The Marquis of Nanguo didn’t respond. He only turned to look at the group of people who had followed him in.

Everyone’s gazes followed suit.

Wanting to know what scheme was being hatched?

A man was seen walking out from among the crowd. He wore armor, his heroic bearing overwhelming, his hidden fierceness so sharp that people dared not look directly at him—like an untamed leopard that could devour someone at any moment.

The moment they saw him, the King of Huyi’s originally weak and lowered pupils suddenly dilated.

Those eyes were too similar!

He was…

Ugh!

Bai Yin walked to the Marquis of Nanguo’s side, hatred surging in his eyes as he looked at the King of Huyi’s completely stunned face.

“You never expected I’d still be alive, did you?”

“A…” The King of Huyi struggled for quite a while before finally managing to get out the character “Jin.”

A Jin.

The former king’s heir!

Everyone was astonished.

Silence fell all around. Bai Yin’s heroic brows drew together sternly. “Back then, my mother consort and I fled all the way to Da Lin. Fortunately, that forest was large enough that I luckily survived. It’s just a pity I lost my memory and wandered outside for over twenty years. Fortunately, the truth has now been completely revealed. Now, you should pay what you owe!”

“A Jin…”

“You have no right to call me that!”

The King of Huyi’s blood-stained lips trembled incessantly.

Tears in his eyes.

At this moment, he truly regretted it!

“Back then, you personally severed my father king’s head. This debt should be repaid with blood for blood!”

Just as the words fell—

Someone entered from outside the door.

Lian Que was seen with blood stains on her body, carrying two perfectly square boxes in her hands!

She walked to the Marquis of Nanguo’s side. “Marquis.”

The Marquis of Nanguo nodded slightly.

Lian Que then placed the boxes before the King of Huyi and opened them one by one.

Two heads covered in fresh blood came prominently into view.

One was Na Yan’s!

One was Na Tuo’s!

Both died with eyes wide open.

Two pairs of eyes stared straight ahead!

At that moment, the King of Huyi’s entire body went rigid halfway.

Deathly pale, trembling all over.

Fresh blood overflowed from his mouth.

He collapsed onto the soft couch.

And the Marquis of Pingyang, who was being held down kneeling on the ground, was also shocked.

Although he himself had ordered the two princes’ corpses to be brought into the palace, he hadn’t expected those people to be one step ahead of him and even sever their heads.

This degree of cruelty—he couldn’t match it.

The Marquis of Nanguo said, “After Your Majesty’s death, there are people to accompany you. This life is not in vain.”

The King of Huyi’s facial muscles wrinkled, his neck flushed red, his eyes full of bloodshot veins…

He made several “ugh” sounds, reaching one hand toward Bai Yin before him, struggling to utter a sentence: “I… wronged… your father king!”

After the last word was spoken, he completely breathed his last!

Those eyes did not close!

A king of his generation—in the end, this was his fate.

In the hall, everything returned to calm.

So quiet that even a needle dropping to the ground could be heard clearly.

Bai Yin stood before the now-deceased King of Huyi. He didn’t know how to describe his current feelings.

Happy?

Moved?

Or…

Actually, he was very clear about what this moment meant.

Huyi was changing dynasties and establishing a new ruler. He himself would be the new king!

Only, was he truly prepared?

From now on, to spend his entire life within this royal palace?

He was originally an untamed leopard, by nature belonging to the great grasslands and great forests, yet now he had to shed that layer of skin and sit from now on upon that cold dragon throne.

Was he truly prepared?

…

Outside, because of the fire at the sacrificial altar, plus the troops besieging the palace, the royal palace was now in complete chaos.

Crowds surged, all running toward the palace gates.

The fire grew bigger and bigger…

Spreading everywhere.

It had already affected several palace halls. Li Qiao led his people to suppress those arrested officials, demanding they submit to the Li family. Those who refused would be killed without mercy. This showed the difference between the Marquis of Pingyang and the King of Huyi: in order to consolidate his future imperial position, the Marquis of Pingyang would absolutely not be soft-hearted. He would wipe them out completely to eliminate future troubles!

Outside was complete chaos. The assembled ministers were locked in Yangxin Hall.

Watched by palace guards, unable to get out at all.

Everyone seemed to still not understand what had happened?

They had originally planned to return home immediately after the year sacrifice ended to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

But they hadn’t expected the sacrificial altar to catch fire, and then to be captured here by some soldiers of unknown origin.

Now, they were frantic, worried and tense.

Duke Wangguo was naturally among them.

He thought carefully through the ins and outs of this matter, following the vine to find the melon, and seemed to figure something out.

But he was interrupted by others’ voices: “Duke, the year sacrifice was going well—how did this suddenly happen?”

“Right, weren’t you helping the Second Prince prepare the year sacrifice all along?”

“What exactly is going on?”

…

Duke Wangguo had just had some thoughts, but now they were all gone.

He simply couldn’t figure it out!

Until—

The great door was pushed open.

Li Qiao led people inside.

Minister of Personnel Huai Tongren thought he had grasped a lifeline and immediately stepped forward saying, “Minister Li, what exactly is the situation? Why are there so many troops in the palace? And why have they brought us here?”

Li Qiao’s expression was cold and severe. “Minister Huai, I apologize greatly. The ones who captured and brought you all here… were my people.”

Huai Tongren’s eyes widened. “You… what does this mean?”

Li Qiao looked at him coldly, then scanned everyone. “Do the various ministers still not understand?”

Everyone looked at each other.

No one could imagine Li Qiao would rebel!

After all, he was the King of Huyi’s most trusted person.

But Duke Wangguo understood. “Minister Li, could it be that…”

A cold light revealed itself in Li Qiao’s gaze. “Right now, His Majesty is in Tongzhi Hall, already unable to spare attention for himself. And outside, the several thousand troops are all under my Li family’s command.”

Duke Wangguo: “You’re staging a rebellion?”

“The Duke understands—not too late!”

“You actually dare…”

“What wouldn’t I dare?”

Duke Wangguo was stunned.

Li Qiao: “Right now before you all, there are only two choices: one is to submit to my Li family, two is… to go be buried alongside His Majesty.”

The ministers sighed endlessly.

Originally divided into two factions—one for the Second Prince, one for the Third Prince—thinking that surely one of them would ascend and become king, they hadn’t expected the situation to undergo such earth-shattering changes. In an instant, the Li family had rebelled.

Someone said, “Li Qiao, the Second Prince and Third Prince will surely come.”

“Come?” Li Qiao laughed. He said, “Both princes are already unable to spare attention for themselves. I’m afraid at this moment they’ve already met their deaths in the Yellow Springs, their corpses being carried into the palace right now.”

“Ugh…”

A stir of commotion.

“Inside and outside the royal palace are already under my Li family’s control. Those who understand the times are outstanding heroes. As long as you’re willing to submit to my Li family, you can leave the royal palace alive. Otherwise, don’t blame me, Li Qiao, for not remembering our past fellowship as court officials.”

Everyone looked at each other.

No one dared make the first decision.

As if still waiting for a sudden reversal!

Li Qiao didn’t want to wait any longer. He had to make an example to warn the others.

He drew his long sword and swung it.

He struck down and killed Minister of Rites Huai Tongren.

The ministers’ faces showed terror, extremely panicked. Li Qiao: “The opportunity has been given to you. If you still don’t make a decision, I’m afraid this Yangxin Hall will become a slaughterhouse.”