Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 227 Crown Prince, are you trying to force me to abdicate?

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The urgent report from the Embroidered-Robe Envoy caused an immediate uproar in the imperial court.

The faces of the civil officials changed drastically, and their hands trembled uncontrollably.

If it's a riot by displaced people, that's nothing; they're just a bunch of rabble.

The 100,000-strong army of Roushan is a truly formidable force. Now that they have raised an army to besiege the capital, wouldn't that plunge the world into chaos?

Some people couldn't help but look at Bai Xiaoxiao on the dragon throne.

The slogan of Roushan Camp was "Purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate the evil concubines," which was a legitimate reason for their attack and clearly aimed at Bai Xiaoxiao, the Imperial Noble Consort.

However, no one saw any worry on the Imperial Noble Consort's face.

Unlike the apprehension of the court officials, the Crown Prince, who had just been extremely dejected, immediately became radiant, as if he had taken a powerful tonic.

Although he didn't say anything explicitly, those who were observant had already realized that the uprising at Roushan Camp was related to the Crown Prince.

Bai Xiaoxiao waved for the Embroidered-Robe Envoy to leave, then looked at Qian Tao: "General Qian, I remember that the Roushan Camp just changed its garrison. You are the commander of the Roushan Camp. How is the Roushan Camp deployed today?"

Qian Tao glanced at the Crown Prince and understood immediately that the Crown Prince had used the Tiger Tally to mobilize troops.

The main camp is now only guarded by the deputy general, who can only follow orders upon seeing the tiger tally.

The Crown Prince clearly came with ill intentions; today's grand court assembly is unlikely to end well!

"Your Highness, the Roushan camp is currently being guarded by Deputy General Cao Yun. Before I left, I instructed him to act as he sees fit."

"Acting expediently" means temporarily handing over all power to Cao Yun.

Qian Tao's intention was also to tell everyone that he was unaware of the troop deployment from Roushan Camp today.

The commanders of the Fengshan and Qianshan camps also came forward to respond, and their statements were basically consistent with what Qian Tao had said.

After Bai Xiaoxiao finished asking her question, she hesitated for a moment without saying a word, but the court officials were getting impatient.

Chen Wenyu spoke first: "Imperial Noble Consort, we must make plans for this as soon as possible. Roushan Camp is the closest to the capital. If we delay any longer, the army may have already besieged the capital."

"I believe that the Imperial Noble Consort should quickly invite His Majesty out of Hexi Palace. Only with His Majesty in charge can the three major camps be forced to retreat."

Bai Xiaoxiao glanced at Chen Wenyu and sneered.

He sighed inwardly, thinking that Chen Wenyu was truly a loyal subject of the Great Zhou!

In this urgent situation, they still want to set things right and make Bai Xiaoxiao hand over the power of regent.

Unfortunately, he was unaware of the reasons behind it all, and his loyalty was misplaced.

Bai Xiaoxiao didn't mince words, directly pointing out Chen Wenyu's thoughts: "My lord, don't play your civil officials' game now. The duty of the Roushan Camp is to protect the capital, but now they are entering the capital without an imperial edict. In my opinion, this is a mutiny!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked!

The soldiers of Roushan Camp were carrying banners proclaiming the removal of corrupt officials and the elimination of wicked concubines, but Bai Xiaoxiao directly accused them of mutiny.

This turned the 100,000 soldiers of the Roushan Camp into rebels!

Qian Tao immediately stood up to object: "Your Highness, this is inappropriate! Cao Yun of the Roushan Camp is a fierce general, loyal to the court. He must have seen the Tiger Tally to be able to send troops. How can Your Highness say that the soldiers have mutinied?"

"Furthermore, if it really is a mutiny, how does the Imperial Noble Consort plan to deal with it? The total military force in the capital is less than 20,000, which includes the palace guards, the Eastern Palace Golden Guard, the Five City Garrison, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the runners of the Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Does the Imperial Noble Consort intend to use these people to resist 100,000 troops? Not to mention the unusual movements at the Fengshan and Qianshan camps. I urge the Imperial Noble Consort to be cautious!"

Bai Xiaoxiao narrowed her eyes and said angrily, "General Qian, so according to you, the soldiers of Roushan Camp are not rebels, but a righteous army?"

"General Qian, are you planning to tie me up and send me to the front lines to prove the rebels' loyalty in purging the emperor's inner circle and eliminating the wicked concubine?"

Qian Tao immediately cupped his hands in respect: "Your subject dares not. I only cannot bear to engage in close combat and harm the common people."

Bai Xiaoxiao sneered and glanced at the court officials present.

The voice was firm and powerful: "If anyone here has such thoughts, speak them now, and let me see your loyalty."

"If you don't speak now, and the rebels dare to defect after they enter the city, I will be the first to kill them!"

Bai Xiaoxiao's tone was chilling, carrying an unyielding, bloodthirsty air.

The court officials were also astonished to see the Imperial Noble Consort in such a state for the first time.

I thought the Imperial Noble Consort was a woman who used her beauty to seduce the emperor and rise to power, but I didn't expect her to remain so calm in the face of a great enemy.

I really underestimated her before!

Zhou Wei stood beside the princess and whispered to her, "Well? Has the princess figured anything out?"

The eldest princess gently shook her head: "It's really hard to judge. Most women would have lost their composure in this situation, but she remained calm, clearly having a backup plan."

Zhou Wei was puzzled: "What backup plan? There are less than 20,000 troops in the city. Even if she gathers them all together, she can't withstand 100,000 troops. This move is no different from throwing an egg against a rock."

unless……

The eldest princess and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance, unless... Bai Xiaoxiao had long anticipated that the army would mutini.

They just couldn't understand where Bai Xiaoxiao's confidence came from.

Even if Bai Xiaoxiao is a cultivator, it would be a bit presumptuous of her to try and withstand 100,000 soldiers!

Zhou Wei's gaze kept shifting between Bai Xiaoxiao and the Princess. Suddenly, an idea flashed into her mind.

She asked with some surprise, "Princess, could it be that the Imperial Noble Consort relies on you?"

The princess was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Even I'm not that confident, yet she dares to bet everything on me?"

Zhou Wei then reminded her: "Princess, don't forget that the Imperial Noble Consort once said that the tiger tally is not important, what is important is the person. This is clearly a veiled reference."

After a moment of contemplation, the eldest princess made up her mind.

She gently patted Zhou Wei's hand and whispered, "My actions were partly a gamble, and I was only about 60% sure of success. But seeing how composed the Imperial Noble Consort is now, my 60% has suddenly become 100%."

Zhou Wei glanced at Bai Xiaoxiao, "Then let's just hope that this wicked concubine who brought ruin to the country wins the gamble, just like us!"

After exchanging a smile, the eldest princess walked before the assembled officials and faced the crown prince directly.

"Yue Shan, are you trying to force me to abdicate?"

The princess's question was so direct that even the crown prince didn't react.

After a long while, he finally said angrily, "Royal sister, what are you saying?"

The eldest princess sneered: "I know General Cao Yun of the Roushan Camp. He was very brave when he fought on the border. He was always thinking about being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, even if it meant dying on the battlefield."

“Such a person will not send out troops without the Tiger Tally. My Tiger Tally can mobilize the soldiers of the three major camps in the capital.”

"Five years ago, you took the Tiger Tally from me and became the commander of the Three Great Camps. I'm afraid you were already planning to mobilize the Three Great Camps to enter the capital today to purge the court of corrupt officials, eliminate the Imperial Noble Consort, and then force Father Emperor to abdicate, is that right?"

Jiang Yueli revealed the Crown Prince's backup plans one by one, her expression showing a hint of panic.

In an instant, he regained his composure.

His eyes were filled with resentment as he looked at the eldest princess.

"So what?"