After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 945 - 930: Rebellion

Empress Dowager Shan barely managed to compose herself and dress properly. By then, the sky outside was dimming. She stood up and walked out, the guards stationed outside slightly frowned, their hands resting on their sword hilts, "Why is Empress alone, where are the maids who accompany you?"

Empress Dowager Shan coldly replied, "She wants to stay behind to look after the place. Why, is the palace going to assign more palace maids to me?"

The guard did not speak.

On this journey of exile, many had died or gotten lost. Empress Dowager Shan was not considered an important figure. The general had been kind enough not to abandon her halfway; how could he possibly assign more palace maids?

Seeing that he did not respond, Empress Dowager Shan walked towards the banquet hall by herself, with two guards immediately following her.

She listened to the footsteps behind her, unable to help herself from nervously clenching her fists. Fortunately, the wide sleeves concealed her actions, so no one could see.

When she passed the main road, she couldn’t help but pause and turn her head to look towards the main gate.

The guards behind her grew tense and stepped forward, asking in a low voice, "What is Empress dowager looking at?"

Empress Dowager Shan said, "Looking to see if my son has arrived at the palace."

The guards didn’t dare to relax, instead pressing harder on their sword hilts, saying, "Several ministers have arrived, and King of Beihai will be entering the palace soon. Empress dowager will be able to see him shortly."

Only then did Empress Dowager Shan withdraw her gaze and walk towards the hall step by step, silently praying, don’t come, don’t come...

Liu Yi, with his followers, was stopped at the main gate, where the palace guards demanded his followers stay outside.

Liu Yi immediately rebuked angrily, "Since when is there such a regulation? They are people I brought to entertain my fourth brother. If they don’t enter, the banquet will lose its fun, and I won’t participate."

The guards could only compromise, asking Liu Yi’s followers to lay down their weapons.

Liu Yi frowned tightly, argued for a while and realized it was futile, so he could only give his followers a signal to go to the second plan.

Just as the followers were about to place down their weapons, a shadow darted swiftly from behind the screen wall and shouted, "Prince, no, there’s danger in the palace, run quickly!"

Liu Yi jerked his head around and saw a maid running out from behind the screen wall, rushing towards him.

The palace guards’ faces changed drastically and drew their swords in an instant, attempting to strike down the audacious maid. Liu Yi’s followers also swiftly drew their knives when the maid shouted.

Liu Yi shouted, "Quick, rescue her!"

The two groups immediately clashed violently at the gate, Liu Yi’s followers outnumbering the guards, and soon snatched the maid away.

Liu Yi recognized her as one of his mother’s maids and became anxious, "You are here; then where is my mother?"

The maid, with tears streaming down her face, said, "Empress dowager sent me to inform you to escape quickly. Your Majesty has set a trap in the palace to harm you."

Liu Yi’s lips trembled slightly as he looked towards the garden within the gate, intending to rush inside, but was pulled back by a quick-eyed follower. He was with the Zhao Family Army, temporarily serving as Liu Yi’s follower, and whispered, "Liu Cong is well-prepared, entering now means death; King of Beihai, please quickly join with Mr. Wei, we must leave Lu County immediately."

"But my mother, and Grand Commandant Liu, they are all inside the palace."

"There’s no time, let’s go quickly!" With that, along with another follower, they startled Liu Yi and ran.

The maid hurriedly lifted her feet to follow.

They rode away hastily before reinforcements could arrive from the Imperial Palace.

Though Wei Jie had been driven out, in truth, he hadn’t left the vicinity; he awaited outside the city, rising to greet them as they fled in a hurry.

Upon learning the palace was prepared, Wei Jie sighed, "While we wish to end his life, he also wishes to rid himself of you as a nuisance."

Nearby, Zhao Xin said, "Grand Commandant Liu and the others have already entered the palace, they can’t be rescued. The priority is to leave with those they want us to take with us. King of Beihai, where is the token they entrusted to you?"

Liu Yi drew out a token from his bosom, his face pale, anxiously asking, "What about my mother?"

Wei Jie reassured him, "Liu Cong may kill Grand Commandant Liu and others, but he should not kill Empress Dowager Shan. He has already murdered the emperor and seized the throne, now attempting to harm you—killing the Empress Dowager again might cause instability in the army. The more people we take, the more apprehensive he will become."

Liu Yi was skeptical.

After a moment of reflection, Zhao Xin said, "Rest assured, we have our people inside the palace, and at the critical moment, they will do their best to aid Empress Dowager Shan."

Liu Yi’s eyes widened, "You have people inside the palace?"

Zhao Xin smiled and asked, "Is it so surprising? Prince, do not forget, Lu County was under the jurisdiction of Youzhou a month ago; this place belongs to the Han people, the former owner of this garden was of noble lineage."

He didn’t elaborate much, willing to divulge even this information was to ease Liu Yi’s mind; truthfully, he didn’t know into how many places Mr. Ji had placed people.

Zhao Xin’s confidence slightly eased the anxiety in Liu Yi’s heart.

Zhao Xin said, "The immediate priority is to unite with those willing to leave with us, General Beigong is awaiting us along the defense line for support. Prince, as long as you are alive, I believe Empress Dowager Shan will be alright."

Liu Yi: "Are we just going to leave like that? Three of the Xiongnu’s five tribes are willing to leave with us. Why not gather our forces and attack the Imperial Palace?"

Zhao Xin was not as naive as Liu Yi; he had learned in the army and followed Zhao Hanzhang onto the battlefield, knowing it’s not easy to rally forces. He sighed, "It’s partial people from three tribes; Prince has just returned to the city and hasn’t gained the trust of the middle troops yet. Furthermore, Liu Cong’s armies are well-commanded, and with Grand Commandant Liu trapped in the palace, you’ll hardly defeat him now."

"But what you mentioned isn’t without merit," Zhao Xin also thought it was worth a try. Chaos in Lu County would be beneficial, the greater the disorder, the better for General Beigong to seize an opportunity, so he said, "Why not split our forces into two—let Mr. Wei lead the Xiongnu women and children to retreat into Jizhou, while I lead troops together with Prince to attack the Imperial Palace?"

"If we can set things right amidst the chaos, all the better; if not, we can still escape."

Concerned about his mother, Liu Yi nodded, unable to think much more. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Wei Jie glanced at Zhao Xin; attacking the Imperial Palace now meant consuming the Xiongnu against themselves. After the rebellion, the Zhao Family Army would exploit the situation.

Wei Jie harbored no altruism and did not remind Liu Yi, and after discussions, swiftly joined Liu Yi to mobilize troops and relocate the prepared civilians.

Among the Xiongnu, all people were soldiers, and there were no ordinary citizens among adult males; hence Wei Jie was tasked with taking away children under fourteen, women, and elders.

These Xiongnu followed orders from their generals, who obeyed their superiors or leaders. They had heard about the surrender to the Zhao Family Army, so when Liu Yi showed the token, the contact person complied without much thought, gathering belongings as instructed and leaving with the people.

Once Wei Jie escorted people away, fires of battle ignited around the city gates, only then did the generals who sent off the people realize belatedly that Grand Commandant Liu and others hadn’t emerged from the palace, uncertain of their fate, so if the emperor wins this battle...

However, at this point, they had no chance to retreat, for their families were already taken away.

The shocking change at the gate was reported to the hall; Liu Cong, just seated, upon hearing the report, didn’t wait for Liu Huanle and the others to react. He immediately smashed his wine cup, and guards lurking outside the window rushed in.

Liu Huanle and the others entered the palace intending to take advantage of Liu Cong’s impaired judgement from alcohol to capture him, naturally prepared. Seeing guards rushing in, they immediately resisted.

But with the opposing side better prepared, they soon fell into failure, forced to kneel after being captured.

Liu Cong, expressionless, stepped down from his seat, and stomped on Liu Huanle’s hand, saying, "This empire was conquered by me alongside my father. Since my ascension, I have treated you with favor everywhere, yet you still betray me, heartless and treacherous, deserving death!"