The Last Emperor of a Fallen Nation 06

It seems my arrival has changed many things and caused these people to jump out ahead of time. And Yin Tao, the Consort Yin who was utterly inconspicuous in the original work... Thinking of this woman who targeted her at every turn, a flicker of killing intent passed through Xue Wanqiu's eyes. She touched her face, and the pain immediately surged up. Along with the pain came overwhelming hatred. She would kill that woman, and the Yin family behind her! She mentally ran through every imaginable cruel punishment, a cruel smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

"The Emperor is blinded by that demonic consort and treacherous ministers, neglecting state affairs," she uttered these words.

The scene fell into silence. The few men looked at her with some incredulity.

"Wei Lin, from now on, we must make plans for ourselves." She had originally wanted to squeeze every last bit of value out of Fang Zhiyi, but now that seemed somewhat unrealistic.

"Ungrateful daughter! You've met with them in private again!" Xue's Father arrived with great strides. "People from the palace came again. Your mother and I were scolded until our heads spun! You beast..."

Seeing her father arrive, Xue Wanqiu's heart tightened, but she quickly composed herself and stepped forward to say, "Father, now that the Emperor is blinded by that demonic consort and treacherous ministers, our Xue family is restricted everywhere. If we just sit and wait for death, it will be our end. If we can 'purge the court of malign influences,' perhaps there is still a sliver of hope."

Xue's Father's face turned ashen. "You're mad! Rebellion is a crime that warrants execution of the entire clan!" He wasn't stupid. What 'purging the court'? Wasn't that just rebellion?

Xue Wanqiu's gaze was firm. "Father, think about it. Right now, we are targeted everywhere. Before long, the Xue family will fall into ruin. Rather than that, we should gamble. Your daughter guarantees that if we succeed, the Xue family will surely become the most illustrious clan in the land."

Xue's Father looked utterly shocked. Seeing the determination in his daughter's eyes, he still shook his head. "Our Xue family has been loyal and upright for generations. How could we have produced someone like you..."

Xue Wanqiu's eyes gradually turned sharp. "Father, you don't want to live a life where you have to kneel before everyone you see, do you? Xiao Ce knows which court officials are dissatisfied with the Emperor. Liu Yan has money. And as for Wei Lin..." She glanced at Wei Lin, who simply took a deep breath. "Lord Xue, I, Wei Lin, command thirty thousand Imperial Guards. Furthermore, many officers in the capital garrison camps in the suburbs are also on good terms with me."

Xue's Father struggled internally, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. But thinking of how he had just been cursed at by a eunuch pointing at his nose, his heart hardened. He gritted his teeth. "Fine, fine! We'll do as you say! But if we fail, our Xue family is completely finished!"

The corner of Xue Wanqiu's mouth lifted into a smug smile. "Don't worry, Father. We will surely succeed. Next, we need to plan carefully." She held the script, knew where the Mandate of Heaven lay, and thus had great confidence. And as for Fang Zhiyi? She knew him all too well—just a pitiful worm infatuated with her. It was only because she was momentarily careless that that vixen managed to lure him away.

That night, the several people who had finished their discussions dispersed.

However, Yin Tao was largely unaware of all this. She was immersed in the joy of slapping the female protagonist's face. A silent war, a classic battle of framing and counter-framing, erupted between her and Xue Wanqiu. With her system and her status as a Consort, Yin Tao gained the upper hand every time. Xue Wanqiu was driven almost mad by her provocations and pressed her helpers even more urgently.

"I say, are you just going to watch?" Little Hei was talking about Fang Zhiyi, but it was watching with great relish.

Fang Zhiyi spread his hands. "I'm not skilled in palace intrigue. What else can I do but watch?"

“Speaking of which, thanks to this Taskbearer, she's attracting the vast majority of the firepower, which actually makes things easier for you.”

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "So she's a good person."

Lacking the Emperor's support, Xue Wanqiu suffered several humiliating defeats, and her reputation worsened considerably. Now everyone knew the Xue family in the Ministry of Rites had produced a bizarre character, reportedly involved with three men simultaneously, utterly disgracing the Xue family. Because of this, Xue's Father was also targeted by his superior and demoted several ranks, which actually steeled his resolve to follow his daughter in rebellion.

Xiao Ce's situation was precarious. He could clearly feel that his political enemies were firmly in the ascendancy, while the Emperor seemed to have vanished. He could only select some ministers who harbored considerable resentment towards the Emperor to win over.

Liu Yan racked his brains to continue embezzling funds. Raising an army required silver, whether for buying loyalty or rewarding soldiers. They just had to endure this period.

Wei Lin was especially busy, rushing between the capital garrison camps and the Imperial Guards. He even found time to send a few letters to the border armies.

Only after receiving his sworn brother's chest-thumping confirmation did Wei Lin finally set his mind at ease.

Everything proceeded at a frantic pace. Xue Wanqiu set the date for "purging the court" on the fifteenth day of the eighth month.

"Don't worry, Wanqiu," Wei Lin said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "There are also people loyal to me in the border armies. I've already spread the word. I believe this matter can be settled quickly. When the time comes... I will marry you."

Xue Wanqiu leaned happily against his chest, but her eyes did not forget to wink at Xiao Ce, while her little hand behind her back held onto Liu Yan's.

The four of them looked up at the sky with a tacit understanding.

Xiao Ce's letters did indeed reach the border armies. The generals who received them were huddled together murmuring when suddenly a commotion arose outside. By the time they stood up, gleaming blades were already at their throats.

The former Commander of the Imperial Guards, Fu Shiji, waved a secret imperial decree in his hand. "I said His Majesty wouldn't forget my merits. Sure enough, there are rebels here in the border army too!"

The generals were dumbstruck. Two soldiers dragged in a sack and simply tipped it over. A dozen or so heads rolled out onto the ground.

"Gentlemen, you should know what the crime of treason entails, right?" Fu Shiji sneered. He had been feeling constrained for a long time, even resenting the new Emperor. But ever since receiving the secret decree, the resentment in his heart instantly dissipated. Instead, he felt this was the Emperor entrusting him with a heavy responsibility.

The same thing was happening in the capital garrison camps. But the one leading the troops and doing the beheading was actually the Fourth Prince, who was supposed to be guarding the imperial tombs! He was inherently brave and martially skilled, with considerable prestige in the army. In the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, all the officers in the capital garrison who had shown suspicious movements had their heads chopped off.

Having finished everything, the Fourth Prince stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the capital. "Third Brother, what exactly are you trying to do?" He was very puzzled, but for some reason, he felt his Third Brother wasn't deceiving him. If it was a trick, it was far too audacious—actually letting him take over the capital garrison?

Three firecrackers sounded. Several thousand Imperial Guards, masked and armed with blades, surrounded the imperial palace. Wei Lin stepped forward, shouting the slogan of "purging the court," but no one responded. Finally, his deputy cautiously pushed open the palace gates. They found the palace completely empty, making Wei Lin feel rather foolish. But he still led his troops charging in. Only, inside the palace, there wasn't a soul to be seen, not even a ghost.

However, Xue Wanqiu, following closely behind, was filled with excitement. Since they had already done it, they might as well directly occupy the palace and then begin her brother's foundation for ten thousand generations!