Night had fallen, and the banquet at the Marquis of Anle's residence had come to an end.
Many guests realized something was wrong and began to tentatively ask to leave.
However, they were all stopped.
"Something's happened! Something really has happened!"
"The Chen family has ulterior motives!"
"Are we all being held hostage by the Chen family?"
"But we are just ordinary officials, without soldiers or power. What use would it be to arrest us?"
"That's right! Even if we want to control the court, we should target the powerful figures in the Council of State and the Three Departments and Six Ministries!"
The guests, realizing what was happening, huddled together in small groups, whispering and discussing the matter anxiously.
"Why aren't there any dignitaries? Look at the one at the very front, isn't that the most esteemed relative of the imperial family in our Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Someone pointed to Xie Zhen, who was being held by Chen Fuli, and suddenly realized that there was another real powerful figure present.
Well, the little guy is not very old and not very tall, but if the sky really collapses, he will be the first one to be hit—Empress Xie's only younger brother, the brother-in-law who was raised as a son by the emperor!
It is estimated that in the hearts of the Emperor and Empress, this person's importance was no less than that of a true member of the imperial family!
With him around, everyone seemed less afraid.
Xie Zhen: ...Hehe, whatever makes you happy!
The little girl has exquisite features and an extraordinary temperament.
His fair and delicate face was tense, and his eyes were full of coldness: "Cousin, what do you mean by this?"
"Ah Zhen, I meant well!"
"Good intentions? You won't let me leave after curfew? Is this what you call good intentions?" Chen Fuli actually had the nerve to say he had good intentions when he was practically holding a knife to my neck.
“Ah Zhen, you’re still young, you don’t understand!” Chen Fuli said with a disgusting “I’m doing this for your own good” attitude.
Xie Zhen sneered, "You're a wolf in sheep's clothing, with ulterior motives. Chen Fuli, I advise you not to play with fire!"
Xie Zhen is precocious despite her young age, possessing intelligence and maturity beyond her years.
He looked coldly at Chen Fuli, "For your mother's sake, I'll give you one more piece of advice: pull back from the brink and don't seek your own death!"
It is said that Xie Zhen went to Lingnan with her elder sister and brother-in-law when she was three years old.
Despite the arduous journey and bumpy roads... well, with an all-powerful older sister, Xie Zhen didn't suffer too much hardship.
However, after arriving in Yuezhou, Xie Zhen witnessed firsthand how her elder sister and brother-in-law were making waves in Lingnan.
Xie Zhen had seen countless plays like "inviting the enemy into a jar" or "catching a turtle in a jar."
Thinking you had the upper hand and that your scheme had succeeded... But Cui Boyong, Xie Ze, the eight powerful clans, and others underground will tell you: You're dreaming!
Xie Zhen was still willing to advise Chen Fuli at this time, truly out of consideration for their kinship and for the sake of her deceased birth mother.
Unfortunately, honest advice is always hard to hear.
Those who are self-righteous will not listen to advice.
"What do you mean by courting death! I'm taking back the empire that belongs to the Chen family!"
Having served as the heir apparent to the Marquis of Anle for several years, Chen Fuli never forgot his identity: the Crown Prince of the Southern Dynasty!
This world should rightfully belong to the Chen family.
Now, he has simply taken it back!
As Chen Fuli thought this way, he felt even more justified.
Snap!
He grabbed the teacup and smashed it on the ground.
The shrill sound instantly silenced the noisy banquet.
Chen Fuli leaped onto a nearby table.
Whoosh!
He drew the horizontal sword from his waist, its blade piercing the sky:
"Gentlemen, please listen to me!"
"Helian Hu barbarians disregarded etiquette and law, stole the imperial artifacts, and dominated the world."
“My Chen family is the legitimate successor of the Central Plains and should rightfully become the ruler of the world.”
"The tyrant Helian Jue is critically ill, and the wicked Empress Xie has committed suicide for love. This is truly the will of Heaven."
"Our Chen family, in accordance with the will of Heaven, wishes to restore order and reclaim the Han dynasty's land. You are also descendants of the Han people, and you should join me in this cause..."
Chen Fuli spoke passionately, even going so far as to bring up the fact that the Helian clan were Xianbei.
Actually, upon closer examination, his statement is not entirely rigorous.
After the Northern Dynasties took control of the Central Plains, successive dynasties underwent varying degrees of Sinicization.
They studied Han classics, adopted Han surnames, and wore Han clothing... Over the course of one or two hundred years, they have long been integrated into Han culture.
They are no longer the grassland tribes of the past, but have Confucianism ingrained in their very being.
Not to mention the intermarriages and integrations over the years, there are no longer any absolute ethnic divisions.
Chen Fuli's use of "orthodoxy" as a pretext is less effective than simply stating his desire for revenge and restoration of the nation.
His remarks failed to resonate with those present.
Xie Zhen, according to his place of origin and surname, was a true member of the Southern Dynasties aristocratic family.
But he had already accepted the idea of unifying the world.
She also accepted what her sister told her about “cultural identity” – as long as you identify with the culture of the Celestial Empire and consider yourself a Chinese, then you are one of us!
There's no need to categorize based on region, surname, or anything like that!
Chen Fuli's words will probably only persuade himself and a few old-fashioned people!
Therefore, after his impassioned speech, apart from a few scattered voices of agreement, there was mostly silence.
"Traitorous scoundrel! Chen Fuli, no matter how eloquently you speak, you cannot conceal your wolfish ambitions!"
"That's right! The Emperor is wise, and the Empress is magnanimous; they will surely turn misfortune into good fortune and avert disaster!"
"Chen Fuli, you despicable man! You think you can achieve your ambitions by capturing us? Dream on!"
"Yes! There are still 20,000 troops outside the city. With just one order, they will enter the capital to quell the rebellion!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
