Yang Guang's Death (Supplement)

"You finally came."

In the imperial palace hall within Yangzhou City, Yang Guang, who had been sitting on the dragon throne with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He looked at the black-clad men filing in through the doors. Though they were all dressed in black, with even their heads wrapped in black cloth, it was easy to see that more than half of them had no hair. There was no need to ask where they came from.

"Yuwen Huaji, Sima Dekan, you still betrayed me." Yang Guang showed no change in expression as he looked at Yuwen Huaji, clad in armor among the black-clad men, and Sima Dekan, commander of the Imperial Guards.

"Where is Dugu Sheng?"

"Commander Dugu did not know what was good for him. He has gone ahead of Your Majesty." As Yuwen Huaji spoke, one of the black-clad men tossed out a head. It belonged to an unremarkable-looking old man—Dugu Sheng, the second most important figure of the Dugu Clan.

"I thought he would betray me too. I never expected him to be a loyal man." Seeing Dugu Sheng's head, his beard and hair standing on end, Yang Guang let out a soft sigh.

Yang Guang understood his situation perfectly. Just as these people had entered the palace without alerting any Imperial Guards, it was far too easy for Cihang Monastery, the Jingnian Zen Sect, Ning Daoqi, and the others, with their strength and influence, to persuade Yuwen Huaji and Sima Dekan, who had already harbored rebellious intentions.

He would not even have been too surprised if they had persuaded the Dugu Clan. After all, Yang Guang was now like the setting sun, no longer able to offer the Dugu Clan any benefits.

To certain aristocratic clans and noble families, anything was negotiable as long