Bell sounds echoed before the palace gate plaza.

Soon large numbers of ministers rushed in, disheveled with crooked hats and missing boots, gasping for breath.

When the warning bell rang, it meant utmost urgency – matters of national life and death. Everyone who rushed in had pale faces, some having fallen directly from their horses.

But upon reaching the plaza, all the ministers stood dumbfounded.

They had expected the royal city to be ablaze with beacon fires and filled with weapons and armor, yet everything was peaceful with moonlight like water.

Suddenly someone said, “Look quickly!” pointing in horror toward the edge of the plaza.

Everyone turned to see a swaying figure atop the bell tower. From that stiff posture, it was clearly a corpse. Someone cried out “Wah!” and retreated backward.

Those with more courage, vaguely sensing ill omens, stepped forward to look carefully and said, “There’s a blood letter hanging over there!”

Everyone was both shocked and uneasy. Just as they were about to approach, they suddenly heard thundering hoofbeats. Looking back, they saw a large mass of black troops already appearing at the street entrance.

The army was naturally led by Ge Lian. She saw over a hundred ministers in the plaza at a glance and couldn’t help but be startled. Then, discovering there were no troops behind the ministers and the palace gates were not open, she was immediately overjoyed, knowing the Imperial Guard camp hadn’t had time to arrive. She immediately had soldiers seal off the streets around the plaza while she rode forward alone.

The ministers, seeing the army’s arrival, were also shocked and uneasy. The Grand Minister of Luoyun stepped forward first. Seeing that the leader was actually Ge Lian, he couldn’t help but say in confusion, “Princess Lian? How do you come here in the dead of night? And bringing so many soldiers? Without royal orders, troops cannot enter the plaza. Has something happened?”

“Acting on the Crown Prince’s orders, leading troops to loyally serve and protect the King!” Ge Lian declared fiercely. “Consort Li has held the King hostage and severely wounded the Crown Prince, intending to hold the Son of Heaven to command the princes and usurp power! The Crown Prince ordered loyal servants to deliver his precious seal to me at night, commanding me to urgently mobilize the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office and Capital Guard camp to rescue the King! Fellow ministers, the King is in peril, imprisoned in the palace. Why don’t you quickly join me in rescue!”

She took out the treasure box and flashed it before everyone.

Under the firelight, the treasure box’s gems glittered brilliantly. Everyone recognized the box’s design and gasped.

All the ministers lived nearby, close to the Eastern Palace, so they naturally sensed something wrong within the Eastern Palace today. But Ge Shen had blocked the news, so they didn’t know Ge Heng was dead. Now hearing Ge Lian’s account, it matched perfectly. Most immediately believed and angrily said, “That demon consort! We said long ago she would surely bewitch and mislead the nation, but the King just wouldn’t listen!”

“Let’s go! Though we are scholars, in this national crisis, we cannot spare ourselves! Loyally serving to rescue the King and eliminating the demon consort is every man’s duty!”

Scholars, when their blood runs hot, are sometimes more impulsive and easily angered than warriors. One voice sparked a hundred responses. Immediately a large group of ministers rolled up their sleeves and waved their fists, wanting to join Ge Lian’s ranks. Some had already gone to scold the palace gate guards, telling them to quickly open the gates because “there’s turmoil in the inner palace – we cannot delay.”

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Ge Lian’s mouth, gentle and warm, unable to hide the contempt in her eyes.

These scholar-officials, made foolish by their books, were all just a group of donkeys who would obediently run in circles once bridled. Say a few words about integrity, speak of righteousness, and you could trick them into rushing forward one after another, their bones paving the ground. Even unto death, they would still think they upheld the righteous path, dying as heroes.

Thinking she could use this group of ministers as hostages to force open the palace gates, she smiled even more happily.

Heaven truly helps me – when drowsy, a warm pillow appears.

That group of ministers was about to run over.

Suddenly someone in the back shouted loudly, “Look at that blood letter!”

Everyone turned around to see the blood letter hanging on the bell tower railing suddenly flutter down. Someone took it in hand and read aloud, “Fellow colleagues, beware – Ge Lian rebels… Ah?”

The plaza suddenly fell silent.

Ge Lian’s face instantly turned white.

It must be said that Liu Yuan was thorough in his thinking. His final testament was not a lengthy discourse but directly sharp, immediately pointing to the truth.

Everyone was stunned and instinctively continued reading: “Justice Minister Liu Yuan stakes his life to inform all colleagues. The Crown Prince has died. Princess Ge Lian stole the Crown Prince’s treasure box, urgently mobilized the Five Cities Military and Capital Guard armies, using false pretenses and disguises, intending to assault the royal palace, hold the King hostage, and take advantage of the chaos to assassinate Consort Li and the prince, seizing the throne. Ge Lian’s rapacious heart commits acts of great rebellion – murdering the Crown Prince before, framing the Queen after, provoking the royal family, bringing disaster to Luoyun. Now there is the Crown Prince’s final testament wall as evidence… The palace gates remain sealed, warnings cannot be delivered. Liu Yuan hangs himself from the warning bell, striking it with his life. Fellow ministers, do not release this treacherous hero! Final words here, entrusting family and nation. Liu Yuan bows his head.”

After reading this passage, everyone’s faces turned ashen.

Someone said tremblingly, “That wall…”

Everyone turned their gaze. At the base of the bell tower sat that wall properly, the blood characters already turned brownish. Liu Yuan was meticulous and had even made a mark, pointing directly to the lotus symbol below the blood characters.

The Grand Minister of Luoyun, his face devoid of color, leaned close to carefully examine the lotus and said bitterly, “This wall is from beneath the window of the Crown Prince’s bedchamber…”

Royal items all had regulations. Different bricks were fired in different kilns. The wall bricks used in the Crown Prince’s bedchamber were blue-gray, from the famous kiln “Dragon Blue.” Each piece bore a small five-clawed dragon mark that could not be counterfeited.

Moreover, these high ministers were also very familiar with the Crown Prince’s handwriting. Even if they felt there were slight differences, that was only because writing on a wall while dying would naturally make the characters somewhat different.

Everyone stiffly observed the wall surface for a while, then looked up at the bell tower top. The wind had died down, the bell sounds finally stopped, and Liu Yuan hanging from the bell clapper faced straight down, his gaze still seemingly stern, glaring fiercely.

The Grand Minister of Luoyun slowly turned around and said in a deep voice, “Retreat. Don’t approach the rebel army.”

When the last two words were spoken, Ge Lian, who had been watching his lip movements, swayed slightly, then a fierce light flashed in her eyes.

The civil officials silently gathered together and began retreating toward the palace gate. The guards saw the situation was wrong and quickly reported to their leaders, requesting instructions on how to handle it.

The ministers retreated all the way to the guards defending the main gate, forming several ranks. The Grand Minister of Luoyun stood at the front and said, “The bell has rung. If the King is unharmed, everything is Ge Lian’s lies, and the King will surely come out. We cannot follow her. It’s best to guard here and wait for the King.”

“Princess Ge Lian,” the Deputy Minister said, “mobilizing troops at midnight and surrounding the royal palace is not what a minister should do. Perhaps you were deceived by treacherous people, mistakenly believing the King was controlled, and in your urgency to save the King, rashly mobilized troops to come here. It’s not too late to stop now. We’ve discussed that we will guard this palace gate to the death, believing the King will surely emerge safely. Princess Ge Lian, if you trust us and trust the King, why not dismiss your army, station them outside the palace, and join us in guarding the palace gate?”

“Indeed so.” The Grand Minister immediately said, “The Princess was also deceived by treacherous people, worried about the King’s safety, which led to this desperate measure. As long as the Princess joins us in guarding the gate and waits for the King to emerge, we will certainly explain the Princess’s true intentions before His Majesty. The Princess can rest assured.”

The Grand Minister and Deputy Minister were both veteran court officials who knew this was a critical moment. If they could stabilize Ge Lian and make her rein in at the cliff’s edge, that would be best.

Ge Lian sat on her horse, staring at the two old ministers. Light flashed in her eyes – all blazing fury.

That damned Liu Yuan!

These damned ministers!

To leak information at this crucial moment and kick her vital point just before the goal!

At this stage, these two naive old foxes still wanted to trick her into surrendering. If she really dismissed her army and stayed with them waiting for Ge Shen to emerge, tomorrow her head would be hanging high above this palace city!

The ministers gazed at her with burning eyes. These old officials still hoped their “three-inch golden tongues” could make Princess Lian repent and reform.

Ge Lian suddenly laughed softly, bent down, and whispered, “Honorable ministers, there’s something I wonder if you’ve heard?”

The ministers looked up at her in puzzlement.

“Has anyone told you,” Ge Lian said leisurely, “that in this world, those who dare rebel may not necessarily be the smartest, but they’re definitely the boldest, most vicious, and most daring to act?”

The ministers looked at her cold, menacing eyes and shivered. Thinking of this Princess’s usual gentleness and kindness, they felt momentarily dazed, as if facing a complete stranger.

The Grand Minister of Luoyun frowned and stared at her. “So what if you’re the boldest and most vicious? It’s just a fierce exterior hiding a weak interior! I don’t believe you truly dare commit acts that anger heaven and earth, fear neither historical judgment nor eternal infamy, neither strict royal law nor execution and corpse mutilation!”

“If you don’t fear it, what should I fear?” Ge Lian’s tone was leisurely. Suddenly she drew her sword like lightning and stabbed it into the Grand Minister’s chest. “Let me show you what bold and vicious means! Let me show you who really has a fierce exterior hiding a weak interior! I don’t believe you people really fear neither life nor death when facing weapons and threats to guard this palace gate!”

“Hiss!” A fountain of blood spurted like a geyser, splashing Ge Lian’s face. Ge Lian coldly wiped it away and grabbed the chest clothing of the Grand Minister who was pointing at her with wide eyes as he slowly fell. First stuffing his mouth with a handkerchief, she smiled, “Old goods, if you don’t know your place, hit the road first!”

The crowd fell deathly silent, too shocked to make a sound.

Ge Lian laughed softly and said melodiously, “Five thousand palace guards against my twenty thousand troops – who wins and who loses? Two are already dead. You powerless civil officials, do you really want to use these old bones to block my mighty cavalry? Very well, this Princess is merciful and will give you a chance. I’ll count to three. Within three counts, step aside voluntarily, and I guarantee I won’t harm your lives.”

She rode forward two steps as the ministers slowly retreated, their eyes fearful. Ge Lian’s eyes flashed with satisfaction.

Counting to three was false; intimidation was true. As long as she could break these people’s courage now, she could advance unobstructed.

She advanced one step, they retreated one step. The formation they had arranged was about to fall apart.

Suddenly the wind rose again and the bell rang. Everyone looked up to see Liu Yuan’s corpse swaying and striking the bell.

This moment’s bell sound struck into their hearts.

Someone ahead had generously died just to deliver a warning. Today, beneath his corpse, facing intimidation from one woman, what face did these men have to retreat!

“One.” Ge Lian said calmly.

Suddenly someone stepped forward.

Ge Lian was startled and shouted fiercely, “Two! Do you really not want your lives!”

Another person stepped forward.

More and more people walked forward.

Anger rose in Ge Lian’s eyes.

Tonight was so unlucky!

Her lips moved several times, but she couldn’t speak that word “three.”

More and more people came forward – the fearful and the fearless, under the same passionate atmosphere, unable to retreat, walking forward. All the thin, weak civil officials puffed out their chests and stood straight in a line. “A mere woman wanting to rule like a hen crowing at dawn – with us here, don’t think of advancing another step!”

Ge Lian looked up at the sky. Any more delay would be too late.

Her eyes gradually grew cold. She stepped back and gave her trusted guards a look.

Understanding, the guards suddenly came forward, untied bags from their backs, rushed into the crowd, and scattered the contents wildly.

The bags contained lime and charcoal. Ge Lian’s subordinates included all kinds of people who knew all kinds of methods. These things were originally prepared for siege warfare.

Now suddenly scattered, everyone was caught off guard. Though they tried to block, they were still covered in black and white ash, immediately becoming disheveled and unrecognizable, unable to see clearly ahead.

Those materials also contained some choking powder. The ministers felt their throats burning and coughed constantly, unable to make sounds.

Ge Lian’s guards then stripped off those people’s outer robes and pulled away jade belts, official hats, and other items showing their identities before coldly retreating.

Ge Lian waved her hand, leading everyone backward, smiling, “Just wait – there’ll be a good show soon… Also, let me remind you, it’s still not too late to run now…”

Everyone vaguely saw her retreating and cursed, “Vile woman, it’s still not too late for you to repent…”

Ge Lian ignored them, leading her people in full retreat until reaching the street entrance. She said to the troops waiting for further orders, “The King is indeed held hostage. Now there’s a group of Consort Li’s spies at the palace gate. Generals, please follow me to annihilate them in one strike!”

The soldiers roared in response, raising spears and mounting horses, charging into the plaza. They indeed saw a large group of people blocking the palace gate, all in wretched condition, cursing rebel armies. Seeing them blocking the palace entrance, they immediately charged wildly.

The leading general still hesitated, “Should we charge all at once?”

“Rescuing the King is urgent – we cannot delay further. It’s best to succeed in one go.” Ge Lian answered.

Ten thousand hooves thundered, trampling the plaza.

Ge Lian charged at the front, saying melodiously to the foremost person, “It’s still not too late to kneel and beg for mercy…”

“Bah!” The answer was a mouthful of ash-filled spit.

Ge Lian smiled.

Galloping cavalry at such short distance cannot control their speed.

Bowl-sized horse hooves flew and trampled, crushing moonlight, instantly reaching above the crowd.

“Neigh!” Endless neighing as fierce horses crashed into the unprotected crowd, bringing bone-crushing, sinew-snapping sounds. Screams and wild neighing mixed into chaotic porridge, revealing bloody colors in the mess.

In just one encounter, the front row of civil officials became a pile of crushed bones and flesh. The remaining people, due to the collision, were also mostly injured. Ge Lian smiled among the crowd, half her face bloody, half her face white as the moon.

Under the moon, blood stains were deep red. The terrible scene alarmed the palace city guards. Gongs rang urgently, footsteps clattered – there was already great commotion within the palace.

“Attack!”

Ge Lian’s voice remained clear amid the screams. Covered in blood, she gazed at the remaining people, her smile like a grimace.

The remaining people still did not flee.

They moved, crawled, just like Liu Yuan who had crawled up the stairs to ring the bell. With difficulty, they gathered together again and once more blocked the palace gate.

Ge Lian’s face went white for an instant.

Atop the bell tower was one person’s integrity; before the palace gate was a group’s integrity. One person’s integrity awakened a group’s integrity. This moment’s unyielding moral character was wind that shook the earth, sweeping mightily through everyone’s hearts.

The fierce horses were hard to rein in, and another batch of cavalry charged forward uncontrollably.

Death drew closer and closer. That group of injured, kneeling civil officials with still-straight spines opened their blinded eyes wide and quietly waited.

Someone’s throat recovered somewhat, and suddenly someone hoarsely shouted, “May Heaven protect our Great King, Heaven protect our Luoyun!”

“Thud.” A kowtow, heavily struck against the palace gate.

After a silence, everyone’s hoarse shouts rose together.

“Heaven protect Luoyun!”

“Thud.”

Before the palace gate, heads both gray and black, blood-stained heads, heavily struck the bluestone ground.

Staining the ground with deep red blood – blood that would be recorded in history, blood of ministers jointly facing death unprecedented in Dahuang’s history.

“We ministers bid farewell!”

The mighty call split the cloudy sky, revealing a line. Cloudy moon illuminated the horrified faces of the leading soldiers. Only now did they finally realize something was wrong, but it was too late.

“Crash.”

The crowd like a bloody tide was struck high by black hooves and massive horse bodies, flying in mid-air, then heavily crashing against the deep red palace gate. In the thunderous, muffled sound, waves of flesh and blood turned over.

The final moment’s collective silent death.

The final moment’s blood soaking the kingdom.

At this moment Ge Lian laughed wildly, appearing mad.

“Kill them, kill them! One battle destroys the entire court. Even if you don’t rebel, you’ll have to rebel now!”

At this moment the palace gate was crashed open, and a large group rushed out first. Among them, one person saw this scene and suddenly stood stunned.

“…My fortune-reading was correct, no problem! Death qi! They really all have death qi! Heaven!”