Chapter 315 Your Majesty, please offer your head!
"His Majesty,"
A familiar, sharp voice came from the crowd. Upon closer inspection, it was Wang Shaoji who gradually stepped out from the neatly lined-up Imperial Guards. He stepped forward, slowly cupped his hands in a salute to the person on the steps, and said, "We have disturbed Your Majesty and are guilty."
Upon seeing so many Imperial Guards suddenly appear below, Chu Yang was initially stunned, but he quickly understood what was happening. However, he soon regained his composure, coldly waving his hand, his demeanor still exuding that arrogant and domineering air.
"Knowing you're guilty, why don't you step back!"
Wang Shaoji did not back down and continued, "However, the Imperial Guards have something to say to Your Majesty. I think we cannot keep them silent forever. If the people's sentiments and opinions cannot reach the Emperor, it would be a crime for a subject. So today, I have brought them here to report to Your Majesty."
As soon as he said this, some of the Imperial Guards below shouted, "Yes, we have something to say!"
"Your Majesty, please listen to us!"
"Your Majesty, please accept my advice!"
Looking at the dense crowd below, especially the menacing faces illuminated by the fireworks, Chu Yang clenched his sweaty hands, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, "Speak what you have to say!"
Wang Shaoji smiled and stepped forward, ascending the steps one by one. As he went, he said, “Your Majesty has been touring Jiangdu Palace for over a month. Now that Luoyang has fallen and the war is critical, the families of the Imperial Guards are among them. If we cannot return to Luoyang in time to aid them, I fear these people will meet with misfortune. For the sake of the nation, for the court, and for the peace of mind of these soldiers, I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict to return to Luoyang immediately.”
"..."
If not—
At this point, he had already walked halfway down the path and was very close to the two people in the main hall. Shang Ruyi could even clearly see the cold light shining through his slanted eyes as he raised his head.
He said, "Then, we have no choice but to escort His Majesty back to the Eastern Capital."
His words were naturally grand and dignified, but with these heavily armored and menacing Imperial Guards lined up in front, how could this be a request for an imperial decree?
This is clearly a coup!
At this moment, looking at these people and then at Wang Shaoji's cold gaze, Shang Ruyi couldn't help but tremble.
really……
The warning on that handkerchief was indeed true.
As expected, the Imperial Guards, led by Wang Shaoji, rebelled today!
However, she only shuddered for a moment, and the next moment, Shang Ruyi suddenly relaxed again—or rather, not relaxed, but rather accepted it calmly.
She already knew, didn't she?
Actually, she had just said that Chu Yang shouldn't give up so easily, but those words also pierced her heart, one by one—wasn't she giving up too? After learning that the Duke of Sheng and his son had raised an army, after learning that Yuwen Ye was completely heartless and ruthless towards her, even disregarding her life and death, wasn't she also planning to accompany Chu Yang for one last brilliant moment, like these fireworks?
Then, whether it sinks into darkness or returns to eternal silence.
She had no way out from the very first day she was taken to Jiangdu Palace, so she might as well leave more openly and gracefully.
Thinking of this, she silently took a step forward and walked to Chu Yang's side.
At this moment, Chu Yang coldly said, "Whether you stay or leave is my decision, and it's none of your Imperial Guards' business. Wang Shaoji, take your men and leave immediately!"
As he spoke, another firework exploded above his head. The muffled sound did not drown out his voice; instead, it amplified it countless times, surging down from above like a tidal wave towards the Imperial Guards in the square.
Immediately, those people were shaken by the powerful voice, and their hearts trembled.
The one before us is, after all, the emperor, the supreme ruler!
He is born with divine protection. If one is presumptuous in front of him, one wonders if one will be punished by heaven.
Thinking of this, some of the soldiers who were not very determined to begin with immediately became apprehensive. They looked at each other, their bodies hunched over, as if they were about to back down.
Wang Shaoji, standing on the steps and facing the two above, naturally couldn't see this scene, but Wang Shaoqiu, standing behind him, could see it clearly.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly raised his head, addressing the people on the steps: "Your Majesty refuses to return to the Eastern Capital. Is it because there are treacherous and wicked people around you who slander you, causing Your Majesty to favor petty men and distance yourself from virtuous ministers, not only disregarding the fate of the country but also ruthlessly killing the loyal Imperial Guards?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, a burst of response immediately came from the crowd!
You see, they were all very hesitant to speak to the emperor or even to force him to abdicate, but when it came to a woman, none of them were afraid. What's more, this woman had previously caused their brothers to be killed, their homes confiscated, and their exile. They couldn't swallow this insult, and they had all begun to consider giving up. But as soon as they heard that this woman was a treacherous villain, they immediately became indignant and even fearless.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Your Majesty, please execute the treacherous officials!"
"That's right, this woman is the treacherous official who serves the emperor!"
"She killed our brothers!"
As they shouted, their voices gradually became unified, and they all roared, "Purge the court of corrupt officials! Purge the court of corrupt officials! Purge the court of corrupt officials!"
For a moment, their voices not only drowned out Chu Yang's angry shout, but also drowned out the sound of fireworks still exploding in the sky.
The sound was as loud as thunder.
Seeing this scene, Shang Ruyi, the person at the center of the storm, standing on the steps, remained remarkably calm.
Not only was she calm, but a cold smile even appeared on her face.
She never imagined that, given her appearance, even her husband, with whom she spent every day, would abandon her life and death, yet someone could elevate her to the point of bewitching the king.
Purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the wicked.
If she were to die by these men's swords tonight, the history books would not record her as just an ordinary, pale, and thin woman. The historians would surely embellish her appearance with vivid and detailed descriptions. Perhaps she would even be remembered as a beauty on par with Bao Si and Da Ji.
Thinking of this, she actually laughed out loud.
Hearing the laughter, Chu Yang was startled and turned to look at her.
He met Shang Ruyi's somewhat aloof gaze.
The moment their eyes met, the last, yet the largest, firework burst open overhead, like an embroidered umbrella slowly unfurling in the sky. The colorful flames traced dazzling marks across the dark night sky, like countless golden and silver threads adorning the umbrella with magnificence and beauty. It enveloped the Hall of Light, and also enveloped the two of them in this moment, this instant.
In Shang Ruyi's clear eyes, the firework was reflected in a dazzling light.
Her eyes were filled with the light of countless falling stars as she smiled gently at Chu Yang and said, "Your Majesty, I—"
Unfortunately, her voice was drowned out by the increasingly deafening shouts. The Imperial Guards below were becoming more and more agitated, especially under the instigation of several deputy generals and Tiger Generals. They were increasingly angry about the injustice they had suffered and increasingly hated the seemingly frail woman on the high platform!
At this moment, Tiger Warrior Ge Yuanchong drew his long sword from his waist and shouted, "Kill that woman!"
Lead the charge forward!
Men are most likely to lose their minds because of two things: profit and swords. At this moment, a flash of light appeared before their eyes, and the Imperial Guards became even more excited. One by one, they drew their swords and followed Ge Yuan onto the steps!
At this moment, even someone as composed as Chu Yang showed a look of panic in his eyes.
He had commanded thousands of troops and witnessed far sharper swordplay than what lay before him, but he had never seen so many swords pointed at him at once. As these people surged onto the platform like a tidal wave, about to charge at him, he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Are you rebelling?!"
But by then, amidst the furious shouts, no one could hear his voice anymore.
With each shout, Wang Shaoji stepped onto the main hall, getting closer and closer to them.
So close that you could see the ferocity and distortion on his face clearly.
As he drew his long sword from his waist, the blade flashed with a cold light reflecting off the fireworks, and seemingly, an invisible wind carrying the scent of blood swept over the two of them.
At this moment, even Chu Yang showed a hint of solemnity on his face.
He reached out and pulled Shang Ruyi behind him, his wide sleeves forming a barrier in front of her. He said in a deep voice, "Wang Shaoji, what are you doing?!"
"His Majesty,"
Wang Shaoji continued to climb step by step, sneering as he went, "Look at how indignant the Imperial Guards are, their anger is too great to be trifled with."
"..."
"Let me kill this treacherous and wicked official who is bringing disaster to the country and the people, and then we'll talk about it."
"Kill first?"
Chu Yang narrowed his eyes and repeated the two words, especially the word "first," which made his heart sink. He suddenly sneered, "Kill her first—then who?"
"..."
"Or is it that your goal from the very beginning was—regicide!"
When he said those words, the Imperial Guards had already stepped onto the steps. They may not have heard the first two words, but the last two words clearly pierced into everyone's ears!
King murder!
Upon hearing those two words, the people immediately stopped in their tracks in fright.
But it just wouldn't stop.
The people behind them kept surging forward, and they were forced to rush forward, getting closer and closer until they had filled the open space in front of the main hall, completely surrounding Chu Yang and Shang Ruyi.
After that initial burst of blind anger and excitement, a hint of hesitation crept into their hearts.
King murder...?
Are they taking action against the emperor?
While the crowd was half confused and half completely unaware of what was happening, still rushing forward, Wang Shaoji, standing at the forefront, shouted sternly, "Your Majesty, what we've done tonight constitutes criminal treason. I beg Your Majesty to grant our request. Otherwise—"
Chu Yang said, "Otherwise, what?!"
Their conversation struck everyone like a series of thunderclaps.
The Imperial Guards then realized just how audacious and reckless their actions were! To kill this woman, they had now approached the Emperor, each with swords in hand—what else could this be but a coup, a rebellion?
Among the crowd, some who were already timid and had just been swept up by the fervor of the crowd were now having second thoughts and were cautiously about to walk down.
Wang Shaoqiu said, "We've already come this far, who among you can back down now?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone froze in their tracks.
Yes, whether they kill this woman or not, they have already drawn their swords in front of the emperor, which is a capital offense of disrespect. If they really retreat like this, and the emperor settles accounts with them at dawn, I'm afraid that none of the people who entered the Wenhua Gate and Wugong Gate tonight will be able to leave alive!
They have reached a point where they are caught between a rock and a hard place!
Upon realizing this, everyone's expression immediately changed.
There is no absolute dead end in the world; it all depends on whether people can fight back from the brink. If tonight's events are to end in bloodshed, then it must not be their blood!
Therefore, the one who bleeds can only be—
With that in mind, everyone's attention turned to one person.
He stood before the entrance to the Hall of Light. Although he was surrounded by a great number of people, with swords flashing all around him, there was no fear on his face. In fact, he still exuded an arrogant and domineering aura, as if these people in front of him were nothing more than ants under his feet, and no matter how fiercely they bared their fangs and claws, they could not harm him in the slightest.
That imperial arrogance made him fearless at this moment.
Chu Yang even sneered, "You want to kill me?"
"..."
"You are committing regicide!"
The group hesitated again.
At that moment, a weak yet somber voice rang out from the crowd: "Fate is fickle, and fortunes change. Your Majesty, you have been emperor for over a decade, and you have had enough. Moreover, this Great Ye Dynasty is now riddled with problems, plagued by disasters, and unable to even hold onto its capital. This is the result of your rule..."
Everyone turned around and saw Wang Shaoqiu walking step by step toward the Hall of Light.
Chu Yang's eyes turned cold: "Wang Shaoqiu!"
Wang Shaoqiu walked up to him, but suddenly bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Your humble servants have no intention of deceiving the emperor, much less daring to kill him. However, the world is in chaos, and Your Majesty is powerless to reverse it. It would be better to find another wise and virtuous ruler to bring about the well-being of the people and to create lasting peace for the world."
"..."
"But all of this—with His Majesty still alive—is impossible."
"..."
"so--"
He raised his head and said to Chu Yang, word by word, "For the sake of peace and stability, Your Majesty, please offer your head!"
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