Chapter 951

The full imperial procession of the Empress was raised, advancing toward the Ming Hall.

As Wu Zhao entered the Ming Hall, she indeed saw it packed with people.

Officials from the Three Departments and Six Ministries, each temple and bureau, all those of fifth rank or higher in the court, were nearly all present.

Most of the meritorious nobles and old elites had also arrived.

Among them, Prince Chagatai of the Great Tang was also in attendance.

Before Wu Zhao even entered the Ming Hall, Xue Huaiyi loudly proclaimed, "The Empress has arrived!"

All these meritorious ministers immediately shouted "Your Majesty!" in unison and bowed aside to make way.

Wu Zhao, accompanied by Zhang Wuxia, walked all the way up to the dais and took her seat upon the Long Yi, then spoke to those below:

"All ministers, rise and be at ease."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The ministers responded, then lined up in their proper ranks.

Di Renjie then stepped forward and said to Wu Zhao:

"Your Majesty, the release of this Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers List is a matter of immense gravity."

"Oh? What is it that Minister Di refers to?"

Wu Zhao had also examined the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers List repeatedly.

Zhou Zhiruo, Zhao Min, Han Ji, and Miss Duanmu Rong—all listed—showed no sign of being matters of immense gravity.

At least, from the perspective of the Great Tang, they were not matters of immense gravity.

After all, Zhou Zhiruo belonged to the Great Ming, which had tangled, inextricable ties with the Qinglong Society.

Zhao Min was directly within the Qinglong Society.

Han Ji was the beloved concubine of Prince Ruyang of the Great Yuan, and clearly now a key figure of the Great Yuan.

As for Miss Duanmu Rong, Wu Zhao had not the slightest interest.

At a glance, did this edition of the Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers List have even the slightest connection to the Great Tang?

745 Did fate plant a willow without intent, and it grew into shade?

"Your Majesty, do you still recall the Marquis of Wei?"

Seeing the Empress did not know, Di Renjie named a person.

"The Marquis of Wei?"

Wu Zhao frowned, thinking deeply.

She realized that among the marquises enfeoffed in the current court, there was no such title as "Marquis of Wei."

She felt puzzled—had Sun En's intelligence omitted something?

While she was pondering how to sidestep and evade this topic,

Unexpectedly, Di Renjie could wait no longer and said directly:

"Forgive this minister's bluntness—Marquis Li of Wei was active in the Great Tang long before Your Majesty was even born!"

As he spoke, Di Renjie chuckled wryly at himself.

Hearing this, Wu Zhao was left speechless.

One who was active in an era before Wu Zetian was even born—

And you, Di Renjie, bring him up publicly?

She felt both irritated and amused.

Just as she was about to speak, Wu Zhao suddenly remembered—Marquis Li of Wei?

In the entire Great Tang, who else could possibly be called Marquis Li of Wei?

"Do you mean Li Huang Yaoshi, the Marquis of Wei?"

"Exactly!"

Di Renjie clapped his hands and smiled, nodding in affirmation.

It was him!

Wu Zhao could not help but feel astonished.

This Marquis of Wei, Li Huang Yaoshi, was surnamed Li, given name Jing, courtesy name Huang Yaoshi.

He was a famed general during the founding of the Great Tang.

At that time, the Tang's northern frontier was plagued by the Turkic tribes.

Li Jing launched multiple military campaigns, employing stratagems such as sowing discord.

Ultimately, he caused the powerful Turkic Khaganate to split into two.

His life saw the destruction of countless nations.

The people of the Great Tang spoke of him with nothing but admiration and pride.

But how many years had passed since Li Jing's time of activity?

How, according to Di Renjie's words, could he still be alive?

Could it be that he was not only a military genius but also a top-tier cultivator?

"After Marquis Li of Wei destroyed the Tuyuhun, he retired with his beloved wife.

Later, fearing his presence might interfere with the Great Tang's governance,

He journeyed overseas with his sworn brother Qiu Ranke and his beloved wife Hongfu Lady.

The world believed Marquis Li of Wei was dead, but in truth, he has remained overseas, watching over the Great Tang."

As Di Renjie spoke of Li Jing, his face was filled with reverence and admiration.

Among Tang officials, whether civil or military, none who mentioned Li Jing failed to be awed.

After all, the man's record of divine feats—none of the others combined could compare, right!

"Could it be that Li Weigong's cultivation realm is already extraordinary?"

Wu Zhao could not help but ask.

"Precisely!"

Seeing Di Renjie nodded and said,

"As for Li Weigong's exact strength, this minister does not yet know.

But I do know that so long as Li Weigong is with the Great Tang, it is as if we possessed that Sea-Calming Divine Needle."

Hearing this, not a single civil or military official in the court refuted Di Renjie's words.

Instead, they all nodded in agreement, looking as though it were exactly as it should be.

"Then, Di Qing, you suddenly bring up Li Weigong—has he returned from overseas?"

Seeing Di Renjie did not know Li Jing's true strength either, Wu Zhao did not wish to continue this topic, and simply asked about Li Jing's movements.

"Li Weigong was originally living carefree overseas.

Suddenly the age of great contention descended, and he divined that the Nine Provinces would undergo great changes.

Therefore Li Weigong brought along Qiu Ran Ke and Hong Fu Nu, intending to return to the Nine Provinces."

Seeing Di Renjie said,

"Only, the distance from overseas to the Nine Provinces is unknown.

Although he used his divine ability to send back word, he has still not returned to this day."

"Then, Di Qing, you suddenly bring him up, and also say Li Weigong seems to be involved with this Heavenly Dao Hundred Flowers Ranking?"

Wu Zetian asked again.

"On his way back, Li Weigong discovered an island.

One half was a world of ice and snow, the other half a sea of raging flames.

His wife Hong Fu Nu loved strange scenery most of all, so the three of them went up onto the island to watch."

Seeing Di Renjie said slowly,

"They did not expect that after going ashore, they found the overseas Bosiming Sect besieging a blind man.

Qiu Ran Ke, moved by the code of the jianghu, stepped in to rescue him.

After a bout of fighting, even though the Jibianshi Sect's Cult Master Han Xiaozhao personally took the field, he was still no match for Qiu Ran Ke.

In the end, they could only abandon the blind man and leave the island."

Han Xiaozhao? The Bosiming Sect?

Wu Zhao paused briefly to think, and immediately found intelligence on Han Xiaozhao.