After crossing, I surrounded the capital from the countryside

"These are the new pastries I learned how to make. Thinking of your hard work these days, I made them specially for you to try." Zhou Shilian said as she handed a piece of pastry to Zhou Shijie with her delicate hands, her eyes full of care and love for her brother.

"I guess I don't have much time to make cakes for you, so I've been coming more often recently. I hope you won't get tired of me, right?"

Zhou Shijie looked up at his sister's gentle smile, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He took the cake and took a bite. Suddenly, the sweetness of the cake melted in his mouth, as if all the fatigue of the past few days had dissipated.

"How can I be bored? Well, it tastes really good. Shilian, you are always so attentive." Zhou Shijie praised with a smile, his eyes twinkling slightly.

"As long as my royal brother likes it, I will cook it for you often while I still have time." Zhou Shilian smiled even more brightly, her words full of sincerity and warmth, as if at this moment, all the court struggles and power disputes were temporarily forgotten, leaving only the purest family affection between brother and sister.

In the study, as the topic deepened, Zhou Shijie's eyes flashed with a complex emotion. He sighed softly, as if he had mustered up the courage, and asked Zhou Shilian a sensitive question: "Shilian, regarding the marriage with the Northern Barbarians, have you... ever blamed me?"

This question is like a breeze that gently blows across the calm surface of the lake, causing ripples.

Zhou Shilian's smile froze when she heard this, and a hint of obscurity flashed across her eyes, which was fleeting before she quickly returned to normal. She looked at Zhou Shijie tenderly, her clear eyes full of understanding and tolerance for him.

"Brother, how could I blame you?" Zhou Shilian whispered, her tone full of sincerity, "I know that as the king of a country, everything you do is for the benefit and peace of the country. Although I don't want to marry the northern barbarians, I also understand that this is to consolidate the border and protect our people from the suffering of war. As a member of the royal family, I should share the worries of the country. How can I ignore the overall situation because of personal feelings?"

Zhou Shijie felt relieved after hearing what his sister said. He reached out and gently patted the back of Zhou Shilian's hand, his eyes gleaming with relief.

"Shilian, it's great that you think this way. As your brother, I let you suffer such injustice, and I feel really sorry." Zhou Shijie's voice seemed a little choked.

"Royal brother, you are too polite. We are siblings, and we should support each other and share weal and woe." Zhou Shilian responded with a smile. Her smile was like the sunshine in spring, warm and bright, but if you look closely, you can see the indifference and disdain in the depths of her eyes.

"Come on, my royal brother, eat more and have a good rest. Don't get too tired." Zhou Shilian picked up a piece of cake and handed it to Zhou Shiyuan. She watched him eat it, and the smile on her lips deepened.

……

The rebels were gaining momentum, and their morale was high due to the support of the people.

In contrast, most of those aristocratic families who were once high and mighty chose to protect themselves. Some of them did so out of self-protection considerations, some out of fear of damage to family interests, or because of Prince An's lobbying. They only made some symbolic and superficial support, but did not actually go all out to deal with the rebels.

Under such circumstances, Xu Qingqing led the rebel army to advance straight into the city, and soon arrived outside Kyoto with almost no casualties.

The setting sun was as red as blood, and the afterglow fell on the mottled walls of Kyoto, coating the ancient bricks and stones with a layer of golden red glow.

On the city wall, the wind was a little chilly, but it also carried a hint of impending change.

Xu Qingqing, dressed in armor, looks heroic. She flies to the top of the city wall. Her eyes penetrate the crowd and look directly at everything in the distance that is about to be swallowed up by the torrent of history.

Beside her was Prince An Zhou Shiyuan, who looked solemn yet dignified. The two of them stood side by side, as if they were two unshakable mountains, jointly supporting the old order that was about to collapse.

Under the city, there was a dense crowd, including ragged civilians, soldiers standing with swords, and those once high-ranking officials. They all held their breath and wanted to witness this moment that changed the destiny of the country.

There was a tension in the air, and even breathing seemed to become heavy.

Xu Qingqing took a deep breath and slowly raised the yellowed scroll in her hand. It was a secret file that she had found from the Northern Barbarians after going through untold hardships.

Her voice, with its inner strength, penetrated the noisy crowd and echoed in the sky above Kyoto: "My fellow countrymen, my fellow soldiers, today, I stand here to reveal a truth that has been hidden for many years, a secret that concerns the future destiny of our country."

"I think everyone has heard of the current emperor. The person sitting on the dragon throne is not of the bloodline of the Great Zhou, but an illegitimate child of the Northern Barbarians!"

The crowd suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the scroll in Xu Qingqing's hand.

"This scroll records the current emperor Zhou Shijie. It is not the orthodox bloodline of the Great Zhou royal family, but all the evidence of the Northern Barbarian bloodline!"

Zhou Shiyuan took the scroll and slowly unfolded it so that everyone standing in the front could clearly see the words and seal on it.

His eyes were complex, showing both disappointment at his brother's betrayal and preparation for the impending coup.

"Please look, everyone. These evidences are irrefutable and prove Zhou Shijie's true identity. He, a man of northern barbarian blood, has stolen the throne of my Great Zhou. This is a great insult and betrayal to my Great Zhou!"

The reactions of the crowd varied, some were shocked, some were angry, and some fell into deep silence.

At this moment, Xu Qingqing took out another piece of evidence. It was a secret letter covered with the words of the Northern Barbarians and the secret symbols of the Great Zhou. It was obviously evidence of the conspiracy between Zhou Shijie and the Northern Barbarians.

"Not only that, we also discovered that Zhou Shijie was colluding with the Northern Barbarians and intended to assassinate Prince An Zhou Shiyuan in order to completely consolidate his throne!" Xu Qingqing's voice became more excited. She held up the secret letter so that everyone could feel the heavy truth.

"In the past few years since Zhou Shiyuan learned about his life story, he has continuously transported supplies to the Northern Barbarians and persecuted the people and officials of our Great Zhou. This is simply an unforgivable crime!"

Zhou Shiyuan took the secret letter, read it carefully, and shook his head sadly: "My brother, my brother, you are so confused..."

At this moment, the emotions of the people under the city gradually boiled over, and their anger and dissatisfaction erupted like a volcano.

They shouted one after another, demanding severe punishment for Zhou Shijie and restoring a clean slate to the Great Zhou.

At this moment, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds suddenly came from the palace.