Chapter 242: Encountering a Sunny Day Chapter 219: Bearing the Heavenly Mandate

·

·

·

Characters:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

A tall, sturdy warhorse charged forward in an instant, and no one dared risk being knocked down and trampled to block it; someone failed to dodge in time and was thrown to the ground. Amidst the confused shouts, an Imperial Guard quickly raised a crossbow and fired, the sharp bolt piercing through the dust, far faster than the horse's hooves.

Amidst flying yellow dust and grass clippings, the horse neighed in pain, and the person on its back was flung away in an instant, landing in the tall grass by the roadside. The lead Imperial Guard shouted angrily at the person who had recklessly fired the crossbow: "……Du Shi, have you gone mad! This is a matter of heavenly secrets; if an accident occurs, how will you take responsibility!"

"She openly defied the imperial decree; I only wanted to stop her……"

"Quickly!"

Everyone hurriedly ran toward the grass where the girl had fallen from her horse, but beyond the grass there was no trace of a person. After rushing forward another seven or eight steps into the mountain forest, they still found no sign of her, only to be startled by a spotted great tiger stepping out slowly, its flame-like golden eyes staring fixedly at the crowd as it let out a low growl like an order to leave.

The tiger's roar echoed, making hearts tremble and souls shudder. The Imperial Guards retreated one after another, almost suspecting that the girl had transformed into a tiger upon entering the forest—otherwise, how could this tiger appear so coincidentally, and how could the girl, who should have been severely injured from falling off her horse, vanish without a trace in an instant?!

Even if this was merely a wild thought born of sudden fright, the fear brought by the fierce tiger was enough to drive people back. The leader gripped his blade and ordered in a low voice: "Withdraw, do not startle or anger her……"

Some turned and fled, some retreated slowly, but the man who had held the crossbow and fired the arrow was drawn to a slight rustling in the grass and bushes to his side.

He immediately stepped sideways and ran toward the sound—he was a clansman of Du Shulin and knew in his heart what great event was happening today. Although he did not know where this divine secret of the Wu God was headed, strictly guarding and intercepting the person was the right course. He was now acting under the "Imperial Decree," and afterward there would surely be rewards and favors beyond others' imagination. Compared to mysterious spirits and ghosts, he valued wealth and prospects more.

Seeing a patch of wild grass half a person's high that seemed to have been pressed down by something, he slowly raised his crossbow, approaching while saying: "This humble officer has no intention of harming anyone, merely following orders. I beg the Wu God……"

He stared fixedly at the grass, but before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt darkness above him as a gust of wind struck.

A shadow leaped down from a large tree, and immense force knocked him down onto the grass. As he fell, his neck was snapped with a "click."

No words, one fatal blow, completing revenge, eliminating future threats, intimidating the uninformed. After killing, he rose and left immediately, not stopping, not looking back, rushing deep into the forest.

Several Imperial Guards soon discovered the man's corpse. A guard of extraordinary skill died violently in the blink of an eye, with no weapon or killer in sight. The matter became increasingly strange and bizarre.

At that moment, the great tiger suddenly dashed past, the grass and trees trembling. Everyone fled in terror, and one of them cried out in shock to his companions outside the forest: "Du Shi has offended the Wu God… he has suffered the curse of this place's Mountain God!"

Hearts were in turmoil, and the true whereabouts of the Wu God were confused and blurred.

Shaowei galloped through the mountain forest, threading through trees and stepping on stones, her clothes torn and her hair bun a mess, just right as a nest for the startled Zhan Zhan.

Zhan Zhan crouched atop Shaowei's head, staring at the great tiger swiftly moving and following in the forest to the side.

Shaowei did not look at the tiger, only at the path ahead.

People are easily panicked and lost in a mountain forest where vision is obstructed. Only she could walk this road; only she could do this thing; only she could save that person. This was the agreement.

The mountain wind was sharp, slicing the westward sunlight into pieces. The torn fragments of Shaowei's clothes danced behind her like a dragonfly dancing wildly away.

At the very moment her torn silk shoes stepped out of the forest, Du Shulin's black boots stepped out of the gate of the Rui Fu, stepping into the stirrup and mounting the horse.

He Pingchun, following closely behind, quickly stepped forward with his men: "May I ask where Grand Commandant Du is going?"

"Shanglin Park." Du Shulin, forty-six years old this year, had a square face and a deep voice. His bearing carried both the dignity of a minister among the Three Excellencies and a trace of soldierly spirit that had not yet faded.

"His Majesty ordered me to investigate the servants of the Rui Fu up and down with Grand Commandant Du. Now the interrogation has not yet ended. Why does Grand Commandant Du suddenly wish to return to Shang——"

Du Shulin took out a piece of silk from his bosom with one hand, interrupting this Commander of the Fine Clothes Guard whom he considered shallow in both age and seniority: "The Imperial Decree is here. There are rebels causing trouble in Shanglin Park. Du Mou goes by order to protect the carriage."

He Pingchun's heart was greatly shaken. His men had noticed abnormal movements among the Imperial Guards in the city half an hour ago, and he had already quickly sent someone to secretly deliver a letter back to Shanglin Park. Yet now Du Shulin held the Imperial Decree and claimed he was returning to protect the carriage……

If there truly were rebels causing trouble, the Fine Clothes Guard, as confidants of the Son of Heaven, would not learn of the news later than the Imperial Guards. Unless this Imperial Decree was not issued by the Son of Heaven!

He Pingchun did not speak to question it, only said with a solemn expression: "Since such a great matter has occurred, the Fine Clothes Guard should set out together to protect the carriage!"

More Fine Clothes Guards were stationed and scattered inside the Rui Fu. He Pingchun immediately wanted to summon men to go together, but Du Shulin directly ordered his subordinates: "You all stay behind to protect Commander He, so that he can attend to His Majesty's affairs with peace of mind."

As the words fell, several dozen blade-wearing Imperial Guards suddenly surrounded He Pingchun. He Pingchun and the dozen or so Fine Clothes Guards beside him all changed color and drew their blades.

Du Shulin no longer bothered to hide too much, nor did he wish to be slowed by anyone or anything. He cast the bloodshed behind him, drove his horse forward, and stepped toward his future.

The sun was about to set, but tomorrow a new sun would rise, and he was the master of this transition.

"In the past, I most admired the Marquis of Changping." On horseback, Du Shulin's expression was calm: "But today I am more like a general than he."

His confidant beside him said: "Indeed, Grand Commandant Du is a true Generalissimo who can command heaven and earth."

The Generalissimo who sought to command the transition of heaven and earth moved forward. Along the way, teams of Imperial Guards were mobilized to join him. The Generalissimo's wings grew ever richer, finally forming an Iron Wing woven from five thousand Imperial Guards. In the name of protecting the carriage, they swept toward the skies above Shanglin Park like a canopy covering the sun.

The sun seemed to be forced to retreat westward step by step, until it was finally pressed back into the dark mountain's embrace.

Du Shulin stepped on the last ray of the setting sun and rushed back to Shanglin Park, learning of a change that was slightly beyond his plan.

He only gave a cold laugh, not considering it too surprising. Guo Shi and those opportunistic goods, because most of what they did was opportunistic and lacked absolute strength, were easily precisely attacked. He had known this long ago, but it did not matter. Such goods were meant to be used. The overall situation remained; he could gather and cleanse them.

Du Shulin led his absolute strength straight to the palace where Crown Prince Cheng was. Wherever he passed, he forcibly took control. However, halfway there, he encountered a change blocking the road.

Torches had already been lit in the procession. Du Shulin reined in his horse, looking at the two people, one civil and one military, at the head.

Guo Shi had never dreamed that while residing in Shanglin Park, something like the Imperial Seal could be snatched by the First Knight of the Jianghu.

The house slave did not fail the house cat's instructions. He went straight to where Guo Shi was, using peerless lightness skill and unmatched thievery experience to avoid the Imperial Guards outside, broke in through the back window of the room where Guo Shi was, killed four Imperial Guards, felled three eunuchs, suffered two blade and arrow wounds, and brought back a piece of the Imperial Seal, handing it to Feng Zhu.

The Imperial Seal, representing the greatest power under heaven, was held by maimed fingers. At first, Feng Zhu felt no fear of suddenly being suspected of usurping the country, only a bewilderment of fearing to fail her daughter's great expectations.

So she asked Jiang Fu: 【According to the Female Monarch's view, what should this seal be used for?】

Jiang Fu: 【Since the heavenly secrets have chosen the Young Lady to be the master, presumably there is a wonderful use that only the Young Lady can drive.】

The Imperial Guards downstairs were trapped by Jiang Fu's illusionary art in the hall on the first floor, shouting and clattering, the entire pavilion seeming as if it would be overturned by their urgent panic.

Lady Shentu said to A Ya beside her: 【These soldiers must be tired too. Good child, let them rest quietly.】

A Ya, who had been holding mist medicine in her sleeve and enduring for a long time, immediately ran upon hearing this. At the same time, Feng Zhu instructed Pei: 【Quickly invite Xiang Gong to come.】

After Shaowei rode away, Lu Hou had roughly investigated and analyzed what was happening. When Yan Mian hurriedly arrived, Feng Zhu quickly explained the pros and cons and was about to hand the Imperial Seal to Yan Mian: 【You are the current Prime Minister. With you holding this seal and issuing orders, people can be summoned the fastest.】

Yan Mian had always been cautious and wanted to send someone first to investigate the situation. However, Feng Zhu once again moved the seal closer and said firmly: 【Quan Shan, first summon the Imperial Guards to save people.】

In the eye contact, Yan Mian took the seal, breaking his habit of acting: 【Alright, Zhu'er.】

Feng Zhu then looked at her father: 【Father——】

Lu Hou turned and left: 【I'll go get a blade!】

Lady Shentu never spoke to stop it; she had never approved of getting involved in such disputes, but her own child was already caught up in them, which was a different matter. And she had long had a premonition that this extraordinary child was destined to break open this crumbling world and forge a new situation—this was not getting involved in disputes, but turning the heavens and earth around; to stop her would be to cast aside a turning point for all living beings, a crime of the greatest magnitude.

Yan Mian held the seal and urgently summoned several hundred Imperial Guards, along with over ten of Feng Xi's household retainers brought by Marquis Lu, to go rescue people and protect the carriage, but they were ultimately too late, encountering Du Shulin, who was returning with five thousand Imperial Guards, on the way.

"It seems Prime Minister Xiang and Marquis Lu are also going to rescue the carriage."

Du Shulin sat on horseback, looking at the two civil and military men, and said: "However, blades have no eyes; Marquis Lu is advanced in years, and Prime Minister Xiang is not a military officer. To ensure the safety of these two pillars of the state, since I, Du, have arrived, I ask you all to wait here."

His tone carried an arrogant hint, yet could be considered courteous, but Marquis Lu on horseback paid no attention to this at all. With his left hand he drew the Imperial Seal from his sleeve and held it high, shouting angrily: "Bold Du Shulin, you dare collude with Crown Prince Cheng, committing regicide and shifting blame under the name of protecting the carriage! —The Imperial Seal is here; the royal decree you hold for protecting the carriage is nothing but a forgery by the rebel Guo Shi. Your evil deeds have been exposed; surrender quickly!"

Du Shulin could not possibly surrender easily; these words were shouted for the Imperial Guards beside him to hear. Seeing Prime Minister Xiang and Marquis Lu holding the Imperial Seal and speaking such shocking words, many Imperial Guards who did not know the truth immediately changed color.

Du Shulin's expression also changed. Not giving this suspicion a chance to ferment and spread, he immediately shouted loudly: "The regicide is the Emperor's sixth son Liu Qi. Marquis Lu Feng Xi is indeed his accomplice! Usurping the state and stealing the seal is a capital crime!"

He drew the long knife at his waist, his fierce eyes shooting toward the opposite side: "Prime Minister Xiang and the remaining Imperial Guards, if you have been deceived by Feng Xi, it is not too late to repent now!"

As Grand Marshal in charge of the Imperial Guards of Jingji, his prestige was extraordinary. At this moment, the Imperial Guards summoned by Yan Mian were inevitably shaken, while Yan Mian's expression was solemn as he said in a deep voice:

"The Emperor still lives; the truth of right and wrong cannot be changed or disguised by Grand Marshal Du's few words—listen to me, you all. The usurpers are Du Shulin and Crown Prince Cheng! If you did not know, that is one thing, but now that you know the truth, if you continue to persist in error, you are accomplices of the rebels! You all have families and clans; do you truly wish to conspire and die with the rebels in such haste!"

Voices of doubt and discussion suddenly became noisy, while Du Shulin directly raised his knife and ordered: "It seems Prime Minister Xiang is also a rebel. Do not try to confuse people's hearts! Listen to me, I, Du Shulin, promise on behalf of 'Your Majesty': whoever kills Marquis Lu shall be made a marquis, and whoever kills the treacherous minister shall also be made a marquis!"

The enormous temptation, the disparity in numbers on both sides, and the urgency of seeking merit brought by someone immediately charging forward as Du Shulin's words fell, soon many Imperial Guards followed suit.

Marquis Lu angrily cursed "traitor," suddenly brandishing his horse-slaying blade to block two long knives aimed at Yan Mian, and ordered: "Youngster of the Yan family, retreat and hide!"

Saying this, he himself pinched his horse's belly and brandished his blade to advance, retreating not but advancing.

Du Shulin had already ordered his confidant to take a unit of elite troops to first clear the situation ahead in the palace gardens, and whispered in a low voice: "Kill them all, leave only the Crown Prince..." Saying this, a face as beautiful as a fairy concubine flashed before his eyes, and he said: "... and Her Majesty the Empress."

That confidant immediately led a unit of people to forcibly break away and leave.

Marquis Lu wanted to remove the firewood from under the cauldron; his horse-slaying blade in hand felled seven or eight Imperial Guards, charging straight at Du Shulin. But Du Shulin was not obsessed with single combat; he knew Marquis Lu's former ferocity, and now with five thousand Imperial Guards he was king. Once he was captured and killed, everything would be lost.

Thus he drove his horse to avoid Marquis Lu's attack, and handed this brave old man whose valor had not faded over to the sea of people tactics to besiege and kill.

Marquis Lu was soon surrounded by nearly ten Imperial Guards, the situation critical, while Du Shulin sent another unit of Imperial Guards from the side to carve a path. Ahead, Imperial Guards with long spears and blade edges charged; he drove his horse, treading blood as he advanced slowly, looking high toward the place directly ahead.

At this moment, it had not yet been two hours since the Emperor went to visit the injured Crown Prince, but these two hours were enough to rewrite the heavens and earth.

The road ahead, blocked, was about to be completely carved through, and he could then lead the Imperial Guards behind him, who had no time for more choices, rushing out unimpeded. But at this moment, an Imperial Guard at the very front holding a long spear to clear the way suddenly bent like a bow, struck by some unknown force, and flew backward in an instant, knocking down four or five Imperial Guards behind him, falling before Du Shulin's horse hooves.

Du Shulin stared and saw that the first Imperial Guard to fall had been pierced through the abdomen by an arrow; the man was pushed back by the force of the arrow itself!

Suddenly raising his head, Du Shulin looked and saw one person and one horse galloping toward him—and it was Iron Cavalry! —Because of suddenly reining in the horse, that Iron Cavalry neighed and raised its forelegs, standing upright. When the iron hooves fell, the person on the horse's back revealed their true form in the firelight: a young face, tattered wide-sleeved clothes, disheveled hair, tiny bloodline wounds on the cheeks—yet not using hands to hold the reins, their waist and back straight, relying only on both legs to pinch the horse's belly, both hands had already drawn the bow again for battle. The last icy arrow left the string, rushing straight at him!

Everything was too fast, but Du Shulin, a military man, also reacted swiftly. He lifted one foot from the stirrup and suddenly threw himself to one side against the horse's belly, using the Iron Stirrup Hiding Technique to avoid this calamity. The arrow grazed through the air and plunged straight into the chest of an Imperial Guard behind him, who immediately screamed and fell from his horse.

The Iron Cavalry maiden also threw herself to one side on horseback, but reached out to snatch up a fallen long spear. At the same time she rode her horse closer, and as she straightened, one spear lifted and flung away an Imperial Guard who was raising a knife to stab Marquis Lu in the back!

When she withdrew the blood-stained spearhead, she leaned her body on horseback, then swept horizontally at two Imperial Guards. Her strength was enormous and strange; both Imperial Guards were thrown to the ground. One had just managed to get halfway up when she, closely following with her Iron Cavalry, trampled his spine in two. The maiden, breaking all obstacles, immediately pulled the reins and stood with spear in hand protecting Marquis Lu.

The injured Marquis Lu's eyes grew hot, and his heart even hotter.

But Du Shulin was greatly alarmed—where did this Wu Nu get such strange divine power for archery, spear-fighting, and killing enemies!

Shocked by the close combat, this girl of extraordinary presence shouted loudly on horseback: "I am Tianji, and what I serve is Heaven's Mandate! Du Shulin commits regicide and treason; his crime is unforgivable! Those who oppose me are defying heaven, unforgivable even with ten thousand deaths, body executed and soul executed!"

Her voice was loud and far-reaching, penetrating all around. Similarly, driven by some unknown divine power, the hearts of the people behind Du Shulin instantly fell into chaos.

Du Shulin's expression was extremely grim, but a mocking laugh still escaped between his teeth. One person dared to claim Heaven's Mandate, not knowing that before true power...

Killing intent burst from his eyes. The words in his heart had not yet fallen when, as the girl's spear-holding arm slowly lowered, Du Shulin, who had sensed something was wrong, had a stiff expression.

The tattered wide sleeves fluttered down with the long spear, revealing the true "Heaven's Mandate" power behind them. In the night, Iron Cavalry after Iron Cavalry came rolling in endlessly.

?? This plot ends tomorrow~ (Actually only three chapters were written, but why does it feel like more than ten days! Is it because I took leave? Waaah...) Good night everyone.