Chapter 198: Ouyang Wentian

Queen Wang had no interest in hearing the secret from Song Xizhi's mouth, and gave the imperial guards a glance.

Seeing the imperial guards draw their swords and walk toward her, Song Xizhi turned pale with fright, she quickly grabbed the queen's splendid robes and cried out, "Your Majesty, His Majesty actually......"

He wasn't dead.

But before she could utter the last two words, an imperial guard from behind clapped a hand over her mouth, and then a white blade went in and a red blade came out.

When Queen Wang heard Song Xizhi's cry of "Your Majesty," she prepared to raise her hand to stop the imperial guards, but she was still a step too late.

Looking at the woman already breathless at her feet, Queen Wang furrowed her brows, then shifted her gaze to the imperial guard, regarding him with a hint of scrutiny.

He lowered his head, stepped back a pace, his appearance honest and obedient.

Queen Wang saw nothing in his face, so she withdrew her gaze.

The heir's fresh blood flowed down the white jade steps, a shocking sight, and now another person's blood joined it.

The officials below the steps were utterly stunned, many with mouths open but unable to make a sound.

They had thought the crown prince would endure humiliation and plead guilty, but they never expected him to commit suicide to make his point clear. And seeing the supposedly benevolent queen, she wouldn't even spare the crown prince's pregnant consort—she was downright vicious!

The shock of this scene was truly immense, leaving many feeling heavy-hearted.

Several elderly ministers, watching the crown prince's corpse gradually grow cold on the jade steps, had tears glisten in their cloudy eyes; the more hot-tempered officials clenched their tablets until their knuckles whitened, their hearts filled with sorrow and indignation.

Finally, the invariably upright Censor Su could no longer restrain himself, he snatched off his vermilion cap and pointed at Queen Wang, shouting, "You wicked woman! You throw the court into chaos, you forced the emperor to his death, you plotted against the heir! With such a serpent's heart, what virtue or ability do you have to be mother of the nation? You belong in hell!"

Censor Su's words instantly ignited the officials' anger, but before anyone else could echo him, a nearby imperial guard thrust his sword and killed him on the spot!

Censor Su died, his eyes wide open in a death stare aimed at the queen's direction.

The officials fell silent; lifting their eyes, they saw Her Majesty the Queen standing on the high platform, looking down upon them with a cold, ruthless expression that sent chills down their spines.

"Father!!" a mournful, angry cry suddenly rang out not far away.

Everyone turned to look, and their faces instantly changed in unison!

Over there a group of female relatives, old and young, were completely surrounded by the imperial guards' blades, each face etched with terror.

The one who had just cried out was none other than Censor Su's eldest daughter, Su Ran, who was being fiercely gripped by the arm by her own mother.

The queen had actually taken their relatives hostage!

Some officials who had been itching to resist, upon seeing this, silently stepped back, daring to be angry but not to speak.

Queen Wang gave a cold chuckle: "Isn't this better? Why must you all keep pressing me?"

Inside Fengming Hall.

Several palace maids stood beside Prince Rui, trembling as they helped him into his dragon robe.

What had just happened outside was heard clearly by those inside; Prince Rui's expression only changed when the crown prince committed suicide, and then quickly returned to calm.

Not long after, Queen Wang entered, gently calling, "Lin'er."

Zhai Lin turned his body, his gaze falling upon his mother's face.

Seeing the weariness in the woman's brows and eyes, even a few striking white hairs could be seen in her black hair; he thought of his own inadequacy, and a strong sense of shame and anguish welled up in his chest.

Zhai Lin slowly clenched his fists, his tone fierce: "Those officials have displeased you; I will have them all killed!"

Queen Wang stepped up to him, straightened his collar, gave him a light pat, and spoke gently: "Don't be so full of hostility; a ruler must have the capacity to tolerate others. What's the merit in killing? To truly secure this realm, you must win their sincere submission. As for infamy, I, your mother, will bear it for you."

Zhai Lin pressed his lips together, silent, the harshness in his eyes gradually replaced by complex emotions.

Queen Wang glanced at the dragon throne in the Hall of Obedient Mandate, lightly patted Zhai Lin's shoulder, and said, "Go on, Lin'er."

Zhai Lin took a deep breath, stepped forward, and walked toward the dragon throne.

But just as his foot was about to touch the first step, he suddenly halted his motion.

Immediately afterward, he abruptly turned around, and under Queen Wang's astonished gaze, he fell to his knees with a heavy "thud."

"Mother, this throne ought to be yours to sit upon!"

Queen Wang furrowed her brows: "Nonsense, what are you doing? Get up at once!"

Zhai Lin did not rise; he lifted his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Queen Wang: "I am not being foolish! These past years, if it weren't for you, Mother, scheming behind the scenes and stabilizing the court, the realm of Da Liang would have collapsed long ago! Father never saw your goodness, he only guarded against and suppressed you, utterly oblivious to kindness—I am not like him!"

Queen Wang's eyes grew deep, and she remained silent.

Zhai Lin continued: "Moreover, you understand state affairs better than I do and possess greater means; this realm rightfully belongs to you to govern. I wish to be your strongest bulwark—whoever dares utter a word against you, I will cut them down with a single blade!"

"Lin'er......" Queen Wang's eyes held surprise, as well as a moved expression.

Zhai Lin knocked his head heavily to the ground, his voice pleading: "Please, Mother, ascend the throne!"

Pa! Pa! Pa!

At that moment, three crisp claps suddenly sounded from outside, followed by a teasing voice drifting in.

"What a show—truly a fine performance of deep mother‑son affection!"

The expressions of the two inside the inner hall shifted abruptly; turning their heads, they saw an old man with a childlike face and crane‑white hair, dressed in the ethereal robes of an immortal, walking slowly in.

As he drew nearer, that aura of immortality completely shattered.

His head was full of white hair, yet he had a baby‑smooth, fair face like a youth's; but when he raised his hands, they were aged and covered in brown liver spots, the knuckles swollen and deformed, veins bulging like old tree roots—a stark contrast to his youthful visage.

His whole being exuded an indescribable sense of discord.

Queen Wang did not underestimate him, she snapped sternly: "Who are you? Dare you barge into Fengming Hall! Guards, protect the sovereign!"

The imperial guards entered bearing spears, filing in and instantly surrounding the old man in their midst.

But when they saw that the person they had surrounded was merely a harmless‑looking old man with a head of white hair, their movements paused, and they stood there a moment, bewildered.

No one had expected the intruder who broke into Fengming Hall to appear in such a guise.

Zhai Lin stared at the newcomer, his complexion worse than the queen's, and a strong sense of wariness instantly rose in his heart.

Even after several years, he would never forget that person's appearance!

What an old monster—he actually grows younger the longer he lives!

Zhai Lin stepped in front of the queen, gritted his teeth, and snarled: "Ouyang Wentian! What are you doing here?!"

Ouyang Wentian stood in the hall, lightly swaying his feather fan, a composed smile on his face: "Your Highness Prince Rui has a good memory—you still remember this old man's face."

Empress Wang's face instantly shifted from fury to shock.

Speaking of which, although she had secretly colluded with the Holy Heaven Sect, having long resided in the deep palace, she had never seen this elusive sect leader, and did not expect him to truly look like an "immortal".

But that's not the point. The point is that he arrived so quickly!!

The fingertips at her cuffs almost dug into her palms; Empress Wang suppressed her inner panic: "Sect Leader Ouyang, why aren't you enjoying peace in the Holy Heaven Sect, but running to the imperial palace?"

Ouyang Wentian ignored her, his body suddenly leaping up, his robes tracing a snowy-white arc in the air, actually sweeping directly over Empress Wang and Zhai Lin's heads, landing steadily on the dragon throne of the high platform.

He sat down with an air of nonchalance, his palm lightly stroking the carved gilded dragon head on the armrest, his tone full of triumphant satisfaction: "Naturally, I have come to reclaim the throne that belongs to my Gong family."

Having said that, he lifted his gaze to the Empress and Prince Rui below, a false smile on his face: "Empress, these years you have cleared obstacles for me; I am not an ungrateful wretch. Once I ascend the throne and become emperor, you will remain Empress. However......"

His voice paused, his eyes falling on the young man beside the Empress, and he said coldly: "He is the son of Emperor Xuwen; he must die."

Empress Wang's face turned ashen; just as she was about to shout in anger, Zhai Lin exploded with fury, bellowing: "Ouyang Wentian, you insolent wretch!"

He would not allow anyone to offend his mother!

Zhai Lin's eyes brimmed with killing intent as he drew the guard's waist sword in one motion, about to rush forward and execute Ouyang Wentian on the spot.

Who would have thought that after just two steps, a dagger stabbed through his chest from behind!

Zhai Lin blinked in surprise, turned his head, and his gaze fell upon Kang Shouyi's face.

Indeed, Kang Shouyi was originally a member of the Holy Heaven Sect; he had merely served as an intermediary beside the Empress Mother these years, but his loyalty had never changed.

Kang Shouyi calmly drew his dagger, a flicker of reluctance crossing his eyes as he lowered his gaze: "Your Highness Prince Rui, pardon my offense."

"You......" Zhai Lin opened his mouth, intending to rebuke, but as soon as he spoke, a gush of blood poured from the corner of his mouth, instantly staining his dragon robes red.

Empress Wang watched as Prince Rui slowly collapsed, her whole body's blood turning cold.

"Lin'er!" she screamed, lunging toward Zhai Lin like a madwoman, only to be blocked by Kang Shouyi.

Ouyang Wentian, seated on the dragon throne, saw Kang Shouyi after ten years apart and smiled with satisfaction: "Shouyi, well done."

Kang Shouyi lowered his head: "Sect Leader, I dare not forget your benevolence in recognizing me."

Empress Wang ceased her struggle, turned to the imperial guards and shouted: "What are you waiting for? Quickly seize these traitorous rebels!"

Only then did the imperial guards snap out of their shock at the betrayal by Eunuch Kang and the death of Prince Rui.

Just as they were about to obey orders and advance, they heard Kang Shouyi say: "The Holy Heaven Sect's army is already stationed outside the imperial city, awaiting orders; the Empress's cause is lost. Consider well: will you follow a dying person to the grave, or surrender to the new lord and secure a promising future?"

Upon hearing this, the guards exchanged glances, instantly hesitating.

Now that the crown prince has committed suicide, and Prince Rui—the most likely to ascend—has also died, the rebel leader daring to show himself before us must have some backing... perhaps the realm of Da Liang truly is about to change dynasties.

Empress Wang saw them hesitating to move forward, her expression turning grim.

At that moment, a clamor came from outside.

Only to see Yan Zheng come running in, flustered; Empress Wang, thinking he had brought troops, hurriedly shouted: "Yan Zheng, quickly seize these rebels!"

But Yan Zheng, instead, stumbled and fell flat on his face before her.

Yan Zheng had no time to observe the hall's situation; he merely lifted his head, panic-stricken, and said: "Your Majesty the Empress! The great army has breached the palace gates and is marching toward Fengming Hall—you must flee at once!"

Having spoken, he then saw Empress Wang being held by Eunuch Kang, and stared in astonishment: "Eunuch Kang, what are you doing?"

Kang Shouyi ignored him, his forehead already beaded with cold sweat.

Upon hearing Yan Zheng say the great army had stormed in, Ouyang Wentian furrowed his brow: "I never ordered them to enter."

As he spoke, Yan Zheng finally noticed someone seated on the dragon throne, leaving him even more bewildered.

Empress Wang suddenly burst out laughing, eyes red, and said to Ouyang Wentian word by word: "You wish to be the oriole waiting after the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware that there are still hunters with bows in this world!"

The person on the dragon throne rose abruptly, his voice deep: "Whose troops are outside?!"

"It is I." A low, icy voice came from outside the hall.

Ouyang Wentian narrowed his eyes, lifted his gaze, and saw a tall, jade-like figure in dark attire standing backlit outside the door, coldly staring at him!

Ouyang Wentian's face changed dramatically: "Xiao Jingyuan! You're actually not dead?!"

Behind the man, the Black Iron Troops filed in, instantly encircling the hall's interior!

Ouyang Wentian silently thought, "This is bad," and immediately tried to turn and flee.

But before he could move, a "whoosh" sounded—a sharp arrow whistled past his scalp with fierce force, violently pinning into the dragon throne behind him!

Ouyang Wentian broke out in a cold sweat from shock!

Xiao Jingyuan loosed an arrow; before the bowstring had fully relaxed, without a moment's pause, he swiftly nocked three more arrows, aiming at his foes.

Killing intent turned tangible, and they all shot forth together!

Ouyang Wentian had no time to think; he used his fan as a shield, barely blocking the incoming arrows.

That fan appeared ordinary, but was actually made of a specially crafted tough material; yet under Xiao Jingyuan's fierce assault, it soon shattered.

Fengming Hall's space was limited, so Ouyang Wentian could not maneuver freely; he dodged embarrassingly while inwardly complaining: He and Xiao Jingyuan have no deep grudge, so why go to such extremes?!

Finally, Ouyang Wentian, shielded by Kang Shouyi, hid behind a large pillar inside the hall, drew a hard breath, and then shouted loudly:

"Xiao Jingyuan! I admit defeat! I will yield the throne of Da Liang to you; let me and my companions leave, and I promise you that once out, I will disband the Holy Heaven Sect, never again involve myself in court affairs, nor set foot in Jingcheng even a single step—how about that?!"