Chapter 92: The Fall of a False Emperor

Before long, Fan Chuan had charged in with her troops.

The imperial guards, those weaklings, saw that the incoming army was the Fan family army, and their faces turned ashen.

They were practically routed at the first encounter.

 

Meanwhile, in the emperor’s sleeping quarters, Zhou Xiao was already dressed in his dragon robe.

He paced anxiously back and forth inside.

“How is it?

What’s happening out there?”

“Your Majesty, a guard from the city walls has just reported.

The Fan family army has arrived.

They have utterly annihilated the rebel forces of the Third Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Ninth Prince.

They must be coming to rescue you.”

The old eunuch by Zhou Xiao’s side replied.

 

Zhou Xiao relaxed a little.

“Yes, yes.

Fan Chuan is a loyal subject.

I am the legitimate emperor.

She will surely help me.

She will surely help me!”

 

But just as Zhou Xiao felt a bit reassured, another imperial guard ran in.

His face was full of panic.

“Your Majesty, bad news, Your Majesty!”

“What is it?”

Zhou Xiao’s hands trembled uncontrollably.

“The Fan family army… the Fan family army has broken in!”

The soldier was practically hoarse.

 

Zhou Xiao stumbled back a few steps, his whole body shaking.

“No, no!

The Fan family is full of loyal martyrs!

They must have mistaken you for rebel soldiers!

Fan Chuan wouldn’t rebel!

No!”

“Your Majesty, perhaps we should leave the palace as soon as possible?”

The eunuch by his side suggested.

 

Zhou Xiao’s eyes filled with tears.

He shook his head.

He was already the emperor.

If he left the palace, everything he had done before would be for nothing.

“No, I don’t believe it!

You’re lying to me!

You’re all lying to me!”

 

Muttering to himself, Zhou Xiao rushed out.

When he ran into the courtyard of the sleeping quarters, he saw that the entire courtyard was surrounded by the Fan family army.

And Fan Chuan was riding forward among those soldiers.

 

Zhou Xiao had already started crying.

“Minister Fan, you’ve come to rescue me, haven’t you?

I knew you would come to rescue me!

You’ve rendered great service this time.

I will definitely grant you the title of prince!”

 

Fan Chuan, however, looked coldly at Zhou Xiao.

“Zhou Xiao, you murdered your father to seize the throne.

An animal like you, what face do you have to live in this world?

And you dare to call yourself ‘We’?

How laughable.”

 

With that, Fan Chuan took out the bow and arrow from behind her.

She nocked an arrow and aimed directly at Zhou Xiao.

 

Zhou Xiao was so terrified he scrambled and crawled back inside.

“Don’t!

Don’t!

I am the emperor!

You cannot kill me!

You cannot…”

 

A whoosh broke the air.

The arrow Fan Chuan shot hit Zhou Xiao directly in the back.

Zhou Xiao fell flat to the ground.

 

Fan Chuan nocked another arrow.

This arrow hit Zhou Xiao square in the chest.

 

She swept her gaze around and announced, “Everyone in this palace is a rebel.

Kill them all.

Spare no one.”

“Yes.”

 

Fan Chuan thought for a moment, then said, “Inform the others to close the city gates around the capital.”

“Yes, Marshal.”

As soon as Fan Chuan finished speaking, messengers went to relay the order.

 

Fan Chuan planned to lock the gates and eliminate all the Great Zhou royal family members to prevent future trouble.

It wasn’t that she was heartless, but if she didn’t clean house thoroughly, it would only leave huge problems for later.

 

Night fell.

The sounds of battle shook the heavens within the palace.

The capital was the same.

The rebel forces had been mostly wiped out by Fan Chuan’s soldiers, with only a few scattered soldiers hiding in various places.

Fan Chuan sent troops to search everywhere and eliminate these rebels.

 

It wasn’t until nearly midnight that the slaughter finally subsided somewhat.

Fan Chuan then gave a second order: all royal relatives of the Great Zhou were to be executed, not a single one spared.

 

And so, the Fan family army surrounded the residences of the Zhou royal family in the capital and killed everyone.

 

By the time the sky was barely light, the Fan family army had already begun transporting the bodies in the city by cart to the wilderness for mass cremation.

 

That night, the ministers and high officials living in the capital were all terrified.

No one dared to rest, nor could they sleep, afraid that they would be the next to be caught in the crossfire.

 

The Shen family huddled in their small courtyard, everyone in tears.

“Father, I’m scared.

I’m scared.”

 

Shen Fangzhou’s face was ashen.

He had originally thought the Fan family army would quickly stabilize the situation in the capital.

He hadn’t expected the sounds of battle to last all night, with some officials’ residences even being breached.

“Don’t panic, don’t panic.

We are related to the Fan family.

No matter what, the Fan family army won’t harm us.

Steward, send someone to climb the courtyard wall and see what’s happening outside.

Be careful.

Don’t let anyone outside spot you.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The steward immediately sent a clever servant boy to do it.

 

Very quickly, the servant boy climbed a ladder up the wall and secretly looked out.

He saw the streets covered in blood, and the Fan family army was transporting cart after cart of bodies past.

 

The boy was so frightened his legs went weak, and he nearly fell off the ladder.

Two other servant boys held him steady, so he didn’t fall.

 

Those two servant boys helped the one who had climbed the ladder back to the small courtyard.

Shen Fangzhou quickly asked, “What’s happening out there now?”

“My lord, the streets outside are covered in blood.

The Fan family army is transporting bodies on wooden carts.”

 

Shen Fangzhou, however, was somewhat relieved.

“It seems the Fan family army is still in control.

So, Fan Chuan must have already joined forces with the Crown Prince – no, with His Majesty.

Fan Chuan must have joined forces with His Majesty.

Now it’s alright.

We’re all saved!”

“Really?

Wonderful, wonderful!

We won’t die!

We won’t die!”

“Yes, yes.

These past few days have been so terrifying.”

 

Compared to his family’s relaxation, Shen Fangzhou was thinking about when he should enter the palace to pay respects to the emperor.

He was, after all, the old emperor’s man.

Now that Zhou Xiao had ascended the throne, and Zhou Xiao had Fan Chuan’s support, his position as emperor was essentially secure.

As the Prime Minister, he had to show his allegiance; otherwise, he might be replaced by Zhou Xiao.

 

But with the chaos outside, Shen Fangzhou was afraid of being killed by rebel soldiers.

He began to deliberate again.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Wei Lan and the others had already received news that Fan Chuan had taken control of the capital.

At that moment, Wei Lan was sitting in her own tent.

She had sent someone to find a smooth piece of marble.

Now, she was using a carving knife and a hammer to carve characters into the marble.

 

After finishing their discussion, Shen Lingwei and Lu Zijin wanted to go find Fan Chuan to discuss how to deploy the soldiers outside.

They saw Wei Lan sitting there, chipping away.

“What are you doing?”

Lu Zijin asked first.

 

Wei Lan smiled at her and blinked.

“Come and see for yourselves.”

 

Lu Zijin and Shen Lingwei exchanged a glance, not knowing what she was up to.

They both leaned in to look at the stone tablet and saw written on it:

The Great Zhou emperor was decadent and debauched, treating the people like fish to be sliced.

Thus, he brought extermination upon his clan.

Now, Heaven sends an auspicious sign: Fan shall replace the Zhou.

Then the seas will be calm, and the realm will enjoy peace and prosperity.

“Is this a prophecy?”

Lu Zijin asked.

“Mm.

Isn’t this how it’s always done during dynastic changes?

We’ll do the same, bury it, and dig it up later.”

Wei Lan polished the spot she had carved.

 

Shen Lingwei, however, smiled.

“This plan is feasible.”

 

Even though many people would know that digging up a stone with characters on it was likely fake, quite a few would still believe it.

Ancient people revered the power of gods and spirits.

To make their overthrow of the old dynasty appear reasonable, many emperors had done this.

“Alright.

I’ll have Xi Ye cover it with cloth, bury it deep, and we’ll dig it up when the time comes.”

Wei Lan smiled.

“Good.”

Lu Zijin nodded.

 

Shen Lingwei’s gaze fell on the stone.

She hadn’t expected Wei Lan to know how to do this.

She asked, “You can carve too?”

“I’m a jade carver.

Naturally, I can carve stone.

Jade is essentially stone, just with different hardness levels.

It’s all carving.

Oh, we don’t have an imperial seal yet.

But we haven’t decided on the name of the dynasty.

Once we do, I can carve it.”

Wei Lan said calmly.

 

With that, she stood up, called Xi Ye in, and instructed her to have someone bury this large stone deep underground.

Of course, they had to mark the spot so they wouldn’t lose it when it was time to dig it up.

 

Xi Ye immediately took some people to do it.

 

***

 

On Fan Chuan’s side, she was still having her soldiers clear the bodies.

At the same time, she had sent out her most trusted personal guards to gather all the royal family’s wealth into a single courtyard.

All these things needed to be inventoried.

Of course, the subsequent tasks were complicated, so she could only do her best.

 

Another entire day passed before the bodies in the capital were finally cleared away.

That night, a heavy rain fell, washing away most of the blood in the palace and on the roads throughout the capital.

 

Early on the third day, Fan Chuan sent people to escort Shen Lingwei and the others into the palace.

She didn’t trust anyone else to inventory the wealth; it was safer to leave it to her own people.

Also, she needed to decide on the name of the new dynasty as soon as possible and prepare for the coronation ceremony.

Only by sitting on this throne could she send troops to suppress the bandit rebellions with greater legitimacy.

 

Wei Lan wore a suit of golden armor.

This armor was Fan Chuan’s.

Since their figures were similar, Fan Chuan had simply given her a set.

 

Now, Wei Lan was sitting on horseback, escorted by soldiers as they headed towards the palace.

Shen Lingwei and Lu Zijin were still traveling by carriage.

 

Soon, they entered the palace.

The three went directly to the imperial study to meet up with Fan Chuan.

Fan Chuan was handling various matters.

Seeing Wei Lan and the others arrive, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“There is still so much to do.

The wealth in the palace needs to be inventoried.

The lands under the royal family also need to be reclaimed.

Of course, we also need to decide on the name of the new dynasty, hold the coronation ceremony, reassure the people, and suppress the bandit rebellions everywhere.”

Fan Chuan listed the current priorities.

“Leave the inventorying of wealth and lands to me and Sister Shen.”

Lu Zijin said with a smile.

“Good.

I’ll have them bring in two more desks.

With us working together, things will go faster.”

Fan Chuan had the soldiers bring three more desks into the study.

Then, Lu Zijin and Shen Lingwei began to work busily.

 

Wei Lan, meanwhile, was discussing the name of the new dynasty and the coronation ceremony with Fan Chuan.

 

***

 

Three days later, the once chaotic palace had finally regained its former stability.

Fan Chuan had also ordered the rushed production of the dragon robe and the phoenix robe.

As for Wei Lan, Fan Chuan had found her a jade carving machine.

At that moment, she was holding a piece of white jade, sitting in front of the lathe, carving a design onto it.

 

She was carving the imperial seal of the new dynasty.

When Fan Chuan had heard that she could do this, she had immediately entrusted the task of the seal to Wei Lan.

 

Wei Lan had already finished carving the coiled dragon pattern on top of the seal.

She always demanded excellence of herself.

Even under such urgent circumstances, she had carved nine dragon heads into the design on top, symbolizing the ‘Supreme Ruler’.

The four sides of the seal were also carved with auspicious clouds.

Even without carving the characters on the bottom, Wei Lan’s craftsmanship alone would multiply the seal’s value by at least a hundredfold.

 

Now, Wei Lan was carving the five characters ‘Seal of the Emperor of Dazhao’ on the surface of the seal.

She carved with extreme precision, even adding coiled dragon motifs around the characters.

Anyway, it was far more beautiful than the Great Zhou’s previous imperial seal and much harder to forge.

 

No one else in this era could replicate the craftsmanship on this side of the seal, with its nine dragons swirling around the characters.

 

To carve this seal, she had to start at daybreak and work until dark.

After five days of this, the seal was finally finished.

 

Wei Lan held up the finished seal in her hand.

She was extremely satisfied with her work.

Even the nine dragon heads coiled above were clearly visible, down to the scales on their bodies.

 

Wei Lan hugged the seal and ran to the imperial study.

Because carving jade made noise, Fan Chuan had assigned her to an empty room in the rear hall, telling no one to disturb her, just wanting the task done quickly.

 

After all, the seal was of utmost importance.

To be honest, she wouldn’t feel safe entrusting it to an outsider.

 

When Wei Lan arrived at the study, Fan Chuan and the others were still busy, working frantically.

“The seal is finished.”

 

Fan Chuan looked up.

She had thought that when Wei Lan said she could carve, she meant something simple, just carving the few characters on the bottom.

But when Wei Lan approached, Fan Chuan was stunned.

“You carved this?”

Fan Chuan looked at the nine dragons hovering over the seal, completely astonished.

Even Gong Jinsheng, the most skilled carver in the Great Zhou, probably couldn’t carve a seal like this, right?

 

Shen Lingwei also came over curiously and was stunned.

Logically, as the daughter of the Prime Minister, she had seen many expensive jade carvings, but she had never seen dragons carved so vividly.

 

Wei Lan nodded.

“Of course.

See, I used the nine-dragon carving method.

On the side with the characters, I also carved shallow patterns of nine dragons and auspicious clouds.

You can use this seal with confidence.

No one else could carve this.”

 

Wei Lan showed the carved side to Fan Chuan.

Fan Chuan was equally shocked.

She said to Yun Heng, “Go get the red ink paste.”

“Yes.”

Yun Heng immediately brought the ink paste and placed it on a jade desk.

 

Fan Chuan picked up the seal, dipped it in the paste, and pressed it onto a piece of white paper beside her.

When she lifted it, she saw that the seal on the paper read ‘Seal of the Emperor of Dazhao’ in five large characters, surrounded by swirling dragons.

The impression left by this seal was exceptionally beautiful.

“This is truly remarkable.

I didn’t expect you to have such skill.”

Fan Chuan smiled.

“Of course.

This is my profession.”

She wasn’t good at accounting or keeping numbers, but when it came to carving, she was the best.

“Wei Lan, I’ll also entrust the Empress’s phoenix seal to you.

Things are a bit urgent.

I’ve set the coronation ceremony for five days from now.

Can you finish it in time?”

Fan Chuan asked.

“Probably.”

Wei Lan nodded.

Then she asked, “Cousin, what do you plan to do with the former Great Zhou court officials?”

“If they are willing to submit, I won’t touch them.

There are many things to do right now, and I still need them to help me.

But if they refuse to submit, I will confiscate their property and exile them to Lingnan.

If anyone is particularly aggressive and causes trouble, they will be executed.”

Fan Chuan said.

 

Wei Lan nodded.

“When do you plan to have them enter the palace?”

“Tomorrow.

I’ll give them a heads-up first, so they don’t disrupt the coronation ceremony.”

Fan Chuan said after a moment’s thought.

The situation in the capital had been mostly sorted out.

For the details, she still needed the assistance of those officials.

So, she couldn’t kill all of them.

“Mm.”

Hearing that Fan Chuan had a clear plan, Wei Lan felt reassured.

She took another piece of jade of a similar size and went to the rear hall, burying herself in carving again.

 

***

 

Early the next morning, Fan family soldiers went door-to-door notifying the court officials to enter the palace for an audience.

If anyone refused, they were to be killed without mercy.

 

Most of the officials in the capital were civilians.

Any military officers present were useless.

So, none of these ministers dared to resist.

 

They were all brought to the entrance of the palace, whispering among themselves.

“What exactly is going on?

Is the current emperor the Crown Prince?”

“Probably.

After all, Fan Chuan is a loyal minister.

She would surely support the legitimate Crown Prince.”

“I think so too.

There haven’t been any sounds of fighting on the streets for days.

The capital should be stable now.”

 

The group chatted softly as they were led by the soldiers to Zhao Ming Hall, where the ministers held court.

From a distance, they could see someone sitting on the throne, but they were too far away to make out who it was.

 

Someone spotted Shen Fangzhou and quickly went over to ask.

“Prime Minister, Marshal Fan is the husband of your daughter.

Have you heard any news?”

 

Shen Fangzhou shook his head, his expression dark.

He had spent these days in terror, hoping Fan Chuan would send someone to protect them.

But Fan Chuan hadn’t sent anyone at all.

He was worried that his daughter’s role as a spy had been exposed, and he was terrified that his family would be caught in the crossfire.

 

Seeing Shen Fangzhou shake his head, the ministers quickened their pace towards Zhao Ming Hall.

 

Inside Zhao Ming Hall, soldiers in armor stood everywhere.

And on the throne sat Fan Chuan.

 

Some officials recognized Fan Chuan and immediately pointed at her in outrage.

“Fan Chuan, how dare you sit there?

Is there no law?

Where is His Majesty?”

 

Fan Chuan swept a cold glance over them.

When everyone had entered the hall, the doors were pushed shut from the outside.

 

Some ministers immediately realized something was wrong and shouted anxiously, “Fan Chuan, what are you doing?

We are all court officials.

How dare you harm us?”

 

Fan Chuan signaled to Yun Heng.

Yun Heng immediately had two soldiers go down and slap the mouth of the minister who had just shouted.

Soon, the crisp sound of slaps echoed.

Some others wanted to plead for mercy, but they were afraid of being beaten, so they just kept their heads down.

The hall fell completely silent.

 

Only then did Fan Chuan sweep her gaze over everyone and speak.

“The Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, Zhou Xiao, murdered his father to seize the throne and slaughtered his brothers.

The Great Zhou’s royal family is now extinct.

I have no choice but to temporarily assume this position.

Five days from now, I will hold my coronation ceremony.

The dynasty will be named Dazhao.

Of course, if you are willing to stay and help me, I will not dwell on the past, and you will retain your current official positions.

As for those unwilling to stay, I will not take your lives.

I will simply confiscate your property and exile you to Lingnan.”

“You…

Fan Chuan, you traitor!

I thought the Fan family was full of loyal martyrs.

I never expected you to be this kind of person!”

A censor of the Great Zhou immediately spoke out in opposition.

Censors like him were basically professional arguers.

But it was very clear he had misjudged the timing.

With the situation tense, he was walking right into the line of fire.

 

But he thought that since he was a censor, Fan Chuan wouldn’t dare kill him.

So, he stiffened his neck and continued, “Don’t think we’ll accept you!”

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

“Then kill him.

Confiscate all his property and exile his entire family to Lingnan.”

“Yes.”

 

As soon as Fan Chuan finished speaking, soldiers in armor immediately grabbed the censor.

The man was terrified.

In a panic, he cried out, “You can’t kill me!

You can’t kill me…”

 

He tried to say more, but his head rolled to the ground.

The civil officials, many of whom had never even seen a chicken slaughtered, were very frightened.

Some even fainted on the spot.

 

Fan Chuan sneered.

If she didn’t need to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible, she wouldn’t want to use any of these people.

“Those who fainted, if you don’t get up now, you’ll all be killed.

I have no use for such useless people in my court.”

 

As soon as Fan Chuan finished speaking, those ministers who had been pretending to faint scrambled up from the floor.

Some quick-witted ministers immediately knelt and bowed to Fan Chuan.

“Your servant is willing to follow Your Majesty through fire and water!”

 

As he knelt, many other ministers followed suit.

They had been terrified for a month.

The princes fighting over the throne had made them terribly anxious.

Now, things had finally stabilized.

And Fan Chuan held military power.

Who would dare provoke Fan Chuan but be asking for death?

“Your servant… your servant is also willing to pledge loyalty to Your Majesty.”

“Yes, me too.

Me too.”

 

One by one, they knelt to Fan Chuan.

Only three ministers still stood, their backs straight.

 

Shen Fangzhou watched as the people around him knelt one by one.

He gritted his teeth and knelt as well.

 

He was one of the old emperor’s men, something Fan Chuan surely knew.

And his own daughter had been a spy planted by the old emperor by Fan Chuan’s side.

Would his entire family be executed by Fan Chuan?

Or would they be spared?

Shen Fangzhou was also uncertain.

Anyway, since everyone else was kneeling, he would kneel too.

 

Fan Chuan looked at the three men remaining in the court and asked, “You three are unwilling to work for me?”

“I was born a man of the Great Zhou, and I will die a ghost of the Great Zhou.

I will never accept you, Fan Chuan!

Your Fan family is full of loyal martyrs, yet you commit such shameless acts…”

“Silence!”

Fan Chuan shouted angrily.

“You know my Fan family is full of loyal martyrs.

But how did the Great Zhou treat my family?

Zhou Nanfeng planted over ten spies by my side, even my own wife was one of his plants!”

 

As Fan Chuan said this, cold sweat formed on Shen Fangzhou’s forehead.

Had Shen Lingwei been exposed?

Would the Shen family be punished for it?

 

Fan Chuan continued.

“The court has withheld the Fan family army’s pay for months.

Why should I be loyal to such a Great Zhou?

Guards, execute him immediately!”

“Yes.”

As Fan Chuan finished speaking, two soldiers beheaded the man.

The floor of the hall was instantly stained with blood.

 

The remaining two standing ministers looked deeply sorrowful and indignant.

Fan Chuan didn’t want to hear any more.

She raised her hand and had them executed as well.

 

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