Chapter Four: The Army at the Gates, Requesting the Emperor to Meet His Death!
“Your Majesty, trouble!”
At that moment, a trusted aide galloped swiftly to the palace. Dismounting, he hurried to Qin Tian’s side. “The four great merchant guilds of the capital, the eight escort agencies, the Martial Alliance, and various other factions are all heading to the palace. They say... Your Majesty must abdicate immediately and yield the throne to the King of Chu, or they will rebel!”
Qin Tian stood frozen, struck as if by lightning.
The four great merchant guilds and the eight escort agencies, though civilian organizations, each commanded vast wealth and numerous personnel. United, they formed a formidable force not to be underestimated.
Moreover, the Martial Alliance embraced countless masters of martial arts styles—Xingyiquan, Wing Chun, Baguazhang among them—essentially gathering the greatest martial arts sages across the entire Great Qi empire!
“Traitors! Rebels!”
Qin Tian clenched his fists tightly, roaring hysterically, “Issue the order—kill every last one of these traitors!”
“Kill!”
The palace guards raised their weapons and charged.
Though Qin Xuan’s rebellion had countless supporters, Qin Tian was still the emperor, commanding the palace’s elite troops and the capital’s army. The upper hand remained with Qin Tian.
A fierce battle erupted.
The clash of weapons and cries of battle rang out ceaselessly.
Despite being outnumbered many times over, the Scarlet Flame Army, elite among elites, did not falter against the palace guards.
The top warriors surrounding Qin Tian brandished swords and blades, charging at Qin Xuan.
Those closest to the emperor were naturally formidable fighters; even Qin Xuan found himself locked in fierce, evenly matched combat with them.
“Qin Xuan, I should never have given birth to such a heartless monster!”
Qin Tian’s face twisted with rage. The blows he’d received had stripped him of imperial dignity. He nocked an arrow, aiming at Qin Xuan.
“Your Majesty! Urgent! Urgent! The Scarlet Flame Army has split into four divisions and begun attacking the capital! They shout that you are utterly wicked, hated by heaven and man, demanding your immediate suicide and abdication to the King of Chu!”
Before the arrow could be released, a trusted aide galloped up breathlessly and spoke without dismounting.
“What?!”
Qin Tian’s body shook violently, the bow and arrow dropping to the ground in shock.
These rebels made ever more brutal demands—whereas the Imperial Academy had only required a self-criticism edict, and the royal family and capital factions only demanded abdication, the Scarlet Flame Army now demanded his suicide!
“Wasn’t Sun Xin supposed to have taken command of the Scarlet Flame Army? Why would they betray me?!”
Qin Tian exclaimed in disbelief.
“Father, when you sent me back to the palace to ‘learn state affairs’ and entrusted your confidant Sun Xin and others with command of the Scarlet Flame Army, I had already suspected you might burn bridges later on. So I left a contingency plan.”
Qin Xuan sneered coldly, “Sun Xin may appear to control the Scarlet Flame Army, but in truth, the generals remain loyal to me. When you tried to kill Luo Ying recently, I sent secret orders to my confidants within the army to eliminate Sun Xin and his faction, reclaim command, and return to the capital to purge the court!”
Cold sweat broke out on Qin Tian’s forehead, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes.
Under Qin Xuan’s leadership, the Scarlet Flame Army had been invincible in campaigns across the land, their reputation widespread.
Though the capital was heavily fortified with a hundred thousand defenders, many within the palace had already switched sides.
Initially, the tens of thousands of palace guards were high in morale, but upon hearing the Scarlet Flame Army was at the gates, their ranks faltered, and morale plummeted.
“Escort His Majesty back to the palace!”
Qin Zhen was utterly terrified upon hearing the Scarlet Flame Army’s name, trembling uncontrollably. Supporting Qin Tian, he fled in panic toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony, guarded by the remaining palace guards.
“Luo Ying, now no one can bully you anymore.”
Qin Xuan tightly grasped Zhao Luo Ying’s hand, protecting his beloved. In that moment, Qin Xuan felt all his struggles had been worth it.
The Scarlet Flame Army swiftly gained the upper hand. Leading his elite troops, Qin Xuan broke into the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
When he entered, he only saw Qin Tian’s fleeing figure surrounded by his retinue.
Passing through the hall into the Imperial Garden, over a hundred guards barred the way. “King of Chu, do you wish to be remembered in infamy forever?!”
“Get lost!”
Qin Xuan slashed down the guard captain with a single stroke. The others exchanged glances and scattered like frightened birds.
“Press on!”
Soon, Qin Xuan reached the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The hall’s doors were tightly shut, defended only by Qin Zhen and Qin Tian’s last loyal followers.
“You, sixth brother, are the first prince in three hundred years of Great Qi’s history to attempt regicide and usurpation!”
Shaking with fear at the thought of the hundred thousand-strong Scarlet Flame Army, Qin Zhen forced himself to speak, “Father said that if you withdraw now, he will pardon all past offenses. He will even spare Zhao Luo Ying!”
Qin Xuan laughed. Things had come this far—did Qin Tian think he was a child of three?
Without further words, Qin Xuan swung his spear and fiercely thrust it toward Qin Zhen.
“Father, save me!”
Startled, Qin Zhen fled back into the hall.
The spear struck the ground with force.
Qin Xuan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation and immediately saw Qin Tian, surrounded by trembling retainers, his face pale and drenched in sweat.
“Ungrateful son, ungrateful son...”
Qin Tian gnawed his teeth, snarling, “I was a gentleman; you want me dead and I must obey! For the sake of a woman, youI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.