Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)
Chapter 416: Escape plan

Chapter 416: Escape plan

He rose, bottle in hand, his presence a simmering threat. The two men stepped aside, their expressions wary, as if expecting an unprovoked attack. Xiang Yu walked past them, his movements casual yet fraught with potential danger. Just as he was about to exit, Marshal Wu’s voice cut through the tension.

"Stay in your palace... don’t leave."

Xiang Yu turned, a feral grin revealing his tiger teeth. "Marshal, am I under house arrest?"

There was a long pause before Marshal Wu replied, "It’s just a formality."

"But can I still have guests? You know the twins are very fond of me," Xiang Yu continued, his tone deceptively light.

Marshal Wu knew his twin granddaughters, would cause an uproar if forbidden from seeing Xiang Yu. They would only cause trouble on the palace grounds and attract unwanted attention. He conceded, "I will permit them one visit."

Expecting a protest, the Marshal was taken aback when Xiang Yu simply shrugged, "Okay," and turned to leave.

As soon as Xiang Yu was out of sight, Marshal Wu turned to his men, "Tell them to put extra security on his palace. And make sure Lian and Mei are never left alone with him."

The men nodded, their obedience swift and unquestioning, "Yes, sir."

They assumed the Marshal’s concern was for the twins’ safety, but his worries ran deeper. He feared that if left alone, they might aid Xiang Yu in escaping. Despite Xiang Yu’s role in exposing the Imperial Lord’s crimes, he was still the lord’s son.

By law, he was to be detained until the imperial court completed its investigation. Confining Xiang Yu to his palace was a necessity.

For now, the Marshal’s priority was clear: to secure Han Xin’s path to the throne once he awoke. The Republic couldn’t be without an imperial Lord, especially at this time of conflict.

***

For the past few days, Xiang Yu had been confined to his palace, guarded vigilantly by mercenaries. Unlike the imperial guards, they were keenly alert and always on their toes. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

He couldn’t reach Han Zhan to get updates on Han Xin’s condition. The only way to get any news was by bothering the Divine Emperor in his spiritual space. Knowing that Han Xin was healing well, Xiang Yu found some solace and managed to sleep a little easier.

Unbeknownst to him, beyond the palace gates, the Republic was engulfed in chaos. The ongoing war with the Federation on the bordering planets was not the only issue. Some of the citizens were protesting, demanding that the Imperial Lord and his family be arrested and handed over to the citizens’ court for punishment.

The Viper’s mercenary group was struggling to maintain order as the military was already stretched thin. The fury was so intense that some citizens were even willing to storm the imperial palace and drag the traitors out themselves.

The council added to the pressure, urging Marshal Wu to hand over the Imperial Lord and his family. But the Marshal argued they had to wait until the rightful Imperial Lord ascended the throne.

Tensions were escalating, and it reached a boiling point when a faction of nobles attempted to break into the imperial palace, seeking revenge for the murder of the former Imperial Lord, who had been killed in cold blood by the current Imperial Lord Xiang. They demanded blood, and Xiang Yu was the most accessible target.

At night, Xiang Yu clung to his body pillow, a fleeting sense of comfort in his confined state. He was just slipping into sleep when a knock on the door stirred him. "Sir, you have guests," a mercenary’s voice announced from outside.

Xiang Yu sat up, his curiosity piqued. "Let them in."

The door swung open, and Lian and Mei burst in, their excitement palpable. "Master, wuwuwuwu!" Lian yelled, her voice echoing through the room.

"Master, we missed you so much," Mei chimed in, their joy infectious.

The mercenary standing guard watched in surprise as the Marshal’s granddaughters rushed to Xiang Yu, their embrace so tight it was almost strangling. Xiang Yu chuckled, "Are you two trying to kill me?"

They loosened their grip but continued to cling to him, their relief evident. Lian glanced at the mercenary who was standing there, his eyes wide with shock.

"Why are you standing there? Leave us alone," Lian snapped, her displeasure evident.

"Yeah, why are you just staring? It’s creepy," Mei added with a sneer.

The mercenary stiffened, "Sorry, young miss. The Marshal ordered me not to leave you three alone."

Mei rolled her eyes, "What is that old man afraid of? What, are we going to turn him into a fly and let him escape?"

The mercenary’s eyes widened before he regained his composure, "Young miss, don’t make it difficult for me. I am just following orders."

Xiang Yu interjected, "Don’t make trouble with him. Come, sit."

They moved to the lounge, the mercenary trailing them cautiously. Mei offered, "Master, let me pour you a drink."

Xiang Yu nodded, "Sure," as he settled into his seat.

Unbeknownst to the mercenary, an escape plan was already in motion. Mei poured alcohol into three glasses, discreetly dropping three tablets into the wine. The liquid fizzed lightly, unnoticed. She handed one glass to Xiang Yu and the other to Lian, who was fiddling with her backpack.

Their plan was set into motion, with the mercenary oblivious to the unfolding scheme. Xiang Yu crossed his legs at the knee and took the glass, saying, "Thank you."

Lian echoed, "Thanks, sister."

Mei took her glass and turned to the mercenary. "Do you want one?"

The man bowed his head slightly. "I am sorry, young miss. I can’t drink on duty."

"Don’t bother him," Xiang Yu said, and Mei nodded, settling down.

They began chatting, Lian and Mei recounting their recent adventures and bickering over trivial matters. Meanwhile, an invisible and odourless gas began to seep out from beneath the back pack and filling the room.

The three of them where unaffected by it as they continued chatting. The mercenary, however, started feeling uneasy. His vision blurred, and he shook his head in an attempt to clear it, only to be overwhelmed by a dizzying sensation. He suddenly collapsed to the ground his limbs unable to move and his throat unable to make a sound.

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