The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1012 - 568: Surrender! Divine Dragon Temple Monks Appear

"Prince Huai, were you waiting for me?" In the mansion, the cloaked spy chief of the Embroidered Robe Envoy stopped outside the inner hall’s light, folding his arms, and looked in with a smile at the father and son.

The Embroidered Robe Envoy!

Xu Jingtang’s "spy chief" himself has led a squad to break into the Huai’an Prince Mansion at night. What do they intend?

In an invisible state, Zhao Douan had received much intelligence about this assassin organization from Nie Yurong, thus quickly recognizing the person’s identity.

He turned his head and looked at the Commandery Princess held in his grip. On Xu Junling’s elegant and sweet face was a solemn expression.

"Embroidered Robe Envoy." Prince Huai’an said in a low voice, struggling to conceal his angry surprise as he stared at him, "What do you mean by this? And what does Xu Jingtang mean?! Bringing troops to forcefully break into my mansion, are you declaring war on me?"

The tall and thin Embroidered Robe Envoy smiled, "Prince, calm down. We do not intend to make enemies with you tonight. We merely wanted to enter, but the gatekeeper claimed it was late at night and the mansion does not receive guests, asking us to return tomorrow. Haha, but given the urgency of military matters, we had to force our way in."

Although he spoke of calming down, his demeanor and tone were utterly overbearing.

With elite troops holding torches behind him, it was clear he did not consider Xu An significant at all.

"Military matters? How the Yunfu Army is deployed is of no concern to me!" Xu An angrily retorted.

The Embroidered Robe Envoy smiled, "Oh, wasn’t that reported in advance? Perhaps it was forgotten. You see, by the order of our Prince, they are strategically withdrawing from Jingchuan City back to Yunfu. To protect the families within the city from being harmed by the invading forces of the Fake Emperor’s troops from the south, our Prince particularly instructed us to escort Prince Huai’s family to Yunfu for refuge. The situation is urgent, as the front lines have already seen combat, hence the rush. We request Prince Huai to quickly gather personal belongings and collect your family, so we may withdraw."

Prince Huai’an was stunned, and so was the Princely Heir.

Thereafter, the same anger sprang to their faces simultaneously:

The other party was speaking righteously of abduction and coercion!

Protection? They clearly wanted to take the Huai River’s influential families away to prevent them from pledging allegiance to the court!

"Outrageous!" Prince Huai’an stood up in anger, eyes filled with fury, "Tell Xu Jingtang to come see me in person. As a mere household officer, you have no qualification to speak to a prince!"

The Embroidered Robe Envoy did not move; in the torchlight, his mouth curved into a cold smile, "Our Prince is busy with military affairs, meeting with Prince Huai is not something urgent. You can wait until you’re at the Huai River."

Prince Huai’an glared at him, suddenly restraining his anger, "Is Xu Jingtang also forcing me to take a stance?"

The Embroidered Robe Envoy ignored the word "also," frowning, "Prince Huai, being a wise man, surely you understand that the Eight Princes were allies. Last time in Yongjia, our Prince did not hold you accountable due to that alliance. It is out of necessity that we ask Prince Huai to move now... If you stay, do you intend to wait until Zhao Douan leads troops into Jingchuan City? With his ruthless and vicious nature, he might raze the Huai’an Prince Mansion. Do not mistake kind intentions."

Who are you calling vicious? Zhao Douan was displeased, looking at the man with a deadpan expression.

He added another name to his little black book.

Unaware that he had made it to Zhao Yan’s blacklist, the Embroidered Robe Envoy looked around and said indifferently, "Should the Princess Consort and the Commandery Princess be in the inner residence? Will Prince personally bring them here, or shall we? Heh, ultimately, they’re womenfolk, and the clumsy soldiers under my command might unintentionally offend the Princess Consort and the Commandery Princess."

"How dare you, scoundrel!" Princely Heir Xu Qian was furious, his fingers trembling as he turned to see Xu An, "Father! A great humiliation, a great humiliation! We cannot retreat anymore!"

The muscles on Xu An’s plump face twitched, as though struggling.

He closed his eyes, bitterly.

Two forces in one night, both pushing him to take sides.

He had always stayed off the gambling table, yet today, he was cornered.

"Father! It’s time to make a decision!" The Princely Heir ground his teeth loudly, "Fight them..."

Xu An was still indecisive.

Here in Jingchuan City, with court troops yet to arrive, could Zhao Douan and his men truly contend with the Mu Prince...?

The Embroidered Robe Envoy squinted, lifting his hand behind him to signal.

At once, a group of rebels, heavily armed, gripped their sword hilts silently.

In the shadows, Feng Xiaolian and others also clenched their weapons tightly, poised to act, as all eyes focused on Xu An.

Zhao Douan was equally on high alert.

The situation was very delicate.

Even if he believed their side was strong, should Xu An choose to side with the Mu Prince, and give the order, both the rebels and the mansion guards could turn against them.

It would be troublesome.

Even if he could kill and leave safely, or even kill them all, such a commotion would lead to mission failure.

In this oppressive, tense silence.

No one noticed the Commandery Princess’ eyes suddenly turned sharp, having barely spoken since her abduction.

Xu Junling glanced at her hesitant father in the hall, sighed gently.

The next moment, she abruptly called out loudly, "Guards of the Royal Mansion! Attack! Eliminate the Yunfu Rebel Army!!"

Her shout was extremely abrupt, instantly breaking the balance!

Zhao Douan looked in astonishment at the Commandery Princess beside him.

The Embroidered Robe Envoy and Xu An’s father and son were equally dumbfounded.

Hidden in the shadows, Feng Xiaolian suddenly sighed, first dropping to his knees, shooting forward like an arrow, long sword sweeping out.

"Ah—"

Several rebels screamed, their necks split by the blade, spilling blood as they toppled backwards!