Chapter 95 Victory Banquet and Coup
With the Empress Dowager's order, the curtains that were originally used to block the view inside the Hall of Preserving Harmony were roughly torn down.
Hundreds of imperial guards, clad in golden armor and wielding sharp blades, surged out like a tide, instantly surrounding the area where Shen Jin and Jiang Mianmian were located.
The cold arrow gleamed with a ghostly blue light in the candlelight, clearly indicating that it had been coated with deadly poison.
"Your Majesty, don't blame me for being ruthless."
The Empress Dowager stood on the high platform, looking down at the two surrounded people, her eyes flashing with an almost manic pleasure. "If you have someone to blame, blame yourself for being too greedy! Not only did you seize control of the court, but you also allowed that witch to bewitch people!"
"Today, this Hall of Preserving Harmony will be your burial ground!"
"kill!"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and the assassins, without hesitation, roared in unison and charged forward with their swords raised.
The civil and military officials inside the hall were terrified, some hiding under tables, others feigning death. Only a few loyal and cautious generals tried to rush over to protect the emperor, but they were firmly blocked by the bodyguards on the outer perimeter.
The situation seemed to have reached a dead end.
Despite being at the center of the storm, Chen Jin remained seated, not even moving a muscle.
He simply sighed softly and turned his head to look at Jiang Mianmian beside him:
"Your Highness, are you afraid?"
Jiang Mianmian was still holding the unfinished chicken leg in her hand, blinking as she looked at the dense array of swords and knives around her.
【Afraid? 】
[Are you kidding me? I've seen this kind of scene countless times in the apocalypse! Isn't this just a zombie siege? Only the zombies have been replaced by people wielding knives.]
[And...you old hag, have you forgotten what I do for a living?]
I'm a wholesaler! And I'm a weapons wholesaler!
Jiang Mianmian threw away the chicken leg, patted the oil off her hands, and stood up from her chair.
“Your Highness,” she said with a smile, looking at Shen Jin, “since the Empress Dowager is so hospitable and has prepared such a grand occasion for us, shouldn’t we… return the favor?”
"For example... disinfecting this main hall?"
A hint of a smile flashed in Chen Jin's eyes.
"allow."
Having received approval, Jiang Mianmian's eyes sharpened, and she suddenly reached her hands into her wide sleeves.
[Come out! My powerful tear gas! And stun grenades too!]
Although our supplies are running low, it's more than enough to make these few hundred people cry for their parents!
Just as the lead assassin was only three steps away from them, and the blade was about to fall—
"Close your eyes!"
Jiang Mianmian shouted loudly.
Although Shen Jin didn't understand, out of absolute trust in her, he immediately closed his eyes and covered Jiang Mianmian's ears.
"Bang--!!!"
A loud bang exploded in the center of the hall.
Immediately afterwards, a beam of light a hundred times more dazzling than the sun burst forth, illuminating the entire Hall of Preserving Harmony in a ghastly white light!
"Ah—! My eyes!"
"I'm blind! I'm blind!"
Those assassins who stared directly at the bright light instantly let out shrill screams, covering their eyes and rolling on the ground, tears and snot streaming down their faces.
But that's not all.
"laugh--"
Several round objects rolled on the ground, spewing out thick white smoke.
That's not ordinary smoke; it's specially made tear gas, modified by Jiang Mianmian and infused with super capsaicin and mustard oil!
"Cough cough cough—!"
"Help! It's spicy! It's so spicy!"
"What kind of poisonous smoke is this? I'm going to die!"
Smoke quickly filled the air, and the once menacing assassins instantly turned into spineless cowards, only able to cough and shed tears. They dropped their weapons, scratched their throats, and had snot and tears all over their faces; they were utterly incapable of fighting.
Even the Empress Dowager on the high platform was choked by the smoke and coughed incessantly, her originally exquisite makeup instantly ruined, leaving her in a sorry state.
"Sorcery! This must be sorcery!"
The Empress Dowager screamed in terror, "Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor at once!"
However, her assassins are all on the ground looking for their mother right now.
In the smoke.
Shen Jin slowly opened his eyes. Although the air was a bit choking, he had already held his breath.
He looked at the enemy rolling on the ground, then glanced at Jiang Mianmian beside him, who was wearing a gas mask and holding a frying pan.
[Hehe, even without a gun, this frying pan is still a lifesaver!]
[Hey you! Don't run! Take this from Red Wolf's frying pan!]
Jiang Mianmian rushed into the smoke and gave the still-conscious assassins a good beating.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The crisp sound of metal clashing, accompanied by screams, echoed through the hall.
Shen Jin was also busy.
He drew his soft sword from his waist, his figure as swift as lightning, weaving through the chaotic crowd. With each flash of his sword, a warrior fell.
This is not a coup at all.
This was a one-sided, spicy... beating of a child.
A moment later.
The smoke gradually dissipated.
The main hall was filled with people lying haphazardly, their cries of agony rising and falling.
He calmly sheathed his longsword, his black robes spotless. He walked to the foot of the high platform and looked up at the Empress Dowager, who was slumped on the phoenix throne, trembling.
"Empress Dowager."
His deep, calm voice carried a suffocating pressure: "This is the...surprise you prepared for me?"
"You...you..."
The Empress Dowager pointed at him, her fingers trembling violently, "You are a devil! You are all devils!"
"devil?"
Jiang Mianmian walked over carrying a frying pan, took off her mask to reveal a fair and clean face, and said, "Your Majesty, this is called science. Oh no, this is called... divine punishment."
"Didn't you say I was a witch? It's reasonable for a witch to know some magic, right?"
[Old hag, are you dumbfounded now?]
Times have changed! Now it's the era of technological cultivation!
As the two men pressed closer, despair finally crept into the Empress Dowager's eyes.
Her biggest trump card, her meticulously planned killing scheme, was actually... broken like a joke?
"Help! Is anyone else here?"
Undeterred, the Empress Dowager cried out, "Where are the Imperial Guards? Where is Lei Zhen? Come quickly to my rescue!"
"Stop shouting."
Shen Jin coldly interrupted her, "Lei Zhen was transferred to guard the imperial mausoleum by me half a month ago. Now, guarding outside the palace are my Black Armor Army."
"You lost."
"A complete and utter defeat."
The Empress Dowager's body went limp, and she collapsed completely into the chair.
We lost.
We really lost.
Despite her cunning and scheming, she ultimately ended up being betrayed and abandoned by everyone.
Just as Shen Jin was about to order the Empress Dowager to be placed under house arrest, the young Emperor Shen Xingchen, who had been cowering in the corner of the dragon throne and too frightened to utter a sound by the scene just now, suddenly stood up.
He looked at the mess on the ground, at his arrogant uncle, and at his disheveled mother.
Suddenly, a hint of determination, incongruous with his age, flashed in those originally clear and innocent eyes.
"Royal Uncle".
Although Shen Xingchen's voice was still young, it sounded exceptionally clear in the silent hall.
"Could you... please not kill Mother?"
The entire room fell silent.
All eyes were on the eight-year-old emperor.
Shen Jin stopped and turned around to look at the child he had raised with his own hands.
“Your Majesty,” Shen Jin said calmly, “the Empress Dowager intends to rebel, and according to the law… she should be executed.”
"But……"
Shen Xingchen stepped down from the dragon throne and walked step by step to Shen Jin. Although his legs were trembling, he still raised his head and looked directly into Shen Jin's eyes:
"But...she is my mother."
"Imperial Uncle, I know that Mother made a mistake. But I... cannot live without Mother."
"I am willing... to exchange my throne for my mother's life!"
These words shocked the entire court.
Exchange it for the throne?
Has this young emperor gone mad?
Jiang Mianmian was also stunned.
[This brat... actually showed some filial piety in a crucial moment?]
[But...trading the throne for it? That doesn't seem like a good deal. If Shen Jin wanted to be emperor, he would have already done it. Why would he need you to give it up?]
Shen Jin looked at Shen Xingchen and remained silent for a long time.
In the child's eyes, he saw fear, he saw pleading, and he also saw... a sense of responsibility awakening.
He is no longer the child who only played with crickets and cried.
He began to learn... to protect the people he wanted to protect, like a man.
Even if that person is an utterly wicked sinner.
"good."
Shen Jin suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of relief and a hint of reassurance.
"I agree."
"Don't kill her."
Shen Xingchen's eyes lit up: "Really?"
"real."
Shen Jin nodded, "However... while the death penalty may be waived, punishment is inevitable. From this day forward, the Empress Dowager must be moved to the Cold Palace and shall never step out again. Furthermore... she shall no longer interfere in state affairs."
"Your Majesty, do you have any objections?"
No! No!
Shen Xingchen nodded frantically, tears welling up in her eyes, "Thank you, Imperial Uncle! Long live the Imperial Uncle!"
He rushed over, hugged Shen Jin's leg, and cried like a baby.
As the Empress Dowager watched this scene, looking at her son who had given up the throne to save her, her heart, which had been corrupted by power and riddled with holes, finally trembled violently.
She lost her empire.
But it seems... he won back his son?
A thrilling coup drama ultimately ended with the Empress Dowager's crushing defeat and the young emperor's awakening.
Shen Jin held Jiang Mianmian's hand and stood in the center of the hall, looking at the Empress Dowager being led away, and then at the young emperor wiping away his tears.
"Is it over?" Jiang Mianmian asked softly.
"Um."
Shen Jin gripped her hand tightly. "The matter in the palace... is over."
"Can we go home now?"
Jiang Mianmian yawned. [So sleepy...fighting is exhausting. I want to go back and take a bath, then sleep for three days and three nights wrapped in my silk quilt!]
Shen Jin looked at her lazy appearance with eyes full of doting affection.
"good."
"go home."
"Go back... and I'll make you a midnight snack."
"Really? I want teppanyaki!"
"As you wish."
The two walked out of the Hall of Preserving Harmony hand in hand, leaving behind the mess and the power struggles.
The moonlight, like water, illuminated their way home.
With her there, even the cold palace seemed to gain warmth.
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