The Slender Waist-Chapter 697 - 502 Forced onto Liangshan_3

The remaining people dared not hesitate any longer and immediately fell to their knees, shouting with the force of a mountain torrent and the roar of the sea, performing the grand kowtow, swearing allegiance to Li Zongxun.

Li Sangruo watched wide-eyed, unable to believe that these once loyal subjects of the Emperor of Xifeng were now pledging their loyalty.

"You, you... Is this how you show loyalty to Dajin?"

Li Zongxun glanced sideways and sharply scolded Li Sangruo.

"Have you no shame to kowtow and beg for forgiveness? Do you want to end up like Tang Shaogong?"

Li Sangruo’s tears fell in an instant.

"Traitor! If you have the guts, kill me, kill me! I’ve not wanted to live since the day you drove me mad, I’ve not wanted to live since then."

She cried and shouted, her mad ravings unceasing in the grand hall. Li Zongxun frowned and waved his hand dismissively.

"Take her away!"

-

It was only after the glow of dusk tinged the clouds with a golden hue, following the noon hour, that Feng Yun received news from the front.

"My lady, the Beiyong Army has crossed Yishui and is pressing on towards Yecheng. The great king asks you to be at ease."

Feng Yun looked at Qian Sanniu who stood with hands clasped, uttering the word "good" with resounding clarity.

Qian Sanniu looked up, then continued, "There is something else, I don’t know whether it’s good news or bad news..."

Feng Yun raised her eyebrows, "Let’s hear it."

Qian Sanniu said, "There has been infighting in Yecheng."

"Oh?"

If that’s not good news, what is?

Feng Yun’s interest was piqued, "What happened?"

Qian Sanniu thought for a moment before speaking: "Li Zongxun and his daughter have had a falling out, suddenly turning against each other. Empress Dowager Li has been placed under house arrest in the palace by Li Zongxun. Tang Shaogong led a night raid on Fangyun Hall, rescued Empress Dowager Li, and caught Li Zongxun off guard..."

Feng Yun grew even more animated, "And then?"

Qian Sanniu said, "In the chaos, Tang Shaogong, using Li Sangruo as a hostage, tried to force Li Zongxun to comply. Unexpectedly, Li Zongxun disregarded his daughter’s life entirely and ordered the Imperial Guards to act without mercy... Having no choice, Tang Shaogong led his men to flee, seizing Longqing Gate and confronting Li Zongxun overnight. At the crow of the rooster, Li Zongxun sent a larger force, and Tang Shaogong was surrounded, suffering heavy casualties. To avoid falling into the enemy’s hands, in desperation, Tang Shaogong killed himself in public."

Ah?

Feng Yun was slightly surprised.

In just a short time, Yecheng had undergone earth-shattering changes...

"There’s more..." Qian Sanniu furrowed his brow, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion, "Instead of urgently dispatching reinforcements to firmly defend against the Beiyong Army, that traitor Li has actually declared himself emperor in Yecheng..."

Feng Yun was slightly taken aback.

"Has the king received the news?"

Qian Sanniu said, "Indeed, the great king sent me back to inform the princess. He also said, ’Do not fret, do not rush.’"

Feng Yun said with a smile, "I am not fretful, not in a hurry."

Before her voice had even faded, she commanded Xiaoman.

"Prepare the carriage, I will go see for myself, and then I won’t be in a hurry."

Feng Yun could not fully grasp the intricacies of Yecheng, but she discerned two key points...

The first, Tang Shaogong was assisting Pei Jue, contributing to the army’s breakthrough of Yecheng, hence his decision to enter a do-or-die battle with Li Zongxun, even at the cost of his life, ensuring to rip a huge chunk from Yecheng to exhaust Li Zongxun and create an opportunity for Pei Jue.

Otherwise, with Tang Shaogong’s status in Li Zongxun’s eyes, retreating unscathed would have been effortless; there was no need for such a self-sacrifice.

The second, Pei Jue had waited so long south of the Yishui for this very opportunity.

Waiting for Li Zongxun to seize power and usurp the throne.

Waiting for him to succeed, put on the dragon robe.

Waiting for him to solidify his act of treason, then make his move.

If Li Zongxun had not assumed the title of emperor, his actions from beginning to end would have been seen as in defense of Dajin’s sovereignty, with Pei Jue being a separate ruler, each with their own supporters...

Clearly, Li Zongxun was pushed to the throne by Tang Shaogong.

He was thoroughly pushed to oppose Dajin; all he had done would become "evidence" of his attempt to usurp the throne, allowing Pei Jue to justifiably eradicate the rebels of Yecheng, then rally the people, uphold justice, and rectify public opinion.

To take up arms, one must have a just cause.

In the annals of history, this too would be a notable entry.