Liu Chuan stared at Commander Zhang’s face, feeling as if he were dreaming.

The Imperial Guard commander responsible for the imperial city’s security was actually staging a rebellion.

“What do you want this servant to do?”

A voice came from outside. “Draft an abdication edict and yield the throne to me.”

When Commander Zhang saw the newcomer, he bowed with clasped fists.

Liu Chuan’s eyes narrowed. “Prince Ping?”

He looked at Prince Ping being escorted forward by others, then at the respectfully postured Commander Zhang, and felt only absurdity. “You’ve actually colluded together, plotting to usurp the throne!”

Prince Ping flew into a rage. “Usurp the throne? This empire was originally my empire! Now that Qi Xiang is dying, isn’t it only natural and right that he return the empire to me?”

Commander Zhang grabbed Liu Chuan’s collar, his tone sinister. “Eunuch Liu, don’t be obstinate!”

“Water—” Movement came from the bed.

Liu Chuan broke free from Commander Zhang’s hand and rushed over. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you’re awake!”

He hurriedly grabbed the nearby water pitcher and poured a cup of warm water. Because his hands were shaking, some water spilled out, but he couldn’t care about that. He carefully supported Emperor Tai’an and helped him drink.

Prince Ping watched coldly, feeling immensely satisfied. “Who would have thought that Fourth Brother, someone so decisive and capable in killing, would also have times when even drinking water is difficult.”

Emperor Tai’an on the bed looked over with effort.

Perhaps because he had slept too long, his eyes had little spirit. Under the lamplight, his complexion appeared even more sallow—a picture of critical illness.

Prince Ping felt both vindicated and that it was unreal.

That person who had occupied his position for over a decade, wolf-like, could also fall ill and die.

He couldn’t help but step forward, wanting to see more clearly.

Commander Zhang was alarmed and quickly said, “Be careful, don’t get too close.”

Prince Ping was particularly concerned about preserving his life. Upon hearing this, he quickly retreated two steps and saw Emperor Tai’an’s lips moving.

“What did you say?”

Liu Chuan spoke for Emperor Tai’an. “The Emperor asks, when did you collude together!”

“So you can’t even speak anymore.” Emperor Tai’an’s weakness made Prince Ping’s nervousness at entering the palace at night completely disappear, replaced by the satisfaction of getting what he wished.

“Collude? This is the people’s will! The throne was something you snatched from me. Without a suitable heir, you’d rather adopt from the imperial clan than think of returning the throne to me or considering my sons. Qi Xiang, have you forgotten that I’m your blood brother from the same mother? How can you be so selfish!”

Prince Ping had a somewhat delicate and weak appearance. At this moment, his face was contorted with a heart-stopping madness.

The corners of Emperor Tai’an’s mouth on the sickbed twitched. He stared fixedly at Commander Zhang, squeezing out a few words from his throat.

Liu Chuan spoke up. “The Emperor asks, as the Imperial Guard commander, why did you betray the Emperor?”

Commander Zhang ultimately wasn’t as self-righteous as Prince Ping. His eyes flickered and he shifted his gaze away. “The Emperor was already going to select a successor. This subject is merely following heaven’s will.”

“Heaven’s will? The Emperor is heaven—whose will are you actually following?” Liu Chuan rose angrily and pointed at Commander Zhang to question him.

Commander Zhang kept his eyes lowered and said nothing.

Emperor Tai’an’s authority had long been deeply ingrained in people’s hearts. If it weren’t for his sudden critical illness and that person giving the word, he would never have dared to do this.

“Don’t dare speak now?” Liu Chuan’s voice rose. “The Emperor is the Great Zhou’s true lord! Commander Zhang, don’t let yourself be confused for a moment and deceived by treacherous people. It’s not too late to confess your crimes now.”

Liu Chuan’s words pierced Prince Ping’s heart like sharp blades. “Treacherous people? Fourth Brother, I might as well tell you—the one supporting me is Mother! Your slave dog says Mother is treacherous? Ha ha ha ha ha…”

The bedchamber echoed with Prince Ping’s crazed laughter.

Commander Zhang at the side secretly frowned.

At this time, quickly forcing the Emperor to write the abdication edict was most important—how could he bring the Empress Dowager into this?

Indeed, the one who could command this Imperial Guard commander to force the palace was precisely the Empress Dowager.

In Qingyuan where Prince Ping was confined, those sent at the time to monitor Prince Ping’s family were ostensibly all Emperor Tai’an’s people, but in reality, some portion were the Empress Dowager’s people.

This showed Commander Zhang didn’t understand Prince Ping’s state of mind.

He had originally been a country’s sovereign, overthrown from the throne by his own younger brother. Like a homeless dog, he had fled the capital to live under an assumed name, suffocated for over a decade without getting to vent, only to become a prisoner again.

Now with victory in sight, how could he resist showing off?

“Unexpected, isn’t it? Mother supports me! Fourth Brother, oh Fourth Brother, have you forgotten that I’m Mother’s eldest son!” Prince Ping spread his hands wide, his complexion flushed with excitement. “When you seized my throne back then, did you think Mother would support you forever?”

“Cough cough cough—” The person on the bed began coughing.

Commander Zhang thought to himself that this former emperor really couldn’t control himself, and reminded, “We should first ask Eunuch Liu to write the abdication edict on the Emperor’s behalf…”

Prince Ping withdrew his smile and nodded.

Commander Zhang stepped forward, his hawk-like gaze locking onto Liu Chuan. “Eunuch Liu, don’t waste any more time. Please.”

Liu Chuan’s face showed a resolute expression. “Bah! You think everyone is a traitor like you? This servant will never do anything to betray the Emperor!”

The grating sound of friction rang out as a cold blade was held before Liu Chuan.

“Eunuch Liu, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!” Commander Zhang warned coldly.

“Cough cough—” Emperor Tai’an coughed twice, extended his hand to point at the doorway, and with difficulty uttered a single word. “Go…”

“Your Majesty!” Liu Chuan’s expression changed drastically.

After Emperor Tai’an spoke that word, it seemed to have exhausted his strength. His breathing became much heavier.

Liu Chuan’s tears streamed down his face. He kowtowed and walked outside.

Commander Zhang gave a look, and an Imperial Guard followed.

Seeing Liu Chuan walk outside, the guard immediately asked alertly, “Where is Eunuch Liu going?”

Liu Chuan sneered. “Without retrieving the seal, how can the edict take effect?”

Liu Chuan wasn’t the seal-keeping eunuch. It was just that Wang He, the seal-keeping eunuch, had suddenly contracted a serious illness a few days ago, so he was temporarily managing the seal.

This was also why Commander Zhang, after leading troops to break into Qianqing Palace, valued Liu Chuan so highly.

Liu Chuan walked into the night with a stern face, then suddenly quickened his pace.

The guard following him sensed something was wrong and was just about to call out to stop him when several sharp arrows broke through the air and turned him into a pincushion.

Before others could react, Liu Chuan took off running at full speed.

More screams rang out behind him, rising and falling in succession.

Hearing the screams, Commander Zhang rushed out with Prince Ping following behind.

The night was deep. The Imperial Guards surrounding Qianqing Palace fell one by one, with almost no ability to resist the rain of arrows flying from unknown locations.

Commander Zhang’s face appeared in the lamplight, deathly pale.

In the distance, human figures moved and cold light glinted. A chill rose from the bottom of Commander Zhang’s heart, and he finally realized: they had fallen into an ambush!

A figure approached, footsteps neither light nor heavy, yet they fell on Commander Zhang’s ears like thunderclaps.

“Yang Jing?” Seeing that person’s face clearly, Commander Zhang’s expression changed drastically.

The Imperial City Guard Army had a total of three commanders—one chief and two vice commanders. Yang Jing was one of the vice commanders.

Another person walked over and stood together with Commander Yang—it was the other vice commander, Li Chang.

The hand holding Commander Zhang’s blade trembled. He suddenly charged back, and in an instant, he had another person in his grasp.