Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Shen Qingci's words, "You yourself—ascend the throne as emperor?!", were like a poisoned ice pick, piercing the silence of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The smile on Nangong Shuo's face froze completely.

But only for a moment.

The next moment, his laughter deepened, became wilder, and more unrestrained!

"Your Majesty is joking."

He clapped his hands, his eyes flashing with a crazed light.

"Everything I, your humble brother, have done today is for the sake of the Southern Palace's empire and the foundation of our ancestors' legacy!"

He turned abruptly to face the officials and opened his arms:

"My lords! You have all heard this!"

The Imperial Seal of the State may be a fake!

The Crown Prince possesses extraordinary signs!

The Empress interfered in politics and seized power!

General Xiao Jue is completely obedient to the Empress!

"How can an emperor and empress like this, and a crown prince like this, possibly secure their rule?!"

"Today, I--"

He roared hoarsely.

"Even if it costs me my life, I will purge the court of corrupt officials and restore order to the nation!!"

Before the words were finished—

"boom!!!"

Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, heavy yet orderly footsteps echoed!

The sound grew louder and more frequent as it approached from afar!

It was the sound of armor clashing!

It's the sound of swords rubbing together!

It was the oppressive aura of hundreds or even thousands of people stepping on the palace bricks, closing in step by step!

"What was that sound?!"

"Outside... what's going on outside?!"

The officials turned around in alarm, looking toward the palace gate.

Outside the palace gates, the once azure sky had been obscured by a dark mass of figures!

Rows of soldiers, fully armored and wielding long swords,

Like a black tide, it surged in from all directions.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was completely surrounded!

The soldiers' armor did not bear the dragon insignia of the Imperial Guard.

only--

A dark pattern shaped like a willow leaf!

"It's...it's the remnants of 'Dark Fragrance'!"

Someone screamed.

"And...and the soldiers from the Western Hills camp!"

Xishan Camp!

That was one of the three major military camps in the capital region under the jurisdiction of Marquis Zhenyuan, the father-in-law of Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo!

He actually... mobilized even the Beijing garrison?!

"His Majesty!"

The Imperial Guard Commander, Cheng Lie, covered in blood, stumbled into the hall, knelt down, and roared.

"Prince Jing...Prince Jing's rebel army has taken control of Xuanwu Gate and Zhuque Gate!"

The palace...most of the palace has been lost!

"General Cheng!" Nangong Ye suddenly stood up. "Where are my Imperial Guards?!"

"We were...were lured away from our base!"

Cheng Liehu's eyes were filled with tears.

"Half an hour ago, someone falsely conveyed an imperial edict,"

They said there were assassins in the West Garden, so they transferred most of their troops away!

The remaining brothers... are holding the Yangxin Hall and Qianqing Palace to the death!

"But... it won't last much longer!"

boom--

The palace was in complete chaos!

"Prince Jing! How dare you force me to abdicate?!"

"This is treason! A crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!!"

The civil officials panicked, while the military officers drew their swords and stood guard in front of the imperial steps.

But—it's too little.

The imperial guards protecting the palace numbered only a few dozen.

Outside the palace, a massive, dark mass of rebel soldiers numbered well over a thousand!

Nangong Shuo smiled.

He slowly and deliberately adjusted the cuffs of his princely robe, and then, step by step, walked towards the imperial steps.

"His Majesty."

He stopped, looked up, and gazed at Nangong Ye high above.

That look in his eyes was no longer the respect a subject would show to his king.

Rather, it's the hunter looking at the prey.

"As I just said, Your Majesty and the Empress should return the two seals and retire to the inner palace."

His voice was calm, yet every word was like a knife:

"Once my younger brother brings back the true imperial seal and investigates the truth behind the Crown Prince's 'strange phenomena,' we will then consult with the imperial clan and officials to establish a new, wise ruler."

"Don't even think about it!"

Prince Su, Nangong Lie, leaned on his dragon-headed cane, trembling with rage.

"Nangong Shuo! This is treason!"

Your ancestors will not forgive you! The world will not tolerate you!

"Ancestors?"

Nangong Shuo turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.

"Prince Su, what do you say—if the late Emperor knew?"

What would he think if he passed the throne to an emperor who used a fake imperial seal?

"If our ancestors knew that the Nangong family's empire was to be handed over to a crown prince possessing 'extraordinary' abilities—what would they have done?"

He approached step by step:

"Your Majesty, I am not rebelling today."

"Yes—to set things right!"

"It's to cleanse the house on behalf of the late emperor and our ancestors!!"

"You—!" Nangong Lie couldn't catch his breath and coughed violently, almost fainting.

"Prince Jing," Nangong Ye finally spoke.

He walked down the steps one by one.

The bright yellow dragon robe still shone brightly in the light and shadow of the hall.

But his face was frighteningly pale.

"Are you that sure—"

He stared at Nangong Shuo.

"Is the jade seal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple a fake?"

"I'm not sure," Nangong Shuo smiled. "Therefore, we need to investigate."

"But Your Majesty—" he changed the subject, "do you dare to investigate?"

"If it is found to be true, I am willing to atone with my death."

"But what if it turns out to be fake—"

A fierce light flashed in his eyes:

"Is Your Majesty's throne still secure?!"

Nangong Ye clenched his fists tightly.

The fingernails dug deeply into the palm, drawing blood.

He dared not investigate.

Because—he knew better than anyone else about the jade seal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple…

something wrong.

When he ascended the throne, the Imperial Clan Court brought out the Imperial Seal from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and he felt something was amiss.

That print is too new.

It doesn't seem like a national treasure that has been passed down for hundreds of years.

However, at that time, the late emperor had just passed away, the court was in turmoil, and he urgently needed the imperial seal to establish his authority, so he did not investigate further.

Later, he also secretly investigated, but all the clues pointed to the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Duanhui.

That place is a forbidden area for the Nangong royal family, and it must not be opened without a very good reason!

Therefore, he could only suppress his doubts.

Using that "potentially fake" imperial seal, he approved memorials, issued imperial edicts, and ruled the country.

And now-

This fig leaf is about to be torn away in public by Prince Jing.

"Your Majesty," Shen Qingci's voice suddenly rang out beside him.

She had walked up to him without him noticing and gently took his hand.

That hand was still icy cold.

But her voice was very steady:

"Since Prince Jing wants to investigate, then let him investigate."

She looked at Nangong Shuo and said calmly:

"But before that, I have a question to ask."

"His Highness Prince Jing keeps saying that he wants to 'bring back the real Imperial Seal'."

"May I ask, Your Highness—where is the true Imperial Seal?"

Nangong Shuo's eyes flashed: "Naturally, it's in the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Xian Duanhui."

"Yeah?"

Shen Qingci raised an eyebrow.

"As far as I know, the late Empress Dowager's mausoleum is a forbidden area for the Southern Palace royal family."

It has thirty-six mechanisms.

No one may enter unless they are of royal blood and the chief eunuch in charge of guarding the tomb opens the gates simultaneously.

She paused, her voice turning cold:

"Your Highness, how did you know—the Imperial Seal must be inside?"

"And how can you guarantee that the imperial seal will be found after the tomb is opened?"

Nangong Shuo's smile froze slightly.

"This...this is a royal secret, and I cannot disclose it."

"You can't disclose that?" Shen Qingci smiled. "Then let me ask you another way—"

She slowly walked to the center of the hall, surveyed the assembled officials, and spoke in a clear, melodious voice:

"My lords, have you ever considered—what if the true imperial seal is no longer in the mausoleum?"

"If someone stole the real jade seal years ago,

Then a fake one was made and placed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

They then fabricated the lie that "the imperial seal was buried with the late Empress Dowager"—

She turned abruptly and stared at Nangong Shuo:

"So today, regardless of whether the jade seal in the Imperial Ancestral Temple is real or fake, His Highness Prince Jing—is destined to win!"

"Because the true imperial seal is already in your hands!"

"Your coup today isn't about 'reclaiming the imperial seal'—"

"You're going to use the genuine jade seal in your possession to prove that His Majesty is using a fake, and then—"

Her words, spoken one by one, were like a thunderclap:

"Sure enough, he was crowned emperor!"

Dead silence.

A deathly silence.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Nangong Shuo.

Nangong Shuo's expression finally changed.

He stared intently at Shen Qingci, his eyes surging with overwhelming killing intent.

for a long time.

He smiled.

That smile was ferocious, insane, and no longer concealed.

"Your Majesty the Empress is indeed clever."

He slowly raised his hand.

Outside the hall, a man who looked like a general strode in, carrying a sandalwood box.

The wooden box was opened.

Inside was a completely white object with a dragon-shaped knob—

Imperial Seal!

The jade-like color was warm and smooth, like cream.

The carving is simple and vigorous.

The five-clawed golden dragon on the seal is lifelike, with a natural bloodstain in its eye, making it seem as if it were alive!

"This is—"

Nangong Shuo held the jade seal with both hands, raising it high above his head, his voice resounding throughout the hall:

"The genuine Imperial Seal of the Nangong Clan!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous!"

He laughed wildly and looked at Nangong Ye:

"Your Majesty! That counterfeit medicine you've been using for three years—dare you bring it out and compare it with the genuine one in my possession?!"

Outside the hall, armored soldiers drew their swords.

The cold light illuminated the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony.