The Slender Waist-Chapter 696 - 502 Forced onto Liangshan_2

Tang Shaogong’s eyes slightly closed.

"What about Pei Jue, Prime Minister, you even disregard Pei Jue now?"

Li Zongxun gave a cold smile as if he saw through the emotions hidden in his eyes, his words colder than the last.

"At this point, do you think I would still fall for your lies?"

He raised his hand, pointing at Li Sangruo, his words reverting Tang Shaogong’s thoughts back to their original form.

"If Pei Jue truly cared about her, how could he have waited until today?!"

He shook his head, his gaze deeply falling on Tang Shaogong’s face, "It’s just too bad that I trusted you too much and allowed myself to be deceived by you. Damn thing, there won’t be a next time."

Upon hearing this, Li Sangruo’s belief that Li Zongxun intended to declare himself Emperor solidified, and after a brief moment of panic upon seeing the dense ranks of the Imperial Guards, she eerily calmed down.

"Heaven has its cycle, and those who usurp power and steal thrones, though they may bask in momentary glory, will ultimately not escape heavenly punishment. Do you really want to follow this rebel and become thieves of the state, deceiving heaven and earth, and going against the will of heaven?"

"Going against the will of heaven, usurping power and stealing thrones?"

Li Zongxun seemed to hear a joke, standing amidst the crowd and laughing coldly.

"Unfilial thing, do you know what you are saying?"

Li Sangruo, with her neck tilted back, appeared ready to give it her all.

"I’m talking about you, old thief Li, you go against morality, your power isn’t Heaven-sent, you will face the wrath of both heaven and people, and die without a place to bury your body."

Li Zongxun was so angry he gritted his teeth.

"Good, very good, this is the good daughter I’ve raised, cursing your father, disobedient and unfilial! Then don’t blame me for not being polite anymore."

Li Zongxun gave a cold order.

"The Empress Dowager has been instigated by traitors, speaking nonsense, descending into madness, and should no longer sit in the Nanlin Dynasty and meddle with state affairs... As of now, she is deposed, to restore clarity and purity to the imperial government. Come, take her away!"

No longer the Empress Dowager who held court, the Imperial Guards no longer hesitated; they didn’t even need to care if Tang Shaogong’s sword at hand would pierce Li Sangruo’s throat.

"You dare!" Li Sangruo shouted, her face pale as she instinctively looked towards Tang Shaogong.

"Uncle Shaogong..."

Her eyes reddened, and she suddenly let out a bitter smile.

"I am useless. Even unto death, I am useless; even my life is worthless."

"He’s right, if Pei Jue truly cared about my life or death, he wouldn’t have waited until today..."

She closed her eyes, her movements slow and hesitant.

"Could you hold me once more, please? Then kill me... let me die with some dignity."

Tang Shaogong looked down at her.

"Alright."

He reached out and pulled Li Sangruo into his embrace. His treasured sword flashed brightly as it swept high, but instead of her, it was aimed at the oncoming Imperial Guards...

Almost at the same moment, not far away, the sound of horse hooves came, accompanied with noise and roars, filling the air with tumult.

"Prime Minister... the Right General has led the Iron Cavalry Camp in rebellion... they’re shouting about purifying the imperial side and are heading towards Chongguang Gate..."

Tang Shaogong observed the change in Li Zongxun’s face, a rare smile fleeting across his own eyes.

"Whether you or I will live to leave this imperial city today is still unknown. Prime Minister, prepare to meet your fate—"

"It’s a rebellion, a rebellion," Li Zongxun bellowed, "Kill them all!"

-

That night in Yecheng, it was as if a great battle had come, the shouting and killing seeming to lift the roofs off the royal palace, reverberating to the skies...

For the Beiyong Army, the winter night was especially long.

Pei Jue mustered his troops on the battlefield, forcing a crossing over the Yishui River.

On the north bank of the Yishui, the Yecheng Army guarded heavily.

But as the Beiyong Army hadn’t attempted to cross the river or harass them for a month, they grew complacent, utterly unprepared for Pei Jue’s sudden move.

When the boats of the Beiyong Army reached the middle of the river, it was only then that the Yecheng guards on the north bank of Yishui woke from their slumber, sounding the horn and scrambling to respond to battle.

-

"Prime Minister, the Beiyong Army has crossed the Yishui, Yecheng is in imminent danger!"

After a night of internal strife, at dawn, fires within Yecheng were still unextinguished.

Li Zongxun, with his hair dishevelled, sat in the hall and glanced at the Scout that came to report, then coldly turned towards Li Sangruo sitting below.

"Has your wish been granted?"

Li Sangruo, with her hands bound behind her back, knelt before him, her eyes red, not uttering a word.

Li Zongxun slowly walked in front of her, yanked at her collar to force her to lift her head.

"Didn’t you say that I would force the Young Emperor to abdicate? Well, today I shall comply with Heaven’s will and the people’s wishes, taking his place."

He declared solemnly.

"Liu Liang, draft the decree."

Eunuch Liu Liang stood by his side, hesitating slightly upon hearing this, "Prime Minister..."

Li Zongxun cut him off, "Fate is unpredictable, and only the virtuous can occupy it. The Emperor has placed his trust in me, and I have cultivated righteousness. The Emperor, complying with Heaven’s intent, abdicates the throne to me, to calm the hearts of all under Heaven."

The people in the hall froze for a moment.

Chief Eunuch Liu Liang was the first to kneel, paying his respects with deep bows.

"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live forever."

Someone began to speak.