Su Xiaoqi quickly shielded Zhao Shi and the others behind her.
Zhang Yu and Zhang Dian also consciously positioned themselves at the forefront.
At this critical juncture, it was their turn to stand their ground.
"Kill..."
The group of masked men in black seemed to have gone mad, their blood splattering onto their black robes, staining them a dark red.
They charged forward, and no one dared to block them. Those who were too slow to escape became their victims.
Seeing the situation, Su Xiaoqi didn't have time to think. She instructed Yu Changfeng, "Quickly, get them to open the door."
These attackers were too fierce. While they could hold them off for a while, they wouldn't be able to last long.
It was better to hide.
Yu Changfeng was already trying to force the door open, but it was clear that those inside had seen the masked attackers approaching.
Afraid for their lives, they had barricaded the door with tables and chairs.
Yu Changfeng dared not use excessive force to break down the door.
If he broke it down, it would be easier for the masked attackers to rush in later.
He could only patiently try to persuade them.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi had already engaged.
Fortunately, Zhang Yu and Zhang Dian were skilled in martial arts and managed to block the assassins on the steps, preventing them from getting closer.
Seeing that his persuasion was futile, Yu Changfeng decided to stop trying. He charged forward to intercept the assassins.
The commotion outside was significant, and the Wen family and the Old Madam in the private room on the third floor had already heard the noise.
Without a word, she descended the stairs with the guards of the Duke of Yu's mansion.
She directly ordered her men to move the tables and chairs blocking the door.
"Don't move it, don't move it," someone inside protested.
The Old Madam glanced at her and said angrily,
"Hmph, who would have thought it was the Ning King's Consort. My grandchildren are all outside, how can I not move it?"
The Ning King's Consort was taken aback and had nothing to say. She subtly waved her hand, signaling her maids to step forward and block the Old Madam.
The assassins outside were formidable.
If the door opened and they charged in, would they all still be alive?
At this moment, to save her own life, she could not afford to care about anything else.
Although the Old Madam was old, she had fought on the battlefield in her youth and had never completely abandoned her martial arts skills.
She practiced in the courtyard regularly.
Seeing that the Ning King's Consort actually intended to use these maids and servants to stop her,
She did not hesitate to step forward and flipped over the most forward-moving servant girl.
In just a few moments, all the more than ten maids and servants sent by the Ning King's Consort were subdued by the Old Madam.
And her maids had already moved away the tables and chairs.
As the bolt was drawn back, hearing the commotion, Su Xiaoqi, who was guarding outside, immediately pushed the door open and entered with Zhao Shi.
Upon seeing that it was the Old Madam herself who had come to their aid, Su Xiaoqi exclaimed excitedly, "Grandmother!"
"Quick, quick, quick, let all the displaced citizens outside hide in here." The Old Madam helped Zhao Shi up and beckoned for everyone outside to come in and take shelter.
These assassins indiscriminately killed both civilians and officials. Before the government troops arrived to suppress them, it was dangerous to remain outside.
Seeing that Zhao Shi and the Shen Mingzhu siblings were safe, Su Xiaoqi felt a wave of relief. She, along with Zhang Dian and Zhang Yu, rushed out again.
She wanted to assist Yu Changfeng in rescuing the panicked and fleeing citizens being chased on the streets.
Several times, the assassins' blades had almost reached them, but Yu Changfeng and his men had protected them.
And guided them to retreat into the building.
At least over a hundred people were brought in during this rescue effort.
The once spacious hall became crowded.
During this time, a group of noble ladies led by the Ning King's Consort were displeased that these commoners were crowding with them.
However, they could not defy the Old Madam, who was seated in the center of the hall.
She had declared that anyone dissatisfied with this decision could leave on their own and did not need to seek refuge here.
The Old Madam proclaimed, "All are subjects of the Great Liang dynasty, there is no distinction between noble and lowly."
The common people were deeply grateful to the Old Madam and Su Xiaoqi's group for their rescue.
However, they dared not speak out against the Ning King's Consort and her retinue, remaining silent in the hall downstairs.
Fortunately, the masked men in black outside were bullies who preyed on the weak.
Seeing the crowd in the building and the presence of dedicated military guards, they did not dare to launch a direct assault.
Instead, they dispersed to seek other targets.
After the commotion outside finally subsided, Yu Changfeng, Zhang Dian, Zhang Yu, and others pushed open the door and entered.
They re-secured the door by pushing the tables and chairs back into place.
The Old Madam asked, "Changfeng, what's the situation outside?"
Yu Changfeng wiped the blood from his hands and walked over to the Old Madam, saying,
"Grandmother, something is not right. These people do not seem like ordinary assassins."
The Old Madam said, "Hmph, I realized that long ago. These people are clearly soldiers from the army."
Although professional assassins and soldiers both made a living by killing,
There were fundamental differences between them.
Specially trained assassins focused on a swift and decisive kill, resorting to any means necessary.
Their primary method was assassination, and they would not expose themselves so openly.
Army soldiers, however, were different.
They were accustomed to acting in groups.
And they had a systematic approach to advancing and retreating, with both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Ordinary people might not notice this, but the Old Madam, with her extensive battlefield experience, identified it at a glance.
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoqi suddenly understood something and exclaimed excitedly,
"Grandmother, if these are not ordinary assassins, then could they be from the Western Border Army?"
The Old Madam pondered for a moment and nodded, "It's very possible."
Having received an affirmative answer, Su Xiaoqi's heart tightened.
It seemed the Crown Prince had finally lost his patience.
He had chosen the Lantern Festival, a perfect timing, to make his move.
He had the Western Border Army disguise themselves as masked killers, likely intending to assassinate Emperor Xingzhao in secret.
Then, he would suppress the decree to depose the Crown Prince that had already been drafted, and naturally ascend to the throne.
In this way, with Emperor Xingzhao dead by the hands of assassins, he, as the openly recognized Crown Prince, would ascend the throne. Who could dare to object?
Of course, even if he failed, he could shift all the blame onto the assassins, leaving his own reputation as Crown Prince untarnished.
What a cunning plan.
She wondered if the Star-Picking Tower operation had been successful.
Naturally, Su Xiaoqi was not concerned about Emperor Xingzhao's life or death, but she worried about Shen Yun.
He was also there.
At this very moment, Shen Yun was also worried about Su Xiaoqi.
He and Wang Enze rode their horses along the shortcut and had just arrived at the Star-Picking Tower.
Before they could even ascend, they heard a "boom" of an explosion. Before they could say anything, they saw the Star-Picking Tower, which was at least fifteen feet high, collapse from top to bottom.
"Your Majesty, Father..." Wang Enze was going mad.
Not only was His Majesty in the Star-Picking Tower, but his father was too.
He was desperately trying to rush into the ruins.
Shen Yun cast a cold glance at him, unwilling to involve himself, but someone nearby was approaching them.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Eunuch Feng, who was by Emperor Xingzhao's side.
Shen Yun knew that although the Emperor had ventured out today,
He was not actually inside the building.
It made sense; they had already informed the Emperor about the Western Border Army's entry into the capital.
How could he still put himself in danger?
This time, he was merely using himself as bait to lure the enemy.
Therefore, how could he possibly jeopardize his own safety?
Shen Yun stuck out his leg, tripping the frantic Wang Enze,
And led him towards Emperor Xingzhao.
His father, Minister Wang, was standing respectfully beside the Emperor.
The two of them stepped forward together, but they were blocked by heavily armored cavalry.
Only after receiving Emperor Xingzhao's permission were they allowed to approach and pay their respects.
"Long live His Majesty, long, long live."
Emperor Xingzhao's complexion was pale, but thanks to the spiritual medicine from Su Xiaoqi, his spirit and energy were quite good.
He raised his hand, signaling them to dispense with the formalities.
"The Imperial Guard and Commander Du have already gone to mobilize troops. Now, I need someone to go outside the city to gather three thousand troops from the Third Battalion to come to the Imperial City for assistance.
Who will go?"
Go out of the city now?
With masked assassins from unknown origins all over the capital,
The eight gates of the capital must have been sealed long ago.
Who could possibly get out?
Everyone fell silent.
Emperor Xingzhao looked around. Beside him were the Ministers of the Six Boards, Secretaries,
As well as officials from the Three Temples and Nine Ministries, and some meritorious generals and marquises.
It could be said that dozens of ministers surrounded him, yet not a single one dared to step forward and claim they were capable of undertaking this task.
After a few moments, when no one had spoken,
Just as Emperor Xingzhao's sharp gaze was about to shift to designate someone, a person stepped forward.
"This humble subject is willing to try."