The sword momentum was astonishing, and Cao Cao subconsciously cried out, "Not good!"
As the short sword and dagger were about to plunge into his chest...
"Swish!"
At this moment, several continuous sounds pierced the sky, breaking the stillness of the night with astonishing speed.
"Hmm..."
Under Cao Cao's astonished gaze, three all-black arrows pierced the chests of the assassins.
The fletching at the end of the arrows was silver?
"Silver Feather Arrows? Long Xiao Camp? Huang Zhong?"
Cao Cao's eyes were sharp. Seeing these silver feathers, he recognized the owner of the arrows.
That's right...
It was well known that feather arrows made from golden eagle feathers were already the finest among arrows, but there were even rarer silver eagles!
With such precious feathers, Cao Cao knew that even within the entire Long Xiao Camp, only General Huang Zhong, "Master of a Hundred Paces," could use them!
"Thud..."
The three assassins fell into a pool of blood, their eyes wide open, as if they couldn't believe who could accurately shoot them in such a chaotic crowd!
Huff...
Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief.
Instantly, two words surfaced in his mind: "It's stable!"
The fall of the three assassins did not diminish the determination of the remaining assassins. The four closest to Cao Cao surged towards him again.
"Heh, let's see if your sword is faster than my arrow!"
"Hit!"
Amidst the crowd, Huang Zhong stood on a toppled drum.
He drew a silver feather arrow again.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..."
Three more arrows shot out, and without exception, this time... the three assassins had their throats directly pierced by the arrows.
Thud...
Thud!
Three more assassins fell!
"Hahaha..."
Cao Cao's lips finally curved into a smile. With Huang Zhong of the Long Xiao Camp present, the villains had lost their last shred of hope.
He turned around with composure, picked up the drumsticks again, and beat the drum forcefully. The rapid and sonorous drumbeats resounded once more, and the place of elegant appreciation and critique instantly transformed into a bloody battlefield.
Now...
The assassins on the stage hesitated. They dared not approach Cao Cao anymore.
And in this moment of hesitation, countless Tiger Guards had already charged in...
First came a shout from the crowd.
"Here I come!"
Xu Chu drew two short knives from the carrying pole he was holding and charged towards the assassins like a mad tiger. Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and a group of guards from the Prefectural Office also leaped onto the reviewing platform, protecting Cao Cao.
Sima Yi was also watching from below. Amidst the chaos, he immediately found his father, Sima Fang, who was responsible for the perimeter, and asked coldly, "Father, were you involved in this matter?"
"No... no!" Sima Fang answered stammeringly.
In fact, Sima Yi didn't need to ask. He had already guessed it. With so many assassins, and many rushing out from under the reviewing platform, his father was responsible for the protection of the Yue Dan Ping. How could he not have been involved! How could he escape responsibility!
"This is a dangerous place, and we cannot stay!" Sima Yi grabbed his father, Sima Fang, and prepared to rush down the platform. He immediately thought of escaping Xu Du City amidst the chaos and returning to his hometown of He Nei to seek refuge!
But... he never expected.
Before he could take a single step!
"Swish, swish!"
Two sharp blades blocked their retreat. A Tiger Guard said coldly, "The Commander has ordered that Lord Sima must not leave the scene!"
Sima Fang was greatly alarmed, and the father and son exchanged shocked glances!
At this moment... Xu Chu had subdued Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and others. After a fierce battle, most of the hundreds of assassins were killed, and a few were captured. The planned assassination was finally brought to an end after some twists and turns, and was suppressed as planned!
When the last assassin was defeated due to being outnumbered, Cao Cao walked up to Huang Zhong first, smiling and saying, "General Huang, your archery is divine!"
Indeed, in such a crowded and chaotic venue, to steadily shoot the assassins, this archery skill was likely even more superior to Lu Bu's legendary "辕门射戟" (shooting an arrow through the eye of a戟 at the gate).
"I, Huang, was ordered by Young Master Lu to protect Commander Cao. Killing a few assassins is a trivial matter, not worth mentioning!"
Huang Zhong bowed in salute, but his words carried an arrogant tone!
Cao Cao patted his shoulder, unable to conceal his affection. Then, he turned sideways, looked at the bound Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and others, and sneered, "By whose orders were you acting?"
"The people of the world!" Dong Cheng was disheveled at this moment, his face covered in blood. Knowing he was doomed, he answered with righteous indignation!
However, what made Dong Cheng's face extremely ugly and hesitant was that the one who saved Cao Cao in the end was Huang Zhong of the Long Xiao Camp!
This meant that Lu Yu was not on the side of the Han court, but on Cao Cao's side.
Wrong, all wrong!
From the moment Lu Yu proposed to restart the Yue Dan Ping, this had been his... no, to be precise, this had been a conspiracy meticulously planned by him and Cao Cao. Was this a case of luring the snake out of its hole and catching it in a jar?
With this thought, Dong Cheng's brow furrowed in extreme alarm, and the "what a pity" he had muttered turned into "how detestable," "how detestable!"
Of course, he was not the only one who understood the situation at hand!
Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and others also shook their heads repeatedly. They had trusted the wrong person. The reason for their defeat this time was trusting Situ Lu Yu!
Lu Yu was not on the side of the Han court; instead, he was pushing the Han court into an abyss!
The deeper they thought, the more terrifying Lu Yu's plan seemed. Every action from beginning to end was flawless!
It neither alarmed the enemy nor failed to lure them out.
They were toyed with and manipulated like children!
What a pity, how detestable, how terrifying!
"Hahahaha..." Cao Cao burst into laughter. "Imperial Uncle Dong, you dare to contend with me? To contend with Situ Lu, you are far from it."
"As for the one who gave the orders, you don't need to say it. I already know. Bring him to the imperial palace. I will personally question Noble Consort Dong, and our Emperor!"
As soon as this was said, the atmosphere in the place suddenly turned cold.
Xun Yu quickly walked over and whispered in Cao Cao's ear, "Commander Cao, be cautious. Once you offend the Emperor, it will certainly give Yuan Shao and all the other warlords leverage!"
"Leverage? Haha!" Cao Cao roared with laughter. "Does Yuan Shao lack leverage against me? If I don't show these despicable fellows some color today, they will still think that I, Cao Cao, can be bullied at will!"
After speaking, Cao Cao strode towards the foot of the reviewing platform.
Xun Yu still followed, saying, "Please, Commander Cao, do not harm the Emperor, and do not give them cause for gossip!"
These words, spoken again, made Cao Cao's brows furrow, and his eyes suddenly filled with icy killing intent. "They set up such a situation to assassinate me? Lord Xun, you are actually worried about me harming him? Whose side are you on!"
Hoo...
These words were sharp enough.
Anyone could hear Cao Cao's anger, but Xun Yu still pressed on, "Commander Cao, gossip is a fearsome thing!"
Cao Cao smiled frankly, "I have never feared gossip!"
Indeed, with Yu'er's arrangement... and I, Cao Cao, endured for so long, even... even making it appear as if he and Yu'er had a father-son estrangement, how could it be stopped by mere "gossip"?
Hmph...
Cao Cao glanced at the subdued Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and the seemingly "innocent" Sima father and son, and spat out a few words from between his teeth.
"Take them all away, to the palace!"
With that, he strode out, followed by a troop of Tiger Guards.
Jia Xu, Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhi followed closely behind!
As for Dong Cheng, although he was being escorted and struggled incessantly, a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes... The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!
Even the intelligent Cao, even you, Lu Yu, who are meticulous in your calculations, could not have predicted that there would be a plan after a plan!
—An assassination after an assassination!
...
...
In Xu Du City, the imperial palace with its dragon towers and phoenix pavilions was shrouded in dark clouds!
On the elevated corridor from the Cang Long Gate to the Chong De Hall, Cao Cao, along with a group of ministers and hundreds of Tiger Guards, escorted Dong Cheng and other rebels with their swords drawn!
The young eunuchs guarding the palace gates were all panicked. They dared not stop them and scrambled away... stumbling towards the Chong De Hall, shouting as they ran.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Commander Cao is here... Commander Cao has entered the palace with his sword!"
Emperor Liu Xie was already ashen-faced...
He staggered to the imperial desk and picked up a red treasure sword. Holding the hilt with both hands, he trembled all over, as if even this sword could feel his mood and swayed unsteadily.
After so many years, when had this "Chi Xiao Treasure Sword," passed down from the founding emperor, ever been so nervous!
"Noble Consort Dong... Noble Consort Dong, Commander Cao is coming, quickly... you quickly leave!"
Emperor Liu Xie nervously looked at the closed door of Chong De Hall.
Noble Consort Dong repeatedly comforted him, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this place is the safest. Please rest assured, Commander Cao will definitely not enter Chong De Hall alive!"
As the sister of Imperial Uncle Dong Cheng, she was aware of the plan. The assassins trained by her brother numbered a thousand. Besides the over three hundred ambushed at the Yue Dan Ping, the majority were actually ambushed within the imperial palace...
Ambushed on the elevated corridors from Cang Long Gate and Zhu Que Gate to Chong De Hall!
At this moment...
The sound of footsteps echoed!
"Thud, thud, thud..."
The door of Chong De Hall was pushed open. The first to enter was Empress Fu Shou, and beside her stood the General Who Guards the State, the Emperor's father-in-law, Fu Wan!
Their appearance startled Emperor Liu Xie.
After a brief moment of astonishment, a flicker of hope appeared in Emperor Liu Xie's eyes, as if he had found the last ray of hope.
"Empress, Imperial Father-in-law... are you... are you here to protect me?"
"Commander Cao... Commander Cao is coming, Empress, save me, Imperial Father-in-law, save me!"
Indeed, Imperial Father-in-law Fu Wan also had a troop of soldiers, and their numbers were not small...
It should be known that the Fu family was a very influential noble family of this era. The Imperial Father-in-law Fu Wan himself, his wife was Princess Yang'an Liu Hua, the eldest daughter of Emperor Huan of Han. They had six sons and one daughter, and their daughter was the current Empress Fu Shou.
Noble Consort Dong also looked up at Fu Shou...
"Empress..."
She softly uttered, but before her words could be heard, Empress Fu Shou's stern words drowned out her voice.
"Bold Lady Dong, for colluding with Imperial Uncle Dong Cheng to assassinate Commander Cao, your crime is punishable by death... Guards, quickly apprehend her!"
As these words left her mouth...
A group of guards rushed into Chong De Hall to seize Noble Consort Dong!
"You..."
Noble Consort Dong's face turned as pale as paper from fright. She hurriedly hid behind Emperor Liu Xie.
Liu Xie spread his hands. "Empress? What are you doing? Imperial Uncle Dong... Imperial Uncle Dong has also set up..."
He wanted to say that Imperial Uncle Dong had also ambushed troops in the imperial palace, but before the words could escape, Fu Shou's eyes narrowed, and she kept shaking her head. "Your Majesty, we lost... we have already lost!"
"Cao Cao has not yet entered the palace, but... but the Long Xiao Camp has already entered the palace. They... they are fighting with the death warriors ambushed on the elevated corridor and are about to be slaughtered. Imperial Uncle Dong's ambush has been seen through by Lu Yu!"
As soon as this was said...
"What! Long Xiao Cavalry! Lu Yu!"
Emperor Liu Xie's eyes widened like copper bells. Long Xiao Cavalry? Lu Yu! Weren't they... weren't they on the side of the Han court? Why... why were they fighting the death warriors ambushed by Imperial Uncle Dong!
This...
Before Emperor Liu Xie could speak further.
Alas...
Fu Shou let out a heavy sigh. Although her heart was also filled with immense indignation and a desire to vent... at this moment, she had to remain as calm as possible.
The current situation was like a collapsing tide, a toppling mansion, a moment of extreme peril. There was little time left for His Majesty and the Han court!
The most pressing matter...
It was imperative to protect His Majesty and the Han court!
For this... even sacrificing some people would not be a cause for regret!
"Deceived, Your Majesty has been deceived by Lu Yu!"
"The restarting of the Yue Dan Ping was originally... it was a trick planned by him and Cao Cao to lure the snake out of its hole! His original intention was to help Cao Cao clear the internal threats..."
Stomp...
As these words left her mouth, Emperor Liu Xie felt a chill in his heart. Following Empress Fu's words and thinking further, the more he thought, the more shocking it became!
Cao Cao and Lu Yu's estrangement!
The swords drawn between the Commander and the Situ...
Lu Yu, who carried the hopes of the entire Han court!
Wrong... it was wrong from the very beginning. How could Lu Yu carry the hopes of the Han court; he was going to bury the Han court with his own hands!
False, everything was false!
Upon realizing this!
"Stomp, stomp"... Emperor Liu Xie subconsciously took a step back, his legs faltered, and he fell to the ground.
The sounds of fighting from outside Chong De Hall had already arrived...
Indeed, the Long Xiao Cavalry... and the death warriors ambushed by Imperial Uncle Dong were fighting.
Huff...
Empress Fu Shou took another deep breath. "Guards? What are you waiting for? Quickly strangle this Noble Consort Dong who is causing chaos in the court!"
As these words left her mouth, Imperial Father-in-law Fu Wan waved his hand, and immediately more armored soldiers seized Noble Consort Dong... a white silk noose was placed around her neck, and the frail woman struggled in vain!
"Empress, this..."
Emperor Liu Xie still wanted to beg for mercy, but before his plea could be uttered.
"Your Majesty..." Fu Shou's words had already interrupted him. "Can Your Majesty, who is now unable to protect himself, still protect Noble Consort Dong?"
"But... but she is still pregnant with the imperial heir!"
"Will Cao Cao spare the imperial heir?"
Fu Shou's last sentence, spoken with emphasis, almost made Liu Xie despair...
Protecting the imperial heir, protecting Noble Consort Dong, was simply too extravagant a hope for the now "weak" Emperor Liu Xie.
The armored soldiers had already placed the white silk noose around Noble Consort Dong's neck. Some brought stools, ready to make it appear as if Noble Consort Dong had hanged herself...
"Let me go... let me go!"
Noble Consort Dong struggled desperately...
Empress Fu Shou then walked quickly in front of her. "Noble Consort Dong, listen carefully. If you hang yourself, only you will die here. If you live, can His Majesty? Can the Han court still be preserved?"
This...
As these words left her mouth, Noble Consort Dong was stunned...
And in this moment of stunned silence, the armored soldiers had already removed the stools, the white silk noose was completely around her neck, and she began to struggle instinctively, but... blood continuously surged from beneath her!
She looked at Emperor Liu Xie in despair.
At this moment... before her death, she understood, she suddenly realized.
She was the most naive of them all!
Whether... the death warriors of her father won outside Chong De Hall? Or the Long Xiao Cavalry won?
In other words...
Whether this coup was won by the Han court? Or by the Cao clan, she... and the Dong family were destined to die!
Yes...
If the Han court won, the Emperor would still need to appease the remnants of the Cao clan. As the sister of Imperial Uncle Dong Cheng, who assassinated Cao Cao? Would the Emperor and Empress let her go?
If the Cao faction won, then it was an even more unchosen option!
To destroy their Dong family?
Or to destroy the entire Han court?
No matter what, since the Dong family accepted the Emperor's "imperial edict in the sash" in the past, they had already... had already escaped the fate of a doomed clan!
"Drip!"
"Drip..."
A few hot tears mixed with blood flowed down her cheeks and dripped down.
What made her most despairing was that at this moment, His Majesty... His Majesty hadn't even turned his head to look at her one last time!
Was His Majesty also putting on an act?
A moment later...
The "suicidal" Noble Consort Dong no longer struggled.
An armored soldier reported to Fu Shou, "Noble Consort Dong is no more!"
Huff...
Only then did Fu Shou walk to Emperor Liu Xie's side. Seeing that the Emperor seemed somewhat dejected, she immediately comforted him, "Your Majesty, now... is not the time for sadness. Your Majesty still needs to pull yourself together."
This...
Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu Xie slowly raised his head. "Empress? The battle outside Chong De Hall has not ended, right?"
"Cao Cao and Dong Cheng, who won or lost, has not yet been decided? Right?"
These two abrupt questions made Fu Shou slightly startled, and she nodded gently.
"Has Your Majesty forgotten what we discussed last night? Regardless of victory or defeat... the Dong family will be abandoned as pawns!"
Huff...
Emperor Liu Xie let out a long sigh.
Two lines of hot tears continuously fell from the corners of his eyes, and he muttered only, "The imperial family is the most heartless, the imperial family is the most heartless!"
...
...
On the outskirts of Xu Du City, plums were in full bloom.
Liu Bei seemed to be preoccupied today... He continuously swung his hoe, but each swing was followed by him gazing in the direction of Xu Du City.
Finally...
Xu Shu arrived as expected, disguised as a vegetable farmer.
As if he had come to Liu Bei's place to buy plums!
"Brother Xuande, as you predicted..." Xu Shu lowered his voice. "Dong Cheng assassinated Cao Cao at the Yue Dan Ping. It's a pity that General Huang Zhong of the Long Xiao Camp, with his 'Master of a Hundred Paces' archery, saved Cao Cao, who was certain to die. Now Cao Cao is leading the Tiger Guards towards the imperial palace, seemingly... to demand an explanation from His Majesty!"
As these words left his mouth...
Huff...
Letting out a long breath, Liu Bei felt more at ease!
This was a situation he had expected long ago.
It was better for it to happen than for it to hang over his head.
However...
Lu Yu? His allegiance was with the Cao faction!
This was what surprised Liu Bei slightly.
As expected...
Liu Bei's earlier prediction was correct. Lu Yu siding with the Han court? It was merely a smokescreen!
... He deceived everyone, even himself, who was skilled in understanding the human heart.
"Then... what about the perimeter?"
Liu Bei continued to ask in a low voice...
Xu Shu shook his head slightly. "Brother Xuande, your eyesight is keen. From the moment the Yue Dan Ping began, your vegetable garden was surrounded by hidden sentries. If you, Duke Xuande, attempted to escape amidst the chaos, then surely..."
Xu Shu did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
If Liu Bei dared to leave today, Cao Cao would directly kill him to eliminate future trouble!
Cao Cao was already looking for such an opportunity.
"Shh..." Liu Bei held up a finger. He didn't need Xu Shu to finish speaking; he had already guessed it...
He glanced at the perimeter with his peripheral vision... faintly sensing the movement of people in the bushes and the chilling killing intent!
"Hahaha..." Liu Bei stood up, laughing loudly, and shouted, "Second Brother, Third Brother, quickly come and see how fertile this soil is! Quickly come and help me weed!"
Liu Bei's vegetable patch not only grew plums but also green onions.
He did not forget to instruct his two brothers: "Let's straighten these green onions together first! This way they'll look better and grow taller! Only then will this gentleman give us a good price!"
...
...