; the Northern Province and Yun State armies began frequent mobilizations, visibly preparing to enter the Capital City for a power grab.

The Gaofeng Family of Yun State held two princesses in their hands, who were daughters of Bailong Bang, fully qualified to inherit the throne. This was precisely what the Wu Family feared.

Additionally, the Jiuyun Clan of the Northern Province, through marriage ties with the royal family, had a daughter. Rumors suggested that Jiuyun Zheng was preparing to change the princess’s surname, thus granting her legitimate inheritance rights, which similarly unnerved the Wu Family.

Moreover, Jiuyun Zheng’s strong-willed and decisive nature made him the most worrisome factor for the Wu Family.

In the forest at the junction of Qi State, Hua State, and Jiangzhou, a carriage traveling for a long time stopped by a stream for a temporary rest. Servants and attendants went to the stream to draw water, preparing to replenish their energy before continuing the journey.

A middle-aged man in the carriage lifted the curtain and peered out, inspecting the surroundings with unease: "Where have we reached?"

"We have entered Hua State. There’s no need for the Manor Lord to worry," the attendant beside him said, saluting.

"We must hurriedly meet the Patriarch, or it won’t be safe in the end," the middle-aged man wearily said.

"Do not worry, Manor Lord. A few days ago, I sent a fast horse to deliver the news. If nothing unexpected happens, the Patriarch should already be on the way with reinforcements," the attendant replied.

"That’s good..."

Hearing this, the man finally breathed a long sigh of relief, leaning back against the cushion inside the carriage, displaying an exhausted expression.