Chapter 252: Chapter 251: PurgatoryQi Wuya saw the hidden worry in his eyes and said, "Huo Dingyuan will not get involved."


    Han Mo looked surprised, "How does Mr. Jiu know that?"


    "Just a feeling."


    He got out of bed.


    A Palace Attendant came forward to attend to him, carefully helping him get dressed.


    Watching from the side, Han Mo felt a mix of emotions: A feeling? Is it really that trivial?


    A Palace Attendant brought over a basin of hot water.


    Qi Wuya washed his hands and face, then brushed his teeth, and finally sipped some hot tea to moisten his throat.


    After a while of busyness, the sky brightened.


    The Palace Attendant brought in breakfast.


    He invited Han Mo to sit down and eat with him.


    No one spoke.


    After breakfast.


    He drank more tea, rinsed his mouth, and then said, "It’s time for the Four Great Families to change their leaders."


    Han Mo remained silent, not asking about his subsequent plans.


    The morning court was about to start.


    He was always diligent.


    He was always the first to enter the Qingzheng Hall.


    As he stepped up to the dais, he gazed at the resplendent Dragon Throne with reluctance, caressing it for quite some time before finally taking his seat on the left side below it.


    He consciously acted as the regent in place of the Crown Prince, never touching the Dragon Throne, his actions moderate, dutifully minding his business, yet still, they pushed him to this point.


    Enough.


    Let killing stop killing.


    He had waited long enough.


    Officials started to enter the hall one after another. sea??h thё N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qi Wuya watched them, his gaze sweeping over each one, then looked toward the door—


    "Zhang Tai" stood there with two long rows of soldiers.


    Presumably, Zhang E and Xue Wen Zhan, upon seeing him, would have the gall to challenge him.


    Everything went as he expected.


    When Xue Wen Zhan and Zhang E arrived, they locked eyes with "Zhang Tai" and confidently, with a smug smile, walked in.


    All the officials had arrived.


    With a gentle expression, Qi Wuya asked routinely, "Do any of the lords have matters to report?"


    As soon as his voice fell.


    Xue Wen Zhan stood out, bowed, and said, "This old servant has a matter to report."


    Qi Wuya smiled warmly, asking softly, "What matter does Prime Minister Xue wish to report?"


    Xue Wen Zhan’s expression was solemn, his speech sharp, "This old servant has been investigating the truth behind the Crown Prince’s imbecility. Last night, I finally uncovered the truth. The maid Jinzhu of the Crown Prince has confessed; it was the doing of the Ninth Prince. Including the late Emperor’s demise and the Eldest Princess’s imprisonment, it was all your handiwork. Qi Wuya, you have such audacity to plot against the late Emperor and harm the heir!"


    At these words, the court erupted into chaos.


    "How could this be?"


    "The Ninth Prince plotted against the late Emperor?"


    "What does Prime Minister Xue intend to do?"


    "Isn’t the Crown Prince’s brain damaged by fire? What does it have to do with the Ninth Prince?"


    "I see it clearly now; whenever there’s an issue with someone of the Royal Family’s bloodline, they blame it on the Ninth Prince. The Ninth Prince is pitiable; ever since he took over as acting Crown Prince, he’s continuously been subjected to criticism!"


    "Even a clay figure has some anger. The Eldest Princess said so before, and now Prime Minister Xue says so too, time and time again, it never ends."


    ...


    Many officials whispered their discontent on behalf of Qi Wuya.


    But their positions were too minor in the face of the Four Great Families, and they didn’t dare to speak loudly.


    Instead, the officials aligned with Prime Minister Xue’s camp dared to speak out.


    Such as Imperial Censor Ma.


    He was a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince faction.


    His daughter was a concubine of the Crown Prince.


    Just not favored, that’s all.


    "Before the late Emperor passed away from illness, we attended to him, and he said, ’The ninth son’s white hair is an ill omen, his nature is vengeful, fearing he may bring chaos to Beiqi.’ Now it seems, the late Emperor had a premonition!"


    Imperial Censor Ma used the late Emperor’s remarks to attack Qi Wuya.


    Through his words, the other officials suddenly found grounds for their verbal and written attacks.


    "The villain is wicked, plotting against his father and brothers, obliterating his humanity!"


    "How can Beiqi be governed by such a person!"


    "Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, please eliminate this scourge, purge the poison!"


    ...


    They clamored for the death of Qi Wuya.


    Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently stirred, Xue Wen Zhan glanced at Zhang E.


    Zhang E caught his gaze and immediately shouted out, "Great Commander Zhang!"


    "Zhang Tai" immediately led troops rushing in.


    These soldiers stood in several rows, at least a thousand strong.


    With swords in hand, their murderous aura was intense, and their presence made the spacious hall feel oppressively small.


    The atmosphere grew tense.


    The officials fell silent as if chilled to the bone.


    At that time, Xue Wen Zhan barked, "Qi Wuya, if you admit your guilt, considering the toils and hardships during your tenure as acting ruler, with no contributions but plenty of hard work, I can spare your life."


    "Spare me?"


    Qi Wuya laughed, "Prime Minister Xue has quite the audacity! Is Beiqi now your, Xue Wen Zhan’s, domain?"


    Xue Wen Zhan: "..."


    He had misspoken.


    The excitement had gotten the better of him.


    He had called and beckoned in the imperial court for many years, but never had he felt as exhilarated as at this moment.


    The thrill of manipulating the court and deciding the fates of others was something he had never experienced in his many years as Prime Minister.


    "Qi Wuya, stop deflecting with irrelevant talk. You plotted against the late Emperor and harmed the heir, your sins are grievous, and today is the day you admit your guilt and are executed!"


    Saying this, Xue Wen Zhan looked toward "Zhang Tai," his eyes fierce, ready to give an order.


    Grand Tutor Zheng couldn’t stand it any longer and stepped forward to say, "Prime Minister Xue, you can’t convict the Ninth Prince based solely on the one-sided words of a palace attendant! It’s utterly absurd!"


    "Grand Tutor Zheng, watch your words!"


    Xue Wen Zhan, not expecting him to speak for Qi Wuya at this moment, retorted angrily, "The Crown Prince has been your student since childhood, you are like a father to him his whole life, yet you speak for his murderer! Grand Tutor Zheng, flattering him chills our hearts, and you have betrayed the trust the late Emperor placed in you! Think carefully, Grand Tutor Zheng, is it us who are absurd, or is it you?"


    "You all, you all—"


    Overcome with anger, Grand Tutor Zheng was nearly breathless, "In the royal family, it is better to bear wolves than sheep. Regardless of Ninth Prince’s nature, he now indeed has made contributions to the state and is the best successor to the throne. Prime Minister Xue, with Da He’s forces still looming outside Yongzhou City and the foreign threat not eliminated, killing a great general first is a huge taboo!"


    "So according to Grand Tutor Zheng, if the Ninth Prince can drive out Da He, he is a wise ruler? What a joke!"


    "Prime Minister, don’t twist my words. The evidence is insufficient; you can’t kill the Ninth Prince!"


    "Enough! Grand Tutor Zheng, you’ve grown senile!"


    Xue Wen Zhan, running out of patience, looked at "Zhang Tai" and ordered, "Great Commander Zhang, push aside Grand Tutor Zheng and kill Qi Wuya!"


    "Yes!"


    "Zhang Tai" obeyed the command, pulling Grand Tutor Zheng away, then signaled the soldiers to attack.


    In the next moment, several soldiers wielding long swords charged towards Qi Wuya at the head of the hall.


    However, before they could reach Qi Wuya, they were overtaken by several other soldiers who beheaded them.


    Blood splattered across the floor.


    The strong smell of blood confused the crowd: What was happening? Why did the soldiers kill the wrong person?


    What was even more baffling was that the soldiers began to fight each other.


    As the killing continued, the situation became clear.


    The soldiers were all dressed in black uniforms, but some tore off their outer layer, revealing black and red uniforms beneath.


    Clearly, these were soldiers from different factions.


    Xue Wen Zhan, witnessing this scene, was shocked, "Zhang Tai, what is happening?"


    "Zhang Tai" too appeared "panicked," "Quick, Prime Minister, we must go, Qi Wuya has secretly switched some of the Imperial Army!"


    Not only were the two factions fighting inside the hall, but the Imperial Army outside was also at odds.


    In an instant, the Imperial Palace turned into purgatory.


    "Someone help!"


    Xue Wen Zhan yelled in terror, "Qi Wuya is rebelling!"


    He had not expected Qi Wuya to have placed his own people within the Imperial Army, and judging from the situation, there were quite a few of them.


    "Zhang Tai" protected him as they retreated from the hall, making a show of shouting, "Protect the officials! Protect the officials!"


    His call for protection was actually a signal to kill those ministers who opposed Qi Wuya.


    "Save me!"


    "Don’t kill me!"


    "Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, help!"


    "Stay back!"


    "I was personally appointed by the late Emperor as Imperial Censor, you can’t—"


    ...


    Blood sprayed everywhere.


    One official after another fell dead.


    Zhang E had long joined the fray, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth clenched, fighting against Qi Wuya, "You planned all of this! Qi Wuya, the death of these officials today is your eternal sin! In future history books, you will be condemned for usurping and causing chaos—"


    "Governor Zhang, rather than worrying about this, you should be worrying about the fate of the Zhang Family!"


    Qi Wuya let out a scoff, flipped midair, his long sword dancing in his hands, moving like flowing water.


    Zhang E had not anticipated Qi Wuya’s martial arts skills and was forced to retreat several steps.


    Squinting, Qi Wuya took the chance to press the attack, "Anyway, whether it’s sin or merit, do you really think I care?"