Kui-Wolf slowly began to laugh. "So what you're saying is, when you leave, you won't tell anyone about me?"
"What are you waiting for?" The King of Precious Elephant strode quickly to the door, glanced toward the Third Prince-Consort's residence, then turned and snapped at the general, "If that's the case, order General Westwyn to storm the Third Prince-Consort's residence and bring the Third Princess of Precious Elephant back!"
"Do you think I believe you?" Kui-Wolf asked, eyes wide.
After a long pause, he swallowed nervously and said, "Your Majesty, General Westwyn... has switched banners. He's now guarding the Third Prince-Consort's residence, and his troops have done the same..."
"What did you say?" The King of Precious Elephant's eyes widened.
The rest of the soldiers stared in shock, forming a tight circle around the two men, their faces full of bewilderment.
"General Westwyn... That General Westwyn... How dare he..." Gritting his teeth, the king's gaze swept the room, finally landing on a trembling minister.
Several soldiers in the front row exchanged glances, gripping their weapons and inching toward Kui-Wolf. But before they could act, a commanding shout rang out from the perimeter.
The King of Precious Elephant strode over, raised his leg, and kicked the begging minister flat, roaring, "Guards! Throw this old fool into Heaven's Prison, and execute him at noon tomorrow in the marketplace!"
Turning around, they saw the soldiers behind them parting to form a narrow passage. A fierce general rode his warhorse straight into the center of the circle, pulling the reins to a halt.
The horse's towering frame stood squarely between the soldiers who had just moved and Kui-Wolf.
The general hurriedly dismounted, then unexpectedly dropped to one knee and shouted, "Westwyn reporting! Greetings to the prince-consort!"
His shout stunned all the soldiers.
Soon, every soldier sheathed their blades and knelt in deference, bowing low. Even those stationed on nearby rooftops with bows and arrows slowly relaxed their bowstrings.
The general glanced at Marshal Silver and asked quietly, "Prince-consort, do you need me to apprehend this man?"
The King of Precious Elephant paced back and forth in the study, breathing heavily, veins bulging on his forehead.
After a long moment, he stopped and barked at the nearby general, "Go, bring me my armor. I will personally slaughter General Westwyn!"
Marshal Silver sighed softly. "It seems you really won't let me leave so easily."
"I should say, I absolutely cannot let you leave alive," Kui-Wolf replied coldly.
Soon, the King of Precious Elephant led his personal guards out of the palace, striding proudly toward the Third Prince-Consort's residence.
"Heh heh, I didn't expect you to have such leisure to think about that now."
From afar, Princess Belle saw the two men transform into streaks of light and vanish in an instant, her mind going utterly blank.
The soldiers stood there, mouths agape in shock—even the general who had rushed over was stunned.
After a moment, someone quietly approached the general and whispered, "The prince-consort has disappeared. Should we... take this chance to rescue the princess?"
"Rescue your own mother!" The general spun around and landed a heavy punch on the man's face, knocking him flat to the ground.
The surrounding soldiers were left dumbfounded.
The general spat forcefully, drew his sword, and roared, "Listen up! With the prince-consort gone, we now guard the prince-consort's residence! Without my order, no one steps inside. Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"
In an instant, arrows and blades turned outward. The army that had come to besiege the prince-consort's residence now became its protectors.
Hearing this, Princess Belle finally breathed a small sigh of relief.
For this country, capturing the prince-consort—the 'great demon'—was never just a family matter for the king. First and foremost, it was a political struggle that shook the entire court.
...
Meanwhile, a general hurriedly pushed open the door to the Precious Elephant King's study.
Inside, several ministers had already gathered.
The Precious Elephant King sat coldly on his throne, glancing up at the general.
"Your Majesty," the general knelt on one knee and respectfully saluted, "there's trouble at the prince-consort's residence. One of the young men traveling with the monk broke in at night with a weapon and is now fighting the prince-consort."
The Precious Elephant King fiddled with a jade ornament on his desk, took a deep breath, and said slowly, "I already know. Hmph... It seems this monk truly has some skill. He acted before morning, just as I hoped. My expectations weren't in vain."
"There's more..."
"What else?"
"Your Majesty, just now, after a fierce battle, both the young man and the prince-consort turned into golden light and disappeared without a trace."
At this, the Precious Elephant King immediately stood up. "Is that true?"
"Absolutely true!"
"What are you waiting for?" The Precious Elephant King strode quickly to the door, glanced toward the prince-consort's residence, then turned and snapped at the general, "If that's the case, order Westwyn to storm the prince-consort's residence and bring the princess back!"
Despite the rebuke, the general simply continued kneeling, unmoving.
After a long pause, he swallowed nervously and said, "Your Majesty, General Westwyn... has switched banners. He's now guarding the prince-consort's residence, and his troops have done the same..."
"What did you say?" The Precious Elephant King's eyes widened.
In an instant, a rush of blood surged through him, his entire face flushing red. His fists clenched and trembled with rage.
"Westwyn... That Westwyn... How dare he..." Gritting his teeth, the king's gaze swept the room, finally landing on a trembling minister.
Seeing the king glaring at him, the minister collapsed to his knees and kowtowed, shouting, "Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me!"
The king strode over, raised his leg, and kicked the begging minister flat, roaring, "Guards! Throw this old fool into Heaven's Prison, and execute him at noon tomorrow in the marketplace!"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, I have always been loyal! I have no other intentions! Please spare me!"
Two guards rushed in from outside and, without hesitation, dragged the sobbing minister away.
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"What just happened?" one of the stunned ministers whispered.
"Westwyn was his recommendation... I hear he's his nephew," someone replied quietly.
At that, everyone fell silent.
The Precious Elephant King paced back and forth in the study, breathing heavily, veins bulging on his forehead.
After a long moment, he stopped and barked at the nearby general, "Go, bring me my armor. I will personally slaughter Westwyn!"
The general hesitated briefly, then bowed his head and replied, "Yes, sire," before retreating out the door.
...
Soon, the king led his personal guards out of the palace, striding proudly toward the prince-consort's residence.