Chapter 11

On Vermilion Bird Avenue in front of the Imperial Palace.

A luxurious carriage was speeding forward.

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji sat inside the carriage, gripping the phoenix-patterned jade pendant in his palm so tightly that his entire hand was trembling incessantly.

A heaven-shaking secret!

This was simply the most shocking secret from ancient times to the present!

What to do?

What should be done?

Should he continue to hide this secret, or make it public?

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s mind was in total chaos.

But soon, he calmed down and made a decision.

That was to take this secret to his grave; it must never be made public!

At the mere thought of that night and Qin Mu’s murderous gaze, a chill ran down Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s spine.

"If I let him become the Crown Prince, will I have a good end in the future?"

"Ha!"

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji let out a self-deprecating cold laugh.

A moment later.

A complete plan formed in Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji’s mind.

The most urgent priority now was to increase efforts to find the whereabouts of that Qin Mu at all costs.

Besides that.

He must solidify Li Li Chengqian’s position as Crown Prince.

As long as this leverage was in his hands, then once Li Li Chengqian ascended the throne as Emperor, the most glorious moment for the Empress Zhangsun family would arrive!

"Qin Mu, oh Qin Mu, blame only yourself for not being destined for such wealth."

Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji rubbed the phoenix-patterned jade pendant in his hand and whispered.

Tubo, Lhasa City.

After several days of brutal warfare, Qin Mu finally captured Songtsen Gampo alive, broke into the Tubo royal city of Lhasa, and took control of the Potala Palace!

Inside the palace.

The three civil officials, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Yan Song, and Liu Liu Bowen, stood on the left.

The three military generals, Xin Xin Qiji, Yue Fei, and Li Li Cunxiao, stood on the right.

Above the jade steps of the great hall.

Qin Mu sat on the high throne, looking indifferently at everything before him.

Outside the great hall.

Phalanxes composed of the Great Qin Iron Eagle Sharpshooters, Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, and the Trapping Battalion filled the entire Potala Palace square.

The cold wind was biting and bone-chilling.

Yet all the soldiers stood motionless, Wu Li Ke black pillars of stone.

Their gazes were fixed with determination upon the youth sitting on the throne inside the hall!

That was...

Their King!

On the outskirts of the Potala Palace.

The leaders of the various Tubo tribes, the preaching monks, and the citizens within the city all prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling.

They would never forget the day Lhasa City fell.

The youth in white robes and silver armor on the battlefield was as unstoppable as a ghost or god.

That invincible army, capable of swallowing the heavens and destroying the earth, occupied the city in a mere instant.

"That is the arrangement of the heavens!"

"Lhasa City should be ruled by that youth!"

"He will surely lead us to glory!"

Countless exclamations and praises spread throughout Lhasa City.

People believed that Qin Mu was a god from above the firmament!

Otherwise, how could such a miraculous youth exist in this world?

Inside the great hall.

Qin Mu looked at everything before him, feeling it was all so unreal.

A few months ago.

He was still the number one rebel of the Great Tang.

And now, he was sitting on the throne of the Potala Palace, overlooking the entire world.

"We offer our congratulations to the Great King!"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Yue Fei, and other ministers bowed one after another to Qin Mu on the throne.

"Everyone, rise."

Qin Mu nodded slightly, his voice extremely steady.

Although Tubo was now unified, there were still many things to handle, such as people's livelihoods, politics, economy, culture, and so on.

It was far from the time to celebrate!

"Yan Song, Zhang Zhang Juzheng."

"Your humble servant is here!"

"I order you two to prepare the ceremonies; I am going to change the dynasty. From today on, the national title shall be changed to Qin; it will no longer be called Tubo! Three days from now, we shall offer sacrifices to the heavens and announce it to the world!"

"Your humble servants obey!"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Yan Song accepted the order solemnly.

"Yue Fei!"

"This general is here!"

"Bring up those big fish you captured alive; I want to interrogate them personally."

"This general obeys!"

"Bring them up!"

With a wave of Yue Fei’s hand, several guards who had been waiting outside for a long time escorted Songtsen Gampo and the others slowly inside.

It is worth mentioning that besides Songtsen Gampo, Gar Tongtsen, Fang Fang Xuanling, and others had also been captured alive by Yue Fei.

Fang Fang Xuanling was quite clever; he had long since changed into Tubo clothing and smeared his face black, so most people really wouldn't recognize him.

He was truly worthy of being a Great Tang Prime Minister!

Just Wu Li Ke that.

A group of Tubo nobles were bound tightly and escorted into the palace.

Songtsen Gampo’s eyes were blood-red as he gritted his teeth, glaring at the youth on the throne.

He was unwilling to accept this!

Why?

Why, after all my painstaking efforts for so many years, would I lose to such a youth who appeared out of nowhere?

Fang Fang Xuanling knelt behind Songtsen Gampo, burying his head deep and not even daring to lift his eyelids, fearing that Qin Mu would recognize his identity.

Bad luck!

Damn bad luck!

A perfectly good mission to a foreign land, being wined and dined, had ended up with him becoming a prisoner.

Fang Fang Xuanling, oh Fang Fang Xuanling...

You were clever for a lifetime, but foolish for a moment!

Fang Fang Xuanling kept blaming and regretting in his heart.

"Great King, Songtsen Gampo and the others have been brought here!"

Yue Fei’s heavy voice echoed in the hall.

"Qin Mu, you brat, don't you get cocky; even if I become a ghost, I will never let you go!"

Songtsen Gampo roared at Qin Mu on the throne, gritting his teeth.