Inside the royal palace, the Marquis of Pingyang was still waiting!

He wanted to make the King of Huyi witness with his own eyes the corpses of his two sons.

But now, the King of Huyi’s body could no longer bear it.

Only half a life remained hanging on!

The Marquis of Pingyang had been waiting for quite some time. Worried that circumstances might change, he immediately summoned his subordinates to ask, “Why has there been no news for so long?”

“This subordinate doesn’t know, but two teams have already left the palace—one team to pursue the Second Prince, one team to the Third Prince’s manor.”

“Useless!”

“This subordinate begs the Marquis’s forgiveness.” The guard bowed his head, not daring to say more.

And the Marquis of Pingyang truly couldn’t wait any longer.

He walked before the King of Huyi, his face showing a sinister and fierce expression as he said, “Time waits for no one. Now there’s still no news of either prince. Your Majesty shouldn’t blame this subject for not allowing enough time.”

The King of Huyi sat on the soft couch, one breath lingering continuously in his chest.

Blocking it until his whole body ached with pain.

He took a long while to barely feel somewhat more comfortable.

“Li Wenshi, even if you kill me, this throne will never be yours.”

Heh heh.

The Marquis of Pingyang said, “Must Your Majesty still struggle on your deathbed? Inside and outside the royal palace are all my people. Those ministers have also been arrested. If anyone refuses to submit, they will be killed without mercy. The situation is settled—no one can change it.”

“Heh heh, do you think the people of the realm… will submit to you?”

“Has Your Majesty forgotten the battle to besiege the palace from over twenty years ago?”

“You…” “When Your Majesty first ascended to the throne, weren’t you also subject to the suspicions of the people throughout the realm? In the end, didn’t you sit steadily on the throne for over twenty years? Since you could quell the suspicions of the people throughout the realm, why can’t I, Li Wenshi? It’s merely following precedent and establishing a new ruler. Where is there any question of submission or non-submission?”

The King of Huyi’s face was deathly pale. His parched lips opened and closed, but he couldn’t utter a single word.

Instead, he was so enraged that his heart bled.

The pain was unbearable!

The Marquis of Pingyang steeled his heart.

He said, “When all is said and done, you are still the King of Huyi. Even in death, I must leave you with an intact corpse.”

Having spoken, he lightly waved his hand.

A small eunuch was seen carrying a tray emerging from the side, placing the items on the table before the King of Huyi.

On the tray sat a cup of poisoned wine.

“At this point, Your Majesty has no other choice. This cup of wine—consider it this subject seeing you off on your final journey. I hope Your Majesty will drink it.” The Marquis of Pingyang’s eyes were fierce.

The King of Huyi looked at the poisoned wine before him and laughed bitterly.

Thinking back to those years when he himself had led tens of thousands of troops charging into the royal palace, seizing the realm of Huyi.

What magnificent ambition that had been.

All officials submitting, standing above ten thousand people.

Today, he had been forced to such a state!

Laughable!

Truly laughable!

If he truly drank this cup of poisoned wine, it would be an insult.

He looked at the Marquis of Pingyang and spoke with difficulty, “Since you want to follow precedent, why not learn from how I executed the former king back then and give me a quick death?”

The Marquis of Pingyang smiled and said, “This subject has said—I will leave you with an intact corpse and will give you a grand funeral! After your death, you will still enjoy the homage of all officials.”

“You…”

“If Your Majesty won’t drink, don’t blame this subject for taking action.” He ordered, “Someone, attend to His Majesty in drinking this wine.”

“Yes.”

The guards received their orders and picked up the wine.

One person seized the King of Huyi, pinching his jaws.

One person held the wine.

But just as they were about to pour the wine in—

The guard who had been holding the wine suddenly poured it away, drew his long sword, and with one slash killed the guard who had been restraining the King of Huyi.

He fell dead on the spot!

Ugh!

At the same time, almost half of the guards in the hall suddenly stood on the King of Huyi’s side.

Each faction taking their positions.

Seeing this, the Marquis of Pingyang was both shocked and furious, shouting in interrogation, “Are you rebelling?”

“More than just rebelling?” One person walked out from among the guards.

That person walked to the front and even removed the fake beard stuck to his chin.

Revealing his true appearance.

Seeing this, the Marquis of Pingyang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

This person was—

“Chen Shu?”

This person was precisely the Minister Chen whom Lian Que had rescued from the ruined temple back then.

Hadn’t he taken his son to a safe place?

Why would he appear here?

Chen Shu was full of vengeance as he looked at the Marquis of Pingyang. “Marquis, it’s been many years.”

“You… how can you be here?” “All twenty-seven members of my Chen family were silenced and killed. Why do you think I’m here?” Minister Chen’s face showed murderous intent. He turned to look at the King of Huyi and said, “Your Majesty fell gravely ill. To consolidate the throne, you didn’t hesitate to secretly and massively slaughter officials from the previous dynasty to eliminate future troubles. You surely never imagined that I, Chen Shu, had great fortune and could still stand alive before Your Majesty, did you?”

The King of Huyi was dumbstruck.

He had never expected such a chess piece would exist!

Right now, all around were people who wanted to kill him.

This life could not be preserved.

Truly one wrong step led to wrong steps everywhere.

Heaven had played an enormous joke on him.

Only—

He couldn’t understand.

“Since you came for revenge, why… why did you still save me?”

Chen Shu spoke sternly, “I didn’t save you. Rather, your life should not be taken by someone else’s hand.”

“…”

The Marquis of Pingyang understood his meaning and said, “Chen Shu, you can kill him now—consider it as me doing you a favor. As long as you’re willing to submit to me, I can also spare your life.”

Heh heh.

“Spare my life?” Chen Shu suddenly laughed loudly. “It seems the Marquis still hasn’t clearly seen the situation!”

The Marquis of Pingyang said, “Even if you could lead your people to infiltrate here, right now outside are all my people. With just one command from me, you too will perish here. Why not consider my offer?”

“Then I ask the Marquis to open your eyes wide and look carefully—see whether those several thousand troops outside are still the Marquis’s people or not.”

Ugh!

The Marquis of Pingyang seemed to realize something.

Just as he turned to look toward the doorway, those tightly closed great doors were pushed open from outside.

A procession of people walked in with great momentum.

Leading them were Gong Chi and the Marquis of Nanguo.

Bai Yin followed behind.

Silently.

At this moment, outside the hall stood soldiers fully clad in armor.

They held torches in one hand and swords in the other.

Just awaiting a single command.

The Marquis of Pingyang was stunned.

He couldn’t believe it!

He nearly staggered backward several steps.

The King of Huyi also showed complete astonishment on his face.

His gaze fell upon the Marquis of Nanguo—that elder brother of the former king who for over twenty years had been dutiful and focused on commerce had actually…

At this moment, he understood.

Finally understood.

It turned out no one was willing to accept it!

They were all waiting, waiting for an opportunity to make him pay his debts!

Ha ha.

He laughed, laughing in complete wretchedness.

The Marquis of Nanguo walked to the center of the hall, looking at him. “You surely never imagined that today, you too would have such a day.”

The King of Huyi said, “I was confused, I was merciful. Back then… I should have killed you.”

His voice boomed like thunder.

The Marquis of Nanguo sneered once.

And the Marquis of Pingyang stared in shock as he looked at them. “Impossible, impossible… Clearly those several thousand troops were all under my command.”

Gong Chi walked before him. “The several thousand troops outside have already become our people. And your several thousand troops are currently still waiting outside the city. It’s just that the city gates are closed and the message cannot be sent out. Your troops… are currently standing still in place.” “No! Impossible!”