HPDBC Chapter 614: The Last Breath Sustaining the Empire
Chapter 614: The Last Breath Sustaining the Empire
Chapter 614: The Last Breath Sustaining the Empire
Huangfu Qing said no more and drifted away from the other end of the residence.
After all that had been said, what kind of rival in love would go this far? As Tang Wanzhuang had noted, giving such a warning carried enormous risk. It was not just a matter of releasing an opponent—it was practically instructing her on how to sabotage her own plans. No matter what came next, Huangfu Qing could now face Zhao Changhe with a clear conscience.
Whatever happened to Tang Wanzhuang after this was no longer her concern. As she sped away through the night, she pulled out her mask. Slipping through the shadowed alleys and emerging on the other side, she was no longer Huangfu Qing, but Vermillion Bird, her aura aflame as she soared into the night.
Her thoughts lingered on Tang Wanzhuang. In truth, Huangfu Qing admired her. Judging by Tang Wanzhuang’s demeanor, she likely would have figured it out even without the warning. If their plans were to be undone by Tang Wanzhuang, Huangfu Qing would accept it. There was no shame in losing to a capable opponent.
As for survival, Tang Wanzhuang might be standing under a collapsing sky, but how much safer were those of them trying to slay the dragon?
In the end, we’re all risking our lives for what we believe in.
Back inside, Tang Wanzhuang did not immediately go to meet the Marquis of Wuping, Qin Dingjiang. First, she unsealed Baoqin’s pressure points and said softly, “Do you know what to do?”
Baoqin clutched Tang Wanzhuang’s sleeve, reluctant to let go. “Young miss... Please, come with us.”
Tang Wanzhuang gently ruffled her hair. “It’s alright... When you see Zhao Changhe, tell him I’ve promised you to him, alright?”
Baoqin’s face turned red with fury. “If you’re so capable, marry him yourself!”
She spun on her heel and ran off, calling back over her shoulder, “If Zhao Changhe were here, he’d ask what right you have to promise him anyone! You women are always making decisions for others—why don’t you make one for yourself first?!”
With those words, she vanished into the night, giving her mistress no chance to reprimand her.
Tang Wanzhuang watched her go, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. She turned and stepped outside to meet Qin Dingjiang.
Qin Dingjiang was her deputy in the Demon Suppression Bureau. Once ranked eighteenth on the Ranking of Earth, he was now ranked fourteenth. A pillar of the Great Xia Empire, he had overseen the escort of Wang Daozhong during the incident at the Yang Clan. Silent, reliable, and free of any family affiliations, he had earned Tang Wanzhuang’s unwavering trust.
“Why have you come at this hour, Dingjiang? What are His Majesty’s orders?”
Qin Dingjiang bowed. “I don’t know. The message was simply to summon you to the imperial study.”
Given Xia Longyuan’s recent return, injured and vulnerable, and knowing the palace guards were mostly inept nobles, Tang Wanzhuang had assigned Qin Dingjiang to oversee the palace’s secret security detail. It was perfectly normal for him to deliver such messages. She nodded in understanding.@@@@
Tang Wanzhuang and Qin Dingjiang had just arrived at the door of the Imperial Study when the eunuch outside announced, “First Seat Tang of the Demon Suppression Bureau is here.”
From within the study, the puppet’s cold voice rang out, “The Tang Clan of Gusu has openly declared rebellion. This treasonous crime is proven beyond doubt. Arrest Tang Wanzhuang immediately, confiscate the Tang Clan’s assets in the capital, and execute them to the last member!”
Even as the words echoed through the air, Qin Dingjiang, who had just been walking beside Tang Wanzhuang with a smile, struck without warning, aiming a lethal blow at her back.
A loyal subject, it seemed, could not resist such an order. The strike appeared to land squarely.
The onlookers were stunned.
The puppet, a martial artist of respectable skill, had delivered his decree with the weight of imperial authority. His pronouncement resounded far and wide. Guards, palace maids, eunuchs, night-duty officials, scholars—all within earshot froze in shock and disbelief.
To them, this was no puppet’s decree. It was the Emperor’s will.
No one knew for certain if the Tang Clan had rebelled. The claim was a rumor at best, something that required investigation and negotiation. Even if the Tang Clan were guilty of treason, how could Tang Wanzhuang be implicated? Everyone knew she vehemently opposed any rebellion. At most, she might be stripped of her rank. To execute her, however—did the empire have any hope left?
Did the puppet not realize how many people remained loyal to the Empire solely because of Tang Wanzhuang’s unwavering integrity? Officers like Li Sian and countless others, knowing the cause was lost, continued their fight out of sheer admiration for her. They were the last guardians of the empire’s soul.
To kill Tang Wanzhuang would be a betrayal greater than Zhao Gou’s execution of Yue Fei[1]. It would shatter the last vestiges of loyalty and plunge the empire into chaos.
Those who could perceive qi could almost see the dragon qi above the palace dissipating entirely, vanishing in an instant.
A stunned silence settled over the crowd. Tang Wanzhuang, seemingly subdued, let out a quiet sigh. “I knew it. This is the trigger. The qi of the world has long been wavering. The final blow had to fall upon me. I cannot kill you, for if news spreads that Tang Wanzhuang committed regicide, the effect will be the same. This is an insoluble dilemma.”
The puppet in the study said nothing. Qin Dingjiang, however, staggered back in shock. “You... your pressure points weren’t sealed?”
A faint flush crept up Tang Wanzhuang’s cheeks.
Someone had taught her dual cultivation through an intimate act of sharing the breath. Naturally, he had taught her how to shift her acupoints as well. The techniques of the Maitreya Cult she had studied included methods to disguise and manipulate pressure points.
She had never imagined that they would come in handy here.
1. Yue Fei was a revered general who led the Song army against the invading Jin forces during the 12th century. He became a symbol of patriotism, loyalty, and martial valor. However, his dedication to reclaiming lost northern territories conflicted with Emperor Zhao Gou’s preference for peace and stability. He was ultimately executed despite his loyalty and dedication to the dynasty. ☜