Who are these people?!
Huangfu Rong immediately flew into a rage, smashing the mirror in front of him with a punch, and then he was plunged into endless unease and panic.
He now completely believes what the old imperial advisor said back then.
A goddess descends to earth to protect all living beings; whoever obtains the goddess will rule the world.
He used to scoff at those words, but now, with facts unfolding before him, he has no choice but to believe them.
After leaving Jin Shu, his health deteriorated day by day, and he seemed to have lost his backbone, remaining in a daze all day long.
Just then, Liang Qingqing pushed the door open and came in.
These past few days she has been helping Huangfu Rong handle state affairs; strictly speaking, it's no longer just helping, but she has directly taken over his role as regent.
Anyway, Huangfu Rong is in poor health now and always looks sleepy. Even if Liang Qingqing helps him handle one or two important matters in the court, he won't notice.
"Huangfu, are you really going to host a banquet for the surrounding small countries? I think it's completely unnecessary. Why bother testing their attitude? The Northern Kingdom is already so arrogant. As a major power in the Central Plains, shouldn't we just send troops to teach them a lesson?"
"So what? Just attack? You're oversimplifying things!"
Liang Qingqing was unconvinced.
“You always look down on me, saying I don’t understand politics or military strategy, but have you ever thought that without me, we wouldn’t be where we are today?”
"Shut up!"
“Huangfu, you’ve changed. You’ve changed so much I don’t recognize you. You are the ruler of the world, and you are destined to unify the world! I’m here to help you. If we join forces, we will definitely be able to help the Great Zhou pacify the world. You have to believe me.”
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Rong couldn't help but sneer repeatedly.
"Liang Qingqing, your medicine killed so many of my civilians and soldiers back then. I didn't hold it against you because of our past relationship. Now, where do you get the audacity to continue spouting nonsense in front of me?!"
"You're still blaming me for this! Did I want all of this to happen? I said I'd rather die than make up for it! But what good would my death do? I couldn't bring back so many lives, so I've suffered so much these past few days. I've already been punished, Huangfu! What more do you want from me!"
Liang Qingqing didn't understand why he was so fixated on this matter!
She didn't do it on purpose; everything she did was just to help him consolidate his power!
Huangfu Rong was no longer willing to listen to this kind of talk.
He knew Liang Qingqing hadn't done it on purpose, but now that things had come to this, he dared not believe her anymore.
"From now on, you should no longer interfere in matters of the court. Just do your job as the mistress of the harem."
"Huangfu, you'll regret this sooner or later."
"I already regret it!"
If only I hadn't driven Jin Shu away back then! If I had kept her, I would still be the invincible and poison-resistant Huangfu Rong I once was!
But it's too late to say all this now.
Jin Shu has declared herself queen, and those former officials who were banished from the Great Zhou have now become her enemies!
Huangfu Rong regretted it; he should have just killed those people! That would have saved those treacherous wolves from turning around and biting him now!
Overwhelmed with remorse and regret, Huangfu Rong struggled to breathe for a long time. In the end, he coughed up blood, his vision went black, and he fainted from anger.
Soon, news that the Great Zhou had invited the monarchs of neighboring countries to a banquet in the palace reached Jin Shu.
Before Zhou Yinghuai could tear up the letter, Jin Shu stopped him.
"No need to tear it up. They meant well, and we can't let them down."
"Your Majesty, are you planning to attend the Feast at Hongmen hosted by the Great Zhou?"
This time, the Great Zhou clearly came with ill intentions, undoubtedly to demonstrate their power, and it's quite clear who they're targeting.
Zhou Yinghuai and the Right Chancellor both disagreed with Jin Shu taking this risk.
Once you enter the imperial palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it's not easy to leave unscathed.
"It's alright, let's go take a look. Don't worry, they won't be stupid enough to directly break ties with us."
"What's the point of going?"
They didn't understand, what was there left for the Great Zhou to cherish?
Not to mention, Jin Shu isn't the type of person who would be eager to show off after gaining power.
Compared to that, she preferred to lead her army directly to the very foundations of the enemy's capital.
"There are many good things in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace."
"We don't need those things anymore."
It's no use being envious of others; the important thing is to seize the time to strengthen our own national power.
Jin Shu waved her hand.
With hundreds of years of history and the wealth accumulated by four emperors, how much money did the Great Zhou Dynasty make over the years from that coal mine? And how many treasures did it collect from the tributes of its vassal states?
Thinking about all this, Jin Shu couldn't wait any longer.
Finally, Zhou Yinghuai and the Right Chancellor discussed the matter and decided to leave one of them to oversee the administration of the country. In the end, the Right Chancellor was chosen because he was more familiar with the politics of the Northern Kingdom.
Zhou Yinghuai and Jin Shu went together, accompanied by three thousand elite cavalry and hundreds of guards for protection.
Zhou Yinghuai remained quiet throughout the journey, only lifting the curtain to peek outside when the carriages entered the capital.
"The capital city hasn't changed at all."
He rode this very road when he achieved the highest score in the imperial examination.
That year, he was full of vigor and vowed that he would dedicate himself to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
But before long, he found himself a subject of another country.
"I heard that the rulers of the Mongol and Jin kingdoms from the northern frontier have also come this time."
Jin Shu nodded, looking at the street outside.
A strange, indescribable sadness and loneliness welled up in my heart.
These are some of the original owner's remaining regrets. At the foot of the capital city is the place she was most familiar with when she was a child. The Marquis's mansion is nearby. In order to make it easier for her to enter the palace, the late emperor specially bestowed the most prosperous mansion on the edge of the imperial city upon the Marquis.
Jin Shu suppressed the hatred that was hidden deep in her bones.
She could understand the original owner's resentment and despair, so she had another purpose in coming here this time: to resolve the regrets left behind by the original owner before her death.
This time, they were coming to the capital as a vassal state. When the northern carriages arrived, the road leading to the palace was already packed with carriages from other countries.
More than a dozen vassal states came to Beijing this time, so the scene of them queuing to enter the palace gate was quite spectacular. Zhou Yinghuai, who was waiting at the back, looked at the tall palace gate and the deep walls in front of him, and a resolute look flashed across his face.
Jin Shu saw through his thoughts.
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. What you're thinking about will come true soon."
Zhou Yinghuai is always the first to respond to and support whatever Jin Shu says.
"With you here, I know that all of this is not far off."
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