There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 464 I Will Protect You

Just when Zizhu was about to declare that all hope was lost again, Xu Shaobao's ashen face miraculously stopped deteriorating.

Then, the chilling gray-black color slowly receded like a tide, leaving behind a pale complexion, but no longer one of deathly stillness.

The black blood that kept spilling from the corner of his mouth turned dark red and then slowly stopped.

Most noticeably, his lips, which had been bluish-purple and black, gradually regained their color.

"This...this is..."

Zizhu incredulously checked his pulse again, her eyes widening suddenly.

"The pulse... has stabilized?! Although still very weak, the poison... is it really being neutralized?! My God! What kind of miraculous medicine is this?!"

After a few more moments, Xu Shaobao's long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were initially unfocused, then they settled on Li Shuchen's face. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse but much clearer.

"Miss Li... Miss Li? I... I'm not dead?"

Li Shuchen's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and he let out a long breath. A crack finally appeared on his usually icy face.

She glared at him, her voice trembling with relief and a barely perceptible sob.

"Die? What do you mean, die! Don't you know that evil deeds live on for a thousand years? Who gave you permission to die so easily?!"

Xu Shaobao looked at her and grinned foolishly; though weak, his eyes were bright and sparkling.

"To be able to... to see you again... is so good. If I can really survive this time... I will stay by your side forever... Whether you and Cheng Zhian get engaged or married... as long as I live... there is hope..."

He started daydreaming again, as was his habit.

Li Shuchen interrupted him, looked at him, and said very seriously.

"Xu Shaobao, listen carefully. If you really survive this time, I hope that from now on you will live according to your own heart. Wear pink clothes if you want, say what you want, and don't always pretend to be a scholar and say those flowery words that you yourself may not even like. I know that's not you. Also, you look very good in pink. I have never seen a man wear pink so fresh and refined, neither effeminate nor soft nor seductive."

Xu Shaobao was stunned. Looking into Li Shuchen's clear and honest eyes, a hard shell inside his heart seemed to shatter with a "crack".

He had always assumed she was attracted to scholars and refined gentlemen, so he suppressed his true nature to cater to her tastes. It turned out she preferred him as he was.

pink……

He had always felt that color was very warm, like the earliest peach blossoms blooming in the Imperial Garden in spring.

"If I survive..."

Xu Shaobao's eyes darkened as he recalled the terrifying nature of Hassan's poison. "How could I possibly survive? Hassan's drug is certain death..."

He still couldn't quite believe it.

Li Shuchen released his hand, stood up, brushed the blood and dirt off his clothes, looked down at him, and a familiar, slightly smug smile appeared on his lips.

"Why don't you get up and try?"

Xu Shaobao moved his arm in confusion, and felt that apart from weakness and burning pain in his back, it seemed... he really had strength again?

He braced himself against the ground and actually managed to slowly sit up. Then, encouraged by Li Shuchen's gaze and under the astonished stares of everyone, he stood up shakily.

Although it wobbled a bit, it did manage to stand still!

"I...I can really get up?!"

Xu Shaobao looked at his hands with surprise, then at Li Shuchen. Overwhelmed with joy, he blurted out...

"If Cheng Zhi'an treats you badly, I will do everything in my power to protect you!"

Everyone: "..."

Li Shuchen gave a helpless twitch of his lips.

"...You should worry about yourself first!"

However, judging from his appearance, he seems to be truly alright. The debt of one million taels of gold... was worth it.

Tears welled in her eyes as she began to frantically plan how to raise money to pay off her debts.

The tension in everyone's hearts finally eased, and their gazes towards Li Shuchen became even more astonished and complex.

This Miss Li possesses secrets and abilities that are truly unfathomable.

The overall situation is settled.

Bazaar committed suicide, Hassan was captured, and seeing that the poisoning attempt had failed and that Xu Shaobao had been miraculously saved, the last light in his eyes went out. He collapsed in despair, speechless, as the rebels were purged.

With the support of Liang Yuying, the old Prince Suleiman, and others, Zoya quickly took command of the remaining Imperial Guards and the U-Guards, and the military command naturally fell into her hands.

The Amber Room finally returned to a superficial calm, but the lingering stench of blood and the devastation in the air testified to the horrific tragedy that had just unfolded.

Just then, a weak cough and rustling sound came from the direction of the side hall.

Supported by two royal physicians, King Ardan, whose face was sallow and whose steps were unsteady, actually came out!

He looked at the corpses strewn across the hall, the blood staining the palace pillars, and at the bodies of those who had collapsed in the market and were bound tightly.

Hassan, his face ashen, then looked at Zoya, who was surrounded by people, holding the military tally, her clothes stained with blood but her back straight.

He was taken aback at first, then seemed to understand something, and actually twitched the corners of his mouth, letting out a few hoarse, extremely unpleasant sneers.

"Heh...hehe...good, good...they're all dead, they've all been defeated..."

His cloudy blue eyes were fixed on the military tally in Zoya's hand, then glanced at the crown rolling in the pool of blood. His voice suddenly rose, carrying a kind of venomous smugness, like a final burst of energy before death.

"Zoya! My good daughter! So what if you have the military tally? So what if you control the court? Don't forget the ancestral law of the Savar family! Only with a crown can one inherit the throne and reign supreme over Boyu! Where is the crown? Where is that crimson gold fire opal crown that has been passed down through twelve Savar kings? Has it acknowledged you?!"

He pointed to the crooked crown on the ground, stained with the blood of the market, and then to the empty throne.

"Without it, your rule is illegitimate! Even if you kill all your brothers and control all the armies, you are still just a usurper! A traitor! The heavens of Boyu Kingdom will not recognize you!"

Ardan's words were like a bucket of ice water, poured over the hearts of those who had just begun to feel a glimmer of victory.

Yes, the legendary crown

That was the supreme symbol of the legitimacy of the King of Boyu, far more legitimate than the military tally!

That crown was just snatched from the market and is now rolling in blood...

Moreover, according to tradition, the coronation must be performed by the previous king or the most respected elder of the royal family in a specific ceremony.

The king clearly wouldn't cooperate. Although the old prince was highly respected, he didn't have a crown, so the coronation ceremony couldn't be completed!

Zoya frowned, and Liang Yuying and the others also looked solemn.

Is it possible that after going through so much trouble to get to this point, we're going to get stuck at this last and most formal hurdle?

The longer we wait, the more problems may arise. We must ensure that Zoya ascends the throne legitimately as soon as possible to stabilize the situation!

"crown?"

A crisp, slightly nonchalant voice rang out.

Li Shuchen scratched her head, as if suddenly remembering something, and reached into her unusual crossbody bag again (everyone had developed a certain awe for her bag), muttering to herself.

"Oh, you mean that one... I think... I actually do have one."