He also believed that a woman should not be emperor, as it was a great taboo for a hen to crow at dawn.
He recalled that morning at court when the Empress publicly reprimanded him for his poor performance, causing him to lose face.
He still vividly remembers that humiliation.
Liu An took a deep breath and placed the inkstone heavily back on the table.
"Someone come here!"
A man dressed in black appeared in the study like a ghost, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a low voice:
"What are your orders, sir?"
"Tell the brothers outside the city to prepare themselves. We will strike at midnight tonight!"
Liu An's voice was cold and hard, without the slightest hesitation.
The man in black took his orders and left, and the study fell silent once more.
Liu An walked to the window, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, but his heart was filled with darkness.
He knew that once he took this step, there would be no turning back.
Either achieve great success and rule the world;
Either you will be utterly disgraced and ruined forever.
The capital city, this majestic city.
At this moment, it is like a huge cage, trapping everyone inside.
Several years ago, the late emperor passed away.
The beast's claws—the 100,000 Imperial Guards—were also torn to pieces.
Empress Chen Qingwan went to great lengths to wrest back 30,000 troops from these old foxes and formed the Imperial Guard.
The remaining 70,000 were scattered among various factions.
The largest piece of it was firmly in Liu An's hands.
In recent years, Liu An has repeatedly used the excuse of insufficient military strength.
By continuously expanding its power, the Imperial Guard now numbers over 100,000.
Chen Qingwan, however, remained oblivious, indulging in her dream of becoming a peaceful empress.
The contempt in Liu An's eyes grew even stronger.
"Little girl, it's time you learned who this Great Tong empire ultimately belongs to!"
As midnight approached, Liu An got up, walked to the window, and opened it.
A gust of cold wind swept in, making his robes flutter loudly.
He gazed at the bright moon hanging in the night sky, his heart filled with boundless pride.
After tonight, he will become the true ruler of the Great Tong Dynasty!
Meanwhile, inside the palace.
Inside Chen Qingwan's palace, the atmosphere was completely different.
She was certainly aware of Liu An's actions.
The secret guards planted around Liu An continuously relayed messages back to the palace.
Tonight, this seemingly peaceful palace is actually rife with undercurrents.
"Liu An, what audacity!"
Chen Qingwan said through gritted teeth, her chest heaving violently.
She never expected that Liu An would be so bold as to openly rebel right under the emperor's nose!
"Yang Wei!" Chen Qingwan shouted sternly.
A man in armor entered in response, kneeling on one knee. "Your subordinate is here!"
"You lead the remaining 10,000 Imperial Guards to defend the capital to the death. I will personally ascend the city wall!"
Chen Qingwan's tone left no room for argument.
Yang Wei looked up, a hint of worry in his eyes:
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! The capital's military strength is insufficient right now, if you..."
"No need for further words!" Chen Qingwan interrupted him.
"My mind is made up! Prepare immediately!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
"I believe you,"
Chen Qingwan's voice trembled slightly, but remained firm.
"Go."
Yang Wei stood up, bowed deeply to Chen Qingwan, and turned to leave.
His eyes were filled with determination; this battle was a fight with a slim chance of survival.
But for the Empress, for Da Tong, we must fight to the death!
His back was upright and firm, like a pine tree that stands tall and unyielding in the wind and rain.
Chen Qingwan watched his departing figure, silently praying that this storm would pass.
The Great Tong Dynasty may still see the dawn of a new era.
The trees outside the palace rustled in the wind, adding to the tense atmosphere.
Yang Wei walked out of the palace, looked up at the night sky, and took a deep breath.
He strode towards the drill ground, summoned the Imperial Guards, and began to set up defenses.
He knew that tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Inside and outside the palace, the lights were bright and people were bustling about.
The atmosphere was so tense, like a taut string that could snap at any moment.
The palace maids and eunuchs hurried along, their faces filled with barely concealed panic.
Only Qiao'er remained by Chen Qingwan's side, never leaving her side.
His gaze was firm, like an insurmountable fortress.
Standing on the city wall, Chen Qingwan looked down at the brightly lit capital city, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She remembered her father's dying words.
He recalled all the hardships he had endured since ascending the throne, and he remembered Lu Yan's face with a mocking smile.
“Lu Yan…”
She murmured softly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
At this moment, she was no longer the high and mighty empress.
She was a delicate woman who longed for a shoulder to lean on.
As dawn broke, the streets of the capital were deserted, an eerie silence enveloping the entire city.
At only the four city gates, shouts of battle shook the heavens, flames soared into the sky, and the Imperial Guards and the rebels were engaged in a fierce battle.
"Quick! Hold them off! Don't let them open the city gates!"
Yang Wei roared, brandishing his long sword, blood splattering all over his face, but he was completely unaware.
He knew that once the city gates fell...
The capital will fall, and he and the Empress will both die without a burial place.
"General! The south gate has been breached!"
"General! The north gate has also been breached! They have too many of them!"
One bad news after another came like a series of thunderclaps, making Yang Wei's scalp tingle.
"Send the signal! Notify His Majesty to leave the palace! Quickly!"
He roared at the top of his lungs, his voice hoarse as a broken gong.
A dazzling firework shot into the sky, piercing the darkness of dawn.
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