Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 533 Final Chapter
"Stop making any further rash moves! All rebels, lay down your weapons!"

The battle cries on the field abruptly ceased, leaving only the howling morning wind causing the banners to flutter and the heavy breathing of the soldiers.

The smell of gunpowder and blood had not yet dissipated, and there was still lingering anger on everyone's faces. However, after seeing the scene clearly, they were all stunned.

The two princes were the most incredulous, each looking at the person who had taken them hostage with fear in their eyes.

Liu An suddenly felt a chill on his neck, and two silver crescent-shaped scimitars were already pressed against his body. He was immediately horrified.

The curved sword was a common weapon of the Northern Barbarians, and his trusted teacher not only colluded with them but also betrayed him at such a crucial moment, trying to take his life.

It turns out that the person always by Chai Pu's side was not a servant, but a bodyguard who was there to take him down at a crucial moment.

When he looked up again, Chai Pu in front of him no longer showed any of his previous humility; his eyes were filled with coldness.

"Minister Chai, you?!"

Chai Pu ignored him completely, remaining as steady as a mountain. Clearly, this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a well-planned scheme.

Seeing him bow deeply and say loudly, "Your Highness is indecisive and acts erratically, while Your Highness is obsessed with military affairs and is stubborn and self-willed. For the sake of the country and its people, this old minister dares to ask Your Highnesses to stop here."

Raising his gaze to the Third Prince Liu Yun, Chai Pu said earnestly, "Your Highness, please put the people first, quickly stabilize the situation, and enter the palace to meet the Emperor!"

The words fell like swords on Liu An and Liu Yi.

This also allowed Chai Pu to reveal his identity, showing that he had the merit of supporting the emperor in his grasp, and a look of pride appeared on his face.

Indeed, Liu Yun had no choice but to return the courtesy to this helper.

Meanwhile, Liu An, still bound, struggled desperately like a trapped tiger.

After hearing Chai Pu's words, the resistance intensified.

The Prince of Nan'an pressed down hard on his shoulders, showing no mercy and with a fierce expression on his face.

"Your Highness, forgive me. The situation is settled; there's no need for further futile struggles. A wise man submits to circumstances! The rightful heir to the Eastern Palace now belongs to the Third Prince!"

Liu Yi's eyes were bloodshot and his gaze was filled with rage. He roared, "Prince of Nan'an! You are a spy who feigned obsequiousness! You shall die a horrible death! All you traitors and rebels shall die a horrible death!"

The Prince of Nan'an shook his head frankly and said, "Your Highness should worry about your own safety first!"

Liu Yi suddenly burst into laughter, almost manic, his hair disheveled, truly like a madman.

The Prince of Nan'an narrowed his eyes and asked, "Your Highness, fate has been decided, how can you still laugh?"

Everyone thought that the Second Prince was too strong-willed to bear the defeat and had gone mad from anger.

But Liu Yi raised his head, staring fiercely at Liu Yun and Shui Rong in front of the stage, and said, "I laugh! I laugh at your short-sightedness and wishful thinking! Do you really think that by capturing my brother and me, this country will be yours for the taking? You think you can determine the fate of heaven? Dream on!"

"And the Duke of Dingguo, he hasn't returned yet! When he returns in triumph, every single one of you usurpers and traitors will die! You will die a thousand times more miserably than I have! I'll be waiting for you down there, hahahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong's eyelids twitched violently.

All his previous schemes and meticulous planning were ultimately thwarted by Yue Ling. That name was like a shadow looming over him.

The situation is good now, and we must not bring up this person to undermine morale.

Seeing the murmurs rising among the soldiers, he immediately stepped forward and said, "The traitor has been executed, and the ringleader has been captured! His Highness the Third Prince is benevolent and wise, and enjoys the deep respect of the people! All soldiers, listen to my command: clear the palace and protect His Majesty!"

The remaining resistance vanished in an instant, like ice melting in the face of overwhelming military superiority and sudden defection.

Looking at the two captured princes, Liu An seemed hollowed out, his face as pale as a wax figure; Liu Yi was still laughing uncontrollably, his face flushed from lack of oxygen, but under the cheers of the army, no one could hear his voice anymore.

Once the situation was completely under control, Chai Pu, Prince Nan'an, and Shui Rong exchanged glances, then came before Liu Yun, bowed, and said loudly, "We earnestly request Your Highness to prioritize the overall situation and enter the palace to meet the Emperor."

In this scene, Liu Yun did not personally wield a single sword or blade; he relied on the strategic planning of the three of them.

This achievement seems more like a gift from someone, and even if he were to ascend to the throne, he would still be subject to the constraints of three people.

But that's a matter for the future. We'll deal with the future later. Right now, he has indeed trampled both of his imperial brothers underfoot.

He originally had no interest in the throne and was self-disciplined and patient, but with power before him, no one could refuse.

Without uttering a sound, only nodding slightly, and with a somewhat stiff movement, he was escorted into the palace by the soldiers.

Having not seen his father for a long time, Liu Yun never expected that his visit would be in this way.

Deep within the palace, the journey was unimpeded.

The crowd, armed with weapons, stood beneath the steps of the Qianqing Palace. Liu Yun's heart pounded like a drum. Gazing at the majestic palace gate, he hesitated for a moment, feeling a pang of fear.

How will his father view his elaborate schemes with the princes and ministers? How will his mother view his brothers' infighting? Will she think he won unfairly?

If his father insists on not relinquishing power, what choice should he make?

The clanging of armor worn by the soldiers behind him reminded him that the arrow had left the bowstring and the sword had been drawn. The lives of countless people were in his hands, and if he did not make a decision today, the situation would be irreversible.

Just as his mind was wavering, Shui Rong quietly approached and whispered beside him, "Your Highness, all you need to do is cross this gate. His Majesty is unwell and will naturally abdicate in favor of a worthy successor..."

Liu Yun nodded and a squad of Imperial Guards stepped forward to open the palace gate.

No palace lanterns were lit inside the hall. The morning light shone into the hall through the open doors, but it was as dark as dusk.

In the main hall, there was a nine-dragon throne, and a figure was already sitting on it.

Wearing a crown and a black dragon robe, he sat upright with his hands resting on his knees.

Its overwhelming power caused Liu Yun and his ministers to swallow nervously and slightly bend their knees.

This posture suggested that Emperor Longyou had been waiting for their arrival for a long time.

Shui Rong felt a sinking feeling in her heart, and a chill ran down her spine.

But Shui Rong couldn't think of any other trump cards he had up his sleeve. What could an old emperor, weakened and withered, possibly do in this situation?
Pulling himself together, Shui Rong quickly concluded that this was Emperor Longyou putting on a show of strength. If he truly had any other means, he should have already prepared a countermeasure before even entering the palace.

"Your Highness, please step forward. His Majesty is waiting for you."

"Your Highness!"

Encouraged by the crowd, Liu Yun finally mustered the courage to face his father, stepped over the threshold, and stomped heavily on it.

He still held his father, who sat on the dragon throne, in deep reverence.

After all, her father had already made great military achievements before ascending the throne, and the path she walked through the palace gates was the same path he had taken. Therefore, she could not use any of her schemes and tricks in front of her father.

He was good at scheming against his brothers, but he was still too naive in front of his father, the Emperor.

But his father clearly had the opportunity to stop all of this from happening, yet he tacitly allowed their infighting, their factionalism, and the infighting in the court. Didn't that mean that he, standing here in the end, should be the victor? Thinking of this, Liu Yun's steps became more determined, until he led a group of princes and ministers to his father and knelt down first.

"Eldest brother, second brother, mobilizing troops to besiege the capital without authorization may be detrimental to Father. Your son has arrived late to rescue you, and I hope Father will forgive me."

Emperor Longyou's gaze was calm as he coldly looked at the kneeling crowd below, then swept over Liu An and Liu Yi who were being escorted, and finally landed on Liu Yun in the front row.

Shui Rong, Chai Pu, and the Prince of Nan'an couldn't help but secretly look up at the sky.

But in Emperor Longyou's deep eyes, there was no trace of emotion. There was no panic or disarray from being forced to abdicate, no thunderous rage from brothers fighting, and he didn't even express any opinion. It was as if everything had gone exactly as he had expected.

The ministers kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, the Second Prince is morally flawed. We hope Your Majesty will heed the will of the people and allow the Third Prince to take over the government."

"We urge Your Majesty to heed the will of the people!"

The soldiers' voices echoed in the center of the hall, lingering for a long time.

Finally, Emperor Longyou's arm trembled slightly as he raised his finger and pointed downwards, coldly asking Liu Yun, "Heh, Yun'er, you don't actually think that by siding with these treacherous officials, you can become the ultimate winner, do you?"

Liu Yun's expression tightened, and he dared not look up to face his father, the emperor.

Shui Rong, Chai Pu, and the others all had murderous expressions on their faces. It was clear from these words that Emperor Longyou did not want a smooth transition of power.

Since that's the case, there's only one way.

Shui Rong subtly winked at the people around him.

Above, Emperor Longyou had not yet finished speaking when his voice grew increasingly deep and resonant, like the grandest of bells.

“You think that Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, has been deeply involved in Jiangnan for decades, has ties with traitors such as Zhao Deyong, has raised bandits on Shuangyu Island to maintain his power, and has been involved in the private salt and iron trade. His subordinate generals have even betrayed the Jurchens. How can such a traitorous minister govern the country and stabilize the nation?”

"It's still the Grand Secretary Chai Pu, a descendant of the Northern Barbarians, who migrated inland to seek power, using Shanxi merchants as a tool to amass wealth, manipulating the prices of grain and tea, single-handedly instigating the war in the capital region, secretly raising assassins, and repeatedly taking actions against the pillar minister, Duke Dingguo. Can such a minister, who harbors ambitions to restore the country, protect your country and its people?"

"What exactly do you seek? Power, the people, or to collude with such treacherous officials, to act arrogantly and domineeringly, to treat officials as slaves and the people as straw dogs?"

When Emperor Longyou revealed the secrets behind their actions, the two men were immediately covered in sweat.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Longyou had investigated them so thoroughly. They had thought they were in the shadows, but it turned out they were actually in the open. Their current situation was probably not as well under their control as they had imagined.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, deafening shouts of battle erupted once again within the imperial city.

Emperor Longyou sneered, looking down at Shui Rong and Chai Pu as if they were nothing but weeds, "The people who are here to take you away have arrived."

Shui Rong immediately sprang to his feet and shouted, "Guards! Take hostages immediately!"

Just as the two guards were about to step forward, the sound of bowstrings vibrating was heard in front of the hall. Two arrows shot into the hall, hitting the two men squarely in the throat, causing them to vomit blood and die on the spot.

A sharp glint suddenly appeared in Liu An and Liu Yi's dejected eyes. Just as everyone expected, the man had returned.

As the head of the nobility, Shui Rong reacted quickly and was not stunned by the two arrows for too long. He hurriedly ordered the Imperial Guards to stop the enemy.

But how could he possibly control the Imperial Guards? Immediately, someone in the army formation sprang up, reversed his blade, and slashed fiercely at his "comrade" beside him.

In the blink of an eye, chaos erupted both inside and outside the main hall.

As expected, Emperor Longyou's composure was not unfounded; his most trusted general had returned to the capital and was heading straight for the imperial city.

Amid the chaos, a majestic and cold voice boomed like thunder in the open space outside the palace.

"Anyone who refuses to lay down their weapons will be considered a traitor and their entire family will be exterminated!"

His tone left no room for doubt, and his imposing presence spread far and wide. Even those who wanted to resist knew they had no chance of winning against the Duke of Dingguo.

As the three princes defected into the capital, the soldiers laid down their weapons and knelt down, clearing a path for Yue Ling to reach the Qianqing Palace.

Yue Ling, holding a long spear with blood still dripping from its tip, walked step by step to the front of the hall.

Although he said nothing more, he possessed immense power, causing the villains to tremble with fear and dare not make any further moves. Their plan to take the royal family hostage immediately failed.

The assassins stood guard over Chai Pu, while several guards from the Prince's Palace also protected Shui Rong and the Prince of Nan'an.

When Yue Ling stepped into the main hall, he did not take them seriously. Instead, he first held his spear and bowed to Emperor Longyou above, saying, "Your subject, Duke Dingguo, Yue Ling, has received a secret edict from His Majesty to enter the capital and quell the rebellion."

Upon seeing Yue Ling, Emperor Longyou's eyes finally changed, even showing a hint of shame, as if he felt guilty towards Yue Ling. "You came at just the right time. Thank you for your hard work."

Yue Ling straightened up, and the tip of his spear pointed at one of the Prince's guards, who was still holding a weapon. One of them had his neck slashed.

Emperor Longyou watched intently, and every time he saw Yue Ling's skills, he was reminded of his own youthful prowess, and he was still filled with emotion.

In the eyes of the traitors, Yue Ling was like a demon lord descended from heaven, a god of war on earth.

Without making a sound, a life was taken.

Soon, the soldiers behind Yue Ling filed in and captured all the nobles and their associates.

When they arrived in front of Chai Pu, the two assassins stared at Yue Ling with extreme vigilance.

Finally, unable to withstand the pressure, they chose to take the initiative and launch an attack.

The attack, which had gathered all its power, was easily blocked by Yue Ling. Then the spear tip pierced through the brain, and two more corpses appeared in front of the hall.

Chai Pu's lips trembled slightly as he asked, "You were the one who investigated my background and informed His Majesty. When exactly did you begin to suspect me?"

Yue Ling did not answer, but narrowed his eyes, like an eagle eyeing a wolf, and asked angrily, "Did you order the attack on my residence?"

Chai Pu's heart trembled violently, and he immediately thought of extremely bad scenarios.

Lowering his head, Chai Pu softened his tone and said, "It was Ji Bin who acted on his own initiative..."

Yue Ling sneered, "Fine, then I'll take matters into my own hands today!"

Then the spear tip advanced an inch, and blood gushed from Chai Pu's neck, but he was still clinging to life.

"Don't worry about what will happen after you die. Soon I will send your northern barbarians to accompany you on your journey to the underworld!"

With Chai Pu executed, the flames of hatred in Yue Ling's eyes subsided somewhat.

Emperor Longyou issued an order: "Detain the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince. Shui Rong, the Prince of Nan'an, and their cronies shall all be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison. The ringleaders shall be executed by slow slicing, their property confiscated, and their entire families exterminated!"

"According to the order!"

The area in front of the palace was cleared, and even the princes, who cried and begged for mercy, were dragged out by the Imperial Guards.

Emperor Longyou finally no longer needed to tense up. He slowly hunched over, facing Yue Ling, who was covered in blood. He moved aside and slowly said, "There are no seats in front of the palace for you to rest. Yue Ling, would you like to come up and sit down?"

(End of this chapter)