377 My Xiao Clan Imperial Family
The Mausoleum Guards Sovereign Army were mainly made up of the soldiers who were closest to the previous emperor. After the passing of the previous emperor, they continued to guard the mausoleum as a hallmark of their loyalty and integrity. Hence, they were highly respected in the Beili military forces. Leading the Mausoleum Guards Sovereign Army into the palace at that moment were three people who had not been seen in a long time.
The former Five Grand Eunuchs, Eunuch of Seal Zhuo Xin Gonggong, Eunuch of Sword Zhuo Sen Gonggong and Eunuch of Records Zhuo Luo Gonggong. They wore their official python robes of the past and rode right up to the front, through the Langya Army and the Imperial Army. No one stood in their way as they approached the Hall of Calming Purity.
Xiao Yu smiled and murmured in a low voice, "Time to reveal the true intentions of this plot."
"The three of you." Xiao Chong pressed the long sword at his waist and looked at them with a frown. "Why are you here?"
Zhou Xin Gonggong reined in his horse and announced loudly, "To reform the laws and discipline of the imperial court."
"Today is full of unrest." Xiao Se sighed, drew the Wuji staff from his waist and walked up to Xiao Chong's side. "Some people already have one foot in the grave but still want to act up."
Zhuo Xin Gonggong and the other two flipped off their horses. Then, Zhuo Xin took out the Dragon-Sealed Scroll from his sleeve and held it up high. "I have the Dragon-Sealed Scroll in my hand, written by the previous Emperor himself."
Mingde Emperor coughed lightly and shook his head, his expression composed.
But these words, to the rest of the people, were like a bolt of lightning. In front of the palace gates, the entire army was silent and even Li Changqing, who was seriously injured, knelt on the ground, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at the Dragon-Sealed Scroll in Zhuo Xin Gonggong’s hands. That year, there were two Dragon-Sealed Scrolls left by Tai’an Emperor but one of them disappeared. Nobody expected this scroll to end up in Zhuo Xin Gonggong’s hands.
Zhuo Xin Gonggong walked up the steps quickly, holding the Dragon-Sealed Scroll high in his hand. "The Dragon-Sealed Scroll of the previous Emperor is here. Why aren’t all of you kneeling in obeisance?"
"Kneel!" Ye Xiaoying roared.
The Langya Army all knelt down, one after the other.
All the soldiers of the Mausoleum Guards Sovereign Army also knelt down.
The Imperial Army and Brave Tiger Guards hesitated as they stood where they were. None of them knew what to do.
"Just because you’re holding a scroll, you want us to kneel down?" Lanyue Marquis scoffed coldly. "Zhuo Xin Gonggong, you’re far inferior to your shixiong."
"The name written in the previous Emperor’s Dragon-Sealed Scroll was Langya Prince Xiao Ruofeng. Mingde Emperor Xiao Ruojin conspired to seize the throne. He forced Langya Prince to destroy the Dragon-Sealed Scroll and ascended to the throne himself. The Five Grand Eunuchs carried the imperial order of the previous Emperor in our hearts and have suffered in silence all these years. Finally, we obtained this Dragon-Sealed Scroll. Therefore, we have come to reform the laws and discipline of the imperial court, to recognise the true sovereign of the Xiao Clan imperial family, by welcoming the son of Langya Prince, Xiao Lingchen, back to Heavenly Revelations to depose Mingde Emperor, and establish a new emperor!" Zhuo Xin shouted loudly but did not advance further with Xiao Chong and Xiao Se standing in his way.
"You disgraceful castrate, how dare you spew such nonsense. Back then, Langya wang-shu stood before the hall and called out my imperial father’s name right in front of the masses. How could there have been coercion? If there was really coercion, why did you, the Five Grand Eunuchs, sit back and ignore it?" Xiao Chong said angrily.
Mingde Emperor whispered, "Chong'er, don't be upset. Let him speak."
"Now the Dragon-Sealed Scroll is here. It’s signed with the jade seal and written personally by the previous Emperor. How could it be faked?" Zhuo Xin said sternly. "We, the Five Grand Eunuchs, were bestowed everlasting grace by the previous Emperor, and today, we must reveal the truth to all under Heaven."
"On guard." Ye Xiaoying shouted loudly as if echoing Zhuo Xin’s words.
The Langya Army stood up instantly, their faces bright and eager, as if they were ready to turn the entire palace into a bloodbath at any time.
They could watch this to the end with the succession of the throne.
Or, they could change the dynasty and blood would flow over a thousand miles.
Maybe someone would mind the difference between the two options, but Ye Xiaoying didn't care at all. As long as the situation above shifted even a little, he would lead his troops forward and wipe out everyone in his way.
"Gonggong," a faint voice suddenly sounded.
Zhuo Xin Gonggong turned his head and looked at Xiao Lingchen, who was standing nearby. He was the current Langya Prince and he strongly resembled Xiao Ruofeng. Right now, he represented the true sovereign that Zhuo Xin was declaring and Zhuo Xin hurried forward to bow and pay his respects. "Your Highness Langya Prince."
"Gonggong is here today to help me ascend the throne?" Xiao Lingchen asked.
"Exactly." Zhuo Xin Gonggong raised his head. "The Dragon-Sealed Scroll is here. I beg Your Highness Langya Prince to personally announce the name of the true sovereign of the Xiao Clan, and the true monarch of Beili."
Xiao Lingchen nodded and turned to face the masses. "My soldiers, do you wish for me to open this scroll?"
"Beg Your Highness Langya Prince to personally open the Dragon-Sealed Scroll!" The soldiers chanted.
"My soldiers, do you wish for me to ascend the throne and become the Emperor of Beili!" Xiao Lingchen asked again.
"Beg Your Highness Langya Prince to ascend the throne immediately! Become the Emperor of Beili!" The soldiers shouted again.
"Soldiers, do you pledge yourselves to the imperial flag of Beili or to my Langya Army Banner?" Xiao Lingchen asked a third question.
This time, there was no rousing response. Because the soldiers were also hesitant, and they didn't understand what Xiao Lingchen was asking, and why he was asking it.
Xue Duanyun quietly released the longbow on his back.
Xiao Lingchen turned around and looked at Zhuo Xin Gonggong. "The three Gonggong, do you wish for Lingchen to open the scroll here?"
"We respectfully beg the Prince," Zhuo Xin Gonggong announced loudly.
Once Xiao Lingchen took the Dragon-Sealed Scroll, once he read out his father’s name, then there would be no hope of turning back everything that happened today. Xiao Lingchen would inherit the sovereignty and they would rely on the merits of their actions today, and Ye Xiaoying's promise, to escape from that Imperial Mausoleum for life.
"We respectfully beg the Prince!" Zhuo Sen and Zhuo Luo Gonggong also bent their knees at the same time.
Xiao Lingchen finally started to walk forward slowly.
Xiao Chong was already intending to draw his sword. He had learned his Sword Drawn with Fury from the Wrath Sword Immoral. He was confident he could use one sword to tear the Dragon-Sealed Scroll in two without killing anyone. But, just as he was ready to make his move, he felt a powerful force coming from behind him and pressing him down intensely.
Someone behind him was stopping him!
But that force was too strong, and he couldn't even draw his sword, let alone turn around. It was impossible for him to figure out who was stopping him at the moment.
Xiao Lingchen walked up to Zhuo Xin Gonggong and slowly picked up the scroll.
The three old Grand Eunuchs revealed a cold smile.
Mingde Emperor slowly closed his eyes.
Xiao Yu's eyes were full of excitement. This was the moment he was waiting for. The moment when all under Heaven would truly turn into chaos.
Lanyue Marquis pressed down furiously on the long sabre at his waist.
Jin Xuan Gonggong raised his hand and Jin Xian Gonggong seemed to have noticed something, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Xiao Se, however, continued to look on indifferently, as if everything that was happening did not shock nor surprise him, nor was he afraid of what could happen.
Xiao Lingchen opened the scroll slowly, and after a sweeping glance, he smiled slightly, but did not read it out loud. He gestured with his hand once, twice and three times.
And tore the scroll to shreds.
Just like what his father did in front of the Hall of Calming Purity in the past, he stood in full view of the masses, and right before the incredulous shock in their eyes, he tore the Dragon-Sealed Scroll into shreds!
He flung the wooden rods of the scroll to the ground and pointed at Zhuo Xin Gonggong as he shouted, his voice resounding across the palace walls, "My Xiao Clan imperial family swept the fires of war across this country for forty years to establish our dynasty. We have ruled for six generations and stayed in power for one hundred and twenty-three years. The country has prospered and we are the envy of all nations. The sovereign of my Xiao Clan imperial family is not up to you, a worthless castrate, to dictate!"