From cute to empress

Chapter 39 The Night of Decisive Battle

"The only way now is to take the initiative!" I said firmly, "Instead of sitting and waiting for death, why not give it a try!"

Zhen Youcai was stunned at first, but then his eyes lit up with fighting spirit: "Okay! I'll listen to you, Madam!"

That night, the palace was brightly lit, but it couldn't mask the chilling atmosphere that permeated the air. Grand Tutor Li, in collusion with the Third Prince, launched a coup d'état under the pretext of purging the imperial court. Imperial guards, led by Grand Tutor Li's trusted confidant, General Zhou, quickly seized control of the palace. Several ministers and generals I had secretly contacted were also besieged, and the situation was extremely unfavorable for us.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" The palace maid Xiaotao beside her was pale and trembling.

I gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, took a deep breath, and tried to stay calm: "Don't be afraid, no one can hurt you with me here!"

"Protect the Empress!" Zhen Youcai led the charge, leading the few dozen remaining guards in a desperate fight against the rebels. Amidst the flashing of swords and the cries of killing, the thick stench of blood filled the air above the entire palace.

Although I'd never been on a battlefield, I was remarkably calm at the moment. I swung my sword, slashing down each incoming rebel. I told myself I couldn't fall. I had to live, for myself and for all those who supported me!

"Niu Mengmeng, surrender!" Taishi Li, wearing armor and holding a long sword, walked towards me aggressively, surrounded by a group of rebels. "As long as you are willing to hand over the jade seal, I can spare your life!"

"You old thief, you're dreaming!" I glared at him. "You murdered loyal officials and tampered with the imperial edict. Your crimes are heinous! Today, I will rid the people of this evil!"

"Stubborn!" Grand Tutor Li sneered and ordered the rebels behind him, "Go ahead, kill her!"

At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats approached from afar, and then a majestic voice rang out in the night sky: "Stop! Anyone who dares to touch a hair of the Imperial Concubine will be killed without mercy!"

I looked closely and saw a group of people galloping out of the palace gate, led by the eldest and fourth princes! They were dressed in armor, holding long swords, and followed by hundreds of elite soldiers and generals, like a divine army descending from the sky.

"The eldest prince! The fourth prince!" My heart was shocked, and a warm feeling surged in my heart. I knew that we were saved!

The eldest prince dismounted and walked quickly to me, his eyes full of concern: "Your Highness, are you okay?"

I shook my head, trying hard to hold back the tears in my eyes: "I'm fine, First Prince, why are you here?"

"During the time when the Emperor was seriously ill, I have been secretly monitoring the court situation and have long sensed that Grand Tutor Li harbored rebellious intentions." The eldest prince's tone was icy, his eyes brimming with anger. "Today, we received a secret report that Grand Tutor Li was plotting a coup and treason. This palace and my fourth brother immediately led our troops into the palace to defend the Emperor!"

"Grand Tutor Li, do you have anything else to say?" The Fourth Prince pointed his sword at Grand Tutor Li and shouted, "As a veteran of three dynasties, you have not considered serving the country, but instead colluded with the traitors and attempted to usurp the throne. Your crimes are truly heinous!"

Grand Tutor Li's face was ashen. He knew the situation was hopeless, but he still insisted, "I have assisted the Emperor for many years. Even if I have no merit, I have worked hard! What qualifications do you two young brats have to criticize me?"

"Hmph, do you think you can hide your deeds from everyone?" At this moment, an old man in official uniform stepped out from the crowd. It was Minister Wang. "You have been corrupt, perverted the law, formed cliques for personal gain, excluded those who dissidents, and persecuted loyal officials. Your deeds are too numerous to list! Today, I will rid the people of this evil!"

Before he finished speaking, a general suddenly rushed out from the soldiers behind Shangshu Wang, raised his sword and killed General Zhou, a close confidant of Li Taishi, off his horse!

"General Zhou is dead! Why don't you surrender now? When?!" That general was none other than Eunuch Zheng, the commander of the imperial guards, whom I had secretly persuaded before!

"Those who surrender will not be killed! Those who surrender will not be killed!" The troops brought by Minister Wang and Eunuch Zheng quickly surrounded the rebels. The shouts shook the sky, and the rebels' morale was immediately demoralized. They threw away their weapons and armor and knelt down to surrender.

"Grandmaster Li, look here, what else do you have to say?" I looked at everything in front of me, feeling a thousand emotions in my heart. I walked up to Grandmaster Li and said coldly, "You schemed so hard, but in the end, you ended up like this. It's really sad and lamentable!"

Grand Tutor Li looked at the sea of ​​soldiers around him, listening to the deafening cries of surrender. He knew he had been completely defeated. He slumped to the ground, powerless, then suddenly laughed out loud, his laughter filled with despair and sadness...

Master Li's laughter echoed in the empty palace, and it made my heart tremble. Zhen Youcai stood beside me, holding my hand with a slight force. I knew he was giving me strength.

"Grandmaster Li," the eldest prince stepped forward, the tip of his sword pointed directly at him, "what else do you have to say?"

Grand Tutor Li stopped laughing and slowly raised his head. A fierce look flashed through his cloudy eyes. "The victors take the cake, and the losers are the bandits. I have nothing to say. It's just a pity that after years of planning, I still failed!"

As he spoke, his eyes swept over Zhen Youcai and me, and finally landed on the Third Prince who was being restrained not far away. A complicated look flashed in his eyes.

"Traitor! How dare you spread false rumors to confuse the people!" The fourth prince shouted angrily and was about to step forward, but was stopped by the eldest prince.

"Royal brother, there's no need to say any more to him," the eldest prince said, turning to look at the guards behind him, "Capture Grand Tutor Li and the Third Prince, and take them to the Sky Prison to await your fate!"

"Yes!" The guards took the order and took Grand Tutor Li and the Third Prince away.

A palace coup had just concluded before my eyes. As I watched, I felt a mixture of emotions.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" The eldest prince walked up to me and asked with concern.

I shook my head, suppressing the uneasiness in my heart, and said, "I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"Your Highness and Guard Zhen have performed a great service tonight. I will report this to my father and commend you for your service."

"I dare not take credit for it. This is what I should do." As I said this, I secretly glanced at Zhen Youcai. Seeing that he was looking at me with eyes full of tenderness and admiration, my cheeks couldn't help but turn slightly red.

"The Emperor has arrived—" At this moment, the eunuch's shrill voice came from a distance.

Everyone knelt down and saluted: "Long live our emperor!"

I looked up and saw the emperor, supported by someone, walking slowly towards me. He looked a little pale, but in good spirits.

"Everyone, get up." The emperor said weakly.

"Father, are you okay?" The eldest prince and the fourth prince hurried forward and asked with concern.

"I'm fine, thanks to the Imperial Concubine and Guard Zhen. Otherwise..." The Emperor said, his eyes falling on Zhen Youcai and me, his eyes full of gratitude and relief. "You two have performed great deeds tonight. I will reward you well."

"Your Majesty, this is what Guard Zhen and I should do," I said quickly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I just did my duty." Zhen Youcai also said.

The emperor looked at us, a meaningful smile flashing in his eyes: "Good, good, you are all loyal ministers and good generals, I am very pleased..."

There was a hint of fatigue in the emperor's words. I knew that this palace coup had consumed too much of his mind. I secretly glanced at Zhen Youcai. He was still standing straight, his eyes firm and calm, as if nothing around him could affect him.

"Your Majesty, it's late at night. You should take care of your health." The eldest prince spoke at the right time and helped the emperor walk to the bedroom.

I watched their backs, feeling a mixture of emotions. That night was a bloody night, with some falling and others rising, and Zhen Youcai and I were also pushed to the forefront by fate.

"Mengmeng, are you okay?" Zhen Youcai's concerned voice came to my ears, pulling me back from my thoughts.

I shook my head and gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. How about you? Are you hurt?"

He gently held my hand and shook his head: "I'm fine, I'm always by your side."

His hand was warm and strong, as if it could dispel all the anxiety in my heart. I shook his hand back, feeling the warmth of his palm, and an unprecedented sense of security surged in my heart.

"You are so talented, thank you." I said softly, and thousands of words turned into this short sentence of thanks.

"Silly girl, do we still need to say thank you to each other?" He smiled and rubbed my hair, his eyes as gentle as water.

Under the moonlight, his smile was particularly dazzling, illuminating my entire world. I knew that after going through this life-and-death test, our relationship had become even more indestructible.

"You are talented. We..." I looked at him, and an urge surged in my heart, wanting to tell him the emotions that had been suppressed in my heart for a long time.

"Hmm?" He looked at me puzzledly, waiting for my next words.

I took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to say, "Let's, let's be together forever, okay?"

His eyes flickered slightly, and then a gentle arc appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Okay, we will be together forever."

I feel incredibly happy and content, as if I own the whole world. I know that no matter what the future holds, we will face it hand in hand and never be apart.

"Ahem," a light cough interrupted the sweetness between us. I turned around and saw that it was the eldest prince who had returned and was standing not far away, watching us.

"Royal brother?" I looked at him with some confusion.

He smiled, walked up to me, and said, "It's late, you should go to bed early."

His tone was calm, but I could see a hint of complex emotions in his eyes, as if hinting at something.

"Well, your Majesty, you should also go to bed early." Zhen Youcai nodded in response.

The eldest prince looked at us deeply, turned and left, leaving only a meaningful sentence echoing in the night sky: "Tomorrow will be a new beginning..."