Chapter 872: Big Dragon Spits Pearl, Heaven On Earth

In the great hall, silence was so profound that a pin drop could be heard.

Tang Shi, the Chief Minister of the Central Secretariat, became the most senior official in the Great Chu imperial court after Sun Xiji closed his eyes in death. This elder had chosen to stand by and watch during the previous farce. The Tang clan of Huaiyin was not one of the Ten Great Noble Clans of the Spring and Autumn period. They rose with the founding of Great Chu, flourished during its golden age, and declined in its final years. One could say that the Tang clan was truly the family that shared wealth and hardship with the Jiang clan of Great Chu. After Great Chu's fall, no one from the Tang family entered the officialdom of Liyang. When West Chu was re-established, the Tang family was among the first to respond to Cao Changqing. Although it was well-known that Tang Shi and Sun Xiji had opposing political views, their disagreements were those of true gentlemen, each forming their own factions but never resorting to internal strife. Tang Shi was probably the first official in court to notice that Sun Xiji's life was nearing its end. At that time, Tang Shi felt no joy; instead, it was as if a lifelong quarrelsome neighbor, with whom he had never actually fought, had suddenly moved away, leaving him feeling somewhat lonely.

The elder did not look at His Imperial Majesty but stared intently at the legendary young vassal king, asking frankly, "Did the King of Beiliang not leave my Great Chu capital yesterday? Has Your Highness graced us with your presence today to kill people and claim credit for quelling the rebellion?"

Before Xu Fengnian could reply, the elder raised his arm, pointed his jade scepter at his own head, and smiled, "If that is the case, then you may as well start by killing me, Tang Shi. As the Chief Minister of the Central Secretariat of Great Chu, a first-rank official, I presume my head still carries some weight."

Soon after, a military official stepped forward, none other than the burly man who had earlier asked, "Where is Cao Changqing?" He laughed loudly, "The world says the King of Beiliang possesses unparalleled martial arts. So, among the Great Chu generals, let him start with me, Zhao Yunhao! I hope the King of Beiliang won't despise me, the General of Zhennan, for my less prominent official rank!"

Great Chu could fall, it could fall to the Liyang army. But it could never again fall by the hands of the Xu family!

Xu Fengnian’s hand, resting on Jiang Ni’s head, subtly increased its pressure, signaling her not to speak. He glanced at the civil and military officials standing one behind the other, then raised his gaze to the distance and said with a smile, "Alright, Tang Shi, Zhao Yunhao, I've taken note of you two. Just a moment, two is too few. If I am to kill, I will kill them all together. So, who else is willing to offer their head as a gesture of hospitality? Step forward, all of you. General Zhao was right earlier, Cao Changqing is not in the capital, so I truly can't think of anyone who could stop me from killing whomever I wish. Minister of Personnel Gu Yang, Hanlin Academician Li Changji, Right Palace Censor Cheng Wenyu, Vice Minister of Rites Su Yang, why aren’t you stepping forward? Or have you found connections and are reluctant to die? If I recall correctly, several of your families had members martyred after the Battle of Xileibi in the early years."

Among the four, only the elderly Gu Yang silently stepped forward, moving to Tang Shi's side. The other three did not budge, especially Cheng Wenyu and Li Changji, two literary giants of their time, who were now pale with fear.

As the venerable Minister Gu resolutely prepared for death, civil and military officials gradually moved from their ranks on either side to the center. There were men in their thirties, forties, fifties, and even those in their seventies.

Of the more than fifty high-ranking officials and nobles in the hall, whom the common people fondly regarded as pillars of the state, ultimately half chose to be unyielding loyalists, certain to die. The other half, naturally, were opportunists, like reeds swaying in the wind.

Heroic foolishness, intelligent subservience.

At this moment, the distinction was clear.

Jiang Ni turned her head away, no longer allowing him to rest his hand on her.

Xu Fengnian did not argue with her, nor did he seem to have any intention of suddenly resorting to bloodshed in the hall. He smiled, "Whether my Beiliang cavalry's southward march into Guangling Dao is truly to quell rebellion depends on your attitudes. Your Imperial Majesty is currently personally leading the campaign on the front lines. This person standing beside me is merely a silly runaway girl. As long as you are willing to take a step back, I will pretend nothing has happened. The West Chu Emperor on the Xileibi battlefield can continue to boost morale, and you, the civil and military ministers, can continue to govern the state or find your own ways to live. How about it? If even one person refuses to return to their original position, then I will truly unleash a massacre today and throw all your heads to Wu Zhongxuan or Xu Gong. As for whether you believe me, that's up to you. I'll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to weigh the pros and cons – no, only half an incense stick."

As he mentioned "one incense stick," Xu Fengnian subtly glanced at the long imperial path outside the hall, and for some reason, changed it to "half an incense stick."

Xu Fengnian's thumb on his saber slowly pushed the blade out of its scabbard by an inch or so, that small glint of light particularly dazzling.

Xu Fengnian continued, "Whether Great Chu has Jiang Ni is not important. As long as there is a Jiang Si 'guarding the nation's gates as its Son of Heaven' on the western front, that's enough. Isn't that right?"

Xu Fengnian looked at Hanlin Academician Li Changji, who held no jade scepter, and emphasized, "Academician Li, isn't that right?!"

Li Changji, devoid of his former integrity, nodded like a pecking chick, "Yes, yes, yes! Your Highness speaks wisely."

In the hall, some ministers who had not stepped out of their ranks began to exchange glances with colleagues. Some began softly persuading long-standing acquaintances or in-laws, appealing to their emotions and reason. Some even covertly scurried over, trying to pull back the officials standing in the center of the hall.

At the same time, some pretended not to see, some turned a deaf ear, and some simply shouted in anger. Only a handful of officials returned to their positions on either side, their faces filled with shame.

Witnessing this scene, Xu Fengnian, though his expression remained normal, was in fact overcome with mixed emotions.

The Great Chu of old was the backbone of the Central Plains!

Thus, when Great Chu fell, the Central Plains was utterly devastated.

One can only imagine how tragic and stirring the Battle of Xileibi had been back then.

When someone noticed Xu Fengnian’s expression growing increasingly solemn, one person finally broke down. Su Yang, the Vice Minister of Rites, who had long secretly colluded with the Liyang military, suddenly shivered. As if enlightened, he quickly walked to a position just behind Chief Minister Tang Shi and obsequiously smiled at Xu Fengnian, "Your Highness, I am Su Yang of West Chu's Ministry of Rites. May I ask when Your Highness's border cavalry will reach the outskirts of West Chu's capital?"

Rather than being dragged to their graves by a group of fools, Su Yang figured it was better to choose the lesser of two evils. While aligning with Beiliang would certainly lead to future complications and was far from as advantageous as directly connecting with the Liyang general, it was still better than immediately losing sight of the sun outside the hall.

The Vice Minister of Rites of Great Chu repeatedly referred to it as "West Chu."

Xu Fengnian tutted, "It seems Vice Minister Su's official rank isn't too high, but he is the smartest person in this grand hall. It's truly a pity for him to only be a Vice Minister. If I were the Liyang Emperor, I would definitely make Master Su the Minister of Rites, in charge of the court's cultural affairs."

Su Yang, his head drenched in sweat, having risen to the rank of Vice Minister, was clearly not incorrigibly stupid. How could he not detect the sarcasm in the young vassal king's words? He replied awkwardly, "Your Highness flatters me, truly."

Xu Fengnian released his thumb, and the exposed tip of his cold saber swiftly retracted into its sheath.

Su Yang immediately rejoiced inwardly.

Xu Fengnian turned to gaze at Jiang Ni, playfully teasing her softly, "Yesterday, I didn't insist you leave the capital immediately because I was afraid you might not be able to process it, that your mind might get twisted. Today is different. If you still haven't understood, I'll just have to knock you out and carry you away."

She blinked her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Xu Fengnian did not turn his head but casually gestured towards the civil and military officials, "Having people like Tang Shi, Gu Yang, and Zhao Yunhao here shows that your trip to West Chu was not in vain. But similarly, having people like Su Yang, Li Changji, and Cheng Wenyu here shows that there's no point in you staying in West Chu to await death. You're just a silly girl; don't start believing you're a real emperor just because you've been one for a few days. The people of Great Chu in present-day West Chu, as I told you yesterday, are not without choices. Most of them are not doomed to die. Their situation now is that those who wish to die can die, and those who wish to live can live. So now, tell me, when will you come with me?"

She instinctively moved to turn away. Whenever trouble arose, her first thought was always to hide!

But he placed both hands on her shoulders and chuckled, "Still hiding?!"

Xu Fengnian gazed at her, then suddenly lowered his voice and whispered, "This time, I'm not scaring you. If we don't leave now, I'll be in trouble, and it won't be small."

Her expression drastically changed. She said, "Wait for me," then ran towards a side door of the main hall. However, she suddenly turned back and smiled brightly at him.

Two small dimples.

Almost simultaneously, Xu Fengnian flicked both sleeves, and all the officials in the hall felt a strong gust of wind, causing them to step back and cover their faces with their sleeves.

Thus, they were unable to witness that breathtaking, world-shaking sight.

Xu Fengnian spoke to the retreating figure, whose hands held up her dragon robes as she ran, "If it's merely a pawn that has crossed the river, it makes no difference whether you take it or not; I can simply take you with me."

Without turning her head, she decisively uttered two words: "Copper coins!"

Xu Fengnian gave a wry smile and reminded her, "I'll wait for you at the Imperial City gates. Besides the copper coins, don't forget to also retrieve the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow. You might need it."

After saying this, Xu Fengnian strode out of the hall, stopping directly outside the Imperial City gates.

The Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial paused in confusion, then hastily followed, attempting to keep pace with His Imperial Majesty's steps.

If his luck ran out next, if a battle to the death were truly imminent, then he would decide the outcome against his opponent before she could reach his side.

The danger of it might be no less than when he faced the Human Cat Han Shengxuan.

The one obstructing him on the imperial path was none other than Tantai Pingjing, with whom he had a rather pleasant conversation on the city wall last night.

After Hong Xixiang and Xie Guanying had successively given up or lost their qualifications, she had implicitly become the person most qualified to act on behalf of heaven in the mortal realm today.

Last night, this last remaining Qi cultivator grandmaster in the human world had spoken of her "late-night snack" with an air of calm indifference, which was, in fact, the destiny of West Chu!

The remaining destiny of West Chu's capital could still "keep out" a martial arts grandmaster who had ascended to the realm of a land immortal, but it could, in fact, only block one person.

The reason Xu Fengnian was able to fight his way from the capital's South Gate straight into the Imperial Palace was due to the crucial presence of Emperor Jiang Ni, the master of West Chu's destiny. More precisely, Jiang Ni's inherent indecision created Xu Fengnian's "leisurely stroll." However, if it had been someone hostile to West Chu and Jiang Si, even figures like Tuoba Pusa or Deng Tai'a, entering the Imperial City would not have been difficult. They could have killed the two city guards as Xu Fengnian did, but facing Jiang Ni's "hundred thousand swords in the lake," Jiang Ni would likely have had a greater chance of victory. This subtle advantage of the opportune moment could only be understood by those who had reached the Celestial Phenomenon realm.

Xu Fengnian had initially thought that even with his worst luck, Tantai Pingjing wouldn't choose to openly confront him now.

However.

Xu Fengnian looked up at the sky, then glanced at the distant mortal world.

His eyes grew distant.

In an instant, heaven and earth inverted.

Not exiled immortals, but true heavenly beings, countless of them, now in the mortal world.

Xu Fengnian closed his eyes and softly exhaled.

One step taken, and it was a division between yin and yang, a separation of heaven and earth. Xu Fengnian's figure seemed to step into a curtain of water, vanishing into thin air.

Above the Hall of Taiji, the atmosphere grew heavy.

After the young vassal king left, the entire court of civil and military officials was momentarily stunned. First, the Chief Eunuch, who had received His Imperial Majesty's instructions, had Sun Xiji's body carefully moved out. In the end, only Chief Minister Tang Shi silently followed, as if carrying a coffin. The other ministers remained in the hall, not moving. Li Changji and Cheng Wenyu both cursed the "Beiliang barbarians" under their breath. Vice Minister of Rites Su Yang, who unwittingly became the center of attention, remained composed. Even when General Zhao Yunhao angrily denounced him for lacking the dignity of a Chu minister, Su Yang merely sneered incessantly. With the Central Secretariat and the Chancellery now leaderless, and Cao Changqing, who oversaw the Six Ministries, nowhere to be found, Minister of Personnel Gu Yang instantly became the most influential official in the hall. Gu Yang looked at the chaotic scene. Though his own mind was in turmoil, this high-ranking Chu official sternly declared, "Regarding today's events, I ask all of you to keep your mouths shut after court is dismissed. You must not speak of His Majesty leaving the capital. Remember, His Majesty remains on the front lines at Xileibi, personally leading the campaign for Great Chu. If anyone should, by chance, fail to control their tongue, this official will exert all effort, even at the risk of being accused of factionalism, to punish them severely without mercy! Do not say you were not warned!"

General Zhao Yunhao, the General of Zhennan, who belonged to a different faction than Gu Yang, grimly stated, "This time, I, your general, am willing to be Master Gu's humble subordinate!"

The Minister of Revenue, a benevolent old man in his seventies who was known in the former Chu court as a master of equivocation, now, for the first time, firmly declared, "Everyone! Listen to me. In times of crisis, we should all be in the same boat. Do not act in a way that harms others and yourselves by scuttling the ship. Great Chu is terminally ill. We must be cautious in our words and actions!"

Gu Yang suddenly fixed his gaze on Su Yang, "What does Vice Minister Su think?"

Su Yang smiled. "If anyone else said such a thing, I, Su Yang, would simply let it pass. But since it's Minister Gu, it's different."

The implication was that Su Yang was close to securing his future. If others tried to interfere with his opportunism, he wouldn't care. But since it was Minister Gu, who himself was secretly dealing with the Liyang court, they should all proceed with caution. Since they were all essentially selling themselves to the Zhao clan of Liyang, they shouldn't undercut each other's prices now. Otherwise, the valuable 'jade' would be devalued to 'cabbage,' only benefiting Liyang. Gu Yang nodded. Su Yang keenly caught the hint of disdain in the Minister's eyes. The Vice Minister sneered inwardly: *After all, you and I are both like courtesans selling ourselves. Your Gu family merely commands a higher price. I, Su Yang, simply showed a few less ounces of scholarly integrity in the hall today compared to you. But Master Gu, aren't you ashamed to be calling the kettle black?*

The only Grand General of the West Chu court currently in the capital, General Chen Kunshan, the General of Agile Cavalry, stated gravely, "From this moment forward, the entire city is under martial law. Entry is permitted, but no one may exit!"

This statement only caused slight surprise, but his next words made some people's faces turn pale: "If my Imperial City guards and spies discover any carrier pigeons taking flight from any household, that household will be charged with treason! The entire family will be executed on the spot!"

Outside the Hall.

A palace eunuch in a python robe carried a body wrapped in silk brocade, swiftly walking towards a carriage outside the palace.

Tang Shi, the head of the Tang clan of Huaiyin and a first-rank Chief Minister of Great Chu, followed behind, sadly murmuring, "Sun Xiji, the world says one must always strive for higher ground. Why, then, did you choose to leave the Liyang court for this one?"

Tang Shi's old tears streamed down his face. He suddenly quickened his pace and called out to the eunuch, "Let me carry him!"

The eunuch in the python robe looked at the elderly man with surprise. Tang Shi smiled mournfully, "What does it matter if an old man carrying a dead man walks a little slower?"

Tang Shi carried Sun Xiji and slowly proceeded.

Amidst the spring breeze throughout the city, Sun Xiji, a once prominent figure of Great Chu, silently returned to his roots on the back of an old man named Tang Shi.

The court assembly slowly dispersed. Above everyone's heads, a brilliant sword light rose from within the Imperial Palace, landing outside the Imperial City gates.

Jiang Ni, standing on the sword, looked around blankly. How had she suddenly lost sight of him? She couldn't feel even a trace of his presence.

She tried to calm herself, closed her eyes, and the multitude of swords from the lake instantly soared, flying towards all four directions of the capital.

A hundred thousand flying swords unfolded like a giant lotus blossoming over Guangling Dao.

Jiang Ni began to try and connect with the world's sword intent, to commune with heaven and earth, thereby determining Xu Fengnian's general whereabouts.

In her heart, she silently thought, *You must wait for me.*

She suddenly opened her eyes, filled with shock, doubt, apprehension, and fear.

Her Sword Heart, clear as day, told her that Xu Fengnian was actually nearby.

She began to command thousands of flying swords, sweeping back towards the Imperial City.

Then she realized that several swords were obstructing her Sword Heart, as if moving in a roundabout way.

She flew off on her sword, hovering in the air, and looked up.

If a Qi cultivator grandmaster with great power like Tantai Pingjing were observing, they would have seen a colossal white dragon dominating the capital, spewing a dragon pearl.

And that dragon pearl was already on the verge of shattering.