Chapter 2244: Why Does His Majesty Rebel?

Hearing this voice, Pui Qi and Zhao Ruizhi both frowned, exchanging worried glances.

In contrast, Pui Linglong and the two other women's eyes lit up, as they gazed in the direction of the voice with a mix of surprise and delight.

A figure stood in the sky, looking down at everyone, descending step by step as if treading on invisible stairs in the void.

The imperial palace was not lacking in masters, and many were shocked to witness this scene. While masters could fly by harnessing the power of heaven and earth, they usually achieved speed, making it difficult to slow down, let alone move with such unhurried grace. It seemed the Regent's cultivation had advanced considerably.

"Ah..." Pui Linglong was about to call out to him when her expression suddenly froze. He wasn't alone; a stunning beauty was by his side, and he was holding her hand as they descended together.

She was very familiar with this woman: the popular Wu Wangfei.

For a moment, she was bewildered. How had he gotten involved with Wu Wangfei?

But then she thought to herself, he had even managed to get involved with the Empress Dowager, so getting involved with the young and beautiful Wu Wangfei didn't seem so surprising after all.

A surge of rage points from Pui Linglong...

Liu Ning's expression was peculiar. First Pui Linglong, now Wu Wangfei, and there were even rumors about Jin Wangfei and Dai Wangfei. It seemed all the wives of the Zhao family had been swept away. If Zhao Hao knew about this, wouldn't he be so enraged he'd come back to life?

A surge of rage points from Liu Ning...

The reason Yun Jianyue had been so calm was that she had sensed Zu An's aura erupting nearby, knowing he would arrive soon.

However, her gaze was now somewhat dangerous. She stared at their clasped hands. This guy had caused her and her disciple such misery, and now he wasn't even sparing her sister?

He really liked to consume everything!

A surge of rage points from Yun Jianyue...

Yun Yuqing, at this moment, felt both shy and a strange sense of happiness. Descending hand-in-hand with Zu An before countless people was more effective than any official announcement.

And this step-by-step approach towards the crowd was like a wedding procession, with everyone present as a witness.

However, seeing everyone's gazes, she still felt a bit embarrassed.

Especially the gazes from the Empress and her sister seemed as if they wanted to devour her.

"Oh, isn't that the Empress Dowager, who has been missing for days?"

"Why is she also looking at me like that?"

Seeing the series of rage points from the women behind him, Zu An pretended not to notice their emotions. Instead, he looked at Zhao Ruizhi and Pui Qi. "I didn't expect the imperial palace to be so lively," he remarked.

At his casual glance, the soldiers who had been rushing towards Pui Linglong all stopped, swallowing nervously and instinctively retreating.

Seeing him return, Wang Bolin and Zhang Zijiang were almost moved to tears of joy. During this period, they had truly staked their entire clans' lives on supporting the Empress, and the pressure they endured was immense. Now that he was back, everything was worth it.

Jiao Sigun and Pu Duandiao wiped the fine sweat from their foreheads. "Finally, we don't have to face the Emperor's wrath," they thought. "We're too weak to bear such heavy responsibility."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard members also showed knowing smiles, especially Zhang Zitong, whose gaze towards Zu An held a hint of admiration.

Pui Qi cupped his hands in greeting. "So it's the Regent! We—His Majesty and I—were terribly worried about your disappearance."

Zu An thought, *What an old fox*. He smiled and replied, "I'm afraid you were more worried I wouldn't die."

Pui Qi's expression changed. "Regent, please don't jest!"

The many guards on the Empress's side looked strange, thinking, *Pui Qi wasn't so easy to talk to just now. Yet now, being openly mocked by the Regent, he didn't even dare to show his true colors.*

Pui Linglong knew that serious matters were more important. She temporarily suppressed her displeasure and quickly reminded him, "He and the Emperor have already been replaced by demons."

Zu An looked at the two with a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected that while he was wondering where to find the Plague Demon Lord and the Doomsday Revenant, they would just present themselves.

How considerate of them.

Zhao Ruizhi and Pui Qi's expressions turned exceptionally grim. Just moments ago, they had been feeling smug, believing Zu An would never find them hidden in the imperial palace.

Pui Qi glared at Zhao Ruizhi irritably. It was this guy who had been influenced by human desires, ruining everything they had accomplished earlier.

Zhao Ruizhi glared back, thinking, *You were there just now too, weren't you? Why didn't you control Pui Linglong immediately? Now you're blaming me?*

"Ahem, Linglong, don't talk nonsense," Pui Qi said, feeling he could still try to salvage the situation. "How could your father and His Majesty be demons?"

Zu An smiled faintly. "Whether you are or not, we'll know once I examine you."

"Don't come any closer!" Zhao Ruizhi suddenly yelled. "I don't want you to examine me! You bullied Linglong, and now you're trying to harm me!"

Those on the Emperor's side secretly nodded. The Empress and the Regent had a murky relationship; even if the two weren't demons, the Regent could easily frame them.

Just then, another guard ran over in a hurry, stumbling midway. "Report! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Regent, he..."

The man saw Zu An halfway through his sentence, and his voice abruptly cut off.

"What about me?" Zu An asked with a gentle smile. But the man suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably, unable to speak.

"Tell us, what exactly happened?" Pui Qi's lips curved upward slightly. He had a rough guess in his mind and thought, *This person arrived just in time.*

A warm current entered the man's body, and he slowly recovered. He glanced at Zu An, then took a few steps closer to Pui Qi and Zhao Ruizhi before speaking: "Wu Wang led men to apprehend the rebellious Jiang family. Everything was going smoothly until the Regent suddenly arrived, and then Wu Wang was... crippled."

As soon as these words were uttered, many people in the hall gasped. What had just happened at the Jiang family's residence hadn't yet spread, and many in the palace were only just learning of it.

Although the man didn't specify how Wu Wang became crippled, judging by Zu An's gaze, everyone clearly knew who was responsible.

Yet, Wu Wang had been crippled by him, so why was Wu Wangfei still holding his hand? Her face showed no sign of sorrow; instead, there was a girlish shyness and happiness?

This scene truly left many people's minds reeling.

"Regent, you have quite some nerve." Pui Qi secretly rejoiced. Just as he was about to make a big deal out of it, the man hurriedly added:

"And there's more..."

"More?"

"Later, Prince Yi, along with General of the East and General of the North, led men to investigate the situation," the guard quickly added. "A conflict erupted, and they were all killed by the Regent."

"What?" Zhao Si swayed, almost fainting. "My father is dead?"

He was both shocked and enraged. "Zu An, are you trying to rebel? I will report this to the Eight Dukes and ask them to uphold justice."

At this, the guard hastily added: "The Eight Dukes just came out after hearing the news. And Grand Commandant Yi Yangwang... he was also killed."

Zhao Si: "???"

"What about the other Dukes? Did they say nothing?"

The guard shook his head. "It seems they exchanged a few words with the Regent, then started maintaining order on the scene."

"That's it?" Zhao Si asked, disbelieving. Zu An had killed so many members of the imperial family, even Yi Yangwang, one of the Eight Dukes. Could the others just let it go?

"Yes, that's it," the guard nodded.

Zhao Si opened his mouth, finding himself speechless for a moment.

Not just him; everyone else wore similar expressions. This information was simply too explosive.

"Zu An, are you truly rebelling?" Pui Qi roared, voicing almost everyone's inner thoughts.

"It seems your Pui clan and Prince Yi are the ones rebelling, aren't they?" Liu Ning couldn't help but step forward to speak for Zu An. "I, the dignified Empress Dowager, was actually chased by you like a stray dog!"

Many guards in the imperial palace swallowed nervously, thinking, *The explosive secrets we've heard today are truly too many. I wonder if we'll even live to see tomorrow.*

"That's because your Liu clan is too arrogant," Pui Qi scoffed. "You completely disregard His Majesty. How many crucial departments in the court have been monopolized by your Liu clan's descendants? At that point, would this be the Zhao family's empire or your Liu clan's?"

"Aren't the court officials now mostly your Pui clan's descendants?" Liu Ning asked, looking at him coldly. "According to you, isn't your Pui clan also rebelling then?"

Pui Linglong: "..."

*Big sister, that one opposite cannot represent our Pui clan.*

"Nonsense! Your rebellion was personally ordered by His Majesty," Pui Qi declared, flicking his sleeve, clearly unwilling to argue further.

Zu An then spoke. "Oh, then why is His Majesty rebelling?"

Hearing this statement, everyone's eyes nearly popped out.

Pui Qi laughed mockingly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you trying to turn the world upside down?"

"Since its founding, this dynasty has always governed with filial piety. Filial piety is our national policy. The Emperor's birth mother was a member of the Liu clan, and also the current Empress Dowager's elder sister. Yet he declared the Liu clan rebellious, slaughtering all their elders and even sending people to hunt down the current Empress Dowager. Such unfilial conduct shakes the very foundation of the nation. What else could it be but rebellion?"

Zhao Ruizhi listened, his teeth itching with frustration. Unfortunately, constrained by his persona as a fool, he couldn't say anything himself; he could only repeatedly signal Pui Qi to speak.

Pui Qi shouted, "Since ancient times, when have subjects ever questioned the Emperor's existence? Today you've killed so many members of the imperial family, even the most respected Grand Commandant in the imperial clan. Considering you previously killed several princes and Eight Dukes, it's now clear you truly harbor a wolf's ambition, planning to overthrow the dynasty!"

Hearing this, Zhao Si echoed, "Exactly! That Zu An is most likely colluding with the Empress, and has long been meticulously plotting rebellion. Everyone listen: whoever follows him is rebelling, a capital crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their clan!"

"Adultery..." Hearing that word, Pui Linglong's pretty face turned pale, and her body swayed slightly.

Just then, Liu Ning, who was beside her, suddenly moved like lightning to Zhao Si's side and struck him on the head with her palm.

With a crisp *thwack*, Zhao Si's skull shattered, and he bled from all seven orifices, dying on the spot.

"Hmph, spouting nonsense and daring to slander the Empress! You deserve to die ten thousand deaths!"

She did this partly for revenge, as he was one of the culprits in the capital's coup. And partly because allowing such a provocateur to continue sowing discord would be quite disadvantageous for Zu An.

As for Pui Qi and Zhao Ruizhi, she trusted Zu An to protect her safety.

As expected, seeing her action, Pui Qi's body swayed slightly. But he glanced at Zu An and ultimately didn't make a move.

"You dare to silence him?" He could only condemn her.

"I killed a wretch like that, so what?" Liu Ning returned to Zu An's side, looking at him provocatively.

"You..." Pui Qi's face flushed green then red, and the morale of his soldiers couldn't help but weaken.

Zu An smiled. "Speaking of which, every demon I've encountered recently exuded an overwhelming aura, a 'you're all trash, I'm here to conquer the world' kind of presence. Yet you two, pushed to such a point, don't even dare to make a move. Truly, you're a disgrace to demons."

Zhao Ruizhi couldn't help but shout, "You! You're just trying to get Linglong, so you're deliberately framing us as demons! Though I may not be smart, I am still the Emperor! An Emperor must not be insulted! Come on, kill this rebellious traitor! Zu An, if you have the guts, kill me! History will remember you as a regicidal rebel!"

Hearing his almost tragic declaration, many members of the Emperor's guard couldn't help but feel a surge of shared hatred for the enemy. Their eyes burned with fervor as they shouted vows to protect the Emperor to the death.

Throughout the Great Zhou's many years, there were still many who remained loyal to the Emperor.

Zu An actually admired their loyalty and bravery. His expression was calm as he said, "Whether they are demons or not, it will be clear once I apprehend them."

No sooner had he spoken than he appeared before Zhao Ruizhi and casually reached for his face.