**"Assassins! Protect His Majesty!"**
Xu Qing barely had time to react before a shadowy figure dropped from the rafters of Wen's mansion, a dagger flashing toward Zhu Youjian's throat. The livestream chat exploded:
[HOLY SHIT! IS THIS FOR REAL?!]
[Those wire stunts look insane!]
[That's real blood! I see blood!]
At the last second, sparks erupted from the emperor's chest—the assassin's blade had been stopped by an invisible barrier. Xu Qing suddenly remembered: he'd dressed Zhu Youjian in a nano-fiber bulletproof vest before the time jump.
"Protect the Emperor!" Luo Yangxing drew his sword but was intercepted by a second assassin.
Zhu Youjian, cool under pressure, whipped out his stun gun and jammed it into the attacker's neck. A blue arc of electricity sent the man spasming to the ground. The livestream captured every second, sending the chat into frenzy:
[Did the emperor just tase someone?!]
[Since when was Chongzhen a badass?]
[Tell me this is CGI!]
"Take him alive!" the emperor barked, then turned to the camera with eerie calm. "Fear not, disciples of the Dao. These are but remnants of Wen's faction."
As Xu Qing fumbled with the camera, the system warning still flashed. He tapped the alert—and froze at the crimson text:
**"History Divergence: 7.3%. Temporal ripples detected in modern era."**
A news notification popped up: *"Shocking Changes in National Museum's Ming Dynasty Exhibits!"* Xu Qing's pulse spiked, but before he could click, an arrow whistled through the air.
"Look out!" Zhu Youjian shoved him aside as the projectile thudded into a pillar behind them.
"Archers on the roof!" Luo Yangxing shouted.
Thinking fast, Xu Qing hurled his backup drone into the sky. The compact quadcopter zoomed upward, its camera instantly locking onto black-clad figures on the western rooftop. The livestream switched to the drone's POV, giving modern viewers a bird's-eye view of the imperial guards' counterattack:
[This cinematography is next-level!]
[Those stunt actors are risking their necks!]
[Wait… ARE THOSE REAL ARROWS?!]
By the time the third assassin was captured, viewership had surpassed one million. Zhu Youjian straightened his robes and addressed the camera: "We apologize for the disturbance. With heaven's favor, no harm shall befall Us."
The screen flooded with virtual gifts:
[User "MingFan99" gifted 10 Super Rockets!]
[User "HistoryMajor" gifted 5 Planes!]
[User "TechGeek" gifted 20 Magic Tomes!]
Xu Qing checked the backend and gasped. "Your Majesty, donations just crossed one million yuan!"
The emperor's eyes gleamed. "How many *hongyipao* cannons can that buy?"
Before Xu Qing could answer, the system alarm blared again. This time, the message turned his blood to ice:
**"Warning: Temporal Anchor Weakening. Critical Node Approaching—March 19, 1644 (Original Timeline: Chongzhen's Suicide)."**
---
**Palace Return – The Unraveling Timeline**
On the journey back, Zhu Youjian eagerly rewatched the stream, pausing repeatedly on his stun-gun takedown. "Xu Qing, this device is superb. Can We acquire more?"
"Sire…" Xu Qing lowered his voice. "The changes you're making are already altering the future." He pulled up the news article: *"New Evidence Surfaces in Wen Tiren's Treason Case—Ming Historical Records Revised."*
The emperor studied the photos of Wen's secret letters now appearing in modern archives. "So… future histories are rewriting themselves?"
"Worse." Xu Qing showed museum exhibit photos. "This sword was labeled 'Chongzhen's personal blade' yesterday. Now it's listed as a gift from the Tianqi Emperor."
Zhu Youjian burst into laughter. "Magnificent! This proves We *can* alter heaven's decree!"
But Xu Qing remained grim. "The system warns of temporal instability. If—"
"Enough fretting." The emperor waved him off. "Tomorrow We shall livestream Wen Tiren's execution and reap another million in gifts!"
"Impossible!" Xu Qing broke into a sweat. "Modern platforms ban violent content—they'll shut us down!"
Zhu Youjian frowned. "Then… a military drill? Sun Chuanting reports the Qin troops have reached Zhuozhou."
As Xu Qing hesitated, Wang Cheng'en came rushing in. "Your Majesty! The Imperial Astronomers beg audience—they claim the heavens show ill omens!"
---
**The Observatory's Warning**
The chief astronomer kowtowed outside the palace gates. "At the third watch, Mars intruded upon the Heart Constellation—a dire portent! The *Celestial Records* state—"
"Enough!" Zhu Youjian cut him off. "These 'omens' are but celestial mechanics. With heaven's artifacts, what have We to fear?"
The old man trembled. "Sire! Such signs always foretell violations of the natural order. These unaccountable devices in the palace—"
The emperor's gaze turned lethal. "You dare question Us?"
"N-never! Only…" The astronomer's eyes flicked to the stun gun. "Since their appearance, the Imperial Star has dimmed…"
Xu Qing checked the system—divergence had climbed to **8.1%**, with a 48-hour cooldown for the next jump.
---
**Night of Blood and Fire**
That evening, Zhu Youjian personally interrogated the assassins. Through hidden mics, Xu Qing heard the chilling confession:
"...Wen was but a pawn. The true mastermind is—"
The audio cut out. Xu Qing burst into the side chamber to find the emperor standing over the dead assassin, a *xiuchun* dagger buried in the man's chest.
"Your Majesty!"
"He spoke of Empress Zhou." Zhu Youjian's voice shook. "They mean to poison her… and the crown prince."
Xu Qing's stomach dropped—historically, the empress had committed suicide, while Prince Zhu Cilang vanished.
"Double the East Palace guards." The emperor gripped Xu Qing's shoulders. "Can you take the prince to the future?"
"The system only allows one passenger—"
*THWIP!* An arrow streaked through the window, embedding itself in the imperial bed. Then a dozen more followed, their flaming tips turning the palace into a battleground.
Zhu Youjian stayed eerily calm. He tapped his phone, activating searchlights that lit the palace grounds like daylight. Drones pinpointed twenty black-clad figures scaling the northeast wall.
"Luo Yangxing! Apprehend them all!"
---
**The Morning Reckoning**
At dawn, Zhu Youjian played the surveillance footage for his stunned court.
"You see now," he said icily, "some wish to destroy not just Us, but heaven's gifts."
The ministers stood paralyzed—except for the new Minister of War, Lu Xiangsheng. "Your Majesty, let me investigate!"
"Unnecessary." The emperor's stare fixed on Vice-Minister Wei Zaode. "We already know the culprit."
Wei collapsed to his knees. "M-mercy—!"
"We named no names." Zhu Youjian descended the throne, stun gun glinting. "Why so nervous, Minister Wei?"
Just then, Xu Qing received a system alert:
**"Temporal Jump Ready—1 Passenger, 6-Hour Limit."**
After a hushed exchange, Zhu Youjian announced: "Court is adjourned. Wei Zaode, you will await judgment."
Alone later, the emperor asked urgently: "This new function—who can you take?"
Xu Qing pulled up the interface. "One person. Six hours max."
Zhu Youjian hesitated, then whispered: "Take Empress Zhou. Let her bring back… medicines from the future."
As the emperor spoke, Xu Qing noticed the divergence counter tick upward:
**8.9%.**