Chapter 274: Clear the Emperor's Side

Before the palace gates of Jingcheng, a black mass of iron-armored troops surged forward, their killing intent piercing the sky. Clad in heavy armor and wielding long blades, cold light flickered in their eyes. Like a pack of vicious wolves, bloodthirsty and merciless, they spared neither friend nor foe; anything blocking their path became their prey.

The imperial guards at the gate immediately panicked, trembling as they asked, "What are you doing?"

Clad in brocade, holding long spears, fear shone in their eyes. Like a flock of lambs, weak and helpless, at a loss, anyone seeing their gaze could foresee their fate.

The tall, thin officer at the head flashed a glint of cold light in his eyes. Without answering, he swung his long blade down over the head of a guard, who fell dead at once. The tall officer stepped over the corpse, the residual blood on his blade carving a terrifying trail. He barked coldly, "Follow me!"

His voice carried a resolve and killing intent; his eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness and madness; his body radiated an aura of dominance. Like a hawk, sharp and unforgiving, anyone seeing his movement would know his purpose.

The city guards fell one after another as Feng Xiwie arrived with surging momentum. Suddenly, the killing cries before Chongzhengdian shook the heavens. Fei Hou, inside, was stomping his feet and cursing, but hearing the noise, his face turned deathly pale.

"Go check quickly! Could it be Jiang Jiang Mingyu attacking?" he trembled as he ordered the eunuch.

Before the eunuch could leave the hall, a bloody human skull was thrown inside. Fei Hou's face turned ghastly white; his limbs went weak, and he kept retreating.

Feng Xiwie smiled coldly: "Your Majesty, we have come to catch up on old times." He stepped closer to the shivering Fei Hou.

Just then, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's main army was still rushing along the distant official road.

But Feng Xiwie had already revealed the ferocious light of a beast unleashed, closing in on Fei Hou...

At the same time, Zhu Ge Yu glanced at the map, then turned to Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

"Master, less than ten li ahead lies Jingcheng. Give the order."

His voice carried a steadiness and confidence; his eyes flashed with a hint of expectation and excitement; his body radiated an aura of momentum and majesty. Like a fierce dragon, ready to spread its wings and soar.

The moment of decisive battle had finally arrived. Jiang Jiang Mingyu cleared his throat and spoke loudly.

"Tu Tu Kesiluo, Zhang Zhang Jiani."

The two immediately spurred their horses forward.

"Here!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu cleared his throat and spoke clearly: "Tu Tu Kesiluo, you will lead thirty thousand men as the vanguard and strike straight for Jingcheng!"

His voice carried majesty and decisiveness; his eyes flashed with a hint of firmness and conviction; his body radiated hot blood and passion. Like a mighty eagle, seeing far and wide, unafraid of powerful enemies.

Tu Tu Kesiluo's eyes flashed with cold light, his tone carrying suppressed hatred: "Big Brother, today I will personally take Fei Hou's head to avenge you a hundredfold and wipe away past shame!"

His voice carried anger and madness; his eyes flashed with a hint of hatred and killing intent; his body radiated strength and courage. Like a rabid dog, grinding his teeth, willing to pay any price.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu frowned and barked: "Do not act rashly! Attacking the city is merely a feint; under no circumstances must the grand plan be ruined!"

His voice carried a warning and reminder; his eyes flashed with a hint of worry and concern; his body radiated calmness and decisiveness. Like a fox, infinitely clever, missing no opportunity.

Tu Tu Kesiluo gave a sheepish laugh and replied repeatedly: "Yes, I understand the priorities; I was merely boosting morale."

His voice carried obedience and respect; his eyes flashed with a hint of awe and submission; his body radiated humility and loyalty. Like a loyal wolf-dog, utterly faithful, never failing his mission.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded slightly and continued issuing battle deployments. The various generals received orders one by one, organizing the army for departure.

Just as Jiang Jiang Mingyu was meticulously planning every detail, a premonition enveloped his heart—this victory came too easily; Fei Hou would surely not be willing to surrender so readily. He feared this was yet another trap set by Fei Hou, and one misstep would lead them into it.

His heart held vigilance and doubt; his eyes held alertness and contemplation; his body held tension and pressure. Like a leopard, cautious, daring not to be careless.

As Jiang Jiang Mingyu was lost in wild thoughts, he suddenly saw a white flag waving high on the city wall. Everyone was both surprised and delighted, guessing what it meant. Jiang Jiang Mingyu froze abruptly, vaguely sensing something was amiss, yet unsure of the reason.

His heart held surprise and doubt; his eyes held questions and inquiry; his body held curiosity and hope. Like an owl, eyes fixed, missing no clue.

Just as the generals looked at each other in confusion, a loud Boom! echoed, and the tightly sealed city gate suddenly opened on its own. Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt his heart tighten, vaguely sensing the situation was not as simple as it appeared. He signaled Zhu Ge Yu, who wore an equally doubtful expression...

His heart held vigilance and crisis; his eyes held calmness and analysis; his body held readiness and alertness. Like a lion, composed and calm, not acting rashly.

Seeing the gate open, Tu Tu Kesiluo immediately shouted: "All troops, stand alert and prepare to meet the enemy!" His eyes widened to round circles, as if facing a great foe.

His voice carried tension and vigilance; his eyes flashed with a hint of doubt and alertness; his body radiated solemnity and pressure. Like a leopard, cautious, daring not to be careless.

At this moment, a man in the guise of a civil official walked out of the gate, raising both hands and saying: "Please calm your anger, Lord Jiang. I am Feng Xiwie, specially bringing fifteen thousand troops from within the city to surrender." His expression was humble, yet he could not hide the cunning in his eyes.

His voice carried hypocrisy and scheming; his eyes flashed with a hint of deceit and treachery; his body radiated weakness and servility. Like a rat, bowing and scraping, shameless.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke in a deep voice: "Lord Feng, your words are too heavy. How can my army believe in your sincerity?" His tone was calm, but his heart was already in turmoil.

His voice carried majesty and scrutiny; his eyes flashed with a hint of calmness and analysis; his body radiated coldness and decisiveness. Like a fox, infinitely clever, missing no opportunity.

Feng Xiwie laughed heartily: "I guessed early on that Lord would ask thus, so I specially prepared a grand gift, hoping you will graciously accept it."

With that, he waved and called: "Bring them up quickly!" Dozens of high-ranking officials and nobles were dragged forward, the leader being none other than Fei Hou, the enemy Jiang Jiang Mingyu had worried about day and night!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes widened in disbelief. Feng Xiwie hurriedly explained: "These are all traitors who harmed the nation, along with Fei Hou's close confidants. We have captured them to present to Lord, showing our true hearts. Hope Lord will show mercy and accept our sincere efforts!"

His voice carried reverence and pleading; his eyes flashed with a hint of fear and hope; his body radiated trembling and weakness. Like a dog, wagging its tail to beg for pity, daring not to resist.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt slightly relieved then. He dismounted, smiling as he said to Feng Xiwie: "Lord Feng has worked hard. In the future, we must bear weight in rewarding you." With that, he walked slowly to Fei Hou, shaking his head slowly, killing intent hidden in his eyes...

Jiang Jiang Mingyu walked slowly before Fei Hou, his eyes like ice, his voice like a blade, his steps like drums, his momentum like a mountain. Looking down at Fei Hou kneeling on the ground, a cold smile curled his lips; a sense of gratification rose in his heart; his words were like poison, his tone like a whip.

"Fei Hou, do you remember this day last year? That was the day Jiang Mou left Jingcheng, and also the day you ascended the throne. You said then that living was the punishment you gave me, and the human world was the hell you sent to Jiang Mou. You said you would make Jiang Mou have no peace, no home, no dignity, and no hope in this world. You said you would make Jiang Mou suffer torment, humiliation, pain, and despair under your hands. You said you would make Jiang Mou die in a wretched, tragic, silent, and nameless manner before your eyes."

"You said so much, did so much, thought so much—what did you gain? You gained the throne, you gained power, you gained wealth, you gained glory. You gained all this, but what did you lose? You lost family bonds, you lost friendship, you lost love, you lost trust. You lost all this, what remains? You remain with hatred, you remain with fear, you remain with loneliness, you remain with despair."

"You thought you gained everything, you thought you controlled everything, you thought you could do as you pleased, you thought you could act without law. You thought you were the master of the world, you thought you were the father of all people, you thought you were the son of the gods, you thought you were unrivaled. You thought you were this, yet you did not know what you truly are. You are actually a joke, you are actually a tragedy, you are actually a sinner, you are actually a waste."

"You sat on the throne, yet you did not last even a year. You were abandoned, betrayed, rebelled against, attacked, loathed, spat upon, mocked, despised, forgotten, and erased by your ministers, your confidants, your brothers, your sons, your lovers, your enemies, your friends, your companions, your kind, your compatriots, your people, your world, and everything you had."

"You thought you were the Emperor, you thought you were Your Majesty, you thought you were the Son of Heaven, you thought you were a sage ruler. You thought you were this, yet you did not know what you truly are. You are actually a prisoner, you are actually a slave, you are actually a beggar, you are actually a bug."

"You thought you were Jiang Mou's enemy, you thought you were Jiang Mou's foe, you thought you were Jiang Mou's opponent, you thought you were Jiang Mou's rival. You thought you were this, yet you did not know what you truly are. You are actually Jiang Mou's stepping stone, you are actually Jiang Mou's springboard, you are actually Jiang Mou's foil, you are actually Jiang Mou's joke."

"Your insults to Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has always remembered; the people you sent to Shangmu, Jiang Mou has never forgotten. Your harm to Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has always kept in mind; your cruelty to Shangmu, Jiang Mou will never forgive. Your hatred toward Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has always responded; your challenge to Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has never feared. Your suppression of Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has always resisted; your pursuit and killing of Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has fought back fiercely. Your everything toward Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has met with response; your everything toward Jiang Mou, Jiang Mou has met with revenge."

"But then again, without your coercion that day, Jiang Mou would not have become who he is today. Without your persecution, Jiang Mou would not have achieved what he has today. Without your hostility, Jiang Mou would not have attained the status he holds today. Without your obstruction, Jiang Mou would not have the prestige he enjoys today. Without your provocation, Jiang Mou would not have the glory he possesses today. Without your existence, Jiang Mou would not have the joy he feels today. From this perspective, Jiang Mou truly should thank you properly. Don't you agree, Emperor?"

His words were like needles piercing Fei Hou's heart, like knives cutting Fei Hou's flesh, like acid corroding Fei Hou's bones, like flames burning Fei Hou's soul. His words made Fei Hou's face turn deathly pale, made Fei Hou's eyes go dull, made Fei Hou's lips twist, and made Fei Hou's body tremble. His words made Fei Hou's mind shatter, made Fei Hou's will collapse, made Fei Hou's soul wither, and made Fei Hou's life meaningless.