Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 441 - 253: Deposition and Installation_3

Chapter 441: Chapter 253: Deposition and Installation_3

If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, then as a child who understood nothing, he would naturally still hold great authority, and nothing would be affected.

But what if Prince Yun ascended the throne? Then, he, a former minister of the previous dynasty, would almost certainly be purged.

It was the same for the other ministers; their interests had long been tightly bound with Emperor Yingzong of Qi, so how could they possibly allow Prince Yun to depose the emperor now?

Tang Qin stiffened his neck, ready to argue his case.

Though he lacked this capability while negotiating peace with the Jin people, he dared to vehemently curse those who plotted treason, using classic references in his own court.

But Prince Yun simply glanced at him with disdain, seemingly not taking him seriously at all.

Tang Qin was somewhat puzzled.

He was the reigning minister, and without his approval, the deposing was almost certain to fail.

But... looking at Prince Yun’s expression, it seemed he had never cared about his opinion?

...

At that moment, outside the imperial palace.

The Imperial Army guarding the palace sensed that something was amiss.

The looks in the eyes of these elite Western Army soldiers... there was something problematic.

Liu Fa roughly estimated the time, then looked at Zhong Pingyuan.

The two exchanged nods.

With a "clang," Liu Fa and Zhong Pingyuan simultaneously drew their swords.

"By the decree of the Supreme Emperor! Follow Prince Yun to purge the imperial side! This mission aims only to kill traitors like Tang Qin who betray the country, all others will not be held accountable! Those who dare to obstruct will be killed without mercy!"

The young leader of the Imperial Army was about to say something when Liu Fa swiftly stepped forward, his long sword slashing the man to the ground.

Behind Liu Fa and Zhong Pingyuan, the elite Western Army soldiers also simultaneously drew their battle swords and charged directly into the palace!

...

"The treason! The treason! The Western Army has turned traitor..."

Inside the palace, such shouts echoed from time to time.

But soon after, these shouts were replaced by screams.

The thousands of elite Western Army soldiers cut into the palace like a sharp knife.

Although the Imperial Army guarded the palace, with the capital surrounded and the emperor not returning, the city was already restless, and these Imperial Army soldiers naturally were not as tightly wound as before.

Moreover, although these Imperial Army soldiers were elite troops, having always been in the imperial city and neglecting training, seldom facing life-or-death combat in military formations, it was hard to say how much fighting capability they still retained.

Upon contact with the elite Western Army, they instantly collapsed.

More importantly, was the slogan shouted by the Western Army.

By the decree of the Supreme Emperor, together with Prince Yun to purge the imperial side!

Although these Imperial Army soldiers were the troops guarding the imperial city and appeared to have close relations with the emperor, they were still fundamentally warriors.

They were often directed to participate in the emperor’s looting of the city’s wealth for the Jin people.

Which of these soldiers didn’t have grievances against traitors like Tang Qin?

Normally, as the power center of the Qi Dynasty was still functioning, these Imperial Army soldiers, despite their dissatisfaction, couldn’t do much but continue begrudgingly carrying out the emperor and minister’s tasks.

But now, with the Western Army shouting the slogan of purging the imperial side, these Imperial Army soldiers naturally didn’t see the point in risking their lives for a traitor like Tang Qin.

Thus, with delayed actions or outright collapses, these Imperial Army soldiers barely played any role in obstructing the Western Army.

It wasn’t long before the elite Western Army had completely surrounded the entire palace.

And Liu Fa and Zhong Pingyuan, leading their new troops, came directly outside the grand hall.

Two men, clad in armor and carrying war swords, entered the grand hall with the scent of blood still on them.

The courtiers within the Qi Dynasty were already in chaos, "You! Are you planning a rebellion?"

The two men approached the grand hall, knelt with their swords touching the ground and said, "We pay our respects to the Supreme Emperor! We pay our respects to Prince Yun!

"Prince Yun, leading the Western Army, carries out the secret orders of the Supreme Emperor to cleanse the monarch’s side and is waiting for commands outside the hall!"

At this moment, the expression on Emperor Qihui’s face was one of bewilderment.

Secret orders?

When did I issue them secret orders...

Yet, seeing the Western Army outside the hall, bristling with murderous intent, he dared not say a word.

And the ministers, such as Tang Qin, their faces shifted from anger to fear over time.

They pointed at Prince Yun, "You... what exactly do you intend to do!"

Fan Cun ignored these people and, as he stepped up to the throne, coldly stated, "Tang Qin and the like, traitors who betray the country for glory, obstruct battles, causing countless soldiers to sacrifice their lives for the country, and scour the common people for the Jin, leading to countless families destroyed!

"I, having rightfully succeeded the grand governance, shall root out the treacherous, and eliminate harm to the people!

"Bring forth those traitorous ministers and execute them!

"Display their severed heads on the gates of the imperial city as a warning to others!"

Before Tang Qin and the others could react, the murderous Western Army surged forward, dragged them out, and beheaded them on the spot.

Those who reacted slowly were executed along with Tang Qin.

Some who knew the times and realized they must submit to save their lives promptly knelt down and shouted, "The country has a wise ruler, it is the fortune of the nation! Your Majesty should ascend to the great treasure early and pacify the common people!"

The other courtiers also quickly responded, kneeling down, "Your Majesty should ascend to the great treasure early and pacify the common people!"

Under normal circumstances, at this point, Prince Yun should have modestly declined.

After declining three times, he could reluctantly ascend the throne.

But Fan Cun was too weary to adhere to these cumbersome rituals and simply sat down on the throne.

"Let all officials rise!"

In the blink of an eye, the ministers who had just been actively debating in the court had taken two different paths.

Some were kneeling and shouting long life to the throne, while others had turned into bloody severed heads.

More than a dozen officials, led by Tang Qin, had been executed in the blink of an eye.

The other officials were also fearfully kneeling on the ground.

Clearly among them were many former ministers of Emperor Yingzong of Qi, who initially opposed Prince Yun’s ascension. However, facing the bloody swords, they could only submit.

Fan Cun observed coldly.

Though his face remained calm, he felt somewhat uneasy inside.

"Your Majesty, isn’t this a bit too much killing..."

The spirit of Emperor Taizu of Sheng by his side snorted coldly, "These are just a few, there will be more to kill later!

"What if these useless ministers are all killed? If need be, you can handle the affairs of the court alone."

In the Qi Dynasty, it was uncommon to execute scholars.

Although there had been some exceptions before, overall, the officials of the Qi Dynasty received considerable privileges. Such an incident where more than a dozen high officials were executed in the court had never happened before.

Thus, amid their terror, these ministers also felt puzzled and angry.

They could scarcely imagine where this newly ascended official, Prince Yun, would take them.