We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Emperor Qing was silent for a long time, as if he had exhausted all his energy to understand.

Finally, he seemed to have put down a heavy burden and sighed tiredly, his voice so soft that it was almost inaudible:

“Never mind… never mind…”

"You have your own ideas and insights, which have long exceeded the scope of my understanding..."

"I... have handed Daqing over to you."

"What happens next is up to you..."

Li Che's heart was filled with mixed emotions. He smiled and bowed solemnly:

"Thank you, Father, for your consideration."

. . . . . .

The night was as dark as ink, completely engulfing the imperial city.

It was not completely silent outside the hall. The sounds of footsteps, armor clashing, and heavy breathing could be heard.

Countless soldiers holding torches and with drawn swords poured in from every corner of the imperial city, surrounding the Hall of Eternal Life in three layers, making it impossible to get in or out.

The flickering flames illuminated the solemn faces.

Li Lin, Huo Duanxiao and Huang Jin stood on the steps in front of the hall. Hundreds of Jinyiwei, holding embroidered spring swords, formed a formation to protect them firmly in the center and confront the rebels on the periphery in a tense standoff.

Opposite them, most of the high-ranking officials from aristocratic families who usually wore tall hats and wide belts were now in military uniforms, gathering around the pale-faced but forcedly calm Crown Prince Li Huan.

Countless gazes, some filled with greed, some with fear, and some with determination, were fixed on the tightly closed palace door in front of them.

This is no longer a forced abdication, but a blatant palace coup!

Looking at the endless swords, spears, and halberds before him, Ren Kuan was extremely anxious. He lowered his voice and said to Huang Jin beside him:

"Huang Daban! How is His Majesty's dragon body?"

"If Your Majesty can still withstand the turbulence, you should make a decisive move now and fight your way out with us!"

Huang Jin's face was unclear in the flickering firelight.

He simply shook his head slowly, his voice calm, "His Majesty is still conversing with His Royal Highness, Prince Feng. The Holy Lord will make his own decision. We shall wait for his orders and must not be disturbed."

Ren Kuan was so anxious that he almost jumped up and down: "How can this be?! The rebels are gathering more and more, and the opportunity is fleeting. If we delay any longer, we will be unable to escape even if we have wings!"

Huang Jin didn't explain any more, but turned his head silently and looked at the gap in the palace door.

The warmth of candlelight could be vaguely seen in the hall, with two figures, one old and one young, sitting opposite each other and talking.

It seemed that Li Che said something again, causing the withered old emperor to burst into a relaxed laugh.

A hint of sadness flashed across Huang Jin's eyes, and then they softened again.

"Commander Ren, rest assured. I guarantee with my life that your two highnesses will not be trapped in this palace today!"

. . . . . .

Inside the palace, Li Che and Emperor Qing talked a lot more.

In the last moments of his life, Emperor Qing seemed to have truly broken free from the shackles of all worldly power, grudges, and interests, and turned back into the simplest and purest father.

What remains is only curiosity and yearning for the unknown world.

He tirelessly asked about what Li Che had seen and heard in his dream, from the 'iron bird' that could carry people to soar into the sky, the 'iron chariot' that galloped like thunder, to the 'rocket' that broke free from the constraints of the earth and pierced the sky, to the 'mobile fortress' that could gallop across the ocean.

From popular proverbial stories and ever-changing music to animated light and shadow dramas and self-operated toys.

From the 'power of thunder and lightning' that illuminates the night and drives all things, the flammable black stone, to the flammable 'black water', and even the great energy that rivals the sun.

Li Che was extremely patient and used the simplest words that could be understood in this era to describe the bizarre yet real world to the dying old emperor as best as possible.

The two seemed to have endless topics to talk about and an endless appetite for conversation.

At this moment, there were no more heavy shackles between the ruler and his subjects.

They really seemed like an ordinary father and son, sitting around the fire on a leisurely evening, chatting about family matters and telling stories of all sorts of things.

This strange and warm tranquility lasted until... the sky brightened again!

It was not the rising sun, but a huge, dazzling red flame that exploded above the dark sky!

boom--

A deafening roar followed, as if a hole had been blown in the sky!

A blood-red firework bloomed proudly in the night sky of the northern city of the imperial capital.

Its light was so bright that it almost illuminated half of the city, and it was so eye-catching that it was heart-pounding!

Countless soldiers besieging the imperial city subconsciously looked up and watched, and the city guards patrolling the streets also stopped to watch.

People who were under curfew at home could not help but push open the windows and doors and look up at the sky in shock and confusion.

The fireworks were so beautiful, almost eerie, as if a miracle that did not belong to this world had suddenly descended.

The dazzling light not only illuminated the night sky of the imperial capital, but also clearly illuminated the armor and weapons of the soldiers below.

And those black figures that appeared quietly on the eaves at some point and were moving quickly.

Night watchman!

Then, at the moment when the fireworks went out and the night sky returned to darkness.

Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!

A series of rapid and crisp explosions, like the drumbeats of death, suddenly rang out from the rooftops in all directions!

The soldiers guarding outside the gates of the major mansions were like being hit by an invisible hammer, and they fell down in large numbers with screams.

Screams, wails, and the dull thud of people falling to the ground after being shot instantly broke the dead silence of the night.

It was like receiving the order for a general attack.

The next second, the heavy vermilion lacquered door of the Duke of Wei's mansion, which was heavily guarded, was knocked open from the inside!

An old general wearing mottled old armor, with white hair and beard, but looking majestic, strode out with a long-handled broadsword held upside down.

His left hand was casually playing with an exquisite gilded lighter.

As it opened and closed, the faint blue flames cast flickering shadows on his face.

A captain of the city defense army who was leading the guard saw who was coming and trembled all over as if he had seen a ghost.

Unconsciously screaming:

“Wei…Duke Wei!! It’s Duke Wei, Zhu Chun!”

The other soldiers had not yet recovered from this sudden change, but saw a fierce light in Zhu Chun's eyes, and with a loud roar, his body appeared in front of the soldiers.

The big knife in his hand, which had been soaked in the blood of the enemy, had turned into a sharp cold light and swept out!

click-

There was a teeth-grinding sound of flesh being torn, and the three closest soldiers were cut in half, with blood and internal organs splattered all over the ground.

The old Duke held a large knife in his hand and shouted with a voice like a bell:

"Zhu family members! Follow me to kill these parasites of the country and welcome His Majesty the King!"

"kill!!!"

Behind him, the Zhu family members, servants and private soldiers, who had been holding back their anger for a long time, rushed out of the mansion gate like a flood, holding all kinds of weapons and roaring.

The entire street fell into chaos in an instant!

Similar scenes broke out in various locations in the imperial capital at almost the same time.

The Duke of Wei's Mansion, the Duke of Zheng's Mansion, the Duke of Cao's Mansion, the Right Prime Minister's Mansion...

After lying dormant for many days, they set their sights on the Prince Feng's military residence, and as if it had been agreed upon long ago, they simultaneously launched an attack on the city defense forces!

The anger that had been accumulating for a long time finally exploded at this moment!