As soon as she finished speaking, the army stood at attention in silence, responding in unison: “Yes!”

The heavy gates of the Eastern Mountain Pass were pushed open with ease under the force of tens of thousands of soldiers.

At the moment the gate opened, Wen Yuesheng’s voice led the soldiers straight into the pass.

Zhang Yulin, Li Qingyuan, and the others remained cautious, noting that after entering the Eastern Pass, there were not many soldiers to be seen.

Aside from the general that Wen Yuesheng had just killed outside the pass, only three generals remained here.

Not long ago, Zhang Yulin had visited the Eastern Pass, so he knew the situation well and was aware that the Eastern Army numbered 100,000. But now, the entire force inside the Eastern Pass barely amounted to half that number.

After investigating further, his expression grew grim.

He whispered to Wen Yuesheng, “There are less than half the number, and most of the soldiers have no idea what’s going on.”

“They only know the orders from above, which say to close the mountain gates.”

Yan Ling, standing by, said coldly, “This situation suggests that someone has lost control.”

The heavy snow had sealed off the mountains, blocking all communication.

Important generals from the capital, like Wen Yuesheng, Duke Zhongyong, and Zhang Yulin, as well as Lu Qinghuai, were not present.

The disappearance of most of the Eastern Army clearly pointed to a major shift in events.

Duke Zhongyong’s expression darkened, and he asked in a low voice, “Princess, should we head to the capital?”

Although the army stationed in the capital still numbered over 100,000, along with the imperial guards and the three elite forces under Wen Yuesheng, it would not be easy to incite trouble.

But given the uncertainty of the situation in the capital, he found it hard to make a decision.

Yan Ling replied, “The message has come back.”

Zhang Yulin and the others paused, looking up to see several sea eagles circling overhead.

Although they were aware of Yan Ling’s capabilities, they were seeing his methods in action for the first time.

They had not been far from Fuzhou when the message arrived—delivered in this dramatic manner.

Dizhu, standing beside Yan Ling, blew a long whistle.

The sea eagles landed.

He quickly approached and retrieved a few bamboo tubes from one of the fierce birds. He opened them to reveal scrolls and handed them to Yan Ling and Wen Yuesheng.

Wen Yuesheng took them and after reading, her expression turned cold.

She said sharply, “The emperor is not in the capital.”

The message from the guards said that several days ago, during the snowstorm, the emperor had gone to the Hot Springs Palace with his ministers.

The palace guards, tasked with guarding the capital, had not accompanied them.

However, the emperor’s three elite forces had traveled with him.

Wen Yuesheng’s forces, in addition to the palace guards, also included one of the three elite forces—the Front Hall Army—but no message had come from them.

“The forces stationed in the capital have not reported any disturbances,” Yan Ling said.

Duke Zhongyong and Yan Wei exchanged looks.

Given the circumstances, it seemed more likely that it was not a lack of information but that the Hot Springs Palace had been completely controlled, preventing any messages from getting out!

Unlike typical armies, the forces stationed in the capital would not act without the emperor’s imperial seal.

Without any message or imperial orders, the capital’s army could not move freely.

“Princess, what should we do now?” Duke Zhongyong asked with a grave expression.

Wen Yuesheng ordered, “Have the army prepare to march to the Hot Springs Palace.”

At her command, countless soldiers began to mobilize.

The cold winter wind cut sharply.

Inside the royal Hot Springs Palace, it was as warm as spring.

Though the temperature was warm, the atmosphere was tense.

The sky had already brightened, yet the soldiers in the palace courtyard still carried torches.

The flickering light of the fire crackled and popped in the silence, creating an eerie atmosphere.

The courtyard was unusually quiet, yet as one looked around, one could see soldiers in black armor and many ministers standing around, their faces grim.

When Prince Wei Yangwang was dragged into the courtyard, it was still dark, and he was dizzy from the sudden action.

Now, kneeling in the courtyard, he finally regained his senses.

His face was grim as he looked up at the people standing in front of him.

During the night, someone had led a large army into the palace.

Such a commotion had naturally alerted the imperial guards protecting the emperor.

However, it was unexpected that one of the most important commanders of the imperial guards, who was closest to the emperor, had conspired with rebels. This person had opened the gates, letting the rebels in.

By now, the rebels had detained all the ministers who had come with the emperor and had even dragged Prince Wei Yangwang out of his bed and forced him to kneel here.

Beside him, someone held a bright yellow imperial edict, coldly watching the ministers.

Prince Wei Yangwang’s face darkened as he looked up, his eyes scanning the people before him.

When he recognized the face of the man and saw the empty sleeves, he could not help but sneer.

“Xiao Rui( Prince Heng Guang )! What do you think you’re doing?” Prince Wei Yangwang looked at the first prince, Xiao Rui, whom he hadn’t seen for days.

He mocked loudly, “Are you trying to force your way into the palace with your broken body?”

“Hahaha.” He laughed so hard he almost cried.

Under the dark gaze of the first prince, Prince Wei Yangwang showed no restraint, continuing to mock, “With your crippled body, do you even think you’re worthy!?”

Before he could finish speaking, a kick landed on his chest.

“Poof!” The first prince had used all his strength, and Prince Wei Yangwang, unable to dodge, was struck hard. He spat blood and felt intense pain in his chest, unable to speak.

Seeing this, the first prince mocked, “You fool who can’t see the situation, still daring to talk nonsense in front of me.”

Hearing him refer to himself as solitary, all the ministers around them changed their expressions.

“Where is Xiao Jin?!” The first prince shouted furiously. “And the second one, that bastard! Bring them here, now!”

The soldiers exchanged glances and answered in a low voice.

“Father!” After losing his arm, Prince Heng Guang had been confined to the palace, but now, appearing before everyone, he had a crazed look in his eyes. “Why haven’t you come out yet? It’s me, your son. I’ve come to see you!”

The empty sleeves were unsettling to everyone present.

What was even more troubling was the bright yellow robe he wore, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon—this was the crown prince’s regalia.

The first prince, Prince Heng Guang, had truly made up his mind to seize the throne and kill his father.

In the midst of all the complex expressions of the ministers, one person stood alone.

This person was none other than the Duke of Xu, who had long supported the first prince.

After Prince Heng Guang( Xiao Rui ) lost his arm, the Duke of Xu’s mansion had collapsed, and he rarely appeared in public. For many in the capital, his name was synonymous with the crumbling of his family.

What no one knew was that, after much plotting, the Duke of Xu had staged this coup at the Hot Springs Palace.

Unlike the first prince’s earlier actions, this palace coup was entirely orchestrated by the Duke of Xu.

The heavy snow had blocked all the emperor’s generals in the barren Fuzhou region.

Given these circumstances, the emperor had ordered a retreat to the Hot Springs Palace, which provided the Duke of Xu and his allies with the opportunity to act.

The Duke of Xu had never been this radical before.

But now, the first prince had been deposed, Consort Duan had lost favor, and the Duke of Xu’s long-standing political machinations had been reduced to a crumbling family and a fragile empress dowager.

He knew the emperor too well.

As long as the empress dowager was still alive, they were safe. But once she passed, it would be their time to die.

Not just him, but the entire household and all of his subordinates would face the same fate.

This constant fear and anxiety grew stronger after the Princess Furui’s assassination.

The Duke of Xu had spent his life scheming—how could he be willing to lose everything?

The emperor had forced his hand.

Since the emperor showed no mercy, neither would he.

Although the first prince was now crippled, they still held his bloodline.

By supporting Prince Heng Guang to the throne, they could ensure their family’s position for centuries.

The Duke of Xu looked up, scanning the ministers before him. He spoke coldly, “Today, we will establish the heir—the first prince’s son, and the emperor’s eldest grandson.”

“All of you are witnesses and will be the ones to support the crown prince in the future.”

His gaze slid from one minister to the next, finally resting on the elder Lü Ge.

He turned to face the tightly shut palace doors.

“The emperor’s health is failing. On his deathbed, he entrusted the care of the state to Lord Lu. From now on, Lord Lu will be the chief minister beside the new emperor, a meritorious official of the court.”

He paused, watching as Elder Lu Ge did not respond.

He then hardened his expression, speaking each word slowly, “Lord Lu, your family is still in the capital. Do not refuse my kindness.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the attendant holding the imperial edict stepped forward, almost pressing the edict to Lu Ge’s face.

Lu Ge raised his eyes and scanned the so-called royal decree, speaking coldly, “The Duke of Xu is already a traitor. Do you still want to act like a gentleman, pretending to be virtuous? Don’t you feel disgusted with yourself?”

The crowd changed their expressions, and Prince Heng Guang’s sinister gaze fell on Lu Ge.

Unable to use his right hand, the first prince pulled a sword from a nearby soldier and pointed it at Lü Ge, shouting, “Lu Shixian, you are shameless.”

Standing next to the first prince, the Duke of Xu’s face turned cold, his former gentle demeanor replaced by a ruthless one.

These ministers, refusing to recognize the situation, would likely need to see blood before they would understand.

“Well, you, and all of you,” Prince Heng Guang pointed his sword at the ministers. “You still think of me as King Hengguang?”

The first prince laughed coldly, “Fine, today I will use your blood to wake up my father, who refuses to face the truth.”

“Come!” His eyes were cold as he looked at Lu Ge and the others. “Lock up Lu Shixian, Wang Jin, and the rest outside the hall. One by one, slice off their flesh—”

His cruel gaze fell on the tightly shut hall doors.

“Bring them to the emperor, and say it’s my filial tribute to him.”

This declaration caused a stir among the crowd.

Previously, it was known that Xiao Rui was ruthless and bloodthirsty, but now, he was even more brutal.

In this Hot Springs Palace, under the watchful eyes of countless people, a bloodbath was about to ensue.

If he succeeded today, who knew how the world would change?

He wanted to torment everyone, yet high-ranking ministers like Wang Jin and Lu Ge remained defiant despite the first prince’s cruelty.

Seeing this, the Duke of Xu’s eyes turned cold, signaling the soldiers to rush forward and capture the officials.

“Prince Heng Guang, you are heartless and brutal! You want us to bow to you and crown you as the new emperor? Hah! You’re not worthy!” someone shouted from the crowd.

But some of the ministers, weak-willed, trembled and kneeled, begging the first prince for mercy.

Prince Heng Guang smiled cruelly.

In the chaos, Prince Wei Yangwang, who had fallen to the ground, seized the opportunity to get up. A dagger was tied to his arm.

With the dagger in hand, he aimed it at Prince Heng Guang.

However, before he could strike, Prince Heng Guang reacted faster, grabbing his hand with lightning speed and shouting, “Xiao Yin, you want to die!”