A deathlike silence filled the tent. Countless gazes turned sharply toward Xue Yanna.

After a brief daze, Xue Yanna remained unmoved and sneered, “Su Dangu died at the hands of bandits – there is conclusive evidence and witnesses! Who dares falsely accuse me? Let them confront me face to face!”

His shout thundered, shaking the roof tiles.

Xue family guards stepped forward in unison, drawing their swords with an imposing presence.

Everyone immediately looked toward the lords of the Kang, Mo, and An families.

The three family lords maintained stern expressions, but secretly wondered: who was the informant?

Yuanjue stood in the tent, showing no fear: “Will General Xue confess?”

Xue Yanna laughed loudly: “Ridiculous! Without proof or evidence, why should I confess?”

Yuanjue clasped his hands: “Bring them in!”

The felt curtain swayed as guards escorted several disheveled men into the tent.

The men threw themselves before the throne platform, trembling and weeping as they detailed Xue Yanna’s crimes.

“Last winter on the twelfth day of the month, at noon, General Xue held a grand feast at his mansion, inviting twelve commanders of the Imperial Guards.”

“On the eighteenth, Xue family’s chief secretary inquired about the temple troops’ and Imperial Guards’ patrol schedules, probing when the King would leave the fortress.”

“On the twentieth, General Xue began moving local garrison troops under the pretense of rotation. Here are all the infantry movements at postal stations over the past three months.”

“General Xue harbored treacherous ambitions and rebellious intent, clashing with Regent Su Dangu multiple times, always plotting to usurp his position. The one who set up the ambush to assassinate Su Dangu was none other than General Xue!”

“The Xue family’s Fifteenth Young Master, serving as Captain in Xingcheng Garrison, bribed the local garrison troops – I witnessed it personally!”

“Those bandits and assassins who pursued Su Dangu were all recruited by the Xue family from various regions. The Xue family was ruthless, threatening families with death if the mission wasn’t completed, and silencing them even if it was.”

“The Xue family recruited a group of death row inmates. I was a death row prison guard. The Xue family’s Fifteenth Young Master coerced me with threats and bribes to let him meet the inmates. They promised the inmates wealth and treasure, secretly released them, and forced them to serve the Xue family. I was too afraid for my life to speak up.”

A man wearing light armor knelt and kowtowed, wiping his face before speaking: “I am the Training Officer of Xingcheng Garrison. During last year’s Qihan Festival assembly, Xue family members tried to bribe me with great wealth to ambush Su Dangu. When I firmly refused, they plotted to silence me. I fled to the Yue family and barely escaped with my life.”

…

One by one, the men clearly and thoroughly detailed everything they knew – times, locations, meetings.

As dusk fell, the atmosphere in the tent dropped to freezing.

The guards lit candles, their flames flickering throughout the room.

After each man came forward to testify, several guards brought forth their written confessions. The tribal chiefs accepted and passed them around, discussing them in low voices.

The written confessions were even more detailed than the men’s accusations, not only completely piecing together the Xue family’s assassination plan, but also recording Xue Yanna’s private boasts.

After reading the confessions, everyone was shocked and alarmed. When they recognized the informants, they were even more astonished, exchanging looks.

The men kneeling in the tent had varying social statuses – commoners, lowborn, military officers, and minor officials. This wasn’t surprising. What was remarkable was that aside from a few minor officials working in the Holy City, the others were all from the territories of the Kang, Mo, and An families, with one even surnamed Kang.

Given their diverse backgrounds, it was difficult to dismiss their testimonies as one-sided accounts.

Xue Yanna’s face twitched several times, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He suddenly slammed the table and stood up angrily, glaring at the lords of the Kang, Mo, and An families: “You conspired to frame me?”

The three family lords’ expressions changed dramatically.

Only by killing Su Dangu could the noble families regain power – this was their unspoken understanding. After Su Dangu’s death, the four families became rivals competing for the Regent position, incompatible as water and fire, constantly at odds. However, they didn’t want the Buddha’s son to keep investigating Su Dangu’s death, because, in the end, none of them were innocent.

They were capable of secretly informing the other three families to make the Buddha’s son despise them and indeed had done so, but these informants in the tent weren’t arranged by them!

They exchanged glances, their eyes full of questions: They had controlled the situation within half a month, forcing the Buddha’s son out of seclusion. Just when success seemed at hand, who had acted selfishly and disrupted the balance?

The Buddha’s son had been in seclusion at the temple, and Su Dangu died outside the Holy City. After his death, the four families immediately blocked key routes, preventing troops loyal to the Buddha’s son from returning to the Holy City. These past few days, the Buddha’s son hadn’t stepped out of the Buddhist temple once. Without someone informing, how could he possibly understand the situation so clearly in just a few days, even finding evidence to confront Xue Yanna?

Although Ashina Bisuo had been investigating Su Dangu’s death, he was from the Ashina family. His clansmen wouldn’t offend the noble families for him – he couldn’t discover anything.

Someone must have secretly pledged allegiance to the Buddha’s son!

The family lords stared at each other for a moment but couldn’t tell who had privately turned to the Buddha’s son – everyone wore equally suspicious expressions.

Xue Yanna looked at everyone as if they were informants, thundering in rage: “You covet the Regent position and frame me for it, is that it or not?”

The three family lords were just as puzzled as he was.

Yuanjue stepped forward: “They are loyal to the Buddha’s son, bravely exposing General Xue’s crimes. How could this be framing?”

With both witness testimony and physical evidence present, Xue Yanna remained unperturbed. Drawing his sword, he sneered: “How can the words of lowborn people be trusted so easily?”

With that, he swung his sword at the men kneeling on the ground.

Once he killed all the informants, who would dare accuse him again?

Everyone cried out in shock, rising to their feet and shouting to stop Xue Yanna, but no one stepped forward.

The men on the ground turned deathly pale.

Yuanjue sneered and drew his sword to meet the attack.

The clash of long swords rang out, making everyone’s ears buzz.

Having failed to strike, Xue Yanna stepped back and gestured for his guards to advance. “The Kang family falsely accuses me of assassinating Su Dangu. The Buddha’s son believes one-sided accounts – I, Xue Yanna, do not accept this!”

The guards drew their swords, protecting him in the center. Sword light flickered as tensions rose.

Xue Yanna scanned the room with a dark expression: “My Xue family has ten thousand elite troops just outside the city. If the Buddha’s son insists on believing slander, I can only have them come clear my name.”

The tribal chiefs’ expressions changed drastically as they stood up.

Seeing the conclusive evidence, Xue Yanna directly threatened the Buddha’s son. His reputation for being wild and unruly was well-known, and the rumors were true. It seemed he intended to be completely unreasonable today.

The Kang, An, and Mo family lords stepped back, faces full of anger, secretly sighing: The Buddha’s son insisting on investigating Su Dangu’s death was truly foolish. With the Xue family’s ten thousand elite troops stationed outside the city, even if Xue Yanna admitted to killing Su Dangu, the Buddha’s son couldn’t do anything to him today!

Selecting a Regent would avoid casualties, but now the Buddha’s son refused to compromise. With Xue Yanna enraged by humiliation, the other families naturally wouldn’t let the Xue family take all the advantages. Blood would have to be shed tonight!

The three exchanged glances, silently communicating and quickly reaching an understanding.

They had surrounded the city with troops only to intimidate the Buddha’s son and the other three families – they didn’t want actual armed conflict unless necessary.

The only solution now was to push all blame onto Xue Yanna to prevent the situation from escalating and damaging the noble families’ interests.

The An family lord stepped forward from the crowd: “Xue Yanna, stop this insolence!”

Xue Yanna sneered: “Today we’re here to select a Regent. If we don’t choose one that satisfies my Xue family, I’ll be insolent to the end!”

The three family lords were furious, and the tribal chiefs began cursing – this Xue Yanna was truly arrogant!

Xue Yanna maintained his haughty expression, looking smug.

Amidst the chaos of curses and shouts, a central army guard hurried into the hall, face panicked, and knelt: “Your Highness, there’s an unusual movement among the armies outside the city!”

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat as an uproar broke out.

It wasn’t yet time for desperate measures – who had moved first?

Was it the Xue family?

The Kang, An, and Mo families glared at Xue Yanna – faced with conclusive evidence, had he lost his composure?

Xue Yanna frowned deeply. Whoever struck first would be jointly suppressed by the other three families. He hadn’t given any orders – how could his men have acted?

“Xue Yanna, the evidence is conclusive and you can’t deny it. Are you trying to rebel?”

Someone roared and swung their sword at the Xue family guards.

The Xue family guards raised their swords to counter.

The sound of clashing swords filled the air as sword light flashed and curses erupted.

Everyone in the tent kicked over tables and drew swords in self-defense. The various factions had been eyeing each other with hostility, and under the tension and anxiety, they immediately counterattacked when anyone approached.

Kang Mozhe retreated under his followers’ protection, watching the tent descend into chaos with an ominous feeling rising in his heart. He glanced at Tanmoluojia, who remained seated behind the brocade curtain, and suddenly felt his blood run cold.

At this moment, unexpected chaos erupted.

Two of the guards Xue Yanna had brought suddenly sprang into action, gripping their swords tightly, cutting down the hanging brocade curtain, and charging straight at Tanmoluojia on the throne platform!

Before anyone could react, several guards from the Kang, Mo, and An families also suddenly attacked, rushing toward the throne platform with flashing swords.

In an instant, the brocade curtain was hacked to pieces as several long swords slashed toward the Buddha’s son in his kasaya robe.

Everyone froze, their souls seeming to leave their bodies.

The nearest guards reacted, throwing themselves forward to block the attack.

“The Xue, Kang, and other families harbor treacherous ambitions! They pretended to discuss selecting a Regent to buy time, planning to assassinate the Buddha’s son and rebel!”

In the chaos, someone’s shrill cry rang out.

As one voice spoke, others joined in response, their voices merging into a surging wave that shook the heavens.

Everyone was stunned.

Kang Mozhe stood rooted in place, his face ashen.

The tribal chiefs fled the great tent in panic, sweating profusely, pointing at Xue, Kang, and the others while cursing: “You’ve gone mad and lost your hearts! For the Regent position, you dare assassinate the Buddha’s son! We’ll gather troops now to protect the sovereign!”

Someone in the corner shouted: “Stop them!”

As soon as the words fell, swooshing sounds suddenly rang out. In the night, several arrows were fired in quick succession toward the chiefs.

The orderly, dense sound of footsteps grew closer. Shadows moved beneath the palace walls as several groups of troops approached the main hall, the sound of armor rubbing together crystal clear.

“Are you trying to silence us by murder?” The tribal chiefs’ eyes bulged with rage. Ignoring the curses, they retreated from the main hall with their guards.

All along the way, people shouted that the noble families were trying to assassinate the Buddha’s son. The Imperial Guards who had been bought by the Xue family, believing the noble families had truly made their move, emerged from hiding.

“The Xue family has ten thousand troops outside the city, the other three families can’t enter the city, and the central army only has a few thousand guards. Follow me and charge! When General Xue becomes Regent, gold and silver treasures will be yours for the taking!”

They began attacking the royal court guards.

The royal court guards seemed to be overwhelmed, continuously falling back.

The Imperial Guards aligned with the noble families and advanced like an unstoppable force.

In the tent, the guards were still fighting chaotically. Hearing the thunderous killing cries outside, Kang, An, and other families realized things might have completely escaped their control and inwardly cursed their misfortune.

Kang Mozhe moved closer to the Buddha’s son’s direction.

His guards, while fighting, whispered in his ear: “Grand Chancellor, since things have come to this, we might as well go all out. If we can subdue the others, everyone will have to follow your orders!”

Kang Mozhe’s heart trembled.

The others were thinking the same thing.

Kang Mozhe’s whole body shook as he charged toward the throne platform under his guards’ protection, pushing aside the royal guards.

The platform was empty.

Tanmoluojia had already slipped away in the chaos.

Kang Mozhe’s teeth chattered as he whirled around.

“Get out! Leave this place of turmoil!”

With several thunderous booms, the ground seemed to shake as the heavy main hall doors slowly closed before his eyes. All the royal guards in the hall shouted while retreating toward the doorway, while the four families’ guards still fought in confusion.

Kang Mozhe’s face drained of color as he rushed toward the doors.

The last sliver of space closed before his eyes, the candles were extinguished, and the tent plunged into darkness.

Kang Mozhe’s eyes suddenly widened, nearly bursting from their sockets.

They had thought the Buddha’s son was still in seclusion, thought his recent concessions were made out of helplessness, and believed everything was under their control.

It turned out it was all an illusion.

The Buddha’s son was the one who had set the trap!

…

Outside the great hall, Tanmoluojia rode through the long street in his kasaya robe, his clothes flapping in the wind.

The Imperial Guards were still fighting, crowds surging. Cold silver light reflected off the palace walls as the royal guards fought while retreating, coordinating perfectly with the five thousand ambushed Imperial troops to thoroughly surround the forces the noble families had brought into the palace. The Imperial Guards aligned with the noble families raised their swords in resistance.

When Tanmoluojia appeared at the head of the long street, the human wall froze for an instant, all heads raising in unison to look up at him.

He gazed at the crowd, his jade eyes clear, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow, as if he were a divine being.

At this moment, the morale of the noble families’ forces scattered, their will collapsing.

Without a word, Tanmoluojia rode away from the main hall. Behind him, countless arrows were launched simultaneously, falling like a locust storm. The royal guards advanced step by step as the noble families’ Imperial Guards began to retreat, unable to withstand the assault.

All beings have thin fortune, and face many sorrows and troubles, the nation often falls into chaos, disasters arise frequently, and various calamities and fears threaten and harass.

In times of chaos, one must use the methods of chaos.

Tanmoluojia’s fingers lightly caressed his prayer beads as he silently recited sutras, his kasaya robe billowing in the wind.

The central army guards emerged from the night, surrounding him as he ascended the city wall.

These past days, the noble families’ military sons had either been persuaded by the royal guards and secretly changed allegiance, or had been bound and confined under guard in tents.

While the noble families were rubbing their hands in anticipation, the several tens of thousands of garrison troops outside the Holy City had already sprung numerous leaks, full of vulnerabilities.

Royal guard scouts moved among them, employing clever strategies, setting fire to camps, taking advantage of the chaos to shout and yell, disturbing morale, and quickly causing their camps to descend into chaos.

Once the camps fell into chaos, even the officers couldn’t command their soldiers.

Meanwhile, ten thousand tribal cavalry who had received orders via falcon messages to come to the Holy City were already lying in ambush outside Xing City. Their task was to charge into enemy formations and scatter the noble families’ soldiers’ battle formations, throwing them into complete chaos.

At this moment, the four armies below the city walls, cut off from contact with their lords and caught in the royal guards’ trap, had also fallen into chaotic battle. Dense masses of soldiers followed their leaders in charges across the snow plain, fires burning everywhere, screams and killing cries like a realm of asuras and demons.

Tanmoluojia stood above this realm of asuras and demons, overlooking the battlefield. The blazing firelight reflected on his handsome face, his features as perfect as a painting.

“Your Highness! Everything is proceeding smoothly!” Bisuo, wearing armor, ran up the city wall and called out.

Tanmoluojia nodded and waved his hand.

The white-robed royal guards responded in unison, lowering their bows and pushing forward rows of heavy crossbow war machines, adjusting the crossbow bodies to aim at the soldiers fighting below the walls.

Bells and drums sounded together, deep and resonant, spreading across the entire battlefield.

The soldiers below the walls raised their heads blankly, saw the crossbow war machines on the wall, and were filled with terror.

These war machines were the royal court’s weapons for countering the Northern Rong cavalry, with extreme penetrating power that could easily pierce cavalry armor even from a hundred paces away.

If the royal guards fired the crossbows, within mere breaths they would be shot into sieves!

The soldiers retreated in fear.

“The noble families have rebelled, attempting to assassinate the Buddha’s son, and have been captured!” Bisuo held the arrow slot and shouted, “The Buddha’s son is here! Why do you not quickly lay down your weapons?”

This long cry was projected with inner force, and the fighting soldiers heard it.

“The Buddha’s son is merciful and knows you were deceived by the noble families. He will not blame you. As long as you lay down your weapons, you are not rebels.”

“Whoever stubbornly resists is an enemy of the Buddha’s son!”

The soldiers looked up at Tanmoluojia in confusion as watery silence fell over the battlefield.

They had no idea what had happened – suddenly rushing out of camp, fighting, suddenly seeing barbarian troops descend from the sky, and suddenly being driven to the city walls.

With a clang, royal guards mixed among the soldiers and forcefully threw away their weapons, deliberately wailing loudly as they knelt and kowtowed.

Others followed, kneeling.

At this sound, the other soldiers awakened as if from a dream, following suit in laying down their weapons and prostrating themselves.

The different colored armors merged into a surging tide as horses neighed in the distance amid roaring flames.

Tanmoluojia stood atop the city wall, looking down at the submitted soldiers below.

That night at the post station with Yao Ying, fleeing from pursuit, he had already made his decision. Every move of the noble families had been within his expectations. Along the way, falcons had delivered his orders via messages. Before even reaching the Holy City, he had arranged all the ambush forces.

Allowing the noble families to surround the city was all to consolidate military power.

From this night forward, these soldiers would no longer be the noble families’ private armies.

…

That night, the Holy City’s common people trembled in fear, not daring to close their eyes.

The royal court was in turmoil as the noble families pressed aggressively, bribing Imperial Guards and attempting to assassinate the Buddha’s son, only to be captured by Imperial Guards and central army guards loyal to the Buddha’s son.

The four armies outside the city created chaos in their camps at nightfall, hastily launching an attack on the city. Tribal cavalry arriving to pay respects to the Buddha’s son reached them just in time, scattered the four armies, and drove them to the city walls. The Buddha’s son personally went to the walls, and the soldiers, overcome with shame, wept bitter tears and surrendered their weapons.

The next day, tribal chiefs submitted memorials one after another, demanding severe punishment for Xue Yanna who had led the assassination attempt against the Buddha’s son.

Tanmoluojia did not immediately deal with the noble families, but first promoted the meritorious officers and soldiers, bestowing great rewards, and issued an edict that henceforth in the four armies, soldiers regardless of noble or humble birth could be promoted based on military achievements.

This edict immediately spread far and wide, greatly exciting the soldiers’ spirits.

The main hall doors remained tightly shut. The noble families who had led troops into the palace were trapped by the Imperial Guards like turtles in a jar – from Kang Mozhe to the An family guards, not one escaped, all were imprisoned in the dungeons.

As news filtered into the dungeon one piece at a time, Kang Mozhe laughed wildly, hysterically.

These past years when Regent Su Dangu managed state affairs, the Buddha’s son often went into seclusion. Su Dangu was ruthless and heartless, earning the noble families’ deep hatred. They plotted carefully to eliminate him, but forgot that the Buddha’s son was Su Dangu’s true support!

They were too confident, thinking the Buddha’s son acted cautiously and wouldn’t dare oppose the noble families. They thought that by stationing troops outside the Holy City and striking when he was unprepared, the Buddha’s son would have to compromise in his haste. After all, maintaining balance in court and avoiding direct conflict with noble families was an ancestral teaching of the Tanmo family, and with external enemies present, he surely wouldn’t want to see court instability.

They never expected the Buddha’s son would become so angry as to openly break with the noble families. Of the four great noble families, he relied on none of them, directly striking at their military power to break them apart.

Kang Mozhe couldn’t help feeling some regret.

The Buddha’s son had been able to lead troops and repel enemies at age thirteen. Even with Su Dangu dead, the Buddha’s son wouldn’t sit idle waiting for death. They had greatly underestimated him.

One night passed, and heaven and earth had changed.

When Kang Mozhe was brought before the hall, that face that had always been full of ruddy health had become gaunt and haggard.

He raised his head to look at Tanmoluojia, who sat on the throne platform reviewing and marking memorials.

The light in the hall was dim, with only a small lamp lit before the desk, its flame tiny as a bean.

“Your Highness, you weren’t really in seclusion, were you?” Kang Mozhe murmured. “It hasn’t even been half a month since you emerged, how could the tribal cavalry arrive so quickly at the Holy City, scattering the four armies like divine troops descending from heaven?”

He had pondered for a long time, unable to understand how the noble families had acted so quickly, yet the Buddha’s son, who had supposedly stayed in the Buddhist temple, could command tribal cavalry from thousands of li away.

There was only one answer.

“You knew the Regent was in danger and made arrangements early… You weren’t in seclusion at all. Even before the Regent was killed, you had already spread your net, waiting for us to take the bait!”

Kang Mozhe smiled bitterly.

What use was understanding all this now?

He was already a prisoner.

“How will Your Highness deal with us?”

Tanmoluojia replied in a calm tone: “Investigate the crimes, punish according to law.”

Kang Mozhe started, then smiled slightly, his wrinkles smoothing out.

The King was the Buddha’s son – he wouldn’t massacre people to consolidate power like the Zhang family had. No matter what, the Buddha’s son would never raise a blade against the elderly, weak, women, and children.

Kang Mozhe heaved a long sigh. “Why does Your Highness trouble yourself this way? You could have simply ignored the noble families’ disputes.”

Having navigated political waters for years, solely pursuing family interests, he couldn’t understand Tanmoluojia’s actions.

Tanmoluojia set down a scroll of parchment and said: “The royal court’s four armies are controlled by noble families, internal strife is constant, and the Northern Rong watch us like tigers eyeing prey. Once the four armies develop conflicts, within two days, intelligence reports reach the Northern Rong. Without eliminating internal threats, the royal court cannot resist the Northern Rong.”

These past years, the Northern Rong had always attacked the royal court during times of internal turmoil. Previously busy dealing with attacks, exhausted in body and mind, several times near death, he had no strength to reform the court. This time, the Wahan Khan also faced troubles – the opportunity couldn’t be missed.

Kang Mozhe exhaled a long breath: “You want to reclaim military power so you can focus on dealing with the Northern Rong.”

He shook his head and smiled wryly.

Only by working together could they resist external enemies – didn’t he understand this principle?

He did understand, as did the other noble families.

But none could do it, because no one was willing to be the sacrifice who gave up family interests.

“Your Highness, you have grand ambitions, planning for the royal court’s long-term peace and stability, but you underestimate human nature! You’ve broken the balance. The noble families submit temporarily, but they will rise again from the ashes.”

“Throughout history, which hero has met a good end?”

Kang Mozhe sat cross-legged, looking at Tanmoluojia as if in a discussion between ruler and minister.

“Does Your Highness remember General Sai Sang’er? And General Mohe? They were loyal to the royal court, devoted their hearts and souls, lived for the public good. In the end, one had his entire family massacred and died at the hands of bandits, while the other was despised by his sovereign, torn apart by five horses, his clan enslaved. What’s laughable is that the commoners they promoted quickly became new nobles, using any means to integrate with the noble families, joining them in trampling and enslaving the common people. How were their faces any different from the noble families?”

Kang Mozhe laughed loudly.

“Your Highness, you are the Buddha’s son, a nation’s sovereign. You can’t do without the noble families. They are like grass on high ground – one withers, one flourishes, eternally regenerating. Today you suppress us and control the court, but local governance still relies on noble families. The noble families have deep roots and thick leaves, having been the royal court’s flesh and blood since its founding. Without noble families maintaining local control, the royal court would be loose sand. Within a few years, the noble families will rise again, and you will eventually have to compromise with them.”

A few points of light flashed in Kang Mozhe’s murky eyes as he sighed deeply.

“General Mohe wanted to reform the military system. He touched the noble families’ interests, violated the royal court’s foundation. His fate was self-inflicted.”

“General Sai Sang’er insisted on investigating the noble families’ seizure of manors, got in too deep, couldn’t escape.”

“They were too naive.”

Kang Mozhe raised his head to look at Tanmoluojia, a mocking smile at his lips.

“Your Highness, the common people are ignorant and docile. Just hold a stick, and they’ll obey. Benevolence cannot win their loyalty. They’re too fickle, too foolish. Today they worship you like a god, tomorrow they’ll despise and hate you for the slightest mistake. You’ll soon discover that those who betray you will be these very commoners you protect!”

“The Tanmo family has ruled for generations. You need only balance the noble families to forever enjoy glory and wealth.”

“Rashly breaking the rules – the families whose interests are harmed won’t submit forever. Even knowing they can’t change anything, they’ll bare their fangs and claws, waiting for revenge.”

“Your Highness, you are the Buddha’s son. How can you not understand such principles? Not see through the stakes involved?”

Before the desk, the candlelight flickered.

Tanmoluojia lowered his eyes, his expression calm, and said softly, “The royal court is already mortally ill. In these chaotic times, continuing to let things be will eventually lead to the royal court’s destruction in war.”

Someone had to do these things. If everyone was too cautious, who would pacify the chaos?

Kang Mozhe stared at him, silent for a long while, his fingers trembling.

“So, you knowingly try to turn back the tide? Even if the price is ending up like General Sai Sang’er, death and destroyed reputation?”

Tanmoluojia’s writing movements remained steady and composed as he said: “All men must die. If death is for the state, for the common people, then it is a worthy death.”

The candlelight surrounding his face illuminated his clear-cut profile.

Kang Mozhe remembered that year when the noble families abandoned the city. Thirteen-year-old Tanmoluojia gathered the central army to defend the royal court, covering the common people’s escape. In the vast yellow sand, the youth rode alone, facing an enemy many times his size, advancing gallantly without hesitation.

Using his own strength to save all beings, protect the royal court, pacify chaos.

Kang Mozhe remained silent for a long time before prostrating himself.

“Your subject confesses his crimes.”

The Kang family wouldn’t sink from this. The noble families had built their power over many years. Even if thoroughly defeated, they would rise again within two generations.

He confessed and surrendered military power. Tanmoluojia wouldn’t pursue total extinction.

…

Except for Xue Yanna, the other three families surrendered their military power and identified Xue Yanna as Su Dangu’s assassin.

The shocking upheaval settled in one night. The city’s common people were both shaken and full of discussion, rumors flying everywhere.

Yao Ying woke just as the camps outside the city descended into chaos.

She tightened her robes and stood up, seeing the stacked sutras on the long desk, realizing she was still in Tanmoluojia’s meditation room. She blanked for a moment.

Thunder-like muffled sounds entered the royal temple as the ground shook. Fire lit up half the sky, and chaos erupted outside the city.

Yao Ying walked out of the meditation room, her face pale.

Bami’er thought she was afraid and softly comforted her: “Princess need not be nervous. The royal temple’s guards have been strengthened – no villains can break in again.”

Yao Ying shook her head, wrapped her cloak tightly, and climbed the high tower to gaze toward the city’s outskirts.

The great fire burned all night.

Yao Ying kept watch on the tower through the night until dawn.

At daybreak, Yuanjue hurriedly returned to the royal temple: “I apologize for frightening the Princess these past days. Now the central army has suppressed the rebellion – Princess need not worry.”

Yao Ying asked him: “Were there many casualties?”

Yuanjue smiled and said: “We just set some fires to frighten them into camp chaos. We had our people in the four armies – seeing the signal, they deliberately caused disturbances. By nightfall, people had already infiltrated their camps, cutting their bowstrings and stirrups, filling their weapons with mud so they couldn’t fight… Also, days ago, His Highness secretly ordered General Ashina to dig large holes along the main roads outside the city. In winter, several layers of snow don’t melt. Looking out, everything is a vast expanse of white. Only the royal guards familiar with the Holy City know which patches of snow cover valley pits and which cover solid ground.”

Having held back for many days, he could finally speak freely, barely containing his excitement as he went on and on.

“During the camp chaos, the royal guards deliberately led those who couldn’t see clearly toward those big holes. Everyone fell into snow pits, couldn’t even climb out. Who could think about anything else?”

Tanmoluojia had thoroughly understood the four armies’ movements and planted people early. While the noble families were showing off their might, thinking the Buddha’s son and central army guards were backing down, the royal guards had already infiltrated the stationed troops outside the city. After dark, they coordinated inside and out to cause chaos. With the tribal cavalry directly scattering the enemy formations, there weren’t many casualties.

In the palace, except for Xue Yanna’s close confidants, all other rebel soldiers and Imperial Guards surrendered their weapons without bloody battle.

Yao Ying felt relieved, letting out a breath.

Yuanjue smiled: “The Princess truly has a kind heart.”

Yao Ying shook her head: “I’m happy for the Master.”

Yuanjue started slightly, then understanding dawned. He looked at her deeply, put away his smile, and nodded.

No wonder after the noble families confessed, there wasn’t a trace of joy on His Highness’s face.

Everyone was immersed in the wild joy of victory. Only Princess Wenzhao saw what was on the King’s mind.