As expected, Emperor An’s face darkened abruptly at Xiao Yan’s audacity.
“Xiao Yan, do you think I’m afraid of you? Out of consideration for the rumors in the south and the people’s concerns, I was willing to overlook your crime of deceiving the emperor and agreed to thoroughly investigate this case. Yet you remain so brazen, utterly insolent. It’s clear you have ulterior motives!”
“Come, seize this traitor! If he resists, execute him-”
Before he could finish with “without mercy,” a dull yet resonant sound from outside Zichen Hall abruptly cut him off. Before Emperor An could react, the dense, drumming-like noise continued relentlessly.
“What’s that sound?”
“What is it?”
The court officials in the hall looked outside in confusion, unsure of the source of the sound. The heavy, rhythmic thudding, neither quite like drums nor anything else, stirred unease in their hearts. Only Liang Guangyi, Yin Bao, Yu Yanfeng, and Emperor An’s faces changed drastically.
It was the palace’s covert signal drums.
And this sound…
“Something’s happened outside the palace gates!”
Ignoring the situation in the hall, Yu Yanfeng, his face pale, drew his sword and strode toward the entrance to investigate. But just as he reached the hall’s threshold, a bloodied, lightly armored palace guard, disheveled and frantic, rushed in, nearly colliding with him.
Yu Yanfeng halted the man and demanded sharply, “What’s going on?”
The guard, wounded and bleeding, steadied himself with Yu Yanfeng’s support and urgently reported:
“Deputy Commander, it’s bad! Supervisor Xiao’s men, leading the Black Armored Guards, have surrounded Zichen Hall and the palace’s main gates. Outside the palace, the four suburban garrisons somehow entered the city without notice and have encircled the palace gates.”
“The Black Armored Guards are ruthless, seizing key routes outside Zichen Hall and sealing off the imperial gardens in advance. Our men couldn’t stop them…”
A scream pierced the air as his words fell, followed by the clash of swords and the clatter of armor echoing through the palace.
With no barriers outside Zichen Hall, the sounds grew closer. Combined with the guard’s panicked report, the banquet’s attendees descended into chaos. None had anticipated such an event. Those who had been arguing over whether Xiao Yan should be imprisoned now looked ashen, their expressions drastically changed.
Upon hearing “Black Armored Guards,” Emperor An instinctively turned to Xiao Yan. “You traitor! You dare bring men to besiege Zichen Hall? Are you planning a rebellion?!”
Xiao Yan chuckled. “Didn’t the He family already bear the label of treason? Your Majesty says I deceived you and deserve death. Adding one more charge doesn’t seem to matter.”
“You!”
Emperor An, enraged by his words, felt his already throbbing head tear apart with fury. Stumbling back onto the dragon throne, he relied on Eunuch Feng to keep from falling. Yet Xiao Yan, as if watching a jest, pressed on relentlessly.
“What’s wrong? Is Your Majesty’s illness acting up again?”
The word “again” dripped with mockery.
“Shall I summon an imperial physician to examine you?”
Emperor An gasped heavily, his chest heaving with a mix of rage and bloodthirsty intent, his body trembling uncontrollably.
This time, it wasn’t an act. The piercing pain in his head left his face deathly pale, his lips devoid of color. But given his past feigned illnesses, few believed him now. The imperial physicians, trembling at Xiao Yan’s words, dared not approach to treat him.
Everyone could see where this chaos stemmed from.
Xiao Yan had torn off all pretense with the emperor, bringing men to besiege the palace and trap them all in Zichen Hall. He was clearly set on a fight to the death with the imperial family. Even if he was truly of He blood, his fearsome reputation in the court was no lie.
At a time like this, whoever stepped forward would die.
No one wanted to be the sacrificial lamb, the chicken killed to warn the monkey. The imperial physicians, disregarding medical ethics or loyalty, kept their heads down, pretending not to notice Emperor An’s pallor or Xiao Yan’s mocking tone.
In near-spasmodic pain and seeing no one come forward, Emperor An glared at Xiao Yan with venomous resentment. “When did you bribe the four suburban garrisons…?”
He paused, his expression shifting.
“No, it’s Di Tao. Di Tao is your man?”
Xiao Yan gave a light laugh. “What is Your Majesty saying? Young General Di is devoted to the court, fighting alongside his father, General Di, to protect Great Wei’s borders. It was Your Majesty who insisted on keeping him in the capital, forcing a battle-hardened general to lead those bloodless weaklings. To prove his loyalty, Young General Di dared not defy your orders and took charge of the four suburban garrisons. How could he be my man?”
“You!”
Emperor An’s hands shook even more as he glared at Xiao Yan, gripping Eunuch Feng’s arm tightly. His mind flashed to what Liu Tong’en had once told him, and to Lu Chongyuan, who, even before his death, refused to relent, insisting Xiao Yan had left the capital.
And the night the Lu family fell, Di Tao was in the capital.
“You traitor! Lu Chongyuan wasn’t wrong about you. You did leave the capital without permission and went to the northwest!” Emperor An spat each word through gritted teeth.
Xiao Yan’s lips curled. “He was, after all, a veteran minister, serving Your Majesty loyally for years. Pity Your Majesty didn’t believe a word he said. Even as you sent him to prison, he still urged you to beware of me. But who knew you’d send him off with a cup of poisoned wine?”
“Xiao Yan!” Emperor An roared hoarsely. “You dare collude with the Di family!!”
Seeing the emperor on the verge of collapse, Xiao Yan didn’t provoke further. Glancing at Eunuch Feng, who was supporting Emperor An with his body practically leaning against him, Xiao Yan noted the emperor’s pale face slowly regaining color as he gasped heavily, still trembling but steadying. A discreet sachet hung at Eunuch Feng’s waist, nearly touching the emperor.
Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze. “Your Majesty, don’t wrong the Di family. General Di has guarded the northwest loyally for years. Young General Di merely couldn’t bear to see loyal ministers wronged and wants justice for the unjustly killed in the south, for those who lost their lives in the old relief case.”
“As long as we find the true culprit and uncover the truth, he won’t harm anyone.”
But Emperor An didn’t relax at all; his expression grew fiercer. The true culprit? What culprit were they seeking?
Xiao Yan clearly knew…
His mind reeling, Emperor An regretted not heeding Lu Chongyuan’s warnings, regretted ignoring Liu Tong’en’s advice to guard against Xiao Yan. Now, with the palace surrounded, even if Liu Tong’en arrived with reinforcements, Xiao Yan wouldn’t let him go. Clutching the dragon throne’s armrests, Emperor An was consumed with unprecedented regret.
He should have killed Xiao Yan long ago!
He never should have trusted this treacherous man!!
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T/N: The tea has been spilled or whatever genzs say
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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