Chapter 1335

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you want no one to know, don't do it yourself. Emperor, there is fundamentally no such thing as longevity in this world; no one can live forever. Hong Beimo is merely using you; that imperial tomb hides a shameful secret, and he only wants to achieve his goal through you."

Long Xuan'en murmured: "I... I have understood..." In fact, he had long understood this principle, and the rift between him and Hong Beimo arose because of it.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It must be that Hong Beimo noticed your suspicion of him, so he found a new collaborator and joined forces to get rid of you."

Long Xuan'en gritted his teeth and said: "Villain, I will not let you have your way!"

Hu Xiaotian knew the person Long Xuan'en was cursing was definitely not himself, and he whispered: "Emperor, are you really going to just watch as the realm of Dakang is taken from you? Are you really willing to be used by Hong Beimo for nothing?"

Long Xuan'en bit his lip, the hatred in his heart successfully stirred by Hu Xiaotian, he resolved: "I still have something they want."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What thing?" He secretly wondered if it wasn't the Seven-Star Chain.

Long Xuan'en said: "First take me away; this is not a place to linger, the Imperial Kitchen has a hiding place."

As night fell, Mu Rongzhan led fifty thousand Feather Forest Army in a search of the imperial palace, almost combing every corner, even digging up the secret passages that once linked the Office of Gardens and Forestry, Zilan Palace, and Cangshuge, yet they found no trace of Hu Xiaotian and Long Xuan'en; the two vanished as if evaporated from the world.

Qiqi didn't overly concern herself with this, as she had said before, Xi Yan's life is in her hands, so she isn't worried that Hu Xiaotian won't come looking for her. The most pressing problem she now faces is controlling the overall situation and stabilizing the court.

The atmosphere in Tianhe Dian was extremely oppressive; the civil and military officials who had rushed upon hearing the news stood solemnly on both sides, awaiting the latest update. Within five years, the imperial throne had changed hands several times; this was already the third palace coup. Dakang had barely struggled out of successive natural disasters, only to now face man-made calamity—it seems the fate of Dakang is truly at its end.

Zhou Ruizhen hurried into Tianhe Dian. As soon as he appeared, everyone surrounded him, asking in a clamor for the latest developments.

Zhou Ruizhen comforted everyone: "Please remain calm; the situation inside the palace is now under control, and a result will come soon."

Someone asked: "Is the Emperor alright?" That single question prompted everyone to start asking questions.

Zhou Ruizhen furrowed his brows; he also didn't know the specific details of this palace coup, yet he had come here at the invitation of the Feather Forest Army. He believed the officials present felt the same as he did—no one wanted to come into the palace while the situation was unclear, given the great risk involved. The officials' unease stemmed not only from within the palace; this was a day of bloodshed. While instigating the palace coup, Long Tingzhen also sent his subordinates to ruthlessly slaughter officials with differing political views; according to their preliminary understanding, over twenty officials had already been killed in the capital alone.

In the two previous palace coups, whether Long Yelin usurped the throne or the old emperor was restored, their treatment of officials was relatively lenient; they did not carry out mass slaughter. This time, however, was completely different. After successive palace coups, the officials who managed to survive all understood how to read the situation and preserve themselves, living in such a chaotic world. Merely preserving their lives was already a stroke of luck; they dared not hope for anything more.

The Grand Tutor Wen Chenghuan also arrived later with a few officials; he had been completely unaware of this palace coup beforehand. Upon entering Tianhe Dian, many officials immediately gathered around him. In today's Dakang court, he and Zhou Ruizhen represent the two peaks of power, each with many supporters.

As everyone was discussing noisily, a report suddenly came from outside: "The Yongyang Princess has arrived!"

Upon hearing that the Yongyang Princess had arrived, everyone panicked and hurriedly returned to their proper places.

Accompanied by Mu Rongzhan and Hong Beimo, Qiqi walked slowly into Tianhe Dian. The moment she entered, the entire hall fell silent, so still that the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. Qiqi held her head high; her aloof, arrogant demeanor made no one dare to meet her gaze, and no one still regarded her as a naive young lady; the regal aura she exuded surpassed even that of Long Xuan'en.

Upon reaching the steps before the throne, Qiqi paused, extended her right hand, and Eunuch Quan hurriedly came from behind, supporting her arm as he escorted her step by step upward.

The officials glanced at one another; everyone knew what she intended—to sit upon the dragon throne symbolizing the pinnacle of Dakang's power.

Qiqi's steps were slow and composed; arriving before the dragon throne, she was about to sit down.

A voice among the officials rose, passionate and resolute: "The state has its laws, the family its rules; since its founding, Dakang has never had a precedent of a woman ascending the throne."

Qiqi paused, without turning her head, and said softly: "Minister of War Li Yuanji! Official Li, you too can be considered a meritorious servant of Dakang, yet you ought not to be proud of your merits, nor should you use power for personal gain, engaging in corruption and malfeasance. Five years ago, during the suppression of bandits in Luanzhou, you secretly deducted military provisions, thinking you could hide it from heaven?" She abruptly turned, her beautiful eyes flashing with icy killing intent, causing all the officials present to lower their heads.

The Minister of War Li Yuanji who had just spoken turned ashen; his lips trembled as he quavered: "Ancestral precedents cannot be violated; how could Dakang be governed by a woman?"

Qiqi coldly said: "Drag him out and behead him!"

Immediately, four fearsome-looking palace guards rushed forward, twisted Li Yuanji's arms behind his back, and dragged him out of Tianhe Dian.

The hall remained deathly silent; witnessing this scene, not a single person dared to speak up for Li Yuanji.

Qiqi surveyed the crowd, then slowly sat upon the dragon chair, sighing softly: "I am merely a frail woman; I ought not to sit on this chair. However, Long Tingzhen instigated palace turmoil, plotted to usurp the throne, regicide and misrule; at a time when Dakang is tossed by storms, if I do not step forward to bear responsibility, who will? Tell me—who else is willing to bear it? If someone is more suited than I to occupy this seat, I will immediately yield it with clasped hands."

A hint of satisfaction curled at the corner of Hong Beimo's mouth; Qiqi's ruthlessness and decisiveness far exceeded his expectations—his wager this time had paid off.

Among the officials, an elderly minister trembled as he rose, bowed, and said: "Your Highness the Princess, did you just say the Emperor has been murdered?"

Qiqi nodded and said: "Bring Long Tingzhen in!"

Everyone looked up and saw four palace guards dragging in a disheveled Long Tingzhen; before he could steady himself upon entering Tianhe Dian, two guards simultaneously kicked his knees, causing him to plunge down with a thud, kneeling heavily on the ground.

At this moment, Long Tingzhen's face was swollen, his gaze dull, his lips chapped.

Qiqi glared at Long Tingzhen and said: "Long Tingzhen, the Emperor treated you with En ru shan, yet you not only failed to feel gratitude and serve the nation, but repaid kindness with betrayal—you plotted to kill the Emperor, threw the palace into chaos, bathed the court in blood, causing countless innocent loyal subjects to perish; what crime do you deserve?"

Long Tingzhen was now utterly disheartened; ever since seeing that Lan light in Tianhe Dian, he had suddenly become clear-headed, not even knowing why he had rebelled. Upon reflection, he realized his current state was entirely the result of Hong Beimo's instigation and encouragement; he was merely being used. Had he seen through Hong Beimo's true nature earlier, being content as an imperial grandson, or living an ordinary life for a lifetime, would not have been a bad thing.

Qiqi's brows furrowed angrily as she shouted: "Why won't you speak? Speak!"

Long Tingzhen was not unwilling to speak; he simply could not produce a sound. Everything clearly was a joint plot by Hong Beimo and Qiqi, using his hand to remove the old emperor, then eliminating him under the pretext of eradicating rebellion, thereby justifying their actions and allowing Qiqi to rightfully occupy the throne he had daydreamed about; Long Tingzhen wished he could rush forward and bite them to death, but could only imagine it.

Qiqi let out a cold snort: "You have no face to speak, is that it? Eunuch Quan, circulate the evidence of his rebellion."

Long Tingzhen's heart was filled with gloom; to accuse him of crime is no hardship, especially since he indeed rebelled first. He knew he could not escape death, his eyes fixed rigidly on Qiqi—unexpectedly, this paternal half-sister, this girl who had always appeared frail and pitiful in his eyes, had become a cold-blooded, ruthless demon. Yet upon reflection, what familial affection could there be among the imperial clan? He and his elder brother Long Tingheng had once fought to the death; in the end both met defeat, victor and vanquished, skill lacking—what was there to resent?

The officials passed around the evidence of Long Tingzhen's rebellion; after reading it, they whispered among themselves, feigning righteous indignation. While Long Tingzhen's plot to usurp the throne was undeniably factual, these ministers were no fools—how could they miss the hidden meaning of the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole waiting behind? Yet now that it had come to this, none dared say more, for the bloody example of Li Yuanji lay before them; aside from a few claimed to possess steadfast faith, no one would wish to prolong their own life.

Zhou Ruizhen secretly sighed; Long Tingzhen's death was certain, and Dakang's realm would ultimately fall into a woman's hands. However, judging from his understanding of Qiqi, this was not necessarily a bad thing—better to have the realm ruled by a wise and outstanding princess than to continue suffering under a foolish imperial grandson; perhaps under Yongyang Princess's governance Dakang might truly see a revival. He suddenly recalled an important figure: Hu Xiaotian! The one who first sought to elevate Qiqi should have been him; he is an extremely important figure for Dakang and for Qiqi herself. Why would Qiqi not mention him at all? What exactly happened in this single day?

The Feather Forest Army conducted a massive search within the imperial palace, nearly combing every corner, yet one oversight remained—there were always spots they could not reach. The palace did not have only a single secret passage; aside from Long Xuan'en, no one would have imagined that a hidden passage also lay within the cattle and sheep shed of the Imperial Kitchen. Enduring the mixed stench of manure, urine, and fodder, Hu Xiaotian located the entrance and, supporting the old emperor, entered it. (To be continued~^~)