The kneeling officials went quiet at Situ Changqin's words and the awkward silence continued as Empress Qianhe Liyou simply looked at Situ Changqin coldly.

At this moment, a woman kneeling in the second row raised her head slightly, and looked at Qianhe Liyou. She wore a questioning gaze on her face as a trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes.

Qianhe Liyou naturally noticed this person's scorching gaze and immediately recognized her. This woman is the Minister of War, Long Xizhao. As the top scorer of both the imperial civil service exams and the imperial military exams, she was a leader and a well-known figure among the younger generation. However, the most important thing about this person is that she has a rather close relations.h.i.+p with the original soul of this body and could be considered a close friend.

“Beloved official Long, do you have something to say?” Qianhe Liyou naturally knew that this Long Xizhao didn't actually have anything to say and was merely waiting for her, the Empress, to speak first. However, Long Xizhao's s.h.i.+ning eyes were just too amusing and she suddenly had the urge to tease this minister of hers for a bit.

Qianhe Liyou's question broke the tense silence as everyone's heads swiveled in unison to look at Long Xizhao. No matter how smart or brilliant Long Xizhao is, even she could not instantly react to such a sudden question. However, her reaction speed was still rather fast as her questioning gaze soon morphed into an infuriated expression towards Situ Changqin!

Long Xizhao has always been a slick and sly sort of woman, and her sharp mind often concealed her playful and somewhat frivolous att.i.tude. So while she's still alive, she wished to take a gamble! She had been living a dull life for too long! However the stakes are too high! This gamble of hers must succeed or she'll have to die trying!

“How bold of you, Situ Changqin! The Empress did not allow you to get up and yet you dared to do so without her order?” Like saying 'loud thunder but there are only a few tiny drops of rain', Long Xizhao seemed to have chosen this path. For she had decided to gamble only because she was betting on the fact that the Empress had something planned! Otherwise, why would the Empress have such a calm att.i.tude right now? She had even locked up that hateful imperial consort! However, she would not jump off the cliff just yet, so she must sound out the current situation first and then see what she would do.

Meanwhile Qianhe Liyou watched Long Xizhao closely and suddenly felt like she was looking at a cunning little fox.

“Long Xizhao, this general's affairs are not something someone like you can question. Your Majesty, will you or will you not release him?” The aggressive and ambitious feeling in her heart exploded, and Situ Changqing's tone became more and more impolite. She actually dared to step by step approach the Empress in front of everyone's view!

Everyone held their breath, and the surrounding Imperial Guards held their weapons nervously. They wanted to rush forward to protect their Empress but did not dare to act rashly!

“Your Majesty?” Long Xizhao's questioning eyes landed on Qianhe Liyou again, if only the Empress would provide them a clearer hint of her intentions! This Situ Changqin is indeed too outrageous, such behavior is simply a provocation towards the imperial authority!

Qianhe Liyou saw Long Xizhao's questioning gaze and a cold, bloodthirsty look flashed in her eyes before she nodded gently. With a wave of her hand, the Imperial Guards around her surrounded Situ Changqin!

Simultaneously, Situ Changqin took out a bamboo tube from within in her arms and threw it up towards the sky. With a loud pop and explosion, the bamboo tube released a fireworks signal. Situ Changqin had come prepared. In fact, the moment she heard that her son Hongyu was detained, she knew that something was wrong and ordered for her troops to be on standby before entering the palance. She had been preparing for a situation like this for a long time!

“Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?” Once the signal has been released, it means there was no going back.  Situ Changqin's tone turned cold and in her right hand was a weapon! As a military commander, she had been allowed to bring weapons inside the palace and now she was using them to threaten the Empress!

Qianhe Liyou said nothing, and merely looked at the panicking officials in front of her instead. She sighed in her heart. She never expected that she would have to partic.i.p.ate in a slaughter on the first day she had arrived. She didn't know whether this was because these people were unlucky or if she was too bloodthirsty.

“Your Majesty.” Long Xizhao's voice grew anxious. After all, looking at Situ Changqin's determined posture, the woman must've come prepared! While on their side, there were only these few guards inside the palace and she didn't know if those guards were even reliable or not. Yet, since the Empress still held such an aloof att.i.tude, she must be prepared as well! Long Xizaho looked at the Empress, hoping to see some kind of sign, but was surprised instead. She could not see through the current Empress's thoughts, as if they were hidden deep within the Empress's mind and she couldn't see a peep of them at all! She was shocked, but she still didn't know what to do.

“Situ Changqin, as a marshal, you should have 500,000 troops in your hands with about 150,000 of them within the imperial city. In other words,  if you rebel now, these 150,000 soldiers will become your bargaining chip and, if zhen guesses correctly, these people should be outside the palace gates and approaching the palace hall. Tell me, is zhen correct?”

“So you knew? Hmph, even if you did, I have nothing to fear. I have my people planted everywhere, from this dynasty's court to the inside and outside of the palace! You are a licentious and cruel tyrant! You have no one on your side left, you are utterly isolated! All the internal and external problems that plague the Qianhe Dynasty are all because of an incapable ruler like you! Today, I, Situ Changqin, will follow the will of the heavens and act on behalf of the desperate pleas of the common people to dispose of you! Hmph, because of our ruler and subordinate relations.h.i.+p these past few years, I won't make this too difficult for you. Surrender now!” After Situ Changqin finished her speech, everyone around them understood. This was simply forcing the Empress to abdicate and usurping the throne for themselves! They never expected it to happen so suddenly! Some of them had already guessed that perhaps the Empress's sudden coma was caused by Situ Changqin, and the Enchanting Consort was imprisoned because of it!

“Hmph, a rebellion is just a rebellion in the end. No matter how nicely you dress it, you will forever bear the stigma of rebellion. As for the lot of you, either follow us or follow this rebellion. Make your position clear now! Those who are willing to follow us and suppress this rebellion must stand behind me!” The court right now was a complete mess and she had wanted to clean it up from the very beginning. Since an opportunity has appeared, how can she not grasp this opportunity tightly and take advantage of it!

Ten thousand years of existence has made her thinking rigid and stubborn. She hated those types of people who didn't understand propriety and didn't know their place. Furthermore, to her, betrayal was an unforgivable act.

Although the crowd gathered today were not all high-ranking officials of the court, only about two-thirds of them are. There were at least twenty or so of these higher-ranked officials, and so except a few of them who looked a little surprised or panicked, the rest of them did not even flinch as they made their choice. Most, if not all of them decided to stand behind Situ Changqin! Only a handful stood behind Qianhe Liyou. These handful of people included Long Xizhao and another official who Long Xizhao had dragged over. Then the last few people were two imperial harem members and a representative sent by the King Dowager, Luo Yu. But these people didn't even account for one-third of the crowd.

“Hahaha! Qianhe Liyou, just look at what kind of an Empress you are! There are only a few people who support you in the entire court! What face do you even have to meet your Qinghe family's ancestors now? Even I feel ashamed for you!” Situ Changqin laughed wildly, her eyes becoming even more arrogant as she looked over at the officials who still hesitated. She then said domineeringly: “Hurry up and make your choice already! My army will be here soon, if you don't choose then I will choose for you!”

In this current situation it doesn't matter if it is Situ Changqin or Qianhe Liyou, if they cannot choose between the two, they will end up in danger!

After Situ Changqin said those words, Qianhe Liyou also glanced at the few people still standing in the middle and identified them one by one.  In addition to a few unimportant ministers, Li Yao, the current Grand Chancellor, was actually among them! However, it didn't seem like this person is indecisive, but rather she was waiting for something.

“Your Majesty, can this official ask you a few questions?” When Li Yao spoke, she spoke in the same deferential tone as she always had, as if nothing unusual was happening in front of her.

Qianhe Lianyou looked at the woman in front of her. The woman is in her thirties, with a confucian aura around her that made her seem gentle but not someone to be ignored.

“Ask away.” She wanted to hear what this powerful Grand Chancellor had to say.

“If this official does not make a choice, what will you do with this official after you settle this civil strife?”

“Re-a.n.a.lyze the value of your existence. If you have value, you shall continue to exist.” And this sentence did not include just those who couldn't make a choice, but all military and civil officials of this dynasty. She had already thought about doing so after waking up from her coma.

Li Yao was very surprised. She didn't expect that the Empress who is known for her cruel tyrannical ways would say such sensible words. She had thought that this Empress would kill them all, however, even in this perilous situation the Empress actually uttered words that allowed them to stay indecisive? What is the Empress thinking? And why did she answer in this way? Li Yao was perplexed!

Moreover, it was not only Li Yao, but also Long Xizhao, and even Situ Changqin felt confused as well. In fact, anyone with a brain also felt confused at this development. At the same time, chaos erupted inside the palace as everyone heard a flurry of footsteps hurry towards them.

“Empress, urgent news! A large number of unknown forces have appeared outside the palace and they are forcing their way into the palace! The Imperial Guards are resisting desperately, but they cannot hold the gates for long! The opponent's attack was too sudden, and they will soon arrive at the Xuanyuan Palace…” Wei Han, the commander of the Imperial Guards who was responsible for guarding the palace, rushed over while covered in blood and kneeled in front of Qianhe Liyou with a look of grief on her face!

Qianhe Liyou's expression grew even colder but she ignored Wei Han to continue looking at Grand Chancellor Li Yao and the others.

“Hahaha, you have lost, Qianhe Liyou,! It has already reached this point, won't you admit defeat already? And you fools, don't you know how to choose when this time comes? I will tell you now, if you don't make a choice right now, when my army comes it will be too late to choose!” Situ Changqin was originally a narrow-minded person so when she saw that the people in front of her still hadn't made a move, the resentment in her heart grew. She had already made up her mind. If she does end up on the throne in the end, she would find a chance to get rid of these people!

The officials who had not yet chosen saw that the situation had reached its climax and after hearing Situ Changqing's threats, could no longer bother stalling anymore and hurriedly stood behind Situ Changqin. In the end, only the Grand Chancellor Li Yao remained. She took no action and merely stood there, frowning at Situ Changqin!

“Li Yao, you still won't submit to me? Are you trying to oppose me?” Situ Changqin yelled impatiently.

“Situ Changqin, although I, Li Yao, is not talented, I at least know that I must remain loyal to my country and my Empress. Even if the Empress is a tyrant, she is still the Empress of the Qianhe dynasty. Although I do not always agree with what the Empress does, I will never stand behind you in this moment. Even if you kill me, I will remain a loyal subject of the Qianhe dynasty! I will never become a dog of your Situ family!” Li Yao berated harshly. Her slightly thin body wasn't intimidating, but it made the crowd feel awed. She was clearly telling everyone as she stood there that she would not choose Qianhe Liyou, the Empress of the country, but neither will she choose the traitorous Situ Changqin.

After hearing what Li Yao said, Qianhe Liyou's eyes lit up, and the gaze directed towards Li Yao had a trace of admiration in them.

Meanwhile, the screams of the battlefield and the strong smell of blood drew ever closer, lifting the curtains to the prelude of a b.l.o.o.d.y show.