Traveling through the emperor, overthrowing the empress dowager at the beginning

In the capital area, on the official road.

A huge convoy moved slowly forward like a long winding dragon.

On one of the carriages.

Dong Yu, the head of the Dong family, and Zhang Qi, the head of the Zhang family, sat opposite each other across a small table. Both of them had white hair and wrinkles on their faces, but their eyes were as bright and sharp as an eagle's.

Dong Yu frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. He said, "If we leave like this, will the emperor catch up with us?"

Zhang Qi shook his head slightly.

"No, we traveled quickly and set out at night, so we were extremely discreet. The Emperor had only just arrived in the capital, so there was no way he would have noticed."

Zhang Qi stroked his beard as he spoke, trying to make himself appear more confident.

However, despite saying this, his eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of uneasiness. After a pause, he said, "But, Brother Dong, are we really going to leave like this and abandon the foundation left by our ancestors? Aren't we being a little too radical?"

Hearing this, Dong Yu raised a meaningful smile.

"Brother Zhang, this is not an extreme move. The inheritance left by our ancestors will be looked after by servants. We have already taken away the land deeds and the servants' indentures. When we return, these lost things will be returned."

"And if we leave, it won't just leave the emperor with nothing to do to us."

"Once we reach Guanzhong, with the power we've cultivated there over the years, and with the help of those local nobles who have close ties with us, it's not impossible for us to join forces and force the emperor to make concessions."

There was a calculating look in Dong Yu's eyes, but he remembered the letter from the north he had received a few days ago.

"Besides these, I have other means. Brother Zhang, the emperor wants to take action against us. This time, let's show him what we, the Guanzhong nobles, are capable of!"

Hearing this, Zhang Qi nodded.

At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hoof sounds suddenly came from outside the carriage.

A family soldier rushed to the side of the carriage like an arrow, shouting in a trembling voice: "Master, there is a cavalryman coming from behind!"

Hearing this, Dong Yu and Zhang Qi were both stunned.

Dong Yu was the first to come back to his senses, with a hint of panic in his eyes, but he was the head of the family after all, and after a brief panic, he slapped his thigh.

"Quick! The family soldiers will line up at the back of the team, and then send someone to ask what these cavalrymen want to do!"

"Yes!"

After the family soldier who delivered the message left.

Dong Yu regained some composure. He picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for the still panicked Zhang Qi. He said softly, "Brother Zhang, please be patient. These are probably just some bandits from the neighborhood. We can get rid of them with some money."

Zhang Qi nodded slightly, but the hand holding the teacup was still shaking slightly, showing his inner uneasiness.

However, the calm did not last long.

Not long after, another family soldier rushed towards the carriage like crazy. Before he even reached the carriage, the family soldier shouted, "Master, this is bad! The family soldier we sent to negotiate has been captured by them!"

Hearing this, Dong Yu's hand holding the teacup trembled, and the tea spilled out, wetting his collar.

Zhang Qi was also shocked.

The two looked at each other, their eyes full of fear, and then ran out of the carriage together.

Then, the two saw a large number of cavalry sweeping towards the rear of the convoy like a surging tide.

The sound of horse hooves was deafening, and the cavalrymen were wearing silver armor that gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Dong Yu and Zhang Qi were both shocked by this momentum and their bodies trembled slightly.

Then the two men saw clearly that the hundreds of family soldiers they raised were like ducks, being scattered by the cavalry.

Dong Yu and Zhang Qi wanted to run away but soon found that cavalry were coming from all directions and they were surrounded all of a sudden.

A large number of children from the Dong Yu and Zhang Qihe families were soon captured alive.

It was approaching dusk.

After Ye Chen learned that the heads of the Dong and Zhang families had been captured, he immediately ordered Zhang Chengyu to bring the two to him.

Soon, Dong Yu was escorted into the camp.

He felt a little unwilling.

"Brother Zhang, if the emperor dares to attack us, we cannot lose our backbone and dignity."

"Brother Dong, you're right! Wealth and honor cannot corrupt us, and power and might cannot bend us! I'm also well-read in the books of sages, and I understand the courage to die even if I deserve it!"

Zhang Qi was also very unwilling.

The two of them walked into the tent.

Then, both of them saw Ye Chen sitting in the main seat.

Zhang Qi straightened his back and waited for Ye Chen to ask questions.

He didn't know that Dong Yu beside him had been struck by lightning.

Dong Yu's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils contracted sharply, the muscles on his face twitched uncontrollably, his mouth opened so wide that it seemed like an egg could fit in it, his face full of incredible shock.

At this time, Ye Chen was wearing a gorgeous dragon robe and a crown on his head.

He sat there, his posture as straight as a pine tree, emitting an innate imperial aura, like a god ruling the world.

Anyone can recognize Ye Chen's identity.

"It's you?"

Dong Yu said with some fear.

If he was only facing the emperor, Dong Yu could still appear tough because he believed that the emperor could not know the evidence of his guilt.

Even if the emperor knew, there was no definite evidence, after all, most of those things were done by Dong Ning.

But now.

Dong Yu discovered that Ye Chen was actually the imperial envoy from before.

He had wanted to bribe Ye Chen before, and this alone was a serious crime.

For a moment, he felt a huge pressure, his legs went weak, and he fell heavily to his knees with a thump.

Zhang Qidun, who was standing by, was stunned, then looked at Dong Yu in surprise.

"Brother Dong, what's wrong with you?"

"Zhang, Brother Zhang, a man who knows the current situation is a hero."

“…”

Zhang Qi knelt down silently.

Ye Chen raised his chin slightly, his eyes shot towards Dong Yu like lightning, and his voice was low and majestic: "Dong Yu, do you admit your guilt?"

The voice echoed in the tent, and every word was like a heavy hammer hitting Dong Yu's heart.

Dong Yu's lips trembled, and he came to his senses after a while, stammering, "Sir, no, Your Majesty, I really shouldn't have bribed you, but it was also because I loved my grandson so much."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Hearing this, Zhang Qi curled the corner of his mouth.

He was not stupid, so he naturally saw that Ye Chen had something on Dong Yu.

A hint of disgust flashed in Ye Chen's eyes.

"You and the Zhang family's head attempted to flee the capital, taking the family power with you. You also secretly colluded with Yang Dechang and the Tatars. How can such a heinous crime of treason be forgiven?"

"Your Majesty, I have never done this!"

Dong Yu panicked and said quickly.

Hearing this, Ye Chen slapped the armrest suddenly and stood up. His dragon robe fluttered in the wind, making him look even more majestic.

"Don't try to quibble! Your every move cannot escape my eyes!"

Ye Chen's voice was like thunder.

He originally just guessed that these people were in collusion with Yang Dechang.

But now seeing Dong Yu's panic, he was certain that this guy was really in collusion with Yang Dechang!