"Hmph!"
The Empress let out a cold laugh.
In the next instant, she lightly waved her delicate hand.
In the blink of an eye, the entire world seemed to come to a halt.
Time and space froze completely.
Ye Gucheng felt as if he had been thrown into a swamp, his speed slowing rapidly.
"You know martial arts?"
Ye Gucheng cried out in shock, his face filled with horror.
"A Great Grandmaster?"
"No... she's far beyond just a Great Grandmaster!"
He himself was a Great Grandmaster of swordsmanship, but compared to the Empress, the gap was immeasurable.
It wasn't just strength and speed. Even his thoughts were being severely suppressed.
Clang!
Sword met the palm.
To Ye Gucheng's utter dread, his sword technique was broken instantly, unable to last even a single second.
Boom!
The Empress's palm force struck Ye Gucheng squarely in the chest.
Crack.
The sound of bones fracturing echoed.
A wave of unbearable pain surged through Ye Gucheng, making him scream in agony.
A terrifying will flooded his mind, blurring his consciousness.
The Empress's strength was unimaginably powerful.
She had hidden it so deeply.
There couldn't be many in all of the Ming Dynasty who could rival her.
Ye Gucheng's face turned ashen. His treasured sword slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.
"Your heart was clouded. It's a pity. You had good talent, but you wasted it."
The Empress cast a disdainful glance at him.
She didn't give him the chance to speak again.
With another palm strike…
Splurt.
A mouthful of blood sprayed out as the once-renowned Sword Saint Ye Gucheng died in despair at her feet.
Even at the moment of his death, his face remained frozen in disbelief.
Was he truly a frog at the bottom of a well?
Ridiculous.
He had thought he could easily usurp the throne, only to discover how terrifying the Ming Palace truly was.
In the eyes of others, he was likely nothing more than a clown.
Soon, darkness fully consumed his consciousness.
His body collapsed, lifeless.
Thud!
Eunuch Gao fell to his knees, trembling all over.
He stared at the Empress in terror.
"Your Majesty, this servant always knew Ye Gucheng harbored wild ambitions and treasonous thoughts. That is why I lured him here to you, so justice could be served on the spot."
"I beg Your Majesty to spare my life."
"This servant will repay your grace even with death."
It was too terrifying.
No one would have imagined that the Empress possessed such strength.
The dignified Sword Saint Ye Gucheng hadn't even lasted a single move.
Perhaps even the Iron Courage Divine Marquis of Dragon Guarding Manor couldn't compare.
Now the only chance to survive was to immediately pledge allegiance to the Empress.
Becoming her servant could not only save his life, but even bring about his rise.
"Guards!"
At that moment, Zhu Houzhao's voice echoed through the palace.
Footsteps swiftly gathered outside.
"Eunuch Cao Zhengchun pays respects to Your Majesty and the Empress."
"This servant Yu Huatian greets Your Majesty and the Empress."
The newcomers were Cao Zhengchun of the Eastern Depot and Yu Huatian of the Western Depot.
They had been waiting for some time.
"Rise."
Zhu Houzhao slowly stepped forward and nodded.
"Take this traitor away and root out all his accomplices."
"You have three days. I want every name and every detail."
"Your Majesty, please spare me! Your Majesty, Empress, I am innocent!"
But no one paid him any heed.
"This old servant obeys."
"This servant obeys."
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian snorted coldly, knocked out Eunuch Gao on the spot, and dragged him away from the hall.
However, before they left, their eyes were filled with fear as they looked at the Empress.
They never imagined that the usually elegant and composed Empress would possess such overwhelming power.
Even Iron Courage Divine Marquis wouldn't be a match.
———
On the Forbidden City rooftop.
At that moment, Ximen Chuixue still didn't know that his opponent was already dead.
He was still standing there, waiting in silence.
The appointed time had long passed.
Not far away, the spectators were abuzz with chatter.
"Where is Ye Gucheng? Could it be that he got cold feet?"
Hu Tiehua sneered, full of contempt.
"This duel was started by Ye Gucheng himself, and now he's backing out?"
"Maybe someone is interfering, stopping him from arriving?"
"What nonsense. Ye Gucheng is so strong. Who could stop him?"
"Besides, if there was a fight, we would have heard it."
"Lu Xiaofeng, what do you think?" Handsome Xiang rubbed his nose and asked, puzzled.
"Something's not right."
Lu Xiaofeng frowned deeply, a flash of intelligence in his eyes.
One clue after another connected in his mind.
"This is bad. Ye Gucheng had a conspiracy!"
Lu Xiaofeng's eyes widened as he turned and dashed toward the inner palace without hesitation.
But just as he approached, imperial guards blocked his path.
"The inner palace is off limits. Halt!"
"Lu Xiaofeng, how dare you cause trouble here!"
"Don't think your reputation in the martial world gives you the right to act recklessly in the palace!"
"Leave now before you cause trouble. You won't be able to bear the consequences."
Lu Xiaofeng was desperate.
"Please, listen! Ye Gucheng intends to commit treason. He's in the inner palace right now. His Majesty is in danger!"
"What? Treason? Do you have proof?"
The guards' expressions changed drastically.
"This is no joke!"
———
Outside the Empress's palace.
"Your Majesty, the imperial guards have brought Lu Xiaofeng to see you."
"Let him in."
Soon, the guards and Lu Xiaofeng entered the palace.
Upon seeing the emperor sitting there unharmed, Lu Xiaofeng was completely dumbfounded.
Treason?
Ye Gucheng trying to assassinate the emperor?
The imperial guards glared fiercely at Lu Xiaofeng.
"What is this about?"
"Your Majesty, this subject heard from Lu Xiaofeng that tonight Ye Gucheng planned to use the duel on the Forbidden City rooftop as a cover to assassinate you."
"Protecting the emperor? Interesting."
Zhu Houzhao muttered to himself, a playful smile curling at his lips.
"Enough. Lu Xiaofeng, you stay. The rest of you are dismissed."
"This subject obeys."
"You are Lu Xiaofeng?"
Zhu Houzhao studied the man before him carefully.
He had heard many tales of this man in his previous life.
This was the first time seeing him in person.
"I was rash just now. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Lu Xiaofeng said awkwardly.
"No, you were not wrong. Ye Gucheng did come to assassinate me."
"What? He really…"
Lu Xiaofeng was stunned.
"Then now he…?"
"Assassinating the emperor is treason. The punishment is death, naturally."
Zhu Houzhao replied matter-of-factly.
Lu Xiaofeng's face was filled with shock.
Countless pieces of information raced through his mind.
An unbelievable thought surged into his heart.
Then his gaze turned in awe to the emperor sitting just ahead.