Chapter 514: Entering the Imperial Palace in the Dead of Night

Zhang Julu is dead; he died a miserable death, his nine generations were executed, and he was not granted a posthumous title.

Receiving the opposite treatment to Zhang Julu was the Feudatory King Zhao Ying, who lost his life during the Jingnan campaign; he was granted the utmost funeral honors, with the Emperor personally issuing an imperial decree to bestow the posthumous title "Yi," and saying, "If I have lost my right-hand man."

In the night air, which carried a hint of bone-chilling cold, a couple walked hand in hand before the magnificent main hall. The Zhao Family Emperor, Zhao Dun, turned to help his wife tighten the knot at her chest, then looked up at the top of the palace pavilion, pointed at it, and laughed softly.

"With hearts and livers reflecting each other, the ministers share the autumn moon together. With spirits and aspirations in harmony, brothers sit together in the spring breeze. Back then, the late Emperor, Xu Xiao, and Yang Taisui forged their friendship right here. This bond of brotherhood and the relationship between sovereign and subject will shine through the ages; I envy it greatly."

Speaking of this, the Zhao Family Emperor's expression suddenly dimmed.

He thought of that minister who had nearly forged a legendary tale with him: Zhang Julu.

The Emperor subconsciously clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh.

In reality, the Zhao Family Emperor had been to Zhaoyu once, but he had always stood far away, standing from late night until dawn, yet he could never bring himself to walk in and face that man.

He was afraid—afraid that the purple-bearded, green-eyed man would be in a wretched state in prison, afraid that he would see the Prime Minister of the current dynasty looking utterly dejected.

But what he truly feared in his heart was that the scholar named Zhang Julu would not be dejected in the slightest, but would simply laugh and curse him, Zhao Dun, for being a muddled emperor.

A hand gently grasped Zhao Dun's fist; it was the Empress Zhao Zhi, who served as the mother of the world. Seeing her husband look over, Zhao Zhi smiled slightly, gently rested her head on his shoulder, and whispered comfortingly, "Your Majesty, you did what you had to do for the stability of the world. I imagine Prime Minister Zhang understands your state of mind; otherwise, he would not have sullied his own name."

Zhao Dun sighed long and slow, and his tightly clenched fist gradually relaxed.

That's right, for the sake of the people of the world, for the stability of Liyang.

"Heh."

A cold, slightly mocking laugh suddenly rang out.

"Who? Who is it!?"

Zhao Zhi's expression froze, and she immediately resumed the graceful and luxurious demeanor of an Empress.

A slender figure slowly walked out from the shadows; that black attire seemed even thicker than the night.

"Murong Tonghuang!?" Zhao Zhi exclaimed.

"I prefer it when others call me Alliance Leader Murong or Murong Wudi."

Yu Liancheng walked toward the Emperor and Empress with his hands behind his back, neither fast nor slow.

"What are you trying to do!?" the Zhao Family Emperor snorted coldly.

"Kill you." Yu Liancheng raised an eyebrow and lightly spat out the two words.

Instantly, killing intent surged out of his body, almost manifesting into substance.

The Imperial Palace, already somewhat bone-chillingly cold, seemed to instantly enter the depths of winter, with the coldness darting from the soles of their feet to their hearts and brows.

"You dare!?" The Zhao Family Emperor frowned, and that aura unique to an emperor radiated out, sufficient to make barbarians submit and ministers fear.

"Do I not dare!?" Yu Liancheng cast a casual glance, and the Zhao Family Emperor was instantly struck as if by a heavy hammer, spitting blood and flying backward.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Zhao Zhi trotted over, busily helping Zhao Dun up, her phoenix eyes glaring: "Murong Tonghuang, the whole world knows you are on good terms with Beiliang. If you kill the Emperor, Liyang and Beiliang will be locked in a life-and-death struggle. Once Beiliang and Liyang fall out, and Northern Mang takes the opportunity to invade and set foot in the Central Plains, what kind of scene of broken mountains and rivers will that be? Do you not consider the million households of Beiliang, do you not consider the people of the world?"

Yu Liancheng clapped his hands and laughed, laughing until his stomach hurt, laughing until tears almost fell.

But for some reason, despite such a commotion, the Imperial Guards on duty nearby seemed not to have heard a thing, remaining as motionless as clay sculptures or stone carvings.

"I knew it would be this rhetoric. You people, apart from using the people of the world to cover up those hypocritical faces of yours, it's as if you don't know how to speak at all?"

After a long while, Yu Liancheng wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes and looked at the pale-faced Emperor Zhao Dun: "Killing you would indeed cause turmoil between Liyang and Beiliang, but if you don't die, or if no one knows you died, wouldn't that solve it?"

While the Empress was still confused, she saw the figure of this man, as handsome as a demon, change rapidly. His features became increasingly familiar, and finally, amidst her surprised scream, the appearance of this man in black was exactly the same as the Zhao Family Emperor in her arms.

"Look, as long as I put on the dragon robe, I am the Emperor. From now on, the Zhao Family's empire will be managed by me. With my peerless cultivation, my control over the martial arts world, and my good relationship with Beiliang, I can guarantee that the Central Plains will be stable for at least two hundred years."

"So, old Zhao, can you die now? Zhao Zhi, you don't need to worry; it doesn't matter who is Emperor, you are the Empress anyway." The black-clad emperor stepped toward Zhao Zhi and Zhao Dun, his face still wearing that peculiar smile, as if he were a Demon God, watching all living things with a playful and teasing attitude, full of wicked humor.

"You... you..."

The Emperor and Empress could not speak, their eyes filled with terror.

Just then, a figure flickered, and a young eunuch appeared between Yu Liancheng and the Emperor and Empress, looking at the "black-clad emperor" with a solemn expression.

Above the Imperial Palace, the Luck of the Zhao Family churned like a dragon.

Wang Laoguai was right; in a one-on-one fight, he might not even be able to defeat the current Cao Zhangqing.

But this was the Imperial Palace, his home turf; he could mobilize the centuries of Liyang's Luck at any time, and he could even turn the entire Taian City into a grand array.

Within the grand array, he was invincible.

They stood in a stalemate for a moment, the atmosphere becoming increasingly murderous, making it hard for people to breathe.

"Not playing anymore, not playing anymore."

Yu Liancheng laughed, and the murderous atmosphere was swept away.

In an instant, Murong Wudi returned to his appearance as handsome as a demon, and before turning to leave, he glanced at the Empress and Emperor.

"Since it is clearly for the sake of the Zhao Family, for the sake of the position under your own buttocks, don't speak so grandiosely about it being for the world, for the people."

"I am a person who follows the rules. Liyang and Beiliang have not yet completely torn their faces, and you haven't done anything that violates the bottom line, so I won't kill anyone. However... heh, I have a lot of confidence in you Zhao Family members; you completely lack the spirit a great ruler should have, and for the sake of the Zhao Family's empire, you use endless low-down tricks. Perhaps after that new emperor ascends the throne, I will come to Taian City again."

"Leaving."

This time, he was truly leaving.

The young eunuch glanced at the Emperor and Empress sitting blankly on the grass, sighed softly, and his figure soon disappeared into the night.

Under the night, Yu Liancheng arrived at the Lenggong.

He was naturally not there to steal beauty, but to pick someone up.

An old man with a purple beard and green eyes was sitting on the jade steps; although wearing prison clothes, he still possessed an extraordinary bearing, without the slightest sign of decadence, and even his hair, which had not been washed for many days, was well-groomed. He held a pot of wine in his hand, sipping it slowly, occasionally revealing a look of reminiscence.

The wine was named "Peach Blossom."

The peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.

Seeing Yu Liancheng return, the purple-bearded, green-eyed old man shook his head and smiled, asking the former to fulfill his wish.

In this life, everything he should have done was done, and finally, having drunk such a pot of wine, he had no regrets and was unwilling to leave anymore.

Yu Liancheng chuckled, waved his sleeve, and the two left the Imperial Palace together.

I am the Murong Alliance Leader who dominates the martial arts world; since when do I have to listen to an old fossil like you when doing things?

……

Before the first year of Xiangfu had even passed, a piece of terrible news arrived.

—The Emperor has passed away.

In the vast Taian City, the sound of weeping could be heard everywhere.

Then, a young man surnamed Zhao, who had been an Imperial Prince for over twenty years and had only worn the crown prince's robes for a little over half a year, rightfully donned that one-of-a-kind dragon robe of the dynasty and ascended to rule the world.

The young Emperor sat high upon the dragon throne.

As the civil and military officials of the entire court knelt and performed the grand kowtow, he looked toward the distance just like the emperors of past generations, his face expressionless.

Gradually withdrawing his gaze, after thoroughly admiring the dense, kneeling figures inside and outside the hall, this young Emperor raised his hand in a gesture and said calmly, "All ministers, rise."

As the ministers rose one after another, Zhao Zhuan intentionally or unintentionally glanced toward the Northwest, his lips curling into an imperceptible smile.

From today on, the Liyang Emperor is him, Zhao Zhuan.

The world bows in submission, and you, Beiliang, are no exception.

The Liangmang War has already begun.

Fight, go ahead and fight; it would be best if both sides suffer heavy losses.