Chapter 133: 112, Deceased Country Princess Request to See Your Majesty (4K Big Chapter, Request for Monthly Ticket)_2
How could he be qualified to command soldiers and horses again?
Initially, when Li Xiaozu informed them about avenging King Zhenbei, their support for him to march southward and demand justice from the Imperial Court was genuine. They owed a debt of gratitude to King Zhenbei Li Liang for nurturing them, and this debt could not go unpaid. However, when their offensive was thwarted and there was no longer any chance of victory, they stopped thinking about avenging their benefactor. Instead, they focused on preserving their own strength and carving out a larger piece for themselves from the sinking ship that was Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion.
The Imperial Court had already handed them righteousness and the means to act; they merely needed to follow suit.
「At midnight」
Just as Li Xiaozu was preparing for sleep, a trusted general rushed into the command tent, waking the soundly sleeping Li Xiaozu. "It’s terrible! Your Highness, the Queen Consort has been abducted by Li Yong and his men! They’ve taken her to Shenjing!" he exclaimed, recounting all the secret events of the night. "Li Yong and the others are saying the Queen Consort is a calamitous beauty who has bewitched you..."
Since King Zhenbei Li Liang’s death, Li Xiaozu had inherited the title of King. However, King Zhenbei’s adopted sons did not truly submit to Li Xiaozu, so they continued to address him as "Crown Prince" rather than "Prince."
"What?" Li Xiaozu roared, "How dare they!"
He had not even removed his armor before sleeping. Enraged, he grabbed the guandao hanging on the weapon rack and ordered his trusted general, "Quickly assemble the troops! Follow this king to rescue the Queen Consort!"
Once the Queen Consort was sent to Shenjing... He could not imagine how he would face such a situation. What an utter disgrace!
But just as he was about to leave the barracks, Li Yong, Li Dan, and the others were already outside, waiting with their forces. Under the night sky, several groups of soldiers faced off. Li Xiaozu was not entirely without support; within the Army Seeking Revenge, his own contingent was the strongest. However, the combined forces of King Zhenbei’s other adopted sons outnumbered his.
"Commander," Li Yong began, then gestured to one of his bodyguards. The bodyguard immediately raised his voice and declared, "We have followed your orders, Commander, and sent that demonic woman, the Queen Consort, to Shenjing. Emperor Tiande has already issued an Imperial Decree: as long as we deliver Princess Anren, that bewitching woman, to the Capital, he will not hold our Army Seeking Revenge accountable. Thank you, Commander, for your consideration for us soldiers and officers!"
If the Princess left, Li Xiaozu would have to accept this blame, whether he wanted to or not. If he refused, it would mean mutiny today. If he accepted... they could all still be good brothers and return to the border together.
"You..." Li Xiaozu, clad in silver armor, his face grim. He had never imagined retribution would come so swiftly. Just half a month ago, he had forced his father, King Li Liang, to abdicate. Today, the generals of the Army Seeking Revenge were doing the same to him.
"Damn Xu Xing..." he seethed, "You truly are a treacherous bastard!" Li Xiaozu ground his teeth, his hatred for Xu Xing, who had issued the decree, burning fiercely.
If the decree had ordered them to "kill him," the generals of the Army Seeking Revenge would never have dared such a blatant offense. However, if all blame was shifted onto a woman—even a princess of noble birth—it was different. Women were like clothing. To ensure the survival of their brothers, sacrificing a woman seemed a small price to pay. To trade one woman’s life for the survival of their Outside Iron Riders... was it not a worthwhile exchange? Although the generals knew the Imperial Court was using a ploy, offering up a woman would not affect their army’s morale in the slightest. Why not try it?
Had this been when the Army Seeking Revenge first marched south, the generals would never have dared to entertain such thoughts. But now, Li Xiaozu’s disastrous decisions had led the Army Seeking Revenge to the brink of annihilation. His prestige was a shadow of its former self, and the generals harbored treacherous intentions. He should have anticipated this...
"And what if this king refuses to consider your welfare?" Li Xiaozu’s expression turned frigid. "Do you then intend to kill me, the King of Zhenbei? To seize the Li Family’s foundation? My late father raised you for many years. Is this how you repay his kindness? Even pigs and dogs are more loyal than you!"
Although he understood the temporary benefits of forbearance, he was no politician. By marching south to attack the Imperial Court, he had already resigned himself to the possibility of death.
Moreover, if he were to truly yield to these generals’ wishes, it would bring him no good. A commander who couldn’t even protect his own woman—what right would he have to lead troops? Who would obey him in the future?
"What do we do?"
"Li Xiaozu wants to fight us to the death!"
The adopted sons of King Zhenbei who were confronting him began to sound flustered.
If Li Xiaozu were to fight them... true, they had more soldiers and might ultimately win. But an Army Seeking Revenge fractured by internal conflict would hold little value in the eyes of the Imperial Court.
"Whose idiotic idea was this..." one adopted son cursed. "Sending Princess Anren to Shenjing... Now look, Li Xiaozu refuses to swallow this insult."
「Fengxi Country.」
Shenjing, Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, Empress Yunniang has brought some refreshments for you."
In the Side Hall of Yangxin Hall, Xu Xing was reviewing battle reports from the front lines when he heard a eunuch knock softly and announce her arrival.
"Yunniang?" Xu Xing put down the report. "Let her in."
Since establishing his reign as Emperor, he had brought Zhao Yunniang and their son from the Court of Xing Tian on Guanxi Road to the Imperial Palace. Zhao Yunniang was proclaimed Empress, and their young son, Xu Zhang, was designated Crown Prince.
According to the Immortal Sect, with the protection of a Human King, the Siming Mountain Country could enjoy three hundred years of prosperity. And within these three hundred years, the Human King would also benefit. For instance, if Song Knife were to congeal a Dao Pill, he could select a First-Class Dragon and Tiger Dao Pill for its formation. The Dragon Pulse of Fengxi Country could provide Song Knife with a continuous flow of Dragon Luck; Song Knife would only need to find some White Tiger divine blood. This was also one of the reasons why the Sect so highly valued the Human King physique. Condensing other Dao Pills to the first-class level required countless rare treasures.
"These are some osmanthus cakes and jujube paste cakes I made myself," Zhao Yunniang said as she entered, carrying a food basket. She placed the small dishes of pastries on Xu Xing’s desk. She carried herself with dignity, dressed in a Phoenix Robe, and dangling gold hairpins adorned her cloud-like tresses, giving her a noble and imposing aura. "Please try them, Your Majesty."
"You’re very thoughtful." After a eunuch tasted them for safety, Xu Xing casually picked up an osmanthus cake and popped it into his mouth. A rich osmanthus fragrance, mingled with a faint milky scent, filled his nostrils, and the cake was soft and melted in his mouth. He nodded and praised her.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty." Zhao Yunniang curtsied slightly to Xu Xing, then moved behind him and began to gently massage his head and shoulders with her soft hands, her movements light and graceful.
Initially, when she became the principal wife of King Xing Tian, she had felt deeply uneasy. She believed her humble origins made her unworthy of such a distinguished position. Yet, Xu Xing had insisted on choosing her, despite widespread opposition. Now, she was the Empress... Even with Xu Zhang, Xu Xing’s legitimate eldest son, a constant apprehension filled her heart.
After a while, a eunuch reported from outside, "Your Majesty, Li Yong of the Army Seeking Revenge bound Princess Anren last night and has sent her to Shenjing. Does Your Majesty wish to see her...?"
"Princess Anren?" Zhao Yunniang, startled, looked towards the palace gates. She only knew of the war outside the Capital but was unaware of the several imperial decrees Xu Xing had issued to the commanders of the Army Seeking Revenge. She dared not inquire too deeply into such matters, lest Xu Xing suspect her of interfering in court affairs from the harem—Harem Governance.
"Rumor has it Princess Anren’s beauty could topple nations," Xu Xing mused, taking another bite of cake. "This time, she’s become a true femme fatale. Back then, when I was in prison, I barely caught a glimpse of Princess Anren. Today, I can finally feast my eyes."
The last time Princess Anren was sent to Shenjing as a hostage by King Zhenbei Li Liang, he had been curious and wanted to see her. He wondered what it would be like when Princess Anren finally met him, the man who had killed her father and brother.
"Summon Princess Anren for an audience..."
The gatekeeper eunuch acknowledged the order and hurried to the palace gates, shouting to a horse carriage parked at the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City.
In less than a short while, Song Miyao, clad in Mourning Clothes and plainly adorned, entered Yangxin Hall with delicate steps. She kept her head bowed, her graceful figure, though dressed in mourning, was still captivating and stirred the soul. When she reached the center of the hall and lifted her sorrowful face, she evoked even deeper pity.
"Song Miyao, Princess of a fallen kingdom, pays her respects to Your Majesty," she said, curtsying slightly.
Last night, due to the incessant jolting of the journey, the child in her womb had been lost. If she had not reached Shenjing in time and received treatment from the imperial physicians, she might have already perished and descended to the Yellow Spring.
In that instant, as Song Miyao lowered her head, Zhao Yunniang, standing beside the Emperor, felt tears welling in her eyes. At this moment, she actually felt that even her own death would be worthwhile.