Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 310 Imperial Jade Seals! Historical Tremors [2 more updates]

Chapter 310: 310 Imperial Jade Seals! Historical Tremors [2 more updates]

A delicate piece of jade that fit perfectly into the palm of her hand.

Engraved on the jade were nine dragons entwined together, with a phoenix at the very center.

The dragon and phoenix were auspicious, shimmering with flowing light.

Ye Wanlan flipped the jade over, and on the back were two large characters—Shenzhou.

This was actually... the Imperial Jade Seal!

Legend had it that five thousand years ago, the first human emperor of Shenzhou found a piece of jade and summoned the most skilled craftsmen to the court, eventually creating an imperial seal.

Whether the event was true was hard to verify due to its distant past, but the existence of the Jade Seal was very much real.

This seal was the Imperial Jade Seal of Shenzhou.

For thousands of years as dynasties changed in Shenzhou, the Imperial Jade Seal was passed down from generation to generation.

Originally, after she had resolved the great epidemic, Ning Zhaozong intended to give her the Jade Seal, but unfortunately, three hundred years ago, she ultimately had no fate with this symbol of "power" and "divine authority."

Everyone said that the Imperial Jade Seal possessed magical powers, represented the lifeline of Shenzhou, and gathered the fortune of Shenzhou, making it a supreme treasure.

Whoever obtained the Imperial Jade Seal would have the world.

It wasn’t mere speculation, after all, Great Ancestor Ning had accidentally come into possession of the Imperial Jade Seal and founded the Ning Dynasty.

After returning to Shenzhou in this life, Ye Wanlan had not thought about looking for the Imperial Jade Seal.

After all, the main line of the Xiang Imperial Family had been completely destroyed in the great battle three hundred years ago, so naturally, the enemies would not have spared a treasure like the Imperial Jade Seal.

Whether destroyed or plundered, the Imperial Jade Seal was no longer in Shenzhou.

Who could have imagined that three hundred years later, she would once again be able to see the Imperial Jade Seal?

"It really is the Imperial Jade Seal!" Qingyun Pendant exclaimed with great delight, "Her Royal Highness the Princess, Lord Prince Yan has always said that the Jade Seal is sentient; it must have sensed your arrival and thus made its appearance!"

"Oh?" Ye Wanlan extended her other hand, gently caressing the Jade Seal in her palm, "Are you saying that its spirituality surpasses even yours? That it would hide itself in advance sensing danger?"

Qingyun Pendant was dumbfounded: "I, I, I, I really don’t know; I just habitually praise Her Royal Highness the Princess!"

Jade Luan Pin spoke with disdain: "Idiot."

But the Imperial Jade Seal had experienced five thousand years of history and had been passed through a hundred emperors; its spirituality was certainly higher than theirs, it was just uncertain if the Imperial Jade Seal could—

Jade Luan Pin suddenly shouted: "Her Royal Highness the Princess, be careful!"

"Whoosh—"

At the same moment, the previously overcast skies were now once again serene.

The dark clouds dispersed, the sun emerged, and the sunlight once again covered the land, as though the lightning and thunder that had just occurred were but a dream.

"What’s going on?" The director, leading Elder Fu out of the Imperial Palace, was stunned, "Are we dreaming?"

"Sigh..." Elder Fu stroked his beard, frowning as he looked into the distance, "These days, the celestial phenomena have become more and more unstable, I always feel like something big is going to happen."

The reason he chose to come out of retirement and not remain secluded was because of this strange premonition.

"Where is Miss Ye?" The director, as if awoken from a dream, quickly picked up his cell phone and dialed Ye Wanlan’s number.

To his astonishment, Ye Wanlan’s number couldn’t be reached.

No matter how many times he tried, all he got from the receiver was the cold, impersonal mechanical voice—

"The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable, please try again later..."

Could it really be another incident like the last time?

Thinking this, the director broke out into a cold sweat. He wiped his brow and then contacted Yan Tingfeng: "Mr. Yan, something has happened..."

**

The darkness scattered, and light flooded in.

Ye Wanlan’s vision finally cleared, and even though she was prepared and had anticipated this, her body couldn’t help but tremble upon seeing the scene before her.

This time, she had arrived at the Golden Throne Hall.

She had often accompanied Ning Zhaozong here to court, listening to the officials’ petitions and resolving the great and small matters of Shenzhou.

But at this moment, the Golden Throne Hall, which was normally packed with courtiers, had only a few, and those present were elderly officials with snowy white hair and faltering steps.

Above them, looking rather young for his position, sat an emperor.

Ye Wanlan was slightly stunned: "Little Chen?"

Her half-brother from the same father, Xiang Chen.

He was also the last emperor of the Ning Dynasty, with the regnal name "Yongshun," and posterity would call him Emperor Yongshun.

Perhaps the regnal name "Yongshun" was chosen with the hope that the Ning Dynasty would enjoy eternal stability and prosperity.

Ye Wanlan then realized that when she had left, Xiang Chen was only ten and had not yet grown up.

After six years, Xiang Chen had grown taller and his features had matured quite a bit.

"Your Majesty, please leave. The Prince Regent went to the front lines so that Your Majesty could have time to escape," an elderly official spoke up, "An old saying goes, ’As long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood, Your Majesty!’"

Another official also said: "The Prince Regent won’t be able to hold them off for long, please hurry and leave, Your Majesty, we will cover your retreat!"

The reason only these few old men were left was that anyone younger, whether military or civil officials, were no longer present.

No one could have anticipated that the vast Ning Dynasty would fall into a crisis of extinction within just seven short days.

But Emperor Yongshun must survive; as long as one member of the Xiang Imperial Family remained alive, there would definitely be an opportunity to make a comeback!

Xiang Chen shook his head, "If I leave, what will become of my people?"

These words silenced the few old ministers who had been endlessly quarreling.

"I will not leave, nor can I," Xiang Chen said in a faint voice, "The Four Directions Nobility couldn’t hold them off, this time’s enemy... no one can stop them."

At the last moment, he actually became resigned.

Shenzhou is so vast, where could he go if he ran?

At this time, to still waste manpower and resources to protect his escape, how would that be any different from those who collude with the enemy and betray their country?

How could the old ministers not understand this truth?

An old minister couldn’t help but wipe away tears, "It’s just that if Your Majesty doesn’t leave, Prince Regent--"

"Bang!"

A loud crash, something was thrown in from outside the door.

The golden light of the Gold-threaded Robe was obscured by dust and had shattered into pieces.

It was not a complete body, but divided into six parts.

Blood was everywhere, a ghastly sight to behold.

Ye Wanlan’s expression changed, and for the first time, she lost her composure, "Aunt!"

She had read about the downfall of the Ning Dynasty multiple times. Each time she reached the sentence "Princess Jingan was dismembered by five horses," it would be unbearably painful, and breathing became densely packed with pain.

But sometimes, the descriptions in history books are just a few words short, how can they compare to the soul-shaking scenes unveiled by real history?

Seeing the true state of Princess Jingan, Ye Wanlan even forgot how to speak.

She staggered a few steps at her feet before she reached Princess Jingan’s side.

"Aunt..."

She reached out to touch her, but her hand passed right through, touching nothing.

She could not hold Princess Jingan’s head in her arms, nor could she choose a geomantically blessed burial place for her.

History rewinding did not bring people back to that era after all.

And history, it is forever unchangeable.

Bravely they go bearing arms, and in death, wrapped in horsehide they return.

Even "wrapped in horsehide" could not describe the appearance of Princess Jingan after her death.

"Young Emperor, I’m giving you a chance, let’s see whether you prefer more people to die or for them to live," the leading general pointed his weapon at Xiang Chen and laughed loudly, "Just kneel down and beg us, loudly declaring yourself a traitor, and we will spare the people of this city. Otherwise, you can commit suicide, and we will spare their lives as well."

Their invasion of Shenzhou was aimed at occupying this land.

The countless people on this land had no power to resist at all.

The ones they wanted to kill were the soldiers and the Xiang Imperial Family of the Ning Dynasty.

The woman before, though valiant, how could she possibly overpower them?

Now, only this Young Emperor was left.

A sixteen-year-old child, not yet fully mature, the Ning Dynasty truly had no one left!

In these final moments of downfall, he did not mind playing with a child.

What was the point of killing the Xiang Imperial Family?

Of course, it’s to see the pride of these dignified Xiang Imperial Family shattered, kneeling like dogs at their feet, only then could they derive greater pleasure.

Xiang Chen clutched the handle of the throne tightly, biting his teeth to stop the tears from falling in front of his enemies.

But the sight of Princess Jingan was so overwhelming, he could only keep his face taut without uttering a word.

"I give you half a day to think it over, either die or surrender," the tall general put away his weapon and added with a cruel smile, "Your Xiang Imperial Family, indeed does not fear death, one by one charging forward. Now, only you and your little sister are left, two children, truly pitiful."

Having said that, he kicked Princess Jingan’s corpse, "Here, your aunt is returned to you as well, enjoy these last moments."

Silence returned to the Golden Throne Hall.

Only then did Xiang Chen rise from his seat, cautiously piecing together Princess Jingan’s dismembered corpse, "Help me bury my aunt, do not let the enemy disgrace her further."

At that moment, he had stopped referring to himself as "We."

An old minister looked up, "Your Majesty, what about you--"

"Great Ancestor Ning fought for this world in his commoner’s clothes; Father Emperor personally went on military expeditions five times," Xiang Chen spoke slowly, "I’m not worthy to meet Great Ancestor Ning, nor can I compare to Father Emperor."

Great Ancestor Ning and Ning Zhaozong were the two most outstanding emperors in the history of the Ning Dynasty.

One unified the then-fragmented Shenzhou and founded the Daning.

The other brought about the golden age of the Ning Dynasty, causing all nations to pay tribute.

"But since I am of the Xiang Imperial Family’s blood, I must not bring shame upon the pride of the Xiangs," Xiang Chen slowly walked out of the Golden Throne Hall, and actually smiled, "It’s only at this moment that I understand what Father Emperor once said: ’The Son of Heaven guards the national gates, the sovereign dies for his country.’"

At the end, he thought, he ultimately failed to carry on the will of his ancestors, to keep Daning intact from one hundred to ten thousand generations, to eternity without decline.

Xiang Chen drew his sword, placing it against his neck.

It was not for himself, but for all.

The sun and the moon above, may they forever shine upon Shenzhou.