Chu You stared at Chu Yi in the hall with wide eyes and shouted in shock.

The wound on his right palm was bleeding profusely, and the piercing pain had almost distorted his facial features, making his expression a little hideous.

Not only Chu You, but other people outside the palace were also shocked when they saw Chu Yi beside the emperor.

There were various exclamations, gasps, and panting sounds all around:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Didn't the eldest prince go to South Vietnam with the South Vietnamese envoys?"

"Why is he here?!"

“…”

Amid the noise, Xiao Fengyuan, Wang Kangyin, Pei Wenrui and other officials surrounding Prince Kang looked extremely unhappy, while the others felt relieved.

Because of Chu Yi's sudden appearance, the originally one-sided situation changed drastically in an instant, and the atmosphere also underwent a subtle change.

Li Yun'er only felt that the voices of the crowd were like the hum of mosquitoes buzzing in his ears.

Chu Yi, it’s really Chu Yi!

Li Yun'er looked straight at Chu Yi, his pupils contracted, and he could not believe his eyes.

Her breathing became rapid and her mind was extremely confused: According to the private alliance between King Kang and Baili Yin, Baili Yin would let the Yue envoy Dou Zixiang contain Chu Yi and would never let him return to the capital.

It is said that those who are not of our race must have different hearts.

They had never truly trusted Baili Yin, and had long imagined the worst possible scenario. But even if Baili Yin broke the contract and did not assassinate Chu Yi, the Yue people should not have let Chu Yi return to Beijing at this time.

Chu You had the same thought, his eyes turned bloodshot.

According to a letter sent by carrier pigeon from the post station in Yuzhou, Chu Yi and Dou Zixiang and their entourage had already traveled south to Yuzhou the day before.

How could Chu Yi rush back to the capital from Yuzhou in just one or two days? !

It shouldn't be like this! Chu You almost said this, but he still gritted his teeth, his eyes darkened.

To be on the safe side, he also secretly sent people to keep a close eye on the movements of the three camps of the Imperial Guards, the Twelve Guards, and several garrisons around the capital, and made sure that no one had deployed troops before he resolutely launched today's palace coup.

But Chu Yi, who was supposed to be thousands of miles away, actually appeared here, and he was accompanied by this strange army equipped with flintlock rifles!

Where did this strange army come from? !

It is impossible for the late emperor to leave these special forces to Chu Qi. Chu Qi has only been on the throne for a year, and his every move is under the eyes of the court officials. The only trusted men he can use are the Jinyiwei and Luanyiwei.

It is impossible for Chu Qi to raise such a group of trusted secret guards within a year, unless...

The muscles on Chu You's cheeks twitched violently twice, and he couldn't help but look at Feng Yang who was "unconscious" lying on the mat. His eyelids twitched violently, and a possibility emerged in his mind.

"She, could it be her..." Chu You murmured almost silently, and just in time saw Gu Yanfei walking briskly towards Feng Yang.

Gu Yanfei squatted down and gently patted the back of Fengyang's hand.

“Bang!”

The slapping sound was very light, but at this moment, it sounded extremely harsh to Chu You's ears.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock!”

The blood from Chu You's right palm wound continued to drip down, drop by drop...

Soon, Fengyang, who had been motionless like a dead person, moved. The fingers of his right hand moved slightly, and then moved again.

"Your Highness!" The senior palace maid beside him looked at Fengyang and whispered, her voice trembling unconcealed.

Other people around also saw this scene and their eyes widened.

Could it be that Feng Yang is not dead? !

There was an eerie silence inside and outside the hall.

"She's not dead..." Chu You's eyes widened to the extreme, and veins popped out on his forehead.

Yes.

The special force brought by Chu Yi must be the Shangyang Army of Fengyang's personal guard.

It’s Fengyang again, and Fengyang is not dead yet!

Twenty-one years ago, the late emperor fell into Fengyang's hands; twenty-one years later, Chu Qi and Fengyang teamed up to plot against him! This thought clearly emerged in Chu You's mind.

At this moment, he felt his whole body was cold, and the coldness penetrated into his bones.

Gu Yanfei didn't even look at Chu You, her attention was all focused on Feng Yang.

The head maid asked in a trembling voice, "Second Miss Gu, how is His Highness?"

The senior palace maid's face was as pale as paper, even slightly bluish.

She had felt Fengyang's breath and pulse before, but there was no sound. Fengyang's skin was icy cold, and it was obvious that he was a dead person.

But now, Fengyang's body became hot again and he had a faint breath again.

Gu Yanfei seemed to have heard nothing and took out a small red brocade bag from Fengyang's slightly hot chest.

The amulet in this brocade bag was given to Fengyang by Gu Yanfei herself on the day of the love banquet. She also told Fengyang to always carry the amulet with him.

Gu Yanfei shook the brocade bag lightly, and a wisp of ash floated out from the mouth of the bag. When the wind blew, the ash was blown away.

Fengyang's life span is indeed only until today, but the amulet given by Gu Yanfei can protect Fengyang's heart and soul and extend her life for one more day.

Prince Kang knew the date of Fengyang's death, and Gu Yanfei could also predict it.

Fengyang said that King Kang was waiting for her death, so it would be better to use her death to lure the snake out of its hole.

From the moment the Ministry of Rites proposed that today be the day for offering sacrifices to the imperial tomb, Gu Yanfei knew that Prince Kang had taken the bait.

"Help me carry His Highness to the back." Gu Yanfei said softly.

The head palace maid hurriedly responded, and the two of them supported Fengyang, who had not yet woken up, to the back hall of Longen Palace.

Chu You stared at Feng Yang intently. At that moment, he really wanted to kill Feng Yang with his own hands.

After the initial shock passed, Chu You's expression changed from horror to anger, and more importantly, to unwillingness and dissatisfaction.

He hasn't lost yet!

Chu You’s eyes were as sinister as an owl’s.

Now that it has come to this, he was not willing to give up. He raised his bloody right hand, put his index and middle fingers together, and made a forward gesture.

--superior!

There was a murderous aura lingering around him, as if he was a wild beast that was forced into a desperate situation and was ready to fight to the death.

The five hundred Tiger Guards soldiers who were on standby outside the Longen Gate in the rear waved their swords and spears and approached the civil and military officials inside the Longen Gate like a tide, full of murderous intent.

They did not intend to kill anyone, but to take the civil and military officials present as hostages.

As long as the knife is placed on the necks of these officials, King Kang will have bargaining chips, and even the emperor will have to weigh the lives of these close ministers.

Faced with the surging Tiger and Leopard Army, the women and civil officials fled to both sides of the Longen Palace, and the women were terrified.

Chu Yi in the hall was quite calm and uttered two words calmly: "Do it."

Even at this time, his expression and voice were still as gentle as spring breeze and rain.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The Shangyang Army soldiers, dressed in black armor and holding flintlock rifles, pulled the trigger one by one in an orderly manner. After the front row fired the bullets, the soldiers in the back row immediately took over, switching between the two rows smoothly.

This solemn imperial mausoleum turned into a cruel battlefield in an instant.

Life and death on the battlefield often take only a moment!

With every gunshot, a Tiger Guard soldier fell to the ground, with bloody holes appearing on vital parts of his forehead, neck, or chest.

Blood gushed out rapidly from the wounds of the dead, staining the ground red. The blood flowed like a river and corpses were everywhere.

Not only were there gunshots nearby, but there were also gunshots in the distance. An ominous, oppressive atmosphere filled the air, and the place was in chaos.

Chu You's expression became even uglier. It was obvious that the other Huben soldiers in the imperial mausoleum were also besieged by the Shangyang Army.

Chu Yi said calmly: "Emperor Taizu once said that a flintlock rifle is faster than a sword at a distance of six feet."

It's just a simple sentence, but it's very intimidating.

The bodies lying on the ground proved his words.

The sound of gunfire continued, and the air was filled with the strong smell of blood and gunpowder.

The faces of the Huben Army soldiers present changed drastically.

This new flintlock rifle was far more lethal than the old one and could fire faster.

In front of this terrifying weapon, the knives, guns and arrows they had were completely vulnerable, as if they were as dull and weak as a young child.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The deafening sound of gunfire seemed to never end.

At this moment, Gu Yanfei, who was in the back hall, was not affected by the gunshots at all.

She patted Feng Yang's back gently, mobilized the spiritual power in her body, and forced it into her palm, transferring some of it into Feng Yang's body.

The senior palace maid watched the two of them with bated breath.

Gradually, Fengyang's breath recovered a little, and although his breathing was weak, it began to become steady.

Gu Yanfei took out another talisman, gently patted it on Fengyang's chest, and began to instruct the senior palace maid to massage some acupoints on Fengyang's body.

I don’t know how long it took, but Fengyang’s closed eyelids trembled slightly.

"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Seeing this, the senior palace maid excitedly called out again.

At this time, the gunfire outside finally began to die down, with only sporadic gunshots ringing out intermittently.

Fengyang slowly opened his eyes at the excited call of the head palace maid. After blinking, his dazed look soon became clear.

"Yan Fei," Feng Yang smiled, his lips were still pale, his breath was weak, and he spoke these few words with great effort, "Don't be sad for me."

"I have reached the end of my life, but I can still contribute to the Dajing Dynasty founded by Taizu himself. I can die with my eyes closed." Fengyang said in a free and easy manner.

Those eyes, which seemed a little dim due to illness, were so firm, showing a kind of wisdom and insight that saw through the troubles of the world.

Gu Yanfei held Feng Yang's old and rough hand tightly and said softly, "I understand."

What is there that she doesn't understand? But even though she understands...

"Your Highness..." Tears flowed from the eyes of the senior palace maid, and the tears fell like rain.

She knew that Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess was right, but she still felt sorry for her.

Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess has paid so much for Da Jing, but she has to die with her soul scattered and never reincarnated. It is really unfair! Amid the woman's low sobs, the emperor in a crown walked in quickly from outside. He also heard what Feng Yang had just said and looked at the weak Feng Yang with a heavy face.

"Yanfei?" The emperor looked at Gu Yanfei with sad eyes.

Gu Yanfei shook his head slightly.

Even though he was mentally prepared, the emperor's heart sank, as if a mountain was pressing down on his chest.

The emperor closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he looked much calmer.

Although the situation was settled, the emperor showed no joy on his face. He said in a deep voice, "Aunt, the culprits have all been arrested. I will return to the capital on the first day of the first month to take charge of the situation."

Next, whether the people are dead or alive, they will all be convicted by the three judges.

Forcing the emperor to abdicate and treason is a serious crime that will bring disaster to the entire clan.

From time to time there was noise coming from outside the hall. Chu Yi had left, but the soldiers left behind still had to clean up the battlefield, count the casualties, and accommodate the frightened officials, women and other relatives.

Fengyang nodded weakly at the emperor and looked out the window with a dim gaze.

There were not a single cloud in the azure blue sky, not a trace of haze.

The golden sun hung high in the sky. The sunlight was so bright that it was a little dazzling, but the smile on Fengyang's face deepened.

very nice.

Feng Yang closed his eyes again. The head maid called him "Your Highness" again in a tactless manner. Gu Yanfei put down the hand that was pressing Feng Yang's pulse and said softly, "It's okay, Your Highness just fell asleep..."

An hour later, the Shangyang Army and the Flag Bearer Guards outside cleaned up the battlefield and settled the wounded.

Everyone who was accompanying the emperor was still in shock.

After the recent forced abdication, the remaining officials naturally would not suggest that the emperor continue with the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow. The convoy ended the sacrificial ceremony one day in advance and hurriedly set off for Beijing.

We kept going all the way.

When the emperor's carriage returned to the capital, the sun was setting and the sky was filled with colorful clouds, like a brocade.

Everything in the capital has been settled.

Tang Wuji, deputy commander of the Jinyiwei, personally went out of the city to Sanliting to welcome the emperor back to the capital, and reported the situation in the capital: "Your Majesty, all the Tiger Guards hiding in the capital have been captured by the Jinwuwei."

"All the prefectures surrounded by the Tiger Guards are safe and sound."

"The officials' wives who were under house arrest in Chunxi Palace have been released and returned to their respective prefectures."

“…”

In just half a day, the situation in the capital was completely under control, because most of Prince Kang's troops were taken to the imperial mausoleum, leaving only less than a thousand troops in the capital for Empress Dowager Yuan to dispatch.

Empress Dowager Yuan was just a woman in the deep palace, who did not know how to deploy troops. Apart from her status as the empress dowager which could put pressure on others, she was actually the most vulnerable and easiest link to be attacked.

As a result, there was no major chaos in the capital. Under the coordination of Gu Yuan, Tang Wuji and others, the crisis was resolved at the lowest cost.

"We've arrived at the capital!"

The people accompanying the emperor were so happy that they almost cried when they saw the capital city not far ahead.

At this time, there were crowds of people near the West Gate, just as lively as when the emperor left the capital yesterday.

Because the sound of the funeral bell in the palace had spread throughout the capital, everyone in the capital was paying attention to this matter. Later, when the people learned that the emperor was fine and it was Prince Kang who was rebelling, they were relieved and gathered here spontaneously.

"Long live the emperor!"

"May our great vision last forever, and our country be forever strong!"

The people who gathered at the city gate to welcome the return of the Holy Chariot all knelt down and shouted in unison, again and again.

Their shouts were as loud as the waves of the sea, one wave higher than the other, spreading out one after another. Even other people in the distance heard them and started shouting along.

This loud shout seemed to spread throughout the capital, sweeping away the previous gloom.

There is one more chapter in the main text, and then some extra chapters~ 　　 　 (End of this chapter)