Chapter 119: There Are Loyal Ministers in the Great Han

The Diplomatic Quarters.

Fan Li leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance where the Wei-Yang Palace was ablaze with light.

"Damn, I actually feel like going to watch the show," he muttered to himself.

"Hehehe... shall I accompany you, my dear?"

There was another person in Fan Li's room: Princess Changle.

He couldn't help but roll his eyes. "What is the Han Emperor thinking? You are a force to be reckoned with; why are you staying here with me?"

On the night of the decisive battle, shouldn't every trump card be played?

Although Princess Changle was young and her cultivation realm was ultimately limited, she was brilliant and possessed countless secret techniques of the Pure Land; she might well have been able to contribute at a critical moment.

"Oh, but I'm pregnant, you know."

Hearing the Princess's nonsense, Fan Li could only roll his eyes again.

What a raw deal! He bore the name of an adulterer without ever having committed the act. He couldn't help but glance at her supple waist, imagining her a few months into pregnancy with a rounded belly.

"Why? Does the Duke of Jin want children?" Princess Changle seemed to see right through his thoughts, smiling playfully. "If my Imperial Father wins tonight, I shall let the Duke of Jin pluck me as he pleases. How about that?"

Fan Li, however, was in no mood for jokes. He said heavily, "Can you predict the outcome of tonight?"

In truth, Fan Li had no confidence in the Han Emperor. Liu Xie’s character was too cowardly, and his cultivation was inferior to Dong Zhuo’s. In a flash of memory, Fan Li recalled the scene at the Three Emperors' Alliance where Liu Xie suffered a crushing defeat against Zhu Houcong. Liu Xie hadn't even been able to fully execute that world-shaking strike, the Ten Thousand Thunder True Dragon Slash.

He was too weak. Emperor Liu Xie of Han was a weak sovereign, a rarity in a century.

"Half an incense stick ago, Dong Zhuo left the Grand Tutor's mansion. Calculating the time, he should have arrived at the Wei-Yang Palace by now," Fan Li murmured to himself. "Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan are each organizing their private troops. But the Xiliang forces have begun to move as well. Lu Bu, Hua Xiong, Li Jue, Guo Si... they are all formidable."

Fan Li fell silent. He suddenly realized he was perhaps stating the obvious. Princess Changle knew the power dynamics within Chang'an better than he did.

Fan Li only felt a shred of curiosity. Did this extraordinary woman, who harbored ambitions of becoming a female emperor, care about the life-and-death struggle of her own father?

"As the saying goes, the imperial family is the most heartless of all..."

As Fan Li was thinking this, Princess Changle’s boneless, supple body leaned gently against him.

"My father is a descendant of the High Ancestor. He will prevail."

The Princess’s voice was unimaginably firm!

Rumble!!!

A thunderous sound, as if the heavens were collapsing and the earth splitting, erupted from the direction of the Wei-Yang Palace, accompanied by a roar!

"Traitor Dong Zhuo, you wreak havoc upon the court! I am the Son of Heaven of the Great Han; today, I shall eradicate you with my own hands!"

A streak of yellow energy shot into the sky. Amidst the lightning and thunder, a roaring giant dragon could be seen, brimming with battle intent!

The people of Chang'an, who had spontaneously taken to the streets to celebrate, were stunned by this sudden turn of events. A moment later, they fled toward their homes, screaming and wailing.

"Wahahahahaha!!!! The destiny of the Flaming Han has reached its end! The dim-witted monarch Liu Xie is shallow in talent and thin in virtue; he is not fit to occupy the throne! Today, I shall change the dynasty and reign over the world!"

Black energy surged into the sky, accompanied by a foul, bloody stench. To the naked eye, the black energy coalesced into a terrifying, hideous dragon shape.

"Dong Zhuo... he also possesses the destiny of the Son of Heaven?" Fan Li frowned, his face full of confusion. He had never seen the cultivation method of the Gluttonous Demon Arts, but at this moment, black energy filled the entire city of Chang'an, emitting a pungent, nauseating odor. Fan Li almost felt as if he were standing in the middle of a mass grave.

"The Han Emperor's aura is weaker than Dong Zhuo's." Even with Fan Li’s sharp eyes, he could see the yellow dragon being suppressed by the black one. The disparity between them was not small. The black dragon’s assault was fierce, as if the entire city of Chang'an were his home turf. The yellow dragon hid within the gaps of the black energy, fighting only defensively, not daring to clash head-on.

Fan Li looked at Princess Changle in confusion. "Are you really not going to help? I fear His Majesty the Emperor cannot hold out for much longer."

Princess Changle remained silent, a smile on her face. Her phoenix eyes were fixed on the sky, where the two giant dragon auras were locked in a fierce struggle. Though the Princess appeared relaxed, leaning on Fan Li’s shoulder as if they were strolling through a garden, Fan Li could clearly feel her unconsciously tightening her grip on his arm.

At this moment, inside the Wei-Yang Palace, Emperor Liu Xie’s hair was disheveled. His imperial crown had been knocked off at some point, and he looked utterly wretched. The dragon robe he wore was stained with blood inch by inch, and a claw mark on his forehead had torn away much of his flesh.

"Ptui!"

In the air opposite him, the black-robed Dong Zhuo wore a ferocious grin. He appeared far more composed than the Emperor; his attire was neat, with only a sword wound on his right arm.

"The Qin Emperor's Sword? Heh-hahahahaha!" Dong Zhuo’s grating laughter echoed through Chang'an. "It truly is a divine weapon! To think it could breach the body I tempered with demonic arts? Is this all you have? Pity, it is far from enough!"

"Once I have devoured you, the Qin Emperor's Sword shall serve as my founding relic... Hmm!?"

Suddenly!

A sword-shaped manifestation of righteous energy was slashed from the crowd in the plaza, striking Dong Zhuo directly.

"Hmph!" Dong Zhuo’s cold gaze fell upon the man. He was unharmed, having long since seen that the force behind the strike was extremely limited.

"Huangfu Song? Do you wish to rebel?" Dong Zhuo recognized the man and gritted his teeth.

"You are not my sovereign, and I am not your subject; how can you speak of rebellion?"

Amidst the crowd, an elderly official rose into the air. He was frail and aged, yet he stood before Emperor Liu Xie, glaring at Dong Zhuo!

"I, the Marquis of Duxiang, Imperial Censor Huangfu Song, am willing to purge the traitor for His Majesty!"

Seemingly inspired by Huangfu Song, more Han officials began to step forward, casting aside their fear of death to loyally protect their sovereign!

"I, the Marquis of Huxiang, Grand Marshal Zhang Wen, swear to serve His Majesty until death!"

"I, the Count of Liangxiang, Secretariat Lu Zhi, swear to serve His Majesty until death!"

"..."

"Hahahaha!" Dong Zhuo roared with laughter, pointing at the group of old officials, mocking them: "On the strength of you lot? You think yourselves worthy of contending with me?"

The old officials remained silent, yet not a single one took a step back.

"Lu Bu!"
"Hua Xiong!"
"Li Jue!"
"Guo Si!"
"And my Xiliang warriors, where are you?"

Dong Zhuo’s voice was immense, like rolling thunder. Even from the Diplomatic Quarters, Fan Li could feel the building tremble.

"Here!"
"At your command!"

From the four gates of Chang'an, the responses of Lu Bu and the others echoed, interspersed with shrill, eerie laughter. The expressions of the Han officials turned increasingly grim! They all knew that the wolf-like, tiger-hearted Xiliang soldiers had finally arrived!

The fierce troops surged like a tide, leaving ruin and rubble in their wake, carving deep 'scars' into the prosperous city of Chang'an. Just as the Xiliang soldiers were about to charge through the gates of the Wei-Yang Palace, three figures suddenly flew in from afar, standing like a solid wall of bronze and iron, blocking their advance.

"I, Minister of Works Cao Cao, am willing to fight for His Majesty."

"Today, with Liu Bei here, I shall not permit you to take another step forward."

"Xiliang soldiers? I wonder how they compare to the warriors of Jiangdong?"