Ren Jidian clambered from roof to roof, swinging like a monkey to observe the dancing figure.
Emperor Zau was completely entranced with Wei Wangyi. WIth every flick of his wrist, tap fo his feet, flutter of his eyelashes...
He was completely fooleed that it was almost pitiful.
Ren Jidian himself was also enamored with how well his Yi-Yi was dancing. That sash he waved around into twirls and spirals represented what his heart was like right now.
He felt like his heart itself was dancing to the rhythm of the drums.
He imagined himself as the one on Wei Wangyi's side, being charmed by his hip movements and his sultry expression.
"He's not a bad dancer, and you're not a bad climber."
A vocie suddenly came, also hanging by the windows like him.
"I thought you plan to poison him first with a dart from that tree." Ren Jidian scowled, no longer wearing that giddy smile.
"I felt the distance was too far and dangerous. So I went to get closer." Song Xiu explained. "Your Yin arms don't get tired holding onto this window for so long."
Ren Jidian just made a face. "I can bear holding onto this window forever. But to talk with you for more than 5 seconds? That I could not bear."
He was used to peering into windows like this isnce he was young.
His father, the Omega man that gave birth to him, usually kicked him out of the house after he does something wrong to starve and sleep on the streets.
He would often climb the window to his bedroom and beg for him to let him in.
But his father would never listen, and just sleep on his bed with the blankets raised over his head.
So yes, he had developed great grip strength thanks to that.
And he had no plans on telling this Song Xiu.
He'll be dead soon enough anyway.
"They're approaching that room. Get ready." Ren Jidian told him, and just swung to the next window.
Song Xiu followed after him with that wide grin.
The drumming was coming to an end, and so was Wei Wangyi's dance. Sweat had trickled his delicate forehead after so much exertion.
Once it was over, it ended with him tying the long sash all around the Emperor, restraining him.
He made a polite bow. "I hope you liked that, my dear husband."
Emperor Zau nodded. "Very much, Yi-Yi..... I cannot wait anymore."
He leaned over to Wei Wangyi's neck. "I want to hold you, to plant my seeds inside you, let it grow into the greatest princes and princesses this empire had ever seen....."
Wei Wangyi just stepped back.
"I see. I cannot say I wish the same."
The emperor just blinked at this, as at the same time....
He felt something on his neck.
Restrained by the sash, he was not able to catch it in time despite his quick reflexes.
The poison immediately went to his bloodstream, and his breathing hardened to control it.
He choked, and broke free from the sash, turning it into tatters.
He collapsed to the floor, reaching out to Wei Wangyi who just stared at him coldly with those eyes again.
"Why..... I thought you have finally accepted me... Yi-Yi, you will pay for this...."
"He will not, Ah-Ting. None of us will pay for this coup."
Song Xiu had immediately appeared behind him.
And stabbed him with a dagger on his back!
"I know a poisoned dart would not kill you. So we have prepared three courses for your death today!" He grinned happily, as he pulled out the dagger.
And stabbed him again and again!
"First is poison, the appetizer. Then, 20 stab wounds, the main course. And for the dessert..."
He turned to Ren Jidian, who was holding a flint stone in his hand.
He went over to the boxes placed on the room...
And revealed that it contained dozens and dozens of oil jars.
He just toppled over those jars, the oil spreading all over the place along wth some smartly placed tinderwood all over this room.
He had created a flame from the flintstone. He placed it on the candle.
"Where I'm from, Your Majesty, we make a wish for our birthdays by blowing on candles." He said with a devilish grin. "Why don't you make a wish?"
He presented the candle to the bleeding and dying emperor's face.
Emperor Zau Ting spat out blood at him.
"I wish that you would die alone with no one by your side."
Ren Jidian just sneered at this. "My, what a spiteful wish."
As Emperor Zau was about to blow out the candle, he threw it towards the broken oil jars.
A great flame immediately erupted from that side of the room.
Song Xiu stood up. "Well, enjoy your death, Ah-Ting. You only have that once in every lifetime, after all."
"After you, Yin gentelmen." He said, opening the door for Ren Jidian and Wei Wangyi.
But they did not go out. Instead, they waited as a looming figure came---
And struck her sword pass through the advisor's stomach!
Gou Zhongcheng smiled at the two of them. "Nicely done, both of you."
She took back her sword, letting Song Xiu fall down towards the dying Emperor in this slowly burning room. "Come, let us go before the others notice the smoke."
The happily ran towards her to hug her. "Zhongcheng, we owe you everything!"
"Alright, alright! You Yins now run quickly, I'll send letters about the future developments."
Lady Shu let go of her drum and also rushed to hug her. "Come with us, Zhongcheng. We can all just run and go."
Gou Zhongcheng shook her head. "I told you, I promised to only die within this Palace---"
SLASH!
"And die within this Palace you will."
Song Xiu said as he breathed his last breath after throwing his dagger straight to Gou Zhongcheng's back.
It went directly below her neck, where her spine should be.
"Zhongcheng!" Lady Shu called out, as she vomitted a lot of blood.
Gou Zhongcheng was not fazed by this. She just smiled.
"Go..... You no longer have a reason to stay. Go now, Zhanxing. Take the empress and the scholar to safety."
"No! I am not leaving you---"
But the fire was slowly spreading, and would soon reach their rooms, causing the Palace to collapse.
"We need to go!" Ren Jidian said. "People will come here soon and try to douse the fire!"
They looked sadly at their dying friend, and picked up the weeping Lady Shu from her.
"I will make you a great burial in an opium field like I promised." Ren Jidian told the brave guard.
"You better." Gou Zhongcheng smiled with bloodied teeth. "Just go with Zhanxing... Tell her that I..."
The light was then gone from her eyes. But Ren Jidian knew what she wanted to say.
"I will." He closed those eyes.
And thus was their great escape. Three people dead, three people running away.....
And the whole Great Zau now free from a tyrannical ruler.