Chapter 104 - Kill or Leave

“The moon is so big and round today!”

Zhuang Zhuang looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

When everyone heard this, they looked up.

Indeed, it was so bright!

“The moon is always rounded on the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Ruyi said this with a smile as she looked at the moon. Her father had told her this. Last year, he was still spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with her…

Everyone agreed. Only Zhuang Zhuang looked confused. How did she know that the moon would be rounder tomorrow?

Qin Anming also looked up at the moon, his eyes flickering.

“How did I live last year? Oh, I think I fell asleep after drinking two mouthfuls of water at home.”

Qin Anming lowered his head and looked at the fish and vegetables on the table in a daze.

Uncle Xu looked up at the moon. He wondered what year it was in the celestial universe.

“Sigh, I wonder if I can find a place to settle when I retire.”

Xiao Cui took a bite of fish and looked at the moon. She didn’t know where she would be in the near future.

Linglong and Fu’er smiled at each other and held hands as they looked at the moon. “It’s wonderful that we get to spend every year together. We have each other’s company no matter how difficult or tiring it is.”

Xiaoguo looked up at the moon, her eyes harboring its reflection. It had been a long time since she had seen such a big and beautiful moon…

Seeing that everyone had stopped eating and were just staring at the sky, Zhuang Zhuang looked up curiously. Yes, the moon was indeed quite beautiful, but…

“Mother, I still want to eat fish.”

Zhuang Zhuang’s kiddish voice stirred everyone from their thoughts. Everyone looked at each other and smiled, temporarily putting their worries aside.

Qin Anming reacted to the boy’s request and laughed. He picked up a piece of fish meat and picked out the bones. He then fed Zhuang Zhuang with the fish.

Zhuang Zhuang ate it in one bite and asked Xiaoguo for a sausage.

With the distraction from Zhuang Zhuang, everyone had forgotten what they were thinking about. They continued to chat and laugh as they ate the skewers…

In the county.

The hall that was once dazzling and magnificent was now filled with corpses.

Under the moonlight, the Sacrificial Moon Altar seemed exceptionally silent.

From the blood puddles on the palace floor, the reflection of a yellow figure can be seen seated on the throne. It was trembling like a leaf.

All around him were the corpses of his trusted aides. Blood from the corpses flowed in a stream to his feet. Mu Tuo looked at the man in the distance, his eyes were filled with fear and despair.

“You, you, you…”

He couldn’t seem to control his speech and was unable to say anything other than those few words.

Shao Zhan approached from afar, stepping over the pile of dead bodies. He walked up to the emperor and scrutinized the old man from head to toe. His lips moved slightly and he said,

“You’re such a failure.”

Both then and now.

Mu Tuo looked at the figure who had stopped two meters away and stared at him fiercely. How he wished to pounce on him so that he could eat his flesh and drink his blood.

But he was also afraid of the man who was always standing guard by his side.

Jiang Danhe’s armor was covered in blood. As the blood trickled down his armor to the ground, every step he took left a bloody footprint.

Even so, his eyes were still determined as he stood guard beside Shao Zhan. He pointed his blood-stained sword at Mu Tuo.

Mu Tuo tried to stall for time, waiting for the army that he had secretly trained to come and save him. He really didn’t expect that his well-laid plans were unable to guard against this man. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have kept him around!

Shao Zhan could tell what he was thinking and felt that he was really ridiculous. He wondered how such a naive person was able to destroy a palace.

“All right, don’t wait. Let’s get going.”

The words were directed at Jiang Danhe.

Shao Zhan’s eyes were filled with disappointment. He felt that this was getting boring. He no longer wanted to waste his time on this unworthy man. He should just send him on his way.

Jiang Danhe accepted the order and stepped forward, intending to end the man’s life with a slash of his sword. At this moment, Mu Tuo knew that all was lost. He couldn’t care less about his pride and knelt on the ground to beg for mercy. The dragon robe on his body was in disarray and stained with blood. His entire body exuded a lifeless aura.

The trembling man had long lost his usual arrogance.

Shao Zhan couldn’t help but frown when he saw him like this. He was really disappointed. He had thought that this was someone worthy of his revenge. He didn’t expect the man to be so incompetent. Shao Zhan was filled with disappointment!

He couldn’t be bothered to wait any longer and gave Jiang Danhe a look. Jiang Danhe got the cue and slit the man’s throat.

After Mu Tuo fell, his eyes were still fixed on the dragon throne that he yearned for. After a short struggle, he finally stopped breathing. His eyes were filled with regret. If only he had killed Shao Zhan back then…

The corpses in the hall emitted a pungent smell of blood. Jiang Danhe exhaled and retracted the sword. He followed Shao Zhan out of the hall.

The ministers outside were all lying on their stomachs. Everyone has a blood-covered sword pointing at them.

They were surrounded by corpses. Among the dead bodies were palace maids, eunuchs, concubines, ministers, and Mu Tuo’s reinforcements soldiers.

Everyone had a look of horror on their faces. They were definitely filled with fear before their death.

The ministers trembled as they lay on the ground, not daring to look up. Who knew that they would lose their lives on this trip? Everyone had received news of the court meeting and had rushed over from home in their official robes. As soon as they entered the palace, they were captured and brought here.

Countless people died in front of their eyes. If any one struggled, they would be killed.

Eventually, the remaining people calmed down. They did not dare to struggle or speak. Some of the timid civil officials had long lost control of their bladders. But even so, they did not dare to make any small movements. They let their urine flow onto the ground through their clothes.

At this moment, they were all lying on the ground lifelessly. If not for the occasional trembling of their bodies, it would have been difficult to tell the difference between them and a corpse.

Shao Zhan looked at the group of people and thought about how to deal with them.

These people were all ministers who had yet to submit to him. Should he kill them? Should he keep them alive?

Jiang Danhe stood at the side and looked down with a darkened expression. Even though he was used to killing, he still felt uncomfortable. Fortunately, the killing was about to end.

As long as he could get through tonight, he could go home and stay away from this place forever.

Shao Zhan remained silent. The ministers crouching on the ground could not tell what he was thinking. They were suffering with each passing hour. They did not want to die. If they had known, they would have submitted to him long ago.

Just beside them, the silver sword was as fierce as a tiger—seemingly going to split them in half at any moment.

At this moment, Li Shouji, who was also covered in blood, came to Jiang Danhe’s side and said something to him.

Jiang Danhe nodded and walked to Shao Zhan’s side. He whispered into his ear, “Your Highness, all the soldiers outside the city have been killed and replaced with our own people. Only these ministers are left.”

Shao Zhan nodded to show that he understood. He looked at the ministers below indifferently and made up his mind in that instant.

Jiang Danhe looked into his eyes and understood the fate of these ministers. His heart sank. It seemed that they would not be spared.

Immediately, screams filled the entire palace. Without any exception, all of them were killed.

After one night, the entire palace was bathed in blood. The corpses were pulled into the pit by cart loads. At the top of the pile was Mu Tuo’s body. Oil was spilled over the bodies and the fire was lit. Instantly, black smoke billowed from the pile of corpses.

The fire burned for three days.

Over the next three days, the palace quickly returned to its original state. Sitting on the dragon throne was Shao Zhan, dressed in a dragon robe.

“Long live the emperor.”

Shao Zhan smiled and looked at everyone with an oppressive gaze. Then, he said calmly.

“My ministers, please rise.”