Chapter 148 The victor is king, the loser is villain.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still inside the entire tent.
A deathly silence!
All the officials, whether they supported the King, the Third Prince's faction, or were neutral, were dumbfounded, as if they had been frozen in place.
Someone gasped, breaking the silence.
"Cheng...King Cheng..."
"How dare you kill...kill someone in front of the Emperor!?"
The emperor was furious. He abruptly rose from his dragon throne and pointed at Prince Cheng: "Chu Cong! You...you are insolent! How dare you openly commit violence in front of me?!"
The third prince also realized what was happening. A look of wild joy flashed across his eyes, which then turned into one of anger and heartbreak.
"Uncle! How could you be so heartless! To kill someone in front of the Emperor and all the officials to cover it up, you are acting out of a guilty conscience and fearing punishment!"
"Do you know that this act is tantamount to treason!"
King Cheng surveyed the crowd around him, then suddenly looked up at the sky and burst into wild laughter:
"Hahahaha..."
"Didn't you already convict me? Today, I'll kill these two treacherous dogs who framed me, so what?"
He carried his sword and walked step by step toward the main seat, his eyes burning with madness and a desperate determination.
"Since you are so unrighteous, then don't blame me for being unjust. This world belongs to the capable. Your Majesty, you have been in power for many years, but you have been indecisive and have trusted treacherous officials, which has led to the decline of the court!"
Today, it's time for someone else to sit on your throne.
After saying this, King Cheng suddenly pointed his sword at the emperor and roared with all his might, "I have rebelled!"
In an instant, at King Cheng's command, a dense sound of footsteps and the clanging of weapons and armor suddenly came from outside the tent.
Soon, the tent flap was lifted, and a large number of armored soldiers filed in, surrounding the emperor, officials, and others.
If you look closely, you'll see that these soldiers are divided into two groups, one of which is dressed as the Imperial Guard.
The other group consisted of private soldiers dressed in black, with fierce eyes. The leader, holding a steel knife, had a cold gaze and a scar on his brow bone. He was none other than Wang Hu, a trusted bodyguard of the Prince of Cheng.
Upon seeing this, the officials were terrified and turned deathly pale. Some of the more timid civil officials even trembled in their legs and could barely stand.
"King Cheng! You...you actually dare to rebel!"
"Chu Cong, you are utterly rebellious!"
Some officials spoke out in condemnation, but their voices were filled with fear.
King Cheng, carrying a blood-dripping longsword, walked step by step toward the throne above, a near-maniacal smile on his face.
It was as if years of forbearance and ambition were being completely unleashed at this moment.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"Isn't it all because you forced me to this? I've been plotting for this throne for years, all for this day."
He made no attempt to conceal his ambition, pointing his sword at the emperor: "Brother, if you know what's good for you, write your own abdication edict. Considering our brotherhood, I might spare your life and grant you a peaceful death, otherwise..."
He flicked the tip of his sword, the threat obvious.
"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!"
The Third Prince, Chu Yan, reacted swiftly, stepping in front of the Emperor and spreading his arms wide, displaying a loyal and courageous demeanor that showed he was terrified but still refused to step aside.
"You traitorous scoundrel, don't even think about harming my father! Otherwise, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
Shen Guangnian had already moved his feet, silently protecting the emperor behind him. Together with several loyal imperial guards, he firmly protected the emperor in the center, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
At this moment, an old minister saw Li Long, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and cried out in anguish:
"Commander Li, His Majesty has treated you well, granting you the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards to protect the palace. Now you are aiding and abetting the wicked, and are you also going to rebel with Prince Cheng?"
Li Long remained expressionless, simply drawing his sword slowly, giving his answer through his actions.
The Imperial Guards he led also drew their swords, their blades pointing outwards with a chilling gleam.
Upon seeing this, King Cheng laughed even more maniacally.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
"Brother, did you see that?"
King Cheng, sword in hand, approached step by step, a savage grin on his face, as if victory was assured.
"This is the will of the people, this is the power of the masses. You have been sitting on the throne for too long, and have long been abandoned by all. Now, will you write your abdication edict with dignity and hand over the throne to the capable, or... will you let your younger brother help you with dignity?"
After speaking, he glanced at the assembled officials, his tone carrying a mocking, cat-and-mouse tone:
"And you, those who know when to yield are the wise ones. Lay down your weapons now, kneel down and submit to me, and I may spare your lives out of consideration for our shared service in the same court. You will still enjoy wealth and honor in the future. Otherwise... this tent will be your burial ground!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Before the emperor could speak, the third prince, Chu Yan, let out a cold sneer:
"Uncle Wang, you're celebrating far too soon! Do you really think you can turn the tide and control the whole situation with this rabble under your command?"
King Cheng glared fiercely at Chu Yan, his eyes filled with contempt and resentment.
"Chu Yan, put away your hypocritical face. Others may not know what kind of person you are, but do you think I don't know? Bah!"
"I dare to take this step, and I fear neither your condemnation nor your criticism! History is always written by the victors. Once I ascend the throne, you traitors and rebels will be the ones forever condemned in history!"
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and suddenly pointed the tip of his sword at Chu Yan, "Moreover, don't think you can clear yourself of any involvement in framing the Crown Prince. Can you say that you had nothing to do with that hair-like needle?"
"You're making false accusations!" Chu Yan's eyes turned sinister and venomous, as if a cat had its tail stepped on.
"You're about to die and you still want to drag me down with you! Uncle, your conspiracy has been exposed. Stop talking nonsense and disrupting the morale of our army."
"Hmph! You know perfectly well whether it's nonsense or not!" King Cheng was too lazy to argue with him anymore; in his view, the outcome was already decided.
He raised his hand and waved to his soldiers: "Attack! Take down all of them for me. Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
He even gave Chu Yan a cold look: "My good nephew, if you have anything to say, save it for the King of Hell in the underworld."
However, after he gave the order, not a single member of the Imperial Guard made a move.
The anticipated scene of soldiers swarming forward did not occur.
The smile on King Cheng's face froze, and he turned around in astonishment to look at Li Long, the commander of the Imperial Guards.
"Commander Li, what are you waiting for?!" A bad feeling rose in King Cheng's heart.
Li Long didn't speak, but simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the Third Prince, saying, "This humble general has arrived late to save Your Majesty, and I beg Your Majesty, and the Third Prince, for your forgiveness!"
Upon hearing this, King Cheng's expression changed drastically, and he angrily rebuked Li Long.
"You, Li Long! How dare you betray me!"
After saying that, he quickly gave a wink to his trusted bodyguard, Wang Hu.
Wang Hu understood and immediately drew his sword, ready to charge at Li Long.
Before Wang Hu could take a step, Li Long, who had been standing still, suddenly moved like a ghost, his sword transforming into a silver lightning bolt, stabbing towards Wang Hu with precision and speed.
"puff!"
In the blink of an eye, when everyone looked again, Li Long's sword had already pierced Wang Hu's abdomen, directly piercing through his entire body!
This sudden turn of events completely stunned everyone.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com