Amorous S*ave Girl - Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Rebellion and Forced Abdication
In the grand hall of the royal mansion, the Fifth Prince lounged lazily on the main seat, leisurely sipping the finest Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea. His personal guard, Yu Changsheng, entered the hall and immediately knelt.
"Your Highness, all of the Chen family's assets—including their businesses and banks—have been transferred to your name!"
The Fifth Prince nodded in satisfaction. "Rise. I've always trusted your efficiency. With this much silver, I could raise not just five hundred thousand troops, but one and a half million!"
"Your Highness, there's something I hesitate to say..." Yu Changsheng hesitated.
The Fifth Prince took another sip of tea and waved dismissively. "Speak freely. I won't hold it against you."
"Your Highness, while we've solved the financial issue and obtained the military seal, the Ministry of Justice has already begun investigating the Chen family massacre and Minister Luo's assassination. Openly transferring all of the Chen family's assets to your name is... bold. It won't take long for them to trace it back to you. If word spreads, you'll lose the people's support. And when cutting weeds, one must uproot them—yet you still won't let me kill Chen Bao'er..."
The Fifth Prince interrupted impatiently. "So what if the Ministry of Justice finds out? The Emperor himself will soon be powerless. Let’s see who dares arrest me! As for the people's hearts—commoners only remember food, not grievances. This year, the Yellow River floods have left them destitute. Once I ascend the throne, I'll open the granaries, relieve their suffering, and exempt them from taxes for five years. As long as they're fed, do you think they'll care who sits on the throne? They'll just kneel and shout, Long live the Emperor! As for Chen Bao'er—she's just a helpless little girl now. What can she possibly do?"
The real reason I spared her is Tao'er.
Though they were master and servant on the surface, Tao'er and Chen Bao'er had grown up as sisters. The Fifth Prince didn’t want Tao'er to hate him.
"But Your Highness, you only hold half of the military seal—just enough to mobilize two hundred thousand imperial guards and three hundred thousand forbidden army troops, totaling five hundred thousand. The Emperor and Empress Dowager still hold the other half, matching your forces..."
Yu Changsheng was still speaking when the Fifth Prince smirked and pulled out two military seals from his robes, dangling them before his stunned subordinate.
"Your Highness, how—?"
"You want to know how I got the other half? Simple—I just had to sacrifice a little charm." The Fifth Prince chuckled. "Those young palace maids never stood a chance."
Yu Changsheng resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "But Your Highness, don't forget—General Han commands over half the dynasty's forces: six hundred thousand border troops and fifty thousand elite guards. The rest—"
"Enough worrying. Aside from Han Shiping's six hundred fifty thousand Han family troops, none of the others will arrive in time. By the time they do, I'll already be Emperor. Right now, I command 'eight hundred thousand' troops."
"Eight hundred thousand? Shouldn't it be a million?"
"Ah, I only bribed two deputy commanders of the imperial guards. The main commander, Lu Zheng, still holds two hundred thousand."
Yu Changsheng nodded. "Lu Zheng is the Emperor's man—no amount of bribes would work on him. But General Han's troops are all elite veterans. Your Highness, are you certain this coup will succeed?"
"Of course. Have you forgotten? I still hold the trump card to control Han Shiping."
"You mean... Tao'er?"
"Not anymore." The Fifth Prince smirked mysteriously. He would never use the woman he loved as a bargaining chip.
"Then who else does General Han care about?" Yu Changsheng was baffled.
"Fool! His mother, of course!"
Yu Changsheng smacked his forehead. "Of course—Lady Han! A mother is a far more reliable hostage than a lover. Your Highness is truly brilliant!"
"Enough flattery. Stick to the plan and get to work." The Fifth Prince lazily waved him off.
As Yu Changsheng left, a relieved smile tugged at his lips. The Fifth Prince’s carefree, frivolous persona was all an act. He’s sharper than anyone.
---
**Meanwhile, at the Han Residence**
General Han sat in his study, his handsome face grim. "Master Ningxi, why didn’t you warn me earlier about the Fifth Prince’s rebellion?"
Ningxi stood by the window, his white robes fluttering like an immortal’s. "General Han, while I sensed his suppressed ambitions, accusing a prince of treason is no small matter. I tried to dissuade him, but his mask of indifference was impenetrable."
General Han’s expression darkened. "His deception was flawless. Even the Emperor and Empress Dowager were fooled. Everyone thought him a harmless dandy—who would’ve guessed he was a venomous poppy in disguise?"
Just then, Tong Yuan burst in, his face pale. "General! The Fifth Prince has kidnapped your mother!"
General Han’s fury erupted as he read the bloodstained letter. "Coward! He demands I withdraw my troops fifty miles from the capital!"
Tong Yuan’s fists clenched. "We can’t do that! The imperial guards alone can’t hold the city for long!" He turned to Ningxi. "Master Ningxi, you’re closest to the Fifth Prince—can you reason with him? Tell him to fight like a man, not hide behind hostages!"
General Han immediately objected. "No! Sending Ningxi would be throwing him to the wolves!"
Ningxi raised a hand, his serene presence calming the tension. "The Fifth Prince tolerates me only because I resemble his late brother. He won’t listen. But fear not—he won’t act rashly yet. His goal isn’t slaughter, but pressuring the Emperor into abdicating legally."
After a moment, General Han nodded. "We’ll withdraw as demanded—for now. But this isn’t over."
---
**At Langyue Villa**
Tao’er sat dejected, having failed yet another escape attempt. The Fifth Prince chuckled. "Miss me that much, little Tao’er?"
When he suddenly cupped her face, his tone turned serious. "Tao’er... do you want to be Empress?"
Her eyes widened. "You’re rebelling?!"
He smirked. "Scared?"
"You’re the one who should be scared! Rebellion means execution!"
"Execution?" He laughed coldly. "The Emperor won’t live long enough to order it. I’ll make him hand me the throne—and you’ll be my Empress."
Tao’er’s voice trembled. "I’m just a maid. An Empress? You’d be the laughingstock of the realm!"
His gaze burned. "You underestimate yourself. I want you—no one else."
Tears welled in her eyes as she dropped to her knees. "Please, stop this madness! The Emperor spared your life after your mother and brother died—how can you betray him?!"
"Betrayal?!" His composure shattered. "The Empress Dowager and Emperor tortured them to death! I swore to my mother I’d take the throne and make them suffer the same!" I will give them a taste of what it's like to live a life worse than death! I have lived in shame for so many years just for this day! Tao'er, you don't have to persuade me anymore. Even if it's a cliff thousands of feet high, I will jump off without hesitation. Death is a kind of relief for me!"
He turned away, but not before Tao’er saw the tear of grief that slipped free from the corners of his eyes.
*****
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