Chapter 439: Rebellion

Come night, second prince and You Ming were sitting in the main hall waiting for information. Below them were military officials, with the commander of the city guards in the lead.

Since the emperor had left the safety of the capital in the second prince’s hands, these men were his to command. 

To seize the throne and rule the lands, he needed a proper foundation.

“What’s taking so long?” Second prince’s feet bounced, waiting with anxiety. You Ming, next to him, shook his head.

[Second prince wears his heart on his sleeve. How can he be ruler material? If by some miracle, he gets the throne, he’ll soon get kicked off anyway.]

Unlike the current emperor, who, despite being known as incapable, had his own thinking. He had toyed with Tianyu’s old foxes for decades. A true master of the mind. 

[Just how can such a father have a hothead for a son? Humph, that midwife must’ve been at fault. She must’ve dropped him on his head at birth.] (StarReader: the literal translation: She had to have thrown away the baby thinking it was the placenta rather than the true baby. I.e. calling him brain dead.)

You Ming mocked him inside.

Second prince had no clue that his most trusted advisor had no trust in him at all, only waiting impatiently for the spy.

Whoosh!

A man appeared in front, on his knees.

Second prince jumped to his feet, “What’s the situation?”

“Your Highness, Dugu Army has been marching for a month and is thousands of leagues away. It will be impossible for them to return in time, even if it is only Dugu Zhantian or the Four Tigers of Tianyu!”

“Truly?”

Second prince was ecstatic, “Ha-ha-ha, Dugu Army is gone for real. Father is wide open. Commander, a.s.semble the thirty thousand guards and attack the palace and force father to abdicate. By morning, at court, I’ll be the new emperor. No one can do anything, ha-ha-ha…”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Long live the emperor….” The commander bowed.

Second prince laughed harder, his face beaming, writing himself off as the emperor already.

“He-he-he, let’s see who will dare say I’m not fit to rule when I have the Imperial Palace in my palm!” Second prince left with the captains right behind him, “Begin, capture all officials. I don’t want any chaos. Thirty thousand imperial guards are enough to seize everything. We will settle it tonight!”

“Your Majesty is invincible!” The men chapped their lips.

Only You Ming stayed behind with a mocking smile.

[Humph, the tallest tree gets all the wind. The imperial capital doesn’t lack men with power and ambition so why the h.e.l.l don’t they act, leaving you to go first? Idiot, your only use is to be someone else’s p.a.w.n.]

[I’ve done what Zhuo Fan and Leng Wuchang asked. The imperial capital will be in chaos, Dugu Zhantian’s army will have to return and they can fight to their heart’s content, ha-ha-ha… ]

You Ming slunk into the dark night.

The main street of the imperial capital was soon crawling with soldiers. One busybody got too curious but was scared away by the display.

Some stubborn officials were under house arrest, with n.o.body going in or out.

Sighing, these men guessed what was going on. Someone was rebelling, now of all times, when everything was in chaos.

All they could do was to wait for the resolution, knowing the night would be a chaotic one.

Zhuge Changfeng was at his home, consulting the details of his operation when he heard the commotion outside. One servant reported seeing guards around the house.

Everyone was frantic, especially a man with sideburns, shouting, “Humph, didn’t I tell you? He even has the Prime Minister’s house surrounded. Just which captain dares to do this?”

“Minister of War, settle down.”

Zhuge Changfeng smiled, “Ha-ha-ha, they’re only making a scene, thats all.”

“But lord Prime Minister, to have guards surround the Minister of War is a direct affront to me!” The man was outraged at the gross lack of respect.

Zhuge Changfeng laughed, “There’s no need to feel shame when they aren’t even your men. Our men are still waiting outside.

“Just let these brutes search all they want, then we’ll decide on our course of action.” Zhuge Changfeng’s eyes flashed.

The Minister of War showed a crafty grin in reply, nodded and sat down…

Inside the Imperial Palace, the emperor was at his desk when he heard a cry and a servant frantically came over, “Y-Your Majesty, t-this is terrible…”

“Slow down.” The emperor remained calm.

Taking a deep breath, the man said, “A r-revolt, Your Majesty! They’re attacking the Imperial Palace and we’re being overrun!”

“What?” The emperor rushed to his feet.

But the servant begged before he could go, “Your Majesty, it’s too dangerous. Please use the secret tunnel and flee!”

“I am the ruler of this nation. How can I flee from my lands?” Snorting, the emperor walked out, “Just who dares to act with such impertinence?”

At the emperor’s steel gaze, the servant sighed and followed behind him.

They just stepped out and flames flashed across the sky with shouts and roars echoing everywhere.

They saw a tide of soldiers smashing into the Imperial Palace and the imperial guards being pushed back. He also recognized who the rebels were, the city guards.

Panting, out of the three thousand imperial guards, only three hundred remained, b.l.o.o.d.y and wounded. They all circled the emperor, their faces grave.

Squinting, the emperor looked on happily, “My child, why are you using the city guards for your own means and charging on the Imperial Palace?”

“Ha-ha-ha, oh imperial father. How do you know that I am leading the city guards and its not them rebelling on their own accord?” A brash laugh announced the arrival of second prince surrounded by ten Radiant Stage experts.

Snickering, the emperor mocked, “Commander of the guards is not impulsive, and certainly not stupid enough to stick his neck out.”

“You…”

Second prince was infuriated. The emperor was mocking him for his rash actions, for that useless thing he had on his shoulder, even worse than a city commander, “Imperial father, I know you’ve only cared for the elder brother and always looked down on me. But now you shall see what I’m made of!”

“Oh, I think I’ve seen quite enough, a brainless buffoon. If I’d left the empire in your hands, the Yuwen clan won’t even see the end of the year, with the nation falling into anarchy!” The emperor patronized.

Second prince was fuming, “You can look down on me all you want, but history is written by the winner. I have you surrounded, the entire Imperial Palace is under my control. Make me an emperor now and I will let you retire and leave in bliss!”

“Humph, you really are my son. But what if I don’t plan on retiring? Maybe I’ll keep this seat a while longer.” The emperor belittled.

Shuddering, the second prince spat, “Imperial father, don’t push me.”

“What, you’ll kill me? Kill your own flesh and blood?” The emperor taunted. 

Second prince’s eyes were red, “Imperial father, you will abdicate, whether you want to or not. Or our ties will be cut in blood!”

Second prince shouted, “Guard, bring His Majesty a pen and paper. He is about to abdicate. Kill anyone who interferes!”

“Understood!”

The guard army roared like a tsunami, filled with zest and power as it pressed on. The emperor was not the least bit scared, but one couldn’t say the same about the imperial guards around him, shirking back slowly.

Second prince saw them still acting firm and looked to his left.

One Radiant Stage expert caught his meaning and flew for the emperor.

But a figure cut that expert’s path while someone shouted, “Second brother, stop!”