You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 231 Finale
Gu Xizhi officially launched his rebellion in Weixi.

A just cause attracts much support.

In Weixi, every able-bodied young man was a soldier, working in the fields during busy seasons and training in his spare time.

Now, after a thousand days of training, they are put to use in a single moment. Once they join the army, each one fights bravely and is in no way inferior to the others.

Deputy General Yu also rose up in rebellion and mobilized his troops.

Before the troops move, supplies must be prepared. The Phoenix Clan offered up treasures and divine weapons that they had guarded for hundreds of years to recruit soldiers and quickly expand their ranks.

With the help of fellow disciples from Yuhua Mountain, many talented and extraordinary individuals emerged, making them even more formidable.

The Weixi army conquered cities and territories along the way, eventually capturing Shangjing.

Liang Jiang, wielding a red-tasseled silver spear and led by a striped tiger, with her fellow disciples from Yuhua Mountain as the vanguard, swept through everything in her path, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard of her.

Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had been forced to commit suicide and that the Emperor was unjust, disloyal, and unfilial, officials and soldiers along the route surrendered the city.

They swept through the enemy lines with overwhelming force, and in less than two months, they successfully captured the capital.

The troops stationed in the capital were mostly former subordinates of the Duke of Liang; how could they possibly be willing to risk their lives for the emperor?

In a critical moment, they turned against each other and joined forces with the Weixi army to attack the imperial city.

The army was defeated like a landslide, collapsing at the first blow.

The emperor never imagined that even after painstakingly burying his mother in the dragon vein, he still couldn't save the magnificent empire he ruled.

Seeing that Gu Xizhi's rebel army had stormed into the palace with unstoppable momentum, rescued the imprisoned Xie Fubai, and turned the guards against him, the situation was hopeless.

He still pinned his last hope on witchcraft, ordering the creation of a large number of wooden puppets, inscribed with Gu Xizhi's birth date and time, to endure tortures such as being pierced by a thousand arrows and branded with hot oil.

When Gu Xizhi and Liang Jiang stormed into the palace, the emperor was in the Cloud Cauldron Alchemy Chamber at the highest point, holding a long sword and furiously killing those Taoist priests who were playing unorthodox tricks, their blood splattering on the spot.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! After all this trouble, how come Gu Xizhi is still alive? What use are you to me?"

Looking at the horrific scene before them, shrouded in smoke and resembling a living hell, Gu Xizhi and Liang Jiang were utterly shocked.

The emperor, his hair disheveled, stared at Gu Xizhi, his eyes still filled with hatred.

"It is true that whoever obtains the Phoenix Maiden will rule the world. I should never have granted you this marriage! If you hadn't exchanged Weixi for her, I would never have agreed!"

Gu Xizhi frowned deeply: "Brother, even now, you are still so foolish as to believe in this so-called superstition?"

"Isn't that so? If I strike first and take Liang Jiang into my harem, where will you find a place in this world? Liang Jiang is mine, and so is the world!"

"Your subject admits that Liang Jiang is of paramount importance to me. If it weren't for her, your subject might not be standing here, opposing you."

However, the root cause of today's situation is yourself! "The people can carry a boat, but they can also capsize it; those who act justly will find many helpers, while those who act unjustly will find few." This is the most basic principle that our father repeatedly taught us!

"Stop with the high-sounding words! It was you who obtained the Phoenix Maiden and destroyed the Dragon Vein! Otherwise, it would never have been possible! I am the destined true Dragon Emperor!"

Liang Jiang said angrily, "Now, the Empress Dowager is being buried alive in the dragon vein. She said she hoped to use her own death to warn you and the world, but you are still stubbornly unrepentant!"

She pointed to the alchemy furnace in front of her: "And these elixirs of immortality are nothing but harmful poisons! They will destroy your mind and body, drive you mad, and give you a splitting headache like the Empress Dowager!"
You listened to these sorcerers, appointed treacherous officials, and persecuted countless loyal ministers! You even harmed your own family members, your own brothers!

The emperor laughed loudly, "What do you know? I am the true Son of Heaven, the one the people yearn for! Yet my father insists on defying Heaven and passing the throne to you, Gu Xizhi. I am merely following the will of Heaven!"

Gu Xizhi scoffed, "Don't you understand? The so-called 'True Dragon Son of Heaven' is nothing but a fabrication by Taoist Li, at the behest of the Empress Dowager, to win over the people for you." "Nonsense! I don't believe it!" The Emperor, wielding his longsword, frantically stabbed at Gu Xizhi's puppets, nearly delirious. "I won't let you succeed! Even if you do manage to seize my throne, so what? You're cursed by my sorcery; you won't live long!"

Then he took out pills from the alchemy furnace and stuffed them into his mouth by the handful: "I am the Son of Heaven, immortal, you can't kill me, long live the Emperor!"

Gu Xizhi sighed softly and waved her hand, ordering, "Seal this palace gate and let him live in this fantasy forever."

The palace doors were tightly sealed, trapping the smoke from the alchemy room inside.

Gu Xizhi rubbed her temples wearily: "Suddenly I feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders. I'm afraid I won't be a good emperor and will let down the people of Chang'an who support and love me."

Liang Jiang pursed her lips: "You were able to govern Weixi so well that no one would pick up lost items on the road and the people lived in peace. I believe that you can also be a good emperor who is diligent in governing, loves the people, is virtuous and kind, and strives to govern well."

"How come you've learned to flatter me with these kinds of words?"

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

Gu Xizhi chuckled lightly, then said in a serious tone, "Liangjiang, if I ever become stubborn and self-willed, like my brother, and am deceived by treacherous officials without realizing it, you must not hold back and use the harshest words to wake me up. Never let me make the same mistake as my brother."

Liang Jiang snorted: "Honest advice is hard to hear. The worst thing is that we'll end up disliking each other. You'll find fault with my shrewishness and think that I'll be like Zhong Wuyan when I need something and Xia Yingchun when I don't. You'll be close to those who will flatter and praise you."

Gu Xizhi took the initiative to reach out and squeezed her hand tightly as if punishing her.

"My virtuous wife helped me achieve my lofty ambitions, and I will repay her with ten thousand taels of gold. Now that I have achieved my ambitions, I will treat my virtuous wife as I did in the beginning."

Liang Jiang spat lightly: "You've also learned to use sweet talk, and you even have a whole repertoire of it."

“He who neglects his wife will never have wealth, while he who loves his wife will prosper. Moreover, he who wins the heart of the phoenix will rule the world. I would rather lose the world than lose you. I am yours, and the world is yours. I offer the empire as my dowry. All the people of the world can bear witness.”

Liang Jiang raised her face, gazing at the towering red walls, the gleaming gilded palaces, and the boundless blue sky above, a smile reaching her eyes.

"If you say it so seriously, I might actually take it seriously."

Gu Xizhi chuckled lightly: "A gentleman keeps his word and always does what he says. Besides, I have so many brothers-in-law, each one brave and powerful, who will be the pillars of Chang'an in the future, the towering rocks supporting the sky. How could I dare to provoke you in the slightest?"

"Then do you still dare to marry her?"

"Don't dare."

"Ok?"

"From now on, I will treat you with utmost respect and devotion. Don't forget, you are the great-aunt of my Prince Pingxi's mansion."

"Pah, am I that old?"

"From now on, you'll be my life partner, Gu Xizhi's partner. Aren't you old yet?"

The two held hands and walked down the steps, one by one, along the long corridor, which seemed to have no end.

Ten days later, the new emperor, in accordance with the will of Heaven, ascended the throne and adopted the reign title Liang, and is historically known as Emperor Liang.

On the day of his ascension to the throne, Emperor Liang conferred the title of Empress upon Princess Liang Jiang of the Duke of Liang's Mansion, honored Consort Xie as Empress Dowager Mingxian, and conferred the title of First-Rank Duke's Wife upon Lady Liang.

Each general and soldier was rewarded according to their merits, and people were appointed based on merit.

The emperor and empress joined hands to eliminate treacherous officials, appoint virtuous and capable people to reform, broaden channels for public opinion, cease hostilities and allow the people to recuperate, and work diligently to create a peaceful and prosperous era.

(End of this chapter)