20: The entire Su family was executed.

Inside Yongning City, a massive army loomed.

The commoners, never having seen such a sight, fled home and tightly shut their doors and windows.

The city streets were instantly controlled by the military.

Armored soldiers holding weapons completely surrounded the Su Residence, such that not even a fly could escape.

Looking out, it was a sea of black; the murderous intent unique to battle-hardened elites gathered like dark clouds in the sky, their Aura alone enough to strike fear into the hearts of enemies.

At the very front, several banners were held high.

On them were written the eight large characters, "Acting by Heaven's Will, Punish the Corrupt Official," snapping loudly in the cold wind.

Inside the house.

Mu Xiyan saw the high-drifting banners at a glance. A flash of icy killing intent crossed her eyes as she chuckled, "Minister Su, what a grand display you've put on!"

"I believe I haven't treated you poorly. Why have you rebelled today? Can you face the soldiers under your command, or the common people of Great Xia?"

"I... I wouldn't dare! I don't know what's going on either!"

Su Xuemei's face looked worse than if she had eaten filth.

Beads of sweat formed on Maid Qingqing's forehead as she said anxiously, "Your Majesty, what should we do? Outside, three hundred thousand soldiers have drawn their weapons. If this isn't handled well, it will be a catastrophe for Qingzhou and Great Xia!"

As the saying goes, once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back.

Once action is taken, it means a fight to the death.

To eliminate this catastrophe, the only way was to stabilize the situation before the army attacked.

Just then, thunderous battle cries came from outside the Su Residence.

"Acting by Heaven's Will, Punish the Corrupt Official!"

"Acting by Heaven's Will, Punish the Corrupt Official!"

"Acting by Heaven's Will, Punish the Corrupt Official!"

...The gates of the Su Residence were kicked open with a bang.

Countless soldiers flooded in, their sharp spears pointing directly at Mu Xiyan, a murderous Aura rushing toward her.

Maid Qingqing's nerves were taut as she roared, "Protect the Emperor!"

The few remaining guards used their bodies to shield Your Majesty.

Everyone knew in their hearts that Your Majesty was facing the greatest crisis of her life.

Surrounded by three hundred thousand troops, even if Your Majesty was an Immortal expert of the Celestial Realm, her only fate would be to perish.

"Presumptuous!"

Mu Xiyan shouted violently, her voice like a clap of thunder that shook the dust from the roof beams!

Standing with her hands behind her back, she faced the cold glints of countless spear tips without a trace of fear on her pretty face. Her golden eyes radiated a terrifying majesty: "I am the Supreme Sovereign, the Empress of Great Xia. Today, I shall see who dares to strike!"

With just one sentence, the charging soldiers were stunned.

Especially those at the very front; facing Your Majesty's cold and majestic gaze, their legs went weak, their spirits trembled, and they almost knelt on the spot.

But these were, after all, elites trained by Su Xuemei for decades, and most were fiercely loyal to the Su Family.

They shouted angrily.

"Release the Governor!"

"Leave quickly, and we shall spare your life today!"

"Hand over Lord Su!"

"..."

Hearing this.

Mu Xiyan's golden eyes swept across the dark mass of the army. Having made her decision, a mocking smile curled on her lips: "Release her? Do you really think I fear you?"

She surged her Internal Energy, her voice rolling like thunder, carrying for dozens of miles.

"Listen well, everyone! I am the Empress of Great Xia!"

"The criminal official Su Xuemei was appointed as the Governor of Qingzhou in the 46th year of Mingling. Yet, in over thirty years of service, she has ignored the imperial grace above and the people of Qingzhou below. She has extorted heavy taxes, preyed upon the commoners, stockpiled weapons, raised private guards, colluded with foreign tribes, and disrupted the imperial court. Today, she has raised an army with the intent to rebel!"

"The nation has its laws, and the family has its rules. According to the second article of Great Xia's laws!

"Her crime warrants death, and her entire family is to be exterminated!"

These last eight words were like a death-knell hammer striking everyone's hearts.

As they say, an Empress's words are no joke. Once spoken, there was no room for turning back, effectively sentencing everyone in the Su Residence to death.

Instantly, the rebel army was cowed by Your Majesty's Aura, and their shouting grew much quieter.

Mu Xiyan took several quick steps toward Su Xuemei.

Knowing her end was near, Su Xuemei tried to flee. But with her Internal Energy suppressed, she hadn't run far before the young woman grabbed her by the neck like a chick and lifted her high.

The rebel soldiers were deeply shaken.

Their Governor Su, whom they revered like a god, was now easily captured by Your Majesty like a lamb for slaughter. This further dampened their resolve to rebel.

Mu Xiyan was very satisfied with the current effect.

But she knew this wasn't enough. Only the death of Su Xuemei could completely subdue this elite army of three hundred thousand.

"Today, I shall use the head of the criminal official Su Xuemei to announce to the world: anyone who dares to rebel shall die!"

By this point, her killing intent was fully revealed.

She unconsciously applied force with her hand. Su Xuemei felt her neck was about to be snapped. Terrified out of her wits, she pleaded desperately, "Quan'er, Quan'er, save mother!"

"Don't!"

Su Quan cried out and threw himself at Mu Xiyan's side. He tightly hugged the young woman's slender waist and begged bitterly, "I beg of you, please spare my mother. Spare her life."

Seeing the boy crying so heart-wrenchingly, Mu Xiyan felt a stabbing pain in her heart, and the strength in her hand weakened slightly.

But she understood her current situation. Her beautiful eyes reddened, and she choked out, "Xiao Quan, I'm... I'm sorry!"

"Sister Mu, I'm begging you, please, I'm begging you!"

Su Quan looked up, a final sliver of hope remaining in his eyes.

His legs gave way, and he actually knelt before Your Majesty in front of everyone.

"As long as you are willing to spare my mother's life, I am willing to be your slave for the rest of my life, serving you day and night to repay your kindness!"

"Xiao Quan..."

Mu Xiyan's figure staggered. Because she bit down so hard, blood seeped from her cherry lips.

In an instant, she closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and violently pushed the boy away, her palm erupting with surging Internal Energy.

Su Xuemei let out a shrill scream as her head was severed from her body.

A generation's formidable woman was thus beheaded!

Mu Xiyan stood bathed in blood. Facing the hundreds of thousands of rebel soldiers, she held Su Xuemei's head high. The eyes were wide open, as if she had died with grievances.

"The traitor has been beheaded today! Those who persist in their ways will be killed without mercy! Why have you not surrendered yet?!"

The first weapon was dropped to the ground.

Then the second, the third... the sea of soldiers knelt, their foreheads pressed against the ground. No longer daring to harbor any thoughts of rebellion, they shouted in unison.

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live, long live!"

Their voices were like thunder, rolling into the clouds and spreading throughout the nine provinces.

The people of Yongning City heard it clearly, and many showed smiles of relief.

They knew in their hearts that the era of Su Xuemei's thirty-year rule over Qingzhou was over, and a new chapter would begin today.

On this day.

The screams coming from the Su Residence were incessant, and a pungent smell of blood drifted out, as if it had become a living hell.

All three hundred-plus members of the Su Residence were slaughtered.

When Maid Qingqing, holding a dripping butcher's blade, walked step by step toward the beautiful young man sitting numbly on the ground, she could not bring herself to strike.

She exchanged glances with the others, and they all saw each other's hesitation.

According to Your Majesty's words, the extermination of the entire family should include Su Quan.

But seeing his previous interactions with Your Majesty, no one could be sure if Your Majesty was playing a ruse or if there was something deeper involved.

After hesitating for a moment, Maid Qingqing turned and walked toward Your Majesty, who was standing by the door with her back to it all.

She whispered, "Your Majesty, all three hundred and forty-six members of the Su Residence have been executed. Only... Su Quan remains. How should he be dealt with?"

Hearing this.

Mu Xiyan seemed to wake from a dream and suddenly turned around.

She saw the peerlessly beautiful young man sitting amidst the severed limbs and broken bodies of the Su Family. His snow-white robe, which he had carefully prepared for his beloved, was stained crimson with blood.

Seemingly having suffered too much of a blow, his face was blank and numb. His originally agile and elegant purple eyes were dim and lifeless, filled with a desire for death.

A crystal tear rolled down his cheek and fell into the pool of blood, creating ripples.

At this moment.

Mu Xiyan felt as if someone had violently gripped her heart. The intense pain made it hard for her to breathe. She didn't know what kind of emotion this was; she only knew she felt terrible.

Her vision went dark, and she almost fainted.

At the same time, the long-awaited System prompt finally rang in Su Quan's ear.

"Ding! Gained 10,000 regret value points from Mu Xiyan!"

...