Chapter 288

However, ever since following by Ying Ziyu's side, Jiang Yuyan felt what it meant to have feelings.

What it felt like to be kept in someone's heart and to be cared for.

This was one of the reasons why Jiang Yuyan followed Ying Ziyu wholeheartedly, willing to do anything for him.

……

Great Sui, in the imperial court.

At this moment, the court was filled with a scent different from usual.

It radiated an infinitely stifling aura.

It was as if it were a gunpowder barrel; as long as it encountered the slightest spark, this place would be blown to pieces.

Suddenly, a general who looked extremely heroic stepped out and pointed audaciously at Yang Guang, who was sitting on the dragon throne.

This person was Yuwen Huaji; the reason he was so bold toward Yang Guang today was to force Yang Guang to abdicate!

"Tyrant Yang Guang, in order to seize the throne, you acted against nature and were devoid of conscience, killing your brother and father!"

"After ascending, you were boastful and greedy, licentious and cruel."

"To satisfy your selfish desires, you dug the Grand Canal, causing countless families to be broken and destroyed!"

"To display your might, you repeatedly campaigned against Goguryeo, leading to the deaths of countless soldiers!"

"Now, you even ignore state affairs, acting insane all day long..."

"You have made my Great Sui a mess, with the people living in misery."

"You have even brought us to the brink of a precarious life-and-death situation!"

"You, Yang Guang, are no longer fit to sit in this position!"

"It is time to abdicate and yield to the worthy!"

Upon hearing Yuwen Huaji's words, Yang Guang was extremely furious.

The veins on his face bulged one after another.

The flames of anger in his eyes seemed as if they wanted to turn the person before him, and even everyone in the court, into ashes.

"Rebellion! This is truly rebellion!"

"You say I should abdicate; why should I abdicate?"

"I have achieved countless merits in this life; I am the Eternal Holy King!"

After speaking, Yang Guang suddenly laughed loudly, as if mentally deranged, saying:

"In this life, I built the Grand Canal to connect the north and south, promoting trade, and built the Great Wall to repel enemies and protect the peace of the four directions."

"I promoted the imperial examination, giving countless commoners the opportunity to enter the court."

"I am the eternal holy king! You actually dare to say that I am a muddled emperor; it is simply as unreasonable as a three-year-old child!"

After speaking, Yang Guang suddenly looked coldly at the high officials below the court, like a tiger or leopard staring at its prey, suppressing the officials until they could not catch their breath.

Under normal circumstances, Yuwen Huaji would have been frightened into silence by this aura, but this time he felt no fear.

Because he had long since received secret authorization from Grand Tutor Yuwen Tuo.

With Yuwen Tuo as his backing, Yuwen Huaji did not need to worry about any accidents occurring this time.

"Absurd!"

"These are absurd words."

"Building the canal and the Great Wall left nine out of ten households in my Great Sui without men."

"For the sake of your so-called merits, the national treasury has long since been squandered!"

"Today, you must abdicate from this throne, whether you want to or not!"

After Yuwen Huaji finished speaking, one after another, many officials mustered the courage to step out and force Yang Guang to abdicate.

"We request Your Majesty to abdicate!"

The officials said in unison.

Seeing this, a trace of ambition flashed in Yuwen Huaji's eyes.

If he said he didn't want to be emperor, it would be a lie; he was also full of longing for the throne.

However, he dared not express the slightest bit of it.

Because the Great Sui's guardian deity, Yuwen Tuo, was still alive.

Yuwen Huaji feared Yuwen Tuo's strength, so he could only suppress his ambition and obey Yuwen Tuo's plan.

Seeing this, Yang Guang began to laugh loudly like a madman again.

He had never placed the high officials in the hall in his eyes.

In Yang Guang's view, they were merely a group of clowns.

Not long after, Yang Guang suddenly stood up, radiating the unique aura of the Son of Heaven, and said loudly:

"In the entire Great Sui, besides me, who is fit to sit on the emperor's throne!?"

At this moment, Yang Guang displayed supreme dominance and confidence, appearing no different from the holy ruler image he had when he first ascended.

The officials who had just opposed him were all frightened pale, feeling an invisible pressure weighing down on them.

Those with slightly smaller courage were trembling continuously.

Some had their bodies go soft, collapsing directly onto the ground.

And Yuwen Huaji, at this moment, was already drenched in cold sweat from this terrifying aura, no longer possessing the heroism he had when forcing Yang Guang earlier.

Just at this moment, Yuwen Tuo suddenly appeared within the court, staring straight at Yang Guang and saying:

"There really is one person."

Seeing Yuwen Tuo appear, Yang Guang finally revealed an expression of shock.

The reason he had been able to remain calm until now was because he felt that Yuwen Tuo was still standing behind him.

As long as Yuwen Tuo was there, he, Yang Guang, would be the Emperor of Great Sui, the one and only emperor.

But now, Yuwen Tuo's appearance completely shattered Yang Guang's conviction.

"Grand Tutor, why are you also participating in this?!"

"Do you want to destroy the Great Sui empire?"

"Without me here, how can the Great Sui empire be defended?"

"Without me here, who else has the ability to sit on this throne of the Son of Heaven?!"

Yang Guang looked at Yuwen Tuo and asked extremely angrily.

Seeing Yang Guang's ugly state fully exposed, Yuwen Tuo felt even more disappointed in him.

He shook his head slightly, his expression cold as he said to Yang Guang:

"Yang Guang, you are no longer fit to be emperor."

"I have given you countless opportunities, and you have disappointed me every time."

"If I let you continue to act recklessly, I fear you will toss away the entire Great Sui!"

Yuwen Tuo slightly raised his voice and continued:

"As for who should be the Emperor of Great Sui, I have long since had a suitable candidate in mind."

"That is Empress Xiao Meiniang."

After hearing Yuwen Tuo's words, the shock in Yang Guang's heart was beyond measure.

"This... what?? You!!!"

"The Empress??"

"This is impossible!!!"

"Could it be that the Empress is also involved in this!?"

Yang Guang roared loudly like a frenzied beast, and not long after, he laughed as if he had lost his mind.

It was as if he had heard the biggest joke under heaven.

"You actually want to install a woman as the Emperor of Great Sui?"

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous; Yuwen Tuo, you want to make Great Sui the laughingstock of the Nine Provinces!"

"Besides, the Empress and I love each other dearly; she will definitely not agree with your ideas."

Just as Yang Guang finished speaking, Xiao Meiniang slowly walked in from outside the palace hall.

Her steps were extremely firm; seeing the chaotic scene in the palace hall at this moment, not only did her face not reveal the slightest panic, but she was instead exceptionally calm.

Xiao Meiniang, the current Empress, or rather the future Emperor of Great Sui, slowly walked up to Yang Guang and said gently:

"Meiniang has come for only one matter."

"That is to request Your Majesty to abdicate and return peace to my Great Sui!"