Chapter 442: Counterattack (Third Update)

Early in the morning, the streets and alleys of the Imperial Capital were filled with crowding masses.

Whether out of curiosity, regret, or other reasons, everyone was flocking toward the Meridian Gate.

The area surrounding the execution grounds had long been strictly guarded by Imperial Guards clad in armor.

Rong Jiu had not yet been escorted there, but the surroundings were already packed with people. It was incredibly noisy.

"Tsk, this Third Prince established magnificent military merits in the Northwest Army just a few years ago! He was at the height of his glory! Who could have thought that in the blink of an eye, he would become a prisoner?"

"His merits were too great, threatening the sovereign. He hasn't even stepped out of the Imperial Capital's gates for these past few months; isn't the intention of the one above obvious? In my view, the charges are fake, but the execution is real!"

"But among the remaining princes, the Third Prince is the most suitable candidate for Crown Prince. Doing this is a bit too heartless, isn't it?"

"How much do we really know about the affairs in the Palace? Anyway, that person is still in their prime. If we wait a few more years, the princes below will grow up, won't they?"

"It's a pity the Third Prince's biological mother passed away long ago, and his background is not high. At a time like this, he doesn't even have anyone who can help him."

The crowd discussed fervently, their opinions on the matter varying.

But everyone knew that by today, almost everything had become a foregone conclusion.

Time passed bit by bit, and the sun gradually rose to the zenith.

Suddenly, the originally noisy crowd fell silent.

The people parted to both sides, clearing a path.

Everyone had a premonition of something and looked over in unison.

A troop of riders was approaching.

The person leading them was none other than Si Yezhi, the head of the Si family.

He had come today clearly to be responsible for supervising the execution.

Compared to before, the current Si Yezhi looked much more haggard; his cheeks were deeply sunken, and his eyes were bloodshot.

It was evident that the events of this recent period had dealt him a significant blow.

After all, Empress Si Huijing was his own biological sister...

He had just finished attending to the Empress's funeral, and immediately after, he had to come here; he hadn't even had time to rest.

Si Yezhi walked forward step by step.

He could clearly feel countless different gazes falling upon him.

But in reality, his body and mind were almost numb at this moment.

He hadn't wanted to come originally, but since His Majesty had issued the decree, he could only obey.

A prisoner cart followed slowly behind him.

Inside that iron cage, the man wearing prisoner's clothes, his hands shackled and looking utterly wretched, was none other than the current Third Prince, Rong Jiu!

He was forced to sit kneeling there, his head slightly lowered, with messy hair falling down to cover most of his face.

Yet, the crowd could still faintly see his expression.

Indifferent, cold.

There was even a powerful aura clinging to him, the kind that only comes from experiencing life and death on the battlefield!

In short, not a trace of panic or despair could be seen.

The prisoner cart was closely followed by Imperial Guards.

Yet, even all of them combined were not as formidable as the aura emanating from Rong Jiu alone.

Perhaps affected by a certain emotion, the area through which the cart passed became incredibly quiet.

The people standing in front even instinctively took a step back.

This Third Prince, for some reason, looked truly and inexplicably terrifying...

Upon reaching the execution grounds, Si Yezhi raised his hand, and the prisoner cart finally stopped.

"Bring him out!"

At the command, the Imperial Guards following alongside immediately stepped forward and led Rong Jiu out from the iron cage.

Two extremely sharp swords were pressed against Rong Jiu's neck, escorting him toward the platform in the center of the execution grounds.

From beginning to end, Rong Jiu's expression did not change.

It was only when he finally stood still at the execution site that he suddenly raised his eyes to glance toward the direction of the Imperial Palace, a flash of mockery swiftly crossing his eyes.

It seemed Imperial Father would not change his decision.

Today, he was determined to drive him to his death!

Rong Jiu withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes, concealing the surging killing intent within them.

If it weren't for absolute necessity, he actually did not wish for it to be this way, but having fought on the battlefield for many years and experienced countless life-and-death struggles, he never expected that in the end, it would result in such an outcome!

Anyone would feel their heart turn to ash.

"Kneel down!"

A man behind Rong Jiu shouted impatiently, simultaneously delivering a heavy kick toward the back of Rong Jiu's knees!

However, Rong Jiu was not kicked to his knees.

His physical body was as hard as a steel plate!

Seeing that Rong Jiu failed to kneel as he intended, the man who kicked him was also startled.

Rong Jiu slowly turned his head and gave him a look.

That man immediately felt guilty under that gaze, an inexplicable sense of fear arising within him.

Immediately after, he frowned and shouted loudly

"What are you looking at!? Do you think you're still the high-and-mighty Third Prince!?"

He was nothing more than a death row prisoner; to think he was still so arrogant even with death imminent!

"Kneel!"

The man gave a meaningful look to the person beside him, and the two of them exerted force together!

The two long swords instantly sliced into Rong Jiu's neck, and crimson blood slowly seeped out!

The last bit of hesitation in Rong Jiu's heart finally vanished like smoke.

He slightly bent his knees, appearing as if he were truly about to kneel.

However, in the next moment, his body suddenly lunged upward, swiftly kicking out at the two closest people!

His movements were too fast; the two men had no time to react before being violently kicked away by Rong Jiu!

Si Yezhi immediately realized something and barked

"Capture him!"

Rong Jiu was actually trying to escape!

The surrounding crowd also reacted at this moment, rushing forward all at once!

Suddenly, a massive figure appeared above Rong Jiu's head!

Si Yezhi narrowed his eyes and looked, his heart jolting in surprise.

It was actually a Rank 4 Magical Beast—a White Mao Falcon!

*Whoosh!*

The White Mao Falcon suddenly spread its wings!

Rong Jiu flipped and jumped onto it!

"Go!"

With a clear, sharp cry, the White Mao Falcon's wings vibrated, and it soared into the sky!

Only now did the surrounding crowd finally understand—that was Rong Jiu's magical beast!

He had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, and aside from his prisoner's clothes, he had nothing on him.

But they had actually forgotten that he still had his own magical beast!

During these few months in the Imperial Capital, Rong Jiu had remained very low-profile, to the point that they had forgotten he still held such a trump card!

Although this White Mao Falcon was a Rank 4 magical beast, its temperament was fierce and its combat power was extremely high! It could almost be considered a top-tier existence among Rank 4 magical beasts!

The figures of the man and the beast quickly streaked toward the distance!

Si Yezhi immediately commanded

"Prepare arrows!"

Many Imperial Guards immediately took out the bows and arrows they carried on their backs, aiming at Rong Jiu in mid-air!

However, at that very moment, several figures suddenly rushed out from the crowd, charging toward those Imperial Guards!

*Swoosh! Swoosh!*

The sound of chaotic whistling through the air followed; many of the arrows deviated from their original direction, failing to even graze the edges of the White Mao Falcon's wings!

Si Yezhi looked at the people who had suddenly rushed forward with a mixture of shock and anger, his eyes suddenly widening in astonishment.

—They had actually taken the initiative to strike with lethal moves!

They had come prepared!