"Murong Yi!" Suddenly, a woman burst in from behind the hall, sobbing uncontrollably. She was dressed simply and looked plain. She was the virtuous Consort, Murong Yue's birth mother, who had always been revered for her virtue. She was weeping uncontrollably over Murong Yi's body. The emotions she had tried to suppress for more than twenty years had completely collapsed at this moment. Behind her were several eunuchs and palace maids who felt guilty for not being able to stop her. Seeing the scene before them, they kept kneeling down to beg for forgiveness from Murong Yue.
Murong Yue gritted his teeth almost imperceptibly, but when he turned to face the assembled ministers, he exuded the aura of a ruler who had long been prepared to rule the world. He took out a piece of yellow silk from his sleeve and held it high, saying, "The late emperor's edict!" These four short words were like a bolt from the blue, announcing both Murong Yi's death and acknowledging the beginning of a new dynasty.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" A clear and resounding shout came from Lechang, reminding his subordinates of what they should do next.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
After glancing at his mother behind him, Murong Yue put on his battle robes and walked out of the Qiankun Palace amidst the cheers of the crowd. The most crucial battle awaited him.
"Stop! You traitor! Despite the Emperor's favor and trust in us, you have committed such a beastly act of betrayal!" Sure enough, not everyone could be subdued so easily. Waiting for him outside the hall were those pathetic righteous people who kept proclaiming their innocence.
"We have long seen through your intentions. Today, we will punish all the traitors and spare our great nation from such humiliation." The leading general was indignant and adept at rallying his troops.
"With such a small force, you dare to spout such arrogant words?" These were the words that should have been spoken by Murong Yue, but they came from a woman's voice. At this crucial moment, the alert group all followed the sound.
From the shadows in the northwest corner, a masked group gradually emerged, led by two women, one with a frivolous air and the other as cold as ice. But regardless, the murderous aura they exuded was consistent and so intense that it left the general speechless for a long time.
Le Chang stared intently at the quiet, icy woman. Even without her crimson robes, he could recognize her. He gripped the folding fan he had taken from his sleeve. The assassin Ying Wu, whom he had been searching for for so long, had to deliver himself to his doorstep at this very moment.
The author has something to say: Well, all the planning over the past few days has been for this one reversal.
Chapter 53 Mo is Pregnant
"How have you been, young ladies?" Murong Yue smiled and approached them. With each step he took forward, Zheng Donghe's royalist troops retreated a step, while the two women moved forward a step.
"What are you doing?!" The leading general, seeing his subordinates' cowardly behavior, his earlier imposing manner completely gone, was instantly enraged and roared, "Have you forgotten? There's still General Zheng Donghe's army! I've checked, General Zheng's army is on its way back. As long as we hold off the rebels, General Zheng will arrive to support us tomorrow or the day after. When that happens, we'll have protected the country, and we'll all be heroes who protect the nation!"
These words made perfect sense. After all, the emperor's decision to send most of the army to the northern frontier was quite controversial and widely known. Those who stood up to protect the country now might actually receive benefits in the future. Immediately, the soldiers were eager to try, chanting that they would hold out until General Zheng arrived, and many rushed towards Murong Yue.
Clap clap! Clap clap clap! Even though the royalists were filled with faith and hope at this moment, as their teammates fell one by one, their eyes flashing with terror, Murong Yue finally made them understand—do not underestimate the power of a king! For the archers, who had long lived in the palace, they could never have imagined that the so-called "traitors" would use bows and arrows on the battlefield to defend themselves.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Murong Yue didn't even glance at them. It wasn't that he looked down on their internship; rather, he had already amassed enough helpers. What he urgently needed to do now, the person he desperately needed to find… was the crown prince who had nearly controlled two countries.
"Where is Xiao Yin?" Murong Yue suddenly placed a knife against Ying Ge's neck, who was engrossed in the fierce battle. The speed was so great that the usually playful and teasing woman was stunned and expressionless.
*Clang!* Murong Yue suddenly felt a numbness in his hand; the blade had been deflected by a hidden weapon in an instant. And there was more! Murong Yue's ears twitched slightly, and he quickly stepped back, the soldier behind him immediately falling to the ground, his blood staining the ground.
Having broken free from Rong Yue's grasp, Ying Ge suddenly came to her senses, her usual demeanor returning. She placed a slender hand on the woman who had just saved her, saying, "I knew Xiao Wu would save me. Xiao Wu is so reliable."
Upon hearing the other party's soft "Wu," Murong Yue frowned slightly and looked towards Le Chang not far away. Sure enough, the man's hesitant demeanor rendered him completely incapable of fighting.
"Should we tell him where our master is?" Ying Wu pulled Ying Ge's hand away, asking the question in a formulaic manner. In her view, whether or not she told him about Xiao Yin's existence, she had an inexplicable confidence in her master. Perhaps seeing the overwhelming advantage Murong Yue had gained in the Qi Tian Kingdom, she wanted to see him defeated by her master as soon as possible. Life was inherently a series of tedious battles, and she was a product of these battles.
"You idiot, have you forgotten why we came here today?" Yingge slashed at the few people who were close to her. "Murong Yue is too dangerous right now. I don't want my beloved man to be in danger with him." Yingge smiled, but there was not a trace of happiness in her smile.
"Yes, our mission is to kill him before he meets his master!" Ying Wu stated his mission expressionlessly, even the light of his sword seemed to grow colder. As Ying Ge suddenly rushed forward to entangle with Murong Yue, he circled behind him, the cold light in his hand flashing without the slightest hesitation.
Crack! Bang! The two sudden loud noises were particularly jarring amidst the sounds of swords clashing, causing the soldiers nearby, engrossed in their battle, to be distracted and investigate what had happened.
Murong Yue's supporters were astonished, as were Xiao Yin's faction, and even the royalists were somewhat confused. If they weren't mistaken, the two people lying on the ground, the one on top being Le Chang, the first to support Murong Yue, and the one below being the aloof woman, had an arrow hanging from Le Chang's back that he had shielded the woman from. And the culprit who shot that arrow—according to many surviving eyewitnesses—had a face and figure that were strikingly similar to the long-vanished Consort Yu!
"What are you doing?!" Yingwu, who had never formally been in contact with a man before, was now being pinned down by him in front of everyone. The image of him shielding her from an arrow kept replaying in her mind. Confusion, anger, and shame crashed down on her all at once. She tried to push against the weight on top of her but found herself too afraid to use too much force. "Believe it or not, I'll kill you!"
"Cough cough..." The aggravation of his wound caused Lechang to cough, but his smile grew even wider. "Even if you don't kill me, I'm afraid I won't live much longer in this state."
Feeling his increasingly close presence and the strength in his hand on her waist, she knew he was doing it on purpose, he must be doing it on purpose! Just as Ying Wu was about to push him away, she heard him say, "Forget it, since we're all going to die anyway, you might as well kill me."
She never imagined that someone could talk about life and death so lightly and make her feel so agitated. She never imagined that one day, besides Xiao Yin, someone else's life would make her feel so heavy. Her vision gradually blurred. How could she feel sleepy on such a battlefield?
Years later, she finally understood what "scheming" meant.
Inside the Nine Phoenix Palace, He Shi finished writing the last character for Shen Mo, watching her carefully fan the calligraphy and painting to dry it bit by bit, as if it were a precious treasure. A hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes. She said that if she were alive, she wanted to frame this calligraphy and painting and pass it down as a family heirloom for generations to come. Ha, at this time of year, perhaps only the two of them remained in the entire palace with such a naive idea.
The long-awaited autumn ceremony arrived, but the evening breeze was a bit too cool, with two or three fallen leaves occasionally blowing in through the window. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you could pick up a few fragrant osmanthus blossoms. But today, what wafted in was... bellflower, the scent of Xiao Yin!
"Oh~ I never even realized that the one who escaped from the bottom of my cliff last time was actually a beauty." As always, Xiao Yin sat on the window, his collar slightly tugged by the breeze, his thin lips like peach blossoms, still a dangerous man whose age was hard to guess.
Having spent a considerable amount of time with Xiao Yin, He Shi understood his temperament. She stepped forward, shielding Shen Mo behind her, a rebellious yet relieved look in her eyes. "Whether you want to kill or torture me, Ying Ren will henceforth be He Shi, only He Shi, and live for her." Her gaze towards Shen Mo was exceptionally firm, declaring her current stance in a single sentence.
"Oh? Not for the child?" He still seemed to disregard He Shi completely, but as soon as he finished speaking, he raised his sword and lunged at He Shi, a dangerous and resentful strike from the smiling tiger.
He Shi was stunned by those two short words. A dying man, upon learning that there was a small life that existed because of him, and that the little life was not far away, right in front of him, was he overjoyed? Sorrowful? He had no time to think about whether this was Xiao Yin's subtle remark to distract him. Unexpectedly, he chose to believe and to worry.
He Shi suddenly stopped moving, facing Xiao Yin's sharp blade, and slowly closed his eyes. He suddenly wanted to betray her once more; dying together seemed too costly now.
"Is my brother an idiot?!" "Are you an idiot?!"
The blade didn't pierce him as he expected. Two equally urgent voices rang out. As He Shi opened his eyes, He Shang was already wrestling with Xiao Yin.
The author has something to say: I know some readers are wondering why everyone knows Shen Mo is pregnant, but her father doesn't. Perhaps... Shen Mo is deliberately hiding it?
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Lone Yellow Spring
"Yes, Xiao Yin's goal is to take your life, and it's true that you want to sacrifice yourself to protect the child. But what did I do wrong? What about our agreement? Am I just supposed to be abandoned by you without any struggle?" The tears of Shen Mo beside him reminded him how foolish his actions had been.
"Hmph, I admit your kung fu is not bad, but don't think you can compete with me just because you've picked up a sword," He Shang's attacks were insignificant to Xiao Yin, who casually played along without harming her in the slightest. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he took out a Gu box from his sleeve. "I once thought that controlling you with medicine wasn't convenient enough, but then I heard that Gu poison is quite effective. I wonder if I've successfully induced it?" Xiao Yin smiled lazily and casually twisted the Gu box in his hand. He Shang's leg immediately went weak, and she knelt on one knee.
"Ugh." It felt like a million ants were biting her left leg, and beads of sweat immediately appeared on her forehead. Under Xiao Yin's laughter, the two women immediately became helpless.
"Xiao Yin! You perverted old man!" He Shang was still as reckless as ever, but at this moment, she shouted at Xiao Yin like this, which made Shen Mo sweat for her. However, looking at Xiao Yin's expression, he didn't seem angry. After a few rounds, Shen Mo finally understood something from Xiao Yin's eyes.
"How are you? Can you still hold on?" He Shi would only show this expression when his body was on the verge of collapse from the poisoning. Shen Mo's brows furrowed involuntarily as well.
"It's alright. As you said, how could I possibly collapse so weakly in front of you and the child?" Before Shen Mo could even grab his sleeve, a gust of wind swept through her hand.
He Shang was suddenly pushed back several steps. Crack! A sharp sound of swords clashing rang out, and He Shi, who had attacked Xiao Yin from the side, had fallen behind him.
He Shang stared in disbelief. Xiao Yin, who had just finished his confrontation, was now facing him directly, and he could clearly see the large mouthful of blood gushing from his mouth. He had always admired his older brother He Shi since childhood, but he had never seen him so ruthless in his desire to kill someone.
In the instant she was stunned, a sly glint flashed in the man's eyes, and before she could react, she was pulled back and pinned in his arms.
"You perverted old man, let me go!" Even at this moment, He Shang showed no mercy to him.
"Shang Shang~" The breath blowing from her neck made He Shang's face turn red. Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yin smiled strangely. "You should know that I have a Gu box that can kill your good brother right now. Listen to me, just one incense stick's time, and I promise I won't hurt him." Seemingly confident in He Shang's answer, Xiao Yin placed a knife to He Shang's neck as soon as he finished speaking.
“I underestimated you. Even with such potent poison, you still had the strength to defeat me. Should I be jealous of the greatness of emotions? Or…” He couldn’t help but raise the knife at He Shang’s neck slightly, “Or do you still believe in the power of family ties?”
"Ignore him," He Shang said after thinking it over. "This pervert is just afraid that he won't be able to escape once Rong Yue arrives. Don't fall for his trick and let him go easily!"
“How heartless,” Xiao Yin didn’t deny He Shang’s words, but as he walked towards the window, he said his last words to He Shi with absolute certainty, “No matter when or where, I knew your choice, so I’m not surprised at all by your betrayal. Being too sentimental is such a bad habit!” He turned and touched He Shang’s cheek, “But I think I’ve caught it a bit…”
As he listened to his last words disappear into the night, He Shi could no longer hold on and collapsed. The move he had just used to confront Xiao Yin had exhausted all his strength, but in the end he couldn't bear to close his eyes completely and give up.
He wiped away Chen Mo's tears, his gentle gaze softening as he looked down at her abdomen. "Xiao Mo, this will be the happiest day of my life."
"No, you still have to wait until he's born, you still have to teach him kung fu, and you still have to..." Shen Mo looked at him in surprise as he struggled to his feet, pulling her along as they rushed outside, trembling. "Where are we going?"
"Ever since you said there wasn't enough time, you should have known that my body has been ravaged by poison for years and is already broken and incomplete. The lack of time refers to today." He Shi used all his inner strength to lift the door handle, which had been bolted at some point. He was panting heavily, revealing a strand of white hair hidden among his black hair.
"But we are husband and wife, and we made a promise that we would die together!" Shen Mo was a little anxious, vaguely knowing what he was going to do, and even her voice trembled.
"Xiao Mo, at least give me some dignity as a man." After saying that, he raised his hand and whistled a very long whistle. A middle-aged man came over in response.
Shen Mo couldn't help but take a step back. "Is this the time for jokes? You planned this all along, didn't you? You planned to abandon us all along." Looking at the determination in He Shi's eyes, Shen Mo suddenly felt a little scared and pleaded, "He Shi, I beg you, either come with my child, or let us all stay. Your evidence is in Rong Yue's hands. If we leave you here alone, he will execute you as a traitor in the future, He Shi!"
With a swift chop, Shen Mo's last words before collapsing were He Shi's name, as if piercing through the end of life and heading straight for the precipice of despair.
"Xiao Mo, forgive me." Murong Yue's goal was the same as Xiao Yin's: to take his life. Once Murong Shi was eliminated, there would be no obstacle to seizing the entire world. With the three of them together, there was no way they could escape.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Divider Line ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On September 8th of the 21st year of the Qi Tian Dynasty, the calendar was officially changed to the new year. Murong Yue, after subduing Zheng Donghe's forces on the third day, formally ascended the throne as emperor on the fourth day. This upheaval is also known as the September Upheaval. Many veteran officials of the previous dynasty died in the upheaval, including Zheng Donghe, who had just returned from successfully conquering the northern frontier and angrily left. The Grand Master of Lechang, who had made the greatest contribution and was the first choice for the position of prime minister, mysteriously disappeared, and after many days of investigation, there was no result.
A month later, Murong Yue crowned her Empress. Rumors circulated that those who saw her were utterly astonished by her beauty; "national beauty and heavenly fragrance" was insufficient to describe her allure. She also possessed unparalleled archery skills and had saved the Emperor's life during the turmoil, thus earning his favor and being chosen as Empress. Later, it was also rumored that she bore a striking resemblance to one of the late Emperor's consorts, both being pure of heart, kind, and virtuous, and celestial maidens from the same prestigious family.
Qi Tian was fortunate to obtain it; Murong Yue was fortunate to obtain it.
In the eleventh month of the first year of the Qi Tian Dynasty's new calendar, the planned grand birthday celebration for the Empress Dowager was suddenly canceled. The reason was that the Empress Dowager insisted on staying at Shangde Temple, a temple of moderate size that was quite a distance from the palace. No one knew what the Emperor and Empress Dowager were talking about, but the Emperor's filial piety in visiting Shangde Temple every three days moved many people.
Only the abbot of the temple knew that since the Empress Dowager moved in, no matter how many times the Emperor came to the temple, she had never agreed to see him even once.
On the umpteenth time of their trip to Shangde Temple, Li Qinran appeared before Murong Yue with her prayer beads. "Go back. You don't need to feel guilty towards me."
"Mother still can't forgive me?" Outside the palace, he didn't intend to call her "Mother."
"If someone can drive their own father to his death, why should they beg for my forgiveness?" Li Qinran gritted her teeth. Despite days of vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist prayers, she still couldn't achieve a completely unmoved state of mind.
"He has never acted like a father to me." This short complaint was not uttered as a question.
"What? Did you know that he had been paving the way for your imperial path for a long time? Did you know that because of my status, he knew that most people would not accept your rule, and therefore tacitly approved of your rebellion? Only in this way could you ascend to the throne through your own strength. You climbed to that throne by stepping over his dead body!"
"What if I said I knew?" Murong Yue's casual remark left Li Qinran speechless. "You know, I know, his close attendants know, even the deceased old ministers saw it all. He is proclaiming his dedication and sacrifice to everyone who can know, but how long do you intend for me to remember him!"
Rong Yue knelt down and hugged Li Qinran's legs. "I sacrificed no less than him, Mother. Every day I unconsciously endured the insults from those remaining forces, losing my freedom, my ordinary life, and... and that reliable and warm woman."
Author's Note: Oh, actually what should I have said? I think I've made Rong Yue more and more realistic...
Chapter Fifty-Five: The Grand Finale
"Angelica, angelica, why are you called angelica?" A cute little girl grabbed a little boy and wouldn't let go. She had asked this question at least ten times, but she could never remember it.
"Firstly, I am a kind of tonic that can detoxify Father," the little boy patiently explained to her. "Secondly, Father knows it's time to return when he hears the name Angelica."
"But was Angelica's father poisoned? What kind of poison? Can it be cured?" The little girl pouted, her heart naturally warm.
The boy smiled and said, "My mother is the famous Medicine Goddess of Town. No matter what poison Father is poisoned with, she can cure it!" He had this confidence since he was born.
"Wow! Angelica is so amazing!" The girl immediately looked at Angelica with admiration, then suddenly remembered something, "When I grow up, I want to marry Angelica, so I can call Angelica's mother 'Mother' too." She was overjoyed with her idea.
"No." After hesitating for a while, Xiao Danggui wiped the corner of his clothes and said apologetically, "My mother said that the wife I marry in the future must be someone I love with my life, but..." He looked at the girl apologetically again, "I don't want to love you with my life yet."
*Pfft*—As the little girl ran away wiping away her tears, a man not far away couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Dangui watched the little neighbor girl walk away, unsure whether to chase after her or not. Anxious, she couldn't help but feel annoyed at the man who had been laughing at her. "What are you laughing at! You bad guy, you're not allowed to laugh!"
"Okay, I won't laugh at you," the man said, walking closer. His flowing silver hair was quite a sight for the little boy. Seeing the boy back away as the man approached, the man suddenly grabbed the boy's arm in a panic. Only when he actually touched the arm did the man's smile return. "Don't you think you look a bit like me, you bad guy?"
"Nonsense, I'm not like a bad guy, I'm like my beautiful mother." The child was eager to break free from the association with bad guys.
What's your last name?
"My surname is He." Little Danggui blurted out, then remembered her mother's instructions not to tell strangers her name and address. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, then used the other hand, and with her short legs, she ran home.
This is a small town called Yanghe, a legendary water town in a dream, a world of water everywhere, a paradise for boats. On the northeast side of the town, a woman surnamed Shen moved here five years ago and runs a small pharmacy. The medicines sold there are different from those in other pharmacies, but their effects are surprisingly good, and many are given away for free. Moreover, many are made into pills, saving people the trouble of traditional decoction.
Thus, her fame in the town grew, and the proprietress was known as the "Medicine Guanyin." Unfortunately, she was a lone widow with a child. If she were simply a young widow, it wouldn't have mattered; many local gentry would have flocked to her. However, every year for the past few years, a handsome young man would arrive, carrying a folding fan and a smile, resembling a refined nobleman. He would be very intimate with Madam Shen, but when others inquired, they found that his surname was not He.