Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 234 Hou Junji, Die! (Third Update)

Dark clouds drifted across the night sky, gently covering the bright moon.

The earth fell into darkness for a moment.

In front of the Vermillion Bird Gate, countless burning torches made everything dimly lit.

Looking at the two long knives pressing on Li Tai's neck, not only Li Tai was stunned, but Li Chengqian was also stunned.

He couldn't help but turn around and look at Fang Xuanling, his mouth open as if he wanted to say something, but for some reason, he didn't say the last word.

At this time, Li Tai's annoyed voice rang out from under the city wall: "Duke Chen, Duke Xun, think about your own affairs. Do you really think that just because the crown prince says you are fine, you will be fine? The emperor will not let you go so easily."

Hou Junji approached Li Tai and whispered, "It's nothing more than dismissal and exile. My many years of merit are enough to offset the death penalty."

Li Tai was slightly stunned. This was not Hou Junji's character!
At this moment, Li Tai suddenly felt something being stuffed into his hand.

Crossbow, hand crossbow.

A crossbow.

A sophisticated crossbow that can be put into the sleeve, and it is even loaded with arrows.

Li Tai immediately understood that Hou Junji intended him to assassinate Li Chengqian.

Whether it was Hou Junji or Zhang Liang, both of them would be closely watched. Only Li Tai, who was being held hostage, would not only not be searched, but no one would even be on guard against him in this situation.

Li Tai's chances of success are high.

However, despite what he said, Li Tai still didn't understand what would happen even if he killed Li Chengqian.

The current situation is that they are surrounded on all sides.

Even if they killed Li Chengqian, they would be torn to pieces by the angry soldiers.

Especially since Fang Xuanling and Li Jing were standing on the city wall, they would not give Hou Junji much chance.

Although Li Tai was the emperor's second son, he murdered his eldest brother. The emperor would not let him go just because he was the legitimate second son, not to mention that the emperor had Li Zhi by his side.

Even if Li Tai killed Li Chengqian, it would only benefit Li Zhi in the end.

At this time, Hou Junji looked at Li Tai deeply, and a light bulb went off in Li Tai's mind.

He immediately understood that Hou Junji had a backup plan.

Li Tai's tense mood finally relaxed a little.

Hou Junji is worthy of being Hou Junji. He can still come up with a solution in this situation. He is really amazing.

But what is the solution?

……

"Your Highness, be careful, there may be a trap." Fang Xuanling said softly.

Li Chengqian nodded calmly, then looked to the side and said, "Open the palace gate!"

"Open the palace door!"

"Open the palace door!"

More sounds were heard above and below the Suzaku Gate, and with a creaking sound, the Suzaku Gate was gradually opened.

There was a hint of joy in Hou Junji's eyes, and subconsciously, he glanced at Zuo Kuangzheng, the general of the Left Jinwu Guard on his right.

After just one glance, Hou Junji turned his head away, but the next moment, he was shocked.

At this moment, the Suzaku Gate burst open, and behind the heavily guarded city gate stood a dense mass of black-armored cavalry.

"Black Armor Cavalry!" Hou Junji looked in disbelief at Li Daliang and Li Xuansi, who were riding at the front of the Black Armor Cavalry. The two men were already holding long spears and ready to attack at any time.

With Hou Junji's keen eyesight, he could tell at a glance that the number of cavalry inside was at least over three thousand, or even more.

Hou Junji looked up numbly, wondering how many people the prince had prepared to deal with them.

He originally thought that even if Li Chengqian was prepared, he would mostly use his manpower on the city walls.

He never thought that he would have the courage to mobilize the Black Armored Cavalry and let them attack.

How careful he is!
Hou Junji suddenly thought of the several times Li Chengqian had tried to lead them into the city. It turned out that this was his real purpose.

Hou Junji couldn't help but grit his teeth. He had clearly sensed the danger in the city before, but he never expected that there would be thousands of people on the long street inside.

It is said that Fang is wise and Du is decisive. Prince, he thinks more than Fang Xuanling.

Li Chengqian looked at Hou Junji at this moment. He nodded gently and said, "Duke Chen, please enter the palace."

Hou Junji lowered his head and looked at Zhang Liang opposite him.

Zhang Liang couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He had no other choice now.

Then Zhang Liang nodded vigorously.

Hou Junji immediately understood that this was their last resort.

All the charges were put on Li Tai.

After all, whether it was Hou Junji or Zhang Liang, they were actually "threatened" by Li Tai.

Let go of everything and surrender.

For some reason, when Hou Junji thought of this, he felt extremely uncomfortable.

An extremely hateful emotion rose from the bottom of his heart. He couldn't help but look up at Li Chengqian, then quickly lowered his head and his gaze fell on Li Daliang.

Holding a long spear in hand and riding a war horse.

Hou Junji's expression suddenly calmed down. He turned to look at Li Tai and said, "Prince Wei, let's go and see the Crown Prince."

Li Tai suddenly hesitated.

The dense mass of black-armored cavalrymen at the city gate intimidated him, and Li Tai couldn't help but glance at Du Chuke behind him. When Hou Junji and Zhang Liang held their swords across his neck, Du Chuke was ready to strike, but he hesitated, concerned about their skills.

Moreover, the people he brought with him were separated from the people around Hou Junji and Zhang Liang.

For a moment, there was nothing we could do.

But soon, he saw Hou Junji put something into Li Tai's hand.

He immediately knew that Hou Junji had other ideas.

But when he saw the city gate opened and the countless black-armored cavalrymen inside, he quickly thought, could their methods really work in front of such a cautious prince?
"Your Highness, they are putting on a show!" A voice suddenly came from the city wall.

Hou Junji, Li Tai, Zhang Liang, Du Chuke and others all changed color at the same time.

On the city wall, Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Xiang who had suddenly spoken, and said with a wry smile, "Cousin, I can see that they are putting on an act. In fact, Prime Minister Fang, Duke Wei, Prime Minister Yu, Duke Chu, and Minister Ma all saw through it. We originally wanted to wait until they entered the city and then capture them all."

Although Changsun Xiang was Li Chengqian's prince's household steward, his ability to judge the situation was much poorer.

Hearing Li Chengqian say this, Chang Sunxiang couldn't help but be slightly stunned, then hurriedly bowed his hands in panic and said: "Your Highness, I am guilty."

"That's all right." Li Chengqian looked at Hou Junji, Li Tai, and Zhang Liang below the city walls and said calmly, "They're resorting to this method now, which means they really have no other options. Duke Wei!"

"Yes!" Li Jing bowed, then turned around and raised the small flag in his hand again.

Immediately afterwards, the rapid sound of drums "dong dong dong" sounded again.

At this time, the Right Guard in the distance and the black-armored cavalry in the palace, their horses were already becoming anxious and uneasy.

"Half a quarter of an hour." Li Chengqian shouted from the city wall, "I'll give you the last half a quarter of an hour. In half a quarter of an hour, the Right Guard and the Black Armor Cavalry will launch an attack. At that time, those who lay down will live, and those who hold weapons will die!"

The expressions of countless people below the city couldn't help but change.

Li Chengqian looked at Hou Junji again and said calmly, "Duke Chen, if you hadn't played those little tricks just now, you could have lived, and everyone in your family could have lived, including your wife, your three sons, and your daughter. But you've disappointed me so much. I don't make promises easily, but..."

Hou Junji's expression was terrifyingly cold.

At this moment, he and Zhang Liang had already let go of Li Tai, and their respective guards surrounded them together.

He gripped his sword tightly and raised his head to speak, but at this moment, Li Chengqian suddenly shouted coldly: "Don't do it yet!"

Hou Junji was stunned, and the next moment, a cold blade was placed on his neck.

Hou Junji turned around in disbelief, and then saw Hou Zhiyi crying silently with tears on her face.

……

On the city wall, everyone could see more clearly.

At Li Chengqian's command, Hou Zhiyi swung his knife like lightning and placed it on Hou Junji's neck.

Not only Hou Zhiyi, who acted like lightning in an instant, but also Chai Lingwu and a gray-clothed guard behind Li Tai, and the two guards behind Zhang Liang.

Li Chengqian ambushed Hou Junji, Li Tai, and the people around Zhang Liang. They suddenly took action at the same time and directly controlled the three people.

Li Chengqian glanced at Changsun Xiang.

He knew that the reason why Chang Sun Xiang was worried about Hou Junji and Li Tai's drama was because he himself had also arranged the same method on Zhang Liang, so he felt a little empathy.

Everyone on the city wall had heard what Li Chengqian said about this sudden change before, but the sudden action of Hou Zhiyi and Chai Lingwu below the city wall caught everyone off guard.

Especially Du Chuke, in an instant, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang and Li Tai all fell into the hands of others.

He didn't know what to do for a moment?
Fortunately, the other guards under his command had surrounded several people in the center and were ready to rescue them at any time.

Li Tai looked at Chai Lingwu, who was holding the blade, in disbelief and asked in a stiff voice, "Cousin, why?"

"Your Highness!" Chai Lingwu shook his head vigorously and said, "I have advised Your Highness more than once to return to Xiangzhou and not to fight with the Crown Prince, but why won't Your Highness listen?"

"Just because of this?" Li Tai felt extremely absurd for a moment.

"And me!" The gray-clothed guard on the other side raised his head and wiped his face with his hand. In an instant, a familiar face appeared in front of Li Tai.

"Cousin!" Li Tai looked at Chai Zhewei, his pupils dilated instantly: "When did cousin return to Beijing?"

"Two days ago." Chai Zhewei looked at Li Tai and shook his head gently. "Everything Your Highness does is under the Crown Prince's watchful eye. The Crown Prince has advised Your Highness to stop more than once, but Your Highness refused to listen and allowed these two bastards to manipulate him, leading to what is happening today."

Li Tai couldn't help but look at Zhang Liang and Hou Junji. Li Tai didn't know the person who held Zhang Liang hostage, but he knew Hou Zhiyi who held Hou Junji hostage very well.

Hou Junji's son betrayed Hou Junji.

why?
Hou Junji was also looking at Hou Zhiyi. He asked calmly, "When?"

Hou Zhiyi let the tears fall as he choked back his words, "Eight days ago, the Crown Prince summoned me to the Wude Hall and told me that if my father made an unforgivable mistake, I only needed to stop him, and he would do his utmost to protect me, my two younger brothers, and even my older sister."

After a short pause, Hou Zhiyi cried and said, "Aye, Qi Niang is pregnant."

Qinnan was Hou Zhiyi's wife. If Hou Zhiyi's wife was pregnant, it meant that Hou Junji had a grandson.

"No wonder!" Hou Junji finally understood. He nodded and said, "You did the right thing. Aye did make a mistake. You should have done this, but you were also wrong. The prince's reply doesn't count. Your Aye is guilty of treason. How can you and your son be let off in the future?"

Hou Junji turned around and looked up at Li Chengqian on the city wall. He slowly raised his left hand and pointed it at his neck.

With a "whoosh", a crossbow arrow instantly pierced Hou Junji's throat.

Blood immediately splashed over Hou Zhiyi.

Hou Zhiyi was stunned, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

Seeing Hou Junji fall to the ground, Hou Zhiyi subconsciously stepped forward to support him.

Hou Junji looked at Hou Zhiyi and said softly, "Silly boy, Aye still has a chance."

Hou Junji's gaze fell on Zuo Kuangzheng in the distance behind Hou Zhiyi.

General Zuo Kuangzheng of the Left Jinwu Guard.

(End of this chapter)