The secondary capital of the Great Zhou.
Ji Fu, a Reincarnator, had just emerged from his meditation room where he had been “cultivating in retreat,” when he saw the chaotic scenes throughout the mansion. Puzzled, he summoned a guard: “What has happened?”
“Prince, you’re finally out!”
The guard answered with sweat pouring down his face: “It’s a disaster, a disaster… The city is surrounded by a large army. The aristocrats and officials are all anxious and considering their escape routes. The Old King has given orders that once the Prince comes out, you must meet him immediately.”
Looking at the crowd of maids and guards waiting outside, Ji Fu estimated that if he hadn’t exaggerated the consequences of interrupting his cultivation tenfold, they might have forced their way into the meditation room.
However, in reality, Ji Fu had left for another world to complete a Reincarnator mission. If the servants had entered, they would have found only an empty room, risking the exposure of his secret.
“Who dares to commit such a grave offense? Is it Mu Hen or Lord of the Mountains?”
Ji Fu asked in surprise.
These two were well-known local warlords and bandit leaders in Xuzhou. The former was notorious for his reckless actions, while the latter commanded a rebel army of peasants, which goes without saying.
In Ji Fu’s mind, only these two audacious individuals would dare to do such a thing.
“It’s neither of them. The Governor Mu Hen has been killed, his entire family wiped out. The Lord of the Mountains met the same fate. The army surrounding the city now is the Lingzhou army under Princess Wu Zhi. It’s said that those commoners are ruthless and fearless; even several first-rank officials and aristocratic families who tried to sneak out of the city were directly killed…”
The guard involuntarily shivered as he said this.
Although in these chaotic times, a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken, the imperial court’s authority and legitimacy had been declining day by day. Still, for a feudal lord to openly defy the authority and humiliate the court like this was truly unprecedented.
“Princess Wu Zhi?”
Ji Fu naturally knew all about this unique female feudal lord who was one of a kind for thousands of years.
But the last he had heard, she was still locked in fierce battles with several other warlords in Lingzhou. How could she suddenly surround the secondary capital?
Could it be that the time flow ratio in this reincarnation mission was too great, and several years have already passed?
But looking at the surroundings and servants, who hadn’t changed much, Ji Fu realized that it wasn’t that much time had passed, but rather her development this time was simply too incredible.
“Fine, I’ll go see Father now!”
Ji Fu’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he suddenly said.
In his heart, a secret thought surfaced: “It’s time to get off this sinking ship called the imperial court anyway. Fortunately, I still have the Temple of the Lord as a backup plan. Even if the Taoist Yu Qing and I once shared wine and camaraderie, where can’t I rise again and build another empire?”
Of course, no one knows what expression Ji Fu would have if he ever discovered the truth about the Temple of the Lord.
…
Within the secondary capital, people like Ji Fu who had such “confidence” were ultimately few.
With the number of enemy troops increasing daily, most people were still filled with anxiety, desperately seeking escape routes for themselves.
Secret letters were sent out in the dark, expressing willingness to surrender to Princess Wu Zhi; the number was countless.
This undercurrent of anxiety also reached the imperial palace.
The palace in the secondary capital, of course, could not compare to the grandeur of the palace originally built by Emperor Ji Yi, but it was still magnificent, albeit smaller in scale. Now, many side halls were left unattended, appearing somewhat dilapidated, bearing the scent of a declining dynasty.
The current emperor ascended the throne as a child, bearing the name “Lin.” It had been eight years since his coronation, yet he was only sixteen years old. Having lived a life of luxury, his skin was very pale, and he still carried an air of immaturity.
“Your Majesty, many palace servants have fled or hidden treasures. The guards caught over a dozen today. What should be done with them?”
Inside the imperial study, a high-ranking eunuch dressed in red and purple robes asked in a low voice.
“What else can be done? Handle it according to the rules!”
Ji Lin, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, replied listlessly. Thinking of that morning’s court session, he couldn’t even gather a hundred officials. With the world in chaos and people’s hearts changing, this last veil of decorum had finally been torn away, leaving him utterly disheartened.
Thinking again of the tens of thousands of enemy troops surrounding the city outside, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
No matter how much he tried to mature, he was still a teenager. Worse still, since his ascension to the throne, the government had always been controlled by powerful ministers. Only at the beginning of this year, when the situation had clearly deteriorated, did those ministers hastily “return power” to him, asking the emperor to take personal charge. In reality, everyone knew it was merely a way to make him the final scapegoat.
Throughout history, when dynasties change, how could the fate of the last emperor ever be a good one?
“What about the commanders at the four gates? With the city surrounded, how many defenders are still capable of fighting?”
After a moment of silent anger, Ji Lin couldn’t help but ask this question.
“There are still about ten thousand defenders within the city, plus several thousand palace guards… but…”
The old eunuch gritted his teeth: “Not to mention the city garrison outside, even the command of the palace guards is not entirely under our control. Many aristocratic families have secretly communicated with Princess Wu Zhi. I fear that once the royal carriage arrives, they will…”
“Enough… don’t say any more…”
Ji Lin cried out in fear and slumped onto his dragon throne.
From the old eunuch’s perspective, he was merely a pale-faced teenager, where was the demeanor of a monarch of a nation?
“I must immediately bestow Princess Wu Zhi with the title of Queen, granting her the Nine Rites. As long as she agrees to leave…”
Ji Lin’s eyes were dull as he proposed his final condition.
Unknown to him, the old eunuch’s eyes revealed a look of pity. Once control of the imperial court was in hand, what honor could not be obtained?
That Princess might not dare to kill the emperor, but to hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the realm was undoubtedly what she would do.
From the moment she surrounded the secondary capital, practically all the insightful people knew what she would do.
As if he himself realized how unrealistic this plan was, Ji Lin shook his head and stopped talking, nervously muttering: “I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay right here and see what Princess Wu Zhi dares to do to me…”
“Your Majesty! Princess Duanrui requests an audience!”
Who knows how long passed before a clear, melodious voice came from outside.
This was Princess Duanrui, the current emperor’s full sister, no more than sixteen years old, yet exquisitely beautiful, greatly favored by Ji Lin.
Hearing his younger sister’s arrival, even Ji Lin’s face slightly softened: “Come in!”
“Your Majesty, please do not worry about the siege. Although Princess Wu Zhi controls two provinces and is the most powerful among all the feudal lords, she absolutely dares not rashly attack the imperial palace…”
Princess Duanrui entered and gently comforted him, saying, “I have seen Your Majesty diligently attending to state affairs, so I specially prepared some Poria paste for you. Please take care of your health!”
“Yes, thank you so much. I haven’t eaten anything today!”
It wasn’t until Princess Duanrui reminded him that Ji Lin remembered he hadn’t eaten yet, and his stomach let out a faint growl.
His face flushed as he accepted the golden bowl and began to eat heartily: “My dear sister’s cooking has improved again. I wonder which fortunate consort will be blessed to marry you in the future!”
“Your Majesty, please stop teasing your sister!”
Princess Duanrui’s face flushed slightly, her maidenly demeanor making Ji Lin very happy, feeling as if the gloom in his chest had somewhat lifted.
Dongdong!
Dongdong!
However, beautiful moments are always short-lived. Suddenly, the sound of a deep drum came, causing Ji Lin’s hand to tremble: “Who is beating the drum?”
“This… this is the war drum!”
The old eunuch’s hand holding the whisk also trembled: “The soldiers are cheering; no doubt Princess Wu Zhi has arrived outside the city!”
“Princess Wu Zhi?!”
Princess Duanrui was also somewhat curious.
Although there were many feudal lords in the chaotic times, it was said that this ruler was a woman who could achieve such great feats, truly admirable.
“Your Majesty, your subjects Zhang Duan, Kou Chun… request an audience!”
Hasty footsteps were heard from outside, obviously ministers who had been alarmed by the large army and had come to pay homage.
“Your Majesty, Duanrui will not disturb you anymore!”
Princess Duanrui, reading the atmosphere, gracefully curtsied and withdrew.
“Let them all come in!”
Ji Fu exhaled deeply, his face turning gloomy, but he still said.
“Long live the Emperor!”
Several ministers entered, performing their bows with strict regularity, their movements synchronized, but showing little humility or respect, as if they were merely bowing to a wooden statue, following outdated customs.
“With Princess Wu Zhi’s arrival, whether to fight or make peace, do any of you have a plan?”
Ji Lin folded his hands in his sleeves, expressionless as he asked.
Zhang Duan was an old minister who had served two emperors. He stepped forward and bowed: “Your Majesty, please forgive me. I believe that the city cannot be defended alone. Our army is small and weak. To provoke Princess Wu Zhi rashly would be harmful and unbeneficial.”
“That’s right!”
Kou Chun also spoke up: “Princess Wu Zhi claims she is coming to support the throne. Perhaps she is still a loyal minister and will not commit any great treason.”
Ji Lin listened to the ministers below him agreeing, feeling so depressed that he almost spat blood.
He knew these people must have secretly reached an agreement, perhaps even already negotiated terms with the outside, selling him out.
“Fine! I will immediately give the order to open the city gates, have all officials go out to welcome her, and invite Princess Wu Zhi into the secondary capital. How does that sound?”
A mocking smile appeared on his lips as he suddenly said: “Princess Wu Zhi has come all this way to support the throne, clearly showing her loyalty. We must not neglect the ceremony; all officials should kneel to welcome her!”
“We obey Your Majesty’s command!”
This decree was like a child’s tantrum. Although it was meant to humiliate the old ministers, it also completely discarded the dignity of the imperial court.
As soon as Ji Lin spoke, he regretted it, but Zhang Duan and the others pretended not to notice and immediately agreed, obviously seeing it as a way to please Princess Wu Zhi, making Ji Lin even more furious.
“There is one more matter!”
Zhang Duan’s hazy eyes stared straight at Ji Lin: “Princess Wu Zhi has done much and must be rewarded! The royal family must show closeness and favor!”
“How should we show closeness?”
Ji Lin had a premonition that what came next was probably not good.
“Princess Wu Zhi will choose a daughter from the Wu family to marry the Emperor as his Empress, and the Emperor should also choose a member of the imperial clan, preferably a daughter of the late Emperor, to bestow in marriage to show intimacy!”
This was obviously a condition proposed by Princess Wu Zhi. Ji Lin’s mouth felt bitter, barely managing to say: “I agree to the marriage proposal! But the betrothal? The only suitable daughter of the late Emperor is Duanrui. Who do you want her to marry?”
“Naturally, the husband of Princess Wu Zhi!”
“As an equal wife?”
Ji Lin was furious: “How can a member of the imperial family…”
Kou Chun looked up at Ji Lin with an expression that said, “Your Majesty, you’re thinking too much,” and said: “No, as a concubine!”
“Traitorous minister!”
Ji Lin was so angry that he felt a rush of blood to his head, fainted on the spot, and spat blood.
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