chsdbacks Chapter 294 Anyone who disagrees, step forward! I'll let him speak his mind.
Chapter 294 Anyone who disagrees, step forward! I'll let him speak his mind.
Qin Mu sat on the throne, watching this scene unfold.
His gaze slowly swept over those angry faces.
I glanced at those eyes filled with resentment and determination.
His gaze swept over the tightly gripped sword hilts.
He swept his hand over the slightly trembling beard.
then,
He sighed softly.
The sigh was soft, yet exceptionally clear in the tense atmosphere.
He turned his head and looked at Zhao Qingxue.
Those deep eyes were filled with helplessness at that moment.
"Qingxue".
He spoke, his voice soft, yet each word clear.
"I promised you."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Do not kill people in the imperial court."
Zhao Qingxue's eyelashes trembled slightly.
She looked at him, at the genuine helplessness in his eyes.
An indescribable warmth welled up in my heart.
She knew he was telling the truth.
He really did promise her.
Last night at Qingxin Pavilion, she asked him—
"Can you promise me something?"
He asked, "What is it?"
She said, "If one day you sit in the imperial court of Li Yang, facing those ministers who oppose you, could you... refrain from killing them?"
He looked at her for a long time.
Then he nodded.
"Okay," he said.
"I agree."
At that moment, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.
There was emotion, there was warmth, and there was something else...
An inexplicable sense of belonging.
And at that moment, he did it.
Even when faced with ministers who were so angry they wanted to kill him.
Even when faced with these warriors who drew their swords.
He still didn't make a move.
I just sat there and watched her.
Then she should do something about it.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
She took a step.
He walked step by step toward his ministers.
A moon-white dress trailed across the gold bricks, making a soft rustling sound.
She stopped in front of them.
They were no more than three feet apart.
Her gaze slowly swept over those familiar faces.
His gaze swept over Chen Wenyuan's aged face, streaked with tears.
His gaze swept over Zhao Yannian's ashen face, which was filled with resentment.
His gaze swept over Chen Yanjing's resolute face, which was filled with anger.
She glanced over the loyal ministers she had watched grow up.
Her eyes were slightly red.
But she gritted her teeth, refusing to let the tears fall.
She spoke.
"My beloved ministers."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"My mind is made up."
"Unchangeable".
Chen Wenyuan's pupils suddenly contracted!
He looked at Zhao Qingxue, at the face he had watched grow up since he was a child.
Looking into those deep purple phoenix eyes, I saw a calm, unquestionable light.
His body trembled slightly.
"His Majesty……"
His voice was hoarse and trembling, carrying an almost pleading tone:
"You—how could you…"
He couldn't continue.
He was all too familiar with the light in those eyes.
That's the kind of light that only appears when His Majesty has made up his mind.
That is a light that no one can change.
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, at his appearance.
The bitterness in my heart deepened even further.
But she still didn't change her tone.
He simply continued:
"After the Qin Dynasty and Liyang formed a marriage alliance—"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials:
"Friendly exchanges between the two countries have brought peace and prosperity to the people."
"This is a good thing."
The moment the words fell,
Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell once again.
Those angry faces, those eyes filled with resentment.
At this moment, everyone stared at her in a daze.
Looking at her calm, unquestionable face.
Looking into her deep purple phoenix eyes, which seemed to be telling a story.
Chen Wenyuan's hand slowly fell to his sides.
The short sword fell to the ground with a clatter.
It produces a crisp metallic clanging sound.
He seemed to have all his strength drained away.
He staggered back two steps, almost falling over.
His colleagues quickly helped him up.
But he was completely unaware.
He just stared blankly at Zhao Qingxue, at the face he had seen since he was a child.
His eyes were filled with deep despair.
Zhao Yannian stood still, motionless.
On that ashen face, only a deep sense of bewilderment remained.
He looked at Zhao Qingxue, his lips trembling slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But he couldn't utter a single word.
Chen Yanjing's hand remained on the hilt of his sword.
But he didn't draw his sword.
He just stood there, staring intently at Zhao Qingxue.
Those tiger-like eyes were filled with barely suppressed pain.
That was the monarch he was willing to protect with his life.
But now, she was standing in front of them.
He said it himself.
She's going to marry that man.
He said it himself.
This is a good thing.
A suppressed, beast-like whimper escaped Chen Yanjing's throat.
The sobbing was very soft, yet it was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall.
But just then—
A voice rang out from the crowd.
The voice was very soft, trembling slightly, yet exceptionally clear:
"His Majesty--"
The man stepped out from the ranks of civil officials.
He was a middle-aged civil official, wearing a scarlet official robe, with a thin face and the refined elegance characteristic of a scholar.
He stopped three steps in front of Zhao Qingxue.
He bowed deeply in respect.
Then, I looked up.
Looking at Zhao Qingxue.
He spoke.
"May I ask a question—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Is the relationship between Liyang and Qin truly one of alliance?"
"still--"
His voice trembled slightly:
"Subsidiary?"
The moment the words fell.
The hall fell silent once more.
All eyes were on Zhao Qingxue.
It landed on her stunningly beautiful face.
It fell into her deep purple phoenix eyes.
waiting.
Zhao Qingxue looked at him, at this middle-aged civil official.
Looking into the deep expectation in his eyes.
The bitterness in my heart deepened.
She knew that someone would ask this question sooner or later.
She also knew that the answer to this question would leave many people in despair.
But she had to answer.
Because that's the truth.
Because this is—
An unchangeable reality.
Zhao Qingxue took a deep breath.
The breath she inhaled, carrying with it the heavy atmosphere of the hall, chilled her to the bone.
Then she spoke.
The voice was very soft, yet every word was clear.
Every word was like a boulder, crashing into everyone's hearts.
"From now on,"
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Liyang is led by the Great Qin."
"To advance and retreat together."
"and--"
Her gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials:
"The military power of the Li Yang Dynasty—"
"They will be handed over to the Qin Dynasty together."
The moment the words fell!
Inside the hall, chaos erupted once again!
"What?!"
"Military power is also to be handed over to Qin?!"
"This won't do!"
Exclamations, doubts, and objections surged forth like a tidal wave!
Those military officers, their faces flushed red, their eyes filled with extreme anger and resentment!
The civil officials looked at each other, at a loss for what to do!
The members of the royal family were so shocked they were speechless!
at this time,
A military officer suddenly charged out of the ranks!
He was a burly man, clad in black iron armor; he was none other than Zhou Xiong, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards!
He rushed up to Gu Jiantang!
Those tiger-like eyes were fixed intently on Gu Jiantang!
He stared at the old general to whom he had served for twenty years!
Staring intently at that war god who was leaving Yang!
"General Gu!"
His voice was hoarse and shrill, carrying an almost interrogative tone:
"Is this for real?!"
Gu Jiantang looked at him.
Looking at his face, which was filled with anger and resentment.
Looking into his expectant eyes.
Gu Jiantang fell silent.
Silent for a long time.
As time went on, the expectation in Zhou Xiong's eyes gradually faded away.
After a while, the noise inside the hall gradually quieted down.
Then, he finally spoke.
His voice was hoarse and low, yet it was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall.
"What His Majesty said—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Can't you hear me?"
Zhou Xiong's pupils suddenly contracted!
His body trembled violently!
He felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, and staggered back a step!
The color drained from that resolute face instantly!
All that remained was a blank, utterly bewildered feeling!
He looked at Gu Jiantang, at that face he had known for twenty years.
Looking at those eyes that were once as sharp as an eagle's, but now only show weariness.
His lips trembled violently, as if he wanted to say something.
But he couldn't utter a single word.
I could only stand there blankly.
Seeing his expression, Gu Jiantang remained silent.
Just close your eyes.
I took a deep breath.
When I opened my eyes again, they were filled with a cold, calm expression.
But beneath that calm lies a surging, unvented sorrow.
Zhou Xiong's body trembled violently.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
In the end, he only staggered back a few steps.
They retreated back to the ranks of the military officers.
He lowered his head and stopped speaking.
But those clenched fists were still trembling slightly.
His fingernails dug deep into his palm, and blood seeped out from between his fingers, dripping onto the gold brick.
But he was completely unaware.
Inside the hall, a deathly silence fell once again.
The silence was heavier than ever before.
It became even more oppressive.
Even more suffocating.
Just then—
A cry of anguish rang out from the crowd.
"Alas--!"
An elderly minister with white hair suddenly knelt down on the ground!
He pounded the ground with his fists, tears streaming down his face!
"This is going to ruin the Li Yang Dynasty!"
His voice was hoarse and shrill, echoing in the silent hall, sounding particularly desolate.
"Three hundred years! A three-hundred-year foundation!"
"The empire was conquered by Emperor Taizu with sword and spear!"
"So, are we just going to hand it over to them now?!"
He cried out, his forehead hitting the ground again and again.
The phone made a "bang, bang" sound.
Blood streamed down his forehead, mixing with his tears and covering his entire face.
But he kept going.
He just kept banging his head and crying out desperately.
The crying acted like a fuse, instantly igniting everyone's emotions!
"The dynasty is doomed! The dynasty is doomed!"
Another veteran official knelt down and roared to the sky!
"How can we face our ancestors?"
"How can I possibly face the founding emperor!"
More and more officials knelt on the ground!
Those elderly ministers with white hair, those upright and incorruptible officials who offered advice, those loyal and devoted military generals—
One after another, they knelt down!
Cries, shouts, and lamentations filled the air!
The entire Tianqi Hall looked like a mourning hall!
The atmosphere of sorrow was so thick it was almost overflowing!
It's so oppressive, it's suffocating!
But amidst this grief—
Some people's gazes began to quietly fall on the figure standing beside the throne.
It fell on Li Chunfeng.
The light fell on the ever-silent, pale-faced Sword God of the Sun.
They recalled the sword light that shot into the sky last night.
I recall that earth-shattering battle.
I recalled the pale face of the Imperial Advisor.
I recall the weariness and awe in his eyes.
They seemed to understand something.
Now I understand why Zhang Julu didn't resist.
Now I understand why Gu Jiantang didn't draw his sword.
I understand why—
Their emperor will make such a decision.
Because the imperial advisor was defeated.
Li Yang Sword God, an unparalleled expert who has one foot in the realm of terrestrial immortals.
Despite giving it their all, they still lost.
They were defeated by the man sitting on the throne.
What does this mean?
This means that the man's strength far exceeded their expectations.
This means leaving Yang with no room for resistance.
mean--
They had no choice but to accept it.
This realization was like a bucket of ice water being poured over my head.
The weeping of the courtiers gradually subsided.
Those figures who had knelt on the ground slowly raised their heads.
They looked at Qin Mu on the throne.
A deep sense of powerlessness welled up inside me.
There is also a deep-seated fear.
Qin Mu was also watching them.
Looking at those weeping officials, looking at those kneeling figures.
Looking at those faces that gradually quieted down, their eyes filled with despair.
He smiled softly.
That smile was gentle, as gentle as a spring breeze.
But in the eyes of those ministers, it sent chills down their spines.
He leaned back in his chair, one hand supporting his chin, his posture still languid.
Then he spoke.
"My beloved ministers."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials in the hall:
"Who disagrees?"
"Step forward."
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"It's alright, I'll let you speak freely."