The old emperor turned his head with great effort, his gaze fixed on the window. A blush crept into his haggard face, and his eyes became clear for a moment. "Noon?"
"Ah..." He let out a long breath and said weakly, "Mu'er was born at noon. The people at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau said that he has a strong yang energy and a fierce fate, which means he has an extremely bad fate."
Lan Shuang twitched her lips, "Your Majesty, why did you suddenly think of this?"
"Do you think he would offend the gods if he went up to the altar?"
The time has come, and the old emperor started to worry about this again.
Lan Shuang's respectful expression vanished, and she stood beside the bed, lowering her eyes to glance at him and said calmly, "Instead of worrying about the vague gods, Your Majesty should worry about yourself. It's like a clay Buddha crossing a river, and you can't save yourself."
The old emperor's eyes suddenly widened, his breath stuck in his throat, and he began to cough violently: "You...what do you mean?!"
Lan Shuang's lips curled slightly, her smile icy, her tone vague, "The auspicious time has arrived. Is Your Majesty ready to set off?"
The old emperor opened his mouth in fear.
…
Jiang Mu left the princess's mansion with Xu Yunzhou accompanying him. This time, he changed his usual elegant attire of wide robes and sleeves and put on a black suit with narrow sleeves. He held a short knife in his hand and had a stern look on his face.
They got on the sedan chair and headed straight for the south of the city.
"Princess Anguo has arrived—"
The eunuch's sharp voice pierced through the clouds, instantly suppressing the ministers' discussions, and everyone turned to look.
The carriage stopped outside the archway, and Jiang Mu held Xu Yunzhou's hand and walked down from the sedan chair.
He was wearing a palace dress with a black background and red edges, which made his face look frosty. The phoenix crown with pearls swayed gently as he walked, which was very eye-catching.
The long skirt dragged behind her, and on it was a golden phoenix flapping its wings, raising its neck and singing loudly, looking very lifelike. Although it was obviously a dead object, everyone seemed to hear the phoenix's cry coming from the sky.
The Jinyiwei followed closely behind and escorted her to the altar. Jiang Mu did not look away the whole time.
When she stood still on the platform, the eunuch Sanxi shook his head and said, "Bow—"
Everyone came back to their senses and knelt down and shouted: "Long live the princess, long live the princess, long live the princess—"
Jiang Mu smiled faintly, raised his hands in front of him, and said loudly: "Stand up."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"The auspicious time has arrived. Princess Anguo, please wash your hands, light incense, and pray."
At Sanxi's command, the palace maids in white came forward one by one, holding jade basins and handkerchiefs. Jiang Mu was about to put his hand in when he heard a sharp shout from below: "Wait!"
The sound was so sudden, like thunderclap out of nowhere, that it frightened the ministers so much that their hearts trembled. Their first reaction was: Here it comes!
The sound of horse hooves came from afar, galloping closer. Soon, a group of people broke through the defense line of the royal guards at the door and rushed in. The leader was wearing silver armor and had an arrogant look on his face. He was the second prince's cousin. He used to be a deputy general in the Kyoto camp, but was later demoted because of the second prince's involvement. Now it seems that he is about to rebel.
"Sun Changyi, what are you doing? Leading troops to trespass into the Heavenly Altar, are you trying to save your life?"
The prime minister was the first to stand up and point at Sun Changyi and question him.
Sun Changyi sneered disdainfully, "You want to live? What kind of life do you want to live with a eunuch and a woman riding on your head?"
"you--"
The Prime Minister's eyes widened as he looked at the group of men behind him, their faces suddenly changing as he thought of something. "Are you being ordered by the Second Prince? Where is the Second Prince?"
"Your Highness has naturally led his troops into the palace to purge the emperor's court."
Sun Changyi was riding on his horse, looking very majestic. He raised his sword and pointed it at Jiang Mu on the high platform, saying frivolously, "Princess, if you know what's good for you, come down now and surrender. We will naturally not do anything to you, but if you resist stubbornly, don't blame us for being merciless."
As he spoke, his eyes swept across Jiang Mu with ill intent, as if he was peeking at the scenery underneath through the thick palace dress.
Xu Yunzhou took a step forward, flicked his thumb, and unsheathed his dagger, pointing it directly at Sun Changyi. "How dare you."
Sun Changyi didn't even look at him. "Who do you think you are? Come here—corral this place. Before the purge of the court is complete, the grievances have to stay here for a while. When the Second Prince ascends the throne, he will come to preside over the sacrifice."
The soldiers from the Kyoto camp he brought with him immediately ran in.
"Stop! Anyone who dares to take another step will be charged with treason!"
Jiang Mu suddenly spoke, her eyes as sharp as a knife. The soldiers who rushed in couldn't help but pause, not daring to look her in the eye.
Sun Changyi frowned: "Why, what does the princess want to do?"
Jiang Mu didn't answer. He looked around and suddenly raised his arm and shouted, "Come on, take down these traitors!"
Sun Changyi was startled and looked around quickly, but he didn't see anyone.
He snorted coldly, "Princess, don't bluff. Everyone in the Kyoto camp is under my control. Who else can you mobilize?"
"Yeah?"
Jiang Mu chuckled and slowly pulled out a golden hairpin from his head. His unrestrained black hair immediately fell all over his shoulders and danced lightly in the wind.
He pinched it between two fingers, threw it backhandedly and quickly, accurately and fiercely, and before anyone could react, it went straight into Sun Changyi's throat.
Sun Changyi's eyes widened, and he covered his neck in disbelief, "Hehe..."
Just as he was about to say something, his body tilted and he fell off the horse.
The person who was still shouting the moment before died with his eyes open the next moment, and everyone was shocked.
"this……"
"This is the fate of disobeying the Lord. Anyone else want to try it?"
Jiang Mu walked down the altar step by step, took off the phoenix crown on his head as he walked, and casually threw it to the ground. His long black hair fluttered in the wind, and with the clothes he was wearing, he looked like a ghost crawling out of hell to take his life. No one dared to approach him.
When passing by Xu Yunzhou, Xu Yunzhou knelt on one knee, respectfully presented the dagger with both hands, and said loudly: "Please, Grand Prince——"
"What?"
"What!"
Exclamations came one after another, and for a moment all the civil and military officials thought there was something wrong with their ears.
Jiang Mu raised his hand and pulled, and the fiery red belt rose and fell in the wind, finally landing together with the palace dress, revealing his snow-white robe underneath.
She has a flat chest, an upright posture, an indifferent and dignified look in her eyes, and not a trace of tenderness.
The ministers were greatly shocked and remained speechless for a long time.
Jiang Mu held the dagger horizontally in front of him and said in a cold voice: "Those who surrender will be forgiven, and those who resist will have their entire clan destroyed."
As soon as the words fell, the ground suddenly shook.
"What's going on?"
"Looks like a herd of horses?"
A moment later, a group of heavily armored soldiers stopped outside the altar, and archers rushed in and lined up in a row, aiming at the people inside.
A burly, dark-faced general strode over. His eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Mu. "General Zang Lan leads an army of 10,000 to help Your Highness quell the rebellion!"
Jiang Mu nodded slightly: "How is the palace?"
Zang Lan said, "Lieutenant General Liu has brought 10,000 soldiers to block the way."
"good."
Jiang Mu finally smiled and said, "Quick and decisive."
"yes!"
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