Chapter 298: It's Guaranteed to Hurt, but It'll Be Over Soon

Gu Sheng never imagined that the way he was supposed to prove his loyalty was by telling everyone he’d killed the Emperor.

He had no idea how others would react when the news spread, but he was certain he would very likely end up dead for real.

‘When the Emperor decided to play, He truly didn’t care whether I lived or died.’

Of course, Gu Sheng couldn’t just come out and tell people he had killed the Emperor.

Instead, he spread ambiguous rumors that the Emperor had been assassinated, had fallen from a cliff, and that not even a body was left to be found.

However, he couldn’t send this news to the court. Instead, he deliberately blockaded information, forcing them to investigate on their own.

The more he tried to cover it up, the more they would believe it was true.

And whenever anyone asked Gu Sheng, he would claim ignorance. He’d only heard someone fell from a cliff, but he didn’t know who. Furthermore, he claimed he’d never seen the Emperor, nor had he seen any body.

Gu Sheng firmly stated the matter had nothing to do with him, but no one believed him.

Gu Sheng was saddled with the blame, and it fit him like a glove.

It got to the point where, before he’d even said a word, people were already using his name to rally other would-be rebels. They spouted slogans about him being the legitimate heir of the Imperial Family, seeking revenge for his father, restoring order to the realm, and toppling the tyrant.

Gu Sheng: “…”

‘Talk really is cheap. I’m the one at the center of it all, and even I wouldn’t dare say such things.’

The Southern Domain was in utter chaos, and news of it naturally reached the Capital City.

The Emperor went out to have some fun, and look at the mess. So much for that vacation.

Rong Yin, Mu Yunlian, and the others insisted that the Emperor was not dead and had merely dispatched search parties.

Prince Jing merely remarked that “a scourge lasts a thousand years,” and that a scourge like His Majesty was bound to live for ten thousand.

They were adamant the Emperor was not dead, but then someone saw Xiao Hong return to the Prince Jing Mansion late at night, looking utterly wretched and with eyes full of tears.

People immediately went to inquire, but everyone in the Prince Mansion denied that Xiao Hong had returned, claiming that whoever thought they saw tears must have been mistaken.

The more they tried to cover it up, the more convinced everyone became that something had indeed gone wrong. Many began to stir with ambition.

In the court, Rong Yin and Xiao Lv vied for power, while Mu Yunlian sealed all the warehouses of the Ministry of Revenue.

If that wasn’t a crisis, what was?

「Southern Domain」

After nearly two months of brewing turmoil, everyone was utterly convinced that something had happened to the Emperor.

Gu Sheng, under the persuasion and adulation of the masses, finally lit the fires of ambition for the throne and decided to avenge his father.

Gu Sheng’s “brilliant” decision won the support of many—all of whom, of course, communicated through secret letters and clandestine meetings.

Before officially raising the banner of rebellion, Gu Sheng secretly arranged for a banquet to be held in a remote estate. Since they were about to commit treason, it was only natural for him to want to meet his future key ministers.

The location Gu Sheng chose was secluded, and the invitations were delivered in absolute secrecy.

In the end, scouts reported that Gu Sheng had arrived at the location with only seven or eight men to wait for them. After deliberating for half the day, the conspirators decided to attend.

Upon arrival, they found everyone else was being equally discreet and mysterious.

Inside the spacious hall was an exceptionally long table, set with some thirty seats.

Since they had all committed to rebellion, everyone was aware of one another’s status. Without needing to be told, they each found their appropriate place at the table.

With so many influential figures present, enough to form an entire royal court, everyone’s confidence in the rebellion’s success grew.

They even considered a fallback plan: even if they couldn’t make it to the Capital City, carving out a kingdom from the Southern Domain and the Three Provinces in the Southwest would create a nation sizeable enough to rival the Da Wei Court.

They refused to acknowledge the Empress’s legitimacy or ability, yet they tacitly assumed that without her, the Da Wei Court would crumble like loose sand.

Everyone took their seats in turn. The doors and windows were shut, leaving the hall illuminated only by the bright candlelight within.

The attendees began to discuss the rebellion animatedly, each freely offering their own opinions.

At last, the host of the evening made a grand entrance and took the sole seat at the head of the table.

Just one thing… “My lord, why are you wearing a mask?”

“Are you afraid of being identified by someone from the court?”

“Hmph. We are all risking our lives for this. We didn’t sign up to follow a timid Monarch.”

The crowd began to voice their objections, but just then, Gu Sheng emerged from behind a screen and took his place beside the seated figure.

Everyone there recognized Gu Sheng. They looked from him to the person in the seat of honor.

“Who is he?”

Gu Sheng gazed upon the flock of lambs to the slaughter, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “The person most suited to be Emperor in all the world.”

The next moment, the figure slowly removed the mask, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face. A wicked smile spread across her lips. “Gentlemen. Surprised to see me?”

The person before them was beautiful—so beautiful she seemed to light up the room—but no one was captivated. Instead, a chill ran down their spines, and their teeth began to chatter.

A few who had never seen her before asked the person next to them in confusion, “What’s happening? Who is she?”

The person beside them stammered, “The Da Wei… Empress.”

The doors and windows burst open. A troop of guards stormed in, pressing the blades of their longswords to everyone’s throats.

Blood dripped from the tips of the swords. Clearly, the men they had brought with them were all dead.

“Your Majesty… have mercy…”

The Emperor wasn’t dead. She was with Gu Sheng. Clearly, she knew everything.

There was no use making excuses; their only option was to beg for their lives.

“Your Majesty, have mercy.”

One by one, they trembled, instinct screaming at them to fall to their knees and beg forgiveness, but the swords at their necks prevented them from even kneeling.

“Your Majesty, spare us! We know we were wrong…”

‘It wasn’t that they lacked courage, but when faced with certain death, survival was simply more important.’

‘Others might hesitate to kill, but this one? There was nothing she wouldn’t dare to do.’

This was especially true when Li Wei’s towering figure appeared behind the Emperor, his favorite long spear in hand.

This man had never known defeat since the day he first appeared on the battlefield.

He could fight a hundred men at once, wreak havoc in all directions, and seemed to be protected by fate itself.

‘What kind of death wish would you need to have to go up against them?’

Xiao Yang smiled with warmth and benevolence. She was, after all, a very understanding Emperor. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “It will certainly hurt, but if you just bear it for a moment, it’ll all be over.”

The next moment, her expression shifted. The guards received their order. Hands rose, and blades fell.

“SHLICK!”

Some died instantly, filled with regret, while others were drenched in a spray of fresh blood.

Scalding blood rained down, and for a moment, they thought they were dead. But they were still alive.

They opened their eyes to see the person next to them, neck slit open, a pillar of blood jetting toward the ceiling like a fountain.

Of the thirty-two people present, fifteen died. The remaining seventeen were bathed together in a rain of blood.

On the dais, two enormous black umbrellas shielded the Emperor.

When the spurting of blood finally ceased, the umbrellas were lowered. Not a single drop of blood had touched the Emperor.

She said nothing more, only swept them with a look of utter contempt before turning to leave.

This scene became a living nightmare for the seventeen survivors. Some returned home and fell ill from terror, dying soon after. Others managed to endure and lived for a few more years. But for the rest of their days, the memory of the Empress would forever be tied to the memory of that bloody rain, and they would never know another moment of peace.

Xiao Cheng and Xiao Ziling led troops to mop up the remaining rebel forces.

Xiao Yang departed with Li Wei and Xu Xingchen. As she was leaving, she tossed a Token to Gu Sheng.

“The position of Governor-General of the Southern Domain is yours. Make sure you clean up this mess.”

Gu Sheng took the Token, fell to his knees, and kowtowed. “My thanks, Your Majesty.”

‘He didn’t have to rebel, didn’t have to fight. And still, the Southern Domain had fallen into his hands.’

‘Making the right choice is more important than effort.’