Chapter 195: Palace Coup

In the Golden Palace, Prince Jing Xiao Xun took out the imperial edict of succession in front of everyone.

It was read out in public by the Grand Eunuch of Emperor Jing.

However, except for a few members of Prince Jing's party who knelt and submitted, none of the other ministers were convinced.

Right Prime Minister Teng Xian stepped out of the crowd and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, where is the emperor now? The dynasty has changed, but there is no news about the emperor and the crown prince. We don't know whether they are alive or dead. Who wrote this imperial edict? I'm sorry that I can't agree with such a ridiculous thing."

He was an old minister and highly respected. When he said this, most of the ministers nodded in agreement.

Prince Jing was too anxious.

It's like an arrow on a crossbow, not considering whether it's with the wind or against it, it just focuses on shooting towards the target, but in fact it has already missed the target.

However, Xiao Xun already had a countermeasure.

The imperial guards only obeyed the orders of Emperor Jing, so it was difficult for him to dispatch them. But he also had armored troops, and now all of them have been dispatched to the palace. When the imperial edict was announced today, Xiao Xun expected that it would not be peaceful.

Therefore, he was not annoyed at all by the right prime minister's rude words, but just gave a slight look to his subordinates.

The guards obeyed the order and stepped forward. Without waiting for Teng Xian to say another word, they raised their swords and slashed down, killing the veteran of three dynasties on the spot.

His passionate blood soaked into the cold golden bricks and flowed all over the ground.

There was total silence in the majestic palace.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden change.

Xiao Xun's eyebrows relaxed, his eyes were full of cruelty, he glanced around and asked calmly:

"Who else has objections?"

"If so, go underground with Prime Minister Teng to discuss it."

He was calm yet crazy, and his two cold words made everyone present feel a chill in their hearts.

Xiao Xun originally planned to go on a killing spree today. All those who disrespected him and did not obey him would be killed.

Apart from the word death, there is not much reason in this world. He doesn't want to be bound by those shitty etiquette and laws anymore, and doesn't want to listen to anyone talking to him about reason.

Everyone is afraid of death.

Kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Kill a few more and they will behave themselves.

But Xiao Xun underestimated the integrity of a minister. After he killed Prime Minister Teng on the spot, another man stood up and spoke with a voice like a bell:

"I have a different opinion."

It was Zhang Qian, the Zuodushi of the Censorate.

When Pei Jian was seriously injured that day, he was the one who snatched him from Lu Wensheng and took him to the Censorate for treatment.

He was usually smooth and tactful, and the one who could get along with everyone the best. But at this moment, he was full of righteousness, and looked directly at Xiao Xun and said, "The only difficulty in the history is death, but I am not afraid. I am only afraid that I will be ashamed of my ancestors in the Jing Dynasty after my death!"

"Prince Jing Xiaoxun is unfilial and unfraternal. He is not upright, and I will not obey him!"

After saying this, without waiting for Xiao Xun's signal, he turned around and bumped his head against the pillar of the hall to show his determination to die.

A muffled sound touched so many people's hearts!

This bloody battle inspired the integrity and passion of so many ministers!

Before Xiao Xun could threaten again, several officials stepped out and said, "I don't accept it."

"I don't accept it!"

"I have objections!"

Inside the hall, noises rang out from all directions simultaneously. Xiao Xun looked at everyone with a sinister gaze, like a poisonous snake crawling in the dark, with a chilling cruelty that made people's hair stand on end.

Yet no one was afraid.

The world is bright, the sun and the moon are shining, and what is being done is righteousness in the world!

More and more people are coming forward.

Xiao Xun was so angry that he was bloodthirsty. If one person died, it was death. If two people died, it was also death. Even if all the people in the hall were killed, what would it matter?

All those who live in the land are the king's subjects.

"Since you want to die so much, I will grant your wish!"

"Kill—"

The corners of his eyes were bloodshot as he uttered the word calmly.

Lu Wensheng stepped forward to persuade him, but was stopped by Xiao Xun coldly, "Master Lu, please save your energy. It is not your time to exert any effort yet."

The guards stepped forward with knives in hand, and just as the throne room was about to be splattered with blood, someone shouted:

"stop!"

Prince of Wei Xiao Ke and the commander of the imperial guards Geng Zhen led the imperial guards armed with weapons into the hall. For a moment, the sound of swords being unsheathed could be heard everywhere.

Xiao Xun narrowed his eyes and looked at the person who came. "Fourth brother?"

Xiao Ke was always very respectful to him, but now his face was cold, "You traitor Xiao Xun, why don't you just surrender!"

Xiao Xun sneered, "By you?"

Then he turned to Lu Wensheng. If he remembered correctly, his aunt who died young, Mrs. Fu Guogong, was Geng Zhen's daughter.

Lu Wensheng stood there, still looking as innocent as ever, and didn't seem surprised at all by the appearance of the imperial guards.

Xiao Xun's heart sank suddenly.

But now is not the time to worry about these things.

He stared at Xiao Ke and said to the guards behind him, "Kill him without mercy."

The entire imperial army was divided into two armies, the Southern Army and the Northern Army. The Southern Army guarded the palace, and the Northern Army guarded the capital.

The Imperial Guards obey only Your Majesty. Even Geng Zhen, the commander of the Imperial Guards, cannot command the Southern Army without orders.

Now that His Majesty's whereabouts are unknown, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as the legitimate heir, is not in the capital, Xiao Ke can only mobilize his own few soldiers.

The drink just now was just a show of strength.

It's just to delay time.

But soon, Xiao Ke's side began to show signs of decline.

Xiao Xun embezzled tens of millions of taels of silver from the Lianghuai Salt Lease, almost all of which was used to buy armor for his private army. How could his army be comparable to a mere few hundred government soldiers?

Xiao Ke was quickly defeated and captured.

Xiao Xun looked at his stupid brother and said sarcastically, "People often say that a biting dog doesn't bark. Fourth brother, you have been raised in Changle Palace since you were a child. The word ungrateful and treacherous is really about you, isn't it?"

Royal blood ties are already weak, let alone the struggle for imperial power.

Then he waved to his bodyguards and said casually, "Kill him."

Xiao Ke could never have expected that Xiao Xun had reached such a state of mental illness. He felt a little regretful and extremely anxious.

If his brother, the crown prince, doesn't show up, he will really lose his life today!

Seeing the cold light on the knife approaching him step by step, Xiao Ke couldn't help but yelled, "Father and the Crown Prince will not let you go! Xiao Xun, you traitor, stop dreaming!"

"Prince?"

"Are you talking about that sac?"

"You won't let me go?" Xiao Xun laughed out loud, "Where is he now?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, a steady and powerful voice sounded outside the hall:

"I am alone here."

Xiao Xun's smile froze on his face immediately.

Afterwards, Xiao Heng, escorted by a team of black-armored guards, slowly stepped into the main hall.

Next to him stood a young general in armor, looking majestic.