This was Morgan Shangguan's own choice from the beginning—otherwise, how could he possibly allow anyone to touch her? If he couldn't even protect his own woman, how could he expect anyone else to do so?
"Yes!" Maxwell Jing lowered his head, still clearly blaming himself. For him, Damien Gray was not only his master, but also his savior.
Ethan Gu grabbed his arm and pressed on an acupoint to stop the bleeding, his voice stern, "Are you trying to cripple this arm?" If Adrian Yarrow hadn't meant only to wound, Maxwell Jing might truly have lost it.
Ethan Gu took out a bottle of his homemade healing powder and poured the entire contents onto Maxwell Jing's wound.
Maxwell Jing twitched the corner of his mouth. "What a waste!" Ethan Gu's healing powder was highly effective—and very precious—yet he'd used up a whole bottle at once.
Ethan Gu snorted coldly. "If you hadn't run straight into the blade, I wouldn't have had to waste it!" His feelings were complicated at this moment. From the day they'd met, Maxwell Jing had always been willing to risk his life for him. Was it really just as he said, because he found him agreeable? Ethan Gu had always felt Maxwell Jing harbored many secrets, but he'd never truly probed.
Ethan Gu gave him a deep look, stuffed a few bottles of poison into his hand, and said in a low voice, "Go to the back!"
Maxwell Jing grinned, obediently slipping to the rear to slack off. But with people surrounding them, was there really any difference between front and back?
Watching Adrian Yarrow escape, Prince Ethan's eyes burned with rage. "Treachery!" His gaze landed on Damien Gray, whose cold smile only stoked his fury. He was clearly mocking him!
Hmph! He refused to believe that a woman could rebel. Today was the perfect chance to deal with all the traitors at once!
"Anyone who does not wish to see their entire clan executed, obey my orders! Arrest the traitors!" Prince Ethan, usually so refined and elegant, had never lost his composure like this before.
The original plan had been going smoothly, but Sophie Qiu's sudden rebellion ruined everything. Adrian Yarrow, that big fish, had slipped away right before their eyes. No wonder Prince Ethan was so furious!
A group of guards hesitated, then slowly approached Damien Gray and his companions. Ethan Gu and Maxwell Jing were ready to fight again.
Damien Gray hadn't arranged for any forces at all. He wasn't here to vie for the throne, and if he wanted to leave, no one could stop him.
Seeing Damien Gray still unmoved, Prince Ethan grew even more frustrated. From beginning to end, he could never figure out Damien Gray's true intentions!
At that moment, Sophie Qiu raised her voice again, "The talk of a 'demonic consort' is nothing but a misunderstanding. The Ghost King acted out of love for his wife, which led to his breach of etiquette. Today, as His Majesty ascends the throne and grants amnesty across the land, the Ghost King is forgiven!"
The guards who had begun to move stopped in their tracks, dazed and uncertain whom to obey. By rights, they should listen to Prince Ethan, but it seemed their captain belonged to the Empress. Most importantly, the two men beside the Ghost King were terrifying. If they could avoid it, they truly didn't want to fight them!
Prince Ethan glared at Sophie Qiu, sneering, "Well, well, well! I really have underestimated the Empress!"
Sophie Qiu smiled, sweeping her gaze over the assembled ministers. She spoke out, "Do any of the esteemed ministers have objections?"
Two-thirds of the ministers suddenly knelt, declaring in unison, "Her Majesty the Empress is wise!" Among them were supporters of the Crown Prince, Prince Ethan's faction, and the neutrals.
The ministers seemed to shed their disguises in an instant, standing firm and resolute—nothing like their usual timid, self-serving selves. It was as if Prince Ethan no longer mattered to them at all. The remaining ministers watched as their former colleagues seemed to transform before their eyes, momentarily unable to process the change.
Prince Ethan's face went pale. He pointed at Sophie Qiu, his hand trembling—whether from anger or shock, it was hard to tell. "You..."
With all these ministers rebelling, Silvermoon Kingdom was no longer in his hands. The rest were insignificant, neither useful nor influential. Now, even his military power was slipping away. He had once controlled a third of the army, his trusted followers another third, and the remaining third was neutral. But now, not only had the neutral commander defected, even his own confidants had sided with Sophie Qiu. How could that woman wield such power?
The Ghost Guild had long taken on many court assignments, always with the aim of removing obstacles and planting their own people. Their current achievements were no surprise.
Damien Gray had always acted in secret. There was never a shortage of factional strife at court, and Emperor Alexander saw it all clearly. Damien Gray used those conflicts as cover, presenting himself as a problem-solver for hire, all the while executing hidden plans that even Emperor Alexander failed to notice. Even if the Ghost Guild’s disregard for him was displeasing, the Guild was far too mysterious—almost demonic in the martial world. Until he could uncover its secrets, Emperor Alexander dared not act against it. And, truthfully, he didn’t mind seeing some people disappear.
Prince Ethan was now beside himself with rage and despair, but that wasn't the end of it. Suddenly, Sophie Qiu produced a tiger-shaped white jade and smiled, "Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, you have countless affairs to manage. Let me safeguard the command token for now!"
Prince Ethan was startled—that was his command token! How had Sophie Qiu gotten hold of it?
Damien Gray had decided not to leave anything for Prince Ethan, so he had stolen the command token and given it to Sophie Qiu, revealing his identity to her and setting the stage for this dramatic scene.
Prince Ethan looked utterly defeated, his last hope shattered! On the day of his coronation, he discovered he'd been completely sidelined. Was there anything more ridiculous than this?
What he couldn't understand was, if Sophie Qiu had such power, why had she cooperated with him at all—why put on this coronation charade? Gritting his teeth, Prince Ethan spat, "Does Her Majesty want to be Empress herself?"
Sophie Qiu shook her head. "Your Majesty misunderstands. I already said, I only wish to work together with you, to rule Silvermoon Kingdom as one!"
Prince Ethan let out a cold laugh. Such fine words—work together? He had no power left; what kind of emperor was he now? Clearly, Sophie Qiu just needed a puppet to sit on the throne and do her bidding, so she could avoid the trouble of claiming it herself.