Defeat Like a Landslide
Lily Evans had known all along—Alexander Hayes held in his hands a weapon powerful enough to level the Imperial City. That’s why she was so fearless!
The Empress, convinced that Prince Ling was most likely dead, was burning with hatred for Lily Evans. She said to Emperor Jin Xuan, "Your Majesty, we’ve detained Princess Lily Hayes. Now is the time to use her!"
"Princess Lily Hayes?" Emperor Jin Xuan seemed to recall something and immediately ordered, "Someone, go and bind Princess Lily Hayes and hang her from the city gate tower!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The servants accepted the order and left, but Gregory Gu Jr., standing nearby, grew anxious.
With swords drawn and chaos everywhere, Lily Evans—a pregnant woman—would surely lose her life if she were hung from the city gate tower!
Although Gregory Gu Jr. wanted Alexander Hayes gone, he couldn’t bear to see Lily Evans harmed. He quickly tried to dissuade the Emperor: "Your Majesty, you mustn’t! Alexander Hayes dotes on Princess Lily Hayes. If Your Majesty has Lily Evans bound and hung on the city tower, Alexander Hayes will surely fly into a rage and bathe the Imperial City in blood!"
Emperor Jin Xuan, eyes red with fury, glared at Gregory Gu Jr. and roared, "Grand Tutor Gu, you dare say such things? You swore to me that you’d get rid of Alexander Hayes this time. And now? Look outside the city tower—Alexander Hayes’s troops are about to break through! How did you let this happen? Why didn’t you know ahead of time that Alexander Hayes had such a powerful weapon!?"
"I—Your subject..." Gregory Gu Jr. stammered, "Alexander Hayes is deeply cunning; he’s harbored thoughts of rebellion for a long time and kept those weapons hidden so no one would find out."
"Hmph, Grand Tutor Gu—if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have fallen out with Alexander Hayes so quickly! If the city falls today and Alexander Hayes wants to purge his enemies, then I’ll just hand you over!" Emperor Jin Xuan flung his sleeve. "Let’s see if Alexander Hayes dares to kill his sovereign. If he wants to kill you, I’ll give you to him!"
Gregory Gu Jr. felt as if he'd been drenched in icy water. He never imagined Emperor Jin Xuan would sell him out so quickly.
"Your Majesty, I am the pillar of your court! You can't treat me like this!" Gregory Gu Jr. cried out in panic.
But Emperor Jin Xuan was beyond caring. "Gu Grand Tutor, bind him and hang him from the city tower!" he ordered.
"No! No, Your Majesty, spare me!" Gregory Gu Jr. struggled, trembling in terror, all traces of his usual scholarly grace gone.
He was tied up and hoisted onto the city tower. Dangling high above the ground, Gregory Gu Jr. was scared half to death. Seeing the corpses and blood below, he wet his pants in fright.
Alexander Hayes looked up, his eyes cold as he watched Emperor Jin Xuan hang Gregory Gu Jr. in midair.
From the city tower, Emperor Jin Xuan called out, "Alexander Hayes, aren’t you here to purge the traitors? I admit my mistake—here’s the treacherous Gregory Gu Jr. You may do with him as you wish! Now that I’ve handed over the traitor, withdraw your troops! I’ll reward you with gold, jewels, mansions—whatever you desire!"
Alexander Hayes looked up, his gaze icy and void of emotion, staring at Emperor Jin Xuan.
Emperor Jin Xuan felt a chill under Alexander Hayes’s stare. He couldn’t tell if Alexander would withdraw. Looking down from the city wall, he saw the Imperial Guards—only a few thousand left.
Those few thousand Imperial Guards had long lost the will to fight. They retreated frantically, desperate to flee into the inner city.
But the inner city gates had already been sealed. Trapped like beasts, the remaining guards were caught between the Hayes Regiment and the city gates—death was all that awaited them.
Defeat came like an avalanche. Seeing the shattered Imperial Guards, Emperor Jin Xuan was completely panicked.
The city’s defending general tried to reassure Emperor Jin Xuan: "Your Majesty, don’t worry! The inner city walls are strong, the gates are impervious to fire and water. I will defend the inner city with my life! By tomorrow, the vassal princes’ loyal armies will arrive in the capital, and we’ll be saved!"