Emperor Mingkang collapsed to the ground, motionless.

“Your Majesty—” All the officials were heartbroken with terror.

Wei Wuxie knelt on the ground, crying out with a voice torn raw.

What was happening? He hadn’t done anything yet!

“Where are the imperial physicians? Quickly come save His Majesty!” Wei Wuxie wailed.

Director Li stumbled out from somewhere, rushing straight toward Emperor Mingkang.

At this moment, a cold shout rang out: “Prince Mu forced the palace to usurp the throne, and after failing and being found guilty, he murdered His Majesty before everyone’s eyes. This crime is truly unforgivable. Jinlin Guards, listen to orders—immediately arrest Prince Mu and his accomplices from the Feathered Forest Guards!”

“Yes!” As the Jinlin Guards pointed their Embroidered Spring Knives at Prince Mu and the others, the cold gleam under the lamplight made everyone’s bodies turn ice-cold with fear.

Prince Mu retreated in panic, continuously shaking his head: “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me—”

Watching the approaching Jinlin Guards, combined with Emperor Mingkang’s accident, Prince Mu had already been frightened out of his wits and turned to run.

Suddenly, a blade flashed, and immediately, Prince Mu’s head flew up. Hot blood spurted three feet from his neck, falling like a rain of blood.

“Ah—” Screams rose one after another.

The noble officials retreated in terror, while palace maids and eunuchs fled in panic.

The Jinlin Guards quickly surrounded the Feathered Forest Guards under Jiang Yuanchao’s calm command, while Wei Wuxie, after Director Li formally announced that Emperor Mingkang was beyond saving, led the Inner Drill Army in fierce combat against Head Eunuch Liu Chun’s men, his face bearing undisguised hatred.

“Sir, what should we do?” A Golden Guard asked their commander Wang Haitao in confusion.

Wang Haitao gripped his long blade and showed a cold smile to Wan Dongyang, commander of the Feathered Forest Guards who was struggling to resist, calling out loudly: “Naturally, we must give our all to eliminate the remaining rebels!”

Soon, another chaotic battle began. This time, the forces were vastly unequal, almost becoming a one-sided massacre.

The noble officials watched as young men fell one by one—some familiar, some unfamiliar. Among them might even be sons from certain families. But aside from watching helplessly, they could do nothing and dared do nothing.

Just now His Majesty’s appearance had already defined the nature of Prince Mu’s rebellion. Now with Prince Mu dead, Prince Rui’s succession to the throne was a foregone conclusion.

At this moment, who would dare plead for the Feathered Forest Guards?

It must be known that Feathered Forest Guards Commander Wan Dongyang had countless connections with Prince Mu. After the new emperor’s ascension, he might overlook the Jinlin Guards’ errors in judgment, but would never forgive the Feathered Forest Guards who had followed Prince Mu.

The moon in the sky was sometimes obscured by clouds, sometimes revealing half its face to coldly observe the hellish human world below.

It was already late at night. In the brightly lit traveling palace, blood had long since flowed like rivers. In the one-sided massacre, the last few Feathered Forest Guards fell with unwillingness and in terror.

At some point, Shao Mingyuan had brought Qiao Zhao to stand among the crowd.

“Is it about to end?” The mountain night was cool as water. Qiao Zhao tightened her thin cloak, her tone calm, but her complexion pale.

Watching living people fall one by one with her own eyes, it was impossible to remain unmoved.

Shao Mingyuan had been holding Qiao Zhao’s hand the entire time. Across the crowd, his gaze fell on Jiang Yuanchao as he said quietly: “I’m afraid it hasn’t ended yet.”

That arrow wouldn’t have been arranged by Wei Wuxie, much less by the terrified Prince Mu. Then the most likely person would be Jinlin Guards Commander Jiang Yuanchao!

A Jinlin Guards commander who dared commit regicide—just thinking about what conspiracy might be involved was enough to terrify anyone. How could things possibly end just like this?

Watching the last Feathered Forest Guard fall, Shao Mingyuan looked up at the sky.

The dark canopy was studded with gem-like stars, and the moon happened to be hiding in the clouds.

Shao Mingyuan sighed softly in his heart.

This was hardly an ending—perhaps it was only just beginning.

As if sensing his thoughts, Jiang Yuanchao looked over from afar. When their gazes met, the corners of his mouth curved in a smile.

“Sir, Prince Mu’s remaining party has been eliminated!” A Jinlin Guard knelt on one knee before Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao withdrew his gaze, nodded mildly, and strode toward Prince Rui.

“Your Highness, Prince Mu’s remaining party has all been executed!”

“Good, good. Commander Jiang, please rise.” Prince Rui’s hands and feet were still ice-cold at this moment, and even his voice was hoarse.

Father was dead, and Sixth Brother was also dead. Did this mean the throne was his?

He would legitimately inherit this Great Liang realm!

The happiness came too suddenly—he could barely handle it.

Prince Rui covered his chest and forced a face full of grief: “I never expected Father would just like this—”

Before he could finish, he covered his face and wept loudly. The nobles and officials quickly consoled him: “Your Highness, now is not the time to focus only on grief. You must control your sorrow—many matters still await your handling…”

Prince Rui almost laughed out loud, fortunately his face was covered by his sleeve so no one could see.

Listen to that—many matters still awaited his handling!

So this was what it felt like to be master of the realm. This feeling was truly wonderful!

Sigh, he should have been grieving, but facing a father he hadn’t seen more than once in several years who had suddenly died, he wanted to cry too!

But he truly couldn’t manage it.

Only joy—such tremendous joy!

To conceal his delight, Prince Rui kept his sleeve raised and cried for a while longer, only calming down under the officials’ earnest persuasion.

Prince Rui surveyed all the officials, sniffled, and said: “Since that’s the case, then—”

Before he could finish speaking, suddenly the sounds of slaughter came from all directions, so loud they rolled like thunder, and even the ground beneath their feet, stained red with blood, seemed to tremble.

“What’s that sound?”

Everyone quickly looked around to see masses of dark figures rapidly surging toward the traveling palace. By the starlight filling the sky, they could see these people wielding long blades and crossbows. Under the moonlight, their weapons gleamed coldly.

Just as everyone was shocked, the masses of dark figures had already drawn near. They all appeared to be dressed as mountain villagers, but their bright eyes were like wolves’, chilling to behold.

Soon, countless volleys of arrows attacked, immediately causing a chorus of screams.

“Protect His Highness!” Golden Guards Commander Wang Haitao immediately blocked Prince Rui’s front, protecting Prince Rui while retreating and shouting: “Commander Jiang, I’ll escort His Highness away from this dangerous place first. I’ll have to entrust this place to you for now!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuanchao smiled: “Fine.”

He raised his hand and called out loudly: “Attack!”

As his words fell, part of the Jinlin Guards raised their crossbows toward the surging people, but before they could loose a single arrow, they screamed and fell.

In the instant they collapsed, these young guards’ eyes were wide with disbelief.

Even unto death, they couldn’t understand why brothers who had always eaten and slept together would raise their blades against them.

“Jiang Shisan, what are you doing?” Jiang Shiyi quickly realized something was wrong, pointing his Embroidered Spring Knife at Jiang Yuanchao and asking coldly.

Jiang Yuanchao smiled at Jiang Shiyi: “I’m naturally doing what should be done.”

“Commander Jiang, why are your subordinates attacking their people?” Chief Minister Xu Mingda demanded from the crowd. “Are you perhaps trying to rebel?”

Jiang Yuanchao glanced at Xu Mingda and smiled: “What rebellion? This realm should have belonged to Prince Su over twenty years ago. As Prince Su’s son, I’m merely reclaiming what should have belonged to me in the first place.”