The battle lines were all concentrated overnight. The elite soldiers of Xi Wan Kingdom broke through the most dangerous Mountain Sword Pass. Like a sharp arrow, they pierced into the hinterland of Beijiang.
Although Xi Wan Kingdom was vast and sparsely populated, the people were ferocious and worshipped martial arts. Compared to Beijiang, which had been peaceful for decades, it was like a lion that had not yet awakened and a lone and powerful wolf king.
Before Zhuo Yu entered the palace, he was also someone who grew up on the battlefield. It was said that he had never been defeated. Every time he went to a place, he would massacre the city. Over time, the children of Beijiang cried at night. As long as their parents said that Zhuo Yu was coming, the children would be so scared that they would not dare to speak.
This time, he did not massacre the city. Instead, he spread the plague everywhere he went.
The sorcery of Xi Wan Kingdom was complex and sinister. Zhuo Yu himself was a master of sorcery. Every time the army passed a city, there would be a plague. Many cities were destroyed because of this.
After a while, many border guards would abandon the city and flee when they heard that the army of Xi Wan Kingdom was coming. Therefore, the battle lines advanced quickly. The hinterland of Beijiang was already in danger.
Jia Ruxu was one of the most respected elders of the late Emperor.
Qianwandi really became the Crown Prince thanks to this old Zhenren's eloquence.
Zhenren Jia could calculate, observe the stars, and calculate the eight trigrams.
The late Emperor believed that he could foresee the future. When Li Ji was still a concubine-born prince fighting on the battlefield, once he returned to the capital, Zhenren Jia pointed at him and said to the late Emperor, "This is a true dragon!"
This sentence was the real reason why the late Emperor decided not to appoint Dongyang Wang Jinyuan and appointed Li Ji.
Because of this sentence, Li Ji had always treated Zhenren Jia as the Emperor's teacher for more than ten years after he ascended the throne. He was respected in the stargazing hall of the inner palace and was a first-rank official.
It could be said that the most important people in the court were the Ding family and the Xia family. However, the most trusted person was Zhenren Jia, who had not cared about worldly affairs for more than ten years.
Right now, Jia Ruxu was quietly looking at the bright yellow silk scroll in front of him. The ink on the scroll was not yet dry. Under the night sky, the stargazing hall exuded a light scent of ink.
When the evil dragon is born, the true dragon should face it.
This was something that Qianwandi had secretly instructed him to do.
In fact, Qianwandi did not really believe in the supernatural, especially in the battlefield. What did the supernatural have to do with a real battle?
In the previous dynasty, there were many cases of countries being destroyed because of superstitious fortune-telling.
But sometimes, these ghosts and gods could be used as excuses for some things. Even if people didn't believe them, they had no choice but to believe them.
Eunuch Zhang, the official seal eunuch who delivered the bright yellow silk scroll, lowered his eyes and said with a face full of smiles, "The emperor's meaning is very clear. It is not a good thing for the crown prince to continue being such a coward … Even though he has set up an imperial grandson in Princess Qinghe's womb, what if the crown prince regains the country? What if the imperial grandson also fails to live up to expectations … From the looks of it, it is better to send the crown prince to the battlefield to gain experience for a few years … It is not that the emperor does not care about the relationship between father and son. The emperor also came from a background of conquering the world. Sending the crown prince to the battlefield right now is not harming him, it is actually loving him …"
If the Crown Prince were to return, then he would be a qualified Crown Prince who had gone through many trials and tribulations. So be it.
If the crown prince unfortunately died for the country, then there would be many princes born of concubines who would be worthy of being nurtured …
Jia Ruchu knew that his divination was actually a kind of tool.
But who was not a tool?
Did he have any other choice?
As an old man who had lived in the depths of the palace for more than a decade, did he have any other choice?
When the evil dragon was born, the real dragon should be used to deal with it … Tomorrow, the imperial court would present the silk, and this would be the result of observing the stars at night … It was impossible for the emperor to personally lead the troops into battle, so who else could be called a real dragon?
Other than the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, who else would be pushed to the front stage?
Jia Ruchu let out a long sigh of relief. He slowly put down the brush and wrapped the bright yellow silk scroll with wax and put it in a secret compartment.
At this time, a soft voice came from outside, "Zhenren, shall I serve tea?"
Zhenren Jia had to drink tea every night and then smoke incense and play the zither before he could sleep. He did not pay too much attention and nodded, "Go ahead."
The eunuch walked over with his head lowered and offered a cup of Laojun Mei.
Jia Ruchu saw that he looked unfamiliar, so he asked casually, "Are you new to the palace?"
The child was about ten years old. He was born with delicate eyebrows and was very beautiful, but his face was full of fear, "I just entered the palace. The chief eunuch said I was clever, so I came to serve Zhenren …"
Zhenren Jia nodded, "Nothing, you don't have to be afraid. I just thought you looked unfamiliar, so I asked.
You may leave. "
The eunuch answered yes, but he did not leave. He just stood there and looked up at him.
Zhenren Jia felt a little strange. He was about to ask what was wrong, but he suddenly felt a wave of sleepiness.
The sleepiness came too fiercely. His eyes quickly blurred. In the haze, the eunuch smiled at him. That smile was unspeakably beautiful and bright.
Then he did not know anything.
When Jia Ruchu woke up, it was already the morning court of the next day. He was awakened by Zhang Kuo and a group of eunuchs, "Zhenren!
Wake up!
His Majesty is waiting for you in the morning court! "
Zhenren Jia was already old. In a hurry, he could not think of any other abnormalities. He quickly took out the memorial from the secret compartment and was carried into the carriage.
He did not know why the memorial was sealed with wax, but he did not care. After all, he was an old man. He had just woken up, so he was still very uncomfortable.
This morning, Qianwandi specially ordered the crown prince to go to court with him. The civil and military officials were divided into two sides. Xia Zheng and Ding Huang stood at the head as the assistant ministers. The entire hall was silent. They watched the white-haired Zhenren Jia go to the hall. He raised the bright yellow silk with both hands, kneeled deeply on the ground and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"
Qianwandi gave a look. Zhang Kuo rushed forward and personally helped Zhenren Jia up, "Zhenren, please rise!"
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Zhenren Jia chuckled, "I do not dare to break the rules in front of the Emperor. As long as I have a breath, I must kowtow … His Majesty is wise. I observed the stars last night and understood the Heavenly Prophecy. I can defeat the unjust army of Xi Wan Kingdom, so I specially came to report to his Majesty …"
Qianwandi showed an appropriate expression of joy, "I have always believed Zhenren's words."
Old people were like this. They were very satisfied with a little praise.
Zhenren Jia stroked his beard and opened the bright yellow silk with satisfaction. He read aloud, "Your Majesty, I saw an ominous star offending Ziwei. There was war and killing, disturbing the peace of the world.
That State Preceptor Zhuo of Xi Wan Kingdom killed too much. Although it was a temporary victory, it will not last long.
Now that the evil dragon has entered the world, only the true phoenix can fight it … "
Zhenren Jia suddenly stopped. He suddenly felt that something was wrong.
Zhang Kuo, who was standing beside him, also changed his expression. In an instant, his face turned pale, as if he had been heavily punched.
Not only Zhang Kuo, but even Qianwandi's expression changed slightly.
Zhenren Jia opened his blurred old eyes and carefully read the words on the bright yellow silk. His tone was full of doubt, "The evil dragon has come into the world, it should be faced with the true … true phoenix …"
He had clearly written the two words' true dragon 'last night. When did it become true phoenix?
Phoenix, the phoenix was referring to the Empress. Did he want the Empress to personally lead the army?
It was ridiculous!
Qianwandi's face was ashen. He was just holding back his anger. His tone was harsh, "Zhenren, is this divination referring to the Empress?
Not to mention that there is no record of a harem woman going to the front line in this dynasty, even in the previous dynasty, only a fatuous ruler would bring a woman to personally lead the army! "
When the ministers saw that the situation was not good, they immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty, please do not compare yourself to a fatuous ruler!" "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent. How can you be compared to the ruler of the previous dynasty?!
… "
Zhang Kuo was more quick-witted. When he saw the situation, he immediately knelt down heavily and said loudly, "Your Majesty!
This servant boldly says that Zhenren Jia's divination may not be clear. Let the old man read it again tonight! "
Some of the ministers reacted and immediately followed the trend, "Your Majesty, please calm down. The divination is not clear. You can read it again!"
"Zhenren is already old. You should be cautious, especially in the art of divination. You must be careful many times before reporting it to the heavens!"
Zhenren Jia stood to the side, not knowing what to do. He watched the crowd kowtow like a wave.
He wanted to say something, but there were so many people who had been rolling in the officialdom for many years. How could they allow him to speak? One by one, they rushed to finish their words. They said it beautifully and impeccably. Even Qianwandi's expression eased.
"So, Zhenren Jia, please read it again.
Speaking of which, mistakes in divination were also something that happened in the previous dynasty. The state's affairs cannot be careless. Zhenren Jia, please work hard again — "
Before he finished speaking, a slightly hoarse and gentle voice of a young man suddenly came from the line of ministers.
"Your Majesty," Shangguan Mingde walked out step by step and stood in the middle of Zhengtai Hall. He calmly looked up and met Qianwandi's eyes, "— This subject thinks that Zhenren Jia's divination is correct."
Zhenren Jia turned his head. Suddenly, it was as if he was struck by lightning. He could not say anything.
He recognized this young man's face. It was the little eunuch who served him tea last night!
It was him!
Mingde did not notice Zhenren Jia's shocked expression at all.
Because now Qianwandi's expression was very ugly. It was so ugly that it looked like he wanted to rush down and slap Zhenren Jia, but he had to resist this desire.
Mingde smiled softly.
This smile was very humble, but for some reason, there was a hint of blood in it. It seemed to be a little fishy, a little evil, but more beautiful.
Qianwandi opened his mouth and wanted to say something. Unexpectedly, Ding Huang could not help but scold, "Lord Shangguan, what nonsense are you talking about?
According to your divination, is the Empress going to personally lead the army? "
Mingde said lightly, "Lord Ding, you are wrong. Does the Phoenix mean the Empress?"
"Lord Shangguan, you are really confused!
Other than the current Empress, who can be called the real Phoenix descending to the world? "
"Lord Ding …"
"Shangguan Mingde!" Qianwandi suddenly knocked over the memorial in his hand. "Go back!"
What he meant was, "Go back to your line."
But Mingde would not listen. If he listened to Li Ji, he would not be Shangguan Mingde.
Ding Huang was shocked by Qianwandi's obvious anger. Before he could say anything, the weak and delicate Young Master Shangguan suddenly refuted fiercely, "Lord Ding, since you are ignorant and inexperienced!
Don't show off your knowledge in the imperial court!
Zhenren Jia was once appointed as the State Preceptor by the late Emperor. How can he be wrong in his divination?
Is Lord Ding doubting the late Emperor's edict again? "
Ding Wan was simply stunned by the explosion.
Shangguan Mingde glanced at him coldly, then turned to the Emperor and took off his court robe from top to bottom.
It was a sky-blue robe with open lapels. In fact, if the belt was slightly untied, the whole robe would easily fall to the ground, like a withered leaf.
Shangguan Mingde stood very close to the front. When the court robe fell to the ground gently, the faces of all the ministers behind him changed.
It was a huge Phoenix Seal.
A complete, clear, golden-red Phoenix Seal that spread its wings and soared.
Zhenren Jia almost fainted. His teeth were trembling, and he could barely speak. "… the Celestial Race … the Phoenix Seal … it is really the Phoenix Seal …"
The legendary Phoenix branch of the Celestial Race, the bloodline that had long been extinct, was still secretly passed down.
Many people had heard of it, but even more people had never heard of it.
The legendary magic had gradually disappeared with the dilution of the bloodline for thousands of years, but the legend was still there. The Phoenix Seal was still there. It was a totem in itself.
A spiritual totem.
He was facing Qianwandi, so Qianwandi could not see the huge mark on Mingde's back from his shoulder blade to the back of his waist. He could only see the young man who was supposed to be curled up in his arms, who belonged to him, with his upper body exposed, standing tall and straight in the middle of the court. Behind him were countless surprised and shocked gazes.
If someone could see Qianwandi's face, it would undoubtedly be very scary.
Zhang Kuo saw it.
As an official eunuch who stood at the peak of power, he knew when to avoid his gaze, and when to closely observe the Emperor's face.
He looked at Qianwandi and suddenly had a wonderful illusion. He felt that if Zhenren Jia asked the Empress to personally lead the army, Qianwandi's face would be better than it was at this moment.
The way he looked at Shangguan Mingde was as if he wanted to eat him alive.
It was so eerie.
When the court was in chaos and Zhenren Jia fainted, the generals felt as if they had been pardoned and almost caused trouble.
In the end, Qianwandi made the final decision. The court was dismissed for today, and they would discuss it tomorrow.
Mingde knelt in the crowd and listened to the man's cold voice that suppressed anger. The corners of his lips slowly rose into a smile.
He was not afraid. He could hide today, but he could not hide from the mouths of the people of the world.
The officials filed down from the gate of Zhengtai Hall. The spring breeze on the nine jade steps was warm.
Perhaps the wind at the border was still cold, like a knife cut by strong wine.
But it was also a kind of mellow, pain with freedom.
Mingde walked down the jade steps. Suddenly, a hand reached out from beside him. Zhang Kuo bent down deeply and blocked in front of him.
"Young Master Mingde, the Emperor, he … is waiting for you in the imperial study …"