Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 774 - 638 Return to the Teacher 3_3

Chapter 774: Chapter 638 Return to the Teacher 3_3

However, just over half a year ago, the Temple of Heaven was severely damaged by a scheme from Master Zhongliu, and to this day it has not been fully repaired.

Lin Youzhen, the Qing of Taichang Temple, also has an imperial decree from the True Emperor Zhengtong, written under the "Emperor’s Treasure of Heaven".

This True Emperor had merely "abdicated", his imperial throne was not stripped away, it was still recognized by the Grand Temple of the Jin Dynasty and also accepted by the Dragon Qi of the Jin Dynasty.

Thus, when Lin Youzhen, the Qing of Taichang Temple, stepped into the Temple of Heaven, the surrounding Dragon Qi had no reaction.

Sitting in the Temple of Heaven, Hu Ying showed surprise in his eyes: "Lin Youzhen? How did you get in!"

He had just noticed the changes in the capital city and was preparing to manipulate the Dragon Qi here to kill the rebels. However, the arrival of Lin Youzhen forced him to divert his attention to his colleague.

"By the order of Your Majesty!" Lin Youzhen raised the imperial decree in his hand: "From this moment on, I, Lin, will take charge of the Temple of Heaven and Earth."

"Your Majesty? Whose order are you following?" Hu Ying, the Minister of Rites, had a cold expression and anger in his eyes: "Are you referring to the True Emperor? Is there a rebellion in the capital city today? Is the True Emperor planning another coup d’etat? Have you, Lin Youzhen, also participated in it? Lin Youzhen, you scoundrel, His Majesty has been kind to you!"

Lin Youzhen just chuckled, somewhat sarcastically: "The actions I have taken are merely to correct the errors and restore the imperial administration. Minister Hu, in the past, you also defended the Empress Dowager, the True Emperor, and the Crown Prince, preventing them from being harmed by the evil Emperor.

Now that the True Emperor has returned to the throne, Minister Hu, you should support him wholeheartedly. The True Emperor has always remembered your kindness and admires your character. If Minister Hu can help the True Emperor to alter fate, there will be rewards of nobility in the future."

He was well aware that Emperor Jingtai was quite favorable to him. Back in the time of the Tumu Fort Incident, he was the first minister to suggest that the court move south to escape the capital.

Emperor Jingtai did not kill him for this, he was just demoted to a local post.

Later, when Emperor Jingtai found that he was effective in controlling floods and agreed to depose the Crown Prince, he was called back to the capital city and served as the deputy Zuodu Yushi.

Originally, Lin Youzhen’s career was bright, but it fell to the bottom due to his involvement in the Dali Temple case led by Li Xuan a year ago.

Although the Qing of Taichang Temple is also a minor ninth officer, compared to the deputy Zuodu Yushi, the gap is beyond calculation.

Lin Youzhen knew that his career during Emperor Jingtai’s reign was cut short, and if the imperial grandson ascended to the throne in the future, his hope would also be bleak.

Hu Ying, however, was so angry that his hair stood on end. He was unable to contain his rage: "All I regret now is that in those days I did not advise the Emperor to eliminate you traitors who bring disaster upon the nation."

He pointed his finger and countless Dragon Qi converged and bombarded towards Lin Youzhen.

Lin Youzhen, however, remained calm. He opened the imperial decree and twirled it around his body, then took out something from his sleeve and held it in his hand.

The Dragon Qi manipulated by Hu Ying surrounded Lin Youzhen, turning into the form of golden dragons trying to bite him, but ultimately could not shake Lin Youzhen at all.

Hu Ying was slightly stunned when he saw this: "The Zhenyuan Kai of Tai Zong, how did it end up in your hands?"

This was the immortal artifact Tai Zong carried with him when he was still the King of Yan, and each time he went to the court he held this Kai.

After Tai Zong had successfully seized power, this Zhenyuan Kai imbued with Dragon Qi became even more extraordinary. Later this artifact was kept in the Grand Temple of the Jin Dynasty, regarded as a national treasure.

Hu Ying noticed that fresh blood was smeared on the "Zhenyuan Kai of Tai Zong".

He did not know whose pure essence blood of the direct royal descendants this was, which allowed Lin Youzhen to briefly control this artifact.

But what made Hu Ying even more upset was that Lin Youzhen then took out Tai Zong’s tablet from his sleeve and held it against his chest.

"This was gifted by the Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshan, who has served as the Dazongzheng for decades, it’s very easy for him to get these things from the Grand Temple."

Lin Youzhen calmly responded with a smile, "Minister Hu, you hold a heavenly level position and are here at the Temple of Heaven by imperial decree. Do you think I would dare to come in recklessly without ample preparation?"

Lin Youzhen did not mind dragging time by talking more, because he knew very well that he was actually incapable of defeating Hu Ying.

His mission was merely to stall Hu Ying, so that this man would not have the chance to interfere in the palace coup.

Lin Youzhen brought the tablet of the late Emperor Tai of Jin Dynasty here to dissuade Hu Ying from acting rashly.

The imperial decree and the ’Emperor Tai Zhenyuan Seal’ in his hand had enough power to interfere with the Dragon Qi of the Temple of Heaven, rendering it inoperative.

Once the situation of the True Emperor was settled, a single decree could force Hu Ying to surrender.

Hu Ying’s face was cold: "You’ve also colluded with Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshan?"

"I wouldn’t call it a collusion." Lin Youzhen said, shaking his head: "Prince Xiang saw the light and for the sake of his descendants and titles, he was willing to help Your Majesty rectify the source and reclaim the throne. So not only did he help us obtain this ’Emperor Tai Zhenyuan Seal’, he also promised to assist Liang Heng in opening the ’Wu Gate’."

Cao Jixiang and Liang Heng had no way with ’Wu Gate’, but Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshan, who had been operating in the Capital City for decades, had agents planted among the five military camps.

Hu Ying instantly looked in the direction of the Forbidden City.

He saw that the ’Wu Gate’ of the palace had been flung open, and under the leadership of Liang Heng, countless Jingying soldiers were rushing in like a tide.

※※※※

Inside the Forbidden City, Liang Heng had stormed the Wu Gate like cutting bamboo, and swept through the Wenhua Palace ruled by Yu Hongchang as the Regent.

Unfortunately, Yu Hongchang had already retreated to Qianqing Palace, without leaving a single palace attendant behind.

Nevertheless, Liang Heng could barely contain his excitement. As he saw it, Yu Hongchang and Emperor Jingtai, now only able to retreat to Qianqing Palace, wouldn’t last long.

Without interference from outside forces, eventually capturing Qianqing Palace was just a matter of time.

Even if they could not capture it temporarily, it didn’t matter. As long as they blockaded Qianqing Palace, True Emperor Zhengtong would be able to command the court officials and ascend the throne again!

Liang Heng then strode like a shooting star to welcome True Emperor Zhengtong in front of the Wu Gate.

Emperor Zhengtong indeed highly valued his close relationship with him. Not only did he personally help him up from the ground, but he also personally offered a cup of fine wine to Liang Heng and toasted with him.

"Today, I can see the light of day again and ascend to the throne again, all thanks to Minister Liang’s efforts. I swear here that as long as I can regain the throne, I and my descendants will swear to protect Minister Liang’s family as hereditary nobles, inheritor of the land and mountains, and live in wealth and honor, generation after generation."

At this time, Empress Sun had also escaped. She had previously been held under house arrest by ’Xuanchenzi’ in Renshou Palace and couldn’t move.

But when Liang Heng stormed into the Forbidden City, Yu Hongchang could no longer control her.

Empress Sun also nodded in approval: "Thanks to Minister Liang for his loyalty to the country, otherwise, the Emperor and I would have surely fallen into the hands of Yu Qiyu. Your Majesty, you should reward him heavily, don’t neglect a loyal minister."

Liang Heng’s face was flush with excitement, overwhelmed.

In the past, he would have lost his head, but now, after being knocked down by Li Xuan a few times, Liang Heng’s temperament had become much more restrained: "Why would Your Majesty and the Empress say such things? This is all part of Liang’s duty."

Emperor Zhengtong nodded slightly, looking even more pleased. He then looked towards the depth of the palace: "General Liang, when do you think we can capture Qianqing Palace?"

"This won’t be easy!" Without any hesitation, Liang Heng saluted: "However, Your Majesty, if you could grant me ten heavenly level warriors and fifty thousand troops, then within three days at most, I can capture Qianqing Palace!"

Emperor Zhengtong thought for a moment. Considering the six Darkdragon Guards in the palace plus the ten heavenly level warriors, they should be able to come up with them.

Additionally, they also had the backing of Jinque Palace.

Just as Emperor Zhengtong was about to consent, his confidant, Xiuyiwei Xiaowei Yuan Bin, hurried over.

His face was pale as a sheet. He said softly, "Your Majesty, the Empress, Chengde has sent a message, saying that Marquis of Guanjun Li Xuan has in Chengde Qiuhu Office, annihilated over seventy thousand Evil Spirit Corpses controlled by the Empress of Liao Shulv Ping with his hundred thousand army. And the Shenji Camp on our side has suffered negligible loss, with less than a thousand casualties."

At this moment, Emperor Zhengtong, Empress Sun, and General Liang Heng on the scene all changed their expressions, disbelieving.