After the banquet, undercurrents surged within the imperial city, and the borderlands were also restless, constituting both internal and external troubles.

I wholeheartedly wanted to go to the south to defend the borders but feared that the capital would fall into chaos once I left, so I had my confidants lead the army to quell the disturbances.

Perhaps seeing the situation outside gradually stabilizing, the princes inside the palace started to fight fiercely.

In less than half a month, the Emperor's several young sons were mysteriously exiled to their fiefdoms under various pretexts and ordered not to return without a decree.

Soon, only two princes remained in the imperial city: Lu Ye and Lu Yuan.

One of them had the backing of noble families and held a prestigious status, while the other was extremely talented and greatly admired by the new elite, resulting in balanced forces.

Because of this, everyone's eyes were on me.

For as long as I stood with one side, it would break the current deadlock.

Old and new aristocrats started to find ways to win my favor, making me so annoyed that I decided to hide in Princess Lu Jiao's palace to avoid the limelight, not even attending court sessions.

On this day, just as I was starting a game of chess with Princess Lu Jiao, Bei Tao delivered a secret letter.

Upon opening it, I frowned in disdain: "Lu Ye is actually planning to stage a coup."

"He's just afraid of being deposed," Lu Jiao was slightly surprised, "But where did he get the troops?”

"The Emperor's five thousand imperial guards have been taken over by him, and he somehow gathered three thousand more from the martial world. That means his forces are actually twice as many as the guards I left in the capital."

Lu Jiao tutted and shook her head: "He got lucky with a war in the south requiring your troops; otherwise, with your soldiers camped around the city, he wouldn't have had a chance to make such a move."

After speaking, she called for palace maids and eunuchs to spread the news to all the palaces except the Emperor's sleeping quarters, instructing everyone to tightly close their doors and windows.

"But I didn't see you properly close the palace door," I laughed at Lu Jiao.

"With you, the living Yama, here, who would dare come by?" Lu Jiao smirked mischievously.

After thinking for a moment, I called Bei Tao to send a message to the garrison commander, instructing them to guard the residential areas of the common folk, ensuring their safety.

This battle should not involve innocent people.

As soon as the sun set, wolf smoke rose from the military outposts outside the palace.

The sound of iron-clad soldiers and weapons clashing echoed from east to west throughout the imperial city.

Come nightfall, Bei Tao reported back that several of the newly risen elites had been captured by the rebels and awaited punishment at the marketplace, while the third prince, with over a thousand private soldiers, was still fiercely resisting.

Seeing that the outcome was not yet decided, I decided to take a nap first.

Unexpectedly, just as I lay down, a huge noise of the palace gate being breached came from outside.

Soon, flames shot up within the palace, and amidst the sounds of killing, cries for help from women could be faintly heard.

"Close the palace gate properly," I said solemnly to Lu Jiao, then leaped over the wall, heading to the Emperor's sleeping quarters.

When I arrived, the sleeping quarters had already been surrounded like an iron barrel by Lu Ye's men.

Palace maids and eunuchs knelt trembling under their blades.

Seeing me, the guards shouted, "Which palace are you from? Kneel over here!”

Frowning, I walked closer, but before I could speak, they tried to grab my shoulders and kick my knees.

Seeing their disheveled attire and the two barely clothed maidens in the corner, rage surged within me, and I lashed out fiercely with my long whip.

I had always strictly enforced military discipline. Even coveting a single thing from the common folk would earn my soldiers military punishment, let alone assaulting women.

In contrast, Lu Ye's undisciplined troops were completely lawless.

He was not yet Emperor, yet his men dared to act so recklessly. If he ascended the throne, what would happen then?

The guards rolled on the ground in pain, wailing, and the other soldiers, recognizing me, dared not stop me anymore.

I strode into the hall.

As soon as I entered, I saw Lu Ye coming towards me, wearing a dragon robe.

"General Song, what brings you here? Are you here to congratulate me on ascending to the throne?”

"You have quite the audacity to kill the Emperor and usurp the throne," I glared at him coldly.

"So what if I did? You all forced me to this point!" Lu Ye’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression somewhat crazed. "Kneel and beg me now. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll leave your corpse intact."

Frowning, I stared at him: "You're not the only one eligible for the throne. Don't rejoice too soon. Where is Lu Yuan?”

"Dead," he smirked with an eerie curve to his lips, "He resisted till the very end, fearing I would come and kill you."

I was somewhat taken aback.

"But that’s all irrelevant now because you will soon reunite in the netherworld."

With a wave of his hand, more than ten black-clad men rushed out from behind him, all wearing soft armor and wielding various weapons.

They attacked me like bloodthirsty beasts, every move aiming to kill.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lu Ye smiling smugly behind the assassins.

Stupid. Did he really think he could kill me this easily?