Chapter 299: The Rebellion of King Yan

"Sister…"

Wan Tang's suppressed emotions suddenly erupted; she reached out and embraced Hui Guifei.

How could someone who even finds the smell of pork knuckles nauseating eat it?

"Why are you crying?" Hui Guifei's voice suddenly turned sharp: "Useless thing."

"Why should we be the ones to cry?"

"It's those heartless bastards who should pay the price!"

Hui Guifei's voice was terrifyingly cold.

She pushed Wan Tang aside, her gaze softening as it fell on her own unrounded lower belly, and whispered, "He said that cause and effect will eventually be repaid."

"If you are his sister, stop whining and sobbing."

"Think about what you must do!"

Hui Guifei's calm was frightening, so calm that one could not tell whether any emotion remained in her eyes.

Wan Tang's trembling body steadied as well.

Her back grew ever more upright, completely erasing the sorrow from her eyes.

General Xu's grand mourning.

The Emperor's benevolence was vast, and he posthumously conferred Xu Yanchuan as Duke.

The Xu Jiachuan and Mo Family Army were split into two units, temporarily placed under the management of the Duke of Ning and Huang Feihu.

The day Xu Yanchuan's funeral was held.

All shops in the Capital, eighty percent of them, closed for mourning.

The common folk voluntarily lined the streets, sending Xu Yanchuan off on his final journey.

Half a month after the grand mourning.

Strangely, it was unclear whether Xu Yenchuan's death was what restored everything to calm.

Fengdu suddenly fell quiet.

Even Chu Yunzheng no longer summoned troops to return.

Late summer, early autumn, the sky high and clouds light, flags fluttered before Taihe Hall, solemn and majestic.

Twenty days after Xu Yanchuan's death, Wan Tang was formally established as Empress.

Yet no one said that Wan Tang had stepped on Xu Yanchuan's corpse to ascend.

On such a joyous day, the eyes of the ministers were heavy.

Wan Tang wore the Empress Ceremonial Robe, a deep‑blue feather‑patterned dress embroidered with golden phoenixes, wide sleeves trailing the ground, a gold‑jade belt at the waist; although her lower belly was clearly swollen, her posture remained upright.

Crowned with the Nine Dragons and Four Phoenixes Crown, surrounded by pearls and jade, twelve tree‑flower hairpins of Step Shake glittered in the sun, and the hanging pearl veil covered most of her face.

She walked forward step by step.

With each step, she killed the frightened, uneasy palace maid she once was, leaving her behind on the road.

Bells and drums sounded in unison, elegant music played.

Under the chant of the ritual officials and the crowd of palace maids, she paced forward slowly.

Officials of both civil and military ranks on both sides bowed their heads and stood solemnly.

With Xu Yanchuan dead, the Mo Clan and the Xu Family became Wan Tang's.

Now, with Wan Tang as Empress, the child in her womb was the Crown Prince.

The world remained in Chu Yunzheng's hands.

He could finally rest easy.

Chu Yunzheng sat high upon the throne, watching her approach step by step; in his calm, water‑like eyes lay an unfathomable stillness.

Upon reaching the crimson steps, she performed three kneels and nine kowtows according to Ancient Rite.

The inner court monitor unfurled a bright yellow scroll and loudly read the decree: "Consort Mo of the Imperial Harem, gentle and virtuous, refined and dignified, exemplary in conduct… worthy of a mother's expectation, fit to inherit the auspicious lineage. By the Emperor's benevolent command and the will of the people, she is hereby established as Empress, occupying the central palace…"

The voice echoed through the spacious hall.

Wan Tang slightly lifted her eyelids, looking through the swaying pearl veil toward Chu Yunzheng on the high seat.

"Subject, I receive the decree and give thanks." Her voice was clear and steady, showing no ripple.

She took the heavy Golden Decree and Imperial Seal in both hands, the cold sensation spreading from her fingertips to her heart.

As she received the phoenix seal and turned to accept the officials' homage, the crowd shouted, "Long live the Empress, thousand years, ten thousand years!"

"Emperor, Yan Wang's rebel forces have breached the outer city and are rushing straight toward the palace gates!"

In an instant, the solemn grand ceremony fell into dead silence, then erupted!

Chu Yunzheng sprang to his feet, his complexion changing abruptly.

The usually quiet Fengdu suddenly stirred.

All of this seemed to have come too quickly.

"Engage the enemy at once!"

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand broadly: "Yan Wang's rebels, kill on sight."

"But Emperor, the Capital now has fewer than fifty thousand troops."

"Yan Wang's assault is fierce; he has mixed his troops among the civilians, catching us off guard."

"Now they have already reached the palace gates; even if we recall troops immediately, it will be too late."

Wan Tang watched all this coldly.

The coronation ceremony ended early.

Wan Tang, dressed in an elaborate, luxurious Phoenix Robe, her swollen belly high, slowly ascended the city wall.

Outside the city, the sound of killing roared, and Yan Wang's volunteer army surged like a tide.

Chu Yunzheng stood at her side, watching the battle below, his brows tightly knit.

He turned his head and saw Wan Tang motionless, assuming she had been frightened.

In a gentle voice he soothed: "Tangtang, don't be afraid; I am here, I will not let anyone harm you a single hair."

These rebels cannot break through.

Wan Tang simply gave a faint "hm," her gaze still fixed on the distance.

Since Xu Yanchuan's death, Chu Yunzheng's tenderness has returned to how it once was.

After all, the future Wan Tang, even though she bears the lineage of the Mo Family, is ultimately just an orphaned girl.

The scarlet Phoenix Robe and the fresh blood beneath the city wall merged into one.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes burned like torches, fixed on the fighting below.

Xiao Shunzi approached silently, using the cover of a wide sleeve to slip a note into her hand.

Wan Tang unfolded the note; it bore only three characters: "Request reinforcements."

She lifted her eyes to look at Chu Yunzheng beside her.

He pressed his lips tightly, his profile appearing especially hard under the glow of the beacon fire.

Wan Tang suddenly gave a soft laugh; at last, this moment had arrived.

She drew a specially made firecracker from her sleeve and, without a hint of emotion, handed it back to Xiao Shunzi.

Xiao Shunzi understood, bowed and stepped back.

The melee beneath The City was in full swing.

Chu Yunzheng seized Wan Tang's hand.

His tone softened a bit: "Tangtang."

Obviously, he saw Wan Tang's unabashed gesture.

Yet he did not ask, instead speaking evasively: "The one in your womb must be the imperial son."

"Let our imperial son see clearly how this vast land is defended."

"And how cruel the struggle for the throne is."

Wan Tang always felt there was hidden meaning in Chu Yunzheng's words.

She gave a faint smile and echoed, "Hm."

"I, as a consort, will also watch over the imperial son carefully."

Watching this blood‑soaked, river‑like conflict.

All for that fleeting, illusory claim to power.

Chu Yunzheng's voice deepened again, as if speaking to himself yet also to Wan Tang: "Tangtang, you should understand."

"Most people in The City are still dissatisfied with the Mo Family affairs; our appearance, together with Xu Yanchuan's, gave them hope."

"Later, I will properly train the imperial son, subdue the Northern Border, and avenge his uncle."

Revenge?

Wan Tang heard a voice both unfamiliar and familiar.

Her gaze swept over the melee, finally resting on Chu Yunzheng's face, neither sad nor joyful: "Indeed!"

"We must take revenge!"

"No one, from the start, was meant to die."

Their eyes met.

Then silence.

Below the city wall, the fighting grew fiercer.

Chu Yunzheng stood with his arms crossed, positioned on the left, surveying the realm with a disdainful gaze.

Wan Tang clasped both hands before her, chest out, unmoved.

Emperor!

A frantic call.

Ouyang Qing had already rushed forward, drenched in sweat: "Emperor, at this moment our troops are fighting bloodily and have held back the Fengdu army."

"We only need to hold for one day, and reinforcements will reach the Capital."

"When the time comes, Yan Wang and his party will surely be captured in one net."

Chu Yunzheng nodded: "Hold the city gate at all costs."

"Yes!"

Ouyang Qing took the order and set off immediately.

Tangtang.

Outside Gongmen, the bloodshed continued.

Chu Yunzheng's voice suddenly softened.

He looked at Wan Tang, speaking gently: "If the city wall falls, may I first send someone to escort you away?"

"Emperor, why test me again as a concubine?" Wan Tang's voice had grown much colder.

The period of restraint and suppression would finally end: "Yan Wang will not break through."

"Reinforcements will certainly arrive."

A hint of desolation in Chu Yunzheng's voice: "What if… there is no reinforcement at all?"

Wan Tang stared ahead, her tone calm and unruffled: "It won't."

"How could it not?" Chu Yunzheng chuckled wryly, fatigue evident in his eyes, "The border is chaotic; I have already dispatched all troops I could muster."

"Now this Imperial City is nothing but an empty fortress."

Wan Tang fell silent, even the last trace of perfunctory thought completely vanished.

It was him!

He caused the whole Mo Family to be slaughtered.

It was him!

He poisoned Xu Yanchuan.

This person, whose hands are soaked with the blood of her closest relatives, now pretends deep affection before her?

Since he values the throne above all else, she will make him taste the feeling of falling from the clouds and losing everything.

Wan Tang's eyes froze with ten‑thousand‑year ice, yet she did not notice that Chu Yunzheng's gaze beside her was three degrees colder than hers.

The dragon robe and phoenix crown stood side by side, a match made by heaven and earth.

But at this moment, the only commonality between the two was the unabashedly fierce killing intent in their eyes.

A crimson firework exploded in the sky beyond The City.

Yan Wang has already arrived at the foot of the city.

He sat upright on his horse and shouted loudly: "Chu Yunzheng, back then you used despicable means to seize my heir seat; today the object should return to its rightful owner!"

Chu Yunzheng stood on the city wall, a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his lips: "Back then you could not defeat me; today is no different."

Yan Wang laughed loudly, his whip pointing at the Imperial City: "Your Capital garrison is no more than fifty thousand, already at the end of a strong bow."

"If at this moment I had another hundred thousand elite soldiers to assist, how would you fare?"

Chu Yunzheng's expression changed slightly; he ignored Yan Wang, his gaze turning to Wan Tang beside him: "Tangtang, tell me, if we let the imperial uncle sit on this Dragon Throne, could he do better than I?"

At this moment, Chu Yunzheng should not be thinking of himself.

Yet he cast aside everything, caring only for himself.

Wan Tang's voice was clear and calm: "No."

"A man who, for personal desire, would plunge the whole world into war, is unfit to be a ruler."

Chu Yunzheng's tone carried fatigue: "Sitting in this position, there are far too many things beyond one's control."

"Tangtang, I hope you understand."

"Subject understands." Wan Tang lowered her gaze, covering the surging emotions in her eyes.

At this moment Ouyang Qing, drenched in blood, rushed up to the city wall: "Emperor, Empress, outside the city a sudden army of tens of thousands has appeared; if they merge with the rebels, the Imperial City will be doomed!"

"Please move quickly!"

Chu Yunzheng gave Wan Tang a deep look, unsheathed the sword at his waist and handed it to her: "Protect yourself."

Having said that, he turned away, leaving his back completely unguarded for Wan Tang.

Wan Tang grasped the hilt still warm with his body heat, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Just one strike…

Just a little force, and she could avenge the whole Mo Family and Xu Yanchuan…