I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

Night Owl couldn't understand what Wang Bao was saying, but the other two understood it perfectly well.

The two exchanged a glance and almost burst out laughing. These two were Judge Wu and Shadow Snake, a married couple.

No wonder Empress Pei Qingluan was so fearless; it turns out... Marquis Wang Bao from beyond the pass was one of their own.

Wang Bao, who commands 200,000 Liangzhou cavalry, is one of our own. Anyone who wants to kill Empress Pei Qingluan and Consort Xiao Xue'er is simply delusional.

"My lord, what are you talking about?!"

The night owl's voice trembled, and its pupils trembled as well.

He didn't understand, he really didn't understand.

Mingming, Wang Bao figured it out a while ago.

The prince even drank with him.

Why is he now protecting Qin Li's woman?

"Your Highness?"

The night owl stiffly turned its head to look at Wang Long.

His eyes held confusion, bewilderment, and despair; he had no choice but to despair.

With Wang Bao, who commands 200,000 Liangzhou cavalry, protecting Qin Li's woman, the prince's grand ambitions are doomed to fail.

Wang Long was not surprised, as if he had expected this outcome.

There was no anger or hysteria; he calmly accepted the current situation.

He sighed, but still had to say:

"Third brother, we are brothers born of the same mother."

These words seemed to be an attempt to rekindle the brotherhood between him and Wang Bao.

But Wang Bao coldly replied, "Brother, there's still a chance to turn back. I, your humble servant, can vouch for you before His Majesty and save your life. Don't remain obstinate. Do you expect my Wang family, known for its generations of loyalty, to produce a traitor like you?"

The Wang family has guarded the Western Regions for generations, not only for the Great Zhou Dynasty, but also for the previous dynasty and for the Central Plains.

No matter which dynasty or generation, the Wang family's position was never touched.

Throughout history, the Wang family has been deeply admired as a family of loyalty, bravery, and martial prowess.

The Wang family's ancestral hall is still filled with plaques awarded by the imperial court, so many that they are almost overflowing.

The Wang family has never had a minister who plots rebellion.

"A traitorous minister?"

Wang Long chuckled coldly, his eyes twitching slightly. He said angrily, "Liangzhou is a bitterly cold land. My Wang family has guarded the Western Regions for the Central Plains dynasties for generations, day in and day out, for over a hundred years. What have we gained in return?"

Wang Long spread his arms, his sneer growing even louder: "All we got were a few worthless plaques. Third brother, ask yourself honestly, what can those things do? Can they buy a single grain of rice? Can they buy a jug of water?"

"Hahahaha! How laughable that my Wang family has been loyal to the Central Plains dynasty for generations! This is unfair, this is so unfair!"

"Why should my Wang family be confined to that harsh, desolate place of Liangzhou for generations? The capital is rich and glamorous, but why can't my Wang family enjoy such wealth? This is what my Wang family is meant to enjoy!"

Pointing his finger at the group of civil and military officials, Wang Long was startled and retreated in alarm. He said fiercely, "Aren't they all incompetent good-for-nothings? Why are they allowed to stay here? This is unfair! This is unfair!"

So this is what Wang Bao cared about; this is what he plotted to rebel for.

"Third brother, come over here to your elder brother. If we brothers work together with one heart and one mind, we may very well win this battle."

"If we win, I am willing to share the Great Zhou Dynasty with my third brother. My leg is crippled, so I cannot be the emperor. You shall be the emperor."

Wang Long desperately wanted Wang Bao to take a step forward, but Wang Bao didn't; he kept gripping his blood-dripping sword.

He said, "Is my elder brother still going to remain so stubborn?"

Knowing he couldn't persuade Wang Bao, Wang Long gave a wry smile and said, "What, does Third Brother intend to kill his elder brother?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Wang Bao held his sword with both hands.

He simply gave an order to Cen Feng, the leader of the 200,000 Liangzhou cavalry outside the city, to have all 200,000 Liangzhou cavalry dismount and kneel down, and respectfully invite His Majesty Qin Li's army to enter the city.

He will not kill Wang Long; Wang Long's crimes will be judged by Qin Li.

He will not only refrain from killing Wang Long, but will also plead for Wang Long's life in front of Qin Li.

At his command, 200,000 Liangzhou cavalrymen dismounted in unison and knelt on one knee.

"Please, Your Majesty, enter the city!"

Cen Feng roared loudly.

Qin Li then invited everyone into the city, not afraid that it was a trap, as he trusted Wang Bao's character.

Wang Long panicked and immediately gave orders to the soldiers on the city wall:

"Fire arrows! Shoot him dead!"

On the city wall, the soldiers with bows and arrows looked around, unsure of what to do.

"Shoot the arrows! Why aren't you shooting them?"

Wang Long roared again.

It's one thing that 200,000 Liangzhou cavalry don't listen to him, but why don't they listen to him either?

He is the King of Liangzhou, so how could he be such a failure as the King of Liangzhou?

Finally, someone fired an arrow; it was Night Owl, who was most loyal to Wang Long.

But just as he nocked the arrow, Judge Wu and Shadow Snake stepped forward from the left and right, grabbing him tightly.

"Big brother, second sister, what are you doing? Why are you pulling me?"

"Quickly, fire the arrows! Kill this treacherous villain! This is a golden opportunity!"

The night owl cried out.

Judge Wu and Shadow Snake remained silent and forcibly subdued the Night Owl on the ground.

Wang Long didn't even want to say a word about their betrayal.

He simply looked at the soldiers on the city wall and roared, "Fire arrows! Fire arrows!"

The soldiers still didn't dare to move. Wang Long got angry and drew his sword, killing two soldiers. The people around him were so frightened that they all retreated.

Wang Long has gone mad. He's completely insane.

Seeing Qin Li about to enter the city, Wang Long knew that his defeat was inevitable.

He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

Upon opening his eyes, he suddenly lurched forward.

Wang Bao tried to reach out and pull him, but it was too late.

With a thud, Wang Long fell from the city wall.

He crashed heavily to the ground, next to the corpse of Emperor Xuan.

Qin Li and his men stopped, looking at the scene before them with mixed feelings.

In the end, he chose to end his own life, for the victors are always remembered and the losers are condemned.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers on the city wall also decisively chose to surrender.

They all laid down their weapons and knelt on the ground:

"Welcome Your Majesty into the city!"

"Welcome Your Majesty into the city!"

"Welcome Your Majesty into the city!"

It called out three times in a row, the sound deafening.

The most desperate creature on the scene was undoubtedly the night owl, which was subdued and unable to move.

Wang Long chose to end his own life, and he didn't suffer much before he died.

He's different; he can't die even if he wants to.

Three days later, the Caishikou market in the capital was packed with people!

Today, many people will be beheaded here, including Wang Long's confidants and those among the civil and military officials who lack resolve.

When their heads fell to the ground, the people cheered in unison.

His Majesty is back, and their good days are back.

After watching the screaming Night Owl's head fall to the ground, Judge Wu and the Shadow Snake couple, who had been covering their faces, closed their eyes.

However, they did not linger. Instead, they left the city with the special exit permits granted to them by Empress Pei Qingluan.

From this day forward, they will live in anonymity, barely surviving in this world.

However, this is the best possible outcome for them.

……

"Your Majesty, what should be done with this traitorous minister, Wang Long?"

Inside the imperial study, a minister bowed and asked a question.

It's not just about people dying; you should know that dying is the easiest thing to do.

Historically, those like Wang Long who plotted rebellion were investigated and punished after their deaths.

The corpse cannot be buried; at the very least, it will be ground to dust and scattered, never to be reincarnated.

Their families are also implicated, and it is common for hundreds or even thousands of people to be affected.

In other words, the entire royal family of Liangzhou will be implicated.

After asking the question, the minister was quite pleased with himself.

After all, the Wang family had guarded the Western Regions for generations and held absolute power in Liangzhou.

Liangzhou only recognized the royal family, not the emperor of the Central Plains.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Wang family was completely eradicated.

Even if they cannot be completely eradicated, the Wang family's military power must be taken back.

The ministers were acting in the emperor's best interests, and if the emperor understood this, he would be secretly pleased.

But as time went on, the minister noticed something was amiss.

Because Qin Li, who was reading the memorials on the dragon throne, showed no joy on his face, and his expression was unreadable, it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

The minister, thinking that Qin Li hadn't heard him, repeated himself:

"May I ask Your Majesty, what should be done with this traitorous minister, Wang Long?"

Qin Li finally raised his eyes and asked, "What do you want to do with this?"

The minister immediately said, "I believe that Wang Long's body should be torn apart by five horses and his bones crushed and scattered to the winds."

"It's not over yet," the minister continued, though his voice was much softer, "The royal family, including nine generations of their clan!"

His meaning was crystal clear: take this opportunity to kill Wang Bao and Wang Hu, who held significant military power, and eliminate any future threats.

This will prevent Wang Long's incident from happening again.

Upon hearing this, the other ministers in the imperial study exchanged bewildered glances.

Qin Li glanced at them and asked, "What are your opinions?"

The ministers looked at each other, and eventually a few stood up and agreed to the decision.

After all, treason and rebellion are punishable by the extermination of one's entire family, numbering nine generations.

"Well said."

Changing the subject, Qin Li looked at the minister from before and said, "Since you intend to exterminate the entire Wang family, why is your voice so soft? Are you afraid others will hear you?"

The minister didn't know how to answer.

He was indeed afraid of being overheard.

Because Wang Bao was kneeling outside the Imperial Study, and had been kneeling there for several days, and did not go back at night.

If Wang Bao had heard what he just said, he would have taken his head, which is why he spoke so softly.

"Liu Cheng!"

Qin Li suddenly called him by his given name.

The minister quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "Your subject is here."

"If you handle things this way, shouldn't I also be beheaded?"

Upon hearing this, the minister named Liu Cheng immediately broke out in a cold sweat, raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that? I had no such intention at all."

"You didn't mean that?"

Qin Li's voice was calm, but everyone could tell he was furious. He said, "Everyone knows the Wang family of Liangzhou is my maternal family. If you want to exterminate the entire Wang family, including me, what else is the point but to take my head?"

"Liu Cheng, you have some nerve!"

The minister named Liu Cheng was so frightened that his legs went weak. He immediately knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, spare my life! I didn't mean it that way! I didn't mean it that way..."

Qin Li completely ignored his explanation and waved his hand, saying:

"Guards, drag Liu Cheng away, give him thirty strokes of the cane, deduct his salary for three years, demote him three ranks, and place him on probation."

"Yes."

Zhou Biao immediately entered with two Imperial Guards and dragged Liu Cheng out.

After Liu Cheng was dragged out, the ministers looked at each other, all understanding each other's meaning.

Your Majesty is making an example of Wang Long. There has been no final decision on how to deal with him for some time now, and Your Majesty has not yet made a final decision.

However, today we can conclude that anyone who dares to pursue Wang Long's other crimes will suffer the same fate as Liu Cheng.

After a while, Qin Li looked at them and said:

"I know what you're thinking. Disposing of the Wang family is for my own good and for the good of the Great Zhou."

"But I must tell you, the Wang family is my maternal family. The Wang family has made great contributions to my empire. We cannot kill them all just because one of them is Wang Long."

"If that's the case, how will the people of the world talk about me? How will they talk about the Great Zhou Dynasty? Do they think that I and the Great Zhou Dynasty have no humanity at all?"

"I have decided that Wang Long's plot to rebel is now over."

"Wang Long's body was sent back to Liangzhou for burial, but no tombstone was to be erected."

"We will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

The ministers bowed together and said.

Qin Li nodded and ordered, "Go, invite the Marquis of Guanwai in for me."

"Yes."

Soon, Wang Bao walked in.

As soon as he entered, he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

The ministers quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "My lord, what are you doing? Please get up."

Wang Bao looked at them, his eyes full of confusion.

Someone quickly explained, "My lord, His Majesty is merciful and has specially ordered that Wang Long's body be sent back to the Wang family in Liangzhou for burial, but no tombstone shall be erected."

"The rest of the people will not be pursued."

Upon hearing this, Wang Bao's eyes reddened, and he kowtowed several times to Qin Li, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

This is already the best possible outcome.

"Alright, you may all leave. I'm tired!"

"yes!"

The ministers all bowed deeply and were about to leave.

"Lord of the Pass, please stay and have a word with me."

Upon hearing this, the ministers all understood.

The Wang family's importance in His Majesty's heart has not changed at all.

Although Wang Long has rebelled, His Majesty will still punish anyone who dares to speak ill of the Wang family in the future.

After the ministers left, Wang Bao stayed behind.

"His Majesty."

Wang Bao bowed respectfully, wondering why Qin Li wanted to keep him alone.

Qin Li stood up from the dragon throne and approached Wang Bao:

"What, Your Majesty? I still prefer my younger and second uncles to call me my eldest nephew."

Wang Bao looked embarrassed: "Your subject dares not."

Before Qin Li was emperor, they could call him that.

But now Qin Li has been emperor for a long time, and there is a distinction between ruler and subject.

"Never mind, never mind."

Looking at Wang Bao's appearance, Qin Li knew that becoming emperor meant losing a lot, and this was one of them, something that couldn't be forced.

"When are you going back to Liangzhou?"

Wang Bao replied, "The sooner the better, the weather is getting warmer. Brother... no, that traitor's corpse will rot if left too long, so it's better to go back as soon as possible."

Qin Li nodded, having no objection to the arrangement.

"I will arrange for Cao Quan to return with you. After you return, you must open trade with the Western Regions. Do you understand? Cao Quan will handle it."

"clear."