Outside the city of Dingzhou, the cries of battle shook the heavens.
Yet within the Xie family’s ancestral home, separated merely by a river, all was quiet.
Wu Ming carefully extracted wisps of earthly qi, channeling them into a grand formation radiating warmth. The garden blossomed in brilliant hues, grass turned fresh green, old trees sprouted new shoots, and the air brimmed with vibrant vitality.
Moreover, Wu Ming had secretly arranged a protective formation around the estate to shield Wu Zhi from the violent and bloodthirsty aura of the battlefield.
Pregnant for ten months, and her first pregnancy, this was a time when no caution could be excessive.
Of course, after setting up these precautions, Wu Ming handed over all matters of food, clothing, and daily life to the midwives and physicians, leaving him free to focus solely on Wu Zhi’s emotional well-being.
At this moment, having stolen a brief respite from worldly concerns, he even had the leisure to read historical texts.
“Great Zhou’s founding emperor, Ji Yi, came from Qianzhou and Kun County. His mother, Lady Chen, while pregnant, dreamed that a deity handed her a pill glowing with light, which she swallowed… At his birth, red light encircled the room, and a strange fragrance lingered overnight. Thereafter, light frequently shone from the house. Neighbors, seeing this glow at night, mistook it for fire and rushed to extinguish it, only to find nothing… Those with knowledge recognized this as a sign of an extraordinary person.”
“Great Shang’s founding emperor was blessed by the black bird, hence the saying ‘The black bird descended to give birth to the Shang dynasty.'”
“As for the chaotic era between the Xia and Shang dynasties, when numerous warlords rose to power, nearly every self-proclaimed king or emperor had an unusual origin story, all clearly recorded in historical texts…”
Wu Ming put down the ancient book. “Perhaps because this world is one where gods and spirits walk alongside mortals, such examples are countless—and all true, unlike the stories from my past life.”
In his previous life, ancient emperors emphasized the harmony between heaven and humanity. The more insecure and usurping an emperor was, the more he relied on such omens to bolster his confidence and justify his rule.
Of course, sometimes after becoming emperor, subordinates would flatter him by elevating his ancestors for generations and fabricating miraculous birth signs.
For example, Emperor Taizu of Jin, Wanyan Aguda, was preceded by colorful clouds appearing repeatedly in the east before birth. People whispered, “A remarkable person will be born here, destined for extraordinary deeds. Heaven has revealed this sign—it cannot be man-made!”
Or Yuwen Tai, the founding emperor of the Western Wei dynasty. His mother was Lady Wang. During the fifth month of her pregnancy, she dreamed of holding her child ascending to heaven, stopping just short of reaching it… At his birth, a black vapor like an umbrella covered his body. A black mark on his back resembled coiled dragons. His face radiated purple light, inspiring awe and reverence.
This description was practically that of a living black dragon. If it were truly as described, no matter how lenient ancient people were, they would surely have regarded him as a monster.
Therefore, most such accounts were fabrications, or coincidences with natural phenomena like sunset clouds, rainbows, or mirages.
Yet in ancient times, these were considered undeniable signs of heavenly mandate.
Later, this even became a formulaic trope. If someone wasn’t an emperor but claimed to have extraordinary birth signs—like a red or golden dragon entering their arms, trees growing into auspicious shapes outside their home, or other auspicious omens—they were likely planning rebellion.
Similarly within the palace, if a concubine gave birth to a prince and claimed to have dreamed of riding a dragon circling her abdomen thrice, or if sunset clouds appeared over her quarters, the empress and dowager empress would grow wary—this was a sign of ambitions for the crown prince position.
Especially dream omens. With just a word from the person involved, these were impossible to verify, making them the most convenient and dubious claims.
Of course, all of this belonged to another world.
Wu Ming, having crossed into another realm, naturally knew this world truly had gods.
Particularly the ancient deities, who loved investing in dragons and scheming for heavenly fortune. Even Ji Yi was not exempt from this.
But with so many sons born from dreams of gods, their real fathers must have experienced very complex emotions.
“Now that E Xu has firmly established herself in Dingzhou, at minimum, she is set for a half-century reign. If her descendants prove capable, there is even a chance of unifying the realm… It’s inevitable that some deity might want to invest in her.”
Wu Ming lowered his eyelids, and a dangerous glint gleamed in his pupils.
…
Boom!
Within Dingzhou city, the thunderous impact of massive stones striking the city walls echoed throughout, keeping people awake at night.
Zhang Wenzhen frowned as he rose from his bed.
He didn’t have the luxury Wu Zhi enjoyed—having a celestial immortal personally arrange a formation to isolate noise. He slept in full armor, resting his head on his weapons. Since Xu Chun’s death, he had slept less than three hours each night, handling official documents and arranging defenses.
Last night, he had worked until the early hours of the morning and had barely fallen asleep when the siege sounds woke him again.
“Enter!”
He called out softly, and an attendant immediately entered.
“Commander! The enemy attacks fiercely, rotating in three shifts day and night. Li, the deputy commander, is directing the defense on the city walls…”
“I’ll go immediately!”
Li was Zhang Wenzhen’s trusted subordinate, always steady and reliable. Without him, Zhang might not even have had this brief rest.
However, as he stood up, a sudden dizziness overtook him, alarming the soldier who was helping him don his armor.
“Commander?”
Soldiers and commanders shared a bond—glory together, ruin together. Even if Zhang Wenzhen were to rebel, they would have no choice but to follow. At this moment, concern was evident on their faces.
“I’m fine…”
Zhang waved his hand.
“Only now do I understand how burdensome these duties are…”
Thinking of his benefactor Xu Chun, who had died from overwork, he felt a pang of sorrow.
“I fear I may not be as capable as my benefactor, and may meet my end by sword or axe…”
“Commander!”
Hearing such ominous words, his close aides wept bitterly.
“Enough! No need for such weak sentiment!”
Zhang straightened his armor.
“A true man dies for his country and sovereign, repaying his master’s grace. To be wrapped in horsehide and buried on the battlefield is one of life’s greatest honors!”
“Well said!”
A voice suddenly intruded from outside, causing Zhang’s expression to change.
“What man is this?”
He hurried outside and saw that, somehow, a young nobleman had already entered the courtyard with several officers. With a wave of his hand, a large group of soldiers rushed in.
“A coup?!”
A terrible thought flashed through Zhang Wenzhen’s mind. He recognized these officers. Instantly, his gaze fixed on the young nobleman.
“I am Xie Wusi. Greetings, General Zhang!”
Xie Wusi bowed once, then issued his command without hesitation.
“Kill anyone who resists!”
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Outside, the sound of bowstrings vibrated continuously, followed by screams and gasps as arrows pierced flesh.
The familiar sounds caused Zhang Wenzhen and his men to clench their fists involuntarily. After all, the dead outside were their blood brothers.
“Where is Deputy Commander Li? Where is he?”
Zhang Wenzhen, after a moment of shock, quickly regained his composure and asked coldly.
“General Zhang, your ability to win the hearts of men is truly admirable. Alas, Deputy Commander Li was stubborn and unyielding. He likely now follows the governor into death…”
Xie Wusi bowed again, his expression sincerely earnest.
“General, will you surrender? My lord, the Jiedushi, is broad-minded and will surely value your talents… At the very least, you may retire peacefully, with security for your family and a life of comfort…”
Boom!
At that moment, a louder commotion came from the west gate, accompanied by cheers.
“The city has fallen!”
Zhang Wenzhen realized instantly, his heart sinking into despair.
“I serve the imperial court and will never surrender to rebels!”
He gritted his teeth, glanced around, and sighed.
“If the young master is so gracious, might I ask for a moment of privacy?”
“Please!”
Xie Wusi solemnly gestured, watching Zhang Wenzhen enter the room, then ordered his men to surround it tightly, bows drawn, as if sealing it like an iron barrel.
Not long after entering, a soldier came out and said, “The general has taken his own life!”
Xie Wusi showed no surprise. He followed inside and saw Zhang Wenzhen standing in the inner chamber, sword in right hand, a bloody gash across his throat, eyes wide open in death.
“Indeed, the general was resolute!”
Xie Wusi sighed.
“What a pity…”
“General, we shall follow you into the afterlife!”
Once Zhang Wenzhen was dead, his personal guards also drew their swords and took their own lives, following him into death. Xie Wusi was deeply moved.
“These were all true warriors!”
He looked slightly weary, waved his hand, and said,
“Take his head, arrest his entire family, and await further orders!”
“This city is now my lord’s possession. You all must quickly go out and assist the troops in stabilizing the situation!”
In his heart, however, he silently thought: having supported Wu Zhi so thoroughly today, he could only wonder what fate awaited him when the great enterprise eventually collapsed.
Even as just a fleeting thought, a chill ran through his body.
…
“Indeed! Dingzhou has fallen!”
On a small hill outside the city, an old Daoist priest watched as the city gates opened from within, allowing the enemy to enter and seize the city amidst rising smoke and thunderous cheers. He sighed softly,
“Just now, a general star fell in the west—surely Zhang Wenzhen has perished…”
“All the noble families in the city are traitors!”
A Confucian scholar raged.
“These people have long enjoyed imperial favor, yet they repay it like this. Truly heart-wrenching!”
The general beside him hesitated, knowing that their escape from death was thanks to the old Daoist’s early warning.
Seeing the city now filled with those surrendering, he finally lost all hope. Even if he launched a purge, he could not kill them all. This was the will of heaven and the trend of the times.
“Sigh… Of the nineteen provinces under heaven, another has slipped from imperial control…”
The scholar sighed.
“Master Daoist, will you remain here to observe Wu Zhi’s fate?”
“Indeed!”
The old Daoist nodded.
“With the fall of Dingzhou city, the entire Dingzhou region is now in her grasp. The dragon’s aura will surely manifest. Moreover, with chaos spreading in other provinces and no forces to intervene, even if her foundation is weak, she can still maintain stability for decades. This woman’s sudden rise is a major variable. I must observe her closely…”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, the general gazed toward the direction of the Luo River, surprised.
The old Daoist looked too, stunned.
Before them, from the direction of the Xie family estate by the Luo River, a five-colored cloud arose abruptly, reaching up to the heavens, stretching for miles, an unmistakable sight.
“This is… a celestial omen! Of course, considering the timing, Wu Zhi is about to give birth—could it be now?”
The old Daoist’s mouth hung open like a toad.
“Could this woman truly possess heavenly mandate and fortune, attracting the reincarnation of a great being?”
At these words, even the Confucian scholar and the general felt a sudden chill in their hearts.
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