The Sovereign – Chapter 55

Volume Three: A Hundred Things Changed with the Spring Breeze

Turning the Tide

Whoever dares to act out of line, I will kill them

“Yi Hongchuan, do you know what the consequences of your actions today will be? You will implicate the entire Yi family!” Yi Qinghuan was furious beyond measure. How could she have imagined that her own brother, whom she had cherished all her life, would want to kill her daughter? She suddenly realized that she had been used. When the Emperor was in Yuzhou, Yi Hongchuan deliberately mentioned the matter of Hong Yuan in front of her. She wanted to use his hand to eliminate the beautiful trouble, but instead, she was used by him, legitimately sending people to assassinate the Emperor.

Her heart jolted, realizing that he had leverage over her. This deep scheming and cunning were actually the work of her own brother. Yi Qinghuan suddenly felt she was too naive. Living in this deep palace, she still believed in so-called family affection. It’s said that the imperial family is the most heartless; before power and the empire, everything else is insignificant.

“Consequences? Either your dear brother dies, or your daughter dies. How will big sister choose?” Yi Hongchuan let out a cold laugh, hands behind his back, as if victory was already in his grasp.

“You!” Yi Qinghuan was so angry she couldn’t speak. Qin Junlan slowly stood up and said softly, “Mother Empress, you see now? It was never that I couldn’t tolerate Uncle, but that he has always wanted my life.”

“You forced me into this. You want to manage the disaster relief funds, you also want to manage the affairs of Qionglong Mountain. The world is so vast, yet you manage too much. I, the Grand Chancellor, could have turned clouds with a wave of my hand and rain with a flip, who knew that you, a little girl, would grow up to be so ambitious? After taking personal control of the government, you suppressed my disciples. Now that the Yuzhou incident has been exposed, I don’t want to pretend with you anymore. Today, it’s either you die or I perish.” As he spoke, Yi Hongchuan raised his arm, and suddenly an army appeared, holding bows and arrows aimed at the high platform.

They wore red military uniforms, different from the Imperial Guard’s attire, and not the disguise of the Red Armor Army.

“Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Fengqing Palace has been surrounded!” A eunuch came to report, trembling with fear. Everyone’s life hung by a thread. Yi Hongchuan had instantly taken control of the entire imperial palace. At this moment, even if he killed Qin Junlan, he could blame it on assassins and give an explanation to the world.

At this time, a person walked out from the army, clad in armor, looking extraordinarily imposing. He was clearly the leader of this unidentified army.

“Yun Yao, you’ve finally appeared.” Qin Junlan was not surprised. She had been waiting for Yun Yao’s army for too long, from the disappearance of the Iron Guard until now, finally having the opportunity to catch them all in one net. All the puzzles from Qionglong Mountain were now solved. According to her guess, the Iron Guard had been expanded to 30,000 men and transferred to Jidu in batches.

With the Grand Chancellor wielding great power, obtaining passage permits for these people was as easy as turning over one’s hand.

“So it was you!” Yun Yao was shocked beyond measure. How could he have imagined that the beauty he once coveted would turn out to be the current Holy Sovereign? Although he had heard that the Empress had descended upon Yuzhou, he never thought that person would be the Yan Mo he had encountered.

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” Qin Junlan let out a cold laugh, her eyes flashing with a chilling intent, like a sharp arrow, keen and fear-inducing. Yun Yao couldn’t connect this domineering Qin Junlan with the gentle and elegant Yan Mo in any way.

What did she mean by “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time”? He had clearly already controlled the four main gates of Jidu with the Grand Chancellor’s troops, and now the imperial palace was in their hands. Why was there not a hint of panic in Qin Junlan’s eyes? She remained composed and unperturbed, as if waiting for something.

“You didn’t expect this, did you? How many Iron Guard soldiers did you kill when you reorganized the Red Armor Army? These old soldiers remember it all. Who would be willing to risk their lives for you, a tyrannical ruler only concerned with your own power? I suggest you issue an abdication edict yourself, or announce to the world that you’re ill. Considering you’re my own niece, perhaps I could spare your life.”

“I’m afraid… I can’t fulfill Uncle’s wishes.” Qin Junlan stepped forward, her imposing figure standing before everyone. Suddenly, on the golden glazed tile double-eaved roofs surrounding the Biluo Courtyard, archers appeared, forming a surrounding formation on all four sides. Thousands of sharp arrows were aimed at the spear-and-sword-wielding rebels.

A crescent moon glided past the exquisite corner tower, casting a hazy, dim yellow light over the blood-soaked Fengqing Palace. The bright moonlight reflected tear-like, crystal-clear pearl light on the top of the great hall, where the Imperial Guards, with short arrows hanging from their bodies, stood with eyes blazing like torches.

Yi Hongchuan’s face immediately changed color. Hadn’t he removed all of Qin Junlan’s confidants? How could archers appear in Fengqing Palace?

“I’m afraid the Grand Chancellor has miscalculated.” Li Ruo raised his single arm to point at the night sky, as if giving a signal. More than a dozen shadow guards descended from above, unsheathing their sharp swords, and separately protected the Empress Dowager, the Wise King, and others.

“Grand Chancellor! Didn’t you say you had arranged everything?” Yun Yao’s face immediately darkened. He didn’t want his brothers to suffer innocently; originally, he only wanted to restore the designation of the Iron Guard.

Seeing that Qin Junlan was indeed prepared in advance, Yi Hongchuan was genuinely surprised. No wonder she maintained such a calm demeanor. But he hadn’t lost yet; it was still unknown who would win or lose this battle. “You think mere shadow guards and archers can turn the tide? Let me tell you, the Xuan Gate, Qing Gate, Li Gate, and Chang Gate of Jidu have already been controlled by our four generals and their men. I suggest you stop your futile struggle.”

“Are you referring to these four?” A distant, clear voice rang out. Suddenly, four bloody heads fell from the sky, crashing at Yi Hongchuan’s feet. Blood stains drifted down from mid-air, as if a rain of blood was falling, dripping onto the elegant wine goblets and splattering onto Yi Hongchuan’s face.

In a flash, before anyone could see how she arrived, she was already standing proudly on the high platform. A long robe of black and red wrapped her body, with red silk brocade winding around her waist. Her face was bare yet extraordinarily noble, her long hair like a waterfall dancing in the night wind, flaunting her extraordinary aura.

“Yu’er…” Yi Qinghuan rose in a daze, as if forgetting the occasion and ignoring her status. She lifted her foot only to feel her legs weaken, stumbling as she tried to walk to her side to see her face clearly.

Yi Qingyu had her back to her, eyes like those of a night owl, looking down upon everyone.

“Cheng Wangfei!” Someone among the Iron Guard immediately recognized her. This shout also awakened the others, including Yun Yao.

She was the wife of Cheng Wang Yunze, and once held considerable prestige in the military. Combined with her chivalrous spirit and gentle nature, she earned deep respect from the Iron Guard. Now that she appeared here, many recalled the days when they followed in Cheng Wang Yunze’s footsteps, also awakening the loyalty and aspirations for the country that once resided in their hearts.

“It really is Cheng Wangfei.” Yun Yao muttered in disbelief, immediately kneeling down. “Paying respects to Cheng Wangfei.”

“Paying respects to Cheng Wangfei.” The majority of the rebel army knelt following Yun Yao, and even a small portion of the Imperial Guard performed the kneeling salute to her.

This scene of widespread kneeling threw Yi Hongchuan into disarray. He shouted, “What are you all doing? Cheng Wang Yunze is already dead, killed by this woman, and you still kneel to her?”

“Third brother, mind your words!” Yi Qingyu coldly rebuked, causing Yi Hongchuan to break out in a cold sweat.

“Second Sister… Second Sister has been hiding in the mountains and forests for twenty years, why come out now to ruin my grand plan, why!? Don’t you hate this palace? Why did you come back!!” Yi Hongchuan never dreamed that Yi Qingyu would emerge for Qin Junlan’s sake, and he certainly didn’t expect that her mere appearance would cause the army he had arranged to crumble.

“I do hate this palace… but it’s not your turn to covet the Emperor’s realm. Whoever dares to rebel, I will kill them, and you are no exception.” Yi Qingyu showed no mercy to her brother. She hated the Yi surname and the so-called family responsibilities. If not for these, she and Liu Zhu would not have ended in such a great tragedy. Her heart had long since turned to iron and stone; for this brother, she had not a shred of protection.

“Fine, if that’s how it is, don’t blame your brother for being merciless.” Yi Hongchuan’s eyes seemed about to burst as he glared at Yi Qingyu. He stepped back and ordered the two people in black and white beside him: “Kill her.”

“Hmph!” Yi Qingyu let out a cold laugh that chilled to the bone.

The two in black and white, upon receiving the order, swiftly moved their figures to attack Yi Qingyu. Before they could even touch her, they were repelled by a powerful internal force.

Suddenly, a graceful figure floated down from above. She seemed to have stepped on the moon, her light figure hovering in the air. Her Qinggong transformed into cloud-riding, as if she were a celestial being riding the mist. Her white attire resembled a lotus flower, untouched by any dust.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed at the moment she appeared. Her beauty could topple cities under the moonlight, her graceful figure slowly descending before the crowd. The chilling aura she exuded added to the charm of her unparalleled beauty. Her plain-colored long robe made her seem detached from worldly affairs. Everyone said they had seen a fairy descend to the mortal world, not knowing that she was decisive in matters of life and death, never hesitating, a cold-blooded asura whose actions brought hell.

“Could she be that Liu Qianxun?” Yun Jin, for some reason, instinctively felt that the woman before her was the one Qin Junlan was infatuated with. Gazing at her figure from afar, she was amazed by her grace. Let alone men and women of the world, who wouldn’t be moved by such otherworldly beauty and ethereal grace? Even she was shocked. How could she compare herself to Liu Qianxun? In appearance alone, she was far inferior.

“Black Mountain, White Valley, you two have been doing evil in the Black Shura Sect. Today is the day of your death.” As Liu Qianxun finished speaking, she stepped on heaven and earth, her figure graceful as the wind. The energy between her palms was like sharp swords as she attacked the two in black and white.

Black Mountain’s Raging Flame Palm and White Valley’s Cold Sound Palm were unparalleled in the Black Shura Sect. The two working together were not easy to deal with. Liu Qianxun attacked with one hand and defended with the other. The two in black and white couldn’t harm her in the slightest.

“The grudge from that day’s palm strike, today I’ll make you repay it double!” Liu Qianxun’s eyes, cold as a winter night, emitted an icy light.

“So it’s you!” White Valley recognized her. Though he hadn’t seen her face during their encounter at the Grand Chancellor’s mansion that day, he vividly remembered those cold eyes. He had never seen such icy eyes before, like the coldest winter, piercing one’s heart.

“Since you’ve recognized me, I can’t let you live now.” Liu Qianxun suddenly withdrew her palm and turned, her fingers like lightning, striking towards White Valley’s abdomen. A flash of light passed, and White Valley’s body seemed as if pierced by something.

Fresh blood gushed out from within his body. Before he could feel the pain, Liu Qianxun’s other hand rose, striking at the spot under his arm, passing through his body. The sharp light pierced through Black Mountain’s front leg as he was about to attack, immediately causing him to fall to his knees in pain.

Liu Qianxun lightly tapped her toes, leaping up, stepping on White Valley’s shoulder. She bent slightly, half-suspended in the air, her arm stretching out dramatically. The sleeve of her plain white robe flew up gracefully, as if a powerful magnetic field held her fixed in mid-air. White Valley seemed as if his acupoints had been struck, bleeding unstoppably yet unable to move.

Black Mountain, wounded between his legs, still launched his Raging Flame Palm towards Liu Qianxun. Liu Qianxun rotated her body, her white fairy-like skirt transforming into a dancing butterfly, her supple figure as agile as a snake. The Raging Flame Palm couldn’t harm her in the slightest. Though it was a fierce battle of life and death, it appeared like a magnificent dance of a startling swan.

Liu Qianxun no longer entangled with him, chopping down with her palm from mid-air. Black Mountain tried to block the attack, not realizing it was a feint. Liu Qianxun’s two fingers struck directly, instantly piercing Black Mountain’s body. Liu Qianxun spun around, her palm flying out, chopping down directly on the crown of his head. Black Mountain died on the spot. Looking back at White Valley, he had already breathed his last.