Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 200 Target, Luoyang

A somber atmosphere pervaded the imperial palace in Luoyang.

Even after being assassinated, the young emperor Yuan Xu did not survive. After nearly a month of suffering, he passed away.

Empress Hu, looking haggard, walked out of the palace.

Her younger sister, Hu Xuanhui, stood nearby. They had already planned that once Empress Hu relinquished power and gradually faded from public view, they would leave Luoyang to find Li Shengui.

But at this moment, everyone in Luoyang City once again focused their attention on them.

Empress Hu held power for many years, and after Emperor Yuanxu passed away, everyone's focus shifted to her.

But at this moment, Empress Hu felt not only sorrow but also anger!
The fury of revenge!

"Who did it?"

Hu Xuanhui, standing to the side, sighed:
"What good will it do to know who did it?"

After Yuan Xu assumed power, Hu Xuanhui was aware of all his actions. Many people in Luoyang disapproved of the young emperor, but Hu Xuanhui didn't care; she knew this was what an emperor had to endure.

Empress Hu looked at her younger sister with a hint of anger, but then heard her say:

"Doesn't your sister know how many people inside and outside Luoyang want to kill this emperor?"

Empress Hu gritted her teeth, feeling extremely unwilling.

There's always a mastermind behind it all!

Hu Xuanhui smiled, but his smile was one of helplessness.

"Sister, look at all the officials and nobles in Luoyang. Is there really only one mastermind?"

Hu Xuanhui's words awakened Empress Hu, but her next words left her somewhat desperate.

"You can't defy the wrath of the masses. You might be able to kill one person, but what about a group of people? Even if you kill them all, can you kill them all?"

Empress Hu felt despair, but her anger only intensified.

"Shut up!"

Hu Xuanhui was not angry at his sister for never treating him like this before; instead, he held her hand.

The gentle hand was warm and smooth. Hu Xuanhui waited a moment until Empress Hu had calmed down before speaking:
"The situation in Luoyang is now unpredictable. I've heard that Erzhu Rong has already gathered troops and arrived in Shangdang, ready to march south at any time. The court is already a mess. Listen to me, if the officials want to elect a new emperor, just agree and then go into seclusion outside the palace. Once the situation is settled, then leave with me."

"So what if Erzhu Rong? Li Shengui is still in Henan, commanding a large army. He is certainly capable of contending with him!"

Seeing his sister's stubbornness, Hu Xuanhui couldn't help but shake his head.

"So what if he comes? The emperor only has one daughter. What can you possibly gain? Just install another puppet to be your empress dowager!"

Hu Xuanhui looked around and whispered in Hu Hou's ear:
"Given the current situation, with Erzhu Rong on the outside and a group of powerful ministers eyeing you from within, you can't win. The best course of action is to get out as soon as possible."

Hu Hou's expression was stern as he said:

"Who said the emperor had a daughter!"

Hu Xuanhui was stunned, somewhat taken aback. But when she came to her senses, she realized that her sister had already embarked on a path of no return. A sense of fear filled her heart, and she tried to lower her voice, saying:

"Are you crazy?!"

Empress Hu, however, remained calm and slowly said:

"Consort Pan was frail and, after giving birth to the prince, was overcome with grief and passed away along with the late emperor. I have been raising this prince for several months, and now he is to inherit the throne."

Seeing his sister becoming increasingly frantic, Hu Xuanhui couldn't help but say:

"Sister, don't be foolish. Consort Pan has been pregnant for ten months now. Let alone how many people in the palace know the identity of this 'prince,' do you think you can keep it from all the nobles outside?"

Empress Hu seemed indifferent.

"It doesn't matter, as long as I get my revenge."

"elder sister!"

Hu Xuanhui wanted to persuade her again, but saw her smile gently.

"Do you know what Li Shuang and I learned the most from?" Why is it Li Shuang again?

Before Hu Xuanhui could complain, Empress Hu said:
"These nobles are nothing special!"
-
"She's gone mad! This woman has gone mad!"

Prime Minister's House.

Yuan Yong paced back and forth in the room.

Ever since Yuan Yong heard Yuan Ziyou's words that day, he had been prepared. But he never expected that Empress Hu would go to such lengths.

He summoned Yuan Ziyou, and upon meeting him, he immediately rebuked him:

"How are you going to clean up the mess you've made?"

Yuan Ziyou, however, looked completely innocent and said:
"What is it that the Prime Minister is referring to?"

Yuan Yong glanced at the people around him and lowered his voice.

"I ask you, how was His Majesty assassinated?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ziyou quickly offered his explanation:

"It wasn't me. My men went, but they didn't even have time to make a move!"

Looking at Yuan Ziyou's sincere expression, Yuan Yong felt somewhat suspicious.

Who could that be?

Erzhu Rong?
Li Shengui?
Li Shuang?

One name after another flashed through Yuan Yong's mind. He then looked at Yuan Ziyou, wondering if this kid was putting on an act for him.

But soon, Yuan Yong stopped worrying about it and asked:
"Given the current situation, Empress Hu has gone mad. What should we do?"

Yuan Ziyou already knew why Yuan Yong had summoned him, so he already had the answer in his heart.

"Given the current situation, the only way to suppress the Imperial Guards is to bring in outside troops to the capital."

Empress Hu was quite adept at political maneuvering. She closed the palace, forged an edict declaring her regency, seized control of the imperial guards, and replaced them with her own trusted confidants.

In Luoyang, without the support of the Imperial Guards, the nobles could not defeat Empress Hu.

"Foreign soldier, are you referring to Erzhu Rong?"

Yuan Ziyou nodded, and Yuan Yong became somewhat anxious.

"Are you crazy? Have you forgotten the humiliation we suffered when Li Shuang entered Luoyang last time?"

“I haven’t forgotten!” Yuan Ziyou said solemnly. “But if we don’t do this, what else can we do but let Empress Hu place a girl on the throne and then slowly kill us?”

After Yuan Ziyou finished speaking, Yuan Yong stroked his beard and pondered for a moment.

"This is not a good idea. Li Shengui is in Henan, and he won't ignore Empress Hu. Li Shuang is currently in Guanzhong, and his attitude is also unknown. How many troops can Erzhu Rong alone command? If the situation becomes deadlocked, Luoyang might descend into chaos!"

"Erzhu Rong is currently in Shangdang. Even if Li Shengui mobilizes troops, he won't be able to reach Luoyang so quickly. As for Li Shuang, as long as Li Shengui doesn't arrive, even if he does, nothing will change."

Yuan Yong still couldn't make a decision, and simply waved his hand.

"I know nothing!"
-
Under the moonlight, Erzhu Rong led several thousand cavalrymen, galloping along the roads of Shangdang.

Erzhu Rong did not receive any imperial decree from Luoyang. After receiving Li Shuang's reply, he immediately ordered his troops to march south.

Behind him followed a group of military heroes from the North.

Gao Huan, Heba Yue, Heba Sheng, Yuwen Luosheng, Houmo Chenyue...

The once prosperous and bustling city of Luoyang, now embroiled in undercurrents, was seen as a huge trouble and danger by others, but by them, it was an opportunity.

The imperial court owes the Six Garrisons, and now they will take it all back themselves!

"Full speed ahead! Destination: Luoyang!"

……

(End of this chapter)