Realistic governance games for both male and female audiences

Chapter 34 I... have rebelled!

At this moment, the council hall door, made of Phoebe zhennan wood, had been slammed shut by two armored guards outside, isolating it from all outside noise and completely sealing off the oppressive killing intent that filled the room.

Inside the hall, dozens of giant tallow candles crackled and burned, their dim yellow light dancing on everyone's tense faces, casting their shadows like menacing demons.

Prince Su, Gu Suyue, sat upright in the main seat, the tea in his hand long since gone cold.

His eyes were lowered, his thick eyelashes concealing the murderous intent surging in his eyes. His slender fingers rhythmically tapped the purple clay teacup, the soft sound instantly silencing the once bustling hall.

Once everyone had settled down, Prince Su, Gu Suyue, slowly scanned the two rows of his trusted and fierce generals standing below.

These people followed King Su in pacifying the Western Qiang and the Northern Di, and each of them carried a murderous aura that seemed to have crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

At this moment, watching the prince's unusual silence and the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the purple clay teapot, the commanders gradually held their breath and focused their attention.

After an unknown amount of time—perhaps a few breaths, or perhaps the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—Gu Suyue finally put down his teacup.

"Snapped!"

With a crisp sound, the tea lid struck the rim of the cup. The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, instantly startling everyone in the hall.

Then, Gu Suyue slowly raised his head.

However, his usually dignified and profound eyes were now bloodshot, and a chilling light shone deep within them.

He didn't waste any time or preamble; he simply spoke slowly in a tone that was almost flat yet chillingly cold:

"This morning at court, Gu Xiaoxiao actually proposed that I go to the Northern Xiongnu for a marriage alliance!"

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over everyone present like a sharp blade, as if scrutinizing them, or perhaps suppressing some kind of "fiery" emotion that was about to burst forth.

"This is hardly a marriage alliance!" After a long silence, Gu Suyue sneered, a contemptuous and mocking smile curving his lips. "I think... Gu Xiaoxiao clearly intends to humiliate me while simultaneously eliminating me!"

"What? A marriage alliance? Sending the prince to a marriage alliance?"

After a brief silence, an incredulous uproar erupted from the crowd.

Then, a commander with a towering, iron-tower-like physique and a fiery temper widened his eyes, which were as large as copper bells:

"Has the Great Liang Dynasty been established for forty or fifty years already?"

"I have never heard of sending a prince with a well-trained and well-supplied army to a political marriage..."

"This...isn't this forcing Your Highness to turn against His Majesty?"

"But with the pathetic fighting strength of those weak soldiers under His Majesty's command, what makes him dare to force Your Highness to turn against him?"

"Could it be... that His Majesty has been bewitched by something?"

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"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

The other commander slapped his thigh and stood up angrily.

"Your Highness, you are the pillar of the Great Liang, the golden beam that holds up the sea! Without you guarding the southern border, the Northern Xiongnu would not only be rampaging in the north... Now His Majesty not only does not appreciate your contributions, but also intends to do this 'discard the millstone after it has served its purpose' thing. Is there any justice left in this world?"

The generals looked at each other, their initial shock gradually turning into overwhelming rage.

They could neither understand nor accept this humiliating act that defied common sense.

In their view, this was not only a conspiracy against Prince Su, but also a provocation against them, his brothers who had risked their lives alongside him.

"Your Highness, since that emperor is so ruthless, he shouldn't blame us for being unjust!"

The young commander Zhou Qing, who had been silent all along, suddenly drew his sword from his waist. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the long sword, forged from fine steel, whistled through the air and slammed into the center of the council table!

With a "crack", a crack appeared on the hard mahogany tabletop. At this moment, the blade of Zhou Qing's sword had sunk into the mahogany tabletop, and the hilt was still trembling on the mahogany table!

Then, everyone present heard Zhou Qing, his eyes bloodshot, grit his teeth and growl:

"If you ask me, let's just rebel!"

"We're not putting up with this damn beam anymore!"

"When the prince becomes emperor, we won't have to put up with this worthless emperor's wrath anymore!"

"Your Highness, we brothers shed blood and sweat on the frontier, while he enjoys a life of luxury in the capital. Yet, he still schemes against us at every turn... This humble general simply cannot swallow this insult!"

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"Yes! They've rebelled! They've rebelled to the death!"

Zhou Qing's roar was like igniting a powder keg, instantly setting the entire council hall ablaze.

"This humble general is willing to fight to the death alongside Your Highness!"

"That incompetent ruler, Gu Xiaoxiao, should have been replaced long ago!"

"Storm the palace and make the prince ascend the throne!"

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Immediately, the commanders, their blood boiling with rage and fury, drew their swords.

In an instant, cold light flashed everywhere, and the sound of swords clashing was incessant.

After that, these dozens of fierce generals knelt down on one knee in unison, their eyes filled with fanaticism and determination, as if they could transform into the sharpest blades and flatten the capital city at the command of Prince Su!

Seeing the scene below where the crowd was in high spirits and the morale of the troops was high, Gu Suyue's originally cold face finally showed a hint of emotion.

He slowly stood up, his wide python robe fluttering even without wind.

He didn't speak, but took a small step forward, bringing himself closer to the council table in front of him.

"Clang—"

Then, a clear and melodious sword cry resounded throughout the hall.

It turned out that Prince Su, Gu Suyue, had drawn the sword from his waist!

This sword is named "Soul Severer," and it was a divine weapon bestowed upon him by the late emperor when he was still alive.

This sword is jet black, with a faint dark red glow, and has drunk the blood of countless enemies.

He walked to the table, but instead of stabbing the sword into the surface like Zhou Qing did, he gripped the sword with both hands and raised it high.

At this moment, his bloodshot eyes were fixed on the sword's edge, as if he wanted to pour all the humiliation and anger in his heart into this one strike!

"Snap!"

With a loud crash, the corner of the sturdy mahogany table snapped off!

The cut was as smooth as a mirror, which showed the immense power of the sword and the intense anger contained in Prince Su, Gu Suyue's heart!

The moment the corner of the mahogany table snapped, Gu Suyue casually shoved the Soul-Severing Sword into the ground, the tip instantly sinking three inches into the earth.

When Prince Su, Gu Suyue, raised his head again, his resolute face was now filled with determination and madness.

Then, his originally deep voice became hoarse and violent, like the roar of a wounded beast:

"Since Gu Xiaoxiao isn't giving me a way out, then don't blame me for... turning the world upside down!"

"All generals, heed my command—"

"I... have rebelled!"

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