Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 209: Golden-eyed Divine Nightingale

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Golden-eyed Divine Nightingale

Nezha never neglected his cultivation, and Jiang Ziya’s ’cultivation’ was never relaxed either.

Ever since Ji Fa recruited him, he was granted the title of Senior Minister, and even his newly accepted disciple Wu Ji from Panxi was appointed a military deputy general.

After becoming an official, he naturally moved his residence.

The current house was a manor awarded by King Wen, neither big nor small, just matching the official regulations.

After coming here, King Wen had visited him, and the Princely Heir Bo Yikao had also come to see him.

But the most frequent visitor was still King Wen’s second son, Ji Fa.

With Jiang Ziya’s wisdom, he could certainly see Ji Fa’s intentions, but he thought King Wen’s son might be too foolish.

In less than half a month, he had sent gifts three times.

The first was a box of jewels; Jiang Ziya accepted them the first time, feeling embarrassed to refuse, but the next day at court, there were rumors.

The second time, it was three hundred bolts of silk. Learning from the previous experience, he politely refused this time.

He thought Ji Fa would restrain himself for a while, but within days, he sent over three beautiful maidservants.

The youngest of these maidservants was only fourteen, the oldest merely sixteen.

Their looks could be described as mesmerizingly beautiful, making even the ascetic Jiang Ziya feel a pang of mortal desire.

He thought to himself, "Such beautiful girls, why not keep them for your own enjoyment behind closed doors?"

"Why force them upon me?"

Just as Jiang Ziya was thinking of refusing again, the three girls knelt down together and tearfully pleaded:

They begged Doctor Jiang to accept them, saying that Young Master Ji Fa had declared if the Senior Minister didn’t take them in, it would only show they were unsightly and useless, and the young master’s mansion wouldn’t take them back, but would sell them to a brothel.

Jiang Ziya was furious but, calming down, asked, "Are there brothels in Xiqi too?"

The reply was that there were none openly, but there were secretly.

Indeed, anywhere there was an absence of such businesses, someone would naturally fill the void.

So Jiang Ziya took them into his residence.

But just taking them in wasn’t a solution, so he went to the back courtyard to find Lv Ping to explain that he had taken them in not out of lust but out of compassion.

He thought Lv Ping would surely understand.

Because, in his mind, Lv Ping was different from Ma Shi.

Or rather, they couldn’t be compared at all; Lv Ping was far superior to Ma Shi.

She was not only beautiful, intelligent, considerate, and caring but also understood a man’s heart.

But when he explained the matter to Lv Ping, though she didn’t scold him, she coldly called him a fool.

Jiang Ziya didn’t understand; when Lv Ping explained it to him, he finally realized:

He had been tricked by that brat Ji Fa.

King Wen, one of the four major feudal lords in the world, was reputedly the most powerful.

One day, when he raised his banner, all would surely respond, making the position of the heir highly significant.

King Wen had a hundred sons.

The Princely Heir Bo Yikao was benevolent, and the second son Ji Fa was scheming.

The court ministers, unable to remain neutral, had started choosing sides, with Bo Yikao’s faction currently holding the advantage.

Jiang Ziya’s actions had almost stated openly that he was on Ji Fa’s side.

"No wonder Bo Yikao never came back after those two visits," Jiang Ziya said ruefully.

Bo Yikao was kind and wise, well-read and reasonable, and Jiang Ziya liked him, feeling a sense of meeting a kindred spirit during their two conversations.

Never having held a high office, Jiang Ziya hadn’t anticipated finding himself in such a predicament because of a single slip.

But after being scolded by Lv Ping, he thought it through and neither felt angry nor worried.

Jiang Ziya knew these were minor issues.

The Divine Enthronement War was a significant matter jointly decided by the Three Sects and couldn’t afford any mishaps. Regardless of who would take on great responsibilities in the future, he would lead the forces in Xiqi, align with the divine mandate, and campaign against Chengtang.

Moreover, he hadn’t just been fishing in Panxi; after observing the conditions in Xiqi, he had numerous strategies for governing in his heart.

He didn’t bother with who would rule Xiqi in the future, only wishing to fulfill his aspirations. He thought of visiting King Wen tonight to discuss his plans by candlelight.

The wheels of history continued on their grand path, Jiang Ziya thought, but he hadn’t anticipated that his and Nezha’s past actions were like stones and pits blocking this path, subtly altering its course.

Far away in Zhaoge.

Day and night, when Daji awoke, seeing King Zhou, his appearance greatly unimpressive and unappealing.

Folks, though King Zhou had the bearing of an emperor, he was daily indulgent in wine and women, his desires draining his vigor, making him haggard and increasingly impotent in the chamber.

During such times, Daji would think of her lover Bo Yikao, with his full-moon-like face and elegant demeanor.

Recalling those passionate nights, she couldn’t help but feel affectionate, yet remembering his betrayal to escape Zhaoge using her, she wished to tear him apart.

As King Zhou awoke, in the moonlight, seeing Daji’s voluptuous figure, he grew lustful and turned over to press on her.

"Beauty, why aren’t you sleeping yet?"

"Your Majesty, I’m worried about your kingdom and can’t sleep... Ah, Your Majesty, gentler!"

King Zhou laughed, spreading Daji’s long, beautiful legs, then thrust forward and asked, "At the shores of the North Sea, Master Wen’s victories are frequent, and at the Three Mountain Pass, Deng Jiugong has recently won great battles continuously. My kingdom is as stable as Mount Tai. What is there to worry about?"

Daji lowered her head and, from that angle, could only see King Zhou’s bulging belly moving back and forth, making her even more annoyed.

She said, "Your Majesty, though Master Wen is unparalleled in valor and the Demon Race of the North Sea, suppressed by the Chan Sect for thousands of years, poses no great threat, and the Three Mountain Pass is not of concern either. In my opinion, the greatest threat to the kingdom now is Duke Ji Chang of Xibo!"

King Zhou, lifting Daji’s legs onto his shoulders, playing with her little feet, said, "Duke Ji Chang of Xibo? Haha, beauty, you mentioned before that Ji Chang is loyal and righteous, persuading me to forgive him. Now you’re saying he has rebellious intentions."

"Your Majesty doesn’t understand; since ancient times, human hearts are hard to gauge. People may follow outwardly but betray inwardly, and one can know the exterior but not the interior, know the interior but not the heart. Ji Chang appears loyal but harbors treachery, even deceiving me."

Hearing this, King Zhou quivered, finishing quickly. Previously indulging in pleasure, he now felt backache as he lay down.

Feeling annoyed, he said, "Previously, the garrison commander of Sishui Pass, Han Rong, had also sent a document, stating Ji Chang had ceremoniously invited Jiang Shang to serve as an official, signaling great ambition."

Seeing King Zhou worried, Daji, knowing his suspicious nature, recognized that Xiqi’s doom was imminent, requiring just a pretext to strike, and so she fell silent.

The royal couple said no more that night.

Time flew, winter passed, and as spring began in March, the peonies in the Imperial Garden bloomed. King Zhou ordered all officials to enjoy the flowers together, celebrating with his ministers.

At Peony Pavilion, concubines came and went, while in the Peony Courtyard, palace maidens strolled leisurely. Golden bridges reflected in green water, and Hai Tang flowers swayed in the light breeze. Brick walls were neatly built, and white stone paths paved the way.

After viewing the flowers, officials followed the emperor into the Peony Pavilion, where a nine-dragon adorned banquet was laid, and civil and military officials sat in order, observing protocol.

King Zhou, however, accompanied Su Daji and several concubines, drinking in the Imperial Book Pavilion.

Drinking merrily, King Zhou soon forgot his worries, drinking from morning till night. Seeing Daji intoxicated on the Dragon Couch, he went downstairs to personally accompany the officials.

When he arrived, officials, though dizzy from drink, dared not leave and continued the revelry.

Near the third watch, Daji awoke in the Imperial Book Pavilion, yawned, revealing her true form, and flew downstairs on a demonic cloud, seeking someone to satisfy her taste.

Instantly, demonic clouds enveloped the Imperial Garden, and fierce winds rose!

King Zhou remained composed, but the officials were filled with unease and suspicion.

Soon, palace maids outside screamed, "Run, there’s a monster!"

Upon hearing this, the garden erupted in chaos, with a group of guards rushing to protect King Zhou.

Huang Feihu, the nation’s Martial King, though drunk, immediately rose, stepping forward and instinctively reaching for his sword, only to grasp at air.

Alas, he was at the emperor’s banquet, how could he carry a sword?

He also possessed the Dragon and Tiger Power and, recently aided by Jie Sect cultivators, had developed a pair of Heavenly Eyes. Looking closely, he indeed saw a monster emerging from the dark wind:

Its eyes shone like golden lamps, its body peculiar, with a long tail, sharp claws, and a short frame. Pouncing like a mountain tiger, its presence filled with a strong odor.

"A fox!"

Feeling reassured, Huang Feihu commanded, "Fetch the Golden-eyed Divine Nightingale from the North Sea!"

Attendants hurried to open the cage, releasing the divine bird, whose luminous eyes could subdue demons.

With one claw, the golden-eyed divine nightingale made the fox demon shriek, turning into a wisp of green smoke and vanishing beneath a Taihu Stone.

Seeing this, King Zhou ordered the stone to be excavated.

Digging just a few feet, they uncovered countless human skeletons, all victims devoured by Daji, terrifying the onlookers.

King Zhou thought:

"Advisors often wrote, ’Demonic aura pervades the palace, portending disasters across the land,’ and it’s true."

...

The golden-eyed divine nightingale wounded Su Daji, making her bear a grudge against Huang Feihu. She cursed:

"I never provoked you, yet you harm me! Fine, we need an excuse to campaign against Xiqi, and tomorrow you’ll be the scapegoat! Sacrificing a nation’s Martial King to regain my elegant lover is a good bargain!"

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