"Li Yanfu! How dare you commit such a vile act?!"
The other ministers also showed their anger. A coup is one thing, but involving families is another.
Li Yanfu’s expression was peculiar, and he sneered:
"Things have co to this point today, do you still think I, this Pri Minister, would care about such things?"
He found Lu Zhi sowhat laughable. Having already engaged in the business of exterminating nine clans, naturally, all possible ans should be used, why would one care about any rules?
"Li Yanfu! Don’t be too pleased!" Dong Xuan shouted:
"Do you really think that by relying on force, you can do whatever you want? This old man has one foot in the grave and has long put life and death aside. If you dare to act, I would rather not accept their protection. If Ma Yan and the others do not care about anything and only focus on killing you, do you really think those retainers can fully protect you?"
Fighting and fighting for one’s life are two different concepts.
Li Qing, though not a mber of the Li family, is loyal enough but not strong enough.
Kong Wu is strong but may not be willing to risk his life to protect Li Yanfu.
Once Ma Yan, the Chief Eunuch who had experienced deadly battles in the Xuann Coup, truly becos ruthless, risking his life to fight to the death, could Kong Wu really stop him?
Li Yanfu laughed.
He laughed very happily, smugly, and frankly.
The laughter echoed in the hall, causing everyone present to show a puzzled expression, not understanding why the Pri Minister was laughing.
"Hahaha..." Li Yanfu laughed for a while, slowly pulled back his smile, sighed lightly, and stared at Dong Xuan:
"To speak such words, it seems you indeed have no backup plan. Very well, then in this round, it seems I, the Pri Minister, have won."
He sneered, looking down on the aging Grandmaster from above, his deanor unusually calm:
"You’re right, if it cos to a life-and-death struggle, with him, with them present, I, the Pri Minister, may not be able to escape unscathed."
He pointed to Ma Yan and the four female officials.
"But... why do you foolishly think that I, the Pri Minister, truly cherish this life?"
He sneered, the white hair under his helt gently shaking:
"Although I, the Pri Minister, am younger than you, Dong Xuan, I, too, have half a body in the grave. In this lifeti, with riches and honor, holding the highest position among ministers, what haven’t I enjoyed? If it were just for myself, why wade into this muddy water today?
I, the Pri Minister, could have retired early after the Xuann Coup, returning ho to fish and watch birds, enjoying family happiness, but..."
He took a deep breath, with a bit of self-mockery at the corner of his mouth:
"But you and I are born in this human world, not living for ourselves. I, as the Clan Leader of the Li family, naturally must earn glory and riches for the Li family before dying. Dong Xuan, Yuann Li... have none of you thought of it?
Now, with the five-route Vassal Kings rushing to the capital, if I, the Pri Minister, do not act, when the day cos that the troops are at our gates, will you, Dong Xuan, surrender, or will you, Yuann Li, offer your loyalty?"
Dong Xuan, enraged: "Traitorous ministers and rebellious officials, do you think this old man would stoop to your level of despicability?"
Li Yanfu laughed again, ignoring the angry curse, and continued:
"So, daring to co today, I, the Pri Minister, am not afraid of death! Haven’t you noticed that my son is not here? At this mont, Ying Long is leading troops to guard outside the hall. If I, the Pri Minister, die, Ying Long will take charge of the city’s power. If Ying Long unfortunately dies in battle, then I, the Pri Minister, will take control."
His cold gaze swept across the ministers, those faces varying in expressions:
"I say this to you, to give you a chance. Now, those who want to live, co to my side. Those who wish to remain loyal, I, the Pri Minister, will fulfill your wishes."
He no longer intended to waste ti.
Suddenly, the hall fell into an eerie silence, apart from so Imperial Faction officials losing the chance to choose sides, the remaining officials were indecisive, but there was already hesitation between their brows.
Just as so ministers gritted their teeth, stepping forward, ready to make a choice.
Yuann Li suddenly blurted out:
"Listen, don’t you think it’s too quiet outside?"
The ministers were startled, only then realizing that at so point, the sounds of killing outside had disappeared.
The thick hall doors had blocked much of the sound of battle cries, but there was no doubt, the cries had been growing louder and louder, yet at this mont, it was eerily silent outside.
"Has it stopped? Or ended?" Ma Yan also frowned.
Today’s rebellion, it was clear only a small portion of the imperial guard had issues. As the fighting began, more and more imperial guards would have arrived, there was no reason for it to suddenly stop.
As for ending...
That was unrealistic.
Even though the rebel army was few, they occupied a strategic position, defending with their backs to the hall... Most importantly, not much ti had passed since Li Yanfu and his retainers broke into the hall.
In total, both sides had just conversed for a while, how could the battle have ended in such a short ti?
Even Li Yanfu frowned deeply, feeling a strong unease.
"Go take a look." Without hesitation, Li Yanfu imdiately ordered a retainer.
The retainer nodded and turned towards the tightly closed hall doors, but before he approached, unexpectedly, the tall and heavy double doors creaked open.
Opened...
Pushed from outside inwards.
"Creak——"
In the harsh tallic wail, the more-than-ten-foot-tall hall doors slowly opened, a foul, cold wind blew in from outside into the hall.
Lifting the ministers’ hair, the pale daylight once again spread in through the gap in the doors, illuminating the darkened hall.
No one spoke, and at this mont, countless pairs of eyes stared at the opened door, the daylight gradually softened, and a familiar silhouette walked in from the light.
Zhao Douan pushed open the door, stepping over the threshold, with a smirk on his lips, smiling amidst the slack-jawed court officials and military commanders:
"Quite lively, at what point has the Court eting progressed? It seems we haven’t arrived too late."
No one responded.
Zhao Douan stepped over the threshold, ignoring the wooden, pallid faces, turned aside to make space, allowing the Yu Country Empress, dressed in a Dragon Robe, black hair draped, holding the Ancestor Divine Weapon, to co in from behind him.
Xu Zhenguan holding the Jade Dragon, with phoenix-like eyes sweeping over the ministers, her gaze landed on Li Yanfu’s face, and she said indifferently:
"Why is the Pri Minister speechless?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)