The Northern Army soldiers began to lose control. Seeing that the time was right, Yu Mingyue ordered the guards to escort the women and children to safety. The Blazing Flame Squad descended from the sky, catching Feng Qirui completely off guard.
Before Feng Qirui could order his soldiers to fight back, his head was severed, and blood splattered everywhere.
Zhan Qing stood at the front of the formation, holding Feng Qirui's head in one hand and his Azure Dragon Saber in the other, proclaiming: "Feng Qirui's head is here. Lay down your arms, Northern Army, and you shall live."
Zhan Qing was the foremost guard of Duke Zhenguo Yu Zeyan, possessing unfathomable martial prowess. He had been a phantom for years, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Everyone believed Zhan Qing had followed Yu Zeyan to Youzhou, unaware that Zhan Qing had gone from light to shadow, leading the Duke's Mansion's Blazing Flame Squad in secret. He was the last safeguard left for the Duke's Mansion.
Yu Mingyue, clad in silver armor, raised the Han Guang Sword, bestowed upon the Yu family by the late Emperor, and appeared before the formation: "Soldiers of the Northern Army, the late Emperor's Han Guang Sword is here. With the Han Guang Sword drawn, all evil shall be vanquished. Feng Qirui's rebellion and treason have been personally executed by me on the battlefield. My brother, Yu Mingjing, shared a brotherhood with you and fought alongside you to protect our Great Wei. The land beneath your feet is your homeland, and behind you are your wives, children, and parents. Can you bear to see your homeland stained with blood and your families scattered?"
Gu Bohao, seeing Feng Qirui dead and the army's morale wavering, looked at Yu Mingyue and said: "What a silver tongue you have. Do you believe your Yu family alone is permitted to be ennobled and rise to power, while they are denied the chance to forge their own future and change their destiny?"
"Uncle Gu, are you gambling with the soldiers' lives for your own future, or are you seeking revenge using their lives? The Sage may have wronged the Gu family, but these soldiers revere the Gu family, who have produced two Prime Ministers, as gods. Uncle Gu, can you bear to exploit your own followers like this, sending them to their deaths?" Yu Mingyue spoke each word with resounding force.
"I'd rather cherish a handful of soil from my homeland than possess ten thousand pieces of gold from another. Lay down your weapons, and you remain heroes who protect the land and its people. Take up arms, and you become sinners of all ages, shedding your own kin's blood. Do not let your heroic spirit falter and break your loved ones' hearts. Soldiers, lay down your weapons, and do not err again."
Seizing the moment when Gu Bohao was distracted, Xie Jiayan leaped forward and subdued him, saying: "Uncle Gu, I beg your pardon."
Gu Bohao had not expected his meticulously planned coup to end like this. "Heaven is unjust! My Gu family has wronged no one in this world, nor has it betrayed the Great Wei. It is Yong'an that has wronged my Gu family. If even one descendant of the Gu family remains, they shall overthrow the Xiao family's dynasty!"
Gu Bohao's gaze swept over the young people before him. Once, they too had possessed such burning passion and patriotic aspirations. But now, with his family shattered and his life worse than death, he harbored a hatred so profound he wished to perish with the heavens and the earth.
"You, and you! Do you think that by killing Feng Qirui and me, the world will be at peace? Hahaha, a foolish delusion, a foolish delusion!" Gu Bohao raved like a madman.
The Northern Army soldiers, already demoralized, now saw Feng Qirui dead and Gu Bohao captured. They quickly threw down their weapons.
Xiao Che declared: "The fault today lies not with the Northern Army. I forgive you all."
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" they all immediately knelt to express their gratitude.
"Ye Feisheng, escort the Northern Army back to their camp."
"Yes!" Ye Feisheng responded.
Yu Mingyue did not regret stopping the rebellion, but the complete exposure of the Yu family's hidden guards was detrimental to the family.
Yu Mingyue stepped forward and held the Han Guang Sword above her head with both hands: "Your Highness, Yu family's Sixth Daughter, holding the Han Guang Sword bestowed by the late Emperor, has acted with the authority to execute first and report later. Protected by the late Emperor, I have fulfilled my trust and now return the Han Guang Sword."
Xiao Che understood the implication of Yu Mingyue's words. If the Emperor were to pursue the Yu family, they might be accused of maintaining private troops. However, if it were done under the late Emperor's decree, it would be an exercise of the special privilege to act first and report later.
Xiao Che took back the Han Guang Sword: "The Yu family has fulfilled its trust and is a loyal and brave family. The Emperor will surely reward your merits."
Yu Mingyue was overjoyed and immediately bowed towards the direction of the Taiji Hall: "This humble woman thanks the Sage." She then bowed to Xiao Che: "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Having averted a disaster of bloodshed, Xiao Che also breathed a sigh of relief. He personally helped Yu Mingyue up: "Sister Mingyue, please rise."
After standing, Yu Mingyue looked at Xie Jiayan, and they shared a knowing smile. They had stopped this rebellion, and the peaceful and prosperous world he desired, they had achieved.
Hua Zhaofei watched the two smiling at each other and instinctively shook his wrist, only to realize that the object in his hand was not a fan, but a sword he had not wielded in a long time. Hua Zhaofei sheathed his sword, knowing this was likely the last time he would use it.
This pair of star-crossed lovers had finally seen the clouds part to reveal the moon.
Suddenly, an arrow shot from the darkness towards Xiao Che. If they could not kill Yong'an, they would kill his son to avenge the Zheng and Gu clans.
Yu Mingyue, almost without thinking, shielded Xiao Che. She knew only that Xiao Che could not die. If the Crown Prince perished, her Jiayan brother would never be free again.