The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1686: 819 Collapse of the Han Family (Second Update)

Chapter 1686: 819 Collapse of the Han Family (Second Update)

This duel was a significant drain on Long Yi.

Not only because of the fierce fight back and forth, but also the pain and temptation Long Yi endured while suppressing the out-of-control aura of slaughter were unimaginable to ordinary people.

That was the real damage to one’s vitality.

Long Yi panted, looking up at the endless sky.

Gu Jiao dismounted and came to his side, turning her head to stare at him: “Long Yi, what are you looking at? Did you remember something? You’re injured, ride Black Wind King back.”

The next second, Long Yi grabbed Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao’s face turned black instantly, struggling like a little doll head down, utterly hopeless.

So you were just catching your breath?

Indeed, she shouldn’t have worried about Long Yi.

The strength of Dark Soul was abnormal, and Long Yi’s was even more so.

Long Yi took Gu Jiao back to the Duke Residence.

Meanwhile, the struggle in the palace had also ended. Han Fu was captured alive by Wang Xu, and the Imperial Forest Army he led, witnessing Han Fu’s capture, lost morale and quickly surrendered.

The only one left was Han Family.

Dark Soul took Han Family out of the imperial palace, seated him on a prepared carriage, staying behind to stop Gu Jiao.

However, unexpectedly, he failed and was killed by Long Yi instead.

Dark Soul was the Han Family’s greatest trump card, even more important than the fake emperor. Without Dark Soul’s service, how could Han Family eavesdrop on the news from the Imperial Study Room so easily, or have the fake emperor silently observe the true emperor?

Even when Shangguan Yun was sold as a slave girl, Dark Soul had a hand in it.

The Han Family could lose the fake emperor, but they couldn’t afford to lose Dark Soul.

Of course, the Han Family had absolute confidence in Dark Soul, even though he had lost to his junior disciple last time, making him stronger since then.

“When Dark Soul kills Xiao Liulang, he will come to join us.”

Thinking this, Han Family took a deep breath and leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes to rest.

But shortly after, her eyelids suddenly twitched.

Immediately after, a sense of unease flashed through her heart, as if something bad was about to happen.

She frowned and said, “Did Xiao Liulang catch up? No way, with Dark Soul stopping him, he wouldn’t even know how he died!”

“I think the one who’s dying is you!”

Gu Chengfeng descended from the sky, landed on Han Family’s carriage, kicked the driver down, and ruthlessly pulled Han Family off the carriage.

Although he usually respected the aged and cared for the young, he made an exception for this wicked old witch.

Gu Chengfeng did not hold back, dragging Han Family from the speeding carriage, making her roll several times before stopping, her hairpin falling, her bun disheveled, her face covered in dust, even worse than a begging old woman.

Han Family screamed in pain.

Gu Chengfeng disdainfully brushed off his hand that touched her, looking down at her, “After doing so many bad things, you still want to escape? Can you escape?”

Gu Chengfeng had long removed the prince’s disguise, revealing his true face.

But Han Family still recognized him by his voice, raising her cold eyes to look at him, “You were the one who pretended to be the prince last night? Let me go, I can—”

“Can my ass!” Gu Chengfeng considered himself a chatterbox but had no patience to waste words with Han Family, this old witch. He directly grabbed her and threw her into the prepared Duwei Prefecture prison carriage.

Han Family sat in the prison carriage, holding the wooden plank tightly with both hands, “You’ll regret this!”

Gu Chengfeng rolled his eyes, joined his fingers together and sealed her mute point, “Still spouting nonsense when you’re about to die, can’t fix you!”

Han Family was taken back to Duwei Prefecture, marking the end of this palace coup.

Zhang De was recalled to the imperial palace to join the Twelve Supervisors in cleaning up the havoc in Zhonghe Hall and the outer court.

With such a big incident, the outer court and the aristocratic families were all startled, coming together to seek an audience with the emperor, but the emperor refused to see anyone.

The emperor decreed a three-day court adjournment and ordered Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to jointly investigate.

Investigate what?

Naturally, the Han Family, the Prince’s Prefecture, and the Han Family’s sneaky deeds behind the scenes.

“Surround the Han Family and the Prince’s Prefecture for me! Not even a fly is allowed to escape!”

“What was the previous commander of the Imperial Forest Army doing, allowing a deputy commander to take half the troops? Severe punishment!”

“Also, the Han Family’s military tally, have the Han Family hand it over!”

…

The emperor issued shocking edicts in the Imperial Study Room. All departments dared not delay, performing their duties promptly and processing the emperor’s orders tirelessly.

As they stepped out of the Imperial Study Room, everyone understood that the Han Family, which had stood tall for many years, was about to fall. After fifteen years, Shengdu ushered in another power shake-up. The top ten aristocratic families would be reshuffled once more.

As the saying goes, watching him build tall buildings, watching him host guests, watching his building collapse.

With the fall of the Han Family, the military power would undoubtedly be divided.

But whether the aristocratic families would rejoice silently or feel sorrow for a fallen comrade, only heaven knows.

…

Duke Residence, Gu Jiao was very happy.

Dark Soul was dead, the Han Family was captured, which meant that the three-year internal strife would not happen.

The wheel of fate quietly reversed from this moment.

Next would be the external wars with the Jin Country and the Liang Country.

It would be best if they could also be avoided—

“Young Master! Your Highness Changsun!”

Gu Jiao was treating Long Yi’s injury when Steward Zheng hurriedly entered the courtyard. He found Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen in Long Yi’s room and saluted, “A decree from His Majesty has arrived, asking Young Master and Your Highness Changsun to enter the palace immediately!”

Gu Jiao finished wrapping the last bandage on Long Yi and told him not to move. Then she entered the palace with Xiao Hen.

In the Imperial Study Room, Shangguan Yun and Lord Yun Shan were also present.

Earlier in the Zhonghe Hall, Gu Jiao had been fully alert for the possible appearance of Dark Soul and hadn’t closely observed the Little Princess’ biological father, Lord Yun Shan.

Now, with a clear mind to observe, Gu Jiao realized he was an undeniably beautiful man.

Lord Yun Shan was the posthumous child born to the Empress Dowager from the Late Emperor, nearly thirty years younger than the current monarch, though he was already past thirty. However, perhaps because he was carefree, his eyes had the purity and clarity of youth.

This made him seem younger than his actual age.

He was holding two large walnuts in his right hand, looking elegant and unrestrained.

Furthermore, Gu Jiao noticed a detail. His irises were amber, lighter in color than most people’s eyes.

“You are the first person to dare stare at me like this.” Lord Yun Shan laughed, leaning his face closer to Gu Jiao, “Well? Am I good looking?”

“Hmm, not as good looking as him.” Gu Jiao pointed to Xiao Hen.

Lord Yun Shan: “…”

He felt quite hurt.

The monarch glanced at the two indifferently and said, “Enough, I called you here for serious matters.”

Lord Yun Shan quickly adjusted his expression, becoming serious and solemn.

It seemed this younger brother still revered the sovereign.

Shangguan Yun did not sit in a wheelchair today.

— No need to pretend anymore?

“First matter.” The monarch looked at Shangguan Yun and said, “Where is Shangguan Qing?”

Shangguan Yun’s expression stiffened, and he blinked guiltily, pointing to Xiao Hen beside him, “Isn’t… he right here?”

The monarch slammed a palm on the table with a cold face, “You really think I can’t recognize my own grandson? Shangguan Qing doesn’t eat aniseed!”

Oh.

Aniseed, huh?

It’s true, the Duke Residence’s cooks loved to use aniseed in their dishes.

So it was exposed these past few days.

The monarch glared at Shangguan Yun with disappointment, “You don’t even know this small thing about your own child!”

Shangguan Yun felt wronged and muttered, “I… never made him aniseed. How could I afford such an expensive spice?”

Living in the Imperial Mausoleum was really tough, okay?

Lord Yun Shan looked at Xiao Hen, “Is it not Qingqing? He really does look alike…”

The monarch’s gaze became heavy as he looked at Xiao Hen, “Who exactly are you?”

Lord Yun Shan was also very curious about Xiao Hen’s identity, his eyes openly waiting for Xiao Hen’s response.

Xiao Hen calmly and steadily replied, “Who I am is not important. Your Majesty only needs to understand that everything is a temporary measure. The Third Princess and the Crown Prince were severely framed by the Prince and the Han Family, as well as the Nangong Family. This strategy was the last resort. The real Crown Prince is very safe. When everything calms down, the Third Princess will bring him back to Shengdu.”

The monarch looked deeply at Xiao Hen, his hand on the armrest slowly tightening.

“Who you are is not important?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want wealth and glory?”

“No.”

“You don’t want power and fame?”

“No.”

Xiao Hen looked the monarch straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering and sincere, all spoken from the heart.

The monarch swallowed back the words of power and state that were at the tip of his tongue, angrily grabbing and downing a cup of tea!

Gu Jiao fiercely glared at the monarch.

If you dare to be fierce to my husband.

Try being fierce one more time.

I’ll beat you up.