Time Travel: The Survival of Li Zhi

Chapter 553 Something happened

"The demon queen chanted a spell towards the magic mirror, and it began to glow with a faint blue light... Mirror, oh mirror, tell me, who is the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Inside the library, the little prince's eyes widened as he listened, his chubby little hands tightly grasped the corners of his clothes, and even his breathing became lighter.

However, just as the little prince was listening intently, Li Zhi's voice suddenly stopped.

Seeing this, the little prince pouted in dissatisfaction: "Why didn't Master Li say anything?"

Before he could finish his words, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the library.

A dozen guards in armor rushed into the library. The clanging sound of armor colliding startled the little prince so much that he turned his head to look.

The dozen or so guards glanced fiercely at the library and instantly locked onto the little prince not far away. Without saying a word, they walked straight towards the little prince.

When Gao Song, the prince's personal eunuch, saw this, his eyes became stern. He suddenly stood up and took a step forward to block the group of guards who were heading straight for the prince.

His sharp voice sounded with a strong sense of vigilance: "Who are you? Why are you approaching His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

As he spoke, Gao Song glanced at the group of guards.

Unexpectedly, this sight made Gao Song's alarm bells ring even louder.

Because, he didn't know any of these guards!

You know, Gao Song entered the palace at the age of six and has remembered everyone in the palace, regardless of their status. He can recognize even the palace maids and eunuchs, or the ordinary imperial guards who guard the palace.

But now, this group of people seemed extremely unfamiliar to him, not even one of them looked familiar.

When the leading guard heard Gao Song's question, he just glanced at him with a hint of disdain and ignored Gao Song. Instead, he shouted to the young prince, "Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered us to come and fetch you!"

Gao Song moved sideways, blocking the man's sight. He said, "Since we are following His Majesty's orders, please show us your credentials!"

Seeing Gao Song's relentless pursuit, the guard leader couldn't help but frown. He replied impatiently, "We are here on the orders of the Emperor. Why should we prove anything to a eunuch like you?"

However, facing the leader's rude words, Gao Song's expression remained unchanged. He simply replied coldly, "If you don't have proof, then please get out of the library! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will not go with you!"

The guard narrowed his eyes, murderous intent visible in them. He warned in a deep voice, "I repeat, His Majesty asks the Crown Prince to return. If you, a eunuch, insist on stopping him, don't blame me for being rude!"

As the man finished speaking, the guards behind him drew their swords at their waists with a "swish".

For a moment, the atmosphere was solemn.

Li Zhi and Mr. Qiu exchanged a subtle glance, and they also became suspicious of this group of guards who suddenly appeared.

Although they had not lived in the palace for a long time like Gao Song and could recognize the guards clearly, they knew very well that no guard would be so bold as to draw his sword in front of the prince.

Realizing that something was wrong, Mr. Qiu hurriedly grabbed the prince and held him in his arms.

Li Zhi stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the group of guards as he shouted, "How dare you draw your swords before the Crown Prince? Are you planning a rebellion?"

However, Li Zhi's questioning failed to scare away the guards.

I heard the guard leader spit on the ground in disdain, muttering, "What a fucking trouble..."

After saying that, he suddenly shouted: "Do it!"

He rushed towards Gao Song at the head of the group, his sword slashing with a strong wind.

Facing the fierce knife, Gao Song did not retreat but advanced. His skinny hands stretched out like iron clamps and locked the opponent's wrist with a grappling technique.

With a crisp "crack" sound, the captain of the guards' sword flew out of his hand, and then Gao Song suddenly exerted force with both arms!

"boom!"

A dull thud shook the ground, and the captain of the guards was smashed hard onto the bluestone ground. The sound of broken bones mixed with screams, and in the blink of an eye, he was silent.

"Hurry up and take His Highness away! We'll cover your retreat!"

Gao Song shouted without turning his head. He swung his hands into afterimages and single-handedly blocked the dozen or so guards.

Seeing that the two sides had already started fighting, Li Zhi became even more certain that these guards had ill intentions.

Although he still had some doubts in his heart, Li Zhi knew that there could be no delay at this moment, and everything should be based on the safety of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

So, Li Zhi didn't hesitate. He turned around and knocked open the carved wooden window.

Amid the crisp sound of wooden tenons breaking, he held the little prince in one hand, grabbed Old Qiu with the other, and jumped out of the window.

Before the wood chips on the bluestone floor fell to the ground, the clang of weapons clashing and Gao Song's angry shouts could be heard behind him.

"Don't even think about hurting His Highness!"

 …

After leaving the library, Li Zhi felt a sinking feeling in his heart at the dead silence all around him.

None of the palace maids and eunuchs who usually came and went were to be seen, and there was not even a trace of the patrolling imperial guards. There was only the whimpering sound of the wind blowing through the palace walls, which sounded like the crying of dead souls.

Suddenly, Li Zhi raised his nose, and a strong smell of blood drifted with the wind. The rusty smell of blood went straight into Li Zhi's nostrils.

Li Zhi frowned. He took Old Qiu and the little prince and walked quickly following the smell.

When they passed through the moon gate, the sight before them made Li Zhi's pupils shrink...

On the lawn, the bodies of dozens of palace maids and eunuchs were piled up like a small mountain. The familiar lake blue palace costumes were stained dark brown by blood. Some of them were young eunuchs who often came to the library to deliver snacks.

The blood soaked the bluestone slabs, emitting a strange luster in the setting sun, and even the air was filled with an indelible fishy sweetness.

"Wow --"

The little prince was obviously frightened by the scene before him. He buried his head in Old Qiu's arms and burst into tears, his face covered with tears and snot.

Elder Qiu quickly reached out and gently stroked the prince's head, comforting him, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."

Li Zhi turned around and looked at Mr. Qiu, his face as solemn as iron, extremely ugly: "Something big has happened!"

Elder Qiu's expression was equally solemn, but he didn't show any panic. He glanced at Li Zhi and then asked, "Something happened in the palace... Should we leave the palace first to seek help?"

Li Zhi frowned. He looked around and calmly analyzed, "The fact that these people were able to enter the palace means that the palace gate guards have their backers... Moreover, now that they've entered the palace, I'm afraid the palace gate has fallen into their hands..."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Qiu nodded in agreement, and then asked Li Zhi, "Then what should we do now?"

Li Zhi looked down at the prince who had stopped crying. He knew that the little prince was worried that his crying would attract thieves, so he forced himself to hold back his tears.

"The best way right now is to find a place to hide for the time being..."