House of Zhao Internal Strife

"Sean Hayes, read the names. Everyone called, step forward and assemble." Alexander Hayes commanded.

As soon as Alexander Hayes finished speaking, countless Qin Royal Army soldiers in black armor appeared all around the plaza, wielding muskets. The House of Zhao members were so terrified, they didn’t even dare to scream.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Sean Hayes began to read out names. With each name, a black-armored Qin Royal Army soldier would drag the person out of the crowd and line them up on the open ground below the platform.

Everyone from the House of Zhao trembled with fear. No one knew who would be on the list next—or if they themselves would be called!

Especially those of high status in the House of Zhao—the more powerful they were, the greater the danger. After all, this purge was happening right among them.

Sean Hayes finished reading. More than forty people were dragged forward, shivering and kneeling in a huddled group.

These people, who usually lorded it over the House of Zhao, now looked like stray dogs, groveling at Alexander Hayes’s feet.

Zachary Yan and his younger brother Edward Yu were, unsurprisingly, among them.

"Your Majesty, we’re innocent! Innocent! Your Majesty, please see the truth—someone must be framing us! We are not traitors!" Zachary Yan cried out.

Zhao Yu, being younger and more hot-tempered, glared at his fellow clansmen accused of treason, eyes bloodshot, and roared, "Who’s the bastard that falsely accused me of being a traitor? Stand up! Who is it? I’ll break his legs!"

Zhao Yan, his face pale with anxiety, backed up his younger brother: "That’s right! If I find out who slandered us brothers, our branch will never forgive that son of a bitch!"

Another man shouted angrily, "Zhao Yan, Zhao Yu, you two dogs still have the nerve to accuse us? Are your own hands clean? Can you swear you didn’t write any denunciation letters? You two have always been at odds with me. Tell me, was it you who reported me? I won’t let you off!"

The group, driven by terror, no longer cared about anything else. After all, whoever had betrayed them must be among these forty people.

Zhao Yu couldn’t hold back and threw the first punch.

Once one person started fighting, the others’ anger erupted as well. The forty people, blinded by fear and hatred, began brawling with each other, every move ruthless, desperate to beat the one who had denounced them.

In the blink of an eye, the forty-odd people were locked in a wild melee.

Xiao Zetian sat calmly, watching the brawl unfold below, completely unsurprised—as if everything was within his expectations and control.

Neither Xiao Zetian nor Xiao Yun intervened. They simply watched as the forty people fought until their faces were swollen and bruised.

Only then did Xiao Zetian speak: "What are you doing? I summoned you here to clarify the situation, but as soon as you arrived, you started fighting. What is the meaning of this?"

The forty or so people were still fighting fiercely, but upon hearing Xiao Zetian’s words, they all stopped abruptly.

What? He called their names and summoned them—not to execute them?

Damn, they thought they were doomed, and that’s why they fought so desperately!

Zhao Yan, quick-witted, immediately knelt and said, "Your Majesty, my brother Zhao Yu and I are absolutely not traitors! Please investigate thoroughly!"

The others quickly knelt as well, all proclaiming their innocence.