Chapter 950

"Forget it, let's deal with the other three first!"

After some thought, Ying Zheng decided to leave Qian Gong and the Nameless for last.

"Hearing Zhang Han, have Yin Zhong personally lead men to go capture Feixue.

Since the Broken Sword was captured by him, then one matter shouldn't trouble two masters.

As for Ximen Changkong and Wang Xu, let Father Emperor take the field personally!

After Ximen Changkong fights the seven experts of the Qin court, you may take action.

You should be able to press the advantage in one go and take them both down."

"As you command!"

Hearing Zhang Han immediately bowed and accepted the order.

Great Tang, deep within Great Ming Palace.

After reading this issue of the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers Ranking, Wu Zhao could not help but sigh deeply.

"Your Majesty! With your looks, naturally you are unrivaled under heaven.

Not making the ranking this time, isn't that precisely for the best?"

Zhang Wuxia, dressed as a palace maid, attended behind Wu Zhao.

This area was secluded, with only Zhang Wuxia present.

"Not making the ranking has the benefits of not making it; making it also has the benefits of making it."

Wu Zhao deliberated for a long while, then said slowly,

"I went through untold hardships to come from Great Zhou to the Nine Provinces, and one of the important reasons was precisely for this ranking.

If I make the ranking later, the Heavenly Dao's gift rewards will naturally be greater.

But I fear there isn't enough time to wait."

"Does Your Majesty mean that this Qinglong Society mission happens to be going to Great Zhou, to capture and kill the Monk King?

Worried that the Heavenly Demon Cang Qu and Xuanxin Sect Master Jin Guang have seen through Your Majesty's true identity?"

As Wu Zhao's confidante, Zhang Wuxia naturally had some understanding of her thoughts.

If this were in Wu Zhou, Wu Zhao naturally wouldn't treat Zhang Wuxia this way.

After all, she was the Empress of Wu Zhou, the sole sovereign under heaven.

Under all the sky, no one could speak with her in such a manner.

But in the Nine Provinces, Wu Zhao had only Zhang Wuxia as a confidante.

She was impersonating Wu Zetian, and this was precisely a time of walking on thin ice, trembling with caution.

If the people of Great Tang discovered her true identity, her plan this time would likely fall through.

"Indeed!"

Wu Zhao nodded lightly.

"Didn't Jin Guang Sect Master return earlier, saying the Monk King's whereabouts were unknown and he could only come back for now?

According to him, he didn't seem to have even made contact with Great Zhou's official people."

Zhang Wuxia, utterly loyal to Wu Zhao, immediately brought up Jin Guang to comfort her.

"Forget it, it's not important."

Wu Zhao also slightly relaxed, saying,

"Let us now go meet these Great Tang ministers!

Isn't it said that every time the Heavenly Dao Combat Power Ceiling Ranking and the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers Ranking are announced,

these ministers and enshrined experts all gather in Ming Hall to deliberate?

Since I am now the Empress of Great Tang, naturally I must put on this show."

"It's best Your Majesty thinks this way."

Zhang Wuxia broke into a smile, immediately followed Wu Zhao, and walked slowly toward Ming Hall.

Ming Hall was one of the widest halls in Great Ming Palace, used for Dachao Society.

As Wu Zhao and Zhang Wuxia neared Ming Hall, the eunuchs, palace maids, and Qian Niu Wei immediately clustered around them.

The Empress had suddenly vanished, and a search of all Great Ming Palace turned up nothing.

Yet precisely at this moment the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers Ranking was announced, the very juncture when civil and military officials and high ministers entered the palace to deliberate.

Upon learning this, Lantai Chief Minister Di Renjie gave the Qian Niu Wei commander a thorough tongue-lashing.

After all, last time Wu Zetian went out of the palace incognito, it had already caused considerable trouble.

Now this time, Her Majesty the Empress had once again suddenly vanished within Great Ming Palace.

Even with Di Renjie's good temper, he was now cursing furiously.

He declared outright that if Her Majesty the Empress was not found within one shichen,

all Qian Niu Wei, palace maids, and eunuchs on duty today would be punished.

Di Renjie in Great Tang was almost a man whose word was final.

Once he said this, these Qian Niu Wei, palace maids, and eunuchs were naturally terrified.

At this moment, the one-shichen deadline was about to be reached.

Fortunately, at this critical juncture, Her Majesty the Empress suddenly reappeared with Zhang Wuxia.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you've finally come."

The eunuch usually most favored by Wu Zetian, Xue Huaiyi, ran the fastest, reached Her Majesty the Empress's side, overjoyed.

"Hmm? Huaiyi, what do you mean by this?"

In truth, Wu Zhao naturally knew how great a panic her disappearance would cause.

It's just that these palace maids, eunuchs, and Qian Niu Wei were not her subjects.

In her eyes, she didn't really care much about whether these people lived or died.

On her face she once again played the part of Wu Zetian, asking in puzzlement.

"Your Majesty! You don't know, that Di—"

Another eunuch was about to go give Wu Zhao a little secret report.

But Xue Huaiyi was Eight Linglong perceptive, and cut off his words in one stroke, saying,

"It's nothing, it's nothing! The main thing isn't that the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers Ranking is being announced, is it?

Nowadays Di Ge Lao, Su the Grand General and others are all in the Ming Hall, waiting for Your Majesty's inquiry."

"Oh! I came here for this matter as well."

Wu Zhao said a line indifferently, then immediately brushed past these people, heading toward the Ming Hall with Zhang Wuxia.

"Tell me, are you really stupid?"

After Wu Zhao had walked far away, Xue Huaiyi then said softly to that eunuch,

"How many heads do you have, that you dare to lodge a complaint against Di Ge Lao?

Could it be that you think, in the eyes of the Empress, you are more important than Di Ge Lao?"

These words instantly let this eunuch understand.

Seeing Di Renjie was the Grand Chancellor of the Great Tang—military, political, and state affairs, the Empress relied on him for everything.

His protégés and old acquaintances within the court were spread throughout every ministry and bureau.

Even local territorial officials, county magistrates, prefects and so on—many of them had received Di Renjie's kindness.

Added to that, Di Renjie was a man of integrity and honesty, devoted to public duty and law-abiding.

All along, both within the court and outside it, his reputation had been extremely high.

Yet this eunuch was preparing to put eye-medicine on such a capable and upright official before the Empress—wasn't that seeking death?

"Ah! Th-this this—"

Just now this eunuch had only been pressed hard by Di Renjie, and was somewhat arrogant from being favored; he hadn't thought of the terrible consequences of speaking ill of Di Ge Lao before the Empress.

Now that he knew the consequences, he was immediately struck dumb with shock, unable to speak for a long while.

"Alright, alright, don't overthink it, hurry and follow Your Majesty inside!"

After Xue Huaiyi finished his prompting, seeing him come back to his senses, he then said a line leisurely.

Then he took the lead, following close behind Zhang Wuxia.

The other palace maids and eunuchs naturally followed in an endless stream.