Upon hearing this, Boyi Kao was immediately shocked and repeatedly prostrated himself, crying out, "Thank you for your great kindness, Sage! Thank you for saving my life!"

A dazzling blue light flashed, and Boyi Kao disappeared.

In the eleventh year of King Zhou's reign, after the death of Jiang Huanchu, the Marquis of the East, the eastern prefectures launched a rebellion with the support of a mysterious figure and quickly unified the eastern prefectures. E Chongyu, the Marquis of the South, was imprisoned and killed, and the southern prefectures revolted. After Ji Chang, the Marquis of the West, fled back to Xiqi, he proclaimed himself king and began his campaign to overthrow King Zhou under the guise of acting on behalf of Heaven. After the death of Chong Houhu, the Marquis of the North, the northern prefectures also began to waver. Finally, after King Zhou issued an edict to enfeoff Chong Houhu's son as the Marquis of the North, the turmoil in the north temporarily subsided. Thus, the great Shang Dynasty fell into a turbulent era, on the verge of collapse and annihilation if it did not act carefully.

[5 The End of the Primordial Era: The Consecration of Gods]

Chapter 129, One Hundred and Nine? Three Demons Disrupt the Merchant? Qin Shuang Emerges

King Zhou's empire may crumble at any moment, but what is our King Zhou doing now?

After the morning court session, King Zhou retreated to a side hall and summoned Fei Zhong and You Hun for an audience. He said calmly, "You previously petitioned me to order the four great lords of the realm to present beautiful women. I intended to issue the decree, but the four great lords have long harbored rebellious intentions and committed the grave crime of treason. Therefore, the Eastern Marquis Jiang Huanchu and the Southern Marquis E Chongyu hanged themselves, and the Western Marquis Ji Chang fled back to his hometown of Xiqi and declared himself king, using the guise of acting on behalf of Heaven to destroy the land of my Great Shang. Of the four great lords, only the Northern Marquis Chong Heihu still serves my Great Shang. Although the four great lords exist in name only, the matter of presenting beautiful women cannot be refused. Do you two ministers know of any beautiful women in the world?"

Fei Zhong listened to King Zhou's words and smiled mysteriously, saying, "I have secretly learned that Marquis Su Hu of Ji Province has a daughter who is exceptionally beautiful and gentle. If Your Majesty were to select her to serve in the palace, the people of the land would be terrified if Your Majesty issued a decree. However, if Su Hu were to offer his daughter to you voluntarily, you would gain both fame and fortune, Your Majesty?"

King Zhou impatiently interrupted Fei Zhong, saying indifferently, "Very well, summon Marquis Su Hu of Ji Province to discuss state affairs."

A moment later, Su Hu arrived.

King Zhou said calmly, "I have heard that you have a daughter, who is virtuous and refined, and whose conduct is proper. I wish to select her to serve in my harem. You will enjoy a high position and receive a generous reward, which would relieve your worries. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Su Hu solemnly replied, “Your Majesty’s palace is filled with thousands of concubines and imperial consorts. Are so many women not enough to please Your Majesty’s eyes and ears? Yet Your Majesty listens to the flattering words of those around you, thus leading Your Majesty into injustice. Moreover, I am but a humble woman of lowly birth, unfamiliar with etiquette, and possess neither virtue nor beauty to speak of. I beseech Your Majesty to swiftly execute this treacherous person who has offered such slander, so that the world and future generations may know that Your Majesty is upright in heart and mind, receptive to advice, and not a lustful ruler. Would that not be wonderful?”

King Zhou was furious and roared, "Guards, take Su Hu to prison and execute him by slow slicing in a few days as a warning to others."

Fei Zhong and You Hun hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty can order Su Hu to go home and reflect on his actions. At that time, Su Hu will surely offer his daughter to Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, when Su Hu returned to the post station after leaving the court, his generals asked, "What did His Majesty summon you to court for, General? What is it to discuss?"

Su Hu was furious and cursed, "This wicked and foolish ruler, disregarding the virtues and achievements of our ancestors, favors the flattering words of treacherous ministers and desires to select my daughter to be his concubine. This must be because Fei Zhong and You Yun have bewitched the ruler with wine and women, and are trying to seize power. I, upon hearing the decree, spoke frankly and remonstrated; the foolish ruler said I disobeyed the decree and wanted to have me executed by slow slicing. However, I heard that the Grand Tutor is on a distant expedition, and the two traitors are seizing power. I can see that the foolish ruler will indulge in wine and women, disrupt the government, and leave the country in chaos, with the people suffering. It is pitiful that the Shang dynasty will be reduced to nothing. Although offering my daughter is unwise, if the Shang dynasty perishes, my death is not a pity. My retainers, do you have any good plans to help me?"

The retainer said, "My lord, it is often said that 'those who follow the Way receive much help, while those who stray from the Way receive little help.' King Zhou is currently lacking in virtue. If you feign returning home to offer your daughter as a sacrifice, and once you return to Ji Province, raise the banner of rebellion against Shang, heroes from all over the land will surely flock to you. At that time…"

Therefore, that night, Su Hu, escorted by his family retainers, headed straight for Ji Province.

A few days later, Su Hu raised the banner of rebellion against the Shang Dynasty. When King Zhou of Chaoge learned that Su Hu was not only ungrateful but also had the audacity to destroy the Shang Dynasty, he was furious and led an army of 100,000 men to personally lead the expedition.

A few days later, Su Hu of Ji Province was no match for the enemy and wanted to perish with Ji Province. However, after much deliberation, Su Hu decided to send his daughter to Chaoge to apologize to King Zhou.

Three days later, Su Hu led his retainers to escort his daughter Su Daji to the capital to meet the emperor. However, at noon on the third day, dark clouds suddenly gathered within a ten-mile radius, and a cold wind howled. After a scream of "Ah!", Su Hu carried his daughter, who seemed to have fainted from fright, as he stepped through the gates of Chaoge.

King Zhou originally intended to take advantage of Su Hu's visit to Chaoge to arrest and punish him. However, upon seeing the beauty of Su Hu's daughter, Su Daji, his mind was immediately drawn to her. He no longer cared about Su Hu and immediately ordered his men to take Su Daji to the Shouxian Palace. King Zhou hastily dealt with state affairs, pardoned Su Hu and his entire family, adjourned the morning court session, and went to the Shouxian Palace.

After King Zhou acquired Su Daji, he was filled with restless desire and followed her into the Longevity Palace. Fox spirits are naturally skilled at seduction, and eight-tailed foxes possess an innate, alluring charm. Thus, under Su Daji's deliberate flattery, King Zhou was completely bewitched and unable to control himself. That very night, he stayed at Su Daji's Longevity Palace, engaging in passionate lovemaking. After Su Daji entered the palace, King Zhou indulged in feasting and revelry with her day and night, causing the decline of state affairs and confusion among officials. Although many ministers offered advice, King Zhou ignored them completely, remaining unchanged. Before he knew it, two whole months had passed without him attending court. The memorials submitted by the feudal lords were piling up in the imperial study, like a mountain. When Marquis Su Hu of Jizhou heard about the actions of his daughter and son-in-law, he was so distraught that he regretted not killing Daji with a sword that day, which led to him being cursed by the feudal lords and the people. However, he did not know that this Daji was not the same as the Daji he had been accused of, and he was implicated and his reputation was damaged.

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