Chapter 360 Death Call
Is this Empress Jiang some kind of reincarnated death-bringer?!
If Ji Chang hadn't still had some sense, he would have liked to push the dagger forward a little to shut Empress Dowager Jiang up completely.
"Mother, please stop this nonsense. If we send the feudal lords back to Chaoge, who will defend against the Nine Yi tribes?" Chang Hao was in a dilemma.
Just as Ji Chang breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Empress Dowager Jiang say, "There are so many military generals in the court, sending someone else will be just as good."
Empress Dowager Jiang glanced at Ji Chang and the other two, and added, "They are too old to fight."
Ji Chang almost couldn't help but retort to Empress Dowager Jiang, saying that even if he couldn't fight, he still had his sons and grandsons. He had over a hundred sons; surely he could find one or two who were useful.
But Your Majesty, with your light and casual words, you want to turn the hard work of generations of Marquis of Xibo into ashes, turning them into caged canaries, their lives and deaths in the hands of the King. In any case, Ji Chang cannot do it.
"Mother, although I can send military officers over, this matter is not so simple..." Chang Hao tried to reason with Empress Dowager Jiang.
"I don't care, your uncle is the only family I have left. You must release him." Empress Dowager Jiang was being unreasonable and making a scene.
"Even your mother doesn't hold it against you for killing your two brothers, and you can't even fulfill this small request of your mother?" Empress Dowager Jiang was all bark and no bite. It wasn't that she didn't want to hold it against you, but that she couldn't.
Grand Tutor Wen and Bigan, those two old bastards, practically labeled her as an accomplice. If it weren't for Zishou's strong protection of her, she might still be the Empress Dowager now.
Chang Hao remained silent. Empress Dowager Jiang, seeing this was not good, lightly cut his skin with a dagger, and blood flowed out instantly.
Chang Hao's pupils shrank, and he panicked. "Mother, stop! Don't do anything foolish. I will agree."
Empress Dowager Jiang snorted coldly, "Why didn't you do this earlier? Ouch, I've broken a little skin, it hurts so much."
“My three beloved ministers,” Chang Hao said, his lips pursed, “I humbly request that you stay in Chaoge for a few more days.”
First, keep the people here. A short stay can become a long stay, and a long stay can become a permanent residence. Once they are permanent residence, they may not leave Chaoge City without an imperial decree.
Ji Chang's face was pale. What he didn't want had come to pass. He had a premonition that this was all a conspiracy by Di Xin against them from beginning to end.
E Chongyu had no ulterior motives. Upon hearing this, he laughed heartily and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. I just noticed that Chaoge has undergone considerable changes when I entered the city. I was just about to suggest that Your Majesty stay a few more days to visit Chaoge."
Chong Houhu was completely unconcerned, saying, "Your Majesty, I will obey all your orders." When Emperor Yi was alive, he succeeded to the position of Marquis of the North and was already impressed by the demeanor of the then Crown Prince. It would be even better if he could be transferred back to Chaoge.
Chang Hao glanced at E Chongyu and Chong Houhu, and his smile became much more genuine. Since the two great lords of the north and south had no ulterior motives, the rest would be much easier to handle.
Empress Dowager Jiang interjected, "The south is rife with miasma and plagues, while the north is freezing cold. As nobles, why do you have to endure the hardships on the border? Why not return to Chaoge directly? The King will appoint you as Grand Protectors, a position comparable to Grand Tutor Wen."
Empress Dowager Jiang hated Grand Tutor Wen to the core, believing that he had the ability to save Ziqi and Ziyan but did not, and that the hatred for killing her sons was irreconcilable. However, Empress Dowager Jiang could not hate Zishou, so she could only inflict double the hatred on Grand Tutor Wen.
“How dare I compare myself to Grand Tutor Wen? If Your Majesty wishes to summon me back to Chaoge and appoint me as a Supreme General, I will be more than satisfied,” Chong Houhu replied without hesitation.
Ji Chang was devastated, as if he had lost his parents. E Chongyu and Chong Houhu, do you know what you are saying and what you have agreed to?
"I wonder if the Marquis of Xibo is willing? The four great lords were appointed by our ancestors. If you want to recall them, you should recall them all equally." Chang Hao asked Ji Chang, who had been silent all along.
"Your Majesty..." Ji Chang could not smile at all, "Xiqi cannot do without me..."
“Your Excellency,” Chang Hao approached Ji Chang, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said, “It is the Marquis of Xibo who cannot live without Xiqi, is it?” His voice was barely audible.
Ji Chang shuddered and looked at the young king in disbelief. The king's clear eyes seemed to see right through people's hearts.
Ji Chang's vision went completely black, and then his body went limp...
Chang Hao's lips twitched. Damn old thief, his reaction was really fast.
Just as Chang Hao reached out his hand, intending to condescend to pat Ji Chang and demonstrate his virtuous character of being courteous to scholars, Chong Houhu rushed ahead and supported the limp Ji Chang as he fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty need not trouble yourself. With me here, I will support the Marquis of Xibo. How can Ji Chang, as a subject, seek Your Majesty's assistance?" Chong Houhu's words subtly belittled Ji Chang.
As he spoke, Chong Houhu pinched Ji Chang's philtrum hard. However, how could the philtrum possibly wake up someone who was trying to pretend to be unconscious?
Just when Ji Chang thought that Di Xin would have the Imperial Guards escort him out of the palace, he could temporarily escape the king's questions and plan how to get out of trouble.
Chang Hao's lips curled into a smile. "You're cured, little doctor. Come quickly and take a look at the Marquis of Xibo."
The doctors who had been surrounding the Wanshou Palace to treat Empress Dowager Jiang immediately sent one of them to treat the Marquis of Xibo.
"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Xibo fell ill due to the fatigue of his journey and excessive worry." The young doctor pursed his lips. In fact, it was nothing serious, but he couldn't directly accuse the Marquis of Xibo of faking his illness.
"It seems that the Marquis of Xibo has gone to great lengths for the Marquis of Dongbo." Chang Hao said with an ambiguous meaning, "Guards, carry the Marquis of Xibo to the Star-Picking Tower. During this time, the Marquis of Xibo can rest assured and recuperate in the Star-Picking Tower. Rest assured, I will not mistreat the Marquis of Xibo."
Chang Hao finally built the Star-Picking Tower according to Hongjun's sketch.
Of course, the Marquis of Xibo did not go to the real Zhaixing Tower, but to the annex. There was nothing else inside, except for the heavy guard. Once Ji Chang entered, he could not escape.
unless……
Chang Hao's eyes were deep and unfathomable; a celestial being had rescued Ji Chang.
Marquis Xibo was so anxious he almost jumped up. He had no idea where the Star-Picking Tower was. What if it was a dungeon? But he was pretending to faint, and he was a patient that the young doctor had just certified.
"Your Majesty, it may not be appropriate for the Marquis of Xibo to remain in the palace to recuperate," E Chongyu advised.
"It's alright. Zhaixing Tower is not the royal palace, but it is near the royal palace. The environment is quiet and secluded, which is just right for the Marquis of Xibo to recuperate." Chang Hao always thinks things through carefully. From the moment the Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang, entered Chaoge, he was shrouded in a net of heaven and earth, and his fate of being placed under house arrest by Chang Hao was already sealed.
Ji Chang couldn't catch his breath and actually fainted from anger. Di Xin was too cunning.
E Chongyu, Chonghouhu, and Ji Chang were thus left in Chaoge City. Chang Hao bestowed upon them fine wine and delicacies today, a magnificent mansion tomorrow, and took them to see the fine horses being bred the day after tomorrow. All the provisions were of the highest quality.
Other things were fine, but the clear, strong wine and the fine horses were so delicious that E Chongyu and Chong Houhu couldn't move. The thought of leaving Chaoge and being separated from these two things was like a knife to their hearts.
Ji Chang, however, was on pins and needles, trapped in Chaoge City and filled with sorrow. He knew that all the treatment the king provided was intended to wear down his will and make him addicted to indulging in pleasures and losing his ambition.
Seeing that everything was going in the direction he hoped for and that the operation would soon be completed, Chang Hao was naturally in a great mood.
only……
Ji Chang, however, was a stubborn man, with a rebellious streak and a deep-seated obsession with the mission passed down through generations. It was unlikely that he would peacefully reclaim power.
Fortunately, Chang Hao had already anticipated this and was not disappointed. Moreover, the Yin Shang dynasty was defying fate at this time; if it wasn't Xiqi, it would have been someone else following the will of heaven.
"There are no major events in the court today. Why doesn't Your Majesty come to my residence for a visit, to relax, or perhaps to climb up and look down upon the city of Chaoge under the King's rule?" Grand Tutor Wen had already heard that people from Wanshou Palace had come to harass the King again. He felt sorry for the King's situation, but he couldn't do anything to Empress Dowager Jiang. So he could only take the King and leave the palace first.
Chang Hao's eyes lit up. "Is the Grand Tutor really telling the truth?"
"Of course it is true." Grand Tutor Wen chuckled; how could he speak carelessly to the King?
Chang Hao stood up immediately, showing his eagerness with his actions: "Alright, Grand Tutor, let's go now."
"Wait, Your Majesty should change into civilian clothes." Grand Tutor Wen couldn't help but chuckle; the King was still just a child.
Upon having this thought, Grand Tutor Wen couldn't help but remind him, "The Empress Dowager is becoming increasingly unruly. Your Majesty cannot tolerate this any longer. You should have a sense of proportion."
"Thank you for your guidance, Grand Tutor. I understand." Chang Hao went around to the inner palace and, with the help of Quan Chang and Quan Sheng, quickly changed into a set of casual clothes. He thought to himself, "Empress Dowager Jiang is becoming increasingly demanding. It's time to give her a warning."
Jiang Hengchu was spared his life thanks to the Empress Dowager's unreasonable demands and the reward for giving him life. It was impossible for Jiang Hengchu to expect to receive the same treatment as the other three major vassal states.
Chang Hao turned a blind eye and allowed Empress Dowager Jiang to provide occasional assistance to Jiang Hengchu, which was already his biggest concession.
"Grand Tutor, I am fully prepared and ready to depart." Chang Hao was very much looking forward to today's trip.
Grand Tutor Wen's residence was quiet and far from the bustling center of Chaoge. Chang Hao had only been there once, but he was deeply impressed by the formation model of the training ground.
"Are those Grand Tutor's formation models still in their original positions?" Chang Hao asked.
"If Your Majesty likes it, I may give it to you." It's just an empty shell, so that he can look at it and ponder it when he has nothing to do.
"Thank you, Grand Tutor. Then I won't stand on ceremony." Chang Hao knew he owed the Grand Tutor a golden pill, and he figured he probably couldn't repay it, so a model wouldn't make a difference.
"This way, Your Majesty." Wen Zhong had turned off the protective formation of the mansion in advance, so Chang Hao had no trouble getting through.
"Take whichever you like," Wen Zhong said generously, opening his study to let the king choose whatever he wanted.
Chang Hao immediately took a liking to the Sun, Moon and Stars Array and said, "I want to place it in front of my desk."
Wen Zhong said, "I'm glad Your Majesty likes it." He then brought over a wooden box, intending to pack the items into it for the King to take away. It was a legitimate way for Grand Tutor Wen to give the Emperor the cultivator's belongings.
Chang Hao looked around. "Grand Tutor, you have a vast collection of books here. May I browse through them?"
"Well..." Grand Tutor Wen hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty, please do as you please." Let's just satisfy Your Majesty's curiosity. Anyway, Your Majesty won't understand it, and even if you did, Your Majesty wouldn't have time to cultivate it.
"Forget it, I won't look at it." Chang Hao sat down at the table, thinking that it was better not to make things difficult for the Grand Tutor. Even if he looked at it, what difference would it make? He wouldn't understand it anyway.
"Your Majesty, please feel free to look around." Wen Zhong casually unfolded the jade slip in front of his desk.
"I..." Chang Hao caught a glimpse of the words on the jade slip out of the corner of his eye and was completely dumbfounded. Wait, he seemed to understand them...
Suddenly, all the spiritual energy near Wen Zhong's residence gathered towards Chang Hao, and Chang Hao's cultivation level rose higher and higher. The extraordinary ingredients that Hong Jun fed him in the mortal world, the golden pills that Wen Zhong fed him, and other rare and precious materials all worked together to make Chang Hao's cultivation level directly surpass the Golden Immortal realm, catch up with the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, and finally stop at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.
However, before long, this level of cultivation was hidden again, and no one knew about it except for Wen Zhong, who witnessed it.
Wen Zhong:......
My life is over!!! I've turned the Human Emperor into a Taiyi Golden Immortal, what am I going to do now?
The king possesses exceptional comprehension, which is due to his own superior aptitude. However, without his golden elixir, he would not have suffered this calamity.
Chang Hao opened his eyes and felt refreshed all over, with a long-lost sense of etherealness, as if all the turbidity had vanished.
"Grand Tutor, what's wrong with you?" Chang Hao was unaware that his cultivation level had provoked Wen Zhong. He thought that the little cultivation he had secretly cultivated was completely insignificant and belonged to the lowest level.
"Your Majesty, your cultivation level..." Wen Zhong hesitated, then stopped.
"I don't know either. I just glanced at a few words on the jade slip and suddenly this happened. Grand Tutor, what's wrong with me?" Chang Hao asked knowingly. It was just an epiphany, wasn't it?
“Your Majesty…” Wen Zhong hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Your Majesty should not reveal your cultivation level in front of others.”
"I will listen to the Grand Tutor." Chang Hao knew the tacit understanding among cultivators. These Qi Refiners were most averse to teaching members of the royal family to cultivate, especially princes who could become the next Human Emperor.
It is generally assumed that if a prince cultivates Taoism, he loses the right to inherit the throne, but Chang Hao has already secured the position of Emperor, so that's another story.
Wen Zhong safely escorted Chang Hao back to the palace before heading to his master's sect to apologize.
Chang Hao frowned. Was the Grand Tutor going to get into trouble?
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at the Wanshou Palace," Quan Chang whispered, leaning closer. "The Empress Dowager has prepared three feet of white silk..."
"Hmph," Chang Hao's patience completely vanished.
The Wanshou Palace was brightly lit. When the news came that the King had arrived, Empress Dowager Jiang immediately stood on a chair, tiptoed, and put a white silk sash around her neck.
"You unfilial son, I'll ask you one last time: will you restore your uncle's noble status or not?"
Chang Hao sat down to the side and stared at Empress Dowager Jiang without saying a word.
Empress Dowager Jiang was somewhat embarrassed and felt that Zi Shou was different today. But more than anything, she was furious and embarrassed. In a fit of anger, she kicked away the stool she was using as a footrest.
"Save..." The Empress Dowager's face turned purple, and she could not speak.
However, without Chang Hao's permission, all the palace maids and officials in Wanshou Palace lowered their heads, as if it were not their masters who were hanging there, about to die.
Only when the Empress Dowager lost the strength to struggle and was limply hanging, did Chang Hao take out a throwing knife from his sleeve and cut the white silk. The Empress Dowager fell straight to the ground, coughing incessantly, her eyes filled with fear.
Chang Hao slowly stepped forward. "Empress Dowager, you will only be Empress Dowager when I acknowledge you as such. When I deny it, everything about you will vanish into thin air."
Empress Dowager Jiang's lips trembled. "A demon! This is a demon! He's not her son! She has no son like this!"
"Is Mother still causing trouble?" Chang Hao glanced at the palace maid beside him.
The palace maid immediately understood and tied the three-foot-long white silk ribbon again, saying, "Please return to your position, Empress Dowager."
"No, I don't want to, I don't want to die! I am the Empress Dowager, Zishou, I am your mother! Killing your mother is punishable by heaven and earth!" Empress Dowager Jiang shrank back, all the way to a corner, but was still dragged out by the ankle by a palace maid.
"I won't make a fuss anymore, I won't make a fuss anymore, Zishou, I will behave myself and won't bother you again." Empress Dowager Jiang was so frightened that she almost lost her soul.
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