Chapter 34 The Empress Dowager's Feast at Hongmen

Chapter 34 The Empress Dowager's Feast at Hongmen

The good days didn't last three days.

That afternoon, the heavy vermilion gate of the Regent's Palace was opened wide once again.

This time, it wasn't just some random relative who came; it was an angel from the palace—

Li Gonggong, the head eunuch serving the Empress Dowager.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was solemn.

Pei Yunjing sat upright in the main seat, showing no intention of even getting up to receive the imperial decree, casually toying with the black jade thumb ring in his hand.

Eunuch Li was clearly used to the regent's arrogance and dared not utter a single complaint. He simply unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud in his high-pitched voice:

"By imperial decree: Recent celestial phenomena have been unusual. Although the war in the northern border has ended, the fate of the nation still requires stability. Out of compassion for the people, I hereby order Regent Pei Yunjing, accompanied by Princess Tangli, to travel to the Huguo Temple on the outskirts of the capital in three days to pray for the prosperity of the nation. This is my decree—"

After reading it, Eunuch Li, with a beaming smile, closed the imperial edict, bent down, and handed it over.

"Your Highness, this is all thanks to the Empress Dowager's good intentions. Huguo Temple is a royal temple, with the strongest spiritual energy. The Empress Dowager said that Your Highness has been too ruthless, and this is a good opportunity to cleanse yourself of the evil aura."

Dispel evil spirits?

They probably want to kill him.

Tang Li stood beside Pei Yunjing, her head bowed, but in that instant, a level 10 alarm went off in her heart.

Huguo Temple.

She had searched for this place in the original owner's memories.

It was in a deep mountain on the outskirts of Beijing, in a treacherous location with only one winding mountain road leading to it, surrounded by cliffs.

If someone were to ambush you on the way, or close the temple gates... it would be a natural grave, impossible to escape.

This is hardly a prayer for blessings.

This is clearly a meticulously planned trap!

Pei Yunjing did not go to receive the imperial decree.

He merely lifted his eyelids, glanced indifferently at Eunuch Li, and a faint, ambiguous smile curved his lips:

"Praying for blessings? The Empress Dowager is quite thoughtful."

He gave Uncle Zhao a look, and Uncle Zhao stepped forward to accept the imperial edict.

“Go back and tell the Empress Dowager,” Pei Yunjing’s voice was languid, yet it carried a chilling undertone, “I will keep my appointment on time.”

"Yes, yes, this servant will certainly convey the message."

Eunuch Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and without lingering, hurriedly left with a group of eunuchs.

Just as they turned to leave, Tang Li noticed that a pure white Persian cat wearing a gold collar was following at Eunuch Li's feet.

That was "Snowball," the Empress Dowager's most beloved imperial cat, which she took everywhere she went. This time, it actually followed Eunuch Li out of the palace.

The cat walked gracefully past Tang Li, then stopped and looked up at her.

The next second, a voice filled with fear and complaints clearly pierced Tang Li's mind:

【Meow... I was so scared!】

Why is this palace so cold? It's even colder than the Cining Palace!

[Hurry, hurry! That old woman has been sharpening her knife in the Buddhist hall every day for the past few days. The sizzling sound is making my teeth ache!]

She also said something to the man in black... "This time, we must make sure he never comes back," and "Huguo Temple will be his burial ground"...

[Ugh, those two-legged creatures are terrifying, always fighting and killing. The food at the Prince's mansion smells so good, but I dare not eat it... I'm outta here!]

Tang Li's pupils suddenly contracted.

It's confirmed.

Sharpening the knife every day? A one-way trip? A place of burial?

The Empress Dowager is determined to kill Pei Yunjing at Huguo Temple!

As Eunuch Li disappeared outside the door, the atmosphere in the main hall instantly turned cold.

"Your Highness!"

The remaining staff members' expressions changed drastically, and they all stepped forward to dissuade him:

"This trip is absolutely out of the question! Huguo Temple is situated in a strategically important location, easy to attack but difficult to defend. The Empress Dowager's summons of you out of the city at this time is clearly a ploy to lure you away from your prey, with ulterior motives!"

"Yes, Your Highness! We've just discovered the traitor, and things are still unstable in the north. If we leave the capital now and are ambushed along the way, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

"Please reconsider, Your Highness! We can simply feign illness and not go!"

Everyone was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

However, Pei Yunjing, who was at the center of the storm, remained calm and composed.

He stood up, walked to the map of the outskirts of Beijing hanging on the wall, and gently tapped the three characters "Huguo Temple" with his slender fingers.

"Not going?"

Pei Yunjing chuckled lightly, turned around, and his eyes flashed with an almost insane arrogance and confidence:

"Since she has gone to such lengths to set up this stage, wouldn't it be disappointing for her if I were to be absent?"

"But Your Highness..."

No need for further explanation.

Pei Yunjing waved his sleeve, interrupting everyone's advice.

His aura suddenly became fierce, like a peerless weapon drawn from its sheath:

"Hide? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."

“Perfect.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingertips rubbing the hilt of the sword at his waist, his tone chilling. “I also want to see if the sword in the hands of the assassins she has raised for so many years is sharp enough.”

This is a kind of contempt stemming from absolute strength.

In this world, apart from the excruciating overload of his five senses, there is no one who can make Pei Yunjing feel fear.

A few mere assassins, just kill them.

The advisors exchanged glances, knowing they couldn't persuade the man, and could only helplessly step back to arrange for the Black Armor Guards to accompany and escort him.

Only Pei Yunjing and Tang Li remained in the hall.

Pei Yunjing seemed to be in a good mood. He was about to go to the study when he found that the little woman who had always been in the background was standing there with a pale face.

"how?"

Pei Yunjing stopped and raised an eyebrow at her: "Are you scared stiff?"

Tang Li swallowed hard and looked up at the incredibly confident big shot.

You are invincible, of course you are not afraid.

But I'm so fragile!

I have no internal energy, no martial arts skills. If a fight breaks out, that cat's "sharpening the knife"... the first strike might not hit you, but it will definitely kill this burden of mine!

“That… Your Highness.”

Tang Li forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, and cautiously raised her hand:

"Since this journey is perilous, Your Highness's unparalleled skills will naturally ensure your safety. But I... I am utterly powerless, and going there would only cause trouble for Your Highness and be a burden."

She blinked her big eyes, full of hope:

"How about... I don't go? I can stay in the manor, eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers every day, and pray for the prince's well-being?"

"Not going?"

Pei Yunjing seemed to have heard a joke.

He walked a few steps to Tang Li, and a huge shadow instantly enveloped her.

"Tang Li, have you forgotten who you are?"

He reached out and gently pinched the back of Tangli's neck—

It's like holding a cat by the scruff of its neck.

"You are my medicine."

Pei Yunjing leaned down and whispered in her ear, his voice carrying a despairing sense of entitlement:

"Wherever I go, you must go."

"Without you, I'll have a headache. And if I have a headache..."

He chuckled softly, his fingers tracing the delicate artery in her carotid artery:

"Then I promise that before I die, I will take you down with me."

"So, don't even think about running away. Go back and pack your bags."

After saying that, Pei Yunjing let go of his hand and strode away.

Tang Li was left standing alone in the empty hall, bewildered in the wind.

"..."

Tangli covered her face in despair.

Is this what is called a "personal accessory"?

These are clearly "burial goods"!

The pro player was going to feed kills, and he was forcibly taking her, a max-level support, with him to their deaths.

no!

We absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!

Since we can't escape, we'll have to arm ourselves to the teeth!

Tang Li clenched her fists, her eyes turning fierce.

On this trip to Huguo Temple, she not only needs to bring all her wound medicine, dagger, and flint, but also her strongest cheat code!

Big White is too big to carry around...

Then we'll have to borrow something "intimidating" from Big White!

To survive, I'll fight!