Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 896: Xianyang Night, Cleaning Out the Termit!

At dusk before the action, the city of Xianyang was exceptionally quiet.

As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the entire city a golden hue. Market vendors begin packing up their stalls, pedestrians hurry home, and smoke curls upward from cooking fires. Everything seems peaceful and tranquil. But no one knows that a bloody purge is about to begin.

Zhao Qi, still disguised as a beggar, squatted on the street corner, observing a stronghold across the street—a closed cloth shop. Intelligence revealed that a large amount of weapons and armor were hidden in the basement, and approximately two hundred rebels were gathered there.

His eyes swept across the street, where several people dressed as porters were walking slowly, with their shoulder poles swaying on their shoulders - they were soldiers; in the teahouse opposite, several customers were drinking tea and chatting, but their eyes kept glancing towards the cloth shop - they were colleagues from the Qingyi Society.

Everything is ready, just waiting for the signal.

The sun finally set completely, and dusk enveloped Xianyang. At this moment, a bunch of green fireworks suddenly rose from the east of the city, cutting through the night sky.

"Action!" The order quickly spread throughout the city.

Suddenly, a large number of soldiers poured out of the previously peaceful streets, charging straight at the various target strongholds. Zhao Qi stood up abruptly, discarded his beggar's clothes, revealing his tight clothes underneath, drew the dagger from his waist, and rushed to the cloth shop first.

"The Qingyi Society is investigating cases, and those who surrender will not be killed!" He shouted and kicked open the shop door.

Inside the store, the rebels were clearly stunned by the sudden attack. They had originally planned to launch their operation at midnight, but they hadn't expected to be attacked so quickly. After a brief moment of panic, resistance began.

The sound of clashing swords, screams, and cries instantly shattered the tranquility of the evening. The same scene played out simultaneously in seven locations across Xianyang City.

The fiercest battle took place at the stronghold near the west gate. There were not only over 200 rebels there, but also 50 soldiers sent by Zhou Wang. When Li Zhao's troops rushed in, they encountered stiff resistance.

"Hold on! Hold on!" the rebel leader shouted at the top of his lungs. "General Zhou's reinforcements will be here soon!"

What he didn't know was that Zhou Wang was in danger himself. Five hundred elite soldiers had surrounded his residence, and after a brief battle, Zhou Wang and his closest associates were all captured.

Inside the palace, Empress Lü and Empress Yushu both had grave expressions on their faces as they listened to the incoming war reports.

"The stronghold east of the city has been cleared, eighty enemies killed, thirty captured."

"The granary stronghold south of the city has been captured, and 200 sets of armor have been seized."

"The resistance at the West Gate stronghold is fierce, and our army is storming it."

Lü Zhi's expression remained unchanged, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Tell the front lines to minimize civilian casualties. Those who surrender will not be killed, but those who resist will be killed without mercy."

"Here!"

After the messenger went down, Yu Shu on the side looked at the calm Lu Zhi and had to admire her. People are different. Lu Zhi has good abilities and can calm down quickly when facing big scenes. She can also make decisions quickly. This alone is not something Yu Shu can do, so Yu Shu's admiration for Lu Zhi is also real.

"Did my husband arrange the Qingyi Society a long time ago?" she asked softly.

"Of course. My husband's methods are beyond our comprehension." Lü Zhi sat in front of a bronze mirror, slowly combing her inky black hair. Her voice was calm with a barely perceptible tremor. "My husband had anticipated this long ago and had deployed his men in advance. If not, I'm afraid I'd be a corpse by now."

The woman in the mirror still had a beautiful face, but fine lines had formed around her eyes. She gently stroked her cheek, as if feeling the marks left by years of struggling in the maelstrom of power. The scent of blood from last night still lingered in her nose, the clash of swords still ringing in her ears. But she knew she could sit here in peace thanks to that man's foresight.

Lü Zhi didn't deny the ingenuity of Gao Yao's arrangements; instead, she felt a surge of emotion. The figure who once busied himself in the kitchen had now grown into a king, wielding the power of life and death. Even though he wasn't physically present in Xianyang, his spies were everywhere, his plans permeating every corner of the city.

"Madam, breakfast is ready." The maid reported softly, interrupting Lu Zhi's thoughts.

Lu Zhi nodded slightly, stood up, and headed for the dining hall. Passing the palace corridors along the way, she noticed that the number of guards had increased significantly, and they were all unfamiliar faces—this must have been Gao Yao's arrangement. She couldn't help but think back to the time many years ago, when she had just married Gao Yao. Back then, she was still a woman with ulterior motives, secretly making small moves at the Chamber of Commerce, testing the limits of this suddenly rising man.

"He knows everything," Lü Zhi muttered to herself, a wry smile playing on her lips. Gao Yao had never been one to be easily deceived; he simply chose to tolerate it. If it weren't for his father's affairs, he would have at most given a minor punishment or a severe warning to the Chamber of Commerce's petty actions, never taking them too seriously.

The dining table was filled with several exquisite snacks, all of which Lü Zhi loved to eat. She picked up her silver chopsticks, but hesitated to start. The matter of Lü Gong was like a thorn in her heart. That failed rebellion should have brought ruin to the entire Lü family. According to the law, not only she, but even her sister Lü Su would have been killed.

"He saved us." Lü Zhi's eyes were complicated. Gao Yao had punished her under the guise of a Chamber of Commerce matter, suppressing Lü Gong's case. This was already a great favor. Countless eyes in the court were watching this matter, trying to exploit it, but they were all suppressed by Gao Yao's thundering measures.

Yushu poured her a cup of hot tea, the steam blurring her vision. Lü Zhi recalled her days under house arrest in the separate courtyard. Although she had lost her freedom, she had never been poorly treated for food, clothing, or daily expenses. Gao Yao even sent her the scrolls she loved to read, as if it were merely a temporary respite, not a punishment.

"Madam, General Li Zhao requests to see you." The maid's announcement interrupted her memories.

Lu Zhi straightened her clothes and resumed her usual dignified demeanor: "General, please wait in the front hall."

Li Zhao, dressed in military uniform, looked dusty, having clearly just finished dealing with the aftermath of last night's operation. Upon seeing Lü Zhi, he bowed respectfully, "My mistress is well. The king specifically instructed me to greet you and pass on a message."

"General, please speak."

"The king said, 'Your Madam was frightened by yesterday's incident. There are some positions that neither you nor I can control, but protecting you is always the most important thing.'"

Lü Zhi's heart trembled suddenly, but her expression remained calm. "Thank you, General, for conveying this message. Please also tell the king that Lü Zhi understands his painstaking efforts."

After seeing Li Zhao off, Lü Zhi stood alone in the hall, speechless for a long time. Gao Yao's words had made everything clear. He had saved her life and honored her, but he could no longer allow her to hold that most dazzling position. The story of Lü Gong was like a scar that would never heal, a wound that could be uncovered at any moment by political enemies and used as a weapon of attack.