She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 127: Life or Death, This is a Military Order

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Life or Death, This is a Military Order

Yan Wanqing merely snorted lightly after hearing Xiao Hongshen’s words.

"Do you know why you weren’t chosen?"

Xiao Hongshen’s gaze was dark and intense as he looked at her.

"Because you’re not worthy." By now, the sun had fully risen, casting their two figures in long, slanting shadows at the city gate.

When Xiao Hongshen heard the words that came out of Yan Wanqing’s mouth, a flash of murderous intent passed through his eyes.

"Yan Wanqing, you really deserve to die." He spoke these words through clenched teeth and then extended his hand to order the Ironclad Army forward, "The Township Manor is stubborn and defiant, now this palace allows you to suppress them by force, regardless of life or death!"

As soon as these words were uttered, even faster than the Ironclad Army were the common folks around, who came rushing to surround the Yan Family members.

"The Lord of the Township Manor has been loyal to the monarch and patriotic all his life, open and upright, he could never betray his country and conspire with the enemy!"

"If you want to harm the Lord of the Township Manor, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies!"

"Yes! Step over them!"

...

The civilians spontaneously protected all of the Yan Family, and Yan Wanqing’s eyes filled with tears. She chuckled as she looked at Xiao Hongshen as if she were looking at a clown.

"See that?" she said.

Xiao Hongshen’s face was ashen as he lashed out at the Ironclad Army, "Defiant to the end, regardless of life or death, this is a military command!"

The leader of the Ironclad Army, seeing the fearless expression on the faces of the civilians, hesitated, "But they are just ordinary folks..."

"Folks?" Xiao Hongshen began lightly, "Where are the folks? This palace sees nothing but a crowd of troublemakers assisting in treason."

No sooner had he spoken these words than disapproval shone in the eyes of the Ironclad Army’s leader, but since Xiao Hongshen declared it a military command, and the leader had a family to think about, he couldn’t disobey. Thus, he gritted his teeth and shouted to his brothers, "Charge!"

Yan Wanqing drew her sword from the scabbard and coldly declared, "The Imperial Sword is here, who dares to act recklessly!"

"The Imperial Sword..." The leader of the Ironclad Army faltered.

Xiao Hongshen had long heard that the Yan Family possessed the Imperial Sword but had not expected to see Yan Wanqing pull it out today. This must be her last card.

Seeing this, he laughed scornfully, "A traitorous rebel guilty of conspiring with the enemy, daring to brandish the Imperial Sword so arrogantly, it’s utterly laughable. Seize her at once, and take back the Imperial Sword of the Supreme Emperor!"

"Hold on!" Yan Wanqing suddenly interjected.

Frowning, Xiao Hongshen looked at her, "What more do you want to say? Have you regretted it and wish to beg for mercy from this palace?" He sneered maliciously, "It’s too late, I gave you a chance, and you didn’t treasure it."

"Unless you strip right here and announce that Yan Wanqing is willing to be a dog for this palace for the rest of her life, only then can I turn a blind eye and let you peacefully attend your father’s and brothers’ funerals." Xiao Hongshen whispered this last sentence to Yan Wanqing.

While the people behind could not hear him, the leader of the Ironclad Army heard it all, causing his expression to become extremely awkward.

Princess Anping had once led him on the battlefield to kill the enemy.

That commanding presence and valor in battle were forever etched in the hearts of the soldiers.

No one could stand their myth being defiled in such a manner.

At that moment, the Ironclad Army began to slacken.

Xiao Hongshen was oblivious to this.

All he could see was Yan Wanqing.

He was so eager to get an answer from Yan Wanqing’s mouth; apart from the supreme throne, nothing was more exhilarating to him than seeing this woman crawling at his feet.

Yan Wanqing, feeling nauseated by the words that came from Xiao Hongshen’s mouth, laughed coldly as the sun shortened their shadows even more.

She said to Xiao Hongshen, "It’s getting late."

"Indeed, it is getting late. The Commandery Princess should have made a decision by now," Xiao Hongshen replied.

Yan Wanqing suddenly looked at him with pity, "I meant, Xiao Hongshen, your time is running out."

"What do you mean..." Xiao Hongshen frowned deeply, "Are you stalling for time?"

But what could she be stalling for?

The noble families that had good relations with the Yan Family had already been warned by him and did not dare to come forward anymore.

The Crown Prince was far away on the battlefield, and the Young Marquis was still on his way back to the Capital City, it was impossible for him to appear so soon.

So whom could Yan Wanqing possibly be relying on?

Just then, a clatter of hooves rose from behind the crowd, and the eunuch who was barred outside became desperately anxious.

He shouted loudly, "The Empress has decreed! All bystanders must clear the way immediately!"

Xiao Hongshen reeled his gaze back in, his initial panic settling slightly, "The Empress?"

He paid no mind to the likes of Zhang Lanyi.

Yan Wanqing observed the disdain in his eyes and remained silent.

Xie Qun, hidden among the crowd, quickly had his men part the people, clearing a path for the eunuch to pass through.

Everyone saw the eunuch holding an imperial edict arriving at the city gate, dismounting his horse.

"Prince Seven, please receive the imperial edict."

Xiao Hongshen languidly glanced at the eunuch, "I am currently apprehending a rebel. If the Empress has any commands, it would be best to wait until after this matter is settled. I will personally explain to her in the palace."

The implication was a direct refusal to accept the decree.

The eunuch’s face darkened.

Being one of the Empress’s men, he naturally wouldn’t tolerate such disrespect toward her.

Moreover, even though Prince Seven held great power at the moment, the throne is a matter of life and death, and his fortunes had not yet been glimpsed. Yet he was already so arrogant; it seemed unlikely he would become a great ruler in the future.

The eunuch had seen dynasties rise and fall; he knew the situation as clearly as a mirror.

He coldly said, "Perhaps Your Highness should hear what the imperial edict says before making a decision."

Xiao Hongshen was full of irritation, "I will receive it later."

"Prince Seven!" the eunuch called out sternly.

Xiao Hongshen instantly looked up, his eyes like a viper’s, dark and chilling, as if he were looking at a corpse.

This lowly slave dared to show off in front of him.

Zhang Lanyi and her despicable servants all deserved to die.

The eunuch wasn’t intimidated by Xiao Hongshen’s gaze; as soon as he opened the imperial edict to read it, Xiao Hongshen snatched it from his hands, glanced at it, and quickly shut it.

His face, previously calm and collected, now turned as pale as a ghost.

He quickly looked at Yan Wanqing, "You are one of the Empress’s people."

Yan Wanqing said nothing, but did not deny it either.

His eyebrows tightly knit together, "You actually chose the Empress... Foolish!" He clutched the imperial edict in his hand, grabbed the horse beside the eunuch, and without another word, mounted it and rode towards the palace gate.

At that moment, the Ironclad Army was standing at the gate. Yan Wanqing coldly swept his gaze over them, "Kindly open the city gate."

The leader of the Ironclad Army hesitated only for a moment before waving his men to open the gate, and the Yan Family procession continued with the funeral.

Meanwhile, Prince Seven, Xiao Hongshen, clutching the imperial edict, pushed past the guards of the inner palace all the way to the Empress’s bedchamber.

Upon entering, he saw Zhang Lanyi sitting in a chair with maids massaging her shoulders and back.

"Is the Empress seeking war with me?"

The imperial edict clearly stated the misdeeds of Lin Pingzhi, who had previously abused his position to extort wealth for him, and the account books had been seen by the Emperor, hence Zhang Lanyi’s move to issue the edict on his behalf.

Zhang Lanyi stuffed a lychee into her mouth, the sweetness making her fox-like eyes squint.

"Please forgive me, Prince Seven, I have merely done what is expected of me as a subject of Dawei."

Xiao Hongshen sneered and tossed the imperial edict on the ground, "Fine! Everyone wants to oppose me, so be it!" He turned and stalked out of the palace gate.

Those who oppose him must die!

Zhang Lanyi sat up straighter, watching him leave without a backward glance, a cold sneer in her heart.

The Emperor had already regained consciousness.

Xiao Hongshen would, at the very least, be skinned this time.

But what a pity, it was far from just that.

Once that little wolf cub had finished the burial, the real spectacle would follow.