Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 121
“All envoys, enter the palace——”
As soon as he finished speaking, envoys walked into the Daming Palace one after another.
The envoys from the He Kingdom placed their hands over their hearts as a gesture of greeting and presented their famous spices, fruits and vegetables.
The Goryeo envoys, accompanied by dozens of Goryeo beauties and two thousand purple-white crystals, bowed to the emperor.
Emperor Chengyuan gave gifts to them one by one.
Soon, the envoys of the Nine Zhao Wu clans handed the gift list to the interpreter, who said word by word: “Kang presented golden peaches, silver peaches, lions, leopards, agate bottles, and ostrich eggs; An presented leopards and horses; Mei presented a dance banquet; Shi presented fine grape wine…”
A ceremony was being offered in the palace, and the Jinwu Guards were on high alert outside the Daming Palace. Lu Yan said to Yang Zong, “Have you checked for any sources of fire?”
Yang Zong bowed and said, “No one is carrying it yet.”
Lu Yan asked again: “What about the arrows?”
Yang Zong said: “It is really difficult to check the arrows. The court of state ceremonial is not cooperating. Although they have searched the envoys, it is hard to say whether there are any hidden weapons among the tributes in their hands.”
Lu Yan tilted his head and asked, “What did Qiu Shaoqing say?”
Yang Zong shook his head and said, “Lord Qiu guaranteed with his life that there is no enemy spy among the sixty-six actors.”
Hearing this, Lu Yan half-closed his eyes and turned the ring on his hand.
Every moment of the New Year’s Day of the eighteenth year of Qingyuan lingered in his mind. Even though he knew that the situation today was completely different from that in his previous life, he would never dare to take it lightly.
Given the current situation in the court, with Empress Xu’s wisdom, she would rather keep a low profile and take her time, and would definitely not assassinate Emperor Cheng Yuan… The only thing to be afraid of is that the subordinates around the Sixth Prince will become desperate and make a desperate attempt.
Lu Yan said, “Tell the Crown Prince about this.”
Yang Zong looked at his own heir apparent’s frowning brows and said, “There are many experts lurking around the Crown Prince, and there are also Jinwu Guards and Lord Hong inside and outside the palace. There is also Marquis Changping guarding outside the city. My Lord, don’t worry too much.”
Yang Zong whispered again: “Our people have also entered the palace.”
Lu Yan said sternly: “Just wait and see.”
After a while, the sixty-six actors entered the hall. The sound of stringed instruments was pleasant to the ears, and the sound of drums was passionate and inspiring. The actors danced around the pillars and slowly recited the blessing.
In the previous life, a huge fire broke out in the hall before the actors had finished dancing.
And in this life, until the end of the dance, there was no unusual movement.
Soon, another group of musicians entered the venue.
They sat in the center of the hall, holding instruments such as pipa and konghou[mfn]
[/mfn], dancing with their fingers and swaying with their eyes closed.
The palace banquet began, and Emperor Chengyuan gave seats to envoys from all parties. Dozens of palace maids walked through the two sides of the hall holding golden cups, raised their wrists, and handed the wine to the envoys with a smile.
The music faded a little, and Emperor Chengyuan stood up and said, “I am very pleased that you have come from afar. Tonight…”
Before Emperor Chengyuan could finish his words, King Li suddenly stood up, threw the golden cup in the middle of the hall, pulled out a small knife from his hair and rushed towards Emperor Chengyuan.
Seeing this, Hong Sheng came over and restrained this person. Empress Xu frowned slightly and glanced at the Sixth Prince.
Hong Sheng shackled his hands behind him and angrily asked, “Do you know what crime it is to assassinate the emperor?”
The crowd whispered and the corners of their mouths couldn’t help but laugh. With the national strength of the Li Kingdom, was it worthy of showing its claws in front of the Jin Dynasty?
Prince Li said, “Since I have done it, there is nothing to be afraid of! You Jin Dynasty are shameless and greedy! When have you ever given us any real favor?”
He looked around at the important officials of the Jin Dynasty and continued with gnashing teeth: “Each of you is a blood-sucking leech. You will never stop until you have sucked the blood of the people of Li Kingdom dry! Li Kingdom is loyal to you, and the tribute increases year by year. The beauties we send as tribute are for you, the powerful people in Chang’an, to use at will! My sister who entered the palace had no dignity until her death!”
“To have no dignity, to have one’s dignity trampled upon, the heavens are simply blind.”
The King of Li State spoke in the official language. As soon as he finished speaking, the interpreters began to whisper in the envoy’s ear.
Emperor Chengyuan’s chest heaved with anger. Empress Xu’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. She stared at the Sixth Prince and shook her head slightly.
The censor raised his hand and sneered, “Hurry up and shut his mouth!”
“You dog emperor, you sent a scholar to our country. He looked well-dressed, but he was full of nonsense. He told me that my people are born lowly, and if there is no heavenly Khan above, they will be like ants unable to survive in the world. You should be worshipped as a god! Aren’t you really ashamed?! You should go…”
Before King of Li finished speaking, Hong Sheng drew the sword at his waist. Lu Yan stood up and said, “Leave him alive!”
Inside the Daming Palace, the sounds of stringed instruments suddenly stopped. The Sixth Prince tapped the table with his fingertips, and several palace maids suddenly raised their wide sleeves and revealed several hidden weapons.
Lu Yan originally didn’t understand why the Prince of Li Kingdom suddenly decide to be suicidal, but now he understood instantly that he just wanted to transfer Hong Sheng away from the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the hidden weapon made a “duo duo” sound towards the Crown Prince. The hidden weapon was very fast, and several arrows were fired at the same time. Lu Yan said sternly: “Yang Zong, protect the Crown Prince.”
Empress Xu pretended to be panicked, putting her hands on her belly while pulling Emperor Chengyuan.
At this moment, countless people in the hall were pierced through the throat by sharp arrows. Hong Sheng was also hit by several arrows. The blood quickly flowed out from his official uniform and fell on the ground drop by drop like raindrops on the eaves.
The fishy and salty smell of blood filled the air.
This night of debauchery turned to chaos in an instant.
Immediately afterwards, the Jinwu Guards pushed open the door and rushed in. Another person jumped out, holding a hidden weapon and aiming at the Emperor in the hall.
As everyone held their breath, the eunuch shouted at the top of his lungs, “Protect the Emperor! Come and protect the Emperor!”
Before the Jinwu Guards chopped off the maid’s head, the sharp arrow left the bow and shot towards the emperor at lightning speed.
Empress Xu’s pupils shrank, and she suddenly stood in front of Chengyuan with her bulging belly.
She looked at the Sixth Prince with disappointment and despair.
Then she closed her eyes.
She had to save the Xu family.
Suddenly, three soldiers appeared in front of Emperor Chengyuan. They were wearing armor and had the tokens of Jingzhao Prefecture on their waists. They blocked the arrows with their bodies.
Emperor Chengyuan was so frightened that he fell down on the dragon throne.
From the moment the King of Li Kingdom opened his mouth to this moment, it was just a blink of an eye.
Lu Yan sat next to Princess Jing’an and looked at Empress Xu very briefly.
It seems to be saying——
I will not give you the credit for saving the Emperor.
After a moment, Princess Jing’an looked at Lu Yan absentmindedly and murmured in a low voice, “Lu Yan, just now, I saw the image of you being shot by an arrow.”
Lu Yan’s adams apple moved, and he smiled and said, “Mother, you are overthinking. This son has soft armor on my body, so I can’t be hit by an arrow.”
Princess Jing’an stroked her chest and said, “Am I hallucinating?”
Emperor Chengyuan slowly came back to his senses and clenched his fists.
He glanced at the King of Li who was kneeling on the ground and crying, then glanced at the crown prince who was shot in the arm, and finally, glanced at the sixth prince who was sitting upright with his eyes lowered.
In this palace, there are never coincidences.
Even before the trial, Emperor Chengyuan had a clear idea in his heart.
Emperor Chengyuan stood up and said in a deep voice, word by word, “Today’s matter will be handed over to Jingzhao Prefecture for trial, with the assistance of the Dali Temple. A case will be filed and a strict investigation will be conducted.”
Lu Yan and Zhou Shu’an stood up and said in unison: “I obey your order.”
Empress Xu covered her abdomen, feeling the pain but dared not make a sound. Emperor Cheng Yuan turned around and looked at her, “The Empress has abdominal pain?”
Empress Xu whispered, “I was just frightened, nothing serious.”
Emperor Chengyuan sneered softly, “Since you are pregnant with my child, you’d better be careful. Someone come, the Empress is frightened, send her back to Anhua Palace immediately and serve her carefully.”
Empress Xu said, “Your Majesty!”
Emperor Chengyuan stopped looking at her and whispered, “I need to pay back what I owe the Xu family.”
——
Seven days later, at the morning court, Lu Yan determined that the assassination was the work of spies from another country.
Everyone speculated on the Emperor’s thoughts. There were two reasons why Jingzhao Prefecture and Dali Temple made such judgments.
One has to know that Emperor Chengyuan had a good reputation and he does not want the historians to record his own son’s coup in such a prosperous era when all nations came to pay tribute. Secondly, he wanted to use this as an excuse to march south to expand the power of the Jin Dynasty.
As a result, everyone in the hall fell silent, and no one dared to speak.
At the same time, Lu Yan submitted another memorial.
After interrogation, it was revealed that the Prince of Wei formed a clique for personal gain, the Empress interfered in government affairs, embezzled and sold official positions, and framed loyal officials.
Each and every one of them was a serious crime. Although no one was implicated, Emperor Chengyuan, with the force of a thunderbolt, struck Empress Xu with the words “unworthy of the position” and stripped her and the Sixth Prince of their titles.
The Xu family members were all heartbroken when they heard this.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it[mfn](Everyone hits a person who is down)[/mfn]; when a drum is broken, everyone beats it.[mfn](This is a common saying, which means that once a person loses power, people will take the opportunity to attack him.)[/mfn]
The Wang family, the Song family, the Qiu family and other aristocratic families that were usually close to the Xu family all began to distance themselves from the Xu family.
Everything that the Yunyang Marquisate experienced in the court in the 16th year of Qingyuan happened again to the Xu family as if time had been reversed.
The only difference was that the Xu family’s roots were too deep.
The Xu family has a century-old foundation. Among the hundreds of officials, there were those who were corrupt, but naturally there are also those who were honest and upright. No one can generalize and condemn them all.
The imperial censor condemned the Minister of the court of state ceremonial Xu Kanglin, who was imprisoned for dereliction of duty. The next day, Xu Bolin requested to be dismissed from the post of prime minister, thus saving the lives of the whole family.
——
After her title of Empress was seized, she moved from Anhua Palace to Shangyang Palace, leaving only Zhuang momo by her side.
Zhuang momo whispered, “Your Highness has just lost your child. Don’t go out barefoot. If you catch a cold, you will get sick.”
Xu Shi’s face was bare as she said calmly, “It won’t be able to survive anyway. I won’t live for long, So it doesn’t matter.”
Zhuang momo’s eyes turned red, and she shed tears silently, “How can His Majesty not remember the old feelings, that day, Your Highness clearly blocked in front of His Majesty, if that arrow shot over ……”
Xu shi smiled and said, “When alive, feelings are insincere. Only when one die can we see our true feelings.”
Zhuang momo lowered her head and said, “What should the Empress do in the future? Those people in the harem will inevitably come to add insult to injury.”
Xu shi opened the window, and the morning mist came in. She looked at the thick snow on the branches and said softly, “Since I’m here, sooner or later, that day will come, and Concubine Duan will give me a decent death.”
Zhuang momo frowned, “Concubine Duan?”
Xu shi whispered, “At the end of the year, I went to Concubine Duan’s palace, rubbed the Tenth Prince’s head, and told her that I might have a great gift for her.”
Zhuang momo asked, “Did the Empress have a hand in this?”
Xu shi shook her head. “Not really. It’s just that one day I felt uneasy and wanted to do a little favor.”
Zhuang momo asked, “What is it?”
Xu Shi whispered, “The arrow shot into the Crown Prince’s arm on New Year’s Day was poisoned. No one knows about this until now. After three years, I bet they won’t be able to solve it.”
Zhuang momo’s pupils suddenly dilated.
On the other side——
Translator Note –
Hi everyone. I know this is not a big deal but just wanted to share with y’all…kekeke
It took years, but the entire Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (MDZS) series is finally mine. 🎉😭
It’s been a long time since it was first published, but somehow… this feels like the perfect moment for me. And honestly? Holding these physical copies in my hands — after dreaming about it for so long — is making my little fangirl heart burst. 🥹💕 (Honestly it’s been years since I’ve actually held a physical copy of a book after reading online translation of novels all these years.)
I’ve read this story three times already, and each time I laughed, cried, and fell in love all over again. It never gets old.
I’m posting this because I need to share this joy with the people who truly understand what this story means.
Sorry for yapping about it — I just can’t help it. 😅🖤
P.S. -Did a lil photoshoot with it. 😅😅😂😂🙈
