In the tense atmosphere, He Jin led a mighty army, surging into the Imperial Palace with overwhelming momentum.
His army was like an unstoppable torrent; Dong Zhong's troops retreated under their fierce assault, utterly powerless to resist.
Meanwhile, in the Emperor's sleeping quarters, Dong Zhong's forces still made little progress.
Due to Lu Zhi and Dian Wei's desperate resistance, they were unable to capture Prince Liu Bian and the Empress.
On that intense battlefield, Dian Wei and Lu Zhi fought with their lives, desperately protecting Prince Liu Bian and the Empress.
Their bodies were covered in wounds and blood, yet they still stubbornly engaged Dong Cheng's troops in a life-and-death struggle.
This allowed He Jin's army the opportunity to enter the Imperial Palace and gave the Empress and the Prince a chance to rendezvous with Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong.
When the Empress and the Prince met with Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong, Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong immediately approached them with fawning expressions, constantly boasting about their 'achievements' and flattering the Empress.
However, their gaze was entirely focused on the Empress, completely ignoring Prince Liu Bian at her side.
Prince Liu Bian stood by, looking at Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong's fawning faces, his heart filled with disgust and aversion.
He frowned tightly, his eyes revealing his disdain for them.
Liu Bian looked at the exhausted Lu Zhi with a pained expression, his heart full of worry.
He wanted to say something to Lu Zhi but was suppressed by the tense situation.
A hint of anger towards Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong also flashed in his eyes; they only knew how to flatter the Empress, completely disregarding his feelings and showing no concern for Lu Zhi's safety.
Liu Bian secretly vowed in his heart that he would break free from the control of these people and find those who could truly protect him and the country.
At this moment, Lu Zhi, though exhausted, still stubbornly held his ground, continuing to fight the enemy alongside Dian Wei.
Empress He, rescued by Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong's soldiers in her panic, was already filled with fear and helplessness.
Hearing their words, she even felt a hint of gratitude towards them.
Coupled with their smooth talk, the Empress unwittingly began to trust them somewhat.
With the successful rendezvous of Lu Zhi and Zhang Rang, Dong Cheng's troops finally surrounded everyone, forming a tight encirclement.
Within the encirclement, flesh and blood flew, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens and earth.
In this fierce battle, Dong Zhong also gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, pupils dilated with blood, staring intently at the people within the encirclement.
At this moment, he knew the severity of the situation.
Outside, they were already surrounded by a large number of soldiers; only by successfully capturing Prince Liu Bian and Empress He here could he have a chance to turn the tide and reverse the situation.
He waved the weapon in his hand, constantly directing his troops to launch wave after wave of attacks, attempting to break through the defenses of Lu Zhi, Dian Wei, and others to seize the crucial targets.
The atmosphere on the battlefield grew increasingly tense; both sides were fighting to the death for their respective goals, and the scales of victory seemed to become elusive at this moment…
Inside the Imperial Palace, although Dong Zhong's army was not superior in number to He Jin's, they still stubbornly resisted by relying on the advantageous high ground of the palace.
In this chaotic situation, Sun Ce, Ma Chao, and Pang De, like arrows shot from a bow, led their men through numerous difficulties and finally broke through layers of obstacles to reach the location of Emperor Ling's sleeping quarters.
Dong Zhong watched helplessly as the enemy's reinforcements arrived, and a wave of despair immediately surged in his heart; he knew the tide had turned.
Thus, he supported Empress Dowager Dong and quickly retreated into the main hall of Emperor Ling's sleeping quarters.
During the retreat into the sleeping quarters' main hall, Dong Zhong and Empress Dowager Dong still held a glimmer of hope and reliance.
On one hand, there was Empress Dowager Dong's noble status and Emperor Ling's corpse; with these two bargaining chips, as long as they still desired the monumental achievement of supporting the new emperor, they remained in an invincible position.
On the other hand, there were the deeply entrenched forces behind them; they still hoped these forces could play a crucial role at the critical moment and help them turn the situation around.
As Dong Zhong and Empress Dowager Dong reluctantly abandoned resistance and entered the sleeping quarters' main hall, this also marked the end of the fierce battle.
On the battlefield, only desolation remained; bodies lay scattered everywhere, and the air was filled with the strong smell of blood and gunpowder.
Tattered banners swayed in the wind, broken weapons lay scattered, and the palace walls were covered with sword marks and bloodstains.
This once glorious place had now become a tragic ruin, bearing witness to the pain and destruction brought by this thrilling battle.
Outside the palace, a group of soldiers respectfully awaited the arrival of the Great General to take charge of the situation.
They excitedly whispered among themselves, discussing the recent victory.
The Ten Attendants closely surrounded the Empress and Prince Liu Bian, endlessly pouring out their achievements and their visions for the future, desperately expressing their loyalty.
However, in this lively atmosphere, everyone overlooked Lu Zhi, who had fought desperately to protect Prince Liu Bian and the Empress, collapsing from exhaustion, and Dian Wei, who was covered in over a dozen wounds.
Their bravery and sacrifice seemed to be forgotten in a corner, unheeded by anyone…
Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Pang De quickly rushed to Lu Zhi's side like a swift wind.
Lu Zhi's face was pale, his breath weak, and his body was covered in multiple wounds.
Ma Chao was anxious, immediately helping Lu Zhi up and letting him lean against his chest, his eyes filled with distress and urgency.
Sun Ce and Pang De also quickly gathered around Lu Zhi, anxiously inquiring about his physical condition.
Lu Zhi smiled weakly, waved his hand, and said, “I'm fine, just a bit exhausted.
Your performance in this battle was excellent; I am deeply gratified.
Especially Dian Wei, his bravery is admirable.”
At this point, Lu Zhi's eyes showed admiration.
However, Sun Ce and the others indignantly said, “Those people are too hateful; they made you, Teacher, and Dian Wei suffer such severe injuries!”
Lu Zhi gently shook his head, comforting them by saying, “Swords have no eyes on the battlefield; it's unavoidable.
Don't harbor resentment over this; we must look forward.”
Ma Chao tightly held Lu Zhi's hand, his voice choked with emotion as he said, “Teacher, you must rest well and recover your health.”
Lu Zhi smiled and nodded, saying, “Don't worry, I'll be fine.
You are all good children; you must continue to work hard and fight for our goals.”
Ma Chao and the others felt warmth and strength in their hearts upon hearing Lu Zhi's words, and they secretly resolved to work even harder, not to disappoint Lu Zhi's expectations.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept by, as if soothing everyone's hearts.
Lu Zhi looked at the young and vibrant faces before him, his heart filled with gratification.
He knew that the road ahead was still long, but with these brave people, everything was full of hope.
The few quickly bandaged Dian Wei, and looking at the shocking wounds on his body, their hearts were filled with admiration.
Dian Wei rubbed his head and laughed, “It's nothing, as long as Teacher is safe.”
Ma Chao and the others were even more impressed with Dian Wei after hearing his words.