The Demon Lords-Chapter 620 - 106: Death of the Emperor_2

Power seems to be the source of everything; where it exists, all else is drawn to it.

Master Situ Chunsheng sat in his armchair, a maidservant fanning him from the side, a string of prayer beads turning continuously in his hand.

In this city, some were terrified, while others were serene and self-satisfied, as if they had everything under control.

Obviously, Master Situ Chunsheng counted himself among the latter.

At his side, his eldest son, Situ Youcheng, was peeling an orange for him.

"Father, my subordinates report that His Majesty has left the palace and the city. He's gone to the military camp to rally the troops and recruit soldiers."

"Heh." Situ Chunsheng scoffed. "Our Majesty hasn't admitted defeat yet, it seems."

Situ Youcheng replied, "But has it truly come to the point of complete surrender?"

"He can't hold out. He just can't. The armies of Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle have already crossed the Wang River; they're merely a few dozen miles from our Ying Capital City. This era is about to turn a new page."

"Father, what about the letter from Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle?"

"I've replied. When Eldest and Second Uncles return, you'll be assured the position of a department Shangshu."

"Excellent."

"From the day His Majesty ascended the throne, I've felt something was amiss. A patricide is forsaken by Heaven. And look, as expected, this magnificent state, this ancestral foundation, was nearly ruined at his hands. Alas, what misfortune for our family to produce such an unworthy descendant."

"Yes, Father, you speak the truth."

"Just watch. Though many troops have gathered outside the city, how many are truly willing to follow him to the bitter end? At its root, this is a matter of our Situ Family vying for the throne. No one is foolish enough to truly risk their life for this.

Especially those army commanders most loyal to His Majesty; almost all perished in the snowfields, and few returned. Heh, this emperorship is truly meaningless; he hasn't even warmed his seat on the throne before he has to vacate it. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

By the way, have the arrangements I tasked you with been properly handled?"

"How could I dare neglect that? The Commander of the Western City was recommended by our family. The City Patrol Office is the government office where I previously served. I merely dropped a hint, and they immediately understood. They've guaranteed nothing will go amiss."

"Surrendering one city gate should be a sufficient gesture to Eldest and Second Uncles."

"I just don't know what the stance of the wild people is."

"The wild people? A bunch of ignorant beasts. Once they've eaten their fill, drunk their fill, and wreaked enough havoc, they'll leave on their own. Do you know why they haven't rushed to attack here? The wild people are afraid; they fear the Yan people."

"So that's why..."

"You're not entirely foolish. Since neither side wishes to see the situation completely deteriorate, it's unlikely to get that bad.

Once Eldest and Second Uncles enter Ying Capital City and Eldest Uncle ascends the throne, we'll appease the wild people in the east and then lower our heads to the Yan people in the west. Life can then continue like this.

We are Situ's, after all. How bad can life truly get for us?"

"True. No matter how vast the Yan people's appetite, they can't swallow that much in one go. They'd burst."

"Yes, exactly."

BANG!

At that moment, the door to the inner residence was smashed open from the outside. A group of family guards fell back continuously, brandishing their sabers but not daring to block the intruders.

"Insolence! Who is it! Who dares!" Master Situ Chunsheng roared in anger.

Situ Youcheng also stood. His eyesight was better than his father's. He saw that the leaders were, to his surprise, his second, third, and fourth younger brothers, along with a host of the third generation—among them, his own two sons.

"By Imperial Edict, I am here to execute the traitor!" Situ Youde proclaimed.

Behind him, the assembled Situ family scions drew their blades.

"Beasts! You beasts! Are you trying to overturn the heavens? Overturn the heavens! I, your old father, am not dead yet! I'm not dead yet!"

"Prince Jing'an, Situ Chunsheng, has colluded with wild people traitors and intends to rebel. Execute him!"

Situ Youde's gaze swept around. "All of you, lower your weapons and stand aside!"

The guards exchanged bewildered glances. The second son, leading his younger brothers and a group of young masters from the third generation, had come to kill their own patriarch. What were the guards of the Royal Mansion supposed to do?

Having no other choice, many guards stepped aside. This scene was just as Master Situ Chunsheng had predicted earlier: this was a Situ Family matter, so why should outsiders interfere?

Situ Youde stepped forward, sword in hand, and stood before his own father.

"Rebellious son! You dare—"

PUFF!

"Ugh…" Situ Chunsheng gasped.

Without further words, the sword's tip had already pierced the old man's body.

Situ Youde decisively withdrew the blade.

Master Situ Chunsheng clutched his wound and collapsed to his knees, his once-immaculate white beard now completely stained with blood.

"Beast… you beast… The one on the… Dragon Throne… is a beast… He's raised… a pack of… a pack of beasts…"

Situ Youcheng looked at his second brother with a trace of fear. His second brother was a warrior with a considerable martial cultivation base, while he, Situ Youcheng, had not practiced martial arts and was a civil official.

"Eldest Son, Second Son," Situ Youde called out.

The eldest and second grandsons of the eldest branch walked over, sabers in hand, and looked at their father.

"You… you… Unfilial sons! You unfilial sons…" Situ Youcheng couldn't believe his own two sons would ever point their sabers at him.