The Phoenix Reborn Book II

Chapter 77 Descendants of Li

*Some days ago*

“Listen, Hong’er will soon be holding his wedding party,” said Wu Huatai while sipping tea that his servant had just poured. His eyes radiate a deep sadness, “If I could attend.”

Hearing the words of her husband, Empress Tianzhen who was accompanying Emperor Huatai in the palace courtyard pavilion could only smile gently. “I'm sure Young Master Liang will be back with First Miss Huang to visit you in the near future,” she said, intending to entertain her husband.

Emperor Huatai shook his head slowly, “Until their problems are resolved, I'm not sure they can leave Shi. In addition, there is still the matter of marriage Meilan.” A frown also appeared on his forehead, “If the Fourth Prince has been bound by agreement with me, but I have a feeling he will find a way to cancel it.”

Wu Huatai's remark made a worried expression appear on Empress Tianzhen's face. “Your Highness, you obviously know the Fourth Prince likes Huang Miaoling, but you instead tied him up with Meilan.” The woman was clearly grumbling, unintentionally pouring out her heart blaming her husband's greed. Aware she spoke over the line, Empress Tianzhen immediately stood up and bowed respectfully, “Please forgive your sassy wife this.”

Emperor Huatai withdrew Empress Tianzhen's hand, allowing her to sit down again. “Tianzhen, all these years we've been husband and wife, why are you being so rigid with me? You are the best wife I can get,” she said with a smile. The man patted the back of his wife's hand gently, “Your words are right, I'm too greedy. By tying Wang Junsi with Meilan, I thought it would develop the relationship of the two, also facilitating Hong’er's relationship with First Miss Huang. However, it is indeed an inappropriate feeling forced.”

Now that Emperor Huatai was truly sorry, he realized that his agreement with Wang Junsi had instead placed a burden on the prince. Instead of focusing on developing feelings, the fourth prince would definitely feel more guilty if he really married Wu Meilan.

Seeing her husband's face so overcast, Empress Tianzhen decided to raise her voice again, “Your Majesty, I want to tell you something.” His tanned black bead trembled, as if in doubt as to whether this was the right moment to bring out the matter in his mind. “I don't know if this news can improve your mood, but I certainly hope so.”

Empress Tianzhen's ambiguous remark made Emperor Huatai raise his eyebrows in confusion. “Tianzhen, what is it?” tanyanya, feel unusual with the attitude of his wife is so strange.

“I'm currently pregnant.”

Wu Huatai froze on the spot. Silence enveloped the pavilion for a moment, until finally the son of heaven stammered, “You are pregnant?” Again, he added, “Really?!” Wu Huatai grabbed his wife's hand, grasping it tightly. His pair of black beads shone, asking for an answer.

The faint smile that slowly expanded on Wu Huatai's face made Empress Tianzhen's heart feel so warm. The woman nodded her head steadily, “Ya.”

Emperor Huatai immediately hugged Empress Tianzhen tightly. “Really good! What good news!” yells.

The servants and bodyguards who heard the conversation of their two masters immediately saluted and congratulated, “Congratulations to the Emperor and Empress!” It made Emperor Huatai's laughter even louder, and he forgot to control his strength when he hugged his wife.

“Ah, Your Majesty, you hugged me too tightly,” complained Empress Tianzhen as she scrunched her face.

“A-ah! Y-yeah! Must be careful!” Wu Huatai said awkwardly. Her misguided manner made Empress Tianzhen chuckle. Then, Emperor Huatai glanced at one of the eunuchs who was outside the pavilion. “Receive command! Two more days, we will celebrate the blessing of the sky for the Empress!”

“Good, Your Majesty,” reply to the eunuch while walking away from the page. Just five steps since the eunuch passed through the courtyard gate, he suddenly saw a group of soldiers walking towards him. “What are you doing? Other than the emperor's escort guards, no one can—”

Never did the eunuch finish his words, a sword swung to his neck. The slash ripped through the skin, followed by blood flowing down from his open neck, soaking his clothes. The poor eunuch's leg squeezed, then he fell to the ground, producing a terrible cracking sound of the kneecap bone. The eunuch's hand was caressing his neck, trying to stop the blood from escaping from his wound.

A futile attempt.

One of the two guards standing guard at the courtyard gate caught the incident, and they immediately shouted, “Invader! Protect the Emperor and Empress!” It made everyone in the courtyard immediately alert.

Within seconds, chaos enveloped the quiet palace. Some of the servants froze in place in fear, some ran out of the courtyard with other paths, others insisted on accompanying the two masters within the palace, hoping that the sky would bless them with protection.

“What happened?!” the Emperor Huatai shouted as he stood up and hugged the frightened Empress Tianzhen.

The general rushed Emperor Huatai and Empress Tianzhen away via another route. However, there were no steps, another group of soldiers blocked their way.

Wu Huatai's gaze swayed the uniform of the troops now before him. The clothes worn by the enemy troops were the armor typical of the soldiers of the Wu Kingdom, but the weapons they used had little difference. Upon seeing it more clearly, there was no twin dragon symbol belonging to the Wu Kingdom.

“Who are you?!” shouted the general, convinced that the group of soldiers before him was not friends, but opponents. “Which kingdom uses such lowly means to bring down another kingdom!?”

To be honest, the general did not know about who the mastermind of this attack, it could actually be that this attack had nothing to do with other kingdoms. However, the Wu Kingdom was so big, and not just any group had the ability and courage to launch a sneak attack like this. Therefore, the general bet that the enemy soldiers did come from other kingdoms. He deliberately provoked emotions, hoping to get an answer from one of the opposing soldiers.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter echoed from the entourage before the general. The enemy soldiers split open, allowing one male figure with a polished face like a woman to walk to the front row. Apparently, that man was the leader of this entourage.

“Emperor Wu Huatai, an emperor with a reputation for thirst for blood. Why did all I saw was an emperor with no spine [1]?” the man's insinuation made some bodyguards from Wu Huatai's side put on a bad face— angrily. The man's gaze then swept across the face of the general who was accompanying Wu Huatai, “You guys are already surrounded, unable to escape. Better just hand over the man, and I'll let you die quickly.”

“Hudie, don't bullshit much,” said a voice from behind Wu Huatai's entourage.

The voice made Wu Huatai and a few other bodyguards look back. When looking at who the owner of the vote was, everyone—including Wu Huatai and Empress Tianzhen— was left behind.

“Third Adik, you—!” Wu Huatai frowned, unable to believe what he was looking at right now.

“Third” Adik, the call is not a call that can be just randomly pinned to someone. The person called Wu Huatai with call “Third” Adik is only one .. Li Changsheng.

The armor splashed with blood and also the sword that had taken its toll adorned Li Changsheng's appearance. Coupled with a group of enemy soldiers standing behind the man, Wu Huatai was convinced that this attack was set back by his third brother.

“Why are you doing this?!” wu Huatai shouted to Li Changsheng, his hands clenched, showing a fiery fury from the betrayal he received.

“Adik?” Li Changsheng let out a mocking smile. “After everything you've done, you still dare to call me by calling ‘adik’?”

Wu Huatai scrunched his face, not understanding what Li Changsheng was saying. After everything he did? Other than giving Li Changsheng the opportunity to live freely without being censured along with Wu Rongya, what else had Wu Huatai done?

“Changsheng, what do you mean?” wu Huatai asked in confusion. Then, he realized something, “Where is Rongya?” He has a bad feeling.

Li Changsheng pointed his sword at Wu Huatai, “Don't you dare to call Rong’er by name! You don't deserve it!” His eyes were red, a mixture of sadness and anger. “Because of your malice, Rong’er has lost his life!”

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[1] A person without a spine: a satire for someone who lacks courage and ability.

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A/N: Wu Rongya .. die? That's why Li Changsheng betrayed? What's really going on, guys?! Ahhh, Author panic!!