The night sky was dark, and the sea of flames surged in. Countless soldiers lit torches, illuminating Bianliang City as if it were daylight.

On this chilly, bleak winter night, no one felt the slightest cold. Instead, they only felt their blood boiling.

The other two major factions of the Imperial Guard in the Capital Camp were quickly mobilized as well. Countless generals, not knowing from which warm bed they had crawled out, dressed in armor and rushed outside. However, by this time, they had not yet received orders from the upper echelons, namely General An of Anyang Palace, so they were like headless flies, unaware of what was happening.

They only knew that such a large deployment of the Imperial Guard in the city must be due to a significant event.

What could cause such a large deployment of the Imperial Guard? Was it possible that the Personal Guard Department or Huangfu Hao’s men were rebelling?

After all, the majority of the Capital’s troops were under General An’s control, with the remainder under the Personal Guard Department controlled by Shi Si, and the Western Shu pacifying army which Huangfu Hao held and had yet to cut down.

Only their uprising could cause such a large deployment of the Imperial Guard.

Having received no news, they could only lead their men to Xiao Mansion to inquire about what was happening.

At that moment, Chu Ang led his troops in front of them, and said in a deep voice, "Wu Lu intends to rebel. General An of Anyang Palace has specially ordered us to surround Wu Mansion, sparing no one who comes out."

"Is there a command from General An of Anyang Palace?" Chu Ang was just a Military Commander in a division among many armies, so the other generals naturally could not believe him based on his word alone.

"Due to the sudden incident, General An of Anyang Palace only issued a verbal order." Chu Ang said, taking out a token from his arms and added, "But I have the military talisman of the Tiger Jie’s army as evidence."

The generals checked it, still somewhat suspicious, and one of them said, "I’m sorry, we only follow General An’s orders. If there is no..."

Before he could finish, Chu Ang’s large knife stabbed into the chest of the general, and he said coldly, "This person is Wu Mansion’s spy. I executed him as ordered."

Blood sprayed from the general’s chest, flowing onto the ground. As Chu Ang pulled out the knife, the man collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

"Whoa!"

The other generals were shocked.

"Chu Ang, what are you doing?" One general shouted at Chu Ang.

"I said he was Wu Mansion’s spy." Chu Ang said with a stern face.

"Nonsense! Mengzi has followed me in serving General An of Anyang Palace for many years, going through life and death. How could he be Wu Mansion’s spy? I think it’s you instead! Men, arrest him!"

"Xiang En, do you want the two armies to kill each other?" Chu Ang retorted angrily.

"Nonsense! Brothers, this man is Wu Mansion’s spy. Don’t be fooled, kill him!" Xiang En shouted, spitting angrily.

"Nonsense yourself! I think you’re the Wu Mansion’s spy." Chu Ang’s troops clashed with Xiang En’s forces.

As tensions escalated—

"General Huangfu!"

"General Huangfu!"

"General Huangfu!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"..."

Huangfu Hao rode a war horse approaching from afar. Both sides’ troops made way. Huangfu Hao dismounted, walked over, and asked, "What’s going on?"

Chu Ang explained the situation again and accused Xiang En of being Wu Mansion’s spy.

Xiang En naturally said Chu Ang was talking nonsense.

Huangfu Hao stood on Chu Ang’s side and said, "Chu General is right. Wu Mansion intends to rebel. General An of Anyang Palace has specially ordered us to suppress it."

Xiang En’s expression changed, his voice softened, "Then why haven’t we received a command?"

"It happened suddenly. General An of Anyang Palace only issued a verbal order," Huangfu Hao said.

Xiang En’s eyebrows furrowed, and realizing something, he immediately said, "Then let’s get moving."

Huangfu Hao nodded.

Seeing Huangfu Hao turn his back, Xiang En hurried back to his personal soldiers and shouted, "Huangfu Hao and Chu Ang are in this together, plotting against Anyang Palace. Brothers, kill them!"

"You’re courting death." Huangfu Hao’s expression darkened, and he waved his hand.

A battle immediately broke out.

...

At the same time.

Xiao Mansion was surrounded by people sent by Dai Xishan.

The massive commotion naturally awakened Xiao Teng. Armed and armored, he led his guards out of the mansion, only to be startled by the scene before him.

"Impudence! Who are you? How dare you surround Xiao Mansion?" Xiao Teng shouted at their leader, Dai Xishan.

"I’m Dai Xishan. By the order of Lord Chen, I am here to protect Xiao Mansion," Dai Xishan said calmly.

"Lord Chen?" Xiao Teng’s eyebrows raised, and after a moment of realization, he said, "You are Chen Mo’s man. Who ordered him to protect Xiao Mansion? Get out of my way."

Dai Xishan blocked him and said, "It is the order of General An of Anyang Palace."

"Nonsense. My father is attending a banquet at Wu Mansion, how could he..." Halfway through speaking, Xiao Teng’s expression suddenly changed, seemingly realizing a conspiracy, and he shouted, "Tell Chen Mo to come see me."

"The lord is unavailable and only instructed us to protect Xiao Mansion well," Dai Xishan said.

"Insolence." Xiao Teng was furious.

Regardless of Xiao Teng’s anger, Dai Xishan immediately ordered, "Take Xiao Shuai back to rest."

...

The commotion outside naturally spread to the Imperial Palace.

The palace maids and eunuchs couldn’t help but tremble, fearing a repeat of the last incident.

After all, the last time, many palace maids and eunuchs fell in pools of blood, with the stench of blood lingering in the Imperial Palace for days.

It was terrifying.

Weiyang Palace.

"Empress Dowager, something’s wrong. There seems to be a military rebellion outside the palace, the city is full of Imperial Guards..."

Xiao Qing’Er, looking anxious, hurried into Xiao Yunxi’s chambers, reporting what was known of the outside situation.

Xiao Yunxi trembled slightly and hurriedly asked what had happened.

Xiao Qing’Er shook her head, not knowing what had happened. The people she sent had not returned to report.

"Was there anything unusual tonight?" Xiao Yunxi thought it over and asked.

"There was one thing. Lord Wu was hosting a banquet at his mansion tonight, inviting many ministers to attend, and he... he went too." Xiao Qing’Er’s face was somewhat unnatural when she mentioned ’he.’

Xiao Yunxi naturally knew who Xiao Qing’Er was referring to.

"Send everyone out to gather information. As soon as there’s news, report back to me immediately," Xiao Yunxi said.

"Yes."

...

Yong’an Palace.

Shi Si, donned in armor, went directly to Hu Mei’Er’s chambers.

Hu Mei’Er was very respectful toward Shi Si, greeting him as ’Lord.’

Shi Si saluted and, looking somewhat anxious, said, "Your Highness, something’s wrong, something’s happened."

Seeing Shi Si’s anxious manner, Hu Mei’Er, who had been looking calm, furrowed her eyebrows, "Lord Shi, what has happened?"

"Chen Mo’s men have entered the city, and Wu Mansion is tightly surrounded. All four camps in the Capital have been mobilized."

As Shi Si finished speaking, a black shadow appeared before the two of them.

"My lord, Your Highness, something major has happened, Xiao Mansion is surrounded by Chen Mo’s men."