The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1170 - 632: The Officials’ Shock (Part 2)
"Good morning, Eunuch."
Hai Chunlin curiously asked:
"What major event did you and His Majesty undertake to cause such a commotion?"
Zhao Douan lightly replied:
"Oh, it’s nothing much. His Majesty just chopped off one of Wu Xiankui’s arms, and I slaughtered Prince Jing. Just minor matters."
Eunuch Hai: ??
...
...
A ray of morning light from the east circled around the deep red palace walls, following the white jade railing, it shone through the crack of the Golden Throne Hall’s door, spilling onto the floor.
At this moment, the ministers were already in accordance with the rules, waiting inside the Golden Throne Hall for court to begin, yet the Empress was nowhere to be seen.
All the officials were restless, whispering among themselves.
Finally, a Chief of Staff couldn’t resist looking at a middle-aged female official inside the hall:
"Why hasn’t His Majesty appeared yet? Has something urgent happened?"
Another official echoed:
"Yesterday there were strange occurrences in the palace, you claimed it was due to His Majesty’s cultivation. But now that the hour for court has passed, why hasn’t His Majesty shown up? Are you hiding something? If national affairs are delayed, can you bear the blame?!"
One after another, the ministers expressed their discontent.
The middle-aged female official said nothing but looked bitter.
"Grandmaster, is it possible that His Majesty is not in the palace?" Yuann Li walked up to Dong Xuan’s side and asked in a low voice.
Grandmaster Dong unusually attended court today, clearly realizing something as well, hence he came to take charge of the situation, but upon hearing this, just shook his head.
What does shaking his head mean? Yuann Li couldn’t sit still, he looked toward Ma Yan standing on the outskirts of the crowd.
Ma Yan, feeling his gaze, also avoided it, saying nothing, feeling bitter inside:
How would I know what’s happening?
The nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day, especially under such critical circumstances. For a moment, the ministers recalled the past situation where the Empress was fleeing outside, and the court was leaderless.
Just then, an eunuch’s voice came from outside: "His Majesty is arriving!"
The Empress is here?
Inside the hall, the officials were overjoyed, quickly halting their discussion, and countless eyes turned toward the hall doors.
Then the doors opened, and in the morning sunlight, the female monarch, clad in a dragon robe, stepped inside with a dignified expression, followed by a familiar figure behind her.
"Junior Guardian Zhao?!" Many ministers felt a jolt in their hearts, and from their past experiences, they realized that something significant must have happened yesterday.
"Greetings to Your Majesty!"
Yuann Li took the lead, bowing in salute, and the ministers quickly collected their thoughts, following in obeisance.
The Empress walked through the ministers, step by step, towards the dragon throne, while Zhao Douan glanced around, unexpectedly not seeing Sun Lianying, then stood next to the middle-aged female official.
"Rise, everyone." The Empress, after sitting down, raised her arms slightly. Once the ministers stood up, she smiled and said, "While I was outside, I could hear the commotion in the hall from afar. Is there something you wish to report?"
The ministers exchanged looks.
In the silence, Big Qingyi Yuann Li stepped forward, breaking the quiet:
"To report to Your Majesty, yesterday we saw unusual phenomena in the palace and were concerned about Your Majesty’s cultivation, hence our impropriety. We seek your punishment."
Xu Zhenguan, in a good mood, smiled and said:
"I appreciate your concern. How could I blame you? I know you’re curious about what happened. Indeed, yesterday I left the capital for a day and went south using sword control."
The Empress left the capital yesterday?
Upon hearing this, many faces changed, some having their suspicions confirmed, others were just utterly shocked.
An official immediately spoke:
"Your Majesty, in these turbulent times, with internal and external threats, the Western Regions people causing chaos in the west, Yanshan King in the north refusing to surrender, and Prince Jing and Prince Chen’s mercenaries in the south... In such times, how can Your Majesty leave so easily?"
So bold... Zhao Douan found it amusing, though for an official... they’re always trying to make a name in history, so it’s not surprising to see them act like this. He smiled and said:
"Esteemed official... hmm, forgive me for not remembering which one you are, but His Majesty is a wise ruler for the ages and naturally has reasons to go out. Why question without first understanding?"
The unfamiliar official glanced at him, held his head high, and said:
"Junior Guardian Zhao, you took an oath when you first joined, and now, more than ever, you should devote yourself to dealing with the rebelling kings in the south. Why have you returned to the Capital?"
The implication: you should mind your own business.
Zhao Douan, however, smiled and said:
"How do you know that my return to the Capital is not a triumph?"
As soon as these words came out, many people were stunned and did not react.
But the Empress sitting on the dragon throne could no longer hold the corners of her mouth and said with a smile:
"I was just about to announce to all of you that yesterday, I was summoned by Mr. Zhao and temporarily went to the Coastal area. Together with Mr. Zhao, we met the rebel Prince Jing, Prince Chen, and the Qingshan Martial Artist faction on Daluo Island..."
"After a fierce battle, I severed one arm of Wu Xiankui, who was severely injured and fled, and all the Qingshan disciples were captured.
Mr. Zhao led the disciples of the Heavenly Master Mansion and in a battle with Xu Wen, he killed the rebel Xu Wen on the spot. Prince Chen immediately surrendered... Now the leader of the Jiancheng Road rebels is dead, the Coastal Road has returned to the court, and the Divine Mechanism Camp and the Three Thousand Camp are ordered to eliminate the remnants of the Jiancheng Rebel Army..."
Zhao Douan cooperatively took out a silver scroll, gently shook it, and threw a bloodied head onto the ground, smiling as he said:
"Here is the head of Xu Wen, everyone, the Jiancheng Army is defeated!"
A brief silence.
In the entire grand hall, no one spoke; only the head of Prince Jing rolled around, finally glaring at the faces of the officials with eyes wide open in disbelief.
Xu Wen is dead...
Killed by Zhao Douan...
Prince Chen surrendered...
Her Majesty severed one arm of Wu Xiankui...
The minds of the civil and military officials went blank for a while, then suddenly, someone was the first to let out a cry of surprise.
The entire Golden Throne Hall was in an uproar!
Yuann Li was stunned.
Grandmaster Dong stared at the head, breathing heavily, his face flushed.
Shock appeared in Ma Yan’s eyes.
On all the faces, the shock was unmistakable.
This news was truly too abrupt, while Wu Xiankui was considered a sage beyond the worldly realm, the impact of the head of Prince Jing was extraordinary.
"Junior Guardian Zhao... you and Her Majesty..." The Minister of War looked at Zhao Douan, who smiled and nodded.
"And the pillar of light at the Grand Temple yesterday..." The Minister of Rites opened his mouth.
Zhao Douan calmly said, "It was naturally Her Majesty who displayed her cultivation, causing the manifestation of the Royal Family’s Grand Ancestor."
"Whoosh——"
In an instant, the court became like a marketplace, with ministers disregarding etiquette, swarming around and asking for details, and some staring at the head, as if trying to discern its authenticity.
Zhao Douan, in a good mood, cheerfully recounted the events in general.
At this, everyone finally believed in the death of Prince Jing. For a moment, one minister after another bowed to the Empress, exclaiming, "Congratulations to Your Majesty! You have eradicated treachery and restored peace to the world!"
"Your Majesty rules over the world, and the rebels are punished today. This is the fortune of the people of Yu Country!"
For a time, countless voices of congratulations reverberated throughout the Golden Throne Hall.
No one mentioned the Empress’s secret departure from the Capital.
And gradually, some people suddenly woke up, calculated the days, and were horrified to find that Zhao Douan not only completed the "impossible" military order of the day but also did so many days in advance.
Incredible.
"With such a person born, Her Majesty having this person’s assistance, could it be the sign of Great Yu’s revival?"
This idea arose in the hearts of many people.
This past year, although the court officials supported the Empress in their stance, they were always under a shadow, worried about failure and repercussions.
But now, they were finally at ease. For a time, their feelings were complex, and many felt a lingering fear, wondering if they had sided with those vassal kings then, would they be alive today?
What?
You say the invasion of the Buddhist sect of the Western Regions? That is naturally a great enemy, but... surely not leading to the fall of the nation... right?
At least at this moment, the ministers caught in the atmosphere of ecstasy didn’t want to think about the external enemies of the Western Regions and just wanted to celebrate and spread this news. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Immediately issue an edict to announce the death of Prince Jing and the surrender of Prince Chen to all places," Xu Zhenguan said, collecting her smile.
After a pause, she added:
"Also, send orders to Zhao Shixiong’s forces in the Southwest and Shi Meng’s forces in the Southeast. After pacifying the local rebellion, leave part of the military to stabilize the area. The rest of the main forces should quickly mobilize to Xiping Road to drive the Western Regions people out of our Great Yu territory with one push!"
"Also send word to Iron Pass Road, to Jubei City, giving the Yanshan King one last chance to surrender. If he doesn’t cherish it, I will personally go and cut off his head!"
