Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Liu Xiu's question was like pouring cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing the already chaotic scene to almost explode.

The ministers were pale as they looked at each other, their court robes soaked with cold sweat.

On one side is the prime minister who controls the imperial guards of the capital and seems to be sure of victory.

On the other side was the Prince of Chenliu, who was surrounded but had a strong aura and seemed to have a backup plan.

This decision is not only about standing on the right side, but also about your life and property!

During this suffocating confrontation, Chen Pin suddenly gave a sharp look to several ministers who were on good terms with him and had already communicated with him.

Wang Lang, the Junior Secretary of the Imperial Household Department, received the signal, and a cunning glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had grasped a huge handle. He immediately jumped out and shouted sharply:

"Prince of Chenliu! You led troops without imperial decree, left your fiefdom without permission, and even held the prince hostage, forcing your troops upon the capital! How is this any different from treason?

"The Prime Minister, following the Queen Mother's secret order, is to eradicate the traitors. This is in accordance with national law! How could we possibly join the rebellion?"

After saying this, he seemed to have found his backbone, and rushed behind Chen Pin with a resolute attitude.

Someone took the lead and occupied the "legal" high ground. Those officials who were already too closely tied to Chen Pin, or were afraid of his power, or truly believed that Liu Xiu's behavior was rebellious, seemed to have found a reason and made their choice.

They lowered their heads, walked quickly from where they were, and gathered behind Chen Pin.

In a blink of an eye, nearly half of the officials in the court stood on the side of the prime minister, forming a sharp and almost desperate contrast with the isolated and besieged Liu Xiu.

Liu Xiu watched all this coldly, looking at those ministers who might have shown kindness to him in the past but now chose to stand on the opposite side, and the last trace of warmth on his face disappeared.

Instead, there was an imperial coldness and decisiveness.

He nodded slowly, and let out a chilling snort from between his teeth:

"Very well, now that you have made your choice..."

His gaze was like an ice spike, piercing through the faces of those standing behind Chen Pin one by one, and finally fixed on the complacent face of Chen Pin.

"Then today, all of you must pay the price for your choices!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a final judgment, and a chilling chill instantly swept across the entire audience.

The echo of Liu Xiu's words "pay the price" was still echoing in the air, but his next order caught everyone, including Chen Pin, off guard and terrified!

He did not order an attack on the Imperial Guards, nor did he attempt to break out. Instead, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze like an icy blade shooting towards the lone prisoner wagon. His voice was firm and emotionless:

"Come! Execute the traitor Liu Cheng on the spot and serve as a warning to others!"

"Yes, sir!" The two fierce soldiers responded loudly, suddenly unlocked the prison van door, roughly dragged the limp Liu Cheng out, and threw him hard on the cold ground.

This sudden change happened too quickly and was too terrifying!

Even Chen Pin had never expected that Liu Xiu would be so decisive and ruthless that he would personally behead a prince in front of the two armies and under the watchful eyes of hundreds of officials!

This is no longer just a political struggle, it is the most naked declaration of violence!

Liu Cheng was knocked unconscious and was instantly overwhelmed by great fear and humiliation.

The instinct for survival made him struggle to raise his head, his face twisted as he uttered a desperate and shrill curse at Liu Xiu, who was sitting upright on his horse: "Liu Xiu! You traitor! How dare you kill me?! I am the King of Qinghe of the Han Dynasty! A prince personally appointed by His Majesty! You killed my clan members without permission. This is a heinous act of treason! The princes and nobles of the world will never let you go! They will definitely raise an army to attack you and cut you into pieces! You will not die a good death!!"

His roar sounded extremely harsh and desperate on the battlefield full of murderous intentions.

Chen Pin was truly panicking at this moment! Liu Cheng was the righteous cause of all their actions, the banner that united their hearts!

Once Liu Cheng was killed, even if they won today, they would be branded as the ones who forced the prince to death, and they would lose their trump card to rally other forces, and would completely become traitors!

Liu Xiu's move was to fundamentally undermine their legitimacy!

"We can't let him succeed!"

This was the only thought left in Chen Pin's mind. He no longer cared about formations or plans, and roared hysterically towards the Imperial Guards:

"Captain Zhou! Xiao Yan! Charge! Quick! Save Prince Qinghe! Quick!!"

"All troops, listen! Target Liu Xiu, save the prince! Kill!"

Xiao Yan's eyes were already bloodshot, and when he received the order, he swung the sword in his hand forward fiercely!

"kill!!!"

The three thousand imperial guards roared loudly, and like a flood bursting through a dam, they launched a violent charge towards Liu Xiu!

These elite troops stationed in the capital may lack the bloody battle experience of the border troops, but they are well-equipped and well-trained. At this moment, in order to save their lord, they burst out with amazing momentum.

Sharp spears formed a dense forest of spears, heavy shields collided and advanced, and the sound of footsteps made the earth tremble!

"Form a formation! Meet the enemy!" Huo Guang's voice was as loud as a bell, and he roared almost at the same time as his deputy general Wang Lei.

Although the thousand elite soldiers were a battle-hardened force, they were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers and were instantly overwhelmed by enemies that outnumbered them three times.

They quickly contracted and formed a circular defensive formation with Liu Xiu as the core.

The sword and shield soldiers were outside, followed by the spearmen, and the crossbowmen were inside, fighting desperately to resist the fierce attack of the imperial guards.

In an instant, the harsh sound of metal clashing, the dull thud of sharp blades entering flesh, the howling of the dying, and the angry shouts of killing combined into a symphony of death!

Blood splattered everywhere, dyeing the loess red, and people kept falling down wailing.

The imperial guards had red eyes and advanced one after another, with each wave of attack becoming more and more powerful.

Huo Guang and Wang Lei led the charge, and with the flash of their swords, the imperial guards were constantly chopped down, but they were immediately filled by more enemies.

The front line began to twist and shrink under the tremendous pressure, and every step backward was accompanied by tragic casualties.

And right in the center of this bloody battlefield, a strange and terrifying scene appeared.

Liu Xiu seemed to be oblivious to the brutal fighting around him.

He dismounted and walked towards Liu Cheng, who was pinned to the ground by the soldiers and still struggling and cursing wildly. A personal guard presented him with a gleaming, ring-handled sword.

Liu Xiu gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his cold eyes looking down at his once high-ranking brother. His voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling chill that made one's soul tremble:

"Brother Wang, you are right. I am going to kill you in front of them."

The corner of his mouth even curled up into a cruel smile: "Only in this way will everyone understand what the end will be if they become an enemy of me, Liu Xiu."

"Only in this way can the supreme position truly belong to the strong, and only to me!"

"No!!!" Liu Cheng let out the last desperate roar of his life.

The knife light fell like a streak of silk!