Several days had passed since the flames of rebellion had been extinguished.
The blood that had stained the streets of Kanyou had long since been washed away, broken walls had begun to be rebuilt, and life gradually returned to the capital of Qin.
Yet before the kingdom could truly move forward...
Justice had to be served.
On this day, every major street leading to the royal palace was filled beyond capacity.
Thousands upon thousands of commoners crowded the avenues.
Government ministers stood in solemn silence.
The nobles of Qin watched from specially prepared platforms.
At the very front...
Sat the young King of Qin.
Ei Sei.
His expression remained completely devoid of emotion.
The silence that enveloped Kanyou was suffocating.
Then….
Chains rattled.
Everyone turned.
Rou Ai was dragged into the execution square.
His once extravagant robes had been stripped away.
His body was bruised and filthy.
Heavy iron shackles bound both his wrists and ankles.
Around his neck was a thick iron collar connected to chains, forcing him to stumble like a condemned animal.
The once self-proclaimed King of Ai...
Now resembled nothing more than a dog awaiting judgment.
The crowd erupted.
"Traitor!"
"Murderer!"
"You dared raise your hand against Qin!"
"Death to Rou Ai!"
The insults crashed against him like waves.
Rou Ai lowered his head.
For the first time since his capture...
He no longer resisted.
A royal official stepped forward and unfurled an imperial decree.
"In accordance with the command of His Majesty, King Ei Sei, the criminal Rou Ai shall publicly confess all crimes committed against the State of Qin."
The entire square fell silent.
Rou Ai slowly raised his head.
His voice was weak.
"...Everything... began because of me."
He paused before continuing.
"I was smuggled into the royal harem... as a false eunuch..."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
"I entered... under the direct orders... of Chancellor Ryofui."
Even many nobles who had only heard rumors widened their eyes.
"The forging of the royal seal..."
"The theft of the Queen Mother's seal..."
"The raising of an army..."
"The rebellion against Kanyou..."
"...all of it was my doing."
Rou Ai clenched his fists.
"I alone devised the plan."
"The Queen Mother had nothing to do with the coup."
"I forced everything upon myself."
"I alone bear responsibility."
Many ministers exchanged glances.
Everyone understood what Rou Ai was attempting to do.
Even now...
He sought to shoulder every crime himself.
The Queen Mother would receive no further punishment.
Whether out of love...
Or regret...
No one could tell.
When Rou Ai finished speaking...
Absolute silence filled the capital.
King Ei Sei slowly rose from his throne.
Every citizen instinctively knelt.
The King looked down upon Rou Ai.
His voice echoed throughout Kanyou.
"Rou Ai."
"You forged the authority of the throne."
"You stole the seals of royalty."
"You deceived the people."
"You raised an army against your sovereign."
"You brought war upon your own nation."
"You caused the deaths of countless innocent citizens and loyal soldiers."
"By the laws of Qin..."
"You have committed the greatest crime possible."
Ei Sei raised his hand.
"I, Ei Sei, King of Qin..."
"Judge you guilty."
"For the crime of high treason..."
"You shall suffer execution by being torn apart by horses."
The executioners stepped forward immediately.
Heavy ropes were fastened to Rou Ai's arms and legs.
Four chariots were brought out with powerful warhorses that stood at each corner of the execution ground.
Rou Ai closed his eyes.
Not a single plea escaped his lips.
The execution commander raised his flag.
"Proceed."
The horses charged.
For a brief instant...
Rou Ai screamed.
Then…
Silence.
His body was violently torn apart before the eyes of all gathered.
The rebellion's architect had met the fate reserved only for the greatest traitors in Qin's history.
No cheers followed.
Only grim acceptance.
Justice had been carried out.
After allowing several moments of silence, Ei Sei spoke once more.
His gaze swept across the thousands of captured soldiers who had surrendered after the fall of Ai.
"The remaining soldiers who knowingly followed Rou Ai in rebellion against Qin..."
"They have laid down their weapons."
"But surrender does not erase treason."
"The law of Qin is absolute."
"My judgment is this."
"Every surrendered soldier who took part in this rebellion shall be executed by beheading."
The crowd inhaled sharply.
Ei Sei continued.
"The executions shall be carried out publicly."
"My appointed executioner..."
"Duke Hyou Ren."
All eyes shifted toward the towering Duke.
Without hesitation, Hyou Ren stepped forward and knelt.
"I accept His Majesty's command."
His voice carried across the entire square.
He rose and turned toward the officers of his army.
"Northeastern Army!"
Thousands answered in unison.
"Sir!"
"Round up every surrendered rebel."
"Separate them into groups."
"The executions shall begin immediately."
"They betrayed Qin."
"They raised swords against our people."
"Today..."
"They shall answer for their crimes before the eyes of the kingdom."
"Carry out every sentence."
"Leave none undone."
"Yes, my lord!!"
The Hyou Ren Army moved with perfect discipline.
Thousands of prisoners were escorted through the streets under heavy guard.
Execution platforms had already been prepared throughout Kanyou.
One after another...
The traitors were brought forward.
One after another...
The soldiers blade fell.
The sound of steel echoed across the capital from morning until sunset.
Yet something unexpected occurred.
The commonfolk did not cower.
They did not turn away in fear.
Instead...
They stood proudly.
Watching the punishment of those who had attempted to plunge Qin into chaos reassured the people that justice still prevailed.
The King's authority had not wavered, and the laws of Qin would be enforced without exception.
Hope replaced uncertainty, and confidence spread throughout the capital like wildfire.
Cries soon rose from every street.
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live Qin!"
"The traitors have fallen!"
"The kingdom stands strong!"
Their voices rolled through Kanyou like thunder.
The failed coup, meant to shatter Qin from within...
Had instead united its people more firmly than ever before.
As the sun dipped below the western mountains, Duke Hyou Ren looked across the now-silent execution grounds.
The rebellion had claimed countless lives.
Friends had been lost.
Families had been broken.
But Qin had endured.
Above the palace walls, the black Qin banner fluttered proudly in the evening wind.
And so...
The greatest coup d'état ever attempted in the history of Qin ended in complete and utter failure.
The throne had remained secure.
The traitors were dead.
The people stood united.