Chapter Sixty-Four: Defeating Helan, Rescuing the Princess

“Crown Prince, come closer and speak,” said the woman, walking over to Li Wei and quietly beginning to talk.

Lady Rongguo was the maternal grandmother of both Helan Minzhi and Li Wei and his sister. Her memorial tablet was placed in the Duke of Zhou’s residence, with Helan Minzhi responsible for mourning, but Wu Zetian also instructed Li Lingyue and her brother to regularly pay their respects. Li Wei wasn't expected to participate—his health was frail, and as Crown Prince, the burdens of overseeing the realm and his studies were heavy enough.

Still, Li Wei too set up an incense altar in the Eastern Palace to honor his grandmother at regular intervals.

Li Lingyue didn’t object much; it gave her a chance to leave the palace and see the world outside. To outsiders, the imperial palace appeared imposing, but living inside was like being trapped in an iron cage—stifling and uncomfortable. Her relationship with Helan Minzhi hadn’t always been hostile, but this time, his actions had crossed the line, stirring her resentment.

Today, as seeds were being planted in nutrient pots, Li Wei left the city specially to observe with his own eyes, feeling uneasy, and forgot it was a day for memorial rites. Even if he had remembered, nothing else would have occurred to him. Li Lingyue, accompanied by four guards and two maids, went to the Duke of Zhou’s residence to perform the rituals.

Just then, she saw Helan Minzhi emerge. A few days had passed; his wounds had scarred, the bandages removed. He no longer looked like himself—his appearance now twisted, terrifying, and grotesque. She said with disgust, “You ugly monster, you’re a wicked thing.”

Helan Minzhi’s mind, already distorted by hatred and the scandal involving Lady Rongguo, had been further warped by Li Wei’s clever moves, pushing him deeper into a pit of fire. Hearing her words, rage overtook him, and he acted recklessly, gesturing secretly to the two maids beside Li Lingyue.

These two maids were Li Lingyue’s personal attendants; she often visited Helan Minzhi’s residence, which caught his eye. With his status, looks, and talent, seducing noble ladies like Xu Li was difficult—he already had a wife. Yet many respectable girls had fallen into his hands, and these two young palace maids were even easier to win over.

Left with no choice, the maids retreated and asked him what he wanted.

Helan Minzhi said, “Bring the little princess to my bedroom.”

“Duke, what are you planning?” they asked.

“I want to persuade her to plead for me before the Emperor and Empress.”

It made sense; the Emperor and Empress doted on the little princess, even more than the Crown Prince.

So, the two maids coaxed Li Lingyue into Helan Minzhi’s bedroom.

Once inside, Helan Minzhi shut the door. Li Lingyue shouted, “You ugly monster, let me out!”

“Out? Watch closely—after disrespecting my mother and my sister, let’s see how I play with your daughter today, and in the future, your daughter-in-law,” he shouted eastward, then burst into mad laughter.

The two maids were petrified, begging for mercy.

But at that moment, Helan Minzhi would hear nothing.

Fortunately, if this had happened a month earlier, tragedy would have been inevitable; now, the guards were vigilant. Unable to find the princess, they searched for her. Helan Minzhi hadn’t closed the door tightly, so they burst in, shielding Li Lingyue. Two guards ensured her safety, while the others rushed out for reinforcements.

By chance, one guard soon encountered Li Wei.

He didn’t know all the details, only that the princess was in danger. He quickly summarized what had happened, and Li Wei’s eyes blazed with fury.

At first, he felt no attachment—he’d arrived in this world, and Wu Zetian, Li Zhi, or Li Xian meant nothing to him. Seducing his little sister was merely a tactic to help Liu Rengui trick someone. Yet she’d become like a tail, always following him, and as her elder brother, he felt pride. Besides, there was some mysterious bond in their blood. After all, who can be truly indifferent?

His soul had no connection, but in reality, he regarded Li Lingyue as his sister.

He told Bi’er and Liu Qun, “Go back for reinforcements—bring as many as you can.”

With that, he prepared to lead his guards toward Helan Minzhi’s residence.

Three divisions—personal guards, merit guards, and wing guards—protected the imperial city and the Eastern Palace, their ranks filled mostly by sons of meritorious officials and nobles. The structure was similar: ten men per squad, one squad leader, fifty men per team, one captain, one hundred per brigade, with a brigade leader, and two hundred per battalion, led by a colonel.

This group, traveling light, had only twenty-odd men. That was sufficient; fully armed, they could handle emergencies, though storming Helan Minzhi’s residence would be a challenge.

Li Wei didn’t care.

Captain Zhu Qing barred Li Wei’s path, saying, “Your Highness, you must not act rashly. Duke Zhou has lost his mind—he’s capable of anything.”

He held Li Wei, disregarding protocol, then ordered, “Yue Squad Leader, Wu Squad Leader, take fifteen brothers to the Duke of Zhou’s residence immediately and protect the princess.”

“Yes!” Fifteen men mounted up and departed.

Li Wei struggled, but his health was poor. Even after a month’s training, he could handle Helan Minzhi but wasn’t a match for these professional guards. His eyes were red with rage as he shouted, “Captain Zhu, how dare you disobey my order!”

“Your Highness, I know how much you care for the princess, but your safety is paramount. Besides, you’re still recovering.” Zhu Qing himself was furious; Helan Minzhi was truly troublesome.

The palace wasn’t far. A patrol squad, uncertain what was happening, hurried over. From afar, they shouted, “Release the Crown Prince! Let go of His Highness!”

A misunderstanding.

Li Wei said, “All guards, follow me to Minzhi’s residence!”

None knew what was happening, but the Crown Prince targeting Helan Minzhi was welcome news. “Yes!” they replied.

With so many soldiers, Zhu Qing released his hold, and they charged toward Helan Minzhi’s residence. As they went, details emerged, and this squad grew furious as well. Though people married young in those days—even arranged child marriages at seven or eight—no one expected children to share a room.

Helan Minzhi was no better than a beast.

Some hot-tempered soldiers shouted angrily.

Arriving at Minzhi’s residence, the gates stood open. Three corpses lay at the entrance—two felled by arrows, one decapitated by a blade. It was unclear how Yue Squad Leader and Wu Squad Leader had entered, but there must have been resistance; killing three servants proved that.

Li Wei grew more anxious. If the two guards protecting Li Lingyue had failed, the time lost since the first guard went for reinforcements could mean disaster.

He seized a servant and demanded, “Where is the princess?”

The servant, terrified and desperate to live, pointed tremblingly in one direction. Li Wei flung him aside and rushed in.

Just in time, Helan Minzhi and his cronies were facing off against Yue Squad Leader and Wu Squad Leader.

Li Wei roared, “Kill!”

Last time, corpses were destroyed at Mount Zhongnan; this time, they caught him in the act. The guards pounced like wolves, weapons raised—especially the few wielding broad, long blades that swept through crowds. In a blur, over a dozen servants fell.

The rest scattered in panic.

It was almost absurd; these guards, usually arrogant, lacked real combat experience. Some servants died horribly—cleaved in two, upper bodies still twitching on the ground. Many bent over, retching, Li Wei included, but he pushed through the nausea, rushing into the room.

Li Lingyue lay curled up on the bed, scraps of torn clothing on the floor. Seeing her brother, she scrambled up and threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, shaken to the core.

Li Wei wrapped her in a blanket, holding her close, and asked the two guards nearby, “The princess—she wasn’t harmed?”

The two guards saluted and replied, “We arrived in time, Your Highness, though we failed in our duty.”

“You’ve done a great service—how can you speak of failure?” Li Wei bowed to them. He knew little, but his little sister had a notorious reputation in history. Had he not intervened, such trauma would leave deep scars, and her later madness would be understandable.

Of course, whether this incident actually occurred in history, he wasn’t sure.

A guard dragged Helan Minzhi over. “Your Highness, how should we deal with him?”

He no longer relied on the Emperor; disappointment had dulled his expectations.

Still rational, Li Wei’s hatred was intense. He grabbed a broadsword—he couldn’t recall where it came from, perhaps from a guard or lying nearby. Striding over, he pressed Li Lingyue’s head to his chest and swung the blade hard at Helan Minzhi’s crotch—a small lump fell to the floor.

He’d intended to mutilate Helan Minzhi before, but the man’s promiscuity had prevented it—after years of marriage, he had no heirs, so Liu Rengui had stopped him. Now, with no one to intervene, Li Wei finished the job.

The guards, sweating profusely, all shouted, “Well done!”

This thing had caused all the trouble—prompting him to abduct the Crown Princess, to seek to violate even a six- or seven-year-old girl.

Helan Minzhi had ruined many, but now his own soul fled. He did something inexplicable—ignoring the blood streaming from his groin, he bent down, picked up the lump of flesh, stared at it, and suddenly realized what had happened, screamed, his eyelids flipped, and fainted.

PS: The pressure from the immortal urging updates is overwhelming—I can’t force out anything good. Still, thanks to Mao Pant Immortal and The Abandoned God for becoming the first and second helm masters of this book.