Chapter 253: Chapter 252: God of SlaughterZhang E’s pupils dilated in shock at Wuya’s rhetoric.


    "Truly, a beast!"


    He spat out a curse, swinging his long sword even faster.


    But Wuya was faster than he was.


    After a dozen more exchanges,


    The two fought in disarray, each sustaining injuries.


    Wuya’s mourning clothes had changed color.


    Bloodied and with his crimson robe fluttering, he spun several times in the air and finally found an opening. He stepped on Zhang E’s shoulders and slid his sword across his neck in a flash.


    "Bang!"


    The sword from Zhang E’s hand fell to the ground.


    Afterward, his body heavily knelt down.


    A deep gash on his neck gushed blood.


    His eyes were still wide open, seemingly unable to believe this would be his end.


    "Governor Zhang—"


    He lowered his head, close to Zhang E’s ear, his laugh ghastly, "Now, the beast sends you on your way. In the netherworld, remember to accuse me before the Father Emperor."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, exerted force with both hands, and severed his head.


    The headless body fell to the ground.


    Wuya stood upright, stepping over corpses one after another, holding the bloody head in one hand and the blood-dripping long sword in the other, walking out of the Qingzheng Hall like a god of death.


    Outside the hall,


    The two sides were still fighting fiercely.


    Beneath the haphazardly fallen bodies were rivers of blood.


    Wuya stepped over the fresh blood and slowly raised the head in his hand, "Great Governor Zhang E and Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan plotted rebellion; now, one of the chief culprits has been killed by me. All who were coerced—if you lay down your weapons, your crimes will not be pursued."


    He didn’t want to massacre the Imperial Palace.


    As long as they complied obediently.


    The soldiers were indeed obedient, stunned upon seeing Zhang E’s head.


    Had their siege failed?


    What now?


    They looked at one another, uncertain.


    Some threw down their weapons.


    Once one led the way, the rest followed smoothly.


    The fighting ceased in an instant.


    The defeat was certain.


    "Ninth Prince, it was Xue Wen Zhan who forced me! I didn’t want to rebel! He was the one who coerced me! He has long harbored traitorous intentions, wanting to become Emperor!"


    Pretending to be "Zhang Tai," Han Chen was originally guarding Xue Wen Zhan; now, he shouted and thrust a sword toward him.


    Xue Wen Zhan had not expected a sword from his most trusted "Zhang Tai" from behind.


    He turned around, looking at him incredulously, "You, you—"


    "Zhang Tai" continued his pretense, voicing his hatred, "Prime Minister Xue, you’ve doomed my Zhang Family! You deserve to die!"


    As he spoke, he drew his long sword and knelt before Wuya, "Ninth Prince, please see clearly, I was deceived by Xue Wen Zhan! Ninth Prince, I have never harbored rebellious intentions!"


    "Bang!"


    The sound of Xue Wen Zhan’s body falling dead followed.


    His eyes wide open, he never knew who killed him until his death.


    Wuya couldn’t conveniently kill Xue Wen Zhan because he was the Prime Minister, the head of all officials. Even though he was the ringleader of the coup, he hadn’t been the first to draw a sword against him.


    But "Zhang Tai" could!


    "Zhang Tai" was his ally.


    He was killed by the hand of an ally.


    "Very well. Since you are not treacherous, then surrender yourself!"


    Wuya voiced his agreement.


    Hearing this, "Zhang Tai" immediately dropped his long sword.


    Then, he was seized by two soldiers and taken away.


    This journey was like truly swapping places with the real Zhang Tai.


    In the eyes of the world, the Great Commander of the Imperial Army, Zhang Tai, in collusion with Prime Minister Xue and Governor Zhang, committed rebellion. Later, Governor Zhang was killed by Qi Wuya, the Ninth Prince, recognizing his defeat, he killed Prime Minister Xue and surrendered.


    A man greedy for life and afraid of death, living a life of cowardly subservience.


    And who would care about the fate of such a contemptible person?


    "Criminal Xue Wen Zhan, Zhang E, you committed atrocities against the state, although you have been executed for your crimes, your families are also implicated. Guards—"


    Qi Wuya ordered with a stern voice, "Confiscate their properties, and as for their families and servants, regardless of gender, without age limit, execute them without question!"


    He was determined to eradicate them root and branch!


    He would not even spare children!


    Such an order... was truly cruel.


    "Ninth Prince, please reconsider—"


    Grandmaster Zheng, who had earlier spoken on behalf of Qi Wuya, was deliberately protected by "Zhang Tai" and hadn’t been hurt at all.


    But he wasn’t the kind to fear death. Seeing Qi Wuya deal with the Xue and Zhang families in such a manner, he couldn’t stand it, "Ninth Prince, Prime Minister Xue and Governor Zhang indeed did wrong, but their wives, daughters, and young children are innocent. Moreover, in Beiqi, there is no precedent for killing women and children."


    In his view, the main culprits had been eliminated; the disaster should not extend to the families.


    But he knew that Qi Wuya’s personal killing of Zhang E meant that he was irreconcilable with the Xue and Zhang families and was bound to eradicate them root and branch.


    And all he could do was plead for the lives of their wives and children, to secure them a sliver of hope.


    "If there is no such precedent, then I will set this precedent."


    Qi Wuya had a determined look in his eyes, and his intent to kill was unalterable.


    Seeing this, Grandmaster Zheng knelt down to persuade him, "Not long ago you said that as long as the ringleaders are killed by you, those who were coerced into following them and lay down their weapons would not be held accountable for their crimes. Ninth Prince, you are soon to be the future Monarch, and a Monarch’s word is his bond. I hope the Ninth Prince will extend grace beyond the law and deal leniently with the families of the Xue and Zhang clans."


    Qi Wuya was very displeased, his face grew cold as he countered, "Grandmaster just now said that it is better to have a child be a wolf than a sheep, so why now such feminine compassion?"


    Grandmaster Zheng shook his head, clasped his hands together, and implored earnestly, "Indeed, I said that, but Your Highness, though you have the heart of a tiger or a wolf, you should not lose the simplicity and kindness of a cow or a sheep. A true Monarch wields power without being controlled by it, only then can he be a wise ruler. Your Highness, please think it over."


    He was the instructor of the Crown Prince, always teaching him how to be a ruler.


    The Crown Prince was obstinate and disliked state affairs.


    Now that the new Emperor had arrived, he unconsciously took on the responsibility of a teacher once again.


    Regrettably, his earnest instructions fell on deaf ears -- one who didn’t like to listen, and another who wouldn’t.


    "Grandmaster Zheng, I have thought it over thrice already, you may step down."


    Qi Wuya was suppressing his anger, he waved his hand, not wanting to waste time with him.


    He still had to deal with subsequent matters, such as comforting the surviving Ministers, arranging for the positions left by the deceased Ministers, consolidating and reorganizing the Imperial Army...


    He was very busy, too busy to argue about such trivial matters.


    Grandmaster Zheng had not expected him to be so stubborn, and stubbornly advised, "Your Highness, the influence of the Xue and Zhang families is deeply rooted and intricate. Once uprooted, great chaos may ensue! Especially since you have not yet ascended to the throne, this order... is truly tyrannical and disadvantageous for you!"


    He felt that Qi Wuya had the potential to become a tyrant.


    He couldn’t allow him to continue down this path of tyranny.


    Qi Wuya was indeed a tyrant.


    Having just killed, he was still in a state of excitation from the bloodshed, and Grandmaster Zheng’s incessant chatter was nothing but a challenge to his self-control. sea??h thё ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He tightly gripped his long sword, barely resisting the urge to thrust it forward.


    "Grandmaster Zheng, do not force me to take harsher measures against you!"


    He was both warning and intimidating.


    Grandmaster Zheng bowed deeply, his words filled with a tragic tone, "If my death can prevent Your Highness from making a mistake, then I am willing to die."


    Qi Wuya: "..."


    Heh, such a fearless old man!


    In the midst of that chaos, he didn’t shout, didn’t hide, no, he did shout and call out, telling the soldiers to stop.


    Pathetically naive.


    Does he not realize that absolute power speaks the loudest?


    The two were at an impasse—


    "Your Highness—"


    A familiar voice called out.


    He turned at the sound to see Huo Dingyuan leading the imposing Huo Family Army.


    Huo Dingyuan arrived at the palace with perfect timing, witnessing many horrors along the way, yet his expression remained calm. Stopping ten steps away from Qi Wuya, he knelt down directly, "Your servant has come late to rescue, and I hope Your Highness will forgive me."


    His posture was one of submission.


    Qi Wuya was pleased with his understanding and said with a raised hand, "General Huo, please rise. Your being late is something I am very glad about."


    He implied that he was glad Huo Dingyuan had not been involved in the conflict.