[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288857,4475,"Chapter 22: The Emperor Has Passed Away","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>After taking two pills of One Night Seven Times, the Emperor battled with Consort Li and Consort Xiang for over an hour!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years stood guard outside the hall; according to protocol, he had to remind every half-hour: “Your Majesty, please preserve your imperial health…” and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the third hour of Hai, the sounds from within the hall gradually ceased; Ninth Thousand Years then petitioned the Emperor for permission to enter and escort Consort Li and Consort Xiang back to their palaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But long after, there was still no response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not knowing what to do, Ninth Thousand Years could only stand guard outside with the other eunuchs, thinking: based on past experience, the Emperor was surely too exhausted and had simply collapsed into sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Ninth Thousand Years was worrying about how to wake the Emperor in three hours for the morning court, rapid footsteps echoed from inside—thud thud thud thud—drawing closer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years instantly recognized it as barefoot steps; his heart jolted, muttering: “Trouble! Could it be…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the palace door opened; Consort Li, half-draped in a robe, hair disheveled, face pale with terror, cried out: “Summon the imperial physician!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young eunuch “Xiao Jiezi,” upon hearing this, turned and sprinted toward the Taiyi Academy without waiting for orders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years hurried inside with Consort Li; Consort Xiang was weeping on the floor beside the Emperor, repeatedly crying: “Your Majesty, wake up, Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninth Thousand Years’ legs trembled; he staggered forward to investigate—and gasped: the Emperor lay on the dragon bed, blood streaming from all seven orifices, barely breathing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the Emperor had no breath or pulse, Ninth Thousand Years cried out in a trembling voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring… bring men! Take Consort Li and Consort Xiang back to their palaces—to await judgment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, as dawn broke, Jiang Mingyu arrived as usual at the Vermilion Bird Gate, intending to enter the palace for tutoring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today was strangely different: the gate guards barred everyone from entering—even officials come for court were stopped at the gate; soon, the Vermilion Bird Gate was packed with ministers, attendants, and sedan bearers, overflowing with people!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu had been entering and leaving the palace for nearly a year and knew the place well; he instinctively headed toward the Eastern Palace next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: if I can’t enter the palace, I’ll go find the Crown Prince—either way, the outcome is the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu quickly reached the Eastern Palace, only to find the Crown Prince anxious, pacing restlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is the situation at the Vermilion Bird Gate?” asked the Crown Princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu: “The palace gates are sealed; all civil and military officials are barred from entering or exiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crown Princess: “It seems… something major has happened inside the palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… what happened?” Jiang Mingyu asked, bewildered and anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xiao Chengzi rushed in, fell to his knees before the Crown Prince with a thud, and wept: “The… the Emperor… has passed away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince froze, then kicked Xiao Chengzi away, shouting: “Don’t you dare speak nonsense! You’ll lose your head!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness… this is news I just brought from inside the palace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chengzi continued sobbing: “They say the Emperor collapsed immediately after visiting Consort Li and Consort Xiang in Lingxia Palace last night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this true?” the Crown Prince asked sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chengzi nodded vigorously, swearing: “If I speak a single lie, may I be cut to pieces a thousand times!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince sank weakly back into his chair, staring toward the palace, silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Princess, ladies-in-waiting, and eunuchs all knelt on the ground, weeping uncontrollably, their wails rising and falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xingqiu…” the Crown Prince called.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, Jiang Mingyu stepped past the Crown Princess and her attendants to stand before the Crown Prince; his face bore two tracks of tears to show grief—but the Crown Prince did not weep. He wore only a solemn, icy calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Prince ordered Xiao Chengzi to fetch a brocade box, then removed from it a jade token wrapped in yellow silk, and handed it to Jiang Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The jade token was carved from emerald-green jade, smooth and polished, clear in hue, fine and silky in texture, emitting a soft luminescence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No larger than a palm, its craftsmanship was exquisitely refined; the jade surface bore exquisitely carved dragon patterns, lifelike and breathtaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the top, two large characters were engraved horizontally: “By Imperial Edict,” the strokes skillful, forceful, radiating enduring elegance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the bottom, four characters were carved vertically: “As If I Were Present,” the carving masterful, reaching the pinnacle of artistry, exuding an ancient, solemn charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After handing the token to Jiang Mingyu, the Crown Prince sternly instructed: “This is the ‘Regency Order’ granted to me by Father! I now command you: take it immediately to the Left Guard Command and find General Du Gu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you arrive… show him the order—he will know what to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Jiang Mingyu accepted the token, the Crown Prince watched him slip it straight into his sleeve!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help adding: “This order is made of Lantian jade—it’s brittle! If even a tiny chip is lost from bumping or scratching, it becomes useless—and your head will roll!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Jiang Mingyu hastily rewrapped the token in yellow silk and tucked it into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, following Xiao Chengzi, Jiang Mingyu went to the stables, mounted the Crown Prince’s steed, left the Eastern Palace, and rode eastward straight toward the Left Guard Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gate guards of the Left Guard Command recognized the Crown Prince’s blood-sweating steed from afar—but the rider was Jiang Mingyu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, the guards immediately blocked Jiang Mingyu’s path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, without a word, pulled the token from his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the four characters “As If I Were Present,” the guards immediately let him pass! When General Du Gu saw Jiang Mingyu and the token in his hand, he fell into deep thought, silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Issue orders!” General Du Gu suddenly shouted: “Left Guard Command—prepare for battle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two quarters later, Jiang Mingyu arrived with General Du Gu at the drill ground, where over two thousand six hundred fully armed soldiers stood in formation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two thousand six hundred soldiers were all agile, with shaved heads and sharp faces, clad in steel armor, wielding spears and crossbows, radiating an unyielding, martial presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the blazing sun, their armor gleamed, dazzling and unstoppable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First to catch the eye were the silvery steel plates covering every part of their bodies, impregnable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath their helmets, their eyes burned with steel-like resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their spears stood sharp and proud, crossbows drawn—each posture seemed capable of crushing all resistance, instilling dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing in formation under the sun, their silvery armor flashed blindingly, spear blades pointing skyward, eyes like lightning, aura like a storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each was swift, proficient with weapons, their formations perfectly aligned, their movements precise—testimony to extraordinary training and discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That overwhelming, majestic aura filled Jiang Mingyu with awe—these were the Emperor’s troops!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another quarter passed; under the blazing sun, Jiang Mingyu, dressed in summer robes, was drenched in sweat—how much worse for the soldiers clad in full armor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“General Du Gu, it’s the height of summer… perhaps… let the soldiers remove their armor and wait indoors?” Jiang Mingyu ventured timidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Du Gu himself was clad in armor, drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He snorted and replied: “Right now… something major has happened in the palace—who cares about summer heat or even the dog days? Wait a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an indeterminate time, a messenger arrived carrying a homing pigeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Du Gu skillfully removed the message tied to the pigeon’s leg, unrolled it, and saw only one character: Bing. (Code: Situation Three.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the message, General Du Gu finally relaxed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then issued another order: summon twenty soldiers from the Longyang Army. Soon, twenty armored soldiers lined up before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Du Gu ordered them to remove their outer armor, wear only underarmor, don the imperial guard’s flying-fish robes, and escort Jiang Mingyu back to the Eastern Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The palace situation is unclear; in this time of royal uncertainty, even grass and trees seem like enemies…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Du Gu looked at Jiang Mingyu and spoke gravely: “Someone is suppressing news of the Emperor’s death—there may be traitors plotting to depose the Crown Prince and install a new monarch!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Jiang Mingyu felt a sudden chill run down his spine!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he realize he had stepped into the heart of the empire’s power storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Du Gu continued: “By law, military officers may not leave camp without the Tiger Token—but civil officials may, up to three hundred men. But… your rank is too low; I can only assign you twenty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding his situation, Jiang Mingyu mounted the blood-sweating steed and, with the twenty Longyang soldiers, raced back to the Eastern Palace to protect the Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>",1496,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8566108dedfbcf95698bb432bb743022dc9143727056051c2d240effccb5da99","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-23","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-21",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]