"Greetings, Lord Zongzheng!"

Lin Mo hurriedly bowed in salute.

Gu Hong frowned slightly. "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"

Xu Yang said coolly, "Before I left, I gave an order—whether it's Can Yunwu, you, or anyone else who causes me trouble, all are to be killed without mercy!"

As soon as the words dropped, Lin Mo stared in shock!

Gu Hong's face also changed minutely.

He hadn't known any of this.

But even the princess...

Gu Hong's face sank, and he spoke coldly, "Your Highness is simply too domineering! The princess is your elder sister!"

Hearing this, Xu Yang secretly shook his head.

And you say you're not one of Can Yunwu's people?

Xu Yang raised his head and looked at Lord Zongzheng. "Need I say more?"

"He's not my match."

Gu Hong sneered.

Lord Zongzheng sighed.

Boom!

Suddenly, there was a tremor from the direction of the imperial palace.

At once, an indescribable aura appeared out of thin air—ancient to the extreme!

Ordinary people felt nothing.

But everyone present—Gu Hong, Xu Yang, Lin Mo—felt a chill creep into their hearts.

Gu Hong's face went deadly pale, eyes wide with terror. "Mr. Ya… How is this possible?"

The master of this aura was named Can Yan!

A member of the royal family.

But he was a powerhouse from the previous generation!

Even the current Emperor, Can Sutian, had to call him 'Imperial Uncle'!

His power had long reached the pinnacle of the Realm of True Monarch, unfathomable!

Even among the True Monarchs in the capital, few knew of his existence.

Yet only Can Sutian could summon such a figure.

Can Yan could be called the Pillar of the Capital!

"Does Your Highness intend to kill him?"

An old, hoarse voice sounded out of nowhere.

No figure, just a voice—which was enough to make even a True Monarch's hair stand on end!

Xu Yang hadn't expected a presence like this still lingered in the palace, but thinking about it, it was only natural.

"Correct!"

Gu Hong shuddered, shrieking in panic, "Your Highness, you cannot—ah!"

Suddenly, he cried out miserably, blood spurting from his mouth, falling rigidly to his knees, shaking like a leaf!

It was as if Gu Hong was enduring unimaginable, monstrous oppression; trembling, blood began seeping from all five orifices, his bones and flesh resounded with explosive cracks, as if every sinew and bone was being ground to dust.

Under such invisible pressure, he hadn't even a shred of strength to resist.

At this moment, Gu Hong's terror reached its peak!

"Stop!"

An angry shout echoed out of the void.

"Someone else?"

Xu Yang raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes at the empty air.

The void twisted, spiritual light radiating, gradually revealing a stately, noble woman, with a middle-aged man trailing behind.

That middle-aged man was himself a True Monarch!

But, still inferior to Gu Hong!

"Xu Yang, are you insane?"

The woman glared furiously at Xu Yang.

"Who is she?" Xu Yang turned to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo swallowed hard, voice quivering. "The Empress!"

Can Yunwu's mother!

Xu Yang instantly understood!

Gu Hong's presence, the empress's appearance—they were all Can Yunwu's people!

This princess wielded terrifying power in the capital!

He blinked, then bared his teeth in a cold smile to the Empress: "So, you all believe Can Sutian is done for? The time hasn't come yet, and now, one after another, you all jump out trying to seize the throne?"

Hearing this, the empress's face transformed.

"Xu Yang, you have no respect for rank!"

"Can Yunxiao, why are you just standing there? Take him back, he's making a spectacle of himself!"

The empress's gaze turned icy, voice cold and angry.

Can Yunxiao's face was unchanged, he said slowly: "Your Majesty, this old servant only takes orders from His Majesty and the Crown Prince!"

The empress trembled with rage, "You—you're all mad!"

"You'll humor this madman and go along with his lunacy?"

A mocking look flashed in Can Yunxiao's eyes. "Your Majesty, His Highness has already passed through Guhua Hall!"

Guhua Hall—this was the grand hall Xu Yang had entered previously in the palace!

"What?"

The empress turned deathly pale, exclaiming in disbelief, eyes wide.

Gu Hong, kneeling on the ground, couldn't help but gasp, frozen in shock!

How could they not know what this meant?

Xu Yang said coolly, "If you leave now, I'll pretend I never saw you!"

"Otherwise, even if you're the empress—you will be killed without mercy!"

As soon as these words dropped.

Killing intent flashed through the void like streaks of lightning; formless giant serpents locked tightly onto the empress and her guard!

It was Can Yan, hidden in the shadows!

Her guard shuddered, blood seeping from the five orifices, collapsing on his knees in midair.

The empress trembled uncontrollably, her noble dignity utterly gone in this instant!

She stared dead at Xu Yang, eyes full of rage and terror, unwilling to yield, gritting her teeth: "You..."

Xu Yang rudely cut her off: "Kill…"

"Wait!"

"Go!"

The empress screamed shrilly, spinning on her heels.

In a flash, the void returned to normal!

At the city gate, Lin Mo dared not lift his head—cold sweat beading and dripping from his brow to the ground.

Both his legs felt like jelly.

Why am I here?

I shouldn't be here!

I definitely shouldn't have seen or heard any of this!

He was just a minor City Defense Camp commander, yet had witnessed royal affairs with his own eyes.

Gu Hong's arrival had already shocked him utterly, let alone Lord Zongzheng and Can Yan.

Lin Mo wanted to run, but didn't dare utter a word—his legs wouldn't obey at all, and he was close to tears!

Xu Yang withdrew his gaze, turning it to Gu Hong.

Gu Hong raised his head with immense effort, his face stained with blood.

Looking at Xu Yang, he quivered, lips trembling as he pleaded: "Gu Hong admits his guilt, begs Your Highness for mercy!"

Bang!

Having said this, he smashed his forehead brutally against the ground, head bloodied and completely unconcerned.

Xu Yang sneered, "No more power grabbing for your mistress? I already said, if Can Yunwu dares step half a foot out of the palace—she is to be killed without mercy!"

"Take a guess—does Can Sutian care about Can Yunwu, care about you, care whether the empress lives or dies?"

Gulp!

Even after all he had experienced, this line made Gu Hong's scalp tingle!

None of that matters—the real shock is that Xu Yang dared refer to His Majesty by name?

What kind of madman is this?

No!

This is clearly a big madman and a little madman!

Suddenly, Gu Hong understood why Xu Yang could become Crown Prince.

His birthright was only part of it!

The real reason is that Xu Yang has the qualifications—he's crazy enough!

Can Sutian's schemes and plans could only be carried out by someone like Xu Yang!

"Beg Your Highness for mercy!"

"Spare me!"

Having understood everything, Gu Hong kowtowed like mad.

A dignified True Monarch—his dignity and reputation thrown to the winds!

As a True Monarch, he least wanted to die!

"You want to live?"

"If you want to live, I'll give you a chance!"

Gu Hong abruptly looked up, face lighting with hope.

"With your strength, killing you outright would be a waste!"

"Three months from now, I'll battle Song Yuanhao—you'll be my vanguard!"

"If you survive, you've got luck on your side!"

Xu Yang stared at Gu Hong, giving him a choice he dared not refuse!

Vanguard General!

A top True Monarch—Commander of the Imperial Guard!

That someone of such stature would serve as vanguard was truly shocking!

But Gu Hong only froze for a moment, then hurriedly nodded: "As Your Highness orders!"

After today, he had come to fully understand certain things.

Power struggles were but empty dreams!

Everything was under the control of that person!

Xu Yang sensed the force binding Gu Hong vanish, turned to face the imperial palace and cupped his fists. "Thank you, elder!"

Saluting, he let out a long breath, muttering, "Now, there should be no one left to stop me?"

Gu Hong couldn't help but shiver, recalling what he'd tried today, wishing he could slap himself.

You idiot!

So damn clever for your own good!

Just then, a few figures entered from outside the city, saw the scene beneath the city tower, and were instantly dumbfounded, gasping in shock!

"Ah, what happened here?"

"Hiss—Mr. Gu? Lord Zongzheng?"

"Xu Yang? Why are you here too?"