Chapter 219

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Protagonists:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The Liu Guo Crown Prince wailed and pleaded loudly, kowtowing repeatedly.

The golden statue gazed down upon all beings in the palace; beneath it, the Great Wu who had stood unmoving now spoke, his voice seemingly driven by some power, resounding sternly, as if conveying a true divine oracle:

"The Taizu's sorrow lies not in the failure of the gold offering itself, but in the unevenness of men's hearts, which makes the realm difficult to pacify. You are the backbone of the state; you should safeguard the Taiping foundation for ten thousand generations without toppling. This resolve should be passed down through the ages, ceaseless through generations—yet if the heart behind the gold offering is not sincere, how can it make the Taizu not doubt your loyalty and righteousness?"

This voice rang out clearly; the palace fell into a brief silence.

The Liu Guo Crown Prince, kneeling beneath the divine table, looked up, as if waking from a dream: "Precisely! The Taizu's spirit is enraged precisely because he worries the realm is unstable and hearts are uneven..."

"Liu Guo knows it has committed the grave offense of ignorance and disrespect, and is willing to send troops to pacify the Liang Guo rebellion and cleanse the traitors within the clan, to comfort the Taizu's spirit in heaven!"

He wept as he kowtowed, genuine emotion laid bare, weeping and pleading in both fear and regret: "There have always been laws of redemption in the statutes; I beg the Taizu to permit Liu Guo to send troops to atone for its crime, so as to mend this unintentional error!"

His forehead was bleeding from the kowtows, his head buzzing; he wept louder and louder: "... Ten thousand pleas to the Taizu, Great Grandfather, for merciful leniency!"

"Zhao Guo also volunteers to send troops to pacify Liang!"

Suddenly a girl's clear, sharp voice rang out—it was the Zhao Guo Commandery Princess Liu Ming, who had already offered gold.

Liu Ming stepped forward, knelt beside the Liu Guo Crown Prince, hands folded before her, her lean face exceptionally resolute, her words ringing with conviction: "Zhao Guo offered gold according to ritual today; this act is not for atonement, but solely to fulfill the duty of Liu Clan descendants and comfort the Taizu's divine spirit!"

Liu Ming looked up, seemingly gazing at the golden statue, but in truth also looking at the Great Wu God.

These words came from the depths of her heart; Liu Ming's eyes were slightly red.

The proposal to send troops to punish Liang Guo had long been sent back to Zhao Guo along with her younger brother's tattered shoes; the day before, she had received her father the King's reply granting permission.

She had originally intended to wait until the Great Sacrifice ended, then enter the palace for an audience to declare Zhao Guo's heart; however, having observed quietly for a long time today, she wished to cooperate with the Tai Puzhe's actions.

Regardless of any human scheming behind this, her heart's direction is the Great Way of Taiping. The Tai Puzhe is even two years younger than her, yet dares to open this game—it shows a heart-platform pure, steadfast, like a heavenly stone. Since ancient times it is said the heart governs the spirit; with such a supreme heart-platform, he is, in her eyes, a true god of the present age—to follow a god's will is a supreme fortune.

Liu Ming's voice grew even firmer: "Taizu above, unworthy child Liu Ming swears here in the name of Zhao Guo: Ming is willing to lead troops in her father's stead, committing the full strength of Zhao Guo to punish Liang; if this chaos is not pacified, I swear I will not cease and will not return!"

The girl's words carried a resolve for revenge, sharp and resonant, startling the entire divine hall awake.

The dazed Jiaodong King abruptly bowed and kowtowed: "... Taizu above, Jiaodong Kingdom also volunteers to send troops, to jointly pacify the Liang Guo rebellion, and atone for today's offense!"

The Liu Guo Crown Prince was still kowtowing desperately; the Wu Guo Crown Prince, still in shock, felt his own head buzzing along, and out of a certain prudent herd mentality, he also spoke up: "Taizu's clear discernment, Wu Guo has poorly managed its subordinates, and is willing to supplement the offering with ten thousand taels of gold, to serve as military funds for pacifying the rebellion!"

He didn't dare promise sending troops on his father the King's behalf, but giving money he could still decide; just treat it as burning a bit more for the Taizu, buying true peace of mind.

The atmosphere began to shift; then a Lie Hou with frosted temples suddenly stepped forward, holding a golden box.

"Former Emperor above, old minister Feng Xi comes to offer gold to assist the sacrifice!"

The old Hou knelt, gazing up at the golden statue, tears in his eyes—both moved by facing his old friend's statue, and proud of his own son.

A Divine-Demonic Mask concealed everything; beneath the mask, the youth was still of an age for innocent bewilderment, yet still dared face the hall full of kings and princes.

This place today was also a battlefield; in his eyes, his son was a hero of soaring courage; with his son standing guard here sternly, Liu Qi the boy could wield his blade and charge into the fray—the Taizu's spirit witnessing this sight would surely feel the same pride as he.

This chaotic, clamorous world ought to have just such a youth, using himself as a blade, crashing straight through, commanding the eight extremes!

The Lu Hou kowtowed now with utmost satisfaction: "This minister knows the Former Emperor seeks only peace under heaven; Feng Xi is old, unable to fight again; now I am willing to donate half my family wealth to manage the Yellow River flood disasters, to follow the Former Emperor's wish!"

As these words fell, two Lie Hou on good terms with the Lu Hou immediately stepped forward holding gold, expressing willingness to fund water control.

Days ago, Crown Prince Cheng had publicly commended a Lie Hou willing to send troops to pacify rebellion, hoping for more responses, but failed; the scene now was worlds apart, completely reversed.

Some Lie Hou in the rear who had stood up preparing to make trouble exchanged glances, then silently knelt back down.

The several Vassal Kings announced as stripped of titles by Liu Qi now stated their positions one after another, some willing to send troops, some willing to give money, kowtowing and begging the Taizu to forgive today's gold offering failure.

Real and fake weeping grew denser; the beast nature retracted, human nature burst forth.

And at this moment, someone suddenly cried out in alarm: "Taizu... the Taizu golden statue is shedding tears!"

Everyone looked up; on the golden statue's face, water beads condensed, gradually like a massive old gold-copper candle dripping two lines of candle tears, clear and striking, shocking to behold.

The palace erupted in even more sorrowful, moved weeping; the princes begging forgiveness wept even harder, shouting: "The Taizu is benevolent, manifesting this spirit—he is willing to pardon us unworthy descendants!"

Today it was the Taizu's spirit that was provoked; they had violated the "Zhu Jin Law" set by the Taizu; since the Taizu is willing to manifest spirit and forgive, that crippled-legged brat's talk of stripping titles naturally no longer counts!

The Gaomi King fiercely squeezed out tears, and in the hands of two Embroidered Uniform Guards suddenly exerted force to drop down, his tall sturdy body first collapsing into a paralyzed sit, then weeping as he threw himself into a kowtow: "... Taizu, Taizu ah! Gaomi Kingdom is also willing to send troops to punish Liang and redeem merit for crime! As long as you, old ancestor, are willing to quell your anger!"

As he wept and shouted, he side-eyed that crippled-legged brat's reaction, only to see that damned brat finally no longer acting tough, holding up his bloodied blade with both hands, also kneeling toward the above, assuming a posture of willingness to follow the divine oracle.

Liu Qi knelt on the platform steps; his position was higher than the crowd behind him.

At this moment, human voices and hearts roared in a jumble, stirring up this realm filled with calculation; only the golden statue above and the girl saw the hint of a smile in Liu Qi's eyes, and the triumphant spirit proper to this age, mixed with a thread of genuine luck.

Beneath the huge Divine-Demonic Mask, Shaowei also secretly curled the corner of her mouth, expression unchanged, body unmoving, continuing to play the unruffled Great Wu, delivering the final divine oracle: "The Taizu weeps tears, as merciful leniency; in the end, he does not wish to see those of the same room fighting with weapons. Only a heart of self-reflection can counter the Zhu Jin failure; harboring a will of filial sincerity, one may receive the Ancestral Temple's blessings."

As these words fell, the sounds of self-reflection surged even more; Rui Ze slowly raised his head amid the surging.

Quite a grand play of advance and retreat; retreat a step and be crushed to powder, advance a step and the world falls into chaos—yet like a boat in rapids, it actually held this single thread of balance, making these kings and princes offer up true red gold.

From the start it was not for stripping titles; this game was opened by him and her together; human nature was calculated by him, the divine oracle manipulated by her; neither was the other's weakness; they were each other's iron-bone support; if this continues like this...

The golden statue ahead wept tears; outside the hall, rain also began to fall.

Conflict was suppressed by tears of no choice; the killing intent tied to titles dissipated and fled under the cover of rain and mist; the sudden danger was removed; heaven and earth suddenly became safe.

Not only safe; the difficult problem that had troubled Liu Cheng for many days was also resolved effortlessly; his mind suddenly relaxed, yet as if losing boundaries, he fell into a kind of dissipation, unable to gather himself.

The pearl curtains hanging from the Crown Prince's crown swayed gently before his eyes, rhythm slow like some curse technique; the dissipated soul followed the guidance of his gaze, crawling out from the gaps in the crown's hanging pearls, floating, attaching to that blade-holding youth, and following that youth, looking up at the tall, dark-red figure standing above... in this instant, remaining in this illusion, Liu Cheng finally touched true, genuine safety.

This true, genuine safety gave rise to a soul-trembling impulse.

The pearl curtains trembled along with it, pearls and jade striking each other, like the rain sounds outside the hall.

Rainwater accumulated on the tiles, splashing down along the eaves like pearls and jade.

Beneath the corridor, Zhao Qie'an quietly pushed the wheelchair; Jiang Fu stood up from it, stretched lazily, his pale green robes brushed by the wind, snow-white hair dampened with some moist rain vapor.

Rain mist floated in the air; invisible wind like a great hand wrestled with this heaven and earth; the wind tried again and again to gather the rain mist, push it toward its chosen direction.

Jiang Fu yawned, saying lazily: "Who knows how it'll turn out; they wouldn't actually draw blades and start hacking, would they?"

"Rest assured, even if they hack, they won't hack her." The household slave didn't care about the big picture, only making a safety judgment about his own child.

Let them hack; this world is going to be chaotic anyway. If it can be changed, change it; if it can't, it won't get any worse.

"True enough, and with Marquis Lu, who's extremely skilled at hacking people, guarding her, it seems only these two, grandfather and grandson, have the share of hacking through others." Jiang Fu leaned against a pillar, watching the rain, sighing leisurely: "But to speak the truth, when it comes to courage, it's still the children whose brains haven't fully grown who have bigger guts..."

The so-called 'heroes emerge from youth since ancient times' is precisely because the youthful spirit of this world is the most impossible to replicate, carrying the recklessness of brains not fully grown, fearing neither heaven nor earth, daring to do anything. If such youthful spirit adds a bit more cleverness compared to peers, they have the hope of becoming the nemesis of those adults whose brains have fully grown and whose courage has already set.

A child even smaller than the children in Jiang Fu's words was currently sulking in the study next door.

Que'er, who was practicing calligraphy, had recovered quite well recently, having grown from the thin clothing belt in Shaowei's eyes into a thin green rope; though still thin and narrow, it had at least become somewhat round.

Que'er couldn't practice martial arts yet, so she learned to write characters first. In these short five days, Xiao Yu, who had enthusiastically taught Que'er to write characters, had already been rapidly surpassed by the student — though this had a lot to do with the fact that her blue wasn't very solid to begin with.

Xiao Yu was extremely frustrated, also felt deeply ashamed, and furthermore developed a sense of crisis. She didn't speak to Que'er for half a day, clutching her brush in desperate pursuit, but because her mind wasn't calm, her written characters became ugly to a new height. She couldn't bear the resentment, and wanted to speak even less.

Que'er noticed Xiao Yu's emotions and offered comfort: "Xiao Yu, don't be anxious. My lifespan isn't long, but you can live a very long time. So one day of mine equals many days of yours."

Xiao Yu froze, turned to look at Que'er, only to see Que'er say seriously, honestly, without emotion: "You came before me, you'll leave after me. Young Master will certainly like you longer."

There was no more perfectly targeted comfort in the world, but because this medicine was too potent, it made Xiao Yu choke up with tears instantly. Her two newly shaped eyebrows drooped down, and for a moment she simply felt unworthy of being human, unworthy of being a fish, and even more unworthy of being Young Master's little dog.

Xiao Yu's mouth puckered, she cried out loud, hugged Que'er in one embrace, promising she would never get angry at Que'er again for the rest of her life.

"Xiao Yu, you can get angry at me." Que'er stated her feelings with incomparable accuracy: "But I don't want you to be angry."

Xiao Yu understood these words, and immediately wailed even louder, practically shaking the roof tiles, startling the raindrops.

In this study of the Jiang Residence, crying sounded like thunder, while in the study of Danghu Hall in Jianzhang Palace, a burst of clear laughter rang out.

The laughter came from the Emperor sitting cross-legged behind the dragon desk.

Guo Shi kneeling below, and He Pingchun who brought back news of the shrine ritual proceedings, also smiled along.

The Emperor's laughter stopped, but the smile at the corners of his eyes remained. Guo Shi knew best: the Emperor hadn't laughed this freely in many years.

Laughing hard also takes a lot of energy; the exhilaration also caused his Qi and blood to surge. The Emperor leaned on the armrest, closed his eyes, calming his Qi and blood, his voice still forceful word by word: "We must make them remember that what they hold in their hands was given by the Former Emperor and Us. They cannot forget the source. We should also teach them to see that even if We die, this realm is not a soft steamed cake that anyone can come bite. One careless move, and it'll chip teeth and break hands..."

Guo Shi smiled in agreement.

"How did Liu Cheng respond? Tell Us that too..." The Emperor asked with eyes closed.

When He Pingchun narrated the proceedings just now, he did not mention Crown Prince Cheng.

But now that the Emperor asked, he had to answer in full detail.

The Emperor listened with eyes closed.

He Pingchun's narration was very objective, without any emotion, but the Emperor could hear that his Crown Prince was very afraid at the time, looking forward and back, with many worries.

And he had once asked Liu Qi: "Even if the matter succeeds, aren't you afraid those people will retaliate later?"

The youth's not particularly far-sighted answer rang in his ears again: 【'Imperial Uncle, without today, what tomorrow is there to speak of? Just survive today, recuperate strength; new tomorrows will naturally have new methods to make them sheath their claws and fangs.'】

Many matters originally have no perfect solution that both resolves immediate worries and eliminates future troubles... Back when conquering the realm, even with a hundred thousand troops already in hand, one still just survived today not knowing tomorrow.

When the world is at peace, one can plan everything meticulously, but one must also have the chance to see that peace.

Outside the hall, wind and rain poured down. The Emperor closed his eyes to rest his spirit, until Liu Cheng, his robes half-soaked, knelt in the palace interior. The inner attendants and palace maids all withdrew.

Liu Cheng came to report matters. Today's Great Sacrifice, even if it didn't cause the worst incident, had become a great matter in another sense. Regardless, he should have come.

Only after he finished recounting everything did the Emperor above slowly speak, yet with no joy or anger, only asking him: "Liu Cheng, did you see Heavenly Principle today?"

Liu Cheng slowly raised his head.

"The strong below see submission; the weak below must have violent uprising. This is the greatest Heavenly Principle." The Emperor said: "Not yet weak to the point of being divided and eaten by them, yet showing weakness first — this ensures swift destruction."

"Yes." Liu Cheng answered slowly: "Child Minister saw it."

"Today's matter cannot be handled by Us appearing, nor by you appearing. A ruler's words are no jest; once spoken, words cannot be taken back, leaving no room to advance or retreat." The Emperor said: "Only letting your sixth brother come do this blade, and only he is willing to go, dares to go do this blade."

"You are the ruler; you must grip this blade of his tight, make good use of him, seize the momentum to establish your own authority and win hearts."

The Emperor's tone was not as strict as before, yet it made Liu Cheng feel as if one foot had stepped into an abyss.

He subconsciously said: "Child Minister didn't know beforehand, truly had no preparation at all..."

"Cheng Er." The Emperor's voice came down with a hint of a sigh: "We will also die. No one can remind you of everything, teach you how to do things... And what others teach you to do, those are what you must guard against. You must have your own judgment."

Liu Cheng was a few parts dazed.

So today's matter is both an opportunity and a test...

Imperial Uncle let him have his own judgment. Then... does Imperial Uncle also have Imperial Uncle's own judgment?

No reprimand today. Liu Cheng left Jianzhang Palace quietly and unharmed.

Over the next seven or eight days, many Vassal Kings insisted on entering the palace to see the Emperor. Some wept and apologized; others occasionally filed a few charges about Liu Qi.

Listening to these charges, the Emperor smiled and placated them, keeping them until next month's Autumn Hunt. After these people left, the Emperor would always fall into silent contemplation.

Liu Qi paid no heed to these voices. As the Ninefold Festival approached, he was tense and uneasy, preparing day and night for the number one great matter in his heart.

?? 4400 words, good night everyone.