Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1221: Beyond the Script

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Chapter 1221: Chapter 1221: Beyond the Script

Zhou Shuren shrank his neck, trying to lower his presence as much as possible. His eyes darted everywhere. The court’s civil and military officials had virtually all collapsed to the ground. The Zhang clan had to admit, their plan was rigorous. To save their own lives, the court’s civil and military officials had no choice but to support Zhang Yang for succession.

Wong Ju didn’t dare make a sound. The main hall was too quiet, his chubby hands grasping one of his own father and one of Zhou Shuren.

Zhou Shuren was mentally exhausted. He wanted to move, but he couldn’t. Several hands clutched at his official robe; he had no sense of security, yet somehow, he had become someone else’s security.

The Crown Prince’s face was cold, "The remaining scum of the Zhang clan."

Gu Ren, no, Zhang Ren laughed, "I share the same bloodline as the royal family. If we are scum, what does that make the Emperor?" freewebnσvel.cѳm

The Crown Prince maintained a composed face, "Father ascended the throne precisely to remove the Zhang clan from the imperial lineage. The royal family has no relations with the Zhang clan."

Zhang Ren was stunned. He really didn’t know the Emperor could do such a thing. How much must the Emperor despise the blood running through his veins? As Zhang Ren looked around at the situation in the great hall, his laughter was tinged with triumph, "Oh, that doesn’t matter now. What’s important is that we have won."

The Zhang clan had been scheming for years. They hadn’t achieved their goal in the previous dynasty, but now they had picked up an established and flourishing empire on a silver platter. All their efforts were worth it.

Prince Qi glared at Zhang Yang, "You think Zhang Yang will succeed the throne? In your dreams."

Zhang Ren laughed heartily, "No, no, it’s not a dream. Prince Qi and Prince Chu are poisoned, Prince Liang is gravely injured, and the Crown Prince is like a turtle in a jar. The only option left for succession is the Fifth Prince."

Zhang Ren paused, then pointed at the poisoned officials, "And they are all poisoned. We are the only ones with the antidote."

Prince Qi’s lingering gaze caught the unchanging smile of the Crown Prince and cursed him for having the nerve to call the Crown Prince a turtle!

Prince Liang’s wounds had been treated hastily, but they were too deep. Even with medicine on hand, he couldn’t move freely anymore. Prince Liang’s breathing was faint; if not for the rise and fall of his chest proving he was alive, he might as well have been dead.

Zhou Shuren, hidden by a pillar, went unnoticed. His mind was racing with thoughts as he listened to Zhang Ren’s words. He was certain that this time, the Emperor would act decisively.

Zhang Ren had used his full deck of cards to administer the poison on such a large scale.

At the Hou Residence, Yao Wenqi had already entered the secret passage. A loyal retainer reported, "Some people are following the route the two young masters took to escape."

Yao Wenqi hummed in acknowledgment. He knew that alongside him stood an illegitimate son, and those young ones had been but decoys from the start, meant to facilitate his own escape.

Ever since Yao Wenqi realized he was defeated and that everything was within the Emperor’s control, he knew the Emperor must know a great deal about the Zhang clan. Today, he was more inclined towards the Emperor’s victory.

The returned scout reported, "The way ahead is cleared. All the forces are now in the Palace."

Yao Wenqi’s mouth curled. He had exerted significant effort amidst today’s chaos, handing over the Palace’s manpower to the Zhang clan. Now was his opportunity, "Let’s go."

As they proceeded down the secret passage, its labyrinthine structure made it easy to lose one’s way.

In the Palace’s main hall, the Crown Prince spoke darkly, "You’re very confident."

Zhang Ren furrowed his brow, the Crown Prince’s reaction was off. Shouldn’t he be panicking at this moment? Why was he still so calm? Raising his hand, he ordered, "Kill the Crown Prince, and I will grant you titles and ranks."

The Crown Prince smiled beautifully, "I’ve told you, you are too confident."

Confident enough that the Crown Prince didn’t want to trouble himself to cooperate.

Zhang Ren squinted his eyes, warily scanning the surroundings. The entire Palace was supposedly under his control. Looking at the collapsed Prince Liang, whose troops had all been collected.

At that moment, Zhang Yang spoke up, "Big Brother Crown Prince is right, you are too confident."

With that, applause broke out. Gu Wu walked in, holding in his hand the heads of Gu Er and others.

The Crown Prince, "...."

Prince Qi, "..."

Prince Chu, "..."

This was not in the script!

The Crown Prince felt tired, sat on the steps, and then watched Zhang Ren’s pupils shrink as Zhang Yang laughed maniacally.

Zhang Ren understood everything. All of the talk about allying with Prince Liang, using Prince Liang as a pawn, using him to cover one’s tracks—those were lies. The real purpose of using Prince Liang was to cover Zhang Yang’s own tracks: the chess piece he had nurtured had committed regicide.

Zhang Yang toyed with the bloodstained dagger, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Clearly, I am the oriole at the end. What do you want to say? Better think carefully, for now, I control The Prince Residence, and everyone has become a prisoner at my feet, ha, isn’t that unexpected?"

Zhou Shuren, "..."

Unexpected, indeed too unexpected, impressive, this grand play had many twists, and the surprises kept coming.

Indescribable emotions filled the Crown Prince’s eyes. He had thought a great play would conclude, never expecting Zhang Yang to seize control of the Zhang clan!

Behind the mass graves outside the capital, the somber atmosphere lingered year-round, especially in the back hills, the source of inspiration for many horror stories—numerous legends about the mass graves circulated in the capital.

A stone on the hill behind the mass graves slowly moved, emitting a strange sound that, even in daylight, could still make one’s skin crawl.

Yao Wenqi’s mouth curled up. No one would have guessed that the secret passage’s exit was here, but his smile froze as he stepped out of the passage.

In his view, archers stood ready, and the vanguards who had come out first were already poisoned and collapsed on the ground.

Yao Zheyu held a longsword, clad in armor, "All calculations come to nought."

Yao Wenqi’s eyes reddened with fury; indeed, he was defeated, even the escape route was lost, "I never should have spared you."

Yao Zheyu raised his longsword, "There’s no pill for regret."

Yao Wenqi listened as the sounds of his men falling surrounded him, even the illegitimate son he had taken with him had been shot and killed; within moments, he was the sole survivor.

At this point, the archers ceased their actions, and everyone’s eyes were on Yao Zheyu.

Yao Zheyu had already stepped forward, longsword in hand.

Yao Wenqi’s pupils contracted—he feared death the most, being selfish, he stumbled back, "You want to commit patricide."

Yao Zheyu’s eyes were indifferent. This was the Emperor’s chance for him to save his life and the only opportunity to tear apart the Yao clan; today was an opportunity to sever ties with the past, "Your crimes are unforgivable: rebellion, exchanging Princes, each and every sin is a capital offense that calls for the execution of nine generations. The Emperor is merciful and allows you a swift end."

Yao Zheyu, "No, no, you can’t kill me. I know, I know the secrets of the Zhang clan; I still have secrets to reveal."

Alas, the response came from the longsword in Yao Zheyu’s hand.

Yao Zheyu watched as the light in Yao Wenqi’s eyes slowly faded, "The Emperor has already thoroughly understood all your exit strategies, not to mention those of the Zhang clan."

Yao Wenqi reached out, grabbing Yao Zheyu’s armor, "What will become of the Yao clan?"

Pain flickered in Yao Zheyu’s eyes. The Yao clan was a major family; among them were bad people, but also good ones, not all of them deserved to be treated as criminals, yet they were dealt with collectively. The Emperor abhorred the Yao clan to the core.

Yao Zheyu whispered softly, "The last thing you should have done was hand people over to the Zhang clan."

He vividly remembered the Emperor saying that he would condemn individuals of the Yao clan based on the crimes they were found guilty of, not condemn the clan as a whole.

The only thing he could think of was the poisoning of the Empress; ever since she was poisoned, when he saw the Emperor, the look in the Emperor’s eyes brimmed with murderous intent.

The light in Yao Wenqi’s eyes disappeared completely, and he let go of Yao Zheyu’s armor and fell to the ground.

Yao Zheyu stood tall, "Take care of it."

Those who came with Yao Zheyu today were the Emperor’s confidants; they looked at Yao Zheyu impassively and finally released the grips on their longswords. The oral command left by the Emperor for today was clear: if Yao Zheyu showed any hesitation, execute him!

In the Palace, Zhang Wuxi, the Clan Leader of the Zhang family, had already been brought into the grand hall.

Blood traces marred Zhang Ren’s mouth, from unwillingness, an unwillingness to be defeated by Zhang Yang.

He could no longer command anyone, "You, how did you achieve this?"