Emblem of the Phoenix

凤凰图腾

emblem-of-the-phoenix

Western Hunting Grounds

On the second day of the court session, Shangguan Mingde, a staff officer of the Ministry of War, proposed a plan for receiving the envoys from Xiwan.
His iron-fisted approach of taking precautions at every step and killing without hesitation was met with strong opposition from officials of the Ministry of Revenue, led by Ding Huang.
The white-bearded elder statesman nearly broke down in tears as he knelt before the emperor, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty! Although Xiwan has surrendered, they have not submitted as vassals! If we treat the envoys with too much harshness and disrespect, they may be driven to desperation and rebel!"
The officials under Ding Huang's faction immediately chimed in with agreement: "Your Majesty! Minister Shangguan's actions are deliberately provoking war between our country and Xiwan!"
"Your Majesty, Xiwan has already surrendered and made concessions. We must not further coerce them!"
"Your Majesty!..."
Shangguan Mingde was not one to be trifled with either. Amid the attacks from so many people, he quickly found the main target to strike down: "Minister Ding's words are simply nonsense!"
Ding Huang's beard trembled with anger: "How am I talking nonsense?"
"In the face of a great enemy, should we not take strict precautions and instead put on the appearance of a gentleman at peace?"
"The ones coming from Xiwan are envoys, how are they great enemies?"
"Could it be that Minister Ding wants to deliver His Majesty's neck to the blade of Xiwan assassins?"
"You... you are being disrespectful!"
"You have ulterior motives!"
"You..."
"It is a well-known fact throughout the land that Xiwan assassins are skilled in evil arts! In such a dire situation, Minister Ding is actually trying to force me to give up deploying defensive forces around His Majesty! As civil officials, you do not understand the gravity and underestimate the enemy, leading the country astray. How can you face the ancestors of our dynasty?"
Ding Huang felt his vision going black. Mingde quickly added more fuel to the fire: "What Minister Ding's intentions are, perhaps only he himself knows!"
"I... this old man... I..."
Seeing that Ding Huang was about to faint, Mingde seized the opportunity to spit out one last mouthful before he lost consciousness: "In my humble opinion, perhaps Minister Ding believes he possesses extraordinary skills and can protect His Majesty's life before the Xiwan assassins make their move!"
Ding Huang stood up, wanting to pounce over, but he swayed and his vision went dark as he fell forward.
Just before he passed out, he heard countless supporters crying out "Minister Ding", and a young, unyielding, persistent, and strong voice pierced through the clamor, turning into sharp sound waves stabbing into his eardrums: "Observing Minister Ding's every word and action today, I finally understand the meaning of 'civil officials leading the country astray'!"
... I'm about to faint... and you still have to strive to add one last sentence?
Ding Huang's head finally tilted to the side as he completely lost consciousness.
The Qianwan Emperor also felt a lump stuck in his throat. From his angle, he could clearly see Mingde surrounded by a group of chaotic ministers. This usually two-faced, sinister, and resentful petty man actually stood there with a righteous expression, as if he was about to hold up a sign above his head, boldly and vigorously written with a few large characters - I am a loyal minister!
... In fact... this little thing probably wants me to die at the hands of Xiwan assassins the most.
Then the crown prince could ascend the throne, the empress could rule from behind the curtain... He might even be able to go to Jiangnan, build a large manor with a beautiful courtyard, and comfortably be a king of a different surname.
The Qianwan Emperor found it simply unbelievable. His righteous appearance made it seem as if he truly cared about the emperor's safety. Who was he putting on a show for?
Ding Huang fell with a thud. The officials on Prime Minister Xia's side all covered their mouths and laughed as they watched, while Minister Ding's disciples all shouted: "Imperial physician! Imperial physician!"
"Quickly summon the imperial physician!"
"Minister Ding! Minister Ding, are you alright?"...
Mingde suddenly covered the corner of his lips, coughing weakly a few times. He leaned against the wall, his steps unsteady as he slowly walked back to the ranks of court officials, complaining to those around him: "This humble official feels some palpitations..."
Prime Minister Xia immediately expressed concern: "Sir Shangguan is a bit too agitated..."
"I am merely concerned about His Majesty's safety and found it a bit hard to control myself for a moment..."
"Sir, do not blame yourself..."
"But Minister Ding fainting from anger makes me feel very uneasy..."
"That is not Sir's fault..."
The Qianwan Emperor coughed. Zhang Kuo glanced at his expression and very tactfully announced in a drawn-out voice: "Memorials have been presented - those without memorials are dismissed!"
After suffering defeats on the battlefield and failed assassinations, Xiwan finally had no choice but to dispatch their princess and state preceptor on a long journey to Chang'an to present a letter of surrender to the emperor of the celestial dynasty.
Mingde's concerns were not unfounded. The state preceptor of Xiwan serving as the envoy this time, Zhuo Yu, had a resounding title from long ago - the number one master under the heavens. This "number one" was not earned from any martial arts competition or arena tournament, but a reputation truly fought for on the battlefield.
A few years ago, when small neighboring countries invaded Xiwan, due to the collapse and fleeing of border guards, about a thousand rebels charged straight into the capital, directly threatening the royal palace.
The king was young at the time and was at a loss, with no usable troops by his side. He could only cry with his attendants. Who would have thought that after crying for an entire day and night, no one had attacked the bedchamber? The king mustered up courage to go out and take a look, only to see outside the palace gates, Zhuo Yu alone on a white horse, wielding a sword, accompanied by thirteen iron guards. Hundreds of corpses lay at their feet, blood flowing in streams.
It was said that at the time, State Preceptor Zhuo and the thirteen iron guards all looked as if they had been fished out of a sea of blood. The smell of iron and blood wafted through the capital with the wind, as if vengeful ghosts had descended and flying corpses had appeared.
The world knew that Zhuo Yu had a group of death warriors under his command. He was extremely skilled in unorthodox forbidden techniques. It was rumored he could even remotely control people's movements and entice their thoughts. He was usually confined within the palace, claiming to be protecting the young king, but in reality, he was holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords.
Such a person suddenly became an envoy, traveling thousands of miles to present a letter of surrender to the Qianwan Emperor. One couldn't help but speculate about his true intentions.
The hunting grounds outside the western suburbs of the city were the place designated by the Qianwan Emperor for receiving envoys. On the third morning of April, just as dawn broke, the hundred-person envoy led by the princess, following the steps of the leading eunuch, entered the hunting grounds with bowed heads.
The high officials and nobles of the Celestial Dynasty sat on either side of the large red carpet. The Qianwan Emperor sat on the golden throne at the head. The envoy had to perform three bows and nine kowtows, and listen to the holy decree before they could present the letter of surrender.
The Qianwan Emperor intended to proclaim his military achievements, so he ordered people to spare no expense in extravagance. The entire reception area was paved with gold and jade, with carved beams and painted pillars. Huge silk curtains stretched for ten miles, painted with a grand scroll depicting the prosperity of the battlefield. The princess, State Preceptor, and royal clan members of Xiwan were all dressed in black, solemnly kneeling and bowing all the way, not arriving until the sun was high in the sky.
Because Mingde strongly supported being fully on guard against these envoys, every person in the envoy group went through three body searches, even the noble princess was no exception. The others were one thing, but State Preceptor Zhuo Yu and the princess showed no sign of resentment.
The two respectfully came forward and knelt on the carpet, holding up the letter of surrender with both hands, and loudly said, "Your servant, by order of our king, has specially come to pay respects to the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty, willing to bow our heads and call ourselves your subjects, forever establishing goodwill for ten thousand generations!"
Rong Shiba stepped forward, bowed, and took the letter, loudly proclaiming, "Pass it on--"
A line of high-ranking guards, one after another, surged forward like successive waves, each one echoing, "Pass it on--"
"Pass it on--"
"Pass it on to our Emperor, may he live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years--!"
The Qianwan Emperor took the letter and placed it solemnly on the table in front. Zhang Kuo bowed and presented a golden wine cup to the princess, which the princess had to present to the Qianwan Emperor in order to express the intention of friendship between the two countries.
It was unknown whether it was intentional or coincidental, but Mingde happened to be sitting at the edge of Ding Huang's table. He leaned over to Ding Huang with a beaming smile and said in a low voice, "Lord Ding, look, that princess is very beautiful. She could be placed in the rear palace."
Ding Huang snorted without even turning his head.
Mingde seemed to suddenly realize, "--If she gave birth to a dragon's seed, with the royal bloodlines of the two countries intermingling, that would truly be establishing goodwill for ten thousand generations. Don't you agree, Lord Ding?"
This time Ding Huang couldn't even be bothered to snort.
Mingde laughed affectionately, "My lord, look at that Zhuo Yu. I heard people say before that he was as beautiful as jade, but in reality, he's just an old man with white hair and beard. It seems that people in the world are prone to exaggeration, this saying is true."
Zhuo Yu knelt behind the princess with a group of black-clothed attendants. He was just an old man who knew his destiny, looking quite otherworldly, but not as scary as the exaggerated claims of him having three heads and six arms.
Ding Huang snorted again through his nose, his tone sarcastic, "An old man with white hair and beard controlling the court is still more reassuring than a young lad with yellow fuzz!"
Mingde was greatly surprised, "What does my lord mean by that? -- Ah... your subordinate understands. If Lord Ding controlled the court, it would indeed be more--"
With a bang, Ding Huang, covered in sweat, desperately covered Mingde's mouth. He used so much force, it was as if he wished he could strangle Mingde to death.
The princess stood up gracefully, holding the golden wine vessel, and walked smiling towards the lofty the Qianwan Emperor.
Mingde was right, she was indeed a beauty. Her skin was honey-colored, her eyebrows green without makeup, her lips red without rouge. Her long black hair fluttered behind her, like a sweet dream in the morning breeze. Although she only wore a black robe, the wide silk belt meticulously outlined her enchanting snake-like figure, as if she would languidly lean over with just a gentle touch.
The smile in the Qianwan Emperor's eyes deepened. The princess walked up the nine jade steps without stopping, and took a few more steps forward. She knelt at the Qianwan Emperor's feet, like a precious and docile cat, holding up the golden tray high.
"Your Majesty," she said, "please accept a woman's submission to you."
The Qianwan Emperor reached out his hand to her. No man would refuse the submission of such a woman, no man could refuse.
So he reached out his hand. The entire process happened in a flash. The docile woman drew out a poisoned dagger hidden in her sleeve under the golden tray with lightning speed, and stabbed towards the Qianwan Emperor's hand!
At the same time, the top secret imperial guards hidden among the crowd leaped up. In the critical moment, they flew towards the dragon throne like a dozen bolts of lightning!
Some of these people wore guard uniforms, some were the unruly sons of noble families, some were lowly officials in the court, and some were palace servants who normally didn't attract attention. At that moment, everyone was stunned. No one could react to the sudden change. Only those with slightly quicker minds suddenly realized -- the secret guards!
These were the legendary imperial secret guards who existed like shadows!
Ding Huang was suddenly pushed hard. He turned his head and only saw Mingde dash out like a ghost. This consumptive wretch, who usually seemed like he would faint from coughing, moved with a speed unimaginable for ordinary people.
In an instant, he drew his sword in midair. With a flash of an arc, he chopped straight towards Zhuo Yu and his group kneeling at the bottom of the steps!

Emblem of the Phoenix

Emblem of the Phoenix

Chapter 31 - Western Hunting Grounds

Leafy