The palace was engulfed in a sea of flames amid a series of explosions, and Xie Wangqiu's question was swallowed by the blasts.
Compared with the exclamations rising one after another inside the palace, the power of the explosives deeply shocked many outside it, and quite a few prayed to gods and Buddhas for safety.
They had thought Spring Studio Hermit merely knew some inside information and revealed it through the Spring Palace Painting, but now he seemed more like someone who knew heaven's will.
Clearly, he was an extraordinary man!
They thought of what the painting had said about the emperor's death and a change of dynasty, and dark clouds lingered over everyone's hearts.
Something momentous was about to happen!
Meanwhile, the army of a hundred thousand led by Fang Yuanke had already appeared outside the Imperial City. Dressed in armor, he had shed his usual flippancy and looked every bit a young general.
"My lord! Look, flames are soaring over the Imperial Palace! It's the signal to attack!"
Fang Yuanke had communicated privately with Xie Huizhou and the others beforehand. When the explosions sounded, it would be time for them to rise up and storm the Imperial City.
The time had come!
"It is heaven's will! Heaven has decreed that the Dynasty will fall here today! The new mandate of heaven rests with me!"
Seeing the explosions that served as a signal, forces from every quarter raised their banners and charged toward the Imperial City.
"Brothers! Charge with me! Take the Imperial City!"
Those in the Imperial City had yet to discover that the rebels were already closing in on the Imperial Palace. Even if they had discovered it, they could have done nothing; the only troops the emperor could now command were the Imperial Guards in Capital