You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 229 This empire, let it be overthrown!

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Gu Xizhi cooperated fully and respectfully accepted it.

Everyone present questioned the authenticity of the imperial edict.

Even Gu Xizhi didn't have the courage to open the imperial edict in her hand and peek at it, afraid of revealing a flaw.

Tong Zhao'er was the first to raise a question: "This imperial edict must be fake! How could the Empress Dowager possibly entrust you with such an absurd edict?"

Liang Jiang ignored her exasperation and walked straight towards Fang Chengxu:
“I know that Tong Shouliang came to Weixi with you, and you should also know about the emperor’s secret decree to exterminate the Prince of Pingxi.”

You come from a family of military generals, and I believe you still have a conscience; you should have a sense of right and wrong in your heart. Therefore, I want to say a few words to you.

Fang Chengxu pursed his lips: "You say it."

Liang Jiang said earnestly, "Do you know why the Empress Dowager entrusted this imperial edict from the late Emperor to me?"

Fang Chengxu shook his head.

Liang Jiang said slowly and deliberately, “Because the Emperor sent the Empress Dowager all the way to Weixi, his real purpose was to have her buried alive with him.”

"what?"

Everyone who heard this was stunned into silence.

Even Fang Chengxu was dumbfounded.

"How, how is it possible?"

Liang Jiang countered, "Back then, the Empress Dowager harbored selfish motives and intercepted this imperial edict when the late Emperor was critically ill. If she hadn't already lost all hope in the Emperor, how could she have voluntarily handed over this edict?"
"Should you continue to serve such a tyrannical ruler?"

Fang Chengxu hesitated.

Tong Zhao'er retorted sharply, "Nonsense! It's all fake, fake. If you're so capable, open the imperial edict and let us see it."

Liang Jiang looked at her coldly: "What right do you have to question me? By what status? Do you have any military rank or position in the army?"

"Just because my father is now the Commander-in-Chief, wielding the Imperial Sword! He can execute first and report later!"

Liang Jiang sneered: "Although the emperor is a fake, and his position is illegitimate, it is true that Tong Shouliang colluded with the enemy and caused the deaths of so many brothers. Gentlemen, do you respect a general who sells out his brothers' lives for military merit and future prospects?"

These soldiers were different from the guards; they were veterans who had risked their lives on the battlefield. Tong Shouliang's actions disgusted them, and they immediately raised their arms and shouted in unison, "We refuse to accept this!"

"An emperor who plots to usurp the throne, kills his own brothers, tolerates treacherous officials, and even wants to have his mother buried alive with him to gain imperial power, disregards even family ties. Do you still expect him to treat the common people and the people of the world well? Do you still want to defend them with your lives and blood?"

The soldiers' voices were mixed: "It's not worth it!"

Tong Zhao'er was furious: "Are you Liangjiang people going to rebel? Are you all going to join the rebellion?"

Liang Jiang raised her hand and pointed at Gu Xizhi: "The late emperor passed the throne to the true dragon emperor whom the people yearn for! How can you say it's a rebellion?"

Gu Xizhi remained silent, and both she and Guan Qi were worried for Liang Jiang, fearing that she would escalate the situation and make it uncontrollable.

Liang Jiang's words clearly intended to incite him to rebel against the emperor's tyranny, placing him on a precarious position.

The spectators were astonished.

Gu Xizhi stepped forward without hesitation: "Duke Liangguo was loyal to the emperor and loved his country all his life. He devoted himself to protecting Chang'an and risked his life, but in the end, he was killed by treacherous people."

Learning from past mistakes, I, Prince Pingxi, Gu Xizhi, have decided to no longer allow myself to be slaughtered. Today, I will rise up in rebellion to rescue the Empress Dowager, overthrow the tyrannical emperor, and demand justice for the unjustly killed soldiers!

His voice was strong and resounding: "Brothers, whether you choose to follow me or continue to aid and abet the wicked, the decision is yours!"

Behind him, the soldiers of Weixi naturally raised their arms and shouted in unison: "Save the Empress Dowager! Rebel against the Emperor! Demand justice!"

Gu Xizhi rose through the ranks of the military, where soldiers knew of his benevolence and respected him greatly. Today, in the face of the two armies, he was simply following orders. Now that the truth is known, with one person taking the lead in stepping forward, the others naturally followed suit.

The scene became so heated that it was completely out of Fang Chengxu's control.

Liang Jiang looked towards Fang Chengxu.

Fang Chengxu understood that the situation was hopeless, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fang Chengxu is willing to surrender!"

Tong Zhao'er, like a cornered beast, fought back furiously, shouting, "Fang Chengxu, you spineless cowards! If it weren't for my father faking his death to protect you, would you be in this situation today..."

Before she could finish speaking, a stone hit her forehead with a "thud".

The soldier shouted, "The daughter of a traitor, how dare you point fingers here?"

"Yes, kill the traitor's daughter as a sacrifice to the flag!"

The others also cursed and picked up stones from the ground, throwing them at her regardless of size.

He was instantly covered in blood and looked like a pathetic dog. He even cursed at the soldiers with all sorts of foul language, acting wildly and madly.

Fang Chengxu was unable to stop them in time and was also hit by the falling rocks, clutching his head and gritting his teeth to endure the pain. Tong Zhao'er was hit on the back of the head by a rock the size of a goose egg, fell to the ground, bleeding profusely, and remained unconscious.

Fang Chengxu hurriedly pleaded with Gu Xizhi, "Ah Zhao is not quite lucid right now. Please spare her life, Your Highness. I am willing to hand over my military power and submit to Your Highness's command."

Gu Xizhi raised her hand, and only then did everyone feel relieved and throw away the stones in their hands.

Fang Chengxu handed over the tiger tally, struggled to pick up Tong Zhao'er from the ground, took one last shameful look at Liang Jiang, and limped away in a disheveled state amidst the scornful gazes of the crowd.

Guan Qi immediately ordered his men to clean up the battlefield and reorganize the troops.

Liang Jiang told Gu Xi, "I have already sent someone to Yuhua Mountain to request reinforcements. I believe my fellow disciples and my Phoenix Clan members will not be able to escape unscathed. I have also dispatched all the assassins from Fengying Pavilion. They are all willing to obey your orders, Your Highness."

"Yuhua Mountain, the Phoenix Clan, the Wind Shadow Pavilion, Liang Jiang, how many more identities do you have that I don't know about?"

Liang Jiang looked up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness: "There are options, such as the Princess Consort of Pingxi, or the Empress, or even a traitorous minister. Your Highness, you shall decide!"

Gu Xizhi felt uneasy: "Treason is no small matter. Are you really sure?"

“It’s not treason!” Liang Jiang corrected earnestly: “Your Highness is simply reclaiming the throne that is rightfully yours, fighting for the people of Chang’an.”

Gu Xizhi asked in surprise in a low voice, "You've taken this charade too seriously?"

"Your Highness, do you not believe me and think I'm acting? Why don't you open the imperial edict in your hand and take a look?"

Gu Xizhi opened the imperial edict in her hand with surprise, and after only one glance, she was immediately stunned.

The bright red imperial seal and his father's handwriting were all too familiar.

He looked at him incredulously: "Is what you're saying true?"

Liang Jiang nodded and explained the whole story to him.

Gu Xizhi clenched her fists: "I never imagined that my imperial brother could be so ruthless and unscrupulous in his pursuit of the throne. Let the empire fall into rebellion!"

Liang Jiang declared resolutely, "I will accompany you, through life and death, through hardships and displacement, to share glory and disgrace for life! Let us overthrow this tyrant's empire and restore peace and order to Chang'an."

Gu Xizhi reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers, his tone more resolute than ever before: "You've gambled your life, how could I bear to let you lose? At the latest, in six months, once I've conquered this magnificent land, I will use it as a betrothal gift to marry you as the only empress of Chang'an."

In the howling mountain wind, the two stood on high ground, facing the vast army, side by side, raising their arms and shouting:
"Now the Empress Dowager is in grave danger, her life hanging by a thread. All generals, heed my command and follow me to the Dragon Vein to rescue the Empress Dowager and eliminate the traitor."

The call was met with overwhelming response. The newly organized team, without taking a break, immediately set off for the mountain's dragon vein.

(End of this chapter)