Chapter 196 Smashing the Cup as a Signal
Upon hearing this, Cui Shiliang's eyes widened in surprise.
Is Li Yuanzhao just stirring up trouble? Is he deliberately adding fuel to the fire?
“Minister Cui,” Li Ye nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Cui Shiliang, “Since Yuan Zhao has already agreed, you no longer need to refuse. This marriage is settled.”
Cui Shiliang opened his mouth, as if to say something, but swallowed the words back.
He remained silent for a moment, then finally kowtowed and said, "Your subject... obeys the decree."
He suddenly realized that this marriage agreement was nothing at all.
After tonight, he and Li Yuanzhao will face life and death respectively. At that time, what will be the point of their marriage agreement?
Li Ye then burst into laughter with satisfaction.
Li Yuanzhao stood up and walked to the throne. He took the wine pot from the maid and naturally filled Li Ye's wine cup.
Then, she raised the crystal glass in her hand and said, "This glass of wine is for my father, thanking him for his hard work in finding me the perfect husband."
Seeing this scene, Cui Shiliang and Cui Yunyi instantly tensed up.
They've arrived!
It seems that Su Qingci's words were true; Li Yuanzhao really did intend to poison the emperor during the toasting ceremony at the banquet.
Then, by smashing a cup as a signal, the female soldiers of the Imperial Guard disguised as dancers would take up their swords to control the officials and take control of the Linde Hall.
Finally, the Imperial Guards, who had already dealt with the guards outside the palace, would rush in and slaughter all of Cui's followers and all those who resisted.
At that time, she will be able to ascend the throne in a legitimate and respectable manner.
Unfortunately, she didn't know that, like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, they were waiting for her to make her move.
Li Ye smiled and raised the golden cup, his eyes full of satisfaction.
"Now that your marriage is settled, I can finally put my mind at ease. With someone you love by your side, I can finally rest assured."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the amber-colored liquid in his glass in one gulp.
But as soon as the wine entered his throat, he suddenly felt as if he had choked on something, clutching his chest and coughing violently.
His face instantly turned from pale to bluish-purple, as if he was about to run out of breath.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Xu was so frightened that he rushed forward, gently patting Li Ye's back to help him catch his breath, while shouting loudly, "Summon the imperial physician!"
The guests in the hall were instantly flustered and all stood up to look in the direction of the throne.
Just then, a sharp "clang" suddenly rang out.
The crystal cup in Li Yuanzhao's hand suddenly crashed to the ground, and shattered porcelain shards scattered everywhere.
The sound was particularly jarring in the hall, instantly drawing everyone's attention to her.
The next moment, something even more astonishing happened.
The dozens of dancers who were spinning and dancing in the hall suddenly stopped, reached out and tore off their wide white moon-flower skirts, revealing their black military uniforms underneath.
They swiftly drew a gleaming silver sword from their boots, quickly changed formation, and pointed the sword tip directly at the seated guests.
The officials looked at each other, completely bewildered.
After exchanging a glance, Cui Shiliang and Cui Yunyi suddenly stood up from their seats and, without waiting for the right moment, pointed at Li Yuanzhao and shouted loudly.
"Li Yuanzhao! You have just been bestowed the title of Princess Tiance Zhenguo by His Majesty, deeply indebted to the Emperor, yet you harbor wolfish ambitions and show no gratitude, daring to poison your sovereign and commit this heinous act!!"
Only after these words were spoken did everyone realize what was happening.
What? Is this actually a coup?
Although it is New Year's Eve banquet today, there are no guards in the main hall, only guards are on duty outside the hall.
But how could a mere few dozen people dare to attempt a coup?
That doesn't make sense, does it?
Everyone instinctively looked towards the palace gate, waiting for the guards outside to rush in and protect the emperor upon hearing the commotion.
But after a short while, it remained quiet outside the hall, without even the sound of footsteps.
Only then did many people realize that something was wrong, and they all looked at the eldest princess on the high platform.
Is she really planning to force the emperor to abdicate and rebel?
Was the area outside the palace already surrounded by her people?
Panic began to spread.
Some timid officials even tried to run away when no one was looking, while others were so frightened that they huddled behind their seats.
Many officials remained seated, their eyes darting back and forth between Cui Shiliang and Li Yuanzhao, clearly observing the situation and wondering what would happen next.
Everyone's attention was drawn away, and no one even paid attention to the emperor, who was still coughing terribly.
After rebuking Li Yuanzhao, Cui Shiliang turned to face the terrified officials and raised his arms in a shout.
"Fellow colleagues! Today, Li Yuanzhao has publicly rebelled, a crime that cannot be tolerated by Heaven and Earth! All loyal ministers of our Great Qi shall swear to protect the Emperor with their lives, punish the traitors, safeguard our country and its people, and uphold the laws and order of our dynasty!"
He shouted as he looked toward the entrance of the main hall.
As planned, at this moment, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard named Ru Mo led his men in.
Once the Imperial Guards arrive, Li Yuanzhao's rebellion will be definitively confirmed.
After Cui Shiliang finished reciting his prepared lines, he looked at Li Yuanzhao standing on the high platform.
Li Yuanzhao remained standing there, a faint smile playing on his lips, showing no sign of taking any action.
The female soldiers in the arena looked bewildered and sheathed their swords, failing to use them to hold the crowd hostage as planned.
He panicked instantly!
Something's not right!
Li Yuanzhao shouldn't have reacted this way.
Just then, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall, and the sound of armor clashing was particularly clear.
Cui Shiliang's tense body suddenly relaxed, his eyes lit up instantly, and he almost immediately turned to look at the palace gate.
Feng Deshun led a small team of Dragon Guards into the hall and lined up at the entrance.
The longsword was drawn, its tip pointing directly at the crowd.
Cui Shiliang looked at Feng Deshun in disbelief.
How come his people arrived first?
Wasn't the plan to have him wait for the signal, until Li Yuanzhao's Imperial Guards thought they had victory in their grasp, before making a move?
Because the palace was heavily guarded and the palace gates were strictly guarded, it was not possible to mobilize a large number of troops rashly.
According to the "intelligence" that Cui Shiliang obtained from Su Qingci, Li Yuanzhao only arranged for one hundred elite soldiers of the Jinwu Guard to enter the palace.
Although the number of people may seem small, this is not a war. As long as they can take control of the civil and military officials by surprise, kill the emperor, and take control of the entire palace, the "coup" will be successful.
Having a large number of people could actually increase the risk of premature exposure.
Moreover, after learning of Li Yuanzhao's plan, they were even more cautious than Li Yuanzhao and arranged for three hundred soldiers.
In Cui Shiliang's view, three hundred men against one hundred, plus Feng Deshun's bravery, were enough to kill Li Yuanzhao on the spot and completely control the entire palace.
Now, the whereabouts of those one hundred Golden Guards are unknown.
The three hundred soldiers of the Dragon Guard were preparing to march in the Linde Hall. Facing the dozens of frail female soldiers in the hall, it really looked as if they had planned a rebellion all along.
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