Chapter 98 Palace Coup
As the first rays of morning light shone on Zhuque Street, the thousands of residents of Chang'an City awoke from their sleep, only to be startled by the stench of blood that permeated the air.
Inside a house in the alley, an elderly man pushed open his door and saw a bloodied male corpse lying on the steps outside. He was so frightened that he almost fainted. Trembling, he closed the door tightly and hid in the inner room.
The woman who was baking bread inside asked in confusion, "Father, why are you back again?"
The old man pointed shakily to the door and said, "They're fighting again..."
In a daze, he seemed to return to that morning more than twenty years ago.
At that time, Chang'an was also in chaos due to war, and was regarded as a chessboard and a sandbox by the late emperor's sons.
The woman, over fifty years old, had naturally experienced that political upheaval herself. Hearing the word "again," she instantly recalled some unpleasant scenes. Her face paled, she threw down the spatula, and hurriedly went out to lock the door.
While busy, she called out to the inner room, "Young master, come quickly and lend a hand! Move that water vat from the yard over to block the door!"
…
Upon receiving the news, Liang Yuanjun hurriedly led her guards to Fengyi Palace.
Separated by a screen, the emperor lay asleep on his couch, while Zhang Zhuoyan sat blankly at the table, guarded by two female officials skilled in martial arts.
Yang Leyi said with a solemn expression, "The Prince of Qin's men ambushed and killed the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards at night, and then attempted to assassinate a court official on the official road at dawn. At this moment, there is chaos outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, and the officials who came to court to report for duty are all so frightened that they have gone home."
Outside the hall, a palace attendant trotted in, shouting loudly, "Your Highness! The Prince of Qin... he has led his troops to surround Xuanwu Gate!"
The Empress calmly stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "How many men did he bring?"
The eunuch said, "There are at least five thousand men under the Xuanwu Gate at this moment, and reinforcements are on their way!"
Liang Yuanjun made a decisive decision and ordered: "Send word that one thousand imperial guards remain at the Vermilion Bird Gate to control the situation, and transfer the rest of the troops to the Black Tortoise Gate."
The eunuch hurriedly said, "The Marquis of Pingyan thought the same thing, and he has already led men to provide support."
"Okay, go ahead."
Liang Yuanjun dismissed the eunuchs and turned to Yang Leyi, asking, "Did Yu Mingshu enter the palace today?"
Yang Leyi nodded and said, "The city is full of the King of Qin's rebel army, so she shouldn't be able to get in."
Liang Yuanjun frowned slightly. "The palace has been short-handed lately, and she has no guards by her side. I'm afraid she might have been taken away by the Prince of Qin's men..."
The Empress's phoenix eyes narrowed. "At a time like this, you still have the mind to worry about her safety?"
Liang Yuanjun turned and exchanged a glance with her mother, then shook her head. "I'm worried that the King of Qin will use her as a hostage to blackmail He Zheng."
"What are you afraid of? He has hostages, don't we?"
The Empress gave a gesture, and the female official escorted Zhang Zhuoyan to the front of the palace.
“Lady Zhang, I know you have never participated in the rebellion, and you have no desire to serve His Majesty in the palace. Since the Prince of Qin is plotting a rebellion, I will make a promise to you here, considering your past kindness to His Majesty. As long as the Prince of Qin repents in time, confesses his crimes, and submits to the law, I will not take his life.”
Zhang Zhuoyan said with a wry smile, "I can't persuade him."
The Empress remained silent for a moment, then instructed a female official to write a letter of persuasion to surrender and place it in front of her. "You only need to sign and affix your seal; whether he listens to the advice or not is his own business."
Zhang Zhuoyan stared at the black and white words on the paper in front of her. Under the fierce gaze of the female official, she picked up the pen, signed her name, and then pressed her fingerprint.
…
At Xuanwu Gate, the eunuch loudly read out the entire confession and then handed the letter to He Zheng.
He Zheng drew his bow and nocked an arrow, sending the original confession to the Qin King's army. With perfect aim, he nailed the letter to the muddy ground beside the Qin King's horse.
"Consort Zhang has confessed! It's not too late for you all to repent and surrender!"
Fu Chongyang pulled the arrow from the ground, took the letter, and his expression immediately turned panicked.
"Your Highness, this is indeed the Imperial Concubine's handwriting and fingerprint..."
Zhang Jinghua snatched the letter and said, "The Imperial Concubine is in the West Garden and is under our control. How could she possibly write a confession to the Empress! The Empress is cunning, and this confession is most likely a forgery by them. Your Highness must not believe it!"
Liang Yuanyi's gaze shifted between Fu Chongyang and Zhang Jinghua, a sense of doubt rising in his heart. "Are you sure Mother is in the West Garden?"
Zhang Jinghua said, "There are about a hundred people guarding it, it won't get lost."
Hearing the certainty in his tone, Liang Yuanyi felt slightly relieved. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with his right hand, drew the blade swiftly, and pointed the tip at the city gate ahead.
"Empress He has deceived the emperor, impersonating the crown prince with a princess, controlling the palace, and wreaking havoc on the court! Loyal and righteous men of Liang, follow me into the palace to rescue the emperor and restore order!"
The soldiers below the city, their armor gleaming and sharpness boosted by the battle, raised their spears and shouted in unison, "Enter the palace to rescue the emperor! Restore order to the chaos!"
On the city wall, He Zheng cursed under his breath, raised his arm to shield the eunuch behind him, and ordered, "Charge!"
The eunuch stumbled a step, not daring to stay and get in the way, and hurriedly returned to the Phoenix Palace to report the news.
The King of Qin did not retreat; he intended to continue the siege. Those in the hall, though mentally prepared, still felt a pang of regret upon hearing this answer.
Liang Yuanjun's eyes were cold and sharp. "If he doesn't want a peaceful ending, then let's fight. The bricks and stones of Taiji Palace have seen countless fratricide, one more won't make a difference."
Behind me, I heard Zhang Zhuoyan's barely audible sobs.
The Empress glanced back at her, unsure whether she was crying because her son had abandoned her, or because the King of Qin was destined to die after his defeat.
At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), a palace servant finally rushed into the hall with a joyful expression. "Your Highness! The Duke of Heyang, along with his heir, has quelled the rebellion and cleared the Qin Prince's rebel army outside the Zhuque Gate! The Duke also said that General Fan Qing is on his way from the Lishan camp. Please rest assured, Your Highness!"
"So fast?" Liang Yuanjun was somewhat surprised.
He Xiao had been enjoying his title and had been idle for many years, and had long since lost his military power. He Ting was in charge of the Ministry of War, but in reality, he did not have the authority to directly mobilize troops.
Before the incident, the Empress gave the He family a warrant to mobilize reinforcements in case of emergency. However, only a little over an hour has passed since the incident occurred in the morning, and He Xiao has already recaptured the Vermilion Bird Gate and settled the situation inside and outside the capital. This reaction speed can be described as lightning fast.
The eunuch said, "The Duke said that in the early hours of this morning, rebel troops infiltrated the residence of Grand Tutor Yu. Grand Tutor Yu managed to escape and immediately went to the Duke's residence to report the news. The Duke's residence began to take precautions before dawn, and as soon as the city gates opened at dawn, the He family's confidants went out of the city to ask for help."
Where is Yu Zhan Shi now?
"Everything is fine at the Duke's residence."
Liang Yuanjun said "good" twice, feeling gratified.
If Yu Mingshu had been taken away by the Prince of Qin's men this morning, the situation would have become much more precarious. Fortunately, she acted cautiously and immediately thought of the Duke's mansion.
Half an hour later, the eunuch came again with a message that Fan Qing had led eight thousand elite troops to Xuanwu Gate and completely surrounded the Qin King's chaotic army.
The Empress rose and went to the corridor. "The defeat is inevitable. Does the King of Qin still refuse to surrender?"
The eunuch respectfully replied, "Yes, the King of Qin still orders that they fight to the death and not retreat."
The Empress sneered and raised her hand, "Take Consort Zhang to Xuanwu Gate."
…
After the afternoon clouds dispersed and the sunlight became dazzling, Liang Yuanyi saw a figure he least wanted to see from the top of the city wall.
His blood boiled instantly, and he roared at Zhang Jinghua, who was a few steps away: "Didn't you say that Xiyuan was completely under your control?!"
Zhang Jinghua touched the tip of her nose guiltily and stammered as she looked away.
Liang Yuanyi's eyes widened in fury. "She's your own sister too!"
Zhang Jinghua forced a smile and said, "Our forces are limited, so taking down Xuanwu Gate is the right thing to do."
At the top, Zhang Zhuoyan was pushed to the very front.
"Yuan Yi, stop! Open your eyes and look at the capital city today. Thousands of soldiers have died because of you, and loyal ministers and virtuous officials have been slaughtered without cause! Since ancient times, the success or failure of emperors has been inseparable from the support or opposition of the people. Now, are you still going to be so stubborn?"
Although she was not bound by ropes, she was surrounded by guards.
Liang Yuanyi was certain that this was not his mother's true feeling.
He looked up at the city tower, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins like cracked ice, his appearance ferocious and terrifying.
"His Majesty has widely recruited talented individuals, promoting countless officials from humble backgrounds over the past twenty years, such as Li Qinian and Chen Qu, who rose to high positions due to His Majesty's appreciation and favor. Now, His Majesty is imprisoned in the palace, the Empress has had her eunuch beaten to death, and the fake Crown Prince has dismissed His Majesty's trusted generals. Their treasonous intentions are blatantly obvious! What have these officials from humble backgrounds who have received the Emperor's favor done? They have aided and abetted the wicked, colluding with this vixen!"
"My mother rebuked me for slaughtering loyal ministers. What is a loyal minister? A loyal minister who turns a blind eye to the murder of his king, a loyal minister who blindly submits to the chaos and tyranny of a vixen!"
"Today I raise an army not to usurp power, but only to sweep away the wicked and restore the court to its former glory!"
Hearing his impassioned speech, Liang Yuanjun ordered her men to take Zhang Zhuoyan away. Under Liang Yuanyi's hateful gaze, she strode forward.
She was dressed in court attire, her demeanor dignified, a stark contrast to the people below the city walls covered in blood.
"King of Qin, you believed the rumors and accused me and the Queen Mother of deceiving the emperor. Have you ever considered where such rumors would place His Majesty?"
This was the first time the Crown Prince had faced the rumors circulating in the city. The soldiers on both sides below the city were stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked up at the majestic figure on the high place.
"My father was a man of both literary and military prowess, a wise and virtuous ruler throughout his life. How could he be the muddle-headed, foolish, and incapable ruler you speak of who cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery!"
"That's sophistry!"
Liang Yuanyi raised his long sword again, intending to lead his troops in an attack, when suddenly he heard several sounds of a blunt sword chopping bone behind him.
The moment he turned around, hot blood splattered into his eyes. He blinked twice instinctively, and the world in his vision was suddenly dyed a dazzling red.
Fan Qing's reinforcements broke through the encirclement, cutting down dozens of soldiers and surrounding Liang Yuanyi and Zhang Jinghua.
Liang Yuanyi loosened his wrist guards, pulled out the cuff of his inner garment, and forcefully wiped away the blood overflowing from his eyes, finally able to see the situation around him clearly.
Fan Qing's gun was only a finger's width away from his throat.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away, letting out a soft, dejected laugh.
On the city wall, He Zheng suddenly shouted, "Don't let him commit suicide!"
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Yuanyi's knife was already at his neck.
Fan Qing reacted swiftly, striking his wrist bone with her spear. The longsword flew off and embedded itself diagonally in the soil.
With the situation settled, Liang Yuanjun, surrounded by the Imperial Guards, arrived at the front of the battle, her eyes sharp.
"Take the King of Qin away and keep a close watch on him."
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