Although Li Qi felt uneasy in his heart, thinking about the future he saw with no hope, he was unwilling to surrender without resistance.

If even the two princes were like this, what more could be said of Li Huan? He had saved Li Xiong’s life twice and held military authority. He was planning to place his two sons in the court for training and experience.

But He Shou and Li Xiang had some conflicts with him, so they obstructed him at every turn.

He had already asked Wang Gui to speak on his behalf before the Great King. Before coming here, the Great King had softened, and with one more push, his two children would be able to enter official service upon his return. But now that Zhao Hanzhang had intervened and Chengguo no longer existed, how could they enter court as officials?

Not only them, but his remaining sons would also find it difficult to enter official service in the future.

He supported a large household, and the daily consumption of money and grain was countless. He had heard that Zhao Hanzhang’s laws were strict—even her clan elders who made mistakes were not spared. In addition to the court’s punishments, she would personally reprimand them.

If she treated her own relatives like this, what more could be said about outsiders?

Li Huan was very unwilling to work under Zhao Hanzhang.

Therefore, he decided to take a gamble with Li Yue. If they succeeded, perhaps they could even help their lord Li Xiong climb to greater heights. If they failed, death was the worst outcome.

He had already died so many times; this time was no different.

Though he thought this in his heart, his pride told him he wouldn’t die.

Li Huan was willing to be the intermediary and invite several close officials together—all old comrades who had followed Li Xiong.

Everyone had risen up together from their youth to the present day. Those who could survive and work until today wouldn’t hold positions that were too low.

He also knew what kind of leverage they held in their hands, as well as their concerns.

These people could live comfortably under Li Xiong’s rule, but in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, they would be meat on the chopping block.

No one wanted to be a piece of dead meat. If they were to act, they would be the hand that knocked the knife aside and seized it for themselves.

Li Huan went with full confidence.

Then he only brought back two people. The rest refused him tactfully for various reasons. He whispered to Li Yue, “Although they politely declined, they also hinted they wouldn’t leak this matter. When we lead troops there, they’ll pretend not to know.”

Two of them were responsible for camp protection duties, stationed not far from Zhao Hanzhang’s main tent. If they were willing to turn a blind eye, things would go much more smoothly.

Undercurrents surged within the camp.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed completely unaware. After the banquet ended, she kept Fan Ying and Xun Fan in the tent to handle some matters, only letting them leave when it was late at night.

Li Xiong couldn’t sleep either.

Just as Zhao Hanzhang had said, he was in the prime of life. Although this man’s abilities were limited and he was overly loyal to his friends, he still had the necessary vigilance and insight.

Why had he brought so many ministers and generals from Chengguo on this trip, even including some local gentry?

First, to let them serve as witnesses; second, to prevent them from staying in Chengdu and causing trouble after hearing about this matter; third… the usually bold and righteous Li Xiong finally made up his mind to use Zhao Hanzhang’s hand to straighten out the power structure in Bashu.

Since this was for the people of Bashu, he would thoroughly close his left eye and only open his right eye to watch over the people.

So he let the undercurrents in the camp surge. When night had completely fallen and even the wind outside began to quiet down, only then did he open his other eye and quietly ordered, “Have our men quietly advance and protect the central tent from the outer perimeter.”

Li Xiang acknowledged and personally went.

But in less than two quarters of an hour, Li Xiang’s trusted aide stumbled back, his face pale as he said, “Great King, the general has been captured, and all our men have been restrained by the court’s Imperial Guards, unable to move at all.”

He added, “Something seems to have happened at the main tent as well.”

The Prince of Cheng was stunned. Suddenly, a loud “boom” came from outside, and his heart jumped violently. Just once, and then two more similar loud booms followed in succession, shaking the earth and mountains. The Prince of Cheng felt even the ground beneath his feet tremble several times.

He stood up and stumbled toward the exit. As soon as he emerged from the tent, he saw fire shooting up into the sky not far from the central tent, then quickly falling back down. But the falling fire was still dazzling, illuminating this part of heaven and earth…

In the quiet mountains, brilliant light suddenly appeared, with beams of white light shooting out, shining on the Chengguo soldiers hiding in the shadows of tents and in the forest.

Through these beams of white light, they could see in the dark night the terror on their comrades’ faces… and the frightened expressions in their eyes, crystal clear…

There are ghosts and spirits!

Swords and blades clattered to the ground. The soldiers who had followed their commanders’ orders with hot blood now had their fighting spirit completely extinguished. How could they still think about military orders and their future? They all knelt down begging for mercy.

Li Yue, Li Qi, Li Huan, and others charging at the forefront instantly turned pale, gripping their swords in terror, surrounded by a sea of firelight.

The explosion had just detonated not far behind them. Three craters now pitted the ground, with fire shooting in all directions. More than half of the personal guards and attendants they had brought were now wailing on the ground, covered in wounds from iron shards.

These three bombs were specially made with fairly average power. The craters they created weren’t large enough, but the sound was loud and the fire shot high—things Zhao Hanzhang had deliberately selected before coming to shock people’s hearts.

Before coming, she had planned that if they weren’t used tonight, she would use them as ceremonial cannons when leaving Chengguo.

After all, it was still the first month of the year. Setting off firecrackers had the meaning of warding off evil and driving away wild beasts, symbolizing a smooth and successful start to the new year.

With such a loud boom, wasn’t the meaning even better than firecrackers?

Fan Ying held a precious sword, protected by a team of Imperial Guards, and lifted the curtain to emerge.

Li Yue, who had gripped his blade tightly and prepared to face Zhao Hanzhang, was startled to see her. Noticing there was no one behind her, his expression changed drastically. “Where is Zhao Hanzhang?”

Fan Ying sneered coldly, “Who are you to utter Her Majesty’s name? Rebellious traitor, jumping clown!”

She ordered, “Capture them all. Those who resist, kill without mercy!”

“Ha!” The soldiers responded, suddenly erupting with intense fighting spirit.

Not to mention Li Yue and others surrounded in the middle, even Li Xiong and others standing in the distance watching could feel the killing intent rushing toward them.

In battle, one talks about momentum. Before battle, it’s about provisions and strategy, but on the battlefield when blade meets blade and sword meets sword, whoever has stronger fighting spirit gains an extra chance at survival.

And now, victory and defeat were already decided.

Li Xiong’s expression flickered in the firelight, his eyes showing indescribable relief and fear, sorrow and anger, so complex that his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Li Yue and others were pressed down by the Imperial Guards to kneel before Fan Ying. Only then did Fan Ying step aside and bow toward the distance, “Your Majesty!”

Zhao Hanzhang emerged from the darkness, with Zeng Yue and Xun Fan flanking her left and right.

Under the soldiers’ pressure, Li Yue struggled to turn his head to look. It was Xun Fan’s tent. He knew this was the deposed emperor’s maternal uncle, old and decrepit, extremely particular about etiquette, without the strength to truss a chicken. He had been wary of Zeng Yue, even sent people to watch Fan Ying, but he alone hadn’t considered him.

Just a former dynasty’s imperial relative who would eventually be used up and die—he could even keep him after killing Zhao Hanzhang, raising him up and using the deposed emperor’s name to plunge the realm back into succession struggles.

He hadn’t expected that Zhao Hanzhang would be in his tent—the only tent in the dark night that hadn’t lit up, with not a single beam of light falling on it, causing everyone to overlook it.