The Golden Palace.
This place was once the power center of the entire Liang Dynasty and the highest symbol of imperial majesty.
Every floor tile has heard the songs of praise from all nations; every beam and pillar has witnessed the rise and fall of a dynasty.
However, at this moment, this once magnificent and solemn palace is now only filled with deathly silence and an inescapable, heavy stench of blood.
The palace gates had already been smashed to pieces in the previous battle.
The dilapidated door, like a wound torn open by a giant beast, groaned helplessly.
The floor inside the hall was stained with blood, and there were gruesome scratches left by clashing weapons everywhere. Several corpses that could not be dragged away in time silently told of the fierce battle that had taken place here not long ago.
"tread."
A clear footstep broke the silence.
Alone, holding the still-dripping blood-stained longsword, Xiao Che stepped into the empty hall.
He did not bring any guards.
Because he knew that in this final standoff, numbers had long since become meaningless.
His gaze was cold and sharp, like a lone wolf surveying its territory, slowly sweeping across every corner of the hall.
Finally, his gaze settled on the high steps of the imperial palace.
The image is frozen on the dragon throne, which symbolizes the supreme and unparalleled emperor.
Xiao Che's pupils suddenly contracted!
There sat a man who shouldn't have been there, sitting arrogantly on the dragon throne!
It's the Regent, Xiao Yuan!
His magnificent royal robes had been torn to shreds in the chaos of battle, stained with blood and dust. His once meticulously combed hair was now disheveled, with a few stray white strands clinging to his face, which was filled with madness and resentment. He looked like a wild beast that had just broken free from its cage, ready to devour its prey!
And in front of him, with one arm tightly around his neck, was none other than the current Empress Dowager!
The Empress Dowager's face had long lost its former elegance and grace, leaving only a pale complexion distorted by extreme terror and anger. Her clothes were disheveled, her phoenix hairpin askew, and she was struggling violently, making suppressed "woof" sounds.
A dagger gleaming with a chilling light was pressed firmly against her neck!
The sharp blade had already cut through her delicate skin, and a streak of blood was seeping out!
"Mother!"
Xiao Che's heart sank! The veins on his hand gripping the sword bulged, and his knuckles turned white from the excessive force!
Upon hearing Xiao Che's voice, Xiao Yuan, who was sitting on the dragon throne, slowly raised his head.
His bloodshot eyes were fixed intently on Xiao Che.
After a brief eye contact, he suddenly smiled.
"Hahaha...hahahaha..."
The laughter was hoarse and grating, filled with endless resentment and bitterness, like the final lament of a dying crow.
"Xiao Che... my good nephew... you... you really weren't meant to die!"
As he laughed, he gently patted the Empress Dowager's pale face, drained of color by fear, with the madness in his eyes almost overflowing.
"All our efforts were in vain...all our efforts were in vain!"
He laughed at himself, having plotted and endured for over a decade, just when he was about to reach the pinnacle of power, he was shattered to pieces at the last step!
He laughed at Xiao Che, at this "sickly" man he had never taken seriously, this puppet he had nurtured, who at the last moment revealed his fangs and tore him, the hunter, to shreds!
Xiao Che didn't speak, he just looked at him quietly.
In his unfathomable eyes, there was no anger, no anxiety, only a chilling calmness, like that of eternal ice.
He knew that Xiao Yuan at this moment was a mad dog that had been driven to the brink of despair.
Any verbal provocation could trigger him to do the most irrational thing.
He had to be patient and stay calm.
For the safety of the Empress Dowager.
Xiao Yuan's loud laughter gradually subsided.
He looked at Xiao Che's terrifyingly calm face, and the maniacal smile in his eyes was slowly replaced by an even more twisted and resentful emotion.
He knew he had lost.
They suffered a crushing defeat, with no chance of a comeback.
But even if he loses, he will crush the last dignity of his nephew, who has ruined everything, under his feet before he dies!
He didn't mention any conditions for surrender because he knew it was impossible.
He simply used the dagger to lightly slice across the Empress Dowager's snow-white neck once more, leaving an even deeper bloodstain.
Then, in a near-manic tone, filled with a vengeful pleasure, he made a request to Xiao Che.
One, an extremely humiliating request.
Xiao Che,
He squeezed out these words, one by one, through gritted teeth, his face flushed with a sickly redness.
"My good nephew, aren't you filial?"
"Now, I'm giving you a chance to save your mother."
He pointed the bloodstained dagger at the ground in front of Xiao Che.
"Kneel down."
"Kneel down?!"
These two words, like a thunderclap, exploded loudly in the empty hall!
Even the Empress Dowager, who was being held hostage by him, stopped struggling instantly because of this absurd demand and looked at this man who had completely gone mad in disbelief!
To make a supreme ruler, an emperor who has just quelled a rebellion and holds the power of life and death, kneel before a treacherous minister?!
This is no longer just a humiliation!
This is trampling! It is the most blatant provocation and desecration against the entire imperial power!
Xiao Che's body remained completely still.
Finally, a ripple appeared in his icy eyes.
Seeing his unresponsive expression, Xiao Yuan's face became even more ferocious.
He knew that wasn't enough!
What he wants to destroy is his heart!
"Kneeling down is not enough!"
Xiao Yuan's voice grew increasingly shrill, filled with hysterical glee, "You also want to confess to me, to this dragon throne, in your own words!"
"Acknowledging the late emperor and choosing you, Xiao Che, to succeed him was the biggest mistake he ever made in his life!"
"Acknowledge me, Xiao Yuan, that I am the true Son of Heaven, the one destined by Heaven!"
"I admit you are nothing but a shameless thief who stole my throne!!!"
Each word, each sound, was like the most vicious curse, echoing above the Golden Palace!
Xiao Yuan completely tore off all his pretenses, exposing the darkness in his heart, which had been suppressed for more than a decade and twisted by jealousy, resentment, and power, without reservation to the sunlight!
What he wants to destroy is not just Xiao Che's dignity.
What he wants to destroy is Xiao Che's legitimacy in inheriting the throne!
He wanted to deny everything about Xiao Che from the root!
This was his final act of madness!
Xiao Che remained silent, but the hand gripping the sword hilt made a soft "creaking" sound from the force.
The murderous intent that had been suppressed in his heart all night was surging wildly, almost breaking through the cage of reason!
"Xiao Che! You can't kneel! Absolutely not!"
Just then, the Empress Dowager, who had been held hostage, suddenly unleashed an astonishing power! She bit down hard on the arm that Xiao Yuan was using to strangle her!
"Ugh!"
Xiao Yuan winced in pain, and his arm instinctively loosened its grip!
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, the Empress Dowager mustered all her strength and cried out to Prince Xiao Che:
"Che'er! Don't worry about me!"
"Kill him! Kill this traitor for me! Avenge the late emperor! Cleanse the house of our Great Liang!"
Her voice was shrill and resolute, full of the fierce spirit of a nation's mother!
"You dare?!"
Xiao Yuan reacted instantly, his eyes blazing with fury! He slapped the Empress Dowager hard across the face, then pressed the cold dagger deep against her artery once more!
The sharp blade pierced through flesh in an instant!
Fresh blood gushed out along the blade!
"Kneel down!!!"
Xiao Yuan, seemingly possessed, issued a final ultimatum to Xiao Che! His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Xiao Che's knee, and his voice was hoarse and distorted due to extreme madness!
"otherwise!"
"You'll just watch your mother, the Empress Dowager, die a bloody death on the spot!!!"
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