Chapter 85: Blood‑Stained Palace City

In the 9th year of Dahe, November 21.

Chang'an City was soaked by a night of winter rain, the sky dark and terrifying.

Before dawn, while the sky was still dark, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) had already donned that set of cold armor.

He stood in the courtyard of his mansion, watching the hundreds of soldiers under his command, similarly armed and silent.

These men were his most elite force, worthy of his trust, and his only reliance today.

"Are you all ready?" he asked.

"Ready!" came the voices of the hundreds, suppressed yet uniform.

"Move out."

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) mounted his horse, leading this unit, silently merging into the pre‑dawn darkness.

They did not go to the main camp of the Divine Strategy Army, but instead hid in a secluded palace near the Hall of Heavenly Origin.

This is the heart of Huangcheng, and also the place where the Emperor holds daily court.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu)'s plan is simple: he will abandon the so‑called 'seal the outer perimeter' task from Li Xun's plan.

He does not bet on whether Li Xun will succeed, for the facts are already before him; he bets that in the chaos he can be the first to reach the Emperor!

……

The morning audience began in an eerie atmosphere.

Emperor Wenzong Li Ang sat upon the Dragon Throne, his face somewhat pale, yet deep in his eyes lay a restrained tension and excitement.

Chancellor Li Xun and Prefect of Jingzhao Zheng Zhu stood in the front rank of officials, appearing calm, but their clenched fists revealed their inner unrest.

On the other side, the Divine Strategy Army's Left and Right Protector Commandants, Chou Shiliang and Yu Hongzhi, along with the other senior eunuchs, stood as usual at the Emperor's side, their faces bearing arrogant, cold smiles.

They did not yet know that a killing trap aimed at them had already been set.

The court proceeded as usual, just when everyone thought today would be another uneventful morning audience.

Left Golden Warrior Guard General Han Yue suddenly stepped forward to make a report.

"Your Majesty, I have an auspicious sign to report! Last night, in the rear courtyard of my office, a pomegranate tree was graced with heavenly sweet dew—this is Heaven's approval of Your Majesty's benevolent rule!"

Upon hearing this, the entire civil and military assembly showed expressions of surprise.

Heavenly sweet dew? This is an auspicious sign seen only once in a century.

Emperor Wenzong immediately put on a look of surprise and rose from the Dragon Throne.

"How can this be? Quick! Beloved ministers, follow Me to see it!"

Saying this, he was about to step down from the Vermilion Steps.

"Your Majesty, please wait."

A sharp, thin voice suddenly rang out.

It was Chou Shiliang.

He stepped forward, smiling falsely, and said: "Your Majesty, heavenly auspicious signs are certainly welcome, but this matter is of great importance and must not be taken lightly. Let us servants first go inspect it for You, confirm it is correct, and then Your Majesty may proceed."

He was naturally suspicious and always felt something was off about this.

Li Xun's heart leapt to his throat, fearing the Emperor would refuse and ruin the plan.

But Emperor Wenzong displayed the quality of a competent actor.

He 'hesitated' for a moment, then 'reluctantly' nodded: "Hmm, the Commandant's words also make sense. Then I'll trouble you eunuchs to run this errand for Me."

"To share Your Majesty's worries is our duty."

Chou Shiliang smiled smugly, then gave a glance to Yu Hongzhi and the other senior eunuchs behind him.

Dozens of powerful eunuchs, under Han Yue's 'guidance', marched mightily toward the Office of the Left Golden Warrior Guard.

Li Xun and Zheng Zhu exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of secret excitement in the other's eyes.

The fish has taken the bait.

Inside the Hall of Heavenly Origin, most officials were still immersed in the joy of the 'heavenly auspicious sign', chatting excitedly.

Only Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) knew that the show was about to begin!

He quietly brought the people before him and gestured toward the hall's exterior.

……

Chou Shiliang and his party entered the Office of the Left Golden Warrior Guard.

The courtyard was silent, with not a single person.

The air was filled with an unusual tension.

"General Han," Chou Shiliang halted, eyeing Han Yue suspiciously, "You said the sweet dew was where? Why is there not even a shadow in this courtyard?"

Han Yue pointed to the pomegranate tree in the center of the courtyard, his voice trembling: "It… it's right here…"

Chou Shiliang narrowed his eyes and took a few steps forward.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by.

The curtains hanging on the corridors on both sides of the office were blown into the air.

Behind the curtains were hundreds of ambush troops, blades in hand, clad in armor!

"Not good! An ambush!"

Chou Shiliang, having weathered many storms, was the first to react.

He let out a sharp cry and turned to flee!

"Attack!"

At the command, the ambush troops on both sides surged out like wolves and tigers, their blades savagely cutting down the eunuchs who bore no weapons.

"Ah!"

The tragic cries instantly echoed throughout the Golden Warrior Guard Office.

A few slow-running eunuchs were cut down on the spot, their blood staining the blue stone slabs.

Chou Shiliang and the others were terrified out of their wits, scrambling and crawling as they fled toward the outer courtyard.

"Hurry! Hurry back to the Hall of Containing the Origin! Protect Your Majesty!" Chou Shiliang shouted hoarsely while running.

He knew that if he could get ahead of Li Xun and his group, seize the emperor, they would still have a chance to turn the tables!

……

Hall of Containing the Origin.

When the first miserable cry came from the direction of the Golden Warrior Guard,

A victorious smile appeared on Li Xun's face.

He immediately bellowed to the Forbidden Guard inside the hall: "Seal the doors! No one may enter or leave! Chou Shiliang and the other eunuchs, who plotted rebellion, have been executed on the spot!"

He first wanted to control the main hall, control the officials, and then seize the emperor.

However, he was still a step too late.

Just as his words fell,

"Boom!" A tremendous roar sounded, and the two heavy doors of the Hall of Containing the Origin were actually burst open from outside by immense force!

Hundreds of soldiers in silver armor, the Divine Strategy Army brimming with killing intent, surged in like a tide!

"Protect Your Majesty!"

"Wang Zong! You… you dare defy Your Majesty's secret edict!" Li Xun pointed at him, furious and flustered, thinking Wang Zong wanted to compete with their little group for credit.

"I only know to protect Your Majesty; I know nothing of any secret edict!" Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) replied expressionlessly.

But at that very moment, another even more chaotic chorus of battle cries came from outside the hall.

It was Chou Shiliang, leading the few dozen eunuchs who had managed to escape, together with the main force of the Divine Strategy Army that had rushed upon hearing the news, charging in!

The entire Hall of Containing the Origin square instantly became a battlefield of flying flesh and blood—an Asura battlefield.

Li Xun's ambush troops, Chou Shiliang's Divine Strategy Army, and Wang Zong's personal guards—three forces—became tangled in a melee.

The situation had completely spiraled out of control.

Upon the Dragon Throne, Emperor Wenzong Li Ang gazed down at the hell‑like scene below, his face drained of color, his whole body trembling.

"Your Majesty! Hurry!"

"If you don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Wang Zong grabbed the emperor's arm without a word and hauled him down from the Dragon Throne.

"Protect Your Majesty! Retreat to the rear hall!"

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) shielded the emperor, and, under the desperate cover of his hundreds of personal guards, they struggled to retreat toward the rear gate of the main hall.

He knew that if they didn't leave, the coup in which he was involved would still end in failure, and his aim was not to cooperate with this scheme to quell chaos and restore order.

Rather, it was to save people—to save this Tang emperor who had been frightened senseless.