You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

The author, "My Mental Illness Has Improved a Little," recommends reading "Wandering Among the Heavens as a Tyrant, You Don't Understand My Happiness," available through the "Renren Bookstore" app. Download and install the app.

The sounds of fighting in the courtyard gradually subsided, and the air was filled with a heavy, pungent smell of blood.

The bluestone floor was littered with corpses and groaning wounded soldiers, their blood pooling into streams that flowed slowly.

The remaining Imperial Guard soldiers knelt on the ground, trembling, not daring to lift their heads.

Wang Yuan, Li Xianzong, and Liu Guangshi stood to one side, covered in blood and panting heavily.

Blood still dripped from the weapon in his hand, his face a mixture of post-killing excitement, relief at surviving a disaster, and undisguised awe and fear when facing Lu Zuo.

They cautiously glanced at the young emperor standing alone amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Lu Zuo's gaze was icy as he slowly swept across the entire room, finally landing on Liu Guangshi, the Imperial Guard Commander of the Infantry Division, who was standing slightly at the back and whose face was still somewhat pale.

"What's your name? What's your current occupation?"

Liu Guangshi shuddered as if pricked by a needle. He quickly took two steps forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and bowed his head, his voice trembling slightly.

"Back...back to Your Majesty!"

"This humble general...this humble general is Liu Guangshi, Commander of the Infantry Division!"

"Liu Guangshi..."

"I remember you."

"Just now, you shouted 'Kill the traitors and protect the emperor!'"

Liu Guangshi lowered his head even further, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Does Your Majesty remember me?

It's a record of merit...

Or should I give myself a demerit?

If I had hesitated even slightly just now...

He dared not think further, and could only say in a trembling voice, "This humble general... this humble general's duty!"

Lu Zuo nodded slightly and instructed, "Liu Guangshi, I have a task for you."

"Immediately take a reliable team to the Palace Guard Office, find General Liu Qi, and bring him to see me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangshi felt a sudden tightness in his chest, followed by a sense of relief.

The important thing is that this matter concerns Liu Qi.

What's reassuring is that His Majesty entrusted him with this task, at least for the time being, indicating his trust in him.

He dared not delay and kowtowed deeply, saying, "This humble general obeys the order!"

"We will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!"

After saying this, he got up, quickly gathered a group of his trusted men, and hurriedly left.

Lu Zuo watched Liu Guangshi's departing figure with a deep gaze.

He turned to Wang Yuan and Li Xianzong, his voice still devoid of emotion: "You two, take men to clear this place, carry all the wounded away for treatment, and keep a close watch on the surrendered soldiers."

"Without my order, no one may approach within a hundred paces of the Imperial Study."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Yuan and Li Xianzong hurriedly accepted the order, their hearts filled with trepidation, yet secretly relieved that they had temporarily escaped danger. They immediately directed their subordinates to get to work.

Lu Zuo said no more, turned around, and slowly walked back to the messy imperial study.

Li Qingzhao still stood pale in the corner. When he came in, her beautiful eyes were filled with indescribable complex emotions, including shock, but also an unprecedented sense of relief and reverence.

Lu Zuo nodded slightly to her to indicate that everything was alright, then his gaze fell on Qin Hui, who was still standing stiffly like a puppet, his face ashen.

Who can guarantee that those people outside aren't another pawn secretly planted by Qin Hui?

If I leave now, all they need to do is set a fire or commit an "accidental killing," and Qin Hui will be dead without any evidence.

He had cultivated his influence for many years, and his cronies were spread throughout the government, the military, and the country. He harbored countless secrets and implicated countless people.

He is now...

I can't die yet.

We must pry open his mouth and uproot those treacherous parasites hiding in the shadows!

.......

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, hurried footsteps and Liu Guangshi's hushed report came from outside:

"Your Majesty, General Liu Qi has arrived!"

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Liu Guangshi walked in with one other person.

It was Liu Qi! Although his clothes were somewhat disheveled, his hair was slightly loose, his face was bruised, and his eyes looked tired, he was still in good spirits and had not obviously been abused too much.

As soon as he entered, he saw the scene inside the imperial study: a limp armored soldier, a stiff-standing Qin Hui, and a mess and bloodstains all over the floor.

Especially when he saw Lu Zuo, who was unharmed and covered in blood but exuded an astonishing aura, his tiger eyes widened instantly, filled with shock and excitement!

He strode forward, knelt on one knee as if a mountain of gold and jade were collapsing, his voice choked with emotion: "This humble general Liu Qi pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"This humble general...this humble general is incompetent and has been betrayed by treacherous individuals, causing Your Majesty great distress!"

"He deserves to die!"

Lu Zuo turned around and gestured for him to rise, saying, "General Liu, please rise. This matter is not your fault."

"The treacherous and cunning are scheming and impossible to guard against."

"It is a great blessing that you are safe and sound."

He walked behind the imperial desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Liu Guangshi, who had followed him in, as well as Wang Yuan and Li Xianzong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. The three men, sensing Lu Zuo's gaze, instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

Lu Zuo remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the imperial study was so heavy that it was almost suffocating.

Wang Yuan, Li Xianzong, and Liu Guangshi felt their hearts pounding, cold sweat pouring down their backs. They wondered how His Majesty would deal with them, these former Qin Hui henchmen, or at least as "observers."

Finally, Lu Zuo spoke slowly, his voice steady and carrying an undeniable decisiveness:

"You all witnessed what happened tonight. Qin Hui colluded with foreign invaders to plot a coup. The evidence is irrefutable, and his crimes are abhorrent to both gods and men!"

Upon hearing this, the three men felt a huge weight lifted from their hearts, and they were almost exhausted. They immediately knelt down and said, "We are terrified! Protecting Your Majesty is our duty!"

Lu Zuo raised his hand, gesturing for them to stand up. His tone softened slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Liu Qi!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to immediately assume command of the Palace Guard Command, the Cavalry Guard Command, and the Infantry Guard Command, and to oversee all defense duties of the Imperial City's guards!"

"Reorganize the troops and appease morale!"

"Your humble servant obeys the order!" Liu Qi clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Lu Zuo then looked at Wang Yuan and the other two: "Wang Yuan, Li Xianzong, and Liu Guangshi!"

"Your Majesty, we are here!" the three quickly replied.

"I hereby appoint the three of you to temporarily assume your original positions and assist General Liu in stabilizing the situation!"

"We swear to serve Your Majesty to the death! We will assist General Liu, even at the cost of our lives!" the three men replied in unison.

Liu Qi, however, wore a worried expression and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Qin Hui's cronies are deeply entrenched within the Imperial Guards. If a large-scale purge and capture is suddenly launched, I fear..."

"This could cause an uproar within the camp!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zuo sneered, "A mutiny? A rebellion?"

"I will go with you personally!"

"By imperial decree: Tonight's events were caused by the traitor Qin Hui's coup and rebellion, and have nothing to do with ordinary soldiers!"

"Anyone who has strayed from the right path and laid down their weapons will be spared all punishment!"

"If there are any stubborn and unyielding individuals who dare to resist with weapons..."

Lu Zuo spoke slowly and deliberately, his killing intent soaring to the heavens:

"Regardless of who they are, kill them without question!"

……

As night deepened, torches illuminated the gates of the Imperial Guard camp, revealing the imposing armor and the cold glint of weapons.

A group of mid- to high-ranking generals, led by Zhao Zhe, the commander of the Palace Guard, and Wang De, the commander of the Infantry, had already gathered inside the gate. Everyone had a solemn expression, their hands on their weapons, and the air was filled with a tense and uneasy atmosphere.

Most of them were Qin Hui's trusted confidants, secretly planted or recruited. Quotes from the classic poem "The Emperor's Pleasure is Unfathomable" frequently appeared, seeking resonance. Tonight's events concerned their lives and fortunes, leaving them no choice but to be tense.

When they saw the long line of torches approaching in the distance, they recognized Lu Zuo, who was surrounded at the front of the procession and exuded an imposing aura despite being dressed in ordinary clothes.

When Zhao Zhe and Wang De saw Liu Qi, who was standing close by with a cold expression, and Qin Hui, who was being escorted and whose face was ashen and who stood stiffly like a puppet, their pupils suddenly contracted, their hearts sank to the bottom!

Qin Chancellor?

The Prime Minister of Qin has actually been captured?

How did Liu Qi escape? And how is he still with His Majesty?

How...how is this possible?

What does Shen Gang do for a living?

Hundreds of elite armored soldiers couldn't even take over an imperial study?

Zhao Zhe felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his hands and feet were ice cold.

He originally thought that at most it would be a stalemate, or even that His Majesty would be forced to compromise, but he never expected it to be like this!

Finished!

The trend is over!

With Prime Minister Qin in His Majesty's hands, we...

We are all accomplices!

His Majesty has arrived in person, and Liu Qi has taken command of the troops. Is this an indication of a purge?

Wang De's face turned deathly pale. He and Zhao Zhe exchanged a quick glance, both seeing extreme terror and despair in each other's eyes.

"Brother Zhao, what should we do?" Wang De asked in a low voice, his lips trembling, his words almost incoherent.

A glint of madness and ruthlessness flashed in Zhao Zhe's eyes. He lowered his voice as well, his growl like that of a trapped beast: "What else can we do?"

"Surrender and your entire family will be executed!"

"Since we're going to die anyway, we might as well fight!"

His gaze swept over the equally panicked generals and trusted guards behind him, and he said urgently, "Liu Qi has just escaped. Although His Majesty has arrived, most of the men in the camp are still ours!"

"While his position is still unstable, under the pretext of 'purging the emperor's inner circle,' seize Liu Qi and take control of His Majesty!"

"As long as His Majesty is in our hands, there is still a chance to turn the tide!"

"Otherwise, we will both die without a burial place!"

Upon hearing this, Wang De's facial muscles twitched. Knowing there was no turning back, he steeled his resolve: "Fine! As Brother Zhao says! Let's do it!"

At this moment, Liu Qi had stopped outside the camp gate. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the tense crowd inside. He gathered his strength and spoke in a loud voice that echoed throughout the camp:

"His Majesty's oral decree!"

"All soldiers of the Imperial Guard, listen to my command!"

"The traitor Qin Hui, who deceived the emperor and plotted to force the emperor to abdicate, has now been executed!"

"Tonight's events were all caused by Qin Hui; they have nothing to do with you ordinary soldiers!"

"All officers of battalion commander rank and above are to immediately lay down their armor and disarm, and proceed to the drill hall to await orders and assessment!"

"Those who disobey orders will be punished as treason!"

These words caused a stir inside the gate, with many lower-ranking soldiers and junior officers exchanging hesitant glances.

"fart!"

Wang De suddenly stepped forward, his beard and hair bristling, and pointed at Liu Qi, shouting sharply, "Liu Qi!"

"It is clearly you who have held His Majesty hostage, framed loyal officials, and plotted treason!"

"Soldiers, do not listen to his wicked words!"

"Follow me to slay this scoundrel and rescue the emperor!"

"Capture Liu Qi! Protect His Majesty!"

With a shout, dozens of his trusted henchmen, each armed with weapons, charged out of the gate like wolves and tigers, heading straight for Liu Qi!

Several men with fierce eyes even tried to bypass Liu Qi and grab Lu Zuo, who was being protected by Wang Yuan, Li Xianzong and others at a later position!

Clearly, they were plotting to "hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords"!

"Stubborn fool! You're courting death!" Liu Qi roared in fury, about to draw his sword to meet the enemy.

However, another figure was faster than him!

As if in the blink of an eye, Lu Zuo had already silently passed Liu Qi and appeared in front of the group of assassins who were rushing towards him!

boom!boom!boom!boom!

Click!Click!

Lu Zuo moved again, as if strolling leisurely, his fingers brushing past the swords and blades attacking from both sides like plucking a pipa.

The blade, forged from high-quality steel, would shatter upon contact! Shards of metal shot out in all directions!

The armed assassin felt an indescribable force coming from his weapon, his hand instantly split open, his arm twisted at a bizarre angle, and he fell to the ground screaming in agony!

Snapped!Snapped!

Two more people came from the side and tried to hug him around the waist.

Without even looking, Lu Zuo struck with both hands, delivering two quick palm strikes to the opponent's neck.

The two men didn't utter a sound; they collapsed limply as if their bones had been removed, completely lifeless.

In the blink of an eye, it's all over!

Most of the dozens of fierce assassins have fallen! They are either dead or maimed!

The remaining few were terrified, standing frozen in place, their hands gripping their weapons trembling like leaves, looking at Lu Zuo as if he were a demon god descended to earth!

Inside the gate, the generals and soldiers who had been eager to act were now all pale and silent.

Zhao Zhe and Wang De stared in disbelief at the scene before them, their bodies turning ice-cold, as if they had fallen into an ice cave!

"Liu Qi".

"Your subordinate is here!"

Liu Qi immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his voice loud and clear.

"Take down Zhao Zhe, Wang De, and all officers of the rank of captain and above in the camp, disarm and bind them."

"Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without exception."

"Your humble servant obeys!" Liu Qi responded with a resounding shout, then whirled around, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, glaring menacingly at the gate: "His Majesty has decreed!"

"Capture the traitors! Those who disobey orders will be killed without exception!"

"Wang Yuan! Li Xianzong! Liu Guangshi!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

Liu Qi: "Lead your men and carry out the imperial decree!"

"Take control of all battalions! Anyone who dares to make a move will be executed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!"

Wang Yuan, Li Xianzong, and Liu Guangshi immediately mustered their trusted troops, who were already prepared, and pounced on the gate like wolves and tigers.

At this moment, they had no other thoughts in their minds but to do their job well and make a name for themselves in front of His Majesty.

"Kneel down!"

"Disarm!"

"Tie him up!"

Shouts, the sound of weapons hitting the ground, and muffled groans of struggle rang out instantly.

Wang Yuan led his men straight to Zhao Zhe and Wang De, who were ashen-faced and showed no will to resist. They quickly disarmed them and tied them up tightly with cowhide ropes.

Li Xianzong and Liu Guangshi then led their troops into the ranks of officers and did the same thing.

The whole process was swift and orderly.

The officers were already terrified by Lu Zuo's ruthless methods, and seeing that their commanders Zhao Zhe and Wang De had surrendered, they had no intention of resisting.

Those who hesitated even slightly were immediately silenced and obediently tied up after being sternly rebuked or even slapped with the back of a knife by Wang Yuan and his men.

In a short while, dozens of officers of the rank of captain and above inside the gate had all been disarmed, bound, and knelt on the ground, their faces pale and their bodies trembling.

Liu Qi surveyed the entire scene, and seeing that the situation was settled, he turned to Lu Zuo and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your Majesty, the ringleaders of the rebel party and all the officers in the camp have been captured. Please give your instructions!"

Lu Zuo nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping once more over the kneeling officers and the silent, trembling ordinary soldiers in the distance, and said in a clear voice:

"The blame for tonight's events lies with Qin Hui and his henchmen, and has nothing to do with you ordinary soldiers!"

"Everyone return to your posts, remain at your positions, and refrain from any disturbance or disturbance!"

"Once the matter is investigated, I will make a fair judgment!"

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