Chapter 61 I want my husband to be sacrificed to the heavens? No, it's points for special effects!

The next morning at court, Yun Zhan felt like he was walking on air, his back ramrod straight, his chin held high, and he looked at the old ministers who had been clamoring to "burn" him the day before with three parts disdain and seven parts provocation in his eyes.

Sure enough, after discussing a few trivial matters, the old censor with gray hair stepped forward again, his words almost identical to yesterday's: "Your Majesty, Your Highness Prince Chen, the matter of the critically ill patient concerns the safety of the nation and the stability of the people. It cannot be delayed! This old minister implores Your Majesty to make a swift decision and implement... to implement extraordinary measures!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yun Zhan stepped forward with a loud, confident voice that startled the entire court.

"Extraordinary measures? Is the 'method' that Imperial Censor Wang is talking about—burning hundreds or thousands of living people who are still breathing like firewood?" Yun Zhan's gaze swept over the officials who had agreed. "You gentlemen have studied the classics, learning about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. How come when it comes to this crucial moment, all you can think of is 'burn'?! Are your classics teaching you to treat human life like dirt?!"

Censor Wang's face turned red with embarrassment, and his beard trembled as he retorted, "Your Highness Prince Chen! You...you must not speak nonsense! This old minister is thinking of the greater good! It's for the lives of many more people!"

"What a fine excuse, 'for the greater good'!" Yun Zhan sneered, pressing on relentlessly. "Then let me ask you, if you can burn these critically ill patients today for the greater good, but if the border is in crisis tomorrow and supplies are insufficient, will you still push the elderly, women, and children out as cannon fodder for the greater good? If the national treasury is empty the day after tomorrow, will you still exploit the people to the bone for the greater good? When did this 'greater good' become your fig leaf for disregarding human life?!"

His words were extremely harsh, and several officials who had originally wanted to echo Wang Yushi subconsciously shrank back and dared not utter a sound.

Imperial Censor Wang trembled with rage, pointing at Yun Zhan: "You...you're just making excuses! If there's no effective way and the epidemic is allowed to spread, how many more people will die?! When the fields are littered with corpses, can you bear that responsibility?! This is a last resort. Your Majesty, if you have a solution, then present it. There's no need to waste your breath arguing with me here."

"Who says there's no effective method?!" Yun Zhan had been waiting for him to say that. He turned sharply to face Yan Linye on the dragon throne, his voice firm and powerful, "Your Majesty! I have a memorial to present!"

Yan Linye looked at him, who was radiant and seemed to be glowing, and a smile flashed in his eyes, but his face remained calm: "If you have any good ideas, Prince Chen, please speak freely."

Yun Zhan cleared his throat, surveyed the silent court, and said loudly, "There are many rumors circulating among the people, slandering His Majesty... uh, questioning whether His Majesty absorbs the world's fortune to strengthen himself, thus incurring the displeasure of Heaven, which has sent down a plague as punishment. Since that's the case, why don't we ask Heaven itself to bear witness and dispel this nonsense?!"

A murmur rippled through the court. "May Heaven bear witness? Is Prince Chen driven mad by constant arguing?"

Imperial Censor Wang scoffed, "Your Highness, offering sacrifices and prayers to Heaven is an ancient practice. Praying for rain or sunshine is acceptable, but asking for medicine? Isn't that child's play!"

"Whether it's child's play or not, we'll only know after we try!" Yun Zhan said without backing down, his gaze fixed intently on Yan Linye. "I propose that Your Majesty personally preside over a grand sacrificial ceremony tomorrow, to petition Heaven and pray for a divine medicine to cure the plague and for auspicious omens to bring peace to the hearts of the people!"

"Nonsense!"

"absurd!"

"Offering sacrifices to Heaven is no child's play!"

"I've never heard of seeking medicine before!"

Opposition arose one after another, with many feeling that Yun Zhan's idea was pure fantasy, nonsense, and even suspecting that Yun Zhan harbored treacherous ambitions.

Yan Linye raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. His deep gaze fell on Yun Zhan, filled with complete trust and support: "Granted."

The entire court was in uproar!

His Majesty actually agreed to something that sounds so absurd?!

Only Yun Zhan and Yan Linye knew the truth: this was something they had discussed the night before. Simply solving the plague wasn't enough; they needed to fundamentally dispel the rumor that "Yan Linye's virtue was unworthy of his position, thus incurring divine punishment," to deprive the forces that had risen in rebellion under various banners of popular support and to completely stabilize the situation. And "divine medicine descending from heaven" was undoubtedly the most impactful and direct method; with the Emperor in charge, nothing was a problem.

The next day, at the altar for worshipping Heaven in the southern suburbs of the capital.

A sea of ​​people, a bustling crowd.

Almost the entire population of the capital came, along with many from surrounding prefectures and counties, crowding the altar to Heaven. Their faces wore expressions of curiosity, anticipation, doubt, and a deep weariness and fear. The shadow of the plague still loomed over everyone.

On the high platform, banners fluttered, and the ceremonial music was solemn and dignified. Yan Linye, dressed in a black imperial robe, stood tall and straight, his face stern. As the officials announced his arrival, he ascended the high altar step by step. Holding a jade tablet, he faced the heavens and recited the sacrificial text aloud, his voice steady and powerful, echoing in all directions.

The content of the memorial text was nothing more than a description of the severity of the epidemic, the suffering of the people, the emperor's concern, and a prayer for divine mercy and a way to save the people.

The crowd below held their breath, countless eyes fixed on the figure at the top of the altar, and... the sky above him.

Some courtiers, waiting to see a spectacle, knelt below the altar, a hint of mockery playing on their lips. They wanted to see where this "divine medicine" came from!

Yun Zhan stood on the altar not far behind Yan Linye, seemingly calm, but inwardly he was frantically communicating with the system: "Xiao Qi! Xiao Qi! Are you ready? Special effects! They have to be maxed out! They have to be the kind that's glittering with gold, ethereal, and looks incredibly expensive... incredibly sacred!"

[Don't worry, host! This system has spent a huge sum of money (since you have a lot of points now) to redeem the 'Nine Heavens Auspiciousness Supreme Deluxe Special Effects Pack'! Guaranteed to be a stunning spectacle and incredibly high-class!] Xiao Qi's voice also revealed a kind of nouveau riche excitement.

Just as Yan Linye finished reciting the eulogy, raised the jade tablet high in his hand, and bowed to the heavens—

A sudden change has occurred!

The once clear sky suddenly became stormy! Countless soft yet dazzling golden beams of light, as if they were tangible, pierced through the clouds and projected precisely onto the altar, enveloping Yan Linye entirely!

"Buzz—"

A deep, resonant hum, seemingly from the ages, echoed in everyone's heart!

Immediately afterwards, to the astonishment of countless onlookers, countless jade bottles and boxes radiating a soft white light appeared out of thin air above the altar, where the golden light shone most brightly! The words "Divine Medicine" were inscribed on them in a flamboyant and elegant style! Like celestial maidens scattering flowers, they slowly drifted down!

At the same time, bags of plump, golden grains, bolts of silk as smooth as water, and many other unnamed but obviously extraordinary supplies poured down from the golden light like a waterfall, filling the open space in front of the altar!

A myriad of rays of light and auspicious colors! Faint celestial music (system-provided background music) and a wonderful fragrance fill the air!

A deathly silence fell over the entire area around the altar.

Everyone stared wide-eyed and gaped, looking at this scene that seemed like something out of a myth!

Someone was the first to react, and with a thud, knelt down and shouted with all their might, "A miracle! It's a miracle! His Majesty's sincerity has moved Heaven! Heaven has bestowed a divine medicine!!"

This shout was like lighting a fuse, and in an instant, cheers and kowtows, as loud as a mountain and as turbulent as the sea, swept across the entire southern suburbs!

"A miracle! It really is a miracle!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Heaven has not abandoned us! His Majesty is the true supreme ruler, the Son of Heaven!"

"Those rumors are all false! False!"

The people were moved to tears, overwhelmed with emotion. They bowed towards the altar, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Their previous doubts and resentment towards Yan Linye vanished at this moment, transforming into the most fervent worship and faith!

Those courtiers who had been waiting to see the joke were now utterly terrified, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground! They looked at Yan Linye, who appeared like a god descending to earth in the golden light, and at the mountains of "divine medicine" and supplies. They kowtowed repeatedly to the altar, their hearts filled with boundless awe and lingering fear.

Imperial Censor Wang's face turned deathly pale, and he was covered in cold sweat. Recalling his questioning of Yun Zhan in court yesterday, he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Seeing the effect, Yun Zhan was overjoyed. He secretly moved forward and stood next to Yan Linye, giving him a "done" look. He then gloated to Xiao Qi in his mind: "See? Wasn't it worth spending these points? The special effects and the level of sophistication are off the charts!"

Standing in the center of the golden light, Yan Linye felt the overwhelming cheers and adoration from below. He accurately received Yun Zhan's smug little expression, and a faint yet incredibly genuine gentle smile spread across the depths of his eyes.

His Yun Zhan always brings him surprises.

The miracle of "divine medicine descending from heaven" spread rapidly, even faster than a plague, to every corner of the Houchen Dynasty, and even reached the neighboring countries that were eyeing it covetously.

Those countries that were originally observing or even secretly supporting the insurgents within their borders, hoping to take advantage of the situation, all fell silent upon hearing this news.

Is it destiny? Is it a sincere act of gratitude to Heaven? And can it conjure up divine medicine and supplies out of thin air?

This Yan Linye... could he really have some kind of divine background?

We can't afford to mess with them.

Soon, envoys from various countries arrived in the capital of the Later Chen Dynasty with generous gifts and humble letters, taking the initiative to seek peace and expressing their willingness to maintain friendly relations for generations to come, with no ulterior motives.

Meanwhile, the rebel armies within the country that raised the banner of "avenging Chu Yin" and "eliminating the traitors who stole the country" lost the support of the people and external forces, and instantly became rootless. They began to divide and disintegrate internally, and soon collapsed on their own.

An internal and external crisis that could have overthrown the dynasty was easily resolved by the "miracle" that Yun Zhan created with "points".

Inside the Zichen Palace, Yun Zhan crossed his legs, enjoying the newly developed pastries from the imperial kitchen, and smugly boasted about the ever-growing points balance in his mind.

These days of having unlimited points are just... awesome!