The old emperor only desires immortality; you must not rebel.

Upon returning to the palace, Lu Cheng convened his first meeting to exterminate the powerful clans.

The terrified officials once again stood in the imperial court.

However, this time, there were far fewer court officials than before.

Besides those who were dragged away by the emperor and beheaded, some were also claiming to be ill.

Everyone knows which side these people are on, but no one dares to say it out loud.

Lu Cheng knew perfectly well what was going on, but he didn't care.

He couldn't remember who came, but he knew exactly who didn't.

The ministers lowered their heads, exchanging glances and whispering among themselves.

No one knows what crazy thing this aging emperor will do today.

In fact, they also wanted to align themselves with the aristocratic families, but unfortunately, the aristocratic families looked down on them.

Everyone knows that this world belongs to the powerful families.

The Emperor is just a roadside figure!

They used to be able to bully the emperor, but now they can't afford to offend anyone.

Why do those court officials dare not come today?

That's because the price of grain in the city has gone up today!

The price of grain has increased fivefold!

The Great Qing Dynasty is about to collapse!

When the price of food in the city rises to an astronomical level, the peasants who can't afford to eat will start to revolt, and the emperor will naturally be branded as "immoral".

First, he killed his own son; then he beat the prime minister to death in the palace; and now the people are displaced. Isn't this a clear indication of the emperor's incompetence and moral failings?

When the "disaster" descends from heaven, the Great Qing Dynasty will be finished.

When the people rebel, the regional military governors will come to "purge the emperor's inner circle."

It is said that the Liang king in the northwest has already moved eastward.

While the courtiers were still pondering, Lu Cheng, seated on the dragon throne, had already spoken.

"I know what some people are thinking!"

Lu Cheng spoke calmly but firmly: "Including you!"

"I have something very important to do tonight!"

Upon hearing this, the entire court felt a chill run down their spines, a sense of coldness spreading through their bodies.

Having witnessed the emperor's madness, upon hearing these words, they instinctively felt that the emperor was about to do something even more insane.

"The responsibility for the thirteen provinces rests on my shoulders!"

Lu Cheng slowly stood up, gradually releasing his dragon might. The light and shadow behind him twisted and changed, as if a ferocious beast coiled in the shadows had materialized.

The assembled officials were horrified and their faces paled!

Under the weight of this dragon's might, everyone involuntarily knelt down.

"Tonight, the great transformation begins with me!"

"It started with the royal family!"

There is one more powerful family in the world—the royal family!

Whether it's the Xie family or the Pei family, he felt that to ensure they died with their eyes open in peace, they should at least know that the Emperor treats everyone equally.

At that moment, everyone's expression changed.

Who among those who can stand in this Taiji Hall is a fool?

They might play dumb, but they're definitely not idiots!

"Where are the imperial guards?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of armor clashing came from outside the hall.

Rows of imperial guards, armed with swords and armor, stood on either side of the Taiji Hall, silently bowing their heads and kneeling on one knee.

"loyalty!"

"loyalty!"

The hysterical shouts, like a tidal wave, echoed throughout the entire palace.

Ever since witnessing the emperor's power, the former imperial guards have been filled with boundless fervor and worship.

"Clang!"

Lu Cheng drew his sword and shouted, "Follow me into battle!"

"Tonight... I won't sheathe my sword!"

The officials knelt in the court, their faces ashen, their expressions deathly still.

……

A bloody revolution has begun!

The largest asset owner among the royal family is Prince Fu.

He was the youngest son of the late emperor and was once a favorite of the court officials.

However, since Prime Minister Xiao Linfeng was killed, Prince Fu has been staying in his residence and no longer leaves.

The moment the guards' swords shattered the gates of Prince Fu, they saw rows upon rows of soldiers in neat formation.

They were all personal guards of the Prince of Fu's mansion, elite soldiers selected from the Prince of Fu's fiefdom.

However, the guards showed no fear in their eyes, but were instead filled with fighting spirit.

They knew that behind them, beneath the dragon banner, stood the most honored person in the world.

"loyalty!"

"loyalty!"

"I pledge my loyalty to His Majesty!"

"kill!"

Swords flashed and blood flowed like rivers!

The entire Prince Fu's mansion was instantly engulfed in slaughter.

Lu Cheng sat upright on the palanquin, looking down over the entire Prince Fu's mansion.

If the major clans wish to overthrow the reign of the Holy Emperor, they must find a replacement.

With both the Crown Prince and the Grandson dead, Prince Fu was the most legitimate heir in terms of law and principle.

If Prince Fu dies, who should they turn to?

Lu Cheng's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

Without supporters, the only option left is rebellion!

As the emperor, if someone rebels, he can naturally suppress them severely.

rule?

order?

This should be the privilege of the emperor.

……

The massacre at the Prince of Fu's mansion had not yet ended when the major families in the city received the news.

In the present capital, the palace temporarily belongs to the emperor, but the area outside the palace belongs to various powerful families.

Xie Family Observatory Rooftop

Gazing at the distant flames soaring into the sky, a slight ripple appeared in Xie Qianguan's calm eyes.

He understood what the emperor meant.

The fire at the Prince Fu's mansion was also meant to be a warning to them.

He never expected that they had only just made contact with Prince Fu, the aging emperor of the Great Qing Dynasty, and that he would be so ruthless.

Is he really not afraid of the world rebelling?

What does he really want?

At this moment, even Xie Qianguan, who was once known as the greatest talent in the world, felt confused and puzzled.

Could it be that this was all just to brand them as rebels?

"If the ruler demands rebellion, the subject has no choice but to rebel!"

Xie Qian looked into the distance and sighed softly.

He would never want to come to this if possible.

His Xie family's thousand-year-old reputation will eventually be tarnished.

Now that the fire at the Prince Fu's mansion has already started, let's make the fire burn even brighter.

……

In just half an hour,

The private soldiers at Xie's estate outside the city had already begun to assemble and head towards the city.

Each of the major aristocratic families secretly maintains its own private army, which is kept within its estates. These soldiers are the foundation upon which these families have survived.

As a powerful and influential family with a history spanning thousands of years, they understood better than anyone what was essential for survival in a chaotic world.

Besides the Xie family, the Pei family also gathered three private armies, and the Wang and Lu families each recruited 5,000 soldiers, totaling 40,000 men.

The private army, supported by countless sums of money and fine white flour, was ten times more powerful than the Imperial Guards.

The four families made no attempt to conceal the fact that they had gathered private soldiers, and the forty thousand men entered the city openly and in a grand manner.

Not long after, a large flag was raised from within the city.

"Save the Prince of Fu!"

"Execute the tyrannical ruler!"

The leader was the eighth son of the Prince of Fu, who was invited from who-knows-where, and was only fourteen years old.

It is said that the child was born to Prince Fu and a commoner woman, but the father's identity was innocent.

Everyone knows that Prince Fu loved to mingle with the common people, and at some point, his descendants who remained among the common people were discovered.