The imperial court is ceding territory from our northern border? Then we'll rebel!

Beijing.

The night was as deep and still as water.

The entire city was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

Since the Empress issued the imperial edict to quell the rebellion, which was met with collective resistance from the military and court officials, the capital has been under an unprecedented state of martial law.

The Imperial Guards and spies from the Imperial City Guard were everywhere, checking every suspicious person.

In particular, the secret prisons that held the families of generals in the northern frontier were surrounded like an iron barrel, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, so that not even a fly could get in.

Zhao Tianlin, the commander of the Imperial City Guard, is currently personally overseeing the command post of the largest prison—the Heavenly Prison.

He knew very well that the families of these northern border generals were the last card in Her Majesty the Empress's hand, a card that might be able to restrain Xiao Jingchen.

Absolutely, there can be no mistakes.

"All of you, pay close attention!" Zhao Tianlin shouted sternly to his officers. "Tonight, anyone who dares to doze off even once, I'll skin them alive!"

"Yes, sir!"

However, Zhao Tianlin was unaware that an invisible net had already been quietly cast against his impenetrable defenses.

In the south of the city, inside an inconspicuous residential house.

Black Crow, along with his dozen or so most elite bodyguards, were gathered around a simple map of the capital.

"Boss, we've investigated everything." A guard pointed to several points on the map and whispered, "Wang Ergou's family members have been separated and imprisoned in three different places. The largest group, mainly women and children, is in the Heavenly Prison. The other two, the Earthly Prison and the Mysterious Prison, hold the elderly and infirm."

"The Heavenly Division is the most heavily guarded, with Zhao Tianlin, the commander of the Imperial City Guard, personally overseeing it. There are no fewer than five hundred Imperial City Guard experts inside, and three thousand Imperial Guards providing support on the perimeter. It is absolutely impossible to force our way in."

Black Crow nodded, his face ashen.

This situation was more complicated than he had anticipated.

"Have our people infiltrated?" he asked.

"Three have gone in," another guard replied. "One bribed the jailer and infiltrated the Heavenly Division as a handyman. The other two have also found places to stay in the Earthly and Mystic Divisions, respectively. However, neither of them can get close to the core detention area."

"Time is running out." Black Crow tapped his knuckles lightly on the table. "The situation on the Marquis's side is largely settled, and he could launch an attack south at any moment. We must rescue the people before then and eliminate any worries the Marquis may have."

"But boss, this...this is simply an impossible mission!" a young bodyguard couldn't help but say. "What's the difference between this and pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth?"

"Even if it's impossible, we have to make it possible." A cold glint flashed in Black Crow's eyes. "If we can't force our way in, then we'll have to outsmart them."

His gaze slowly moved across the map, finally settling on the location of the imperial palace.

"If you want a tiger to open its mouth, you have to give it something else to do."

He raised his head and looked at the crowd.

"Tonight, our target is not the top-tier prison."

"Instead, it's the imperial palace."

"What?!"

All the guards were taken aback.

To storm the palace? Isn't that even more suicidal than storming the most notorious prison?

"Obey my command." Black Crow's voice brooked no argument.

"At three-quarters past midnight, one group, go to the armory in the east of the city and set it on fire."

"Second group, go to the granary in the west of the city and set it on fire as well."

"Group Three, your target is the residence of Zhao Tianlin, the commander of the Imperial City Guard. Don't hurt anyone, just make as much noise as possible."

"As for me..." A mad and burning light flashed in Black Crow's eyes, "I will personally lead men to storm the Meridian Gate of the Imperial Palace!"

"Boss! You've gone mad!"

"This...this is suicide!"

Everyone tried to dissuade him.

"I'm not crazy," Black Crow said coldly. "Our goal isn't to break in, but to lure them away from the mountain."

"If the armory and granary catch fire, most of the city's garrison will inevitably be mobilized."

"With the commander's residence attacked, even if Zhao Tianlin doesn't go back personally, he will definitely send people to assist him."

"And we, breaking into the palace gates at night—what a momentous event that would be! It would surely attract the attention of the Empress and the Imperial City Guard!"

"By then, the defenses of the Heavenly Prison will be more vulnerable than ever before! And that will be our only chance!"

He looked at the three guards who had already infiltrated the area.

"The three of you, upon hearing sounds of fighting coming from the direction of the Meridian Gate, act immediately! Do everything in your power to create chaos and bring the person out!"

"Remember, you only have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn! After that time, regardless of victory or defeat, retreat immediately!"

Everyone was so shocked by Black Crow's insane plan that they were speechless.

This is a plan to risk one's own life to create opportunities for one's companions.

Those who attempt to break through the Meridian Gate face a near-certain death.

"Boss... let us go!" one of the guards said, his eyes red.

"Execute the order!" Black Crow's voice was resolute.

……

The third quarter of the hour of Zi (11:45 PM).

"Fire! The armory is on fire!"

From the east of the city, a piercing cry shattered the night sky.

Immediately afterwards, towering flames dyed half the sky red.

Before the city defense battalion could react...

"Oh no! The West City granary is on fire too!"

News followed in quick succession.

The entire garrison in the capital was instantly thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, inside the Heavenly Prison.

Zhao Tianlin had just received the news and hadn't had time to give the order yet.

One of his trusted men stumbled in.

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! Your residence... your residence has been broken into by a group of assassins!"

"What?!" Zhao Tianlin was shocked.

However, before he could react...

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!—"

In the direction of the palace, the Jingyang Bell, representing the highest level of alert, was being struck frantically!

The bell tolled, urgent and mournful, echoing throughout the entire capital!

Zhao Tianlin's face instantly drained of all color.

The tolling of the Jingyang Bell signifies one thing—an assassin has broken into the palace!

"Hurry! Hurry!!" Zhao Tianlin roared hoarsely, "Leave half the men to guard the prison! The rest of you, come with me to protect the Emperor! Hurry!!"

He no longer had time to think about why so many things had happened tonight.

All he knew was that if something happened to the emperor, even a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to chop him off!

He led a large group of Imperial City Guard experts and charged towards the palace like a madman.

The once impregnable Tianzi Prison had its defenses reduced by more than half in an instant.

And shortly after they left.

In the prison kitchen, the handyman responsible for tending the fire had a glint in his eyes.

He silently poured a packet of powder, which he had prepared beforehand and contained a mixture of croton and sleeping pills, into the soup pot prepared as a midnight snack for the guards.

At the same time, small-scale riots and fires also occurred in the Earth-class and Mysterious-class prisons.

The opportunity has arrived!

……

Outside the Meridian Gate.

Black Crow, accompanied by ten bodyguards, stood with his back against the palace wall, already surrounded by hundreds of imperial guards and elite soldiers.

Each of them carried wounds.

Dozens of Imperial Guard corpses lay on the ground.

"Who are you! How dare you break into the palace at night!" a commander of the Imperial Guards shouted, his voice stern but his voice weak.

Black Crow did not answer, but just stared at him coldly, calculating the time.

almost.

He smiled at his brothers.

"Brothers, it's so exhilarating to be able to cause chaos and upheaval right here under the emperor's nose!"

"That was exhilarating!" the crowd shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the surrounding area.

"Remember our name!" Black Crow raised his sword, the blade pointing directly at the crowd ahead. "We are the Black Crow Guard, under the command of the Marquis of Zhenbei!"

"kill!!"

He roared and launched the final charge.

……

Half an hour later.

In a secluded grove on the outskirts of Beijing.

The three teams finally came together.

Behind them followed a group of men and women, young and old, dressed in tattered clothes and still in shock.

They were Wang Ergou's family members.

"Where's the boss? Where's Black Crow?"

The bodyguard in charge of providing backup looked at the three teams and asked anxiously.

The three guards who fought their way out of the prison were covered in blood, and one of them had lost an arm.

They all fell silent when they heard the question.

One of them took out a black token engraved with a raven totem from his pocket.

"The boss and the others... are all... trapped in the palace... in order to buy us some time..."

All the bodyguards present had bloodshot eyes.

They knelt heavily on one knee, facing the direction of the palace.

"Respectfully seeing off our boss!"

A mournful sound echoed through the forest.

After a long while, the bodyguard with the missing arm stood up and wiped away his tears.

"The boss's mission is complete. Our mission is not yet complete."

He looked at the rescued family members, and his voice became incredibly firm.

"Take them immediately and leave the capital! Head north! To meet up with the Marquis!"

"We must ensure they are delivered safely to the Marquis!"