I Have A Martial Dao World-Chapter 379 - : 379. The Emperor and Empress Hunt in the West

Chapter 379: 379. The Emperor and Empress Hunt in the West

Imperial City

Seeing that only Zuo Gong had returned among the Great Grandmasters, people’s hearts were fluttering to the extreme, and even the Imperial Guards guarding the Imperial City were panicked and uneasy.

More and more people were packing up their valuables and preparing to flee, leaving this city about to erupt in war.

Along the road, there were people supporting the elderly and carrying young, whole families dragged along, as well as rich families in horse-drawn carriages and even powerful clans in automobiles.

At this time, there was still some order, although they were leaving their homes and their faces showed sorrow, they were not in a state of constant panic.

But just then, those who had fled earlier came back in a terrible state, covered in blood, bringing a devastating piece of news:

The Texas and Shimen area to the south had been occupied by the Coalition Forces of the Great Powers; to the north, Rakshasa’s army of 150,000 had taken Shanhaiguan, and the defending general Zuo Baogui had committed suicide for his country.

In other words, the routes for ordinary people to escape had all been cut off!

This threw everything into complete chaos, with countless people running around like headless flies.

They didn’t know what to do and simply wanted to instinctively flee the Imperial City, but there were so many people that they ended up blocking the gates, creating total disarray.

When Lu Yao and his family arrived, they witnessed this scene of evacuation.

This was Yongding Gate, the main thoroughfare for entering and exiting the Imperial City from the south. The crowd was pushing and shoving, screaming and shouting, and it looked like a serious stampede was about to happen.

Li Pei quickly leapt onto the city wall and mustered his Inner Breath to bellow:

“Quiet down!! What’s the panic for!! The foreigners are not so easily going to storm the Imperial City!! With Zuo Gong and The Empress Dowager inside, and the Three Great Grandmasters and the Ten Provincial Governors’ relief armies outside, don’t fall into disarray and give the Demon Beasts an advantage!”

His shout carried for miles, making the ears of those nearby buzz, and farther away, a flock of birds took flight in alarm.

His words were logical and convincing, and the crowd’s panic gradually subsided.

Li Pei gracefully descended from the city wall, dignified and composed as she left Yongding Gate with her husband.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once they were away from the crowd, Li Pei’s collected demeanor vanished, and worry showed on her delicate and fair face.

Lu Yao patted his wife’s shoulder to comfort her, then fell into deep thought.

He too was somewhat vexed; he had thought his preparations were sufficient, but he didn’t expect the Coalition Forces of the Great Powers to bring four Golden Body Level combatants all at once.

If this were a novel, the enemies would definitely trickle in one by one like the gourd brothers saving their grandfather, allowing the protagonist to reveal his trump card and slay them, exuding an invincible style.

But reality did not give any such opportunity; it was an all-out blow without holding back.

Moreover, the Coalition Forces were composed of elite troops, and there was no shortage of Innate-level experts among them.

Plus the various advanced war machines, it was a very difficult battle to fight!

Lu Yao pondered over the cards he had in his hand, but even against four Golden Body Level opponents they did not seem of much use.

He could not even guarantee that a nuclear bomb could successfully eliminate one…

At that moment, Liao Qe quietly tugged at Lu Yao’s sleeve and asked softly, “Do you have a plan this time?”

The three sisters looked at him all at once, their eyes clear as autumn waters, filled with hope and not blinking an eye.

Lu Yao took a deep breath and smiled, “Don’t worry, your husband I…”

Before he could finish, a few newsboys shouted a few sentences, and the crowd that had calmed down again began to seethe.

Lu Yao stopped a newsboy to buy a newspaper, and it was yet another piece of bad news—the Ten Provincial Governors, including the three Great Grandmasters, were publicly defying Emperor Yong’an’s decree to support the royal cause!

The newspaper clearly stated:

[To preserve the civilization that has lasted for thousands of years and to maintain international diplomatic relations and peace, the Ten Provincial Governors do not recognize the false commands issued by the Boxers and have reached the “Southeast Protection Pact” with the participating countries of the war, refusing to head north to support the royals]

The article made clear, under the call of Great Grandmaster Zhang Wenda, the provincial governors had struck peace agreements with the invading powers, seeking self-preservation, and even… proclamations of independence!

The powers would not drain the pond to catch the fish, especially England that had huge interests in the various treaty ports of South China.

Several consuls had already sent urgent telegrams to the queen, claiming “any turmoil in the Yangtze River basin would cause enormous losses.”

They also pointed out “if the treaty ports were damaged, it would lead to the most severe disaster.”

Therefore, for the sake of protecting their interests and desiring not to trigger too fierce a resistance, under the leadership of Einheit, the great powers simply signed the “Southeast Protection Pact.”

But this also meant that the Imperial City would be utterly without reinforcements, it had become a place of desperation!

Li Pei flipped through the newspaper time and time again, still not daring to believe, “How dare they! This is treason! This is…”

Lu Yao wrapped his arms around his younger sister’s fragrant shoulders, soothing her gently, “Peipei, don’t panic, I’m here.”

Leaning into her husband’s embrace, Li Pei’s eyes, which were normally bright and astute, were now dim and lusterless, “Four Golden Body Level demon beasts… what are we to do…”

Liao Ya’s gentle voice spoke up, “Sister Li, with the Grandmaster and The Empress Dowager here, plus us, we might still be able to hold the Imperial City!”

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~~~~~~~~~~~~

Forbidden City

As catastrophe loomed, Emperor Yong’an hastily requested an audience with The Empress Dowager.

Be it the Heavenly Demon or the Demon Empress, after all, she was one of the top fighters of the Shun Dynasty’s royal family. At such a critical juncture, it was time to rely on her.

However, Emperor Yong’an was denied entry twice in a row, blocked by the great eunuch An Dehai and not allowed to proceed.

“The Empress Dowager is unwell, Your Majesty, please return.”

As the situation deteriorated, the barely 20-year-old Emperor Yong’an couldn’t keep his composure any longer. Fretting like an ant on a hot pan, he shouted in the direction of Changchun Palace:

“Empress Dowager! The situation is as precarious as a pile of eggs. If you do not show yourself now, we may not be able to turn the tide!”

After shouting these words, Emperor Yong’an was ushered out by several eunuchs.

He struggled persistently, and at that moment, a dignified female voice came from within the palace, “Let the Emperor come in.”

No longer obstructed by the eunuchs, Emperor Yong’an brisked up his sleeves and quickly stepped into Changchun Palace.

Inside, numerous palace maids and eunuchs were busy packing. The beloved items of The Empress Dowager were carefully and orderly put away — the scene was hectic yet not chaotic.

But this was clearly about preparing to flee, no different from the outside crowd trying to escape.

Looking at the graceful woman seated before him, Emperor Yong’an said in disbelief, “You’re leaving? You’re going to abandon the countless people and run away!?”

The Empress Dowager scoffed, “We’re facing four notorious powerhouses. A cripple like me, halfway into the coffin along with Grandmaster Zuo, can hardly afford to take the risk and engage in battle.”

Emperor Yong’an’s face turned beet red as he shouted, “You have enjoyed the sustenance of the world; how can you simply flee at the first sign of trouble, you…”

But before he could finish speaking, he fell to the ground, unable to continue.

The Empress Dowager just coldly glanced at him, and the agitated Emperor lost the ability to speak, even struggling to stand properly.

“What a joke! You actually expect me to risk my life for mere mortals against demon beasts!

I have come so far, enduring so much hardship and exhaustion! The late Emperor was scared to the point of wetting himself at a mere glance from the ‘Eight Senior Ministers of the Imperial Edict’, and it was I who painstakingly maintained our realm.

Having finally reached this point, with good days still ahead, how could I fall here! If someone must risk their life, let Zuo Jicun do it himself, he’s not long for this world anyway.”

At that moment, the great eunuch An Dehai appeared and reported, “Empress Dowager, everything is ready.”

The Empress Dowager inquired, “Are all the treasures from the imperial vault packed safely?”

“Rest assured, I have personally overseen it, ensuring there will be no issues~”

Only then did The Empress Dowager nod her head before saying to the disoriented Emperor Yong’an:

“You are still young and there’s no need for you to stay here and be buried along with the rest. Having suffered humiliation, it would also bring shame to your ancestors; come with me.”

Emperor Yong’an obediently replied, “Your son will not leave; the Chongzhen Emperor of the previous dynasty fulfilled his promise of dying with his state, and your son also wants to…”

But his words were cut off again by The Empress Dowager’s impatient interruption, “I’m not asking for your opinion. Your presence will be needed in opening the gates of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor. Follow me to Chang’an.”

With that, a bright light shot from The Empress Dowager’s forehead and into the brain of Emperor Yong’an.

Emperor Yong’an’s body immediately became obedient, following meekly behind The Empress Dowager, even though his facial expressions continuously changed, as if he were struggling.

“The demon beasts will likely arrive soon; we shall set off immediately. Issue an edict to Zuo Jicun — ‘The Emperor and Empress shall proceed westward to hunt; ensure the safety of the Imperial City.’

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