"Empress Dowager, we must flee!"
Zhao Zhong's voice was urgent. "Though the General is dead, his forces remain. We can take the covered corridor to avoid the Northern Palace for now and wait for reinforcements!"
"Alright!"
Empress Dowager He snapped back to her senses. His words reminded her—He Miao still commanded troops. If they could hold out in the Northern Palace, rescue would surely come.
The Ten Attendants sprang into action at once. Zhao Zhong rushed to find Liu Bian, while Duan Gui hurried off to bring Liu Xie.
Zhao Zhong arrived at the Jade Hall, where dozens of officials were blocking the entrance.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived! Make way!" he shouted.
The officials turned, and upon seeing her, immediately bowed and stepped aside.
Zhao Zhong seized the bewildered Liu Bian and pulled him forward.
"Your Majesty, Yuan Shao is rebelling! You must come with us at once!"
"Nonsense!"
An official pointed angrily at Zhao Zhong. "It is clearly He Jin who colluded with you eunuchs to rebel!"
"Today's disaster is caused by your grasping for power—yet you dare twist the truth?!"
The officials had already heard Yuan Shao's accusations outside—that He Jin and the eunuchs were plotting rebellion. On one side stood Yuan Shao, from a prestigious family of four generations, upright in appearance; on the other, eunuchs and a butcher-general.
Whom would people believe?
Naturally, the officials all sided against Zhao Zhong.
Flustered and unable to argue, Zhao Zhong could only force his way through with Liu Bian.
Empress Dowager He, angered, shouted, "It is Yuan Shao who rebels!"
The officials hesitated, troubled. "Your Majesty, you must not be misled by treacherous words…"
"Treacherous words?" she snapped. "Yuan Shao has summoned troops without authorization and uses military force to coerce the emperor. This morning I ordered his arrest—by afternoon his men stormed the palace. Tell me, who is the traitor?!"
The officials looked at one another in confusion.
Could it be… Yuan Shao truly was rebelling?
Taking advantage of the hesitation, Zhao Zhong dragged Liu Bian away.
"Empress Dowager, we must go!"
Remembering the army outside the city, her fear replaced her anger. She hurried after him along the covered corridor. The officials, after a moment's thought, followed closely—staying near the emperor was the safest choice.
Behind them, Bi Lan and the others set fire to the corridor, cutting off pursuit.
At Yeting Palace, Duan Gui was already waiting with Liu Xie in his arms.
"Cousin! Cousin!" Liu Xie cried.
The moment he saw Liu Bian, he broke free and ran to him.
"Elder brother! My cousin is still in Yong'an Palace! Please send someone to rescue him!"
Liu Bian hesitated.
Though not officially acknowledged, Zhang Ping's identity was widely known. Given Zhang Xin's service to the Han, abandoning his son would be unjust.
"Duan Changshi, please make another trip and bring Zhang Ping out," Liu Bian said.
Duan Gui's face darkened immediately.
At a time like this—why worry about another burden? They were already risking everything just to extract the emperor and prince.
"Is this the time for that?!" Empress Dowager He snapped, glancing at the flames behind them. "What's the point of saving more? Move!"
The Ten Attendants didn't hesitate. They seized Liu Bian, carried Liu Xie, and fled.
Liu Xie cried all the way.
At Xuanwu Gate, Lu Zhi stood beneath the corridor with several men, spears in hand.
"Are you eunuchs attempting to abduct the emperor?"
Zhao Zhong leaned over the railing. "Yuan Shao is rebelling—we are protecting His Majesty!"
"Lies!" Lu Zhi thundered. "If you are protecting him, why is the Prince of Chenliu crying?"
"A frightened child cries—is that strange?" Zhao Zhong shot back.
Empress Dowager He stepped forward and quickly explained, then rebuked him:
"Yuan Shao rebels. As a minister of Han, why do you not act against the traitor, but instead block the emperor's path?!"
Lu Zhi froze—then his face flushed with rage.
"Yuan Shao… is no loyal subject!"
The Yuan clan had served the Han for generations, yet now dared to do such a thing?
Without another word, Lu Zhi turned and rushed south.
Meanwhile, chaos spread.
At Duan Gate, Lu Zhi saw disorder everywhere.
"What happened?" he demanded, grabbing a fleeing eunuch.
"The officials… they listened to Yuan Shao and opened the gate!" the eunuch stammered.
"Outrageous!"
Lu Zhi flung him aside and strode off to confront Yuan Shao.
Soon, Yuan Shao's advancing troops saw Lu Zhi approaching with his men.
They surged forward—
"Presumptuous!" Lu Zhi roared. "Minister Lu Zhi is here—who dares act recklessly?!"
The soldiers halted instantly.
Lu Zhi's reputation for integrity was unmatched—even common soldiers knew his name.
"Yuan Shao has raised rebellion. You are imperial guards, sworn to protect the palace—why do you turn traitor?"
He slammed his spear into the ground.
"Surrender now, and you will be spared!"
The soldiers hesitated. Many lowered their weapons.
Seeing the vanguard stall, Yuan Shao grew uneasy and rode forward with Yuan Shu.
The moment Lu Zhi saw him, he erupted in furious curses.
"Minister, you misunderstand!" Yuan Shao said quickly. "He Jin conspired with the eunuchs—"
"Rubbish!" Lu Zhi snapped. "The Empress Dowager personally—"
"The Empress Dowager has been deceived!" Yuan Shu cut in sharply. "Minister, you too have been misled. Stand aside—we must rescue the emperor!"
Lu Zhi trembled with anger. "Nonsense! It is clearly—"
"Seize him!" Yuan Shu ordered coldly.
Elite soldiers stepped forward without hesitation. Ignoring his rank, they grabbed Lu Zhi and his men.
"Traitors! Traitors!" Lu Zhi shouted.
Yan Liang stuffed a cloth into his mouth, silencing him.
Yuan Shao glanced at the bound Lu Zhi, then raised his voice:
"Gentlemen! Once the eunuchs are eliminated, peace will return to the realm. Advance!"
But no one moved.
The imperial guards stared at him with cold, hostile eyes.
A chill ran through Yuan Shao's heart.
Something was wrong.
This wasn't victory—
This was mutiny.