However, he never expected that the Lian'er brought back by Lou Ming had been replaced. The Lian'er in his mansion was actually a secret guard of Jing Xunchè. So, Lou Ming was no longer under any threat.
"Lou Ming, do you intend to rebel? Lord Lou orders you to lead your troops into the palace immediately! Otherwise, your sister's life will be forfeit!" The steward brought some men and had two secret guards drag Lian'er over.
There was a knife held to Lian'er's neck, but unexpectedly, Lou Ming showed no sign of worry.
Seeing that Lou Ming remained unmoved, the steward decided to take drastic measures. He took out a dagger from his body and was about to stab Lian'er in the abdomen. But before the steward could react, the controlled Lian'er had already knocked down the two secret guards beside him.
"You... You're not Lian'er... Who are you?"
At this point, "Lian'er" stopped pretending. She tore off the human - skin mask on her face, revealing a strange face. Only then did the steward realize that Lou Ming had defected.
The Lian'er he had brought back then was also a fake. In a hurry, he took out a bone whistle from his bosom and blew it.
By the time Lou Ming saw the bone whistle and tried to stop him, it was too late. Soon, a large number of secret guards emerged from the shadows. Lou Ming knew that these were the private death - squads raised by Lou Mingkòu.
They were all people who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
"You go first. I'll hold them off." Lou Ming slapped "Lian'er" away with one palm. Realizing that she was no match for so many people, "Lian'er" quickly left. All she could do now was rush back and find someone to save him.
After Lou Yueying learned about this, she immediately made a decision. She dismissed the servants who had come with her to the Crown Prince's mansion and left the mansion alone. Then she headed for the Lou Mansion.
When she returned, Lou Ming was nowhere to be found. The mansion was covered in blood. No matter what, Lou Mingkòu was her father, and she was determined to rescue him.
"Steward?" Lou Yueying saw a man crawling forward on the ground with difficulty and rushed over.
"Steward, what's wrong with you?"
"Miss... Lou Ming has reb... rebelled... I've already sent men to chase... him, huff, huff..."
"Steward, don't be in a hurry. Speak slowly." Lou Yueying could tell that the steward was on the verge of death. With so many wounds on his body, including a fatal one, the only thing keeping him going was his willpower.
"Miss... This is the token... The private troops raised by the master... Seeing the token is like seeing the master..."
"The master once said... If one day... he... he gets into trouble... give this... to you... They will... protect you..."
"This bone whistle... can summon all the troops of the Lou Mansion... Miss... Take the young master... and leave..."
"Steward... Steward!" Lou Yueying hugged the steward's body and cried bitterly. The steward had watched her grow up. Sometimes when her father was busy, it was the steward who accompanied her. She had long regarded the steward as a family member.
"Ah!!!"
Lou Yueying searched the entire Lou Mansion but couldn't find Lou Xingzhōu. Having no other choice, she blew the bone whistle herself.
Soon, someone appeared.
"Greetings, Miss."
"I want you to gather all your men and follow me to attack the palace!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Lou Yueying changed into a set of light - weight clothes, mounted her horse, and led all the soldiers to the outside of the palace.
Yuan Yǔchuān looked at the vast crowd outside the palace and panicked.
"Lou Yueying, what do you think you're doing? Rebelling?" He didn't have many troops at hand. If they engaged in a head - on confrontation, he would surely be defeated.
"Yuan Yǔchuān! I don't want anything but for you to release my father! Otherwise, I'll lead my troops into the palace!" Anyway, she had no feelings for this man.
"Presumptuous! Lou Yueying, do you know that your father, Lou Mingkòu, has colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country? He deserves to have his entire family executed. I've shown mercy by only targeting him because you're the Crown Princess!"
"I advise you to be sensible. Otherwise, it won't just be your father who gets arrested!"
"Hahaha... Yuan Yǔchuān! You ungrateful wretch! My father treated you well. He was the one who helped you ascend to the throne. Now that you've achieved your goal, you're going to get rid of him?"
"I've never seen such a shameless person!"
"You... You..." Yuan Yǔchuān was so angry that he couldn't speak.
"Since you, Yuan Yǔchuān, don't cherish our old relationship, don't blame me for being ruthless. Men, attack!"
The imperial guards in the palace fought bravely, but they were ultimately no match for Lou Yueying's men.
Soon, Lou Yueying led her men into the palace. Anyone who tried to stop them was killed.
Lou Yueying quickly led her troops to the prison. When Lou Mingkòu saw his daughter, he was completely stunned.
"Why are you here? Where's Lou Ming?"
"Dad, Lou Ming has defected. He killed everyone in the Lou Mansion. The steward is dead too." After all, Lou Yueying was just a woman. Unable to bear the blow, she threw herself into Lou Mingkòu's arms.
"Where's your brother?"
"I didn't see him in the mansion."
Lou Mingkòu roughly knew where he was. But even with such a big thing happening, he still had the nerve to drink!
"Don't be afraid, Dad will take you out." He knew that there was no future for his daughter and the Crown Prince. So today, he must fight his way out, or both he and his daughter would die here.
But as soon as they stepped out of the prison, they were surrounded. Jing Xunchè and Yuan Yǔhán led their men into the palace.
At the sight of Jing Xunchè's face, Lou Mingkòu became extremely nervous. Why was he here?
"Why are you here?"
"Then where should I be? Dead?"
"Humph! Why waste so much time talking to them? Just arrest them. If they resist, kill them. They're all a threat anyway."
"No! Brother Jing, I know my father has wronged you. I beg you to spare his life."
"Spare his life? Did he ever think about sparing our Jing family? If I hadn't survived by a stroke of luck, I might be dead by now!" He had waited so long for revenge. Why should he spare him?
"Lou Yueying, I can spare you for the sake of our shared master, but I will never spare Lou Mingkòu."
"Don't plead with him. I don't believe his troops can outnumber ours. Jing Xunchè, since you've come here looking for death, don't blame me for being merciless!"
"Today, I'll take your life and this throne!"
"Then let's see! Men, attack!" The troops brought by Jing Xunchè were summoned by the tiger amulet his master had given him. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to gather so many men in such a short time.
The battle lasted for a long time. However, Lou Mingkòu's troops were no match for the battle - hardened soldiers who had fought on the battlefield.
Yuan Yǔhán watched the people cleaning up the battlefield and felt extremely cold - hearted. Did so many people really want this throne? After this incident, he no longer desired the throne.
If he died one day, what would happen to Aru? What would happen to his children? If Yuan Yǔchuān could be a good emperor, he was willing to assist him.