Chapter 679: Death Knell (1)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The other officials looked around and looked at the officials gathered behind Xiao Shoufu. Cold sweat kept dripping from their foreheads. They were either indignant, angry, shocked, timid, or tense…
Xiao Shoufu and his men continued repeating the words, their voices like thunder.
At the same time, two rows of imperial guards in bronze helmets and iron armor surged into Long’en Gate like a tide, their footsteps rumbling.
The surrounding air was so heavy that it was almost suffocating.
“Abdicate and give up my position?” The Emperor seemed to have seen through his schemes. He glanced at Xiao Shoufu, Pei Wenrui, and the others standing outside the hall, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cold smile. “Who do 1 give up my position to then?”
As soon as these words were spoken, a certain name appeared in the hearts of the civil and military officials and the princess consorts outside the hall.
Xiao Shoufu raised his hand, and the voices behind instantly stopped.
There was dead silence outside the hall.
Xiao Shoufu smiled and said clearly, “If one’s virtue doesn’t match his position, there will definitely be disaster. Good talent is used well, and the capable should take it. Your Majesty, I’m willing to imitate the predecessors to depose the dark and ascend to the holy level to correct the chaos.”
“Kang w.a.n.g is the legitimate son of the previous Emperor, the bloodline of the Chu family. He has the style of an ancestor, is wise and divine, and has great talent and strategy. He can be said to be what everyone wants!”
Xiao Shoufu’s words were impa.s.sioned. His eyes were bright and sharp, like an unsheathed blade, as if it could cut flesh.
When the words “Kang w.a.n.g” came out of his mouth, everyone present felt that it was as expected, and their hearts felt even heavier.
There were clearly no weapons here, but they all felt that there seemed to be a faint smell of blood lingering in the air, unable to be eliminated.
In the past dynasties, forcing the throne was often accompanied by bloodshed. Either one of them would die, and in history, which crippled emperor had a good outcome?
Since Xiao Shoufu dared to lead a group of officials to force the throne, he naturally wouldn’t be unprepared. Today’s matter probably couldn’t be resolved peacefully!
They could almost predict that blood would flow like a river in this imperial mausoleum today!
The Emperor’s expression was still very calm. He stared deeply at Xiao Shoufu and said calmly, “What if 1 don’t agree?”
Xiao Shoufu snorted softly. The corners of his eyes and eyebrows didn’t move at all, but his eyes were as cold as a cold lake. He said again,
“Your Majesty, please abdicate and give up your position!”
These words were almost enunciated word by word, and there was no warmth in his voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, the imperial guards behind pulled out the long sabers in their sheaths in unison. The long sabers flickered with a cold light under the sun, adding a murderous aura to the howling mountain wind.
General w.a.n.g Nan of Jianwei took a big step forward and walked to the right behind Xiao Shoufu with his head held high. He first cupped his fists at the Emperor in the hall and said, “Your Majesty, please forgive me!”
Although he said that, he pulled out the saber at his waist in the next moment.
The tip of the long saber was pointed at the Emperor.
w.a.n.g Nan’s rough, red face was filled with righteous indignation. He said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Gu Ge betrayed the country and killed tens of thousands of people. Even if we cut him into a thousand pieces, it won’t be able to absolve his sin!”
“Your Majesty’s intention to overturn the case for Gu Ge is really going against the rules, disappointing me and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Great Jin!”
w.a.n.g Nan’s voice was high-pitched, indignant, and filled with surging anger. His voice seemed to have erupted from the depths of his chest.
The biting mountain wind sent out his words clearly.
The mountain wind howled continuously. Not only the foot of Tianxi Mountain, but even the wind in the capital today was a little strong.
Under the strong wind, the flowers and trees in the garden creaked. The remaining flowers of a tree were blown off their branches by the wind, and the ground was filled with broken flowers.
Empress Dowager Yuan, dressed in a black robe with an embroidered silk lining, sat by the window, quietly gazing at the withered flowers outside. Under her half-lowered eyelashes, her gaze held a profound and inscrutable depth.
The eldest eunuch lifted the curtain and walked in silently. He bowed and reported, “Your Majesty, the people have already been arranged.”
The eunuch lowered his head and couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, his eyes dark.
Early this morning, Empress Dowager Yuan issued an imperial decree with the excuse that she wasn’t feeling well. She summoned all the madams, princesses, county lords, and other female relatives in the capital to the palace.
Without the Emperor and the Eldest Prince around, the person with the highest status in the palace was Empress Dowager Yuan. With Empress Dowager Yuan’s command, the royal guards in the palace temporarily placed those women under house arrest in the Spring Jubilee Hall.
As he thought about it, the eldest eunuch’s heart beat faster. He asked with a little anxiety, “Your Highness, do you want to go to the Spring Jubilee Hall to take a look?”
Empress Dowager Yuan didn’t even look at the eunuch. She lowered her eyes and looked at her fair and delicate fingers. The nails of her ten fingers were neatly trimmed. Her hands were well maintained, exquisite, and beautiful, like