I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Just then, the Tianquan Sword in Zhuo Dingfeng's hand suddenly burst forth with a dazzling blue light.

He could tell at a glance that Yue Xiuzhe was focusing all his attention on dealing with the Vermilion Bird's golden sword rain.

This is the perfect time to launch a sneak attack!

"Brother Yue, I'm so sorry!"

Zhuo Dingfeng gave a low shout and his figure flashed behind Yue Xiuzhe like a ghost.

The Heavenly Spring Sword transformed into a streak of blue lightning, aiming straight for Yue Xiuzhe's vital point in the back!

"Baby!"

Yue Xiuzhe cursed loudly, and in his haste, he only had time to turn to the side to dodge, but he was still pierced through the left shoulder by the sword.

"puff!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhuque's sword pierced Yue Xiuzhe's left abdomen, and blood gushed out immediately.

The two masters attacked from both sides, causing this top expert of Southern Chu to suffer another heavy blow.

Yue Xiuzhe knelt on one knee, blood continuously spilling from the corner of his mouth, yet he still stubbornly refused to fall.

"Baby, is this how the Great Liang treats its guests—by ganging up on the few?"

Suzaku sneered, "A dying man, yet he calls out so affectionately."

The two joined forces again, giving Yue Xiuze no chance to breathe.

He struggled to stay upright, barely managing to defend himself against the two fierce attacks.

Ding ding ding! ! !

The two sword energies clashed repeatedly with Yue Xiuzhe's sword, sparking dazzling sparks.

Yue Xiuzhe was struggling to cope alone, with sword energy constantly grazing his body and spraying blood everywhere.

"Well!"

He groaned and staggered backward.

Fighting two opponents alone is simply beyond my capabilities.

"Brother Yue, admit defeat, and I'll beg His Majesty to spare your life!"

Zhuo Dingfeng slowed his swordplay slightly, as if he were reluctant to do so.

"Don't even think about it!"

Yue Xiuzhe roared angrily, and suddenly his sword aura surged. He disregarded his own safety and used a killing move that would lead to mutual destruction.

Xuanwu, who was watching from the sidelines, suddenly flashed a cold glint in his eyes and appeared beside him like a ghost.

A sword pierced his shoulder blade, and with a flick of the blade, severed his entire right arm.

"Pfft!"

Blood gushed out, and Yue Xiuzhe swayed, kneeling on one knee.

He struggled to get up, but Xuanwu kicked him in the chest, sending him flying several meters away.

"Cough cough..." Yue Xiuzhe coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, trembling as he raised his long sword and hissed.

"Baby, baby!"

Upon seeing this, Zhuo Dingfeng's eyes widened in fury, his Heavenly Spring Sword pointed directly at Xuanwu, and he shouted angrily, "You clearly said you wouldn't participate in the war, and now you're going back on your word!!"

"Ok?"

"Is this happening?"

"Did I say that?"

Xuanwu was taken aback upon hearing this.

"You!" Zhuo Dingfeng was so angry that his hair and beard stood on end, and even the edge of his sword trembled slightly.

"oops…"

Xuanwu suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing something.

"I remember now, I did say that."

He shrugged, spread his hands, and said, "Sorry, I've changed my mind."

At this moment, Zhuque walked slowly to Zhuo Dingfeng's side with his hands behind his back, his voice as cold as ice.

"Master Zhuo, it's your turn. Kill him."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Dingfeng's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and he looked at Yue Xiuzhe with a look of reluctance.

Then the sword tip slowly rose, but stopped in mid-air.

He suddenly turned his head and asked, "Is it really necessary? Can't we spare his life?"

Zhuque's eyes remained unwavering: "His Majesty desires Yue Xiuzhe's head, not his life."

Zhuo Dingfeng took a deep breath and finally hardened his heart.

The Heavenly Spring Sword transformed into a beam of light and pierced Yue Xiuzhe's heart.

boom!

Yue Xiuze collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness completely.

"Is it okay now?"

Zhuo Dingfeng's voice was icy cold, and blood was still dripping from the Tianquan Sword in his hand.

Zhuque chuckled lightly and said slowly, "Master Zhuo, please don't be in such a hurry. I'll have to trouble you to cut off his head yourself."

"you!!"

Zhuo Dingfeng flew into a rage, and his true energy suddenly erupted, causing his robes to flutter loudly.

His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed his sword at Zhuque: "How dare you desecrate the remains of a Grandmaster like this?"

Just then, a chill suddenly ran down his back, as Xuanwu had silently approached him without him noticing.

"Master Zhuo, even if it pierces the heart, it might not be fatal. It's safer to cut off the head."

Zhuo Dingfeng froze, only then realizing that he was being subtly surrounded by the two men, one in front and one behind.

Suzaku said calmly, "This world is just that cruel. Even I can't choose, so do you think you can?"

"I've got Yue Xiuzhe by my side. Even Jesus couldn't stop me, I'm telling you!"

At that moment, Xuanwu's voice came from behind, icy cold and devoid of any warmth.

"Do it!"

Zhuo Dingfeng's face turned deathly pale. He had indeed held back some of his strength with that sword strike, hoping to save Yue Xiuzhe's life, but now...

Clang!

The Tianquan Sword drew a poignant arc under the moonlight.

puff!

Blood gushed out like a spring, staining Zhuo Dingfeng's robes red.

Yue Xiuzhe's head flew high into the air, leaving a scarlet trail in the moonlight, before finally crashing heavily to the ground and rolling several times.

Yuwen Nian and his group lingered at the Ningguo Marquis's residence for a long time, but Yue Xiuzhe never appeared.

She and Yuwen Xuan exchanged a glance, both reading an ominous premonition in each other's eyes.

Seeing that things were hopeless, she had no choice but to send Yuwen Xuan back to the Court of State Ceremonial.

On her way back to the palace, her heart was in suspense, feeling that the wind tonight was unusually cold and chilling.

She hurriedly stepped into the gate of Yongshou Palace and immediately saw Zhu Houcong sitting upright on the dragon-patterned soft couch, reading memorials.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty the Emperor!" She hurriedly bowed, her voice trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Zhu Houcong put down his memorial, stood up, and personally helped her up, saying with a smile, "My beloved consort has done a great service by helping me catch this big fish, Yue Xiuzhe, today!"

"what?"

Yuwen Nian suddenly looked up, instinctively letting out a cry of surprise, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

Zhu Houcong said unhurriedly, "Just now, Master Zhuo of Tianquan Manor fought with Yue Xiuzhe in the suburbs of Jinling City and has now beheaded him and presented him to me."

boom!

Yuwen Nian felt dizzy and the world spun around her; her delicate face instantly lost all color.

Her lips trembled uncontrollably, yet she couldn't utter a single complete syllable.

"This...this is impossible..."

Zhu Houcong admired her pale face and suddenly reached out to touch her cheek.

"My beloved consort, don't be so self-righteous as you were today. Be obedient, and I might spare your father and brothers' lives in the future."

"You don't want anything to happen to them, do you?"

Yuwen Nian was so frightened by what she heard that she trembled all over. She finally realized that she had been forced into becoming a pawn in this emperor's game of chess.

This whole scene was just bait to lure Yue Xiuzhe out.

Chapter 113 The New Patrol Battalion Commander

The following day, an imperial edict quickly spread throughout Nanjing.

The emperor was sent to heaven to carry the order, and the edict said:

Zhuo Dingfeng, the master of Tianquan Manor, fought a fierce battle outside Jinling City against Yue Xiuzhe, a spy from Southern Chu and commander of the palace guards, and beheaded him, making a great contribution.

He is hereby specially promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Capital Patrol Battalion, in charge of all troops of the patrol battalion. This is the imperial decree.

Wherever the imperial edict went, it caused an uproar.

It should be noted that the Langya List includes masters from four kingdoms: Daliang, Dayu, Beiyan, and Nanchu, and there are only five grandmasters on the list.

First, Meng Zhi was mysteriously murdered, and now Zhuo Dingfeng has killed Yue Xiuzhe.

In just a few months, the Langya List has lost two top masters!

Even more shocking is that Zhuo Dingfeng, a figure from the martial arts world, suddenly rose to become the commander of a patrol battalion with a large army.

The major powers reacted extremely quickly, with the Crown Prince's Palace, Prince Yu's Mansion, Prince Jing's Mansion, and Prince Yu's Mansion all vying to send generous gifts to the Zhuo family to offer their congratulations.

I hope to forge a good relationship with Zhuo Dingfeng.

However, Zhuo Dingfeng had already made a clean break with their attempts to win him over.

That is to firmly support the legitimate succession of the Crown Prince.

This is why Tianquan Manor repeatedly performs dirty and shady tasks under Xie Yu's orders.

"Father, the Prince Yu's mansion has sent someone again, saying they would like to invite you to their residence for a chat."

Zhuo Qingyao held the gold-embossed invitation and asked cautiously.

Zhuo Dingfeng didn't even look up, continuing to wipe the Tianquan Sword in his hand.

Tell them that my old injury has not yet healed and I am unable to attend the banquet.

Zhuo Qingyao frowned and spoke her mind.

"Father, just by looking at how a treacherous villain like Xie Yu can thrive in the Eastern Palace, one can tell what kind of people the Eastern Palace is cultivating."

Should we really continue to support them?

"Xie Yu is Xie Yu, and the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. There are all sorts of birds in a big forest. The Eastern Palace is the legitimate heir, and our Zhuo family will naturally stand on the side of righteousness."

Zhuo Qingyao nodded, opened her mouth again, but hesitated to speak.

Seeing his son still looking like he wanted to say something but couldn't, Zhuo Dingfeng understood his dilemma.

"It must be Xie Qi pleading for me again, right?"

"Father, you are wise."