Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved-Chapter 546 - 525 First Update

The Wen Family Army, their eyes blood-red with killing, was now slaying anyone they came across. The cunning Crown Prince’s forces would still occasionally emerge from hiding, posing as ordinary civilians, refugees fleeing disaster, or even as their own people. It had become impossible to discern whether these individuals were truly the Crown Prince’s men or just commoners rising up in his name.

However, the Wen Family Army was not entirely without gain. After three grueling days of relentless assaults against the gates, the palace doors and walls of Chenyuan Hall had already turned to ruins, teetering on the verge of collapse, awaiting yet another ferocious attack.

Old Master Wen Kang personally led the soldiers guarding the entrance of Chenyuan Hall. Troops continuously poured into Nanzheng’s Palace. Old Master Wen Kang’s expression grew ever more resolute, his robe now indistinguishable from its original color for the dark red bloodstains. The corpses on the ground had already been dragged away, with no time for burying—some not even pulled far from the walls next to Chenyuan Hall, where they piled up into mounds. There were more of the Wen Family Army, but the losses were not without compensation. Because once the remaining Wen Family Army gathered, Chenyuan Hall would not stand a chance no matter what.

Inside Chenyuan Hall, Prime Minister Lin’s lips had cracked open, revealing deep red wounds. His clothes were the mourning attire from several days prior. Despite the chaos inside Chenyuan Hall, which was not small by any means, there was order in the disarray. A detailed battle map was laid out on two tables pushed together at the center—all those present were grave and tense.

Guards kept shuttling back and forth without a hint of disorder.

"Your Highness, the Wen Family Army has already started assembling toward the direction of the Imperial Palace," they reported. "They are expected to reach the palace in one Shichen." Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Zheng Congyuan sitting at the center. Their eyes held not nervousness or fear, but a faint excitement.

The forces dispersed into small units were faster than the Wen Family Army, more agile and mobile, and their greatest advantage lay in the Crown Prince’s precise judgments. He had successfully attracted all of the Wen Family Army’s forces, leading Old Master Wen Kang to believe that taking Chenyuan Hall would allow him to ascend to the throne.

"Your Highness, what are we waiting for now?" A military general, unable to restrain himself any longer, savored the thrill of slaying enemies as a military general these past few days. Usually suppressed by the Wen Family Army, he was a general in name but actually just a commander without troops.

Yet Zheng Congyuan looked around at everyone, his demeanor still calm; even with the upper hand, his composure was unshaken.

"My loyal ministers, the battle to come will certainly be extremely perilous, unlikely to leave any of you unscathed. Chenyuan Hall has a secret tunnel leading outside, which you are all aware of," he began. "You may choose to leave the palace first, avoid this confrontation, and once the battle is over..."

Before Zheng Congyuan could finish, Prime Minister Lin looked at him in shock. How could this be possible? The operation was highly secretive, with a significant chance of success. However, if Old Master Wen Kang discovered their plan and scattered his forces, they would not stand such a significant chance of victory. What if a traitor emerged from among them?

Originally, Old Master Wen Kang had trapped everyone inside Chenyuan Hall, with only the officials from the Wen faction able to leave. This meant that among those that stayed, there would naturally be those allied with the Crown Prince, as well as those who were merely unlucky, having chosen no side and also getting shut in here.

If Prime Minister Lin could consider this, so could other officials trapped in Chenyuan Hall. More than that, they were moved by how much trust the Crown Prince placed in them. He considered their safety in such a critical moment, amid the turning point of the entire battle tactic.

"Your Highness, I will not leave; I wish to share the Crown Prince’s fate," a minister knelt down, followed by two more, their expressions resolute. Then, all present knelt down.

"We wish to share Your Highness’s fate," they said in unison, their voices clear through the damaged walls of Chenyuan Hall, reaching the ears of every Wen Family soldier. Old Master Wen Kang let out a cold laugh.

Even if Zheng Congyuan died now, he would not consider it a loss, with so many prepared to join him in death.

Prime Minister Lin suddenly had a realization; if half the people stayed, then not a single minister in the room would dare to leave. The confrontation, already tipped in their favor, was not one anyone would abandon foolishly. Moreover, if the plan failed and someone thought to defect, it would naturally be one of the departing ministers. Therefore, to dispel any doubts held by the Crown Prince, logically, no one would leave. This was the first point; the second was that the Crown Prince was employing a feint—making noise in the east and striking in the west—intending for the outside Wen Family Army to hear and believe that Zheng Congyuan was in dire straits.

"Tell General Wen Qun and General Wen Sheng to hasten their pace—" Old Master Wen Kang barked another order, unable to hide his inner urgency any longer. The stalemate had worn thin everyone’s patience, and now they were desperate for a significant victory to stabilize morale and move the situation forward substantially.

"Your Highness, the Eastern Border Army is already nearing the palace gate," a guard reported. Everyone’s expression immediately became tense yet excited, and their pace quickened—the Wen Family Army was moving faster.

"Issue the order, let’s begin—" Zheng Congyuan spoke, and the great hall fell silent. There was excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and unease, but at that moment, everyone’s gaze was resolute. They quickly left the great hall, awaiting the moment to arrive.

Zheng Congyuan’s gaze turned to Qi Ling and Qi Zhu at his side. Qi Ling stepped forward and spoke in a low voice.

"Your Highness, we still haven’t received news from Lord Ju," Qi Ling said softly. Still, one could barely detect a slight frown on Zheng Congyuan’s brow—Lord Ju...

Zheng Congyuan did not speak, but there was also no news from the North Border Army. As long as Ju Nanyi kept the North Border Army tied up, their plan could proceed smoothly. Zheng Congyuan knew this task was extremely difficult and understood the heavy burden on Nanyi’s shoulders.

"Your Highness, should we..." Qi Ling began in a whisper, but Zheng Congyuan slightly raised his hand, stopping Qi Ling from continuing and instead looked towards the outside of the hall.

"Marquis, Marquis, General Wen Qun has arrived—"

"Marquis, Marquis, General Wen Sheng has arrived—" The reports came in rapid succession. Old Master Wen Kang immediately stood up, as orderly footsteps from afar kicked up dust from the cracks in the ground.

"Uncle—"

"Uncle—" Old Master Wen Kang didn’t wait for the newcomer to approach, already walking forward to pat one of them on the shoulder.

"Good, good, we’ve just been waiting for you—" Old Master Wen Kang said, turning around.

At Chenyuan Hall, amidst the ruins, there stand guards, three to four hundred strong, covered in dust, their weapons blunted, and half of them wounded, looking miserable, but their eyes still resolute.

However, in Old Master Wen Kang’s eyes, all of this counts for nothing, because in the next moment, these people will all die here, not a single one will be spared.

"All soldiers, heed my command," Old Master Wen Kang roared, "not one of these people before us is to be spared."

He wanted to make it clear to these people that anyone who blocked the Wen Family’s path would face only death.

The guards gripped their weapons tightly as the advancing Wen Family Army, like a dark cloud covering the blazing sun, bore down with absolute pressure towards the battered troops of Chenyuan Hall.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, hundreds, thousands of soldiers were already converging towards Chenyuan Hall, surrounding the Wen Family Army from all sides.

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