Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity

Chapter 1152 - 988: Rebellion

Prince Gong rode his splendid horse forward, he could already see the city gate from afar. Inside and outside the Capital, the temples and Taoist monasteries were ringing their bells. At the Emperor’s demise, the bell should toll thirty thousand strokes.A horse caught up from behind, "Your Highness! Without a summons, we cannot enter the Capital, we can only wait in the suburbs."

Prince Gong looked at the city gate now within sight, reluctantly pulling on the reins.

Unexpectedly, Father left so suddenly, and he hadn’t prepared his plans. Acting rashly would not guarantee success.

"Then wait at the manor in the suburbs, and when the court sends people to announce the mourning, have the procession move faster, I will wait for them to join me in the suburbs."

A message had come that the Fourth had already arrived in the Capital. He couldn’t fall behind the Fourth. Just relying on the Fourth, from such a barren place, without money and without people, also wants to compete with him? It’s simply wishful thinking.

"Pay more attention to the Third, I don’t believe he’s changed. Would he really give up such wealth and honor?"

"Yes!" Just as the words fell, an arrow shot towards Prince Gong.

Prince Gong drew the treasure sword from the horse and swung it back to block.

"Quick! Protect the Prince!"

Jin Canling just drew his sword and saw a swarm of black-clad men coming at them.

Prince Gong and others dismounted swiftly and tangled with the men in black. A fierce glint flashed in Prince Gong’s eyes. Who? Who dared to ambush him on his way to the Capital?

His journey to the Capital was secretive, who leaked the information?

...

The Crown Prince ordered that Liao Wu and others be taken to the side hall. The Emperor had passed away, and rituals had to be conducted for a hundred days.

Unexpectedly, Bao En Temple sent the third brother to give a sermon this time. Was it meant to resolve the third brother’s worldly affairs to prevent distraction from his practice, or did the third brother come with ulterior motives?

Thinking of the two Vassal Kings about to arrive, the Crown Prince felt a pang in his heart. The brothers would gather in the Capital again, and troubles would be endless.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites had already begun preparations, the entire palace was draped in plain colors, and a deep sorrow filled the Crown Prince’s eyes.

"Your Highness! The Emperor’s visage has been arranged!" An official from the Ministry of Rites reported to the Crown Prince.

"Hmm! Let’s go!" The Crown Prince nodded, ready to go to the hall to keep vigil.

From a distance, two eunuchs approached, carrying sacrificial vessels toward the side hall. As they passed by the Crown Prince, one suddenly threw the box with the vessels aside, pulled out a long sword, and stabbed at the Crown Prince.

Gu Chengyu had just reached the front of the hall and saw this critical scene.

In a moment of urgency, he took off the Jade Pendant he wore and threw it. The pendant deflected the opponent’s sword, and the Crown Prince quickly dodged to the side.

"Watch out! Assassins!" Gu Chengyu shouted and flew forward.

This action seemed to trigger the start of a battle in the palace. As Gu Chengyu rushed over, several black-clad men descended from the rooftop.

"Ah!" Chaos erupted outside the hall, officials fled in all directions, and palace maids and eunuchs were screaming.

The Imperial Guard moved forward to engage the attackers, and Gu Chengyu, reaching the Crown Prince, struck the shoulder of a black-clad man wielding a scimitar.

The man, in pain, staggered back two steps before being run through by a guard’s sword from behind.

"Your Highness! Quickly return to the hall!" Gu Chengyu snatched up a sword and, fending off the attacks of the black-clad men, urged the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, stunned by the sudden change, came to his senses at Gu Chengyu’s words.

Barely registering his surprise at Gu Chengyu’s martial skills, he began retreating into the hall under the cover of several guards.

Gu Chengyu, handling the lackeys with ease, glanced at the attending officials.

Seeing that the black-clad men were not targeting the officials present, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Called into the palace on short notice, he had no one at his disposal. Two fists were no match for four hands; if all the Capital’s officials were taken down, wouldn’t Dayan truly be doomed?

Yet many of these men wielded scimitars, a weapon no martial artist in Dayan used. Could they not be from Dayan?

A palace maid observing the situation thought to herself. What was going on? Weren’t they supposed to wait for the Princes to arrive in the Capital before acting? Why start fighting now?

No signal was given beforehand, and she was uncertain what to do.

A person clad in a black cloak descended from the sky like a great bird, attacking Gu Chengyu with a fierce gust of wind.

A long sword aimed at Gu Chengyu’s face, he quickly injured a nearby black-clad man before turning back to block.

Unexpectedly, this person attacked from a tricky angle with high speed, putting Gu Chengyu in a tight spot from both sides.

As the sword thrust forward, Gu Chengyu narrowly avoided having his arm injured. Incredulous, he realized this opponent was not to be underestimated.

The officials, by this time, were all running into the hall, while many soldiers entered from outside.

Seeing reinforcements arrive, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but relax a little. It was the Capital Guard Commander Zhou Yuancong.

"Lord Zhou, quickly! Someone is trying to assassinate me. Capture all these people!" The Crown Prince, standing on the steps, instructed Zhou Yuancong.

"Hmph! Today the Crown Prince entered the palace to see the Emperor, then suddenly the Emperor passed away. What did the Crown Prince do to the Emperor? Did any of you colleagues even question letting the Crown Prince handle the Emperor’s funeral?" Zhou Yuancong sneered, standing at a distance with his soldiers.

The Crown Prince was shocked, what was happening?

"Zhou Yuancong, stop talking nonsense! Do you intend to rebel?" The Crown Prince, pointing at Zhou Yuancong, asked with trembling breath.

"Hmph! Eliminating the Emperor to ascend the throne early instead—you don’t deserve to be the Crown Prince. Today, I shall act on heaven’s behalf to comfort the Emperor’s spirit." Zhou Yuancong sneered, "Capture these traitors, if any resist, kill them without mercy!"

The Crown Prince felt a weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He pointed a trembling finger at Zhou Yuancong, "You, you..."

Gu Chengyu fervently countered with a strike, managing to wound this person.

He only wanted to curse, damn it, can we resolve the external threat first, before starting the infighting?

The three factions in the hall instantly clashed. Gu Chengyu fought fiercely, each move deadly, while the blood from his enemies stained his mourning clothes red.

The Crown Prince pressed his chest, watching Zhou Yuancong heading straight for Gu Chengyu, feeling acute anxiety.

"Zhou Yuancong, who sent you?"

Zhou Yuancong didn’t answer, raising his sword, he charged at Gu Chengyu.

Hearing the commotion, monks inside the hall also rushed out. Liao Kong, one of the Martial Monks, quickly joined with two fellow skilled monks in the battle.

"Mother, it’s dangerous outside, you cannot go!" Qin Yingyuan held the Eldest Princess. They had been guarding their father’s bedside, but the chaos outside had them panicking too.

The Eldest Princess looked worried, a flash of determination in her eyes, "But the Crown Prince is still outside!"

"Then, Mother stay here, I’ll go check. Don’t worry, I will be careful," Qin Yingyuan said, then rose and hurried toward the hall’s entrance.

"No!" The Eldest Princess was alarmed, quickly getting up to follow Qin Yingyuan.