Peace Order
Chapter 406 - 171: Back in the day, I was like a tiger, riding with golden spears and iron horses, my aura swallowing Wan Li!_3

Chapter 406: Chapter 171: Back in the day, I was like a tiger, riding with golden spears and iron horses, my aura swallowing Wan Li!_3

Yesterday’s storm had cleared the air, and the common folk had already begun their daily routines as the palace gates swung open. Both the Martial World and the citizens flocked to the Imperial Palace to participate in the once-a-decade grand ceremony. Jiang Yuan from Ying Country reached the palace, and the sight that met his eyes was the ever-familiar Imperial Palace of Chen Country.

Majestic, quiet, lavish, and splendid.

The imperial guard, eunuchs, and maids were all in perfect order.

Emperor Chen, Chen Dingye, walked leisurely among them, unflustered.

Jiang Yuan felt a mix of admiration and shock, and suddenly he sighed, unable to hold back, "Is this the authority of an Emperor? One fury to bring death upon the land, here slaughter and there nonchalant feasting, drinking at ease only to return as if nothing had ever happened."

"It seems as if nothing is impossible."

"A true man should be just like this."

At that moment, Jiang Yuan suddenly saw the Crown Prince of Chen Country, Wen Mian, standing in front of the palace, clad in armor, his body marked with black stains as if he had struggled out of a fire pit. The usually cold and proud enemy prince looked utterly disheartened.

Chen Dingye frowned slightly, then relaxed his brow: "Wen Mian, today is an important event. How is it fitting for you to appear unrobed and informal, tarnishing the imperial dignity?"

"If this persists, how shall I entrust the nation to you?"

Yet Wen Mian still managed to suppress his overwhelming grief.

He gritted his teeth and agreed, then, as the Emperor was about to change his crown, said, "Father Emperor."

"Mother, she... has died..."

As Wen Mian spoke those words, it seemed as if the bones were being pulled out of his body.

The seventeen-year-old youth, for whom the death of his parents was like the sky collapsing, almost instinctively sought help from his father. The Emperor continued his actions, only saying, "She was always devout to Buddha, who promises ascension to Western Heaven after death."

"Died in the royal family."

"Asks for nothing more."

The last spark in Wen Mian’s eyes extinguished.

Chen Dingye rose to his feet, brushed his sleeve, and said, "Hurry and change into your court dress."

"Do not delay the great affairs of the state."

"The matter of the Empress should remain secret for now, do not darken the family and the state."

Soon, the first part of Chen Country’s grand ceremony had been completed, and the original Imperial Path had been cleared, allowing the common folk to watch, many of whom streamed in, restrained yet excited to witness such a grand spectacle that appeared only once every decade.

Martial World members also arrived, but this time they had been disarmed. Some left, but others didn’t mind and were truly there to watch the excitement, like the Guest Elder Tu Shengyuan from The World’s First Building.

This gentleman brought a pen along as he entered, looking around sharply, sensing the scent of blood. Thinking of the tumult in the Martial World, he merely sighed, "The Martial World, the world, truly chaotic, truly messy."

The Emperor of Chen Country changed into his court dress.

It was the twelve-crown robe, dressed in black clothes, yellow skirts, white silk belt, yellow knee covers, plain silk inner robe, red shoes, designs of sun, moon, Dragon Pattern embroidered on the shoulder, stars and mountains on the back, fire and floral patterns on the sleeves, with many elaborate decorations, the imperial dignity clearly displayed.

All the splendid items of the Imperial Palace shone over the land, and the Imperial Army Guards held their weapons.

Just behind Chen Dingye, there stretched a procession of thirty-six thousand men from the Yellow Banner, covering the field with banners and carriages, the Empress’ escort, and officials in ceremonial attire, all to ensure a grand spectacle. The commoners had never seen such an array and were all dazed, feeling as if they were witnessing deities from heaven.

Yet a creeping fear shyly rose in their hearts.

Chen Dingye was full of pride and satisfaction.

And just then, one of his most trusted generals, Gu Daohui, carrying a box, strode forward, knelt respectfully, and raised it, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, I have found something in the Underground Palace, the severed head of your most esteemed enemy."

"I bring it to you."

"On this most grand occasion of our nation, presenting the severed head of such an enemy is the greatest gift your subject can offer you, wishing you an everlasting life!"

Chen Dingye smiled and reached out to take it.

The box opened to reveal nothing inside.

Even Emperor Chen had a moment of slight astonishment. In the next moment, Gu Daohui’s aura violently erupted. A short sword suddenly appeared in his hand, cold and menacing like a crazed tiger as he pounced toward the Emperor.

No one had expected this turn of events, no one suspected that Gu Daohui would do such a thing, having personally killed three of his fellow comrades to replace their heads with his and secure the position of Jinwu Guard General.

With twenty-four generals under the Taiping Duke, experienced in life and death, how could such a person be traitorous, who would believe him?

He became a truly, absolutely solitary official.

Which is why Chen Dingye could believe in him.

That’s why he was made the Commander of the Imperial Guard. And now, after ten years of accumulation, it finally erupted in a moment. Gu Daohui recklessly charged, within five steps, the short sword pierced directly through the Emperor’s abdomen, a scene always remembered by this famed general, now replayed before his eyes.

’Only by becoming a solitary official can one hope for revenge.’

’Mr. Zhuge, are you asking me, to kill the Emperor?’

’No, not just that...’

The man said gently:

’You are to assassinate him before all the people, to tell everyone.’

’The Emperor is not a god!’

’Thus, it is to avenge the Great General. What we are stirring is not merely a family or surname’s strife. What we aim to kill is the Emperor in the hearts of the people. However, Daohui, this will be hard on you...’

’Living, compared to dying, is more painful.’