The last 2 paragraphs to Chapter 2
-because the Honoured Consort Zheng was the favoured concubine of the Emperor, the Emperor’s second son Chang Xun had always harboured ambitions to take over the throne.
-but most of the high officials w/in the palace belonged to the Crown Prince’s clique, thereby kicking Chang Xun out of the capital to Luo Yang.
-Chang Xun’s mother, the Honoured Consort Zheng not wanting to admit defeat, therefore along with her brother the State Uncle Zheng, Eunuch Wei Zhong Xian, and a few officials belonging to their circle came up with a conspiracy.
-they found a trusted member in their clique who was willing to take on the suicide mission of posing as a madman and running into the palace during broad daylight and using a stick to force his way through the Palace of Celestial Purity.
-after he lets himself be captured, he was to purposely utter a string of crazy babble, listing a whole bunch of “accomplices” to purposely frame the officials who were supportive of the Crown Prince, as well as eradicating the two most powerful eunuchs within the palace.
-thus Eunuch Wei Zhong Xian can take over the Eastern Coalition (book’s footnote: The Ming dynasty’s Division of Special Agents was separated into the “Eastern Coalition,” “Western Coalition” and “Imperial Bodyguards” three main groups. The East and West Coalitions were governed by the eunuchs, whilst the “imperial bodyguards” were governed by the Military officials)
-after the “Case of the Clubbing Assault” occurred, causing many people to be dragged into the affair, the Honoured Consort thought that their plan had succeeded, and therefore sent for her son to steal back into the palace.
-but the Crown Prince was quite intelligent and had a bunch of loyal warriors under his command, thus enabling him to find out about Chang Xun’s plan to steal back into the palace, therefore resulting to this massacre within the palace.
-after Zhuo Yi Hang had broken through the palace doors, he ran inside and found the Honoured Consort Zheng and a chubby white eunuch within the palace halls.
-Zhuo Yi Hang had already determined the Honoured Consort to be the enemy who caused his father’s death, therefore immediately struck out at her.
-the eunuch was Wei Zhong Xian, and he immediately signalled with his hands to send out 4 Commanders of the guards belonging to the Eastern Coalition to retaliate simultaneously
-Zhuo Yi Hang attacked the first commander with a sweeping palm, but the man just extended his arms to sustain that attack and though his body tottered slightly, yet he did not fall back
-the second commander also attacked using the Iron PiPa Hands (note: PiPa is an ancient Chinese instrument)
-while the third commander used his left shoulder to charge forward and impact directly against Zhuo Yi Hang. The reverberating energy coming from Zhuo caused him to fall back on the floor, yet Zhuo Yi Hang himself was forced to totter about unstably, almost losing his balance.
-at this time, the fourth commander jumped up and executed a flying kick to Zhuo’s thigh, causing Zhuo Yi Hang to fly back for more than 10 feet, although still managing to land on his feet, not falling to the floor.
-these four commanders were all highly skilled martial artists within the Eastern Coalition
-although Zhuo was also a skilled martial artist, yet he still needed time to refine his skills, thus when taking on all four commanders at the same time he was actually put at a great disadvantage.
-Angered, Zhuo took out his sword and by this time, Wang Zhao Xi and the Crown Prince had also arrived inside the palace halls.
-the Crown Prince shouted out that Chang Xun left his post without permission, and was conspiring with others to rebel, therefore anybody who dares to defend him will also be arrested as well.
-Hearing this, Wei Zhong Xian immediately shouted, “I acknowledge your commands your highness” and with a wave of his hands, he sent out the 4 commanders to capture the Honoured Consort and her brother, while laughingly he said, “The Honoured Consort and her brother are both conspirators in a rebellion. I am the witness.”
Such is: Massacre in the inner palace, creates great chaos. Under the glint of blades, bloodshed between the brothers.
*******************************************
Chapter 3
Bloodbath between Brothers
Sword’s Force Explodes Inner Palace
Love and Hate unresolved
Extraordinary Encounter in Ancient Cave
-the Honoured Consort Zheng said with alarm to the Eunuch Wei, “What is the meaning of this?” Wei Zhong Xian said softly, “You, your son and your brother are all conspiring to take over the throne, I, Wei Zhong Xian being a loyal servant of our lord, purposely pretended to join your group in order uncover your evil plans, did you think I would really rebel against the lord?”
-the Crown Prince was not sure whether he could believe this Eunuch Wei’s words, but then he thought to how this Eunuch had just taken over the East Coalition, regardless of whether his words were honest or not, as long as he was helping him now, that was all that matters.
-therefore the Prince commanded the Honoured Consort, State Uncle and Chang Xun to be tied up tightly and was just about to retreat when Wang Zhao Xi was suddenly heard to shout, “Uncle Meng, I’m coming!”
-the Crown Prince suddenly remembered and asked the Honoured Consort where she hid his primary martial arts trainer.
-With a look from Wei Zhong Xian, the four commanders revealed the secret entrance to the dark cave.
-Wang Zhao Xi ran in with the four guards, and after taking only a few steps, the sounds of shouting and weapons impacting against each other can be heard.
-Wang Zhao Xi lighted up a torch and ran forward with the commanders towards the sounds of fighting.
-they saw a burly man engaged in intense battle with the two watch guards.
-the man was Wang’s father in law, Meng Can.
-when Meng Can heard sounds of combat occurring outside, he immediately knew that something was happening, which was why he used his inner Qi to force apart the chains on his hands and then used the chains as his weapon to engage in fierce battle with the guards in the Palace of Celestial Purity.
-the two watch guards were both skilled fighters, and the heavy chains still intact on Meng Can’s feet were severely impending his movements.
-although Meng Can had wounded the guards, yet he himself had to also sustain seven or eight cuts from their blades.
-when the 4 commanders ran up, the two guards were filled with relief and joy as they shouted for them to quickly come over to finish off Meng Can.
-but instead, the four commanders split up in two groups and killed off the two watch guards in just a split of a second.