No one expected Emperor An to suddenly turn on his word. The relentless, increasingly heavy drumbeats outside, like a sudden downpour, made Liu Tong'en, who was holding his sword tightly, full of surprise.
It was the hidden army he had arranged!
They arrived just in time!
“Troops have come to protect the emperor! Kill them!”
With a fierce shout, Liu Tong’en swung his sword at the nearest Black Armored Guard. Caught off guard, the man couldn’t dodge, and blood sprayed as he collapsed to the side.
“Liu Tong’en!” Xiao Yan spun around, glaring at Emperor An: “Xie Tianyong, you dare break your word…”
“I’m merely showing you that a rampant traitor may gain a moment’s triumph, but those who offend imperial authority will surely die!”
Gone was Emperor An’s earlier panic as he spoke darkly:
“Liu Tong’en, kill!”
Liu Tong’en struck ruthlessly, and the imperial guards joined him, attacking the Black Armored Guards near the hall’s entrance. As the fighting erupted, blood stained the floor within moments. Without the leverage of Emperor An as a “hostage” and the hall’s earlier suppression, Xiao Yan and his men quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
As the Black Armored Guards began to fall, Liu Tong’en’s strikes grew fiercer. General Yin shouted: “Stop!! Your Majesty, a ruler’s word is no jest…”
Emperor An’s gaze was venomous: “What jest is there with a traitor?”
“Your Majesty!”
The hall’s occupants stared in disbelief at Emperor An, who had broken his promise time and again. General Yin’s beard trembled with rage, his voice thundering.
“You are the emperor, the ruler of Wei! How can you, before all your officials, go back on your word?!”
“The edict pardoning Xiao Yan was issued by Your Majesty himself, witnessed by all. How can you be so fickle?!”
Emperor An paid no heed. What did it matter if he issued the edict? As long as Xiao Yan didn’t leave Zichen Hall alive, as long as all the rebels died in the forbidden palace, he would remain emperor.
Rather than be a ruler forced to yield and mocked by the world, he’d rather kill Xiao Yan.
At worst, he’d silence those who dared gossip about the imperial house, just as he had killed those who followed Xie Tianzhao and the He family years ago…
Kill them, just kill them all!
The rage within Emperor An could no longer be contained. A searing headache surged, his eyes slowly turning bloodshot.
“The He family’s rebellion was decreed by the late Emperor. The events of twenty years ago are no excuse for Xiao Yan’s chaos. This wretch dared to disguise an assassin as a eunuch to infiltrate the palace, colluded with Di Tao to force the palace, and has long harbored traitorous intent. I will not let him leave Zichen Hall alive.”
“Your Majesty!”
General Yin tried to speak again, but Emperor An ignored him, shouting toward the hall’s entrance.
“All imperial guards, hear my command: whoever captures or kills Xiao Yan will be promoted three ranks. For every traitor slain, a reward of ten gold pieces!”
“Kill all who participated in this rebellion on the spot, leave none alive. Anyone who pleads for them will be treated as a traitor!!!”
The sounds of fighting in the hall surged instantly. The imperial guards struck with renewed ferocity, Liu Tong’en and his men surrounding Xiao Yan and the Black Armored Guards. Emboldened by Emperor An’s promise of “great rewards,” every move drew blood.
Xiao Yan shielded Tang Ning at his side, while Yue Jian and Tian Qing protected Rong Yue. But the imperial guards, having broken through the outer defenses, now flooded Zichen Hall, overwhelming the Black Armored Guards’ formation. Xiao Yan and his group struggled to hold their ground.
Seeing someone sneak behind Xiao Yan, aiming for Tang Ning’s back, Xiao Yan, tied up in combat, couldn’t fully react. He spun, pulling Tang Ning into his arms and raising a hand to block, stumbling as he kicked the imperial guard away.
Qian Qiyue, enraged, grabbed a bowl from the table and smashed it onto the fallen guard’s head. She then picked up a sword from the ground and charged forward.
“A-Yue!!”
Madam Qian cried out in alarm.
Fu Laiqing, who had been supporting Old Madam Fu behind a pillar, looked up at the shout. He saw Qian Qiyue slash an imperial guard’s back, piercing another who nearly harmed Rong Yue. But she was quickly pulled into the fray.
His face paled with shock as he rushed forward.
“Brother!” Fu Jinrou cried out. “Great-Aunt, why is Brother…”
“Quiet.”
Old Madam Fu, briefly stunned, grabbed Fu Jinrou to silence her.
She didn’t stop Fu Laiqing, instead slipping through the crowd toward Cao Dejiang’s side, quietly aligning with the Cao family. As Fu Laiqing charged forward, Qian Qingran, Qian Qiyue’s elder brother, also joined the battle.
“Qian Baokun, Cao Dejiang, do you also wish to rebel?!”
Emperor An recognized Qian Qingran and Fu Laiqing, his voice chilling as he looked down.
“In Your Majesty’s eyes, who isn’t a traitor?”
Qian Baokun gazed at the blood-soaked hall, his eyes filled with scorn:
“The events of twenty years ago are backed by solid evidence, with witnesses speaking out, yet you repeatedly deflect. You treat the wrongful deaths of countless civilians and the betrayal of loyal vassals as nothing, making a mockery of imperial edicts and your sacred word. With such a narrow heart, no sense of responsibility, and the demeanor of a base man who breaks promises, how are you fit to be emperor?!”
While Qian Baokun spoke with fury, Cao Dejiang remained far calmer.
“Just now, Your Majesty issued an edict before all, and with the persuasion of the nobles, bloodshed in the palace and casualties in the capital were avoided.”
“I don’t know why Your Majesty has suddenly gone back on your word, but everyone knows Xiao Yan seeks only justice. Even with a sword at Your Majesty’s throat, he was willing to withdraw to preserve the He family’s loyal legacy. He considered the court’s stability, the bond between ruler and subject, and the people’s reputation before relenting. Yet Your Majesty has broken your word, an act unbefitting a wise ruler.”
“Cao Dejiang!” Emperor An roared.
Cao Dejiang didn’t flinch, his words growing sharper.
“A ruler’s word is sacred, and a wise ruler inspires loyalty. Your Majesty could have avoided today’s bloodshed by simply investigating the past, earning the people’s praise for your wisdom. Yet you repeatedly target Xiao Yan with lethal intent.”
“Is your desire to destroy him truly because of today’s offense, or is there another reason? Were the events of twenty years ago really the Lu family’s doing, or was it Your Majesty…”
“Enough!”
Emperor An’s face darkened as he cut Cao Dejiang off, sneering: “I didn’t realize you’d grown so close to Xiao Yan, aiding this traitor against my will.”
“I am merely fulfilling my duty as a censor. A ruler should prioritize the people, govern with virtue, maintain order with propriety, and stop conflict to cherish the populace. Yet Your Majesty ignores the wronged, disregards loyal vassals, lacks virtue and honor, and stains the capital with blood and slaughter…”
“Silence! I see you’ve long colluded with these traitors!”
“When you wish to condemn someone, any excuse will do.”
Cao Dejiang’s voice was resolute: “I simply refuse to let history record that I, having witnessed the edict, abetted a tyrant in harming loyal vassals. The Cao family is upright and will not bear such infamy!”
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T/N: Qian Qiyue is basically the second male lead of this novel
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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