Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback-Chapter 435: Master, won’t you praise me?

At the critical moment, Mu Yan had somehow taken the crossbow from Vermilion Bird’s hands. With a bang, he shot through Si Jun’s hand, which was holding the dagger.

"Ah!" Si Jun let out a miserable cry, and the Crown Prince seized the opportunity to escape.

Zhan Beicang, Yang Wu, and Vermilion Bird moved swiftly, and within mere breaths, over a dozen traitorous soldiers of the Imperial Army were subdued.

Si Jun was pressed firmly to the ground by Zhan Beicang.

Zhan Lan’s gaze fell on Mu Yan’s hand. The composure and precision he displayed while handling the crossbow a moment ago were truly impressive.

Although the shooting distance had been relatively close, it was no easy feat to accurately hit Si Jun’s hand at the very moment he attacked.

Realizing that his archery skills might have been exposed, Mu Yan took a step closer to Zhan Lan and said in a low voice, tinged with amusement, "Master, aren’t you going to praise me?"

Zhan Lan nodded toward Mu Yan appreciatively. Though crossbows and bows were somewhat different, there was no denying that Mu Yan’s archery had improved.

"Keep it up," Zhan Lan said with a slight curve of her lips.

Mu Yan secretly brushed his fingers across hers and murmured in a voice only they could hear, "No reward for me?"

Zhan Lan cast him a sidelong glance. Someone was inciting rebellion, and here he was, still joking around.

Mu Yan’s effortless manner made it seem as if he truly didn’t need her help.

At today’s palace banquet, she hadn’t worried much at all—it was as if she’d just come to watch the show.

"Mu Yan, Zhan Lan!" Zhan Lan heard Si Jun’s hoarse voice suddenly call out. Shackled in chains by the Imperial Army, Si Jun stared at the two of them with a sinister gaze.

A twisted smile spread across Si Jun’s face as he threatened, "The little princess of the Poisonous Insect Clan is in the Regent Prince Mansion, isn’t she? What do you think will happen if she dies? Do you believe the Poisonous Insect Clan will spare you? Once they join forces with the Western Rong, just wait—you’ll be at war with both the Western Rong and the Poisonous Insect Clan."

The crowd gasped in shock. So the little princess of the Poisonous Insect Clan was in the Regent Prince Mansion!

Before Mu Yan could respond, Zhan Lan sneered lightly, "Is that so? Then let’s see if your men even have the ability to leave the Regent Prince Mansion alive!"

Si Jun revealed a confident smile. "I’ve investigated—your mansion is guarded by only a dozen Hidden Guards. Against my hundred elite soldiers, isn’t it obvious who holds the advantage?"

Zhan Lan crossed her arms and agreed derisively, "You filthy cur, you’re absolutely right!"

Si Jun gritted his teeth. "Zhan Lan!"

Mu Yan’s lips curved upward slightly. Lan’er had said last night that the Regent Prince Mansion would be her responsibility.

As expected, Si Jun’s despicable strategies were no match for Lan’er’s foresight and preparation.

Zhan Lan raised her cold gaze to pin Si Jun. "You’ve enlisted some martial world mercenaries, haven’t you? By now, they should have no chance of returning."

Si Jun’s pupils contracted sharply. Zhan Lan and Mu Yan were terrifyingly precise—how had they completely preempted his every move?

Chills ran down his spine as suspicion crept into his mind—had someone within his ranks betrayed him?

"Take him to the Heavenly Prison!" Mu Yan instructed Yang Wu.

"Understood!" Yang Wu commanded his men to escort Si Jun away. As Si Jun was dragged past the corpses of the fallen traitors scattered across the ground, he closed his eyes in despair.

Everything was over!

In the sleeping chambers, the Crown Prince was still visibly shaken when Bai Lu approached him stealthily, begging for mercy. "Your Highness, for the sake of our past, please spare my life. You pledged to me back then..."

The Crown Prince, stifling the searing pain of his wounds, shoved Bai Lu aside with a forceful push. "Take Princess Wei as well!"

Bai Lu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him. Moments later, overcome by despair and fear, she fainted and was carried away by the Imperial Army.

Si Yuzhang’s heart began to pound as his eyes darted toward Si Jun, silently pleading. At this moment, Si Yuzhang knew that the only person who could save him was Si Jun.

After all, Si Yuzhang had yet to be exposed.

Si Jun, aiming to secure Si Yuzhang’s assistance, would never betray him as an accomplice.

Prince Qi breathed a sigh of relief; this time, he had chosen wisely!

Prince Xian, however, was uneasy. Would the Crown Prince now believe Prince Qi’s words and suspect him of colluding with Si Jun?

He approached the Crown Prince and explained, "Your Highness, it’s all just a misunderstanding. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the Imperial Uncle."

The Crown Prince’s face was pallid as he replied faintly, "It’s fine..."

In his heart, though, he harbored every intention of eliminating both Prince Xian and Prince Qi. But now was not the time—once he ascended the throne, solidified his power, and secured his position, then he would act.

With the passing of Emperor Xuanwu and the Empress, the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne needed to follow proper mourning protocol. Only after the mourning period concluded could the coronation be held.

The Crown Prince, Prince Qi, Prince Xian, Prince Xian’s wife, and Si Yuzhang all unanimously agreed to hold vigil for Emperor Xuanwu.

Due to the recent palace coup, Zhong Xuanliang, Lu Zhong, and Zhan Beicang also insisted on staying in the palace to keep watch over the emperor’s spirit.

Mu Yan had no objections to this. At such a time, who could prevent the princes and officials from demonstrating their loyalty?

He instructed the newly appointed Commander of the Imperial Army, Yang Wu, to remain vigilant and ensure no negligence within the palace.

...

Mu Yan and Zhan Lan returned to the Regent Prince Mansion.

Upon arriving, Zhan Lan saw Dugu Yan and Xiao Chen within the mansion as the Hidden Guards were cleaning blood stains from the ground.

The corpses strewn haphazardly on the ground were being hauled away. Among them, Zhan Lan recognized a familiar figure.

"Li Sui!" she exclaimed with a smile as she walked forward to greet him.

Li Sui acknowledged Zhan Lan and Mu Yan with a slight bow. "Greetings, Your Highness, Princess Consort!"

Mu Yan gave a faint nod, aware that this was the very Li Sui whose name Zhan Lan would call out in her dreams. He looked every bit the martial man—rugged and striking, with a streak of gray at his temples lending him an air of chivalry. He seemed both heroic and extraordinary.

Zhan Lan’s eyes sparkled. "We owe it all to you, Li, for informing us in advance, as well as the help of Xiao Chen and Dugu Yan!"

Li Sui smiled bashfully, but Zhan Lan knew the truth. She had placed evidence of Si Jun’s schemes directly before him, exposing how Si Jun had manipulated him. Si Jun, with his facade of morality, had orchestrated everything—having Li Sui imprisoned only to feign his rescue later. It was all a ploy!

Yesterday at noon, Si Jun’s men contacted Li Sui, instructing him to prepare to abduct the little princess of the Poisonous Insect Clan. Feigning agreement, Li Sui had immediately informed Zhan Lan.

"The three of us will take our leave," Xiao Chen said, aware that something major must have occurred within the palace. His Ministry of Justice had already sent word to begin a nighttime inquiry into Zhu Zhilang, the Minister of War, and Qian Cheng, the Commander of the Imperial Army.

"Very well. I’ll invite you to the mansion another day," Mu Yan said, seeing them off.

Li Sui, Xiao Chen, and Dugu Yan departed.

Xiao Tao, Xue Lingling, and the others were indoors enjoying a feast, entirely unaffected by the chaos outside.

Liu Xi glanced worriedly toward the courtyard, but when she spotted the Prince and Princess Consort returning, she finally relaxed.

Zhan Lan and Mu Yan entered the residence. Zhan Lan’s gaze fell on a pot of red chrysanthemums, sitting on the windowsill next to an orchid. It had been brought to her by Xiao Chen, taken from the jade shop outside Li Sui’s home.

Her comrades from her previous life, including Li Sui, had all gathered around her once more.

How wonderful—it was as though they, like this chrysanthemum, were blooming vibrantly, alive and radiant.

...

Mu Yan emerged from the inner room dressed in fresh garments, holding a cloak. Zhan Lan, noting his serious expression, asked, "Where are we going?"

Mu Yan stepped behind her, draping the red cloak over her shoulders and tying the straps in front. "I’m taking you somewhere," he replied.

It wasn’t until Zhan Lan arrived at the Heavenly Prison that she understood what Mu Yan intended.

This place, where she had once been imprisoned in her past life, now held someone else.

The warden of the Heavenly Prison greeted Zhan Lan and Mu Yan obsequiously, personally escorting them in before tactfully stationing himself outside the door as a guard.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead. His last encounter with these two legendary figures still haunted him—Mu Yan, then the Seal Keeper of the Xingtian Department, had stormed the prison to break Zhan Lan free. Shortly thereafter, they had married.

He swallowed hard, knowing full well that neither of them could be offended. Thankfully, his political savvy had saved him when he turned a blind eye to the Regent Prince’s jailbreak back then!

Everyone knew how much the Regent Prince adored the Regent Princess Consort. The warden’s survival had hinged entirely on his adeptness at navigating such treacherous waters.

Inside the Heavenly Prison, Si Jun was bound in iron chains, his hands and feet shackled. He hung in the very cell that had once confined Zhan Lan in her previous life.

Mu Yan’s voice was gentle. "Lan’er, he’s all yours."

Zhan Lan lifted her gaze to meet Mu Yan’s eyes. He had remembered his promise to her—that Si Jun’s life would be hers to deal with.