Chapter 20: The Resolute Dragon
Yuehua Palace
Within the bedchamber, the soft flicker of candlelight danced, casting playful shadows upon the gossamer curtains that swayed gently in the faint breeze.
Li Feitian, or the Ninth Prince Qi Dongyang, entered with a calm and composed demeanor, yet his eyes gleamed with a quiet satisfaction.
Upon a finely carved wooden bed, a woman clad in pale purple robes reclined. Her eyes were closed in slumber, her youthful face serene, though marked by stubbornness and pride when awake. In this moment of repose, she appeared tranquil and gentle, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
The corner of Li Feitian's lips twitched into a smile. How had Princess Chu Xiuying come to lie upon his bed?
He reached out to touch the delicate curtain, slowly drawing it down to shield the bed, his gaze lingering on the sleeping figure before turning to stride toward the outer hall.
In the outer hall, a woman in black robes awaited him, bowing with a composed grace.
"Your Highness, I have brought the Princess of Chu as commanded."
The voice of Yao Ninghe carried its usual cool detachment.
Li Feitian cast a glance at the fiercely loyal woman, then walked to a table and poured tea into a cup with deliberate slowness.
"Your efforts are appreciated, Ninghe."
"What shall we do next, Your Highness?" Yao Ninghe inquired.
Li Feitian let out a soft chuckle, raising the teacup to his lips.
"Return for now. You need not worry."
Yao Ninghe regarded him with an unreadable expression, pausing briefly before speaking plainly.
"Your Highness… will you act like a bandit in the wild?"
Her tone was simple, yet laden with profound implication.
Li Feitian froze momentarily, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Me? Force myself upon another like a bandit? How could I?"
He waved her away once more.
"Go now. I have no such intentions, I assure you."
"I hope you will not be harsh with her."
"Hmph… go. Leave the rest to me."
Yao Ninghe lingered for a moment, her eyes fixed on him, before bowing once more and departing silently, leaving only the faint echo of Li Feitian's laughter resonating in the darkness.
The Imperial Throne Room
Soft sunlight filtered through tall windows, illuminating the polished jade floor of the grand throne room. At the pinnacle of the stone steps, the Dragon Throne stood resolute, with the Emperor seated upon it, his countenance stern and vexed.
The Empress and the Dowager Empress were absent from the audience. Only a handful of nobles attended, and, more curiously, many were conspicuously missing without prior notice.
The Emperor's gaze swept over the remaining ministers. Only Minister Liu Shang and a few civil and military officials attended as usual, yet both he and those present sensed an eerie, unsettling atmosphere.
Suddenly—
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! A grave matter has arisen!"
The frantic voice of Li Gonggong, the elderly eunuch, rang out from afar. He stumbled into the hall, panting heavily, his face etched with utmost alarm.
"The Second Prince, Qi Feizhen, has rebelled!"
Amid the stunned silence, before the Emperor could respond, the throne room trembled with the sound of marching soldiers.
A figure clad in imperial robes strode in with bold authority, adorned in luxurious regalia and a golden crown that gleamed with his unmistakable intent.
Qi Feizhen, the Second Prince.
Behind him followed an armed contingent, some turncoat palace guards, others mercenaries bought from foreign lands.
"Father…" Qi Feizhen declared with unwavering confidence.
"…this throne room is now mine. I request that you abdicate the throne at once."
His voice echoed powerfully, stripped of any trace of reverence. His eyes burned with determination, yet beneath that resolve lay an insatiable hunger for power, impossible to conceal.
The loyal nobles recoiled in shock, many stepping back instinctively, while the Emperor remained seated, his piercing gaze fixed upon his son. His expression was unyielding, his eyes cold as ice.
"Feizhen, oh Feizhen. How could you conceive such thoughts? How could you act so? Do you believe this mere band of soldiers can force me to relinquish the throne?"
The Emperor's voice was as frigid as frost, yet Qi Feizhen laughed.
"Your Majesty has grown old. It is time to step aside for one more capable."
He surveyed the nobles below with pride, then spoke with commanding authority.
"I am the new Emperor of this realm. Those who pledge loyalty to me will be granted titles far greater than before…"
At once, the swords of several soldiers rose, awaiting orders from the man they believed to be their new sovereign.
The shouts of the soldiers reverberated through the throne room, punctuated by the intermittent clash of metal, signaling the volatile situation.
General Sun Bian stepped forward, standing tall like a pillar of stone, his eyes fierce, his voice resounding with power.
"All nobles, hear me! Those loyal to His Majesty, stand to this side! Those who choose the Second Prince, move to the other!"
His bold command brooked no hesitation, impossible to defy.
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances. Some decisively stepped toward the Second Prince's side, while others moved to the Emperor's.
Yet a few remained in the center, too paralyzed to decide.
"Why do you dawdle?" a harsh shout rang out, accompanied by the glint of a raised blade.
*Swish! Argh!*
The sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed. A minister who resisted was beheaded, blood spraying as his lifeless body collapsed, crimson pooling across the ornate carpet.
Screams of terror erupted. The wavering nobles, faces drained of color, hurriedly split into two factions, no longer daring to hesitate.
The throne room, once the seat of the kingdom's highest governance, had become a battlefield of power and betrayal.
On one side stood the Emperor and his loyal vassals.
On the other, the Second Prince and those who had forsaken the throne.
Minister Liu Shang, a towering figure in the court, did not rush to choose. Instead, he sauntered to the center of the hall, his cold gaze fixed upon the Emperor.
"Your Majesty…" he said in a measured tone, amid a suffocating silence.
"…the realm must change hands. Those who fail to heed the times will find no place to stand."
The Emperor met his gaze with icy resolve, but Liu Shang paid no heed. He knelt gracefully before the Second Prince.
"Your humble servant pays homage, Your Highness."
Rising, he stepped toward the throne and spoke with firm conviction.
"Your Majesty should abdicate. Let the Qi Kingdom have a new leader to guide it to prosperity."
His voice resounded through the hall.
This was no mere rebellion—it was a true overthrow of the throne!
Amid the chaos in the throne room, candlelight flickered, reflecting off swords and the shadows of soldiers standing in formation. The clash of weapons against armor beat a relentless rhythm, tension permeating the air.
Yet upon the Dragon Throne, the Emperor remained unmoved. His gaze surveyed the divided nobles, his countenance as unyielding as a cliff, betraying no hint of alarm.
Though aged, his eyes remained sharp, capable of piercing the souls of men.
"So, this was your scheme, Liu Shang."
His voice was soft yet resonant, like a formless blade that could pierce a heart in an instant.
Minister Liu Shang stepped forward with elegance, bowing slightly, his tone deferential yet laced with arrogance.
"Indeed, Your Majesty…"
He raised his head, his eyes gleaming with pride.
"…the time has come for the realm to change hands. Power belongs to the worthy."
The Emperor's gaze lingered on the minister, then a soft chuckle escaped his lips.
"Hmph… how amusing."
Liu Shang remained unshaken, his face alight with satisfaction, a faint smile curling his lips. This was the victory he had long envisioned.
"I wish to avoid further bloodshed…" he said, glancing around.
"…if Your Majesty abdicates willingly, there need be no battle within the palace."
He extended a hand, his tone gentle, as if persuading an old friend.
"Your Majesty is aged. Step down and rest."
In Liu Shang's heart, exultation surged. This was what he had awaited. No need to expend soldiers, no risk of an uncertain battle.
Victory was within reach.
He should have done this long ago…
Under the oppressive weight enveloping the throne room, the Emperor surveyed the scene before him, then let out a long sigh. His once-regal frame seemed worn by time.
"Indeed… I am old."
His voice was faint yet resonant in the stillness.
"Thank you for finally acting."
His words caused a pause among the nobles and some rebels. Liu Shang maintained his smile, but the Second Prince's expression grew tense, sensing something amiss.
Then, abruptly, the Emperor laughed heartily!
The robust laughter echoed through the vast hall, like a dragon roused from slumber. He raised a hand, waving it lightly.
At once—
"Clang!"
A sound erupted from the ceiling above, followed by black ropes descending like venomous serpents from the shadows.
Black-clad warriors, faces masked, descended with lightning speed, wielding curved scythe-like weapons. In an instant, the sounds of *slash! slash!* rang out in rapid succession.
Blood sprayed, the stench of iron filling the air!
The necks of the rebel soldiers were severed cleanly, as if bamboo under a sharp blade. Headless bodies collapsed, without so much as a cry.
Gasps, the clash of metal, and the sound of lives extinguished filled the air in a fleeting moment.
General Sun Bian, who moments before had issued commands, had no time to react before a cold sensation struck his throat. His head rolled to the floor with a thud!
Liu Shang's eyes widened, blood splattering his robes. The joyous expression he wore moments ago turned ashen.
Before he could issue any orders, the shadow warriors swung back to the ceiling, retracting their ropes with swift precision, vanishing into the darkness as if they had never been.
The throne room fell silent.
Only the reek of blood and the strewn corpses remained.
The Emperor sat upon the throne, a cold smile upon his lips.
"Did you think I was unaware of this plot?"
His voice thundered, his eyes blazing, like an ancient dragon long watching the chessboard.
"Those rebels who remain, choose now—kneel at my feet or follow Sun Bian's path."
Liu Shang clenched his fists, his eyes trembling. At last, he understood who truly controlled the board!
Heavy footsteps echoed through the throne room. General Yao Lijun, leading a troop of soldiers, stormed in alongside the Ninth Prince, Qi Dongyang, his sword still stained with blood from battles outside.
But the sight before them halted their advance.
The lifeless bodies of the rebels littered the floor, the throne room restored to an eerie calm.
The Emperor sat upon the throne, his gaze serene, as if nothing had occurred.
His deep voice spoke calmly.
"Dongyang… why have you rushed here with soldiers?"
Qi Dongyang swiftly knelt, bowing his head in reverence, joined by General Yao and the accompanying troops.
"Your servant received reports that Minister Liu Shang and the Second Prince were rebelling, so I hastened to intervene. But…"
He glanced at the corpses strewn across the floor.
"…it seems I was too late. I beg Your Majesty's punishment."
The Emperor regarded the Ninth Prince with a faint smile, raising a hand to wave dismissively.
"No matter."
His voice was simple yet laden with authority.
"Your arrival proves your loyalty."
His gaze then swept the throne room, his once-weary dark eyes now gleaming anew.
"Clean it up."
With a single command, the remaining soldiers dispersed, dragging the bodies away without a murmur.
No pleas, no final words.
No one would remember the names of the rebels.
At that moment, Qi Dongyang stole another glance at the Emperor. There was no hesitation, no pity in his eyes.
This was a dragon, resolute and unyielding, despite the passage of time.
To be continued…