Knowing full well that now is not the right time, Cheng Liangshang has not yet brought back reinforcements capable of contending with Emperor Jing's power.
Their few men were stationed a dozen miles outside the city, awaiting orders.
Despite his tireless care and constant attention over the past few days, Yi Shangyun ultimately succumbed to her illness and passed away.
In this life, I have gained and lost those I never dared to hope for.
You finally gain something, only to lose it again.
At this moment, it seemed that for him, there was no greater tragedy in life.
Coupled with years of restraint and forbearance, which could no longer be relieved, the usually calm and reserved Xuan Yuanhan finally could no longer suppress his inner excitement and erupted.
The Western Qin imperial palace, now seemingly impregnable, was immediately summoned by Emperor Jing.
In an instant, hundreds of guards, already fully armed and ready, swarmed in.
Without the slightest hesitation, Emperor Jing immediately issued a solemn order: "The Prince of Qin intends to rebel. I now command you to execute him on the spot!"
Upon hearing this, Physician Yue and Zhang Zhiyuan exchanged startled glances.
Then, with a thud, they all rushed forward and knelt on the floor in front of Emperor Jing.
Zhang Zhiyuan spoke again, boldly pleading with Emperor Jing: "Your Majesty, please forgive His Highness Prince Qin! His Highness did not intend to speak disrespectfully to Your Majesty. It is because His Highness's Consort has just passed away, and His Highness is unable to accept this fact, therefore..."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing suddenly realized what was happening and turned his gaze towards the screen: "What did you say? She really has already..."
However, in an instant, the anger in his eyes not only did not subside in the slightest, but instead became much stronger.
So he first issued a series of orders: "You two useless pieces of trash, if you hadn't spoken, I would have almost forgotten about you. Guards, drag these two out and execute them. Sell all of Zhang Zhiyuan's family members in the imperial prison into slavery, and ban any male members from ever holding office in the court!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiyuan was so frightened that he repeatedly kowtowed heavily on the ground, begging, "Your Majesty, please spare my life! This sinful subject deserves to die a thousand deaths, but please, Your Majesty, consider that I have at least worked hard in the past, and spare my entire family..."
The force was so great that a large red swelling quickly appeared on his forehead, and it even bled.
Clearly, nothing he said at this point would be of any use.
Soon, one of the guards answered, "Yes!"
Seeing the four guards stride forward menacingly, Xuan Yuanhan swiftly stepped forward and drew the sword from one of the guards' waists.
He pulled the two people kneeling on the ground, who were already trembling with fear, to their feet and placed them behind his broad back.
Then, he glanced at the guards who were pouring into the hall and shouted sternly, "Let's see who dares to touch them today!"
Seeing that Xuan Yuanhan now possessed the same powerful aura he had shown countless times before, appearing on the battlefield one against a hundred, a single man holding the pass against ten thousand, everyone present was truly intimidated by his murderous intent and couldn't help but gradually retreat.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Jing immediately raised his voice and rebuked the guards, "What are you all doing? Quickly kill him for me!"
Upon hearing this, the guards stopped retreating and eagerly tried to step forward.
Xuanyuan Han was equally unyielding, his gaze flashing coldly as he glared at the crowd and roared, "Let's see who dares to step forward!"
In this situation, the atmosphere inside the hall became so tense that it was almost suffocating, and everyone held their breath.
Emperor Jing stared intently at the long sword in Xuan Yuanhan's hand, noticing how tightly he gripped it. A sudden thought struck him, and his gaze swept over the screen behind him.
Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, he slowly stepped back.
Until Xuanyuan Han spoke up: "Those who don't want to die, get out of here! I have no intention of pointing the tip of my sword at my brothers who fought alongside me on the battlefield, sharing life and death, and protecting our country."
The guards looked at each other, then began to retreat once again.
Just then, Emperor Jing actually carried out Yi Shangyun's corpse.
"King Qin, put down your sword! I advise you to give up the struggle and surrender obediently, otherwise, I will not leave her with a whole corpse today."
Upon hearing the sound, Xuanyuan Han turned around and looked in the direction from which it came.
She was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned around and stepped forward to stop him: "Put her down, I forbid you to touch her!"
Emperor Jing then curled his lips into a smile: "Give up. I told you, you can't beat me! All your men have already been sent to guard the border. Now you have no one left to use! Think about it, even if each of the soldiers in this hall only shoots one sword at you, it would be more than a hornet's nest compared to the thousands of holes on your body. If you're dead, how can you protect her?"
No sooner had the words left her lips than a familiar voice rang out from outside the hall: "My son, where is my son? I will not allow you to harm my son! My son..."
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xuan Yuanhan recognized it immediately: "It's my mother!"
So he hurriedly went to the sound: "Mother, I'm here!"
In an instant, the guards, numbering several hundred, split into two groups, making way for each other.
Xuanyuan Han then looked ahead and saw that Consort Chun was being held at swordpoint by a guard.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he roared furiously at him, "Release my mother!"
But the guard didn't move an inch, only focusing on gripping the sword against his neck.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Jing suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with another plan.
He made Xuanyuan Han make a choice: "Over the years, you should actually thank me. Even now, I have treated you quite well. Now your mother and your queen are both here, and you can be considered a family reunion. How about I give you a chance to choose between the two of them? I'll let you choose one. Which one would you choose? Would you choose a life that is still alive, or the whole body of a dead person?"
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han gritted his teeth in hatred.
He glanced in the direction of Consort Chun, then at Yi Shangyun in Emperor Jing's arms, and was utterly unable to make a choice: "You..."
Seeing Xuan Yuanhan in a dilemma, Consort Chun seemed to have already made up her mind.
She took a deep breath and spoke earnestly.
"My son, from the day I decided to return to the capital, I had long foreseen this day. In the end, it was I who dragged you down. Yet, I am also very gratified, because in my lifetime, I have seen my son and princess, after going through so many hardships, still so loving and trusting each other. In my son's eyes, there is no longer only endless coldness and loneliness, but the feelings of a normal man. I am truly happy! It's just a pity about that poor girl..."
When the topic of Yi Shangyun came up, Consort Chun choked up.
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Han seemed to realize something as well, his eyes instantly welling up with tears, and he felt extremely apologetic: "Mother, I'm sorry, it's all my fault for being incompetent, I'm useless, I failed to protect you, I was too late..."
Consort Chun shook her head, tears streaming down her face, and said with heartache in her eyes, "Never doubt yourself. Your son is the best man in the whole world. Do what you want to do, protect those you should protect. In this life, to have been your son, I am content! In the next life, let us be mother and son again!"
Finally, Consort Chun silently began to recite it by herself.
May our land be free from the smoke of gunpowder and the chaos of war!
May the people of Western Qin live in peace and prosperity, and enjoy a peaceful world!
This scene deeply moved and shocked even all the soldiers inside the hall.
Xuanyuan Han wept uncontrollably, shaking his head repeatedly, murmuring, "Mother, no, no, please don't..."
Sure enough, as soon as Consort Chun finished reciting, she bumped into the gleaming blade of the long sword in the hand of the guard who was binding her.
In an instant, blood stained his plain robe.
"Mother!"
"don't want!"
Xuanyuan Han's eyes widened in surprise, and he rushed towards her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
The imperial physician behind him could hardly believe his eyes and hurriedly followed, saying, "Your Highness..."
In her final moments, Consort Chun looked at her son's face, contorted with unbearable pain, and said on her deathbed.
"Don't cry!"
"Your mother can finally go to see your father, the Emperor."
"Mother should tell him that you have done very well all these years, my son!"
"You've always done a great job!"
"For the sake of Western Qin..."
"For the sake of the people..."
"For the people you love, and for the people who love you."
"You must live well."
"well……"
"Alive..."
After saying that, he closed his eyes completely.
Xuanyuan Han looked up and let out a deafening cry: "Mother!"
Its sound was so loud that it seemed to have spread throughout the entire palace, across the north and south of the country, and to every corner of this magnificent land.
After an unknown amount of time, Xuan Yuanhan handed Consort Chun over to Physician Yue, and then suddenly stood up slowly.
He walked straight up to Emperor Jing, and the calmness and anger in his eyes frightened the emperor, who quickly took two steps back.
At that time, several guards stepped forward to protect him.
Xuanyuan Han stepped forward, his gaze fixed solely on Yi Shangyun's body, and said in a cold voice, "Give her back to me!"
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jing spoke again in a highly provocative manner: "Do you think the game is over? I didn't say that if one dies, two will live."
Xuanyuan Han asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Emperor Jing said, "If you want to leave her with a complete corpse, then you should end your own life!"
"You..." Xuan Yuanhan really didn't expect that Emperor Jing would be so cunning and treacherous, but Yi Shangyun was already being held tightly by her, and there was no chance to snatch her away.
Emperor Jing urged repeatedly, "What, you're unwilling? Don't you love her very much? So, in the end, people are selfish, aren't they?"
After a moment's thought, Xuanyuan Han agreed, "Alright, I agree."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiyuan was shocked: "Your Highness, you mustn't! The Princess Consort is gone, and the Dowager Consort is also gone. Now, only the living are the most important!"
"She won't die!"
"I know she will not die."
"I only want her to live!"
Just as Xuanyuan Han raised his sword, held it high in the air, and was about to stab it into his left chest...
In the vast, silent hall, everyone held their breath and fell silent, but suddenly a faint voice rang out: "Stop!"
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