Level Seven Golden Immortal is a world-level existence, coexisting with heaven and earth, sharing the same lifespan as the sun and moon, and wandering together with the primordial essence.
At this stage, one can almost represent the entire world, and the possibility of being deceived becomes extremely rare.
However, Absolute Heaven Immortal Sovereign is a native Golden Immortal of this realm, while Wu Ming remains an outsider. Within the Huangting World, with his authority, there would absolutely be no chance for the Absolute Heaven Immortal Sovereign to pull any tricks. Yet within the Great Zhou World, as long as Absolute Heaven is willing to pay the price, there remains a possibility of accomplishing such a feat.
Still, deceiving heaven and crossing the sea requires utmost secrecy.
As for someone like Wu Ming, who already harbors strong suspicions, seeing through the illusion is just a matter of a single thought.
“This… is this dragon qi? Imperial qi? Seems like an artifact from a previous dynasty, intending to unleash the Heaven-Demon Body-Dissolution Technique all at once?”
After a careful examination, Wu Ming’s mocking smile widened.
The Great Zhou’s mandate has already declined and cannot be salvaged. No matter how much dragon qi the young emperor receives, in the end, it will burn away like fire catching onto a pile of firewood, leaving nothing behind.
The Absolute Heaven Immortal Sovereign’s actions are naturally not meant to prop up the Great Zhou, but merely to create as much trouble as possible for Wu Zhao.
With such strong support, if Wu Zhao truly desires to unify the world and launches a northern campaign immediately, there’s a real chance she might suffer a crushing defeat through internal and external collusion.
“Husband, have you noticed anything?”
Wu Zhao blinked her eyes, rarely displaying a demure, girlish demeanor.
“Exue… You once told me your wish was to pacify this chaotic era. Now… do you wish to rule the world as the founder of a new dynasty, or be criticized forever as a subject of the Great Zhou?”
Wu Ming asked calmly.
In truth, he didn’t need to guess to know the answer.
“Nineteen provinces under heaven belong to those capable… The Great Zhou’s mandate has already declined; it’s time for the heavenly mandate to change!”
Wu Zhao replied without hesitation.
“With your current achievements, territory, and army, proclaiming yourself emperor would be sufficient!”
Capturing the entire world before abdicating is quite different from ascending the throne now.
At least in Wu Ming’s view, the former is more legitimate, bearing the air of a pioneering ruler who braved hardships, while the latter would carry the awkward sense of seizing someone else’s foundation.
“Proclaim myself emperor?”
Wu Zhao’s lips tightened, her expression turning resolute: “So I’ve finally reached this point, huh?”
“Although there are only a few clues, I’m certain the royalists in this small court are plotting something sinister. Most likely, they’ll push for a northern campaign and then take the opportunity to strike!”
Wu Ming said casually, “To prevent that, it’s better to directly remove their foundation!”
The royalists’ goal remains to prolong the Great Zhou’s rule, but if we remove the foundation itself by deposing the emperor, then…
They naturally become water without a source, trees without roots, losing even the last vestige of legitimacy, and thus unable to stir up any more trouble.
“Hmph… a bunch of weaklings, thinking they can cause trouble!”
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhao’s face showed undisguised murderous intent.
These schemes might have had a slight chance of success before she became aware of them, but now…
…
“Minister Zhang, Minister Li, General Wang… You’ve all come. Good, you truly are loyal subjects of the Great Zhou!”
Inside a secluded courtyard, Qian Zhong saw several officials and generals arriving in plain clothes, a slight smile appearing on his face before quickly turning solemn: “I act under the emperor’s command to punish rebels. I hope you all will assist me!”
Truth be told, the Great Zhou’s small court was merely a facade used by Wu Zhao to maintain appearances. The real power still lay with the officials and generals within Prince Ding’s military council. Qian Zhong had managed to rally only a few people, the most powerful among them being merely a four-gate commander—in essence, just a gatekeeper…
Of course, the gate he guarded was the main entrance to Dingzhou, and he commanded a thousand men. At a critical moment, that could be a significant force.
“Grand Tutor Qian, we admire your loyalty, but is the emperor truly going after Prince Ding?”
One of the civil officials asked anxiously: “Prince Ding has just conquered the south and his prestige is at its peak. Our actions now are no different than dashing ourselves against a stone, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot…”
“Foolish! If Prince Ding’s prestige is so great, where does that leave the emperor?”
Qian Zhong immediately rebuked him: “Wu Zhao is a traitor, deserving of death by all… I have here the emperor’s secret decree!”
Without hesitation, he pulled out a piece of yellow cloth, the dark brown characters clearly visible.
“The imperial decree is here. Will you obey or not?”
Qian Zhong raised the decree high, his eyes flashing coldly.
He had already stationed men outside, ready to deal with any fence-sitters at this moment.
“I accept the decree!”
A general with a bushy beard looked at the decree, especially the imperial seal upon it, then knelt down without hesitation.
“We accept the decree as well!”
Seeing the general’s lead, the other officials quickly followed suit.
“Excellent… Minister Wang made one point correctly just now. With our current strength, we can do nothing when Prince Ding’s army returns. Therefore, we only need to do one thing now!”
Qian Zhong hissed: “Stir up the ministers and petition for a northern campaign!”
With the army suppressing everything, they could not create any real disturbance. Their only chance lay in the moment Wu Zhao led her forces away from Dingzhou.
“Drawing the tiger out of the mountain? A brilliant plan!”
The general immediately became excited.
But just then, a commotion erupted outside.
“What are you doing… ah!”
The clanking of armor echoed as a large group of soldiers stormed in. A wealthy servant, emboldened by his status, tried to step forward to argue, only to be stabbed in the chest by a grinning elite soldier and killed instantly.
Bang!
The door was ruthlessly kicked open, and a grim-faced general strode in, sweeping his gaze over Qian Zhong and the others: “Good! Excellent! Everyone’s here!”
“Dare you! This is the Grand Tutor himself. How can you behave so disrespectfully?!”
This was the most secret of rebellious plots, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. The officials were immediately seized with terror, yet one still clung to hope and stepped forward to scold them.
Pf!
But before he could finish speaking, a flash of bright steel pierced his heart.
“On Prince Ding’s orders, arresting traitors! Anyone resisting will be killed on the spot!”
The general shouted loudly: “Why don’t you surrender quickly?!”
“The plan is exposed!”
Qian Zhong’s limbs turned cold as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over him.
What worried him most at this moment wasn’t even himself, but the emperor deep within the palace. If their plot was exposed and implicated him, what would become of the emperor?
At this thought, his eyes flashed with determination. He clenched his hands, intending to destroy the secret decree.
“Heh!”
The general was quick-eyed and fast-footed, kicking Qian Zhong to the ground with one swift move, then snatching the decree with a quick reach.
“Tsk tsk…”
The words and seal on the decree immediately changed the general’s expression: “Lucky I stopped you. If this key evidence had been destroyed, who knows how long we’d have been deceived by you villains?”
“Traitor!”
Qian Zhong’s eyes bulged, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Keep cursing! Keep cursing all you want. You’ll soon be a wandering ghost anyway… Well, at least you’ll have your nine clans to accompany you, so the journey won’t be too lonely!”
The general sneered, then turned to the others: “What about you? Will you surrender quietly, or choose to struggle pointlessly?”
“Fight!”
Several lieutenants, knowing their fate was sealed, drew their swords.
“Kill them!”
Without batting an eye, the general gave the order.
Several elite soldiers, fierce as wolves and tigers, immediately pounced forward, working in unison with practiced efficiency, swinging their high-quality steel long swords.
Officers of the rank of lieutenant, even if their swords were sharp, would not be wearing armor at all times. Immediately, the sound of metal striking armor rang out, sparks flying as their blades scraped against the soldiers’ armor. Meanwhile, the soldiers’ sabers mercilessly plunged into their bodies.
Pf!
The sound of blades piercing flesh and the sight of blood slowly spilling out turned the faces of the nearby officials pale. Some cursed “Traitors!” and were immediately executed, while others trembled and fell to their knees, begging: “We surrender! We surrender!”
Seeing this, Qian Zhong felt a surge of anguish in his chest. With a sudden gush, he spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted dead away…
…
“The secret decree?”
Not long after, Wu Zhao held the young emperor’s blood-written decree in her hand, a cold smile forming on her face: “A hen crowing at dawn? Plotting rebellion? The little emperor’s accusations are quite convincing… forcing me to actually show him what it truly means… Guards!”
“At your command!”
The personal guards waiting outside were naturally first-rate elites, ready to die for Wu Zhao at any moment.
“Seal off all four palace gates. Come with me to see the young emperor!”
Wu Zhao changed into a royal robe, her imposing figure declaring her intent. The crimson dragon embroidered in golden and silver threads shimmered as if moving.
The Imperial Palace.
Ji Lin had flipped through a few books but felt too restless to read a single word.
By now, he was consumed by anxiety and regretted having sent the decree too hastily, leaving himself no room for maneuver.
If Grand Tutor Qian and the others succeeded, all would be well. But if the plot failed… he dared not even think about the consequences.
Unfortunately, things always went the way he feared most.
Crash! Crash!
Heavy, orderly footsteps approached, accompanied by the sound of armor dragging along the floor.
“Your Majesty, disaster has struck!”
Eunuch Qiao came running in, panic-stricken: “Prince Ding… Prince Ding has sent a large army to surround the palace, and she herself is coming in!”
Crash!
Ji Lin’s hand trembled, and the precious Yuhua porcelain teacup slipped from his grasp, shattering into pieces.
“Your subject, Prince Ding Wu Zhao, pays homage to Your Majesty!”
Two rows of armored guards rushed in, followed by Wu Zhao in full battle dress.
“What does Prince Ding mean by this?”
Though his heart was pounding with fear, Ji Lin still tried to maintain his composure.
“To seek justice!”
“Justice?” Ji Lin’s heart quivered: “From whom?”
“From Your Majesty, naturally…”
Wu Zhao casually tossed the secret decree onto the floor: “How does Your Majesty explain this decree?”
Seeing that it was indeed his own handwriting, Ji Lin fell into the deepest despair.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage