bookrebus Chapter 560 - 527 Firmness 3
Chapter 560 - 527 Firmness 3
Snow whirled in the air.
The wind drove the snowflakes into a slant, like arrows, casting down towards the capital’s buildings below.
Lingyun Hall.
The new emperor sat on the throne, clad in a dragon robe and crown, with a beaded curtain obscuring his face, rendering his expression unreadable.
Beside him, Yue Dewen was seated, his eyes slightly closed at this moment.
Below, at the early morning court, the civil and military officials stood in two lines, silent as the grave.
"Now, the three divine generals are about to enter the capital for an audience. Although Your Majesty must not neglect them, at this time, as the new dynasty is established, the military power alone under the command of these three generals far exceeds the capital several times over. Yet upon their return, they do not come to Lingyun Hall at the first opportunity; instead, they leave us waiting here for long..."
The first elder on the left, named Suka Yimu Tie, spoke in a deep voice.
This man, Suka Yimu Tie, was newly appointed as Patriarch of a great aristocratic Spirit People family after the mysterious disappearance of the original Left Minister.
"The generals ought to hand over military power upon their return to the capital; going to Snow Rainbow Pavilion first is also according to the rules." The Right Minister was a black-haired elder with a goatee but a tall and sturdy build. At this moment, he was idly pinching his beard, eyes slightly narrowed, standing leisurely at one side.
This person’s name was Ji Sanhe, and from his attitude, it was clear that he didn’t see eye to eye with the Left Minister and seemed indifferent to the new emperor.
Ji Sanhe was a prominent official during the reign of Emperor Lingzhi. Now that the new emperor ascended the throne, he was initially in the opposition camp. Unfortunately, after failure, he had to compromise.
As one of the patriarchs of the great aristocratic Spirit People families, though they failed in siding, they were not subject to much retribution, except that their family enterprises and younger generations suffered significant losses. However, their foundational status was secure because they held the Spirit Seal, rendering them unafraid of external forces.
As long as the Spirit Seal was in hand, the positions of the great aristocratic Spirit People wouldn’t change, which was the fundamental power granted by the Spirit Flying Church.
This was why they hadn’t been dismissed by the new emperor.
"Now that the Red Scarf Rebels have been initially suppressed and the big picture across the provinces has returned to stability, the generals, not previously acting, now return. How to respond is likely directed towards the Great Sect Alliance."
The Elder of Jixian Institute, a newcomer recently promoted by the Great Dao Teaching, spoke while looking at Yue Dewen.
The Great Sect Alliance had just stabilized the situation when the generals appeared, leaving no doubt that their actions were meant to capitalize on the timing.
"Do my dear ministers have any strategies to propose?" The new emperor glanced at Yue Dewen, then spoke.
Currently, the court was divided into two factions.
The new faction, led by the Great Sect Alliance, and the old faction, led by Snow Rainbow Pavilion and the Spirit People aristocracy.
Before the return of the generals, the new faction held the absolute advantage. But now that the generals had returned, bringing with them a large force of military experts, the situation would instantly reverse.
Thus the old faction saw hope once more and began to vocalize.
Among the Spirit People aristocracy, Suka stood as the only left minister supporting the new faction. So when he first spoke, his stance and alignment were very clear.
"Actually, if we consider the seasonal phases, we are currently in the period for offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. Perhaps Your Majesty could use this as an excuse to personally visit Snow Rainbow Pavilion to worship heaven and earth. In doing so, relations with the three generals could be soothed..." A general clad in dark golden heavy armor stepped forward and spoke loudly.
"Ridiculous! Since when does an emperor cater to his ministers? Even if the generals visit in person, it would be a breach of protocol!" The Minister of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly stepped forward and shouted.
"Anyway, the seasonal sacrifices provide cover, allowing relations to be smoothed over, achieving two things at once without losing face. Why not?" The general did not understand.
Immediately, the two sides, civil and military, began to argue against each other over the issue.
The leading general was a Huxi person, with blonde hair and blue eyes, stout and strong-waisted. Not as fluent as his counterparts in the Great Spirit language, he grew anxious as he was losing the debate. He was about to step forward to settle it by force, but a few generals nearby held him back, persuading him otherwise.
For a time, the entire court hall was noisy, like a bustling marketplace.
The crowd did not mind, or perhaps it was a common occurrence.
The Spirit People valued martial prowess and profit above all. In the past, there were rules: if one disagreed with another’s opinion, they would settle it with a duel right then and there.
Now, at least they had a Ministry of Rites, which was a vast improvement from before.
Fortunately, the rowdy Huxi general did not rise through military achievements but rather through the Huxi people’s mercantile skills. Having spent lavishly and managed well, he could maintain a private army, though military prowess was secondary for him.
Watching the commotion below as the court quarreled, the new emperor sighed softly and unconsciously looked at Yue Dewen.
The latter remained seated, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard any of the noise.
Time slowly passed. Over the months, aside from occasional discussions on state affairs, any issue involving the generals would eventually devolve into such a scene.
The new faction ministers of the Great Sect Alliance, led by Yue Dewen, were mostly newly promoted individuals, some of whom had never been in contact with the core high-level officials before and simply did not understand how terrifying the generals could be.
But what they didn’t understand, the new emperor knew all too well in his heart.
Thus, he dared not act rashly, always observing Yue Dewen’s reaction before making any move.
Unfortunately, today’s Old Yue was the same as ever, silent and watching the clouds as they drifted.
After waiting for a while without any movement, the new emperor, seeing that the time was almost up, was about to signal for the court to be dismissed.
Suddenly, at the entrance of the grand hall, a towering figure strode swiftly inside.
This person wore pure white armor with gold trim, covering even the head, concealing their face. The breastplate was inscribed with numerous intricate, flower-like patterns of tiny script.
A heavy white fur cloak draped over their back, slowly dragging along the ground.
’Divine General: Gigulf Arechi requests an audience!’ At this moment, the herald outside suddenly awakened from his stupor and shouted loudly.
Thump, thump, thump!
The figure stepped on the thick gray and black carpet of the grand hall, producing heavy, echoing footsteps.
His helmet appeared different from those of other generals, featuring special antler-like protrusions at the top. Coupled with a height nearing three meters and a width of one meter seventy-eight, he was like a moving metallic fortress, just a glance made one feel breathless.
The members of the new faction, including Yue Dewen, focused their gaze on this person.
Present among them were several Grandmasters and Grandmasters of great renown, all top experts within their respective factions who survived the preceding upheavals.
In the martial spirit of the Great Spirit, the weak had no place to survive.
Most people either rely on the strong or are strong themselves.
Bang.
The person stopped, standing in the center of the grand hall, looking up at the new Emperor. The eyes beneath the helmet were pure silver, carrying a certain coldness and aloofness.
The new Emperor involuntarily averted his gaze.
The visitor then turned his gaze towards Yue Dewen, who was sitting solemnly to the side.
"It’s been a long time since you returned, I didn’t expect you to be the one to break the rules, Old Yue."
"The great path turns, and destiny befalls. What? Are you unconvinced?" Yue Dewen’s eyes slowly widened, staring directly at the other person, without any retreat.
"Unconvinced?" Gigulf laughed heartily, "Sect Leader Yue, I’m a simple man, I don’t understand your roundabout scheming."
"Since you claim the great trend has formed, destiny is on your side, then use your destiny, your great trend, to subdue me."
"I’d like to see if your destiny is stronger, or if my military might is stronger?"
His voice, like a great bell, resonated and exploded in the court.
All the courtiers fell silent; even a Grandmaster, at this time, with a heart of self-reliance, dared not speak recklessly.
A heart of self-reliance is about self-strengthening, not suicide.
It was clear that the divine general returned to intimidate Yue Dewen.
When involved in the dispute of the two strongest forces in the world, anyone stepping in would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Without nonsense, Yue Dewen slowly stood up from his seat. Step by step, he descended the steps and approached the divine general.
As he approached, a cloud of gray mist, like chaos, rose behind him.
Only those in the Refining God stage could see that within it, the faces of gods and Buddhas appeared intermittently, while seated at the top were the Celestial Venerable of the Great Dao Teaching and the Moon God.
Gigulf sneered, also stepping forward slowly, his hand resting on a golden scimitar at his waist.
Behind him, a pure white fog slowly spread. At its core, a vertical pupil, blue as the sky, suddenly opened.
The eye was several meters wide, over ten meters long, like a long narrow crack, floating behind Gigulf, as if it were a door.
*
*
*
Snow covered the rooftops of Wushan Prefecture.
In many places, children had started building snowmen and having snowball fights. The auspicious snow forecasted a good year, giving a good omen for next year’s harvest.
It was the New Year.
Many wealthy families in the city had begun setting off fireworks and firecrackers.
The Mu Chi mansion had also bought many and set them off in a heap.
In the courtyard, Zhang Rongfang, Zhang Rongyu, brother-in-law Suda Heqi, along with the wet nurse holding the nephew, gathered to watch the servants light fireworks together.
The eaves were adorned with red lanterns painted with festive patterns, and several offering drinks were in the distant courtyard, competing and betting on the outcomes, drinking the losers.
The clash of swords and blades led the surrounding attendants to occasionally let out exclamations of surprise.
Zhang Huanqing could now walk slowly and steadily.
Since childhood, he seemed not to enjoy smiling, his small face tense, extremely nervous, with chubby hands holding a sparkler that he swayed for a bit before daring not move anymore, no matter how his mother urged or patted him, his whole body tense, forehead sweaty with cold.
This appearance amused the people around.
"Where’s Meisha? Why hasn’t she come out after being called?" Zhang Rongyu asked in confusion.
"Miss Meisha said she has a headache, caught a cold, and is warming herself by the fire basin indoors, so she’s not coming out," a maid replied.
Zhang Rongyu glanced at Zhang Rongfang, who was smiling beside her, his body had recently miraculously returned to about 1.8 meters, looking much more normal.
His previous height of near three meters indeed seemed a bit abnormal.
Moreover, this time, her brother had unexpectedly invited a female companion to their home.
The girl was truly beautiful... with wide hips, surely able to bear several children.
Zhang Rongyu carefully observed the woman beside Zhang Rongfang. Hmm, though she’s a bit flat on top....
Being secretly observed by Zhang Rongyu, Ran Xinyue felt somewhat helpless.
A few days ago, as a representative of the Reversal Society, she voluntarily accepted the transfusion of Zhang Rongfang’s bloodline in order to completely resolve the aftereffects of her worship of God.
Since their relationship was quite good, Zhang Rongfang also wanted to try whether the suppressed worship of God could be transformed into a bloodline.
So he gave it a try.
The process went smoothly and was successful.
The suppressed spiritual line was expelled, the transformed body regenerated with new flesh, completely replaced.
But in the process, Zhang Rongfang expended a large amount of blood to replace it.
The expenditure was more than creating a first-generation bloodline.
But it was ultimately a good thing. A person affected by worship could forcefully pull themselves back and return to normal using this method.
This was previously extremely difficult in the Reversal Society.