Chapter 1 The Coup

After Jiang Chen finished speaking, he shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Someone, seize this traitorous subject for me!"

Zhang Kang's face flashed with disdain upon seeing this.

The Imperial Guards in the palace were nothing more than a group of cowards who couldn't withstand a scare.

Earlier, at the palace gate, he had frightened them into opening the gate with just a few words; they were not to be feared.

He slowly stood up, staring at Jiang Chen inside the curtained bed, with no trace of respect in his expression.

"Your Majesty, you are wasting your energy!"

"I brought five thousand elite soldiers into the palace. Those Imperial Guards were scared out of their wits long ago. For your safety, you should quickly stamp the imperial decree!"

Zhang Kang's tone was arrogant, with a hint of contempt.

Jiang Chen looked at his smug appearance and sneered, "Are you rebelling?"

Seeing that the emperor was still calm, Zhang Kang assumed he was putting on an act to buy time, so he didn't answer and approached him, pressing:

"Your Majesty, for the sake of the court and the Great Wei Dynasty, you should be obedient! Since you are seriously ill, you should rest and recuperate. Let us handle the affairs of the court!"

Jiang Chen was silent, seemingly having given up resisting.

Seeing this, Zhang Kang couldn't contain his excitement any longer.

He strode forward, reached out with both hands, and was about to lift the curtain and drag Jiang Chen out!

At this moment, a sneer suddenly came from the narrow space, filled with disdain.

Zhang Kang's figure froze instantly!

Doubt surfaced in his eyes, mixed with a trace of fear.

He could tell that it was the emperor's voice!

But wasn't he severely poisoned, so weak that he had difficulty speaking? How could he have such a strong voice?!

Just as Zhang Kang was stunned and hesitant, rooted to the spot.

The originally listless Jiang Chen actually stood up with a whoosh!

His eyes were cold and stern, his posture as majestic as a demon god from the nine heavens, as he roared at Zhang Kang and the others, "Impudence!"

The roar that hit him head-on shattered Zhang Kang's mind, and his legs trembled!

At that moment, the scene of the coup at Ying Tian Gate, with the emperor holding a knife to his neck, subconsciously flashed in his mind!

He panicked, even harboring the intention to beg for mercy.

But he quickly controlled this impulse!

With the emperor's current character, he would never let him go. Since he had already controlled the palace, he might as well go all out and take a gamble!

A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have already controlled the entire imperial city. If you don't want to suffer, be obedient and cooperate with me to implement this imperial decree!"

"Otherwise, don't blame me for disregarding the relationship between ruler and subject!"

"Heh, a traitor dares to clamor in front of me!"

As Jiang Chen spoke, the disdain on his face deepened. He strode out, forcing Zhang Kang and the others to retreat!

As if what was standing in front of him was not a rebellious subject wielding a weapon, but a group of ants that could be crushed at will!

He walked with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, his aura aggressive, showing no sign of weakness.

At this point, Zhang Kang finally realized that he had fallen into a trap!

All of this was the emperor's conspiracy!

"Do it!"

Jiang Chen didn't waste any words and directly gave the order.

As soon as he finished speaking, two teams of Imperial Guards suddenly poured out from the hidden corners of the Hall of Diligent Governance, surrounding Zhang Kang and the soldiers around him under the arrangement of the Imperial Guard Commander.

At the same time, dozens of hidden guards also appeared from the corners, guarding Jiang Chen's side.

In an instant, the situation was directly reversed.

At this time, Zhang Kang completely calmed down instead.

He had no way out. Tonight, either he dies or the emperor dies. There was no other possibility.

"Where is the Swift Cavalry Battalion!"

Zhang Kang roared loudly outside, but the hall was silent, with no response.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he tried again, "Jianzhang Battalion! Tiger Brave Guards! Where are you?!"

There was no sound from the five thousand elite soldiers outside.

Zhang Kang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his hands and feet were cold, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart.

Could it be that the soldiers outside were all captured by the emperor?

Jiang Chen looked at him, his eyes full of mockery: "Fool, with your little manpower, you still want to turn the world upside down? Without my authorization, you wouldn't even be able to enter the gates of the palace!"

"Those soldiers you've been trying to win over have all been captured, and those outside have probably already surrendered. You're finished!"

"Impossible! You dog emperor, you must be trying to trick me!"

Jiang Chen sneered and said, "Trick you? You're not worthy!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand and signaled to the hidden guards.

Soon, a figure entered from outside the hall.

Tall and slender, with slightly dark skin and a very refined appearance, it was none other than Zhao Chengyou, the Minister of Works.

After he came in, he ignored the glaring Zhang Kang and went straight to Jiang Chen, kneeling and bowing:

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"Those rebellious officials outside who participated in the rebellion have been captured."

"The treacherous elements in the three major battalions of the Imperial Capital have also been rooted out, and I have not failed Your Majesty's expectations."

Looking at the respectful Zhao Chengyou, Zhang Kang's face turned ashen.

It's over, it's completely over!

Zhao Chengyou knew all their arrangements, and even the action route for the night raid on the palace was planned by him. Now that this person had betrayed him, the information he provided must have been problematic. The reinforcements had not arrived, most likely because they had been ambushed on the way and the entire army had been wiped out!

"Your Majesty, what should be done with these rebellious officials? Do you need your subject to..."

As Zhao Chengyou spoke, he made a gesture of beheading.

Although he had returned from his errant ways and sided with Jiang Chen at a critical moment, he inevitably wanted to show his loyalty even more because he had a past record of participating in the rebellion.

Jiang Chen saw Zhao Chengyou's apprehension and personally helped him up to show his closeness.

Although he didn't particularly like this kind of two-faced person, Zhao Chengyou was still somewhat useful at the moment, so he still had to treat him kindly to reassure him.

'Clang, clang.'

The soldiers that Zhang Kang brought with him were now like frost-bitten rice, throwing down their weapons and surrendering.

Zhang Kang, on the other hand, stared fiercely at Zhao Chengyou, as if he wanted to bite him to death and eat him piece by piece!

"Zhao Chengyou, you despicable villain, I curse you! I curse your whole family to die a horrible death..."

Zhao Chengyou's expression changed drastically, and Jiang Chen also frowned.

He wasn't killing Zhang Kang for the time being just to listen to these foul words.

He immediately said, "Silence!"

"Zhang Kang, although you have committed the capital crime of treason, I will spare your life because you have not been corrupt and have worked diligently for many years."

"As long as you reveal the mastermind behind this rebellion and tell me all their details, I will pardon you."

Zhang Kang sneered coldly and contemptuously said, "Dog emperor, I am not a coward like Zhao Chengyou who is afraid of death. You want me to turn against them? You're dreaming! Bah!"

Jiang Chen was stunned and said in a deep voice, "I didn't expect you to have such integrity, it surprises me."

"In that case, I want to see if your bones are harder, or if the Great Wei's torture instruments are harder."

As he spoke, Jiang Chen hooked the corners of his mouth: "Jing Yue, take him to the Imperial Prison and tell the warden to take good care of him!"

A hint of fear flashed in Zhang Kang's eyes.

In the Great Wei Dynasty, the reputation of the Imperial Prison was enough to make children stop crying at night!

Knowing that he would be subjected to inhumane torture after entering, a determined look flashed across Zhang Kang's face. He quickly drew out the dagger hidden by his replacement and stabbed it towards his heart...