The First Marquis of Leisure

Zhao Xing's words immediately attracted the attention of everyone present. Everyone was curious about what important matter the future Crown Prince of Zhao had to announce.

"My son, is something the matter?"

Zhao Tianhe wasn't bad to Zhao Xing either, especially in the problem-solving competition, where any random person from Yan could easily crush the talented scholar from Zhao.

It was Zhao Xing who stepped forward, turned the tide, and salvaged some face.

Zhao Xing sneered, then suddenly turned around and pointed his long sword at Zhao Tianhe.

This action truly startled everyone.

At first, everyone thought Zhao Xing was just trying to liven things up and warm up for the sword dance and music performance.

However, many ministers still stood up and criticized Zhao Xing for being drunk and daring to point his sword at the emperor.

Zhao Tianhe glanced at Zhao Xing, and was about to reprimand him.

The next moment, Zhao Xing shouted loudly, "Gentlemen, Emperor Zhao Tianhe of Great Zhao is old and senile. Even though people like Bai Xinghe act recklessly and have suffered repeated defeats in battles against Yan, they have disgraced the nation!"

"Today, I, the Crown Prince, request Your Majesty to abdicate!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was stunned for a moment.

The next second, everyone seemed to sober up, and they all stood up in a flash.

"How dare you, Your Highness! Do you know what you're saying?"

"Your Highness, are you plotting a rebellion?"

"Lay down your weapons immediately! Where are the Imperial Guards?!"

The court officials reacted quickly and immediately summoned the Imperial Guards.

Zhao Tianhe was stunned for a long time, looking at Zhao Xing in disbelief.

Although he didn't believe it in his heart, he could tell from Zhao Xing's eyes.

The crown prince whom I appointed with a single document has actually rebelled!

"You bastard, you're trying to rebel!"

Zhao Xing, however, remained calm and composed, as if everything was under control.

"Father, you are old, it's time for you to abdicate!"

"Damn it! Men, seize Zhao Xing at once!"

At Zhao Tianhe's command, the Imperial Guards surrounded them.

Zhao Xing remained calm and simply waved his hand. At the same time, the group of black-clad soldiers who had originally planned to perform a sword dance all rushed towards the Imperial Guard!

Only at this moment did everyone truly awaken from their dream.

Zhao Xing has really rebelled! All that sword dancing for entertainment was just a pretense!

"Protect His Majesty, slay the traitors!"

Ling Wu and the other generals roared, kicked over the table, and rushed over.

Many princes and ministers also retreated, trying to cover Zhao Tianhe's escape.

At this moment, Bai Xinghe, Zhang Chunqiu, the Third Prince, the Eighth Prince, and others also realized what was happening.

"It turns out my intuition was right; Zhao Xing is actually planning a rebellion!"

Because the incident happened suddenly, and today is a state banquet.

The Imperial Guards had already been largely infiltrated, and they were quickly and severely wounded by Zhao Xing's Eastern Palace soldiers, falling one after another into pools of blood.

Zhao Tianhe was furious and wanted to send someone to mobilize troops.

"Immediately notify the Nine Gates Admiral's soldiers to come here!"

"Hahaha!" Zhao Xing laughed wildly, holding a long sword, completely tearing away all pretense!

"Father, are you still dreaming? I dare to rebel against you today because I have already bribed He Taiji, the Commander of the Nine Gates!"

"You!" Zhao Tianhe was terrified and couldn't help but grab his weapon to rush at Zhao Xing.

"Your Majesty, retreat quickly! We will cover your retreat with our lives!"

Several loyal ministers held Zhao Tianhe tightly, retreating while angrily denouncing Zhao Xing for his wolfish ambitions and treason.

Zhao Xing didn't care at all, because everything had been planned long ago.

The Imperial Guards loyal to Zhao Tianhe have all been surrounded by the armored soldiers of the Nine Gates Commander, and the wives, children, and elderly of all the commanders of the Imperial Guards have been captured by the Yan Kingdom's Shadow Guards overnight.

Moreover, judging by the time, Li Taibei and He Taiji are probably already on their way to the palace!

Sure enough, at that moment, Li Taibei appeared in everyone's sight with a large group of armored soldiers.

"Your Majesty, it's Lord Li who has arrived to help!"

Some ministers were overjoyed to see Li Taibei arrive and shouted excitedly.

"Minister Li, quickly rescue the Emperor! Capture the traitors and execute them without mercy!"

Zhao Tianhe urged loudly.

Unexpectedly, Li Taibei snorted coldly and waved his hand, causing all the armored soldiers behind him to rush towards the Imperial Guards who were struggling to resist the black-clad soldiers of the Eastern Palace!

"Your Majesty, it is indeed time for you to abdicate. The throne of Great Zhao should be handed over to His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible!"

"you!"

"Master Li!"

"Li Taibei!"

At that moment, Zhao Tianhe was overcome with rage and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Although he was aware that Li Taibei was forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, he never doubted Li Taibei's loyalty to him.

But today, I never expected that Li Taibei and Zhao Xing were in cahoots!

"Listen up, everyone!"

Seeing that the situation was completely under control, Zhao Xing picked up his sword and walked into the middle of the crowd.

"Today, I, Your Highness, will ascend the throne and become the new Emperor of Great Zhao!"

"Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish!"

As Zhao Xing spoke, he directly killed a loyal minister who was desperately protecting Zhao Tianhe with a single sword stroke.

With the addition of the military guards from the Governor's Office led by Li Taibei, the Imperial Guards suffered a crushing defeat, with only a few remaining to fight valiantly and desperately to protect the troops.

"Your Majesty, the situation is hopeless. Please abdicate!"

Li Taibei, looking smug, shouted at Zhao Tianhe.

"Your Majesty, please abdicate!"

At this moment, Chen Feng and his cronies also stepped forward, seemingly respectful but actually contemptuous, and began to persuade him to give way.

"Traitorous officials and villains!"

"I will kill you all! I will exterminate your entire clan!"

Zhao Tianhe clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot, and roared loudly.

"Father, if you obediently abdicate and yield the throne, I will allow you to enjoy your old age in peace. If you do not know what is good for you, do not blame me for being cold-blooded and ruthless!"

"You beast, I will kill you!"

Zhao Tianhe roared, trying to rush out, but was held back by the few remaining loyal ministers.

Seeing this, Li Taibei waved his hand and said, "Fellow colleagues, the soldiers of the Nine Gates Commander's Office have already sealed off the capital and surrounded the palace!"

"Lord He supports the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. Those who support the Crown Prince, please stand to my left. Those who wish to die, stand to my right!"

As soon as Li Taibei finished speaking, Chen Feng and the others immediately went to the left.

Many ministers struggled for a moment before finally standing up.

However, some ministers still chose to stand on the right and denounced Zhao Xing.

"Kill them all, leave no one alive!"

Zhao Xing personally gave the order, and with a wave of his longsword, the group of black-clad soldiers immediately began their massacre.

In an instant, the entire banquet venue was splattered with blood and littered with corpses.

"Who else wants to die?"

Zhao Xing questioned in a cold voice.

Several more ministers, trembling all over, came to the left, choosing to protect themselves!

At this moment, only the Eighth Prince, the Third Prince, Zhang Chunqiu, Bai Xinghe and his group remained still.

Even though Bai Xinghe has read history books many times, he is still in a predicament today.

I am very familiar with those palace coups in history, but today I witnessed and experienced them firsthand.

He still couldn't bear to see his loyal ministers fall one by one in pools of blood.

Only by being involved can one truly understand the profound helplessness; no one has a God's-eye view.

"Young Master Bai, what should we do?"

Zhang Zhi and the others asked in a somewhat panicked manner.

Bai Xinghe was undecided for a moment, but he knew that if Zhao Xing succeeded, he would be in trouble.

He and everyone in the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion were going to die, but no matter how skilled he was, he couldn't possibly defeat the armored soldiers of the Nine Gates Commander.

"The worst that can happen is death!"

Zhang Chunqiu clenched his fist, raised his head, and suddenly strode forward.

"Zhao Xing, you traitorous scoundrel! Even if you manage to usurp the throne today, can you kill everyone in the world?"

Seeing that it was Zhang Chunqiu who stepped forward, Zhao Xing sneered and gave Li Taibei a wink.

Li Taibei laughed heartily, never having laughed with such relief.

He led his armored soldiers to surround Bai Xinghe, Zhang Chunqiu, and the others.

"Bai Xinghe, you old bastard Zhang, this time I will definitely tear you to pieces!"

"Li Taibei, you traitorous wretch! Father has treated you well, yet you dare to rebel!"

The third prince clenched his fists and stepped forward. He knew very well that if Zhao Xing succeeded, he would definitely not escape death.

Since I'm going to die anyway, I might as well die a spectacular one.

"Oh, Third Prince, as for you and the Eighth Prince, His Majesty will decide the fate of the Princess."

"As for Zhang Chunqiu's head, all I want is the lives of everyone in the Zhenguo Marquis's family!"