Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Grandmaster Martial Artist

Zhonghe Hall.

Listening to the cries and sounds of fighting outside, Emperor Zhengyong trembled with rage.

Wang Zhongyi beside him was even angrier, gritting his teeth.

Well then.

It was you all who petitioned the Emperor to perform a sacrificial ceremony.

It was you all who pressured the Emperor for a month.

It is still you all who “cleaned up” those around the Emperor.

In the end, the blame falls entirely on me!

This is truly… too oppressive!

Wang Zhongyi immediately said, “Your Majesty, let me go and kill them all!”

“No rush.”

Emperor Zhengyong gritted his teeth and said, “We’ve been fishing for so long, just for this day, haven’t we?”

“Send orders to the Imperial Army to hold off the rebels outside Taihe Hall!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Under the orders of Emperor Zhengyong, squadrons of Imperial Army troops charged out from various parts of the palace, forming a defensive line outside Taihe Hall.

Finally, Prime Minister Yang’s Imperial Guard arrived.

Both sides were elite forces of the Great Yu Dynasty and immediately engaged in fierce battle.

Behind the Imperial Guard.

Yang Kang, a scholar, was also clad in armor, watching the chaos in the square and said in a serious tone, “Father, it seems the Emperor was prepared?”

“So what?”

At this moment, Prime Minister Yang exuded a heroic aura and shouted loudly, “The intelligence from our ears and eyes suggest the forces under Emperor Zhengyong command consist only of the Imperial Army, part of the Imperial Guard, and some Death Warriors.”

“The Dragon-soaring Army is trapped in Nanyue County and Datong Prefecture, and most of the Border Army has been crippled, entrapped by both the Wu Country and the rebelling armies.”

“Under my command, not only do I have the Imperial Guard, but also martial arts experts and with the help from Celestial Destiny Sect and Mayfly Tower, hahaha…”

“Tonight, I am destined!”

“Guang’er, attack!”

“Yes!”

“Hilululu~!”

Behind Prime Minister Yang, Yang Guang, who was entirely armored with his horse, waved, and fully armed cavalry surged forward, charging towards the Imperial Army.

“Kill!”

An angry shout echoed, and hundreds of figures leaped down from nearby palaces and palace walls.

Armed with long swords, big knives, and giant axes, they charged into the Imperial Army from the flanks.

Martial artists!

The Great Yu was founded on martial arts, thus there were hundreds of martial arts halls in the Capital City.

Among these halls, a substantial portion had been drawn in by Prime Minister Yang using various tactics.

Now, as they charged into the Imperial Army ranks, they immediately threw the Imperial Army into disarray, causing them to retreat repeatedly.

“Kill!”

“An order from His Majesty! Prime Minister Yang is conspiring against the state, whoever kills him shall be rewarded with the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!”

“Prime Minister Yang is committing treason!”

“Kill Prime Minister Yang to earn the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!”

With angry shouts, two more squads of troops charged out from the surrounding palaces.

One team wearing embroidered uniforms, exceptionally fierce, was the Imperial City Department.

Leading them, Ma Jinwu wielded a demon-headed broad blade, cutting down several rebels in succession.

The other team, the sacrificial institute dedication.

Their lowest strength was third-grade martial artist, although only numbering in the hundreds, but they stood like a reef at the front of Taihe Hall, resistant to any rebel charge, holding their ground.

“Sacrificial Institute?”

Prime Minister Yang coldly observed the figures blocking the Imperial Army, turning to say, “Protector Baha’er, I’ll leave these guys to you.”

“Honorable Great Yu Prime Minister Yang, I trust after today, you will abide by our agreement.”

Standing there, there were only two figures, the first with prominent cheekbones, red and azure blue, clearly not from Great Yu.

The other dressed in a red robe, even with red eyebrows, his gaze fierce.

Celestial Destiny Sect!

“Rest assured.” Prime Minister Yang said, “As long as today we can force Emperor Zhengyong to cede the throne, then Bingzhou and Zangzhou will be divided for the Celestial Destiny Sect to spread your teachings, as your domain!”

“It’s settled with one word!”

“It’s settled with one word!”

“Kill!”

The leading alien roared angrily, his entire body rapidly becoming an illusion, swiftly bypassing the Imperial Guard and charging into the Sacrificial Institute.

Behind him, the Celestial Destiny Sect leader, Yangg Tianjian, laughed wildly, his figure closely following.

With two Grandmaster Realm martial artists attacking, they immediately killed several martial artists from the Sacrificial Institute.

The formation of the Imperial Army crumbled and retreated swiftly, leaving a field of corpses.

“Pursue!”

The rebels pursued, and the army continued advancing.

“Kang’er.”

Prime Minister Yang stopped Yang Kang and said, “Go lead people to set fires around Taihe Hall and Jiaotai Hall, you must hold the others in the palace in check.”

“Set fires?”

Yang Kang said in surprise, “Father, if we do this, even if we win, we’ll end up with nothing but scorched earth!”

“Only set fires in these few main halls. Do not act in the harem or side halls.”

Prime Minister Yang said, “By using fire, we can force Emperor Zhengyong’s last resort early; even if he has backup forces, he cannot summon them all.”

“Once Huan’er Dragon Child is born, he will be the new Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty!”

“This… Yes, Father!”

The rebels continue surrounding and killing, and after the time of a tea, flame ignited around Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, and Baohe Hall.

Outside Jiaotai Hall.

Looking at the raging fire, Emperor Zhengyong’s face turned extremely ugly.

“Damn it… Yang Xugan has gone mad! How dare he set fire to burn the Imperial Palace!”

“We can’t wait any longer, let Master Zhao and the Shadow Guard act.”

“Yes… Your Majesty!”

Wang Zhongyi waved his hand, and eerie little eunuchs darted out of the shadows, attacking the rebels.

“Chief Attendant, also send someone to bring out the Immortal Seed. The Great Yu has been nurturing scholars for three hundred years, isn’t it just for today!”

“This…” Wang Zhongyi hesitated and said, “Your Majesty is responsible for the safety of thousands of Great Yu People, I cannot leave Your Majesty.”

“Why not let Xiaochengzi do it, his character is steady, he won’t mishandle things.”

Emperor Zhengyong pondered for a moment and said, “Fine.”

Wang Zhongyi summoned Xiaochengzi, whispered a few words, and Xiaochengzi agreed hastily and retreated quickly.

Outside Jiaotai Hall, Zhao Suling and a plump junior minister also approached the rebels.

“Alas… I just want to drink and enjoy women’s company, why did Yang Xugan go crazy and dare to stir rebellion!”

“Troublesome! Troublesome!”

The junior minister said while walking, shaking his head back and forth, words filled with resentment.

“Prince Xian must be cautious, I feel the rebels’ aura today is somewhat unusual.”

Zhao Suling responded, his words full of caution.

Prince Xian.

Former Emperor’s eighteenth brother, Emperor Zhengyong’s Imperial Uncle.

From childhood showed an amazing martial arts talent, unfortunately became a wanderer, uninterested in the throne, roaming the martial arts world and brothels daily.

But even so, he reached the Grandmaster Realm at fifty-five.

He was one of the only two jade card holders in the Sacrificial Institute.

Also, the only Royal Family member at the Grandmaster Realm.

“Oh? Could it be there’s an Innate Expert?”

“Perhaps so.”

Zhao Suling agreed, darting out of Jiaotai Hall palace walls.

With a flick of the hand, three-foot Sword Qi immediately slashed out, cutting two cavalrymen and their horses in half.

Under the influence of a Qi mechanism, he immediately engaged in fierce battle with the Celestial Destiny Sect’s General Guardian Baha’er.

“Unlucky!”

Prince Xian cursed quietly and charged into the rebels, blocking the Celestial Destiny Sect leader Yangg Tianjian.

For a moment, the four fought non-stop, the air swirling, and no surrounding soldier dared approach.

Remote from Jiaotai Hall.

Zheng Yi leaped to the rooftop to observe the distant battlefield.

With Prime Minister Yang’s treachery, Emperor Zhengyong had mobilized almost all guards to resist the rebels.

The guards outside his courtyard were long gone, even the eunuchs and palace maids couldn’t be found.

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

“Prime Minister Yang has rebelled, Emperor Zhengyong surely has a backup plan… Xu Mujun!”

Zheng Yi quietly sneaked out of the annex, taking a eunuch outfit and putting it on.

“No wonder he forced me to visit Consort Duann’s palace before, always staying with Consort Duann to make children.”

“He must have anticipated this, using Consort Duann and her unborn child to win over Xu Mujun.”

“For so long, Xu Mujun might already be hiding somewhere in the Imperial Palace.”

“Prime Minister Yang’s rebellion… is destined to fail!”

After putting on the disguise, he smeared mud on his face, discerned the direction, and started sneakily moving towards Jiaotai Hall.

Within the realm of a First-grade Martial Artist, as long as he didn’t encounter those few Grandmaster Realm Martial Artists under Prime Minister Yang, he shouldn’t face any trouble.

Soon enough, Jiaotai Hall was already clearly in sight.

“Hey you… come over here, follow me, I have an important matter to handle!”

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