The two immediately returned to their respective sects to request reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Yan Sifu also received similar news.
Because Xie Tianfeng had made it clear that tonight he would first execute Shang Jingchuan, then destroy Yan Sifu.
So Yan Sifu also felt a strong sense of crisis.
"My dear ministers, how should we respond to this situation?"
The officials of this makeshift assembly looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.
They could bully ordinary citizens, but they were completely clueless when faced with such a major situation.
However, the guards and generals trained by the Great Yan royal family were quite competent.
"Your Majesty, since the Wei Family insists on defying their superiors, we will fight to the death to protect Your Majesty’s safety."
Only then did Yan Sifu feel a glimmer of comfort and nodded repeatedly, praising these generals.
At this moment, one person stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Majesty, if Wei Tianlin and Xie Tianfeng intend to first kill Shang Jingchuan, why not send an elite unit to lay an ambush and wait until both sides are heavily weakened before striking to eliminate them both? What does Your Majesty think?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Sifu’s eyes lit up, "Excellent idea, come, reward Zhong Aiqing with one hundred taels of gold."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The official who came up with the idea thanked with delight.
Hearing this reward, the other officials were envious and began to voice their suggestions.
Indeed, after a chaotic discussion, Yan Sifu’s side managed to come up with a relatively feasible plan.
Thus, Prince Qi’s Mansion also began to take action.
Outside Yan Capital City, Washing Sword Manor.
The usually bustling mountain path was now deserted, and the mountain gate was tightly shut.
As a unique entity in the court or Jianghu, Washing Sword Manor’s method of handling the chaotic situation was quite enigmatic.
They neither supported a new monarch nor opposed noble families like the Wei Family, instead choosing to remain neutral.
This inevitably aroused suspicion from many.
But all these curious or probing glances were blocked by the thick mountain gates.
However, if you cast your gaze toward Washing Sword Manor’s martial practice field now, you’d be stunned.
Because on this vast martial field stood a neatly arranged army.
This army was in full armor, heavily armed, and most importantly, each had a murderous aura, steady as a mountain, clearly a battle-hardened elite force.
Yan Xizhao looked at this army with a complicated gaze.
This force was none other than the legendary private army personally managed by successive emperors of Great Yan.
The day Yan Xizhao forcibly entered the palace, she saw the gravely ill Yan Tingshan.
In fact, Yan Tingshan’s mind was already unclear at that time.
Yet upon seeing his sister Yan Xizhao, he suddenly regained clarity, then instructed her to search under the bed, where they found the Military Token and Command Arrow to command this private army.
Yan Tingshan made it very clear that he wouldn’t live much longer and chaos would ensue upon his death.
The Wei Family and many noble families harbored ill intentions, and rebellion was highly likely.
If this happened, Yan Xizhao should move this force from Dianbing Mountain, eighty miles outside the city, to purge traitors and restore peace to Great Yan.
Yan Xizhao had never expected a simple visit would trigger such an incident.
But she did not refuse.
Because she knew this private army was the last lifeline and confidence of Great Yan; if she refused, Great Yan would be truly doomed.
Although she preferred studying swordsmanship and practicing Martial Dao over court intrigues, Yan family had saved her life. Had the former emperor not adopted her, she might have died long ago.
Therefore, she had to take on this heavy burden.
After Yan Xizhao accepted, Yan Tingshan was relieved, laughed three times, and fainted.
He had been holding on, refusing to die, just to entrust this army to someone reliable.
By comparison, although Yan Xizhao was a woman, she was the most suitable choice.
Yan Xizhao knew Yan Tingshan wouldn’t survive much longer.
Sure enough.
She had just left the next day when the Qingyang Bell in the palace rang.
Subsequently, the situation rapidly deteriorated; indeed, the Wei Family allied with many noble families in rebellion, and Yan Sifu was full of ambition.
In this situation, Yan Xizhao discussed with the elders of the manor and decided to temporarily seal the gates.
Yan Xizhao secretly went to Dianbing Mountain, and by relying on her status and the Military Token and Command Arrow, she successfully brought back the royal private army today.
Though traveling through mountain paths to minimize the risk of exposure, the private army of over three thousand was unmistakably a sizable movement hard to keep hidden from everyone.
Thus, at this moment, Yan Xizhao had only one thought: to strike unexpectedly while the factions were still unaware, stabilizing the situation in one fell swoop.
And in such circumstances, intelligence was delivered from the mountain’s base: Sect Leader Xie Tianfeng of the Profound Sun Sect had emerged from seclusion, ready to act tonight.
There was no room for delay now.
Yan Xizhao ordered all soldiers to gather on Washing Sword Manor’s martial practice field, where they started cooking and preparing for battle.
Meanwhile, Washing Sword Manor’s members, from the Manor Master to the elders, were also preparing for departure.
With the collective effort, the tension in Yan Capital City intensified.
Those with a keen mind already sensed this was leading to a major battle.