Chapter 254 Decisive Battle 3

The horseshoes struck the bluestone floor in front of the palace, making a crisp and heart-pounding "clacking" sound.

King Wu rode his horse, step by step, slowly and oppressively crossing the threshold of the palace gate and entering the front yard of the Zichen Palace where riding was strictly prohibited.

It was not until his mount's front hooves were almost on the white marble steps of the main hall that he seemed to finally remember to maintain the last bit of hypocritical courtesy. He pulled the reins hard and then dismounted with the arrogance of a winner.

Then he raised his eyes and met Xiao Yuancheng's gaze who was standing on the steps.

The elderly emperor had to stand on three steps to look his eldest son in the eye, which was enough to show how weak he was.

"Father, you should know what I mean."

Xiao Yuancheng looked at the big knife in King Wu's hand that was still dripping with blood. His throat rolled violently, and anger flashed in his eyes, but in the end, fear took over.

He forced a smile and actually followed the excuse King Wu had made up, saying, "Good boy, thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I would have really been controlled by Xiao Yuluan."

But this sentence was too ridiculous. Xiao Yuancheng was standing at the door of the hall. His personal eunuch and the general of the Jinwu Guard were all there. On the contrary, Xiao Yuluan, who "controlled" him, was only surrounded by five or six servants.

Xiao Yuluan scoffed and slowly emerged from behind Xiao Yuancheng, her demeanor calm, as if she weren't in the middle of a tense palace coup, but simply stepping out of the hall to greet an ordinary visitor. Her presence formed a stark and glaring contrast with the panic-stricken emperor, who was practically cowering in a ball.

She didn't even look at the bloody sword of King Wu. Her eyes fell calmly on King Wu's face, which was distorted by ambition and killing, and she sighed in her heart.

"King Wu, do you think you can succeed to the throne in this way?"

King Wu sneered, "I'm here to slay this enchantress! As the Emperor's aunt, it would be much better for you to live a peaceful and honorable life as a princess. It's a pity you harbor rebellious ambitions, dreaming of roaming the night like a hen. I will not allow my father to be deceived and controlled by you."

Looking at the father and son, Xiao Yuluan sneered in her heart, but she knew that words were like swords at this moment, and she wanted to make every step she took justified.

Then, under King Wu's gaze, Xiao Yuluan walked to the palace gate, his eyes swept over all the soldiers present, and his clear voice pierced the night:

"Everyone, look! His Majesty is standing right here, unarmed, and the Jinwu Guards are still at His Majesty's disposal!"

Her tone darkened, awe-inspiring. "I came here solely to protect Your Majesty, to stand by His Majesty's side. Now, I've been slandered by the traitors as a 'witch', using it as an excuse for rebellion! Is this the 'cleansing of the imperial court' you seek?"

The soldiers below were silent. Everyone could see that she was wronged, but who could blame her for being just a woman without the protection of the army?

King Wu completely scoffed at these heart-piercing words, which were of no use in the face of strength.

He was too lazy to waste his breath on pretending, so he grinned, took out a roll of bright yellow silk from his arms, and threw it at Xiao Yuancheng's feet.

"Father," he said, his tone filled with unquestionable pressure, "you are already old and senile. I, your son, sympathize with you. Please abdicate and enjoy your old age!"

It turned out to be a pre-drafted abdication edict! The edict was neatly written, the language earnest. It recounted the emperor's age, illness, and inability to work, and his desire to abdicate to a virtuous prince. It left a glaring blank for the successor's name, requiring only the name to be filled in and the imperial seal affixed, and the usurpation would be "legitimately" complete!

Xiao Yuancheng didn't expect that this rebellious son had even drafted the abdication edict. Looking at the dark mass of rebel soldiers outside the palace, and then at the Jinwu Guards who had laid down their weapons beside him, Xiao Yuancheng could only grit his teeth and go into the palace with the imperial edict.

"Rebellious son... rebellious son..." He muttered to himself, tears streaming down his face, but he didn't dare to scold loudly.

The smile on King Wu's lips grew even brighter. He glanced at Xiao Yuluan, who looked icy beside him, and suddenly changed his mind about killing her immediately. He wanted her to witness the emperor personally write the edict to pass the throne to her, completely destroying her hope of seizing the throne.

"Please."

King Wu signaled Xiao Yuluan to follow him in, and Xiao Yuluan did not object.

Everyone just watched as Xiao Yuancheng staggered or hesitated as he walked to the imperial desk. His fingers trembled as he lifted the heavy imperial pen, but it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds and he couldn't put it down for a long time.

"emperor."

Xiao Yuluan reminded Xiao Yuancheng one last time: "When the bird is dead, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked. After writing this name, you will no longer be of any use."

These words were like an icy spike, piercing Xiao Yuancheng's heart. How could he not know this? Of course he didn't want to write! He was just stalling for time in desperation, hoping for a turnaround.

"Shut up!" King Wu first scolded Xiao Yuluan, then looked at Xiao Yuancheng and said softly: "After all, you are my father, how could I..."

At this moment, the sound of weapons suddenly rang out outside. Xiao Yuancheng's imperial brush fell onto the imperial edict with a "clack". He looked up suddenly, his eyes instantly bursting with ecstasy and hope of escaping a desperate situation!

King Wu's expression suddenly turned ferocious, "Father, do you think anyone will come to save you?!"

He could no longer suppress his violent temper, and suddenly rushed up the imperial steps. His strong arms tightly clamped Xiao Yuancheng's skinny neck like an iron clamp!

"Uh, uh..." Xiao Yuancheng was caught off guard. His eyes rolled back and a painful choking sound came from his throat. The imperial pen in his hand rolled to the ground.

"You old bastard! Write quickly!" King Wu's face was pressed against the emperor's terrified face, and his voice was squeezed out through his teeth, full of crazy murderous intent. "No matter who comes from outside, we will have to fight for at least a quarter of an hour! This quarter of an hour is enough for your son to see you off!"

He exerted force, and Xiao Yuancheng's face instantly turned purple. Extreme fear instantly overwhelmed Xiao Yuancheng! He clearly felt the cold touch of death. He had no doubt that this rebellious son would really strangle him to death in the next second!

"Write... I will write... I will write..." He squeezed out a broken plea for mercy from the depths of his throat.

King Wu then relaxed his grip slightly, but still threw the emperor in front of the imperial desk like a chicken, and pointed his bloody finger fiercely at the blank space: "Write quickly!"

Xiao Yuancheng was shaking like a sieve. Just as he was tremblingly picking up the pen to write, Xue Chen outside had already swept across the four directions with a long spear and quickly broke through to the gate of Zichen Palace.

When the Jinwu Guard general inside saw that it was Marquis Xue, his heart was ignited again. He suddenly broke free from the bonds of King Wu's men and shouted, "Marquis Xue, protect the king! My men, pick up your weapons!"

The Jinwu Guards had surrendered very suddenly because of Xiao Yuancheng's words just now, and they were already resentful. Now they took action immediately, attacking from both sides. In less than a quarter of an hour, Xue Hou had broken through the blockade and arrived at the palace gate.

Xiao Yuancheng inside had almost finished writing the imperial edict. King Wu had just grabbed the edict in his hand, and the twisted ecstasy on his face had not yet fully unfolded when he heard a crisp "ding" sound!

Xue Chen was covered in blood, his halberd still dripping with blood sticking to the ground. He stood at the door like a god of war, his roar shaking the palace beams. "Traitor! How dare you insult His Highness!!"