WBSGVS Chapter 209 V2

Qingli’s forces had the upper hand. While the Prince Regent had secretly raised troops, he couldn’t compare to the elite soldiers trained openly and legally, personally prepared by Prince Duan’s heir.

“Retreat!”

Realizing something was wrong, the Prince Regent shouted the command and was immediately surrounded by his guards as they began to fall back.

His mission was to buy time for the Second Prince. Once everything settled and the imperial edict was issued—once Sima Heng had abdicated—even if Qingli arrived, it would be too late.

But he’d barely taken a few steps when Qingli, leading her troops, charged in on horseback.

She rode with fierce determination, crashing through most of the guards protecting the Regent.

When her horse was finally brought down, Qingli dismounted and drew her sword. She moved like a seasoned swordswoman—every step left behind a trail of blood and fallen men.

“Leyu!” the Regent cried out in disbelief. He hadn’t expected Sima Qingli to be this powerful. Panic overtook him as he shouted, “Calm down! We can still work together. Help me, and I’ll make you the Princess Guardian of the Realm! Your brother will have the grandest domain—”

But before he could finish the sentence, Qingli was already in front of him.

With one swift motion of her sword, a flash of silver sliced across his throat.

Blood sprayed as the Regent collapsed.

Qingli mounted a new horse and barked, “With me!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Now that the main culprit was dead, her soldiers didn’t bother lingering. A few stayed behind to hold off pursuers, while the rest followed the horse-riding woman in a sweeping retreat.

The Regent’s remaining men were still fighting hard when they noticed their opponents retreating. Puzzled, someone shouted, “Where’s the Prince?!”

“He’s dead!”

“What?! The Prince?!”

Cries of alarm erupted as they realized their leader had fallen. Any will to pursue quickly dissolved.

Meanwhile, Qingli galloped straight toward the emperor’s private quarters.

There, soldiers loyal to the Second Prince stood guard.

Qingli raised her hand. “Attack!”

Her troops surged forward, and fierce fighting broke out.

Inside the chambers, Sima Heng sat trembling, forced to write an abdication decree with a dagger pressed to his neck. When he heard the commotion outside, his eyes lit up with hope. His voice shook as he said, “Second Brother! Someone’s here to save me! It’s over—give up. Don’t worry, Father won’t execute you!”

But the Second Prince sneered coldly. “Don’t be delusional. I’ve come this far—there’s no turning back. You never liked me. Maybe if it were our younger brother, you’d hesitate to kill him. But me? If I fail, you’ll have me executed. Keep writing!”

He nodded to a guard to press the dagger closer.

Sima Heng winced as the blade bit into his skin, a sharp sting blooming across his throat. Blood trickled down his neck. His face turned white, but he kept writing, hoping—desperately—that his savior would appear soon.

Outside, the battle had nearly ended. The palace doors burst open with a loud crash.

Surrounded by guards, Qingli strode in.

“Leyu?!”

Sima Heng gasped. He couldn’t believe it—his estranged daughter was the one who had come to save him?

The Second Prince’s expression twisted with shock. He grabbed the dagger and pressed it firmly against Sima Heng’s neck. “Stay where you are! One more step and I’ll kill him!”

He glanced past Qingli, trying to spot the Regent.

Sima Heng shouted, “Stop, stop! He means it! Your second brother really will do it!”

But Qingli just smiled and kept walking, calm and unbothered. “Don’t bother looking—Prince Regent is dead. Everyone who tried to stop me is dead. And you… you won’t last much longer either.”

The Second Prince stared at her, dumbfounded. His grip tightened, slicing Sima Heng’s skin. Warm blood ran down onto his hand, and fear overtook him.

“Qingli!” he screamed. “Didn’t you hear me?! I said stop! One more step and your father dies!”

Sima Heng’s face had gone pale as a sheet. He trembled violently. “Ahh! Don’t do anything rash, Leyu! Don’t come any closer… I said don’t!”

Qingli chuckled. “Why would any of you think I care about… a father who’s never once cared about me?”

The Second Prince: “…”

Sima Heng: “!!!”

The room fell into a frozen standoff. None of the three knew what to do. Qingli continued advancing, utterly unmoved by the threat to Sima Heng’s life. The Second Prince, seeing that his hostage was useless, began backing away in panic.

He kept retreating until he hit the wall behind him. His body jolted, and his grip on the dagger loosened slightly.

That was all Qingli needed.

She struck.

“AHHH—!” Sima Heng screamed, shutting his eyes.

A wet shhlick echoed through the room. The blade sank deep.

The grip restraining him suddenly slackened. Sima Heng, driven by raw survival instinct, shoved the Second Prince away and scrambled out, tripping and stumbling to freedom. When he turned around, he saw his son lying in a pool of blood, his chest bleeding, still glaring at him with wide eyes.

Sima Heng’s heart wrenched. He remembered the fear he’d just felt. Rage and sorrow surged. He turned to Qingli and snapped, “Leyu! I told you not to come! Did you not understand? I almost died!”

Qingli walked up to him—unfazed by his shouting—and kicked him to the ground. “Get lost.”

Sima Heng tumbled in a pathetic heap. He staggered upright, stunned. His expression was pure disbelief.

She… she just kicked her father?

Before he could explode in fury, a loud voice rang from outside:

“The Imperial Astrologer and Second Prince conspired in a coup! The proof is right here, my lords!”

It was Sima Chang’s shout.