Emperor Sima Zhong sat pale-faced behind the imperial desk, with Empress Yang Xianrong by his side.
Officials such as Qin Zhun, the Palace Attendant, Pan Tao, the Imperial Secretary, and Lü Qiu Chong, the Cavalry Commander, were also present, their heads bowed, resembling wooden puppets.
The atmosphere in the hall was undeniably oppressive.
Everyone knew what was about to happen today.
The more timid ones even glanced toward the dragon-patterned screen behind the emperor—not for the screen itself, but for the armored soldiers hidden behind it.
Dozens of fully armed, well-equipped warriors were also concealed in the side halls, ready to act at a moment's notice.
How could they not be afraid? In a real fight, swords and arrows have no eyes, and accidental injuries were not impossible.
Who wouldn't feel uneasy being caught up in such a mess? But they had no choice but to bring in some officials to fill the scene.
What a predicament!
Shao Xun hid behind the screen, his breathing slightly rapid.
He wasn't afraid; his excitement was the cause.
Yes, something big was about to happen, and Shao Xun was already in a state of morbid excitement.
At his feet lay a fully strung bow, a quiver of arrows, a ring-pommeled sword, and a heavy blade, all within easy reach.
As soon as the signal was given, he would leap out, capture Sima Yi, and complete the mission.
He was utterly confident in this.
To calm his excitement, he forced himself to shift his attention, imagining Empress Yang Xianrong's graceful figure.
The empress was right in front of him, separated only by a screen.
He could almost catch a faint whiff of her fragrance.
Perhaps it was just a hormonal illusion.
At seventeen, his hormones were raging, to the point where he dared to fantasize about the most revered woman in the empire.
What an audacious scoundrel! He had no respect for authority, daring to kill anyone and sleep with any woman of status.
Given the chance, he might just turn the world upside down.
Yang Bao, standing nearby, glanced nervously at Shao Xun.
Some memories, though distant, remained vivid.
Shao Xun seemed normal now, but who knew what he would become once the killing started? Yang Bao was genuinely afraid.
Covered in blood, Shao Xun would look like a demon from hell, his eyes bloodshot and predatory.
"Damn it, Commander, wake up! Can't you act normal for once?"
As if sensing Yang Bao's gaze, Shao Xun glared at him, signaling him to stay in line.
Yang Bao lowered his head, gripping his sword hilt so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
The sky grew darker, as if brewing a storm.
Sima Yi sighed.
With the enemy closing in, gathering firewood had become inconvenient.
Soon, they would have to dismantle public and private buildings for fuel, yet another act that would earn him enemies.
Thinking about it, he had done too many things to offend people lately.
Conscripting servants from wealthy families was one.
Extorting excessive taxes was another.
Reducing food rations was yet another.
And then there were the officials he had either killed or imprisoned out of paranoia.
As for the water shortage, that had already alienated everyone.
Why was it so hard to get things done?
The emperor was also clueless.
At a time like this, he still wanted to offer comfort.
Did Sima Yi need his petty consolation?
A fierce wind swept across the land, stinging people's eyes.
Sima Yi soon arrived at the main hall, where palace attendants and guards bowed in respect.
He paid them no mind, striding into the hall surrounded by his entourage.
"Your servant—" Sima Yi had barely uttered a word when the doors behind him slammed shut.
Outside, hurried footsteps and shouts echoed.
"Huh?" Sima Yi was momentarily stunned, then realized what was happening.
He turned to Emperor Sima Zhong, furious.
"You dare?!"
Emperor Sima Zhong's face turned pale, his body trembling like a leaf.
"I didn't want to, but what choice did I have?"
Qin Zhun, the Palace Attendant, stepped forward immediately, unrolling an edict and reading aloud, "I, in my humble capacity, have inherited the imperial throne..."
This seemed to be the signal.
From the side halls came the chaotic sounds of footsteps and swords being drawn.
"Protect the Grand Commander!" Two attendants drew their swords, standing in front of Sima Yi.
Shangguan Si turned to try opening the doors, but they wouldn't budge.
He began to sweat in desperation.
"Quick, go protect the emperor!" Diao Xie pointed and shouted.
Sima Yi snapped out of his daze, drew his sword, and charged forward.
His attendants were faster, rushing straight toward the emperor.
"Whoosh!" An arrow shot through the air, and a muffled groan sounded beside Sima Yi.
He didn't stop, gritting his teeth as he charged toward the imperial desk, his sword gleaming coldly, as if ready to strike someone down.
The emperor, terrified, ducked under the desk, trembling.
"It's not my fault, not my fault!"
Empress Yang Xianrong turned and ran behind the screen.
"Save me!" she stumbled toward them.
Shao Xun set down his bow, picked up his heavy sword, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
As he passed the empress, he even had the leisure to say, "Don't be afraid!"
A flash of sword light descended like a bolt of lightning.
The attendant at the front instinctively raised his sword to block, but the heavy blade's force was overwhelming.
It cleaved through his chest, then swept sideways, sending blood spraying.
"Kill them!" Yang Bao brandished his ring-pommeled sword, charging out from the other side to confront one of Sima Yi's attendants.
But as soon as they clashed, Yang Bao was knocked to the ground.
Shao Xun stepped forward, his heavy sword coming down with full force.
The attendant who had just felled Yang Bao was split open from shoulder to chest, his agonized scream echoing through the hall, almost shaking the rafters.
Sima Yi had closed the distance, thrusting his sword forward.
Shao Xun, relying on his iron armor, took the hit and swung his sword back.
Sima Yi met his gaze and shuddered.
What kind of eyes were those? Filled with ferocity and bloodlust, they stared at him as if he were livestock, pondering where to strike.
Sima Yi abandoned the fight, turned, and bolted.
"Whoosh!" The heavy sword swung down, and Sima Yi felt the chilling breeze at the back of his neck.
He quickly ducked behind a pillar, only to see warriors pouring out from the side halls, slaughtering his advisors and attendants.
His entourage was in chaos.
Some ran around, looking for places to hide.
Others shouted loudly, but strangely, the palace guards were nowhere to be seen.
Still others rushed toward the pillar, instinctively trying to protect their master.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Bowstrings twanged, and arrows flew.
Among the warriors were archers, calmly picking off the fleeing attendants with ease.
In just moments, several had fallen.
But the armored soldiers wielding spears and ring-pommeled swords were even more brutal!
"Kill them! Kill them all!" Chen Yougen, his face twisted in a snarl, led ten young swordsmen, quickly cutting down three attendants.
Huang Biao, with twenty spearmen, worked in pairs, effortlessly taking several lives.
"Stop! The Grand Commander is here! How dare you rebel!" The last attendant, cornered and desperate, shouted in condemnation.
"Thud!" Wang Que'er thrust his spear without hesitation.
The attendant fell with a scream.
"I am from the Xun family of Yingchuan..."
Advisor Xun Sui, surrounded by several young soldiers, tried to invoke his family's prestige, his voice trembling.
"Thud! Thud!" Several spears pierced him, the young soldiers' movements unhesitating, unaffected by his words.
Xun Sui collapsed in disbelief, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Enough! Just capture them," Huang Biao stepped forward, giving the order.
All of Sima Yi's attendants who had entered the hall had been slaughtered.
The remaining advisors, powerless, didn't need to be killed.
As for Sima Yi himself, he stood dumbfounded behind the pillar, his sword trembling slightly, betraying his inner turmoil.
"Whoosh!" An arrow flew, scattering his hair.
Shao Xun, having retrieved his bow, nocked a second arrow, calmly aiming at Sima Yi.
"Grand Commander, will you still flee?"
Sima Yi's face was ashen.
Blood, whose he didn't know, trickled down his neck, cold and chilling.
Chen Yougen waved his hand, and several young soldiers rushed forward, disarming Sima Yi and pinning him to the ground.
"... The traitor Sima Yi, wreaking havoc, coveting the throne, seeking to usurp the imperial position..."
Qin Zhun continued reading the edict, but Sima Yi had already been captured.
The emperor still cowered under the desk, trembling.
In just moments, the hall had become a bloodbath, the imperial robes soaked.
Empress Yang Xianrong collapsed to the floor.
Shao Xun, who had returned to retrieve his bow, stood beside her.
The earlier chaos of swords and bloodshed had left her dizzy, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, finally coalescing into one phrase: "Don't be afraid!"
She seemed to gather some strength, silently rising, brushing off nonexistent dust, then walking to the imperial desk to help the emperor out.
"... Henceforth, his titles and lands are revoked, and he is to be confined to Jinyong City for life, never to be reinstated. Let this be known far and wide, so all may understand my will."
Qin Zhun finally finished reading the edict.
"Clang!" Shangguan Si threw his sword to the ground and knelt.
The other advisors, seeing the situation was hopeless, also knelt, tears streaming down their faces.
(End of Chapter)