Midnight in the imperial palace, the disturbance was particularly conspicuous.
Ye Tingyan was momentarily stunned, and upon realizing the sounds of battle were directed at him, his expression darkened, and he immediately strode out of the hall.
The further he went, the fiercer the commotion became. Ye Tingyan sensed something was amiss and, seeing a private soldier rushing back, he sharply questioned him.
"What has happened in the palace, why is it so noisy?"
At this moment, he didn't believe any force in the city could contend with his private soldiers. Even if someone came to the palace to seek retribution for the emperor's death, it would be like a moth to a flame.
These were not things he would normally worry about, but tonight was a critical juncture, and he absolutely could not let it interfere with his ascension.
Ye Tingyan furrowed his brow, about to issue an order, when the private soldier's reply instantly darkened his face.
"Your Highness, someone has led troops to storm the palace, forcing open the palace gates while we were unprepared. They are now heading towards the main hall. For your safety, please retreat to the inner palace with the officials to seek shelter!"
"What did you say?!"
Ye Tingyan's eyes snapped open, and he grabbed the man's collar.
"Who are they, to be able to break through the palace gates? Are the guards at the gate all dead!"
The incident was sudden, and the private soldier was somewhat disoriented. Hearing the question, he stammered.
"The enemy came with great force and was well-trained. We were caught off guard, and we struggled to resist. We... we truly don't know who has stormed the palace..."
"Useless!"
After fighting for so long, they didn't even know who the enemy was. Ye Tingyan's veins bulged on his forehead, and he forcefully threw the man aside.
The sounds of battle grew clearer and closer. Before he could even think, another private soldier rushed over.
"Your Highness, the rebels have reached the Mingqian Gate. They will be here in less than half an hour. Please prioritize your safety and leave quickly!"
The Mingqian Gate was the last barrier to entering the imperial palace.
In just this short time, the enemy had already fought their way from the outer palace gates to the Mingqian Gate, their speed was truly astonishing.
Ye Tingyan's face was grim. He still asked with a furrowed brow, "Have you identified who is storming the palace?"
Such terrifying speed made him suspect something.
But Ye Tinglan had already fled the capital, and his subordinates had all died during the breakout. This was what Feng Chong had reported earlier today, there was no room for falsehood.
So, who was leading the troops storming the palace now?!
This time, the subordinate had observed more carefully. After thinking for a moment, he replied.
"The enemy wears gray soft armor, their uniforms are unified, and their weapons are varied, mostly common military spears or lances. From the surface, it's hard to tell which barracks they belong to, but they are definitely troops of the court."
Ye Tingyan's eyes narrowed upon hearing this. As the guard urged him again, he remained rooted to the spot.
The struggle for succession had begun several days ago. These troops of unknown identity, appearing now and not earlier, who was behind them?
However, no matter who it was, at this critical moment, he absolutely could not retreat.
He had worked tirelessly for years and was only one step away from the throne. He had to ascend!
Therefore, when another private soldier rushed to report, Ye Tingyan snatched the sword from his hand and cut him off.
"All soldiers, advance and guard the main hall! Without my command, no one is to enter or leave!"
The officials inside the hall had already been alerted by the commotion outside. As they emerged, they were immediately blocked by Ye Tingyan's men, causing immediate dissatisfaction.
The Prime Minister, still at the front, saw this and strode past the guards to face Ye Tingyan, questioning him sternly.
"Second Prince, what has happened in the palace? Why are the hall doors sealed, confining us within this hall?"
He had been harboring intentions since earlier.
Everyone understood this and immediately voiced their agreement.
"Second Prince, we are here to mourn His Majesty. You have no right to confine us here!"
"Open the doors immediately and let us out, otherwise you admit to coveting the throne and harboring ill intentions!"
Civil officials might be weak, but their sharp tongues could kill without a trace.
Ye Tingyan was already vexed. Seeing their unrest and the incipient signs of mutiny, he furrowed his brow and had to step forward.
"Esteemed officials, please remain calm. The guard just reported that rebels have forcefully entered the palace tonight and have already reached the Mingqian Gate. Our soldiers are fighting valiantly to resist. I have ordered the hall sealed for your safety. I implore everyone to cooperate."
The private soldiers guarding the hall were limited in number. If these civil officials were to riot, it would indeed be adding chaos to chaos and be difficult to control.
To have encountered such an event upon entering the palace tonight, everyone was immediately thrown into a panic.
"What? Rebels again?!"
The last time they had witnessed palace turmoil was during the incident when Ye Tingyan and Ye Tingyu led their private soldiers into the palace.
The scene from that day was still vivid. As everyone grew anxious, the atmosphere within the hall quickly fell silent.
Ye Tingyan and his men stood guard outside the hall.
The sounds of battle intensified, and guards kept coming back with reports. Behind the closed doors, the officials huddled within the hall, like a flock of sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
In the suffocating solemnity, someone inexplicably shouted, "Ye Tingyan is incompetent!" This remark was like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, and the atmosphere instantly exploded.
"If Prince Mo were here today, he would never have allowed those rebels to breach the palace! They would have been subdued by Prince Mo as soon as they broke through the palace gates!"
"That's true. What is the use of locking us in this hall? This meager resistance is no different from waiting for death! Such a person cannot be the ruler of our Jing Dynasty!"
The discussions inside the hall grew louder, mostly scolding Ye Tingyan for his incompetence.
On the other side of the door, these words clearly reached Ye Tingyan's ears, instantly darkening his expression and stirring a killing intent within him.
Distant flares of fire crisscrossed, and figures fighting each other appeared within his sight.
In front of those rebels, his private soldiers were almost in a state of collapse, retreating step by step. Besides those who were retreating, all his private soldiers within the palace had been gathered here.
The situation was more severe than he had anticipated. The enemy forces seemed endless, so numerous it was almost absurd!
And amidst the chaos, Ye Tingyan finally saw the leader of the opposing force. His eyes suddenly widened, and his gaze narrowed.
Song Qing'an!
He had calculated everything, but he had never expected the person to be him!
The game in the capital had begun to unfold from the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and it had fully escalated after the Qin family was raided and Ye Tinglan entered the palace.
Such a massive military deployment would necessitate official approval, yet they had been unaware of it. How was this possible!
Unless...
He had received a secret imperial edict and had been acting in secret all along!
This thought struck Ye Tingyan like lightning, sending a chill down his spine.
Then the nine funeral bells that rang tonight...
Were they not precisely the summons for him to lead troops into the palace!