The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

Ten years ago...

"Father, after my death, I entrust the child Wudao to you!"

"Your Majesty, this must not be done!"

The elderly Yuan Tingfang supported the seriously ill Ye Jian'an, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

"Father, the court is now controlled by treacherous people, and you are the only one I can trust! I will send you to the border, far away from the court."

You must promise me that if anything happens to Wudao, you must save his life!

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

Yuan Tingfang had accompanied the late emperor to the battlefield and had saved his life.

However, it was later rumored that the two were at odds, and the late emperor, in a fit of anger, sent him to Yanmen Pass, forbidding him from returning to the capital without an imperial edict.

But no one expected that Ye Jian'an's move was not to neglect Yuan Tingfang, but to keep him away from the court, so as to preserve a vital force for Ye Wudao's future ascension to the throne!

After Ye Wudao ascended the throne, he received the late emperor's last letter and learned that Yuan Tingfang's 50,000 troops on the border were loyal to him!

So, the first thing Ye Wudao did after ruining the wedding on the day he transmigrated was to have Xie Bingyu send an expert to Yanmen Pass to deliver a letter to Yuan Tingfang, urging him to go to the capital to defend the emperor!

Ye Wudao was insane. After transmigrating, he repeatedly killed people, driving Xiao Linyuan's lineage to desperation and even leading them to rebel.

Is he stupid?

Do not!

What he wanted was for Xiao Linyuan to rebel!

Is there not enough motivation to rebel?

it is good!

Ye Wudao killed Yan Shichang with a single blow, forcing you to take this opportunity!

What we want is to force him to abdicate!

What we want is rebellion!

If I don't force you to abdicate, how can I sweep your political influence out of the game?

If you don't rebel, how can I openly and legitimately suppress you?

Xiao Linyuan, as he had wished, brought his troops to the city gates, thus fulfilling Ye Wudao's desire.

All the planning was for today!

Ye Wudao raised the Emperor's Sword and shouted:

"Do you see that? Those are my 50,000 reinforcements!"

"Xiao Linyuan, you won't be able to breach the imperial city. On the contrary, you will be attacked from both sides by me and General Yuan!"

"Today is your death day!"

Xiao Linyuan stared intently at Yuan Tingfang, as if he had seen a ghost:

"Yuan Tingfang! How dare you!"

"As the commander of Yanmen Pass, how dare you abandon your post without imperial orders!"

"Do you know that this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

Ye Wudao laughed loudly, "Of course, it was I who sent him!"

"Foolish!" Xiao Linyuan cursed. "General Yuan is gone, so who will guard Yanmen Pass?"

Yuan Tingfang reined in his warhorse and burst into laughter.

"Having spent my entire life on the battlefield, do you think I'm so ill-prepared? Ten thousand Zhenbei Army soldiers are still at Yanmen Pass, while I'm only leading fifty thousand elite cavalry south to defend the emperor!"

"If the Northern Barbarians dare to invade, we'll make sure they never return!"

Xiao Linyuan's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Impossible! You'll inevitably pass through Zhao Qingtian's territory on your way south; how could he possibly let you pass through!"

Before Yuan Tingfang could answer, Ye Wudao on the city wall sneered.

"Xiao Linyuan, you're about to die, yet you still spout so much nonsense."

"General Yuan, execute this traitor!"

The 50,000-strong Zhenbei Army raised their guns in unison, their killing intent soaring to the heavens, and it seemed that a great battle was about to break out.

suddenly--

Rumble!

The deafening sound of horses' hooves echoed again from afar.

This time it's not just one direction, but all directions!

East.

A black dragon military flag soared into the sky.

west.

The red wolf banner fluttered in the wind.

south.

The black bird battle flag blotted out the sky and sun.

north.

The White Tiger Army flag rolled in.

Dust filled the sky.

Four large armies arrived outside the capital almost simultaneously.

Everyone's expression changed.

Yuan Tingfang slowly narrowed her eyes: "There are reinforcements?"

Xiao Linyuan was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening, and his face lit up with joy!

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Ye Wudao, do you really think you're the only one who knows how to call people?"

The four armies slowly came to a stop.

Four figures rode out on horseback.

Prince Zhenbei—Zhao Qingtian!

Prince Dongping—Luo Jin!

King of Xiliang—Maxian!

Prince of Nanling—Liang Yan!

at the same time.

On the other side, Marquis Qin Xianda of Dingyuan also arrived with 10,000 private soldiers.

Five armies converged on the capital.

The area outside Xuanwu Gate instantly transformed into a tense meat grinder.

Seeing this, Ye Wudao narrowed his eyes.

The four kings mobilized together, along with the Marquis of Dingyuan.

He had considered that one or two of them might resent him for killing Xiao Linyuan and then growing his own family into a powerful force.

But to his utter surprise, all nine powerful ministers, except for Xie Wuwang, were present today!

Clearly, the other party understands the principle of mutual dependence and will not stand idly by while he successfully kills Xiao Linyuan.

Ye Wudao smiled and said, "My dear ministers, how have you been?"

Zhao Qingtian reined in his horse, spurred it forward, and shouted to Ye Wudao on the city wall:

"Your Majesty's strategy is brilliant! With just a few words, you disintegrated the 30,000 Imperial Guards. If we hadn't arrived in time, the Regent would likely be dead today!"

Ye Wudao pointed at Xiao Linyuan: "This man intends to rebel, the evidence is conclusive, seize him immediately!"

Zhao Qingtian slowly shook his head.

"Your Majesty, you are mistaken!"

"Regent Xiao Linyuan was personally appointed Regent by the late Emperor and is a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor. He is a pillar of the nation. Without any evidence, how can Your Majesty falsely accuse a loyal minister of treason?"

Ye Wudao sneered: "Without any evidence?"

"Thirty thousand imperial guards surrounded the palace and pressured me before the imperial city. You say this is without any evidence?"

Zhao Qingtian remained calm:

"I only saw the Imperial Guards escorting Your Majesty on imperial orders."

"I only saw Your Majesty mobilize the Eastern Depot and the Northern Army to besiege the Regent."

"I only saw that the Regent did not mobilize any troops; instead, he patiently advised Your Majesty!"

After he finished speaking, the other powerful ministers nodded in unison.

Prince Luo Jin of Dongping slowly opened his mouth:

"If the Regent truly harbored rebellious intentions, why has he delayed attacking the palace?"

"On the contrary, His Majesty intends to unleash a massacre, staining the palace gates with blood."

King Ma Keyan of Xiliang said in a deep voice:

"Even if the Regent is at fault, the three judicial departments will conduct a joint trial, and the court will make a decision. How can His Majesty kill someone in a fit of anger?"

"We are utterly loyal. If Your Majesty can kill the Regent today, can you also kill us, your vassal kings, tomorrow?"

The group sang in unison, and the officials standing on the city wall all nodded in agreement.

It seems that the truly aggressive figure today is not the powerful minister with his troops at the palace gates, but Ye Wudao standing atop the imperial city.

Ye Wudao laughed in extreme anger.

"A bunch of traitors, how dare you speak of loyalty? Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Ji was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

The scene was filled with powerful ministers; a single stomp of their feet could turn the entire empire upside down, and they could even storm the palace and replace the emperor.

How dare Ye Wudao?

Zhao Qingtian slowly stepped forward, his voice booming and resounding throughout the palace gates:

"Since ancient times, if a ruler has lost virtue, his ministers should remonstrate with him even at the cost of their lives."

"Before the late emperor passed away, he personally appointed the regent to assist in governing and ordered us to work together to support the new emperor."

"We nine are all trusted ministers appointed by the late Emperor to assist him in his final mission. Today, we have come here on his dying wish. What crime have we committed?"

He looked up at Ye Wudao, his eyes filled with disappointment, as if he were teaching a lesson not to an emperor, but to one of his juniors.

He said loudly:

"On the contrary, it is Your Majesty who has recklessly killed the trusted ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor and slaughtered the imperial guards, attempting to violate the late emperor's dying wish."

"I would like to ask Your Majesty—"

"Why are you plotting a rebellion?"