Chapter 275 Why Did We Lose?
Enraged, Zheng Wenkai grabbed Su Jingzhi and held a knife to his neck.
"Li Yuanzhao, listen to me! Withdraw your troops immediately, or I'll be the first to deal with Su Jingzhi! And none of the other important officials in the court will escape either!"
These people are the foundation and pillars of the court. If they die, the court will inevitably fall into paralysis and turmoil.
He didn't believe Li Yuanzhao would dare to take that risk!
The cold blade pressed against his skin, and Su Jingzhi trembled. He looked pleadingly at Li Yuanzhao and his daughter.
He's always been loyal to His Majesty; we must save him...
Su Qingci stepped forward and shouted towards the city wall, "Father, I know you are in danger at this moment, but I know even more that the greater good of the country is of paramount importance!"
"Zheng Wenkai is using your life to blackmail His Majesty, attempting to prolong his own life, but he is wrong! You have dedicated your life to serving the country, working tirelessly day and night..."
"If you die today for the sake of the nation, it will be a sacrifice for the country, an honor for the Su family, and your duty as a subject!"
Su Jingzhi's eyes flickered. His daughter actually wanted him to die a heroic death?
"Your daughter would never allow His Majesty to be coerced by that traitor Zheng Wenkai for her own selfish reasons!"
She then looked at Li Yuanzhao and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty! Please put the nation first, execute the traitors, and cleanse the court!"
These words resonated deeply, moving everyone present.
"What a wise and righteous Lord Su!"
"As expected of the first female official in the court, her integrity is truly admirable!"
The families of other officials also stepped forward and shouted, "Execute the traitors and cleanse the court!"
Ministers like Su Jingzhi and Minister Xiao were filled with despair, knowing that they probably couldn't escape today.
Some people were so scared that they wet their pants and cried and begged not to be killed!
Enraged by this display, Zheng Wenkai's eyes turned bloodshot, and his reason completely collapsed.
He raised his broadsword and slashed it down at Su Jingzhi's neck.
However, he didn't have enough strength and only managed to cut his back, causing blood to spurt out instantly.
Whether from fright or pain, Su Jingzhi let out a muffled groan and fainted on the spot.
Zheng Wenkai ignored him and pointed at Minister Xiao and more than ten other high-ranking officials, roaring, "Throw them all down! I want to see just how cold-blooded Li Yuanzhao can be!"
The soldiers were stunned by his madness. They carried the paralyzed officials to the edge of the city wall and pushed them off.
"Ah—" Screams rang out one after another as bodies slammed heavily onto the bluestone slabs, creating an extremely bloody scene.
The people below the city gate screamed in fright, and many turned their faces away, unable to look any longer.
But Li Yuanzhao didn't even blink as he looked at the corpses scattered on the ground. He simply turned to the side and asked the guard beside him in a calm voice, "How are the arrangements going?"
"Your Majesty, General Ru has already led the Imperial Guards to the side of the city wall. They are just waiting for the right moment to launch a surprise attack!" the guard replied in a low voice.
Li Yuanzhao immediately ordered, "No need to wait, let them take action."
Most of the people who deserved to die are already dead, so there's no need to keep watching Zheng Wenkai go crazy.
Zheng Wenkai then realized that Li Yuanshu was right; these sycophantic ministers posed no threat to Li Yuanzhao at all.
He suddenly remembered something and ordered, "Bring up the Fourth Princess, the Fifth Princess, and that witch doctor! Oh, and bring up a few dozen palace maids as well!"
Since she didn't care about the lives of powerful officials, what about her blood relatives, confidants, and the women who had served her?
The fourth and fifth princesses were still young. They were roughly pushed to the front of the battlements. As soon as they saw Li Yuanzhao downstairs, they burst into tears and cried out, "Sister, save us!"
The dozens of palace maids had never seen such a scene before. Looking at the corpses lying downstairs, they were terrified and huddled together, sobbing.
Among the crowd, only Xiaolingdang remained unfazed. She looked at Li Yuanzhao from afar and even returned a calm smile, as if she had long since disregarded life and death.
This time, Li Yuanzhao finally frowned.
Su Qingci, standing to the side, also looked at Li Yuanzhao with a worried expression.
Those ministers deserved to die, but the Fourth and Fifth Princesses were of royal blood, and the palace maids were even more innocent.
If I were to die a tragic death today, Your Majesty would surely be devastated…
Zheng Wenkai took in Li Yuanzhao's subtle reaction, and a twisted smile finally appeared on his face.
He made the right bet.
On the city wall, Li Yuanshu's gaze suddenly froze.
She immediately recognized the maid who had secretly brought her food when she was imprisoned among those pushed to the front row.
She was squeezed at the very front, trembling with fear, her face pale. She watched as Long Wujun next to her raised his hand, about to push her off the stairs!
"Stop!" Li Yuanshu rushed forward, grabbed Zheng Wenkai's arm, and frowned as he advised, "They're just insignificant palace maids, killing them won't do any good..."
"Useless?" Zheng Wenkai shoved Li Yuanshu aside. "As long as Li Yuanzhao suffers, that's enough! I want to show her that this emperor is nothing but a useless piece of trash who can't even protect his own family and people!"
Meanwhile, Ru Mo had already led the Imperial Guards up to the side of the city wall, and dozens of archers instantly drew their longbows, their arrows all aimed at Zheng Wenkai!
At her command, Zheng Wenkai could die on the spot!
"Take them..." Zheng Wenkai's words had barely left his mouth.
Standing beside him, Li Yuanshu's eyes flashed with a cold light. Without warning, he pulled out the gold hairpin from his hair and, with all his might, plunged it into his throat!
"Uh!" Zheng Wenkai's body jolted violently, and his movements froze instantly.
He turned his head with difficulty, looking incredulously at the woman he had always regarded as a pawn, his eyes filled with horror and bewilderment.
Li Yuanshu showed no mercy, increasing the force in his hand, even gripping the hairpin handle and twisting it violently through the flesh.
She leaned close to his face, contorted with pain, and asked, "Do you know why you lost?"
Zheng Wenkai's pupils dilated from the excruciating pain and blood loss, the madness faded, leaving only the fear of impending death and deep confusion.
“Because from the bottom of your heart,” Li Yuanshu said, his tone full of sarcasm, “you despise women!”
She blinked and continued softly, "How can a fool who doesn't even know where his opponent is from the start possibly beat them?"
"Heh...heh..." Zheng Wenkai made a sound like a broken bellows in his throat, as if he wanted to say something, but could only make meaningless hissing noises and could not utter another word.
Li Yuanshu suddenly pulled out the hairpin, and a spurt of blood gushed out, splattering all over her face and body.
She nonchalantly wiped away the drops of blood that had splattered on her lips, coldly watching Zheng Wenkai slump to the ground like a lump of mud.
"So... rather than watching you continue to commit evil deeds, I'd rather send you on your way!"
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