The Last Emperor of a Fallen Nation 07

"Fang Zhiyi must have gotten wind of the news and fled in advance!" Wei Lin felt uneasy.

Xue Wanqiu grasped his hand to comfort him.

Suddenly, a subordinate rushed in: "Report, Commander! The brothers you sent to arrest those ministers... the brothers..."

Wei Lin, already impatient because the rebellion was fraught with the fear of mishaps and now he had come up empty-handed, found this man's hesitation infuriating. "Spit it out!"

"They've all been captured!"

"What?"

Squads of Imperial Guards in full armor charged into the ministers' mansions, but they found no one. Instead, the main gates suddenly slammed shut behind them, and rows of archers appeared on the surrounding walls. At their core, the Imperial Guards were just common soldiers; upon hearing the Emperor's decree, except for a few die-hards, almost all surrendered on the spot.

The Imperial Guards tasked with seizing the city gates didn't even make it to the battlements before their weapons were confiscated.

The rebellion started in the dead of night, and the palace was surrounded by dawn.

Wei Lin, who had sensed something was wrong, didn't even have time to flee. They were trapped inside the palace. Looking at the murderously intent border troops, Wei Lin knew all was lost, but he couldn't understand when they had been exposed.

Still, he had one last card up his sleeve: the Capital Garrison!

This delusion shattered completely when he saw the Fourth Prince order a string of heads to be thrown out.

Meanwhile, in a farmstead not far from the capital, the ministers were bewilderedly participating in the "team-building" event organized by the Emperor.

Sitting across from him was Yin Tao, who looked at the man before her with great curiosity. "Senior, how did you know they would rebel? I remember the rebellion was supposed to happen three years later?"

Fang Zhiyi ignored her. If she hadn't inadvertently helped him a bit, he wouldn't have bothered saving her.

"Ah, truly naive. Her kind of newbie has a very high mortality rate," Little Hei sighed.

Fang Zhiyi smiled faintly.

"The other side holds the blade, yet she still thinks she can fight them with palace intrigue tactics and rules. You're too kind-hearted, even having someone carry her out. Otherwise, she'd probably have been turned into a 'human swine' by the female lead by now."

"Why doesn't her system warn her?"

"Taskers who lack even this basic sense of crisis have no value to the Quick Transmigration Bureau," Little Hei said, scrutinizing that system.

Yin Tao continued chattering, "Senior, you're amazing! If it weren't for you, I'd probably have failed the mission. The female lead is so shameless, resorting to rebellion just because she couldn't stand being humiliated... By the way, senior, why didn't you just strip the male lead of his position beforehand?"

Fang Zhiyi glanced at her, somewhat exasperated. "What crime is heavier than rebellion?"

Yin Tao had a sudden realization. "Right, right, right! As expected of a senior!"

It never occurred to her that while she was busy slapping the female lead's face, Fang Zhiyi had already taken control of the external situation and united all the antagonists from the original plot. To the female lead, anyone who hindered her was an antagonist. The enemy of my enemy is my friend—a principle as old as time.

"Actually, sometimes I think this type of tasker is quite terrifying," Little Hei continued. "She might not be clever, but she can drag the protagonist's IQ down to her level and then overwhelm them with her... extensive experience."

Little Hei paused. "Unfortunately, in worlds where the Heavenly Dao protects the protagonists, her behavior is no different from seeking death."

Fang Zhiyi looked towards the palace where fireworks exploded, narrowing his eyes. "I can't kill them either?"

Little Hei pondered for a moment. "If you insist on killing them, it's not impossible. I should be able to withstand it..."

Fang Zhiyi looked at its small form and curled his lip. "Feels a bit embarrassing to have you take the hit..."

Only after receiving news of the Imperial Guards' surrender did Fang Zhiyi lead the court officials back. The procession along the way was grand. The ministers only then learned about the rebellion plot by the Xue family in alliance with the Imperial Guard Commander and others. They felt both panic and relief—panic at having almost been implicated, and relief, of course, at the Emperor's foresight.

In truth, Fang Zhiyi's "team-building" was just to prevent anyone from leaking information. This damned court had far too many officials.

However, he didn't expect that even after being captured, the female lead remained arrogant and domineering upon seeing him.

Xue Wanqiu was convinced that Fang Zhiyi was that deeply infatuated, devoted admirer who loved her. So, even while looking up at Fang Zhiyi, who gazed down at her from above, she was brimming with confidence.

"Fang Zhiyi, don't be like this. Even if you get my body, you won't get my heart."

Fang Zhiyi was stunned.

"If you want my forgiveness, fine. Just pardon Brother Wei's crimes, restore him to his official post, and I'll... agree to be your Empress." She said this through gritted teeth, as if Fang Zhiyi were getting some huge bargain.

Fang Zhiyi was amused. Yin Tao stared wide-eyed at Xue Wanqiu, as if assessing her intelligence.

"What a tacky man, using such methods to force my submission," Xue Wanqiu muttered.

Fang Zhiyi felt his anger gauge was maxed out.

Not really.

He had seen too much.

Xue Wanqiu glanced at Yin Tao, feeling inexplicably smug. "Also, I want you to depose her! I will be the only one in this palace!"

Yin Tao pointed at herself, her face full of question marks.

Wei Lin beside her hurriedly said, "No! Wanqiu, don't sacrifice yourself like this! I won't agree to exchange your freedom for my life!"

Fang Zhiyi coughed.

Xue Wanqiu gazed tenderly at Wei Lin. She still believed he would unify the Northern and Southern Dynasties as in the original plot. Her performance today should make Wei Lin remember her fondness for a lifetime.

Fang Zhiyi coughed again.

Finally, they all looked at him.

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "Pardoning Wei Lin's crimes isn't entirely out of the question."

As soon as these words were spoken, several senior ministers nearby grew anxious.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! Rebellion is a grave crime!"

"Your Majesty, if you pardon Wei Lin today, what will the people of the world think?"

"This old subject would rather dash my head and die right here!"

They had heard some rumors about the entanglement between Fang Zhiyi and Xue Wanqiu. Now, seeing Xue Wanqiu speak so brazenly and the Emperor actually smiling, alarm bells rang loudly in their hearts.

Fang Zhiyi waved his hand.

"We have made Our decision. Wei Lin, turn around and see who those people are."

Puzzled, Wei Lin turned his head and saw over a dozen people being escorted forward.

"Father! Mother! Aunt! Little brother!" At this time, he was unaware of his true identity and regarded this family who had adopted him as his true kin. Unlike the transmigrator Xue Wanqiu, he held deep affection for these family members.

Fang Zhiyi laughed heartily, but those watching felt a slight chill.

"This guilty subject begs Your Majesty to spare my family members! You may punish this guilty subject in any way!" He wasn't foolish; he understood Fang Zhiyi's implication. Since ancient times, rebellion was a major crime, and extermination of nine clans was considered a light punishment.