QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 313 - 10.14

"The female lead of this world is not to be underestimated."

Outside the capital gates, with the city already under siege, Jiang Jiamian couldn’t help but think of Yu Miaomiao.

After her rebirth, she relied on her foreknowledge, acting cautiously and methodically. In the original story, she truly depended on her own efforts to help the male lead, the Fourth Prince, barely win against Xiao Jinan’s rebellion several years later.

And thus came the so-called happy ending: emperor and empress, side by side.

It sounded simple, yet achieving such an ending amid internal chaos, external threats, and brothers fighting over the throne was anything but easy.

She was a typical reborn female lead, once blinded by love, making one wrong step after another, living a miserable life. Death forced her awake, and after rebirth, she became rational and cautious.

More importantly, she had expressed sympathy and pity for the Jiang family’s fate more than once. For that reason alone, Jiang Jiamian couldn’t bring himself to dislike her.

"Jiamian."

Xiao Jinan, riding beside him, noticed Jiang Jiamian staring at the capital gates with a distant expression. Mistaking it for brooding over the Jiang family’s tragedy, he reached out and gently shook Jiang Jiamian’s hand.

"Don’t worry. The throne is already within reach. I’ve thoroughly investigated the power structure in the capital, storming the palace is only a matter of time. When that happens, I’ll personally kill that dog of an emperor, avenge your grandfather and the innocent members of the Jiang family, clear the Jiang family’s name, and wipe out both border kingdoms of Gole and Tuojia."

"Good."

Jiang Jiamian turned to look at him. "Your words are enough."

The next moment, Jiang Jiamian suddenly urged his horse forward, but instead of charging toward the city, he turned and galloped away.

Xiao Jinan: "..."

His queen... ran off!?

Before Xiao Jinan could recover, Jiang Jiamian abruptly pulled on the reins, forcefully turning his horse back toward the city gate.

Almost simultaneously, two soldiers behind him rushed forward from left and right, each carrying a massive bow and an arrow as thick as a spear.

Jiang Jiamian smiled at Xiao Jinan. "Do you believe there’s an archery technique in this world that can shoot down a city gate?"

Xiao Jinan’s pupils contracted violently. His voice trembled as he stared at the confident, arrogant young general on horseback in the distance. "Y-you... what did you say?"

Siege engines mounted on massive wooden wheels were already in place. Once the defenders on the wall were cleared, the gates could be breached.

At that moment, the archers atop the city walls finally faltered. Xiao Jinan, assuming the enemy was exhausted, was about to order his men to seize the opportunity and advance.

Jiang Jiamian smiled brightly and took the giant bow into his hands. "If we hesitate any longer, a few more people will die."

He casually fitted the silver-plated iron blade, neither quite an arrow nor a spear, onto the bow.

Xiao Jinan’s eyes widened.

Jiang Jiamian easily drew the bowstring back, blade and string pulled to their absolute limit.

The blade’s tip pointed directly at the city gate.

Xiao Jinan felt his heart stop.

Whoosh!

The blade shot forward like a hurricane.

Where it passed, soldiers felt a violent gale sweep over their heads, nearly knocking them to the ground.

Boom!

A thunderous crash shook the earth. The towering city gate was struck head-on. The immense force didn’t stop there. With a cracking roar, the entire gate panel tore free from its frame and was hurled several meters away.

"This!" Xiao Jinan exclaimed in shock.

What a terrifying wife!

Only now did he realize that Jiang Jiamian had been holding back after their wedding, merely teasing him night after night.

If he had used even a fraction of this strength, he, King of Huainan, would never have consummated the marriage on the fourth night.

He’d probably still be a bachelor.

Stuck forever.

Yet Jiang Jiamian had only tormented him for three nights before reluctantly agreeing to be with him.

His queen truly loved him.

Xiao Jinan was deeply moved.

At that critical moment, Jiang Jiamian glanced at Xiao Jinan, who was staring at him with an inexplicable expression, then spurred his horse forward, passing him and glaring fiercely.

"What are you still standing there for?! If you’re a step behind me, I’ll take the throne myself!"

"Alright!"

Xiao Jinan snapped back to his senses and laughed loudly. "As long as you want it, whether you’re a step ahead or I am, the throne is yours!"

"What!? The Yu family refuses to send troops!? They dare defy the imperial decree!?"

The old Emperor, already aware that the King of Huainan had breached the capital and would soon storm the palace, could no longer sit still. He paced back and forth, feeling as though Xiao Jinan’s blade was already pressed to his throat.

"Your Majesty, what should we do? Should we..."

The eunuchs were equally panicked. If the palace fell, even the Emperor’s life would be in danger, let alone theirs.

If they could persuade him to flee, perhaps they could ’protect’ him while escaping, saving their own lives in the process.

But the Emperor had lost much of his reason. Consumed by rage and fear, he shouted, "The Yu family is just like the Jiang family! Traitors! At such a critical moment, they dare disobey my decree! Could it be that they’ve colluded with the King of Huainan to kill me?!"

"Your Majesty..."

The eunuch wiped cold sweat from his brow.

If this dragged on any longer, escape would be impossible.

Yet the imperial guards were still present. Even if they couldn’t stop the rebels, killing a eunuch would be effortless.

He wanted to run, but couldn’t.

Staying meant waiting for death.

Boom!

A thunderous crash echoed from the direction of the palace gates.

"Your Majesty! Disaster! The King of Huainan’s forces have entered the palace! This servant begs to escort Your Majesty away!"

The eunuch knelt in terror.

"Where is the Prime Minister?" The Emperor demanded hoarsely. "And those rebellious sons?"

He kicked the door in fury, despair flooding his heart, yet even stronger was the rage of betrayal and usurpation.

"They all claimed they would share my burdens! And now, at this moment, where are they?! Hiding in their residences? Saving their own lives?!"

"Your Majesty..."

The eunuch was already on the verge of fleeing.

The sounds of battle drew closer. Steel clashed. Shouts shook the heavens.

"You’re right... I can’t just wait to die!"

At last, fear overwhelmed rage. The Emperor staggered behind the screen and fumbled at a table.

Rumble.

With a deep sound, the bookshelf against the wall slowly slid aside, revealing a pitch-dark passage behind it.

A secret passage.

The eunuch’s eyes lit up with joy.

This time, he was certain he could survive.

Thank heavens he hadn’t abandoned the Emperor earlier.