Chapter 282: Coup D’état In Gaochang, Imperial Consort Visits Family
“Rebellious son, look at the mess you’ve made!”
Alkus’s roar echoed in the main hall of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
He grabbed something from the table and smashed it down on Peiluo, who was kneeling on the ground.
“Mocuowuba is a brave general of Gaochang Kingdom, with illustrious military merits, and utterly loyal to me as his father—how dare you, beast, humiliate him like this?”
“Someone come, bring a whip!”
His guard did not dare to delay and immediately fetched a whip.
Alkus snatched it from him, turned, and walked to Mocuowuba, forcing the whip into his hand.
“Mocuowuba, take it!”
“Whip this beast to death! I’ll pretend I never had such a son!”
Mocuowuba gripped the whip handle tightly, looking at Peiluo kneeling on the ground. Though his face showed panic, it still carried lingering sleaziness, and he felt rage surging in his chest like molten lava.
This beast had not only defiled the woman he treasured, but the look in his eyes now held a hint of contempt.
He wanted to kill this bastard, but he was no fool.
Alkus’s words sounded satisfying, but they were really just for show.
If he actually beat Peiluo to death, the old thief would never let him off.
Seeing Alkus’s ‘furious’ appearance, Peiluo hurriedly begged Mocuowuba for mercy: “General Mocuowuba, I was wrong, it was my fault!”
“I was blinded by greed, I’m sorry! Whatever woman you want in the future, I’ll find her for you—ten, a hundred!”
Peiluo’s words sounded sincere, but in his heart, he dismissed it entirely.
That woman was just a concubine Mocuowuba kept in an outer residence; no matter how finely dressed, she couldn’t change her lowly origins.
Women like her were always traded as playthings among nobles—what was wrong with him having a turn?
Mocuowuba making such a fuss was simply shameless ingratitude.
“Shut up, no more excuses!”
Alkus kicked Peiluo in the lower back. “General Mocuowuba is kind-hearted, but as his father, I won’t spare you!”
With that, he snatched back the whip and lashed it down on Peiluo’s back.
The whip struck the brocade robe with a dull thud, and Peiluo immediately screamed like a pig being slaughtered, rolling on the ground.
But after just two lashes, Mocuowuba suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Alkus’s wrist.
“Prime Minister, stop.”
“The young master is young and ignorant of the world; let’s drop this matter!” Mocuowuba said in a low voice.
He knew these two lashes were for show; if it continued, it would truly tear their faces apart.
“How can that be? Unless I beat this beast to death, I can’t vent my hatred.”
“Prime Minister, please allow me to say~”
After some tugging, the whip ultimately did not fall again.
“Beast, why haven’t you thanked General Mocuowuba?”
“In a couple of days, take ten beauties and personally apologize to Mocuowuba.”
Then, he rewarded Mocuowuba with some gold and silver as compensation.
Mocuowuba walked out the gate, glanced back at the heavily guarded Prime Minister’s Mansion, and could only turn and leave in anger.
In the main hall, Alkus looked at his disheveled son and sneered: “Remember today’s humiliation. Once I ascend the throne, let alone one Mocuowuba—all the women in Gaochang Kingdom will be yours to take.”
A flash of joy passed through Peiluo’s eyes, and he nodded vigorously: “Son doesn’t want other women; son wants Mocuowuba’s concubine.”
Just as Mocuowuba returned to his outer residence, he received terrible news.
His beloved woman had left a letter and gone.
“General, your concubine has been defiled by that beast; my body is no longer clean, and I have no face to serve at your side. I only wish to find an ancient temple, shave my head, and end my wretched life. General, do not search for me; forget me…”
The last few words were crooked, as if written with her last ounce of strength.
After reading it, Mocuowuba grew even more agitated and roared at the servant: “Which way did Madam go?”
The servant pointed toward outside the city, and Mocuowuba immediately took men to pursue.
After searching a day and night with no trace, Mocuowuba knew he would lose his beloved woman forever.
“Ah~”
……
Tengger Festival is an important holiday for the Uyghur people, to worship heaven and earth and ancestors, praying for a year of good weather, abundant water and grass, similar to the Central Plains’ spring sacrifice.
On the eve of the festival, a letter from Jin Prefecture arrived at the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
After opening the letter, Alkus’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“Tajiguli is pregnant!”
He slammed the table and stood up, his white beard twitching with ecstatic joy, wrinkles at his eyes brimming with joy: “Excellent! Heaven truly helps me!”
Tajiguli was his most beloved daughter; since marrying to the Northern Frontier, though favored by Li Xiao, she had been childless, a constant thorn in his heart.
Now with this good news, it meant his ties to the Northern Frontier Great Protector’s Mansion gained another layer of blood connection.
“If this girl can bear a son for the Great Protector…”
Alkus stroked his goatee, a fanatic gleam in his eyes.
He seemed to see his grandson clad in Northern Frontier golden armor, receiving worship amid thousands of troops.
If this child could one day command the Northern Frontier, even in death, Alkus could smile contentedly.
But the thought had just arisen when reality doused it with cold water.
Li Xiao’s main wife was Liao Princess Xiao Yanyan, a fierce woman.
Moreover, her roots in the Northern Frontier were deep as bedrock, and her son Golden Saber was the legitimate eldest son, naturally holding priority for inheritance.
His own grandson’s path to power would be exceedingly difficult.
“But it’s not impossible.”
Alkus gritted his teeth inwardly, his fingertips slamming down on the map of Gaochang’s territory, eyes flashing with ruthlessness.
In struggles for heirship, half depends on one’s own ability, the other half on backing forces.
Golden Saber’s maternal clan was strong, but his grandson’s was not far behind.
“If I can sit on Gaochang Kingdom’s throne, all its soldiers, provisions, and trade routes will back my grandson.” He clenched his fist tightly, muttering to himself.
The Northern Frontier always relied on Gaochang for supplies; even if Li Xiao favored his legitimate son, he couldn’t slight Gaochang, the Southern Xinjiang barrier.
The stronger Gaochang, the heavier his grandson’s weight on the inheritance scale.
And once his grandson commanded the Northern Frontier, it could in turn support Gaochang.
First, set a small goal: make Gaochang Kingdom the Northern Frontier’s strongest vassal state and push his grandson to power.
Then, wait for the right moment…
The thought spread like wildfire, igniting Alkus’s ambition.
His resolve to usurp the throne solidified; by year’s end at latest, the King of Gaochang must change.
“Someone!” Alkus called out loudly, his voice carrying undeniable dignity.
His guard entered promptly and stood with head bowed.
“Go to the storeroom and select the best tonics—Tianshan snow lotus, deer antler, cordyceps, none lacking—plus two carts of gold, silver, and silk, send them overnight to Jin Prefecture.”
Alkus went to the table, pen flying: “Tell Tajiguli to worry about nothing but nourishing her body and surely give me a sturdy grandson.”
The letter paper was folded and sealed, sealing wax melted over candlelight into a golden-red droplet, “pa” stamped on the seal.
“Summon Peiluo as well.”
Alkus’s voice suddenly turned grave, eyes holding expectations for his heir: “He’s no longer a child; can’t keep fooling around forever.”
“Tengger Festival’s guard duties can serve as his training.”
……
The drums of the Tengger ceremony resounded through Hami City, the square before the Imperial Ancestral Temple packed with festively dressed Uyghur people.
The altar towered on the square before the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Gaochang’s gilded flags gleaming coldly in the sunrise.
“Auspicious hour arrived, commence sacrifice!”
As the ritual officer’s proclamation ended, nine snow-white lambs were lifted onto the altar; knife slicing throats, blood gushed out, flowing down the altar’s grooves.
Qibidu watched the scene, face calm, but his mind had long flown from the square.
Success or failure hinged on this day.
His peripheral vision swept to Alkus beside him; the old thief was twirling his mustache, smirking smugly at the kneeling common people.
If the thief could be eliminated, Gaochang would return to legitimacy; failure meant all was lost.
Facing the towering altar, Qibidu assumed a pious demeanor and slowly knelt on the cold blue stone slabs.
He silently prayed in his heart: “Tengger above, ancestors above, Qibidu begs your protection.”
“Alkus has usurped power, common people displaced, Gaochang in peril; today’s act is not personal grudge, but for family and country.”
“Qibidu offers his life in the fight, only seeking Gaochang’s return to legitimacy.”
The worship ceremony ended without incident.
Alkus glanced at Qibidu beside him, seeing him always head bowed in submission, and sneered inwardly: “This guy knows his place more and more.”
But no matter his obedience, after usurpation, he absolutely could not be spared.
Then he waved to his confidants: “His Majesty is unwell; quickly escort him back to the palace.”
In his eyes, Qibidu was just a figurehead mascot; showing his face to let common people know the royal family still existed sufficed—court affairs were beyond this puppet’s say.
He even strictly isolated Qibidu from outer officials, not permitting a single extra word.
Qibidu silently boarded the horse carriage and returned to the palace early.
Alkus stayed to continue hosting the Tengger ceremony; bonfires with singing and dancing, a scene of revelry.
Until mid-afternoon did all ceremonies conclude.
The sunset dyed the sky golden-red; Alkus, seven-tenths drunk, was escorted back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion by a hundred-man guard team.
He leaned on the carriage cushion, drowsy, a smug smile on his lips; today’s ceremony smooth, Qibidu meek as a cat—usurpation was a done deal.
Just as the carriage exited the Imperial Ancestral Temple street, urgent clanging of armor came from outside, mixed with his guards’ shouts: “Who goes there?!”
Alkus jolted awake, drunkenness half dissipated.
Before he could react, an arrow flew in, piercing the carriage; fortunately, Alkus always feared death and had iron plating installed in the carriage walls against assassination.
At that moment, over a dozen people in Uyghur commoner garb suddenly attacked on the street, men bursting from houses on both sides,
wielding sabers, spears, bows, and arrows, charging the guard team, shouting in unison: “Kill the thief!”
“Assassins! Protect the Prime Minister!” the guard team commander bellowed.
Chaos erupted outside the carriage: clashing blades, screams, war horse neighs blending together.
Alkus peered through the carriage cracks, face full of disbelief.
He hadn’t expected an attack on the Imperial Ancestral Temple street?
For Tengger Festival, he had Peiluo deploy defenses early: house-to-house searches of common people, city gates strictly checking against weapons inflow.
Even Kudina Yan’s group of ‘traitors’ had scouts in their mansions, monitoring family and servants—no anomalies detected.
If Kudina Yan arranged the assassination, he would first mobilize mansion dead men and servants, but none did.
These assassins were all young and strong, coordinating seamlessly, clearly battle-hardened.
Alkus couldn’t fathom where such elites came from.
Fortunately, though the assassins were fierce, lacking armor made their combat power worlds apart.
Facing the iron-armored guard team’s counterattack, the assassins gradually fell to disadvantage.
As Alkus slightly relaxed, distant low hoofbeats suddenly sounded.
He squinted: over a hundred armored cavalry charging, their attire that of the Imperial Guard.
“Mocuowuba has come!” Alkus’s lips curved in a smile.
With these over a hundred elites reinforcing, the assassins were doomed.
“Take prisoners! This Prime Minister will personally interrogate the mastermind!”
He snorted coldly, already certain it was Kudina Yan and others; perfect chance to net them all.
But just as he thought victory assured, a shrill scream erupted outside the carriage.
Mocuowuba reined his horse, spear raised, shouting: “Loose arrows!”
Dozens of cavalry drew bows, arrow rain pouring down—not on the assassins, but on Alkus’s guards.
Though armored, it only protected vital parts, and they never expected friendly fire—instantly suffering heavy losses.
The other guards looked to Mocuowuba in terror, eyes full of disbelief.
Alkus in the carriage was thunderstruck, blood draining from his face.
“Mocuowuba! You dare rebel?”
Alkus’s voice trembled with shock; he never imagined this loyal-dog general would turn blade on him now.
Mocuowuba drew a bright yellow edict from his bosom, shouting: “Traitor to the state Alkus, colluding with foreign enemies to usurp the throne—today we act on His Majesty’s decree to take your dog’s life!”
He swept his gaze over the guards, voice sharpening: “Imperial Guard Commander Zhuoluo Jin is already slain, Imperial Guard units have surrendered—you are isolated!”
“No one will come to save you; lay down arms and surrender—His Majesty decrees past actions forgiven.”
“Resist, and your families will be executed!”
Mocuowuba urged the guards to surrender, merely to take Alkus quickly.
Because it was a lie; he had only gotten Zhuoluo Jin drunk, not daring to kill him—lest Alkus learn early and ruin everything.
Nor could he control all Imperial Guards, only delay their deployment.
But capturing Alkus would solve everything else.
Indeed, seeing the bright yellow scroll in his hand and no other Imperial Guards arriving, many guards wavered.
Not all were loyal to Alkus; these guards had families to consider.
“Impossible! It’s fake!”
Alkus roared from the carriage: “He’s lying! Imperial Guards will soon reinforce—hold them off, this Prime Minister will reward you handsomely.”
Under monetary incentive, the guards’ resistance intensified again.
But Mocuowuba was a fierce general, armored on a tall war horse like a tank, leading cavalry in brutal charges.
He knew failure to take Alkus swiftly meant death when Imperial Guards arrived.
Once started, there was no turning back.
His soldiers thought likewise; they were Uyghur soldiers who followed Mocuowuba on the eastern expedition, many veterans of Shanle City battle, not weak in combat.
With numerical advantage, they soon dispatched most guards; survivors forced to surrender.
Soon, Mocuowuba rode to the carriage, men in tow.
“A bunch of rebellious ministers and traitors!”
Alkus trembled with rage, pointing at Mocuowuba’s nose: “I’ve treated you well—how dare you betray me?”
“Treated me well?” Mocuowuba sneered.
His spear pointed at his chest: “Your beast of a son defiled my beloved concubine, driving her to shave her head as a nun, yet you treated it as servants brawling and brushed it off.”
“Such ‘kindness,’ I, Mocuowuba, can’t bear!”
“Today is your end!”
Before the words finished, the sharp spear tip pierced Alkus’s chest.
Alkus looked down at the spearhead protruding from his chest, eyes flashing confusion.
He had schemed a lifetime, even making the king his puppet—never calculating he’d fall due to his son’s stupidity.
……
Royal Palace, candlelight half burned.
Qibidu paced the Great Hall, glancing at the palace gates, heart in turmoil.
Suddenly, chaotic footsteps came from the gates, mixed with soldiers’ shouts, growing louder.
Qibidu’s heart leaped to his throat, fists clenching instinctively.
Fortunately, in the wait between life and death, Tengger ultimately gave him a path to live.
Moments later, a familiar voice from outside: “Your Majesty, the state traitor is slain!”
Kudina Yan strode in with officials, followed by Mocuowuba and other ‘turned’ Imperial Guards, blood still wet on Xuan Jia’s armor.
He reached the hall door, knelt with a thud, hands raising a tray: “State traitor Alkus is dead; please, Your Majesty, rule personally!”
On the tray, Alkus’s head stared wide-eyed, corners of mouth frozen in deathly fear, gruesome sight chilling the scalp.
“Please, Your Majesty, rule personally!” ministers and officers shouted in unison.
Qibidu stared at the familiar head, then at the bowing officials below, suddenly trembling, face erupting in ecstatic joy.
He staggered forward, fingers nearly touching Alkus’s cheek, muttering: “Old thief is dead, really dead…”
“Excellent!”
“Tengger blesses, ancestors bless—I did it!”
He stepped back sharply, laughing loudly, tears rolling down his cheeks: “Old thief, never expected this end for you!”
The laughter held years of suppressed resentment, relief from escaping death, thrill of reclaiming power.
He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, voice turning stern: “Proclaim my decree: reward meritorious ministers!”
Mocuowuba was appointed Imperial Guard commander, Kudina Yan promoted to new Prime Minister, other conspirators variously rewarded.
Alkus’s remnants faced thunderous retribution: male laborers executed, women enslaved; ordinary soldiers and officials forgiven, only core backbones pursued.
The Great Hall buzzed with ecstatic joy, officials congratulating each other, as if Gaochang’s spring had come early.
At that moment, Kudina Yan stepped forward, gravely reminding: “Your Majesty, urgent matter is contacting the Northern Frontier promptly.”
“State that Gaochang Kingdom remains ever submissive, paying tribute and following in campaigns, all as before.”
Hearing “Northern Frontier,” Qibidu’s smile slowly faded, prior ecstatic joy cooled like doused with cold water.
No matter his struggles, a colossal shadow loomed over Gaochang Kingdom.
Provoking Northern Frontier’s anger meant iron cavalry southbound, kingdom’s fall in a trice.
Thus, current Northern Frontier was absolutely not to be offended or challenged; submission must continue.
And Alkus was Li Xiao’s father-in-law; that scoundrel would surely use it as leverage.
This time, Gaochang Kingdom must bleed heavily.
Send money, provisions, land, women~
Must satisfy Li Xiao the scoundrel.
But this wasn’t what enraged Qibidu most.
At “Northern Frontier,” his mind flashed to when Li Xiao was still in Hami City.
That night, he was summoned to the royal palace.
Li Xiao stood behind the table, looking down at him kneeling.
With a playful tone: “Aisha is knowledgeable; we chatted at length.”
“I found her words quite reasonable.”
“For her sake, I’ll give you a promise.”
“No interference in Gaochang internal affairs.”
Hearing this, Qibidu first felt grief and indignation.
But the follow-up sparked hope.
No interference in Gaochang internal affairs?
Meaning, let him and Alkus fight; whoever won, Li Xiao wouldn’t care.
This promise thrilled Qibidu.
For Alkus controlled the court not just by military power, but crucially Northern Frontier support.
Now, somehow the old thief had angered Li Xiao the scoundrel.
As long as Northern Frontier didn’t back him, it was heavenly good news.
That moment, Qibidu began plotting the old thief’s removal.
But before leaving, Li Xiao patted his shoulder, chuckling: “I’ll soon return to Jin Prefecture, quite reluctant to part with Aisha.”
“But she’s your Imperial Consort; I can’t steal another’s love.”
“Thus, in future Gaochang tributes to Northern Frontier, bring Aisha along; let her guest in Jin Prefecture awhile, and I’ll send her back.”
That night, Qibidu left the palace in a daze, inwardly cursing Li Xiao’s shamelessness.
“Li Xiao scoundrel, shameless scoundrel~”
In the current Great Hall, Qibidu still cursed Li Xiao inwardly.
Though loath to admit, fact was, his power reclamation
owed not just to his sister and mother, but Aisha’s merit too.
Gaochang’s annual tribute to Northern Frontier meant sending Aisha yearly to ‘guest.’
At this, Qibidu’s heart twisted like a knife, nearly grinding his teeth, hating his own powerlessness.
But no choice; current Gaochang couldn’t provoke Northern Frontier.
Thus, slumping on the throne like bones broken, he said lowly: “Draft a state letter.”
“Say… Gaochang wishes eternal role as Northern Frontier barrier, as ever.”
“Offer gold and silver treasures, provisions, cotton…”
“Additionally, this king misses mother and royal sister, specially sending Imperial Consort Aisha to Northern Frontier to visit.”
Words done, Qibidu closed his eyes in despair, heart aching.
Gaochang’s skies had changed, but Northern Frontier’s sun and moon still hung overhead.
