Chapter 528: Schemes Within Schemes at the Hongmen Banquet (30)

Chapter 528: Feast of Schemes: Plots Within Plots (30)

"Kingdom of Zhu Xian, Prince Yi, hyahaha!"

The Qin King's momentary shift in demeanor, stirred by Xianyi Chishao's blatantly divisive words, elicited a laugh from him. After laughing, he did not address Xianyi Chishao further but instead turned his gaze back to Su Rao, smiling at his niece as if recalling childhood memories—teasing his solemn little niece with amusing tales from the streets outside the palace.

"Does my Rao Rao also believe your uncle is no longer your uncle?"

He watched Su Rao with a smile before asking this question, his expression devoid of sorrow, only unapologetic resolve. Yes, he had used Rao Rao, and he intended to use Yun Ji as well, using Rao Rao as leverage against Yun Ji. Yet what of it? His Great Qin had been destroyed overnight—was his current behavior unjustified?

If Rao Rao grew distant because of this, he would not blame her. After all, she had spent over a decade growing up in the Su family's smothering indulgence. Perhaps the hatred in her heart had long faded or been forgotten. But he could not forget. Every day and night in the prison, he had felt the wailing specters haunting the ruins of his Great Qin palace, reminding him never to forget the humiliation of his fallen kingdom.

"Uncle..."

Though the Qin King appeared utterly unapologetic and made it clear he would not hold Su Rao accountable, a vise of sorrow suddenly clamped her heart, as if her breath had been stolen, leaving her chest constricted.

Because Su Rao understood—she truly understood her uncle's feelings at this moment. Had she not been the same? To achieve her goals, she'd stooped to any means, even marrying Xianyi Chishao without regret. So even if she saw through her uncle's schemes, she would not stop him as Qin Rao.

But... Yun Ji was different. Yun Ji had made his choice—he had said he was unwilling, and no one could force him, not even Qin Rao herself.

Not even her uncle.

"Whether Uncle is still Uncle, Rao Rao—"

"If Prince Yi's words were meant to sow discord, then what about the words of Su Rao's brother? Are mine also divisive?"

Before Su Rao could voice her stance or reply to her uncle, an angry voice rang out from afar.

A figure strode forward, clad in dark blue armor, the tip of his spear still stained with fresh blood. He appeared on the opposite bank of the blood pool outside the Zhongjia Hall, skewering a fleeing guardsman who had been rushing toward them with a single thrust.

The guard, who had been desperately trying to deliver a message, collapsed mid-sentence, his warning dying in his throat.

The spear was yanked from the guard's back, scribing a scarlet parabola through the air before splattering onto the ground.

Another bloody path was painted.

Su Da's lance-haft cracked down against the stone floor with a crack, sundering the flagstones beneath.

From a distance, his battle-fury was unmistakable.

For years, everyone had said that among the Su family's sons, Su Er was the one who most resembled old General Su. But now, the eldest brother standing on the opposite bank—Su Rao's own elder brother—seemed even more like old General Su.

The only difference was that while old General Su wielded a crescent-moon halberd, sweeping through battlefields like an unstoppable force, this elder brother carried a spear, exuding unmatched valor.

He took another step forward, striding across the winding corridor with purpose.

His dark blue cloak billowed behind him, his pheasant-feather coronet swaying with each movement—a commander's bearing through and through.

"Charge! Follow me and kill the enemy!"

Behind him, a contingent of Yunlang army, led by the rough lad, burst forth from the imperial gardens without warning, igniting fresh chaos in the already tumultuous Rong Palace of Daliang.

Though the Imperial Guard outnumbered them, they were no match for the Yunlang soldiers, each worth a hundred common soldiers.

With a single, thunderous stomp, the Yunlang army advanced in perfect unison, their iron-shod boots pounding the ground in a rhythm that shook the soul. The Imperial Guard faltered, their morale crumbling.

The rough lad and his men pursued, driving the guards back until they were trapped at the edge of the blood pool with nowhere left to retreat.

"Hyahaha! Little brats, yapping about your prowess while brandishing weapons in front of this old campaigner? Who do you think you're impressing? Watch how this old campaigner really swings a hammer!"

The rough lad let out another rough, crude country shout, he swung his massive hammer with wild abandon. One hammer strike sent a figure spewing blood and flying backward; another swing produced a splash like dumplings plopping into bloody broth, adding endless crimson and staining the waters anew with thick, coppery stench.

Ah...

Ah... ah...

Upon the third palace wall, the Imperial Guard troops holding the position now tumbled down one by one. Another wave, led by Su Dan, took over the high ground, flipping the script in a heartbeat.

This sudden shift mirrored the Imperial Guard’s earlier actions—only swifter.

In a blink, before anyone could grasp what was happening, the Tranquil Liang Palace had changed hands once more.

Outside, the abrupt chaos made the Qin King’s expression darken in an instant, his eyes turning to slits.

Then, his eyes flashed with turmoil—a reaction to Su Da’s arrival with troops, wrecking his schemes in seconds flat.

"Big... brother..."

Su Rao's head whipped toward the doorway, her eyes locking onto her elder brother’s figure. Her expression shifted as well, especially as she watched Su Da stomped forward like a man possessed.

The moment he stepped before the Hall of Loyalty and Honor, Pei Liang moved to block him—only to be launched into the bloodbath with one spear flick, sending blood geysering upward.

Pei Liang thrashed in the gore, trying to find footing before tripping over floating corpses and plunging back under.

"You call yourself Qin King of Great Qin—do you even deserve to call yourself Rao’er’s uncle?"

After disposing of Pei Liang, Su Da marched straight into the hall, his spear tip now leveled at the Qin King’s face, rage rolling off him in waves.

"The imperial capital of Great Qin, towering into the clouds—how'd three puny vassal states bust through its gates and storm the palace without an insider paving their way? Some pampered palace pet, no matter how beloved, could never have the power to fling open the imperial gates alone..."

"Big brother—! Goddammit!"

Su Da’s accusations, coupled with his earlier words, had Su Rao scrambling toward him in panic.

What was he saying? What did he mean?

But the moment she took a step, the Qin King jerked her back by the arm, making her stumble. She never left his side.

"Mmm—!"

Before she could react further, the Qin King’s steel-trap arms locked around her, his large hand digging into her delicate throat. He snatched the jade-ribbed fan from her grasp and flung it aside.

He didn't waste a heartbeat.

Lightning-fast. Merciless.

And utterly unexpected.

"Rao... Rao—!"

"Ah... Rao—!"

Two shouts ripped through the air together.

As Yun Ji and Xianyi Chishaou charged, the Qin King's fingers dug in deeper.

"Ghk—"

Su Rao's face immediately flushed red, the crimson hue spreading from her fair neck to her face, and within a breath, it turned bluish-red, intensifying the natural red at the corners of her alluring peach blossom eyes.

Yun Ji and Xianyi Chishaou both froze mid-step.

Su Da's hurried steps also came to an abrupt stop, his spear still pointed directly at the Qin King's face.

His expression grew even more tense.

How dare he lay a finger on his baby sister...