Inside Weiyang Palace, Xuan Hao Hongye carefully examined the booklet Lin Feng had given him. It contained a record of Shen Zhao's cultivation techniques and combat styles from his previous life.
After flipping through just a few pages, Xuan Hao Hongye couldn't help but feel genuine admiration for Shen Zhao's strength.
"Profound Dragon Heaven-Shaking Art, Crying Azure Dragon, Diancang Creation Finger, Three Origins Unification Force... What a man, Shen Zhao! These techniques are unprecedented, each one challenging the limits of mortal cultivation. Even with my Great Emperor cultivation, I could never simultaneously master so many high-grade techniques. Yet he knows them all. This youth is truly a prodigy."
Closing the booklet, Xuan Hao Hongye turned to the window, his expression grave.
"The celestial anomalies... Darba must have met with disaster. It seems I underestimated Song Yanran after all. But even without Darba, I still have backup plans."
A slight smile played on Xuan Hao Hongye's lips, his confidence radiating.
At that moment, a Xiongnu guard arrived. "Your Majesty, Prince Rui requests your presence at the Hall of Distinguished Guests."
"Understood. I shall go at once."
Taking a deep breath, Xuan Hao Hongye strode toward the Hall of Distinguished Guests.
Inside the hall, Song Yu stared at the memorial in his hands, his face livid.
When Xuan Hao Hongye arrived, Prince Rui suddenly hurled the memorial in his hand at him.
Xuan Hao Hongye caught it steadily with one hand, his voice deepening. "What is the meaning of this, Prince Rui? Are you trying to discard this King after using him—to turn against me so soon?"
Song Yu roared, "Who told you to spread rumors about my imperial sister in the city? Who gave you the right to tarnish her reputation?"
Hearing this, Xuan Hao Hongye dropped the memorial, clasped his hands behind his back, and said calmly, "Is this not beneficial? The Empress enjoys considerable popularity among the common people. If they learn of the sins she committed throughout her life, it will greatly damage her reputation and pave the way for your smooth ascension to the throne, Prince Rui."
"This is an internal matter of the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty. What right do you Xiongnu have to interfere?"
"Are you questioning my decisions, Prince Rui? Remember, you are not yet the Emperor of Dragon Han. The future of the Central Domain remains undecided!"
"Silence! The destiny of our Celestial Dynasty is not for you, Xiongnu King, to dictate! I order you to cease your slander of my imperial sister immediately."
"Slander? Which of the claims spread in the city is false? Was Song Yanran's regicide and usurpation a lie? Or her slaughter of innocents to consolidate her power?"
"Song Yu, you should know better than this King—your Song Imperial Clan was nearly annihilated by Song Yanran in a single night. How can you still show compassion for such a butcher?"
Song Yu's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his eyes fixed on Xuan Hao Hongye with icy fury.
"What's with that look? Are you planning to eliminate this King? I advise you to abandon such unrealistic thoughts immediately. You wouldn't want to see the Song Imperial Clan become mere history, would you?"
At these words, Song Yu slowly relaxed his clenched fists.
For the sake of the greater cause, he had to endure.
Yet, it seemed the situation was slipping beyond his control.
Just then, Lin Feng entered the Hall of Distinguished Guests. After glancing at the two men, he addressed Xuan Hao Hongye directly:
"Xiongnu King, the Empress's crimes have been posted throughout the city. Within three days, her reputation will be shattered and her name disgraced. Even if she manages to reclaim the throne, the common people will never support her again. At that point, the threat from the Xiongnu Empire will be completely eliminated."
Xuan Hao Hongye nodded. "You've handled this well. The Empress, with her pride and arrogance, could never tolerate the slightest flaw. Now that her people view her as a monstrous flood, how could she possibly sit securely on her throne?"
Lin Feng replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is simply what allies should do for each other."
Xuan Hao Hongye patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, then glanced at Song Yu and said with a sarcastic tone, "Indeed, allies should trust each other, not undermine each other."
"Save it," Song Yu scoffed. "We're merely partners, not allies. Besides, no true ally would stab you in the back without so much as a word."
Xuan Hao Hongye frowned. "You're still dwelling on this?"
Song Yu chuckled. "I've seen no genuine sincerity in your actions toward the Xiongnu King."
"Then we have nothing more to discuss," Xuan Hao Hongye said. "The Xiongnu King should return beyond the Great Wall as soon as possible."
"Until I see Song Yanran's corpse, this King will never return beyond the Great Wall. And Prince Rui, don't act so confident. Before this King entered the Central Domain, I stationed 200,000 iron cavalry along the Great Wall. With a single command, they can march into the Central Domain."
"Xiongnu King, is that a threat?"
"This King never wages war unprepared. Prince Rui, I advise you to think carefully. If you fail to produce Song Yanran's corpse during this trip to the Central Domain, then this entire endeavor will have been for nothing."
After speaking, Xuan Hao Hongye rose and left the Hall of Distinguished Guests.
Lin Feng cast a meaningful glance at Song Yu before following Xuan Hao Hongye.
***
Meanwhile, two days later, Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird returned from their reconnaissance mission.
When reporting the city's situation to Song Yanran, they hesitated, unsure how to break the news to her.
"What's wrong? Just tell me directly. What did you hear?"
Faced with Song Yanran's questioning, Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird merely lowered their heads, kneeling silently on the ground.
"Have they already abolished my imperial throne?"
Azure Dragon opened his mouth, pondered for a long moment, then replied, "No, Your Majesty. We found no decree abolishing the Empress in the city."
Song Yanran's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Then why didn't you just say so?"
"This..."
The two fell silent again, as if burdened by unspoken difficulties.
"Perhaps I should speak for them?" Shen Zhao suddenly interjected.
"They're afraid to tell you directly because the Empress's reputation has soured among the people, haven't they?"
Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird looked shocked, lowering their heads simultaneously.
Song Yanran's expression shifted slightly. forcing a faint smile, she said, "It's nothing. This is only natural. Throughout history, emperors have employed countless schemes. I've grown accustomed to it."
She paused, then suddenly turned to Shen Zhao and said, "I can give up the throne of the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty. Can you take me away? Anywhere will do."
The words startled Shen Zhao, and he hastily retreated two steps.
He saw Song Yanran gazing at him with a pitiful expression, her demeanor utterly lacking the dignity and grace of a thousand-year-old Empress.
*This is truly a tragedy.*
"That... things aren't as dire as you think," Shen Zhao said. "You don't need to be so despondent."
The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird also urged, "Your Majesty, you must not entertain such thoughts! The Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty cannot survive without you."
Song Yanran sighed softly, her voice tinged with despair. "But at this point, what power do I have to reclaim the throne? The armies of the Feudal Lords are restless, I've lost all support, and I have no forces left to oppose them."
The Azure Dragon suggested, "Your Majesty could summon the Ancestral Dragon Guard from the southern territories. They are absolutely loyal to you."
"Absolutely not!" Shen Zhao suddenly interjected. "The Ancestral Dragon Guard's duty is to guard the Territorial Dragon Vein. If that vein is compromised, the fortune of humanity across the Nine Realms will be diminished. They must not be deployed unless absolutely necessary."
Vermilion Bird said, "But apart from the Ancestral Dragon Guard, we have no usable troops left."
Song Yanran also closed her eyes wearily.
Shen Zhao, however, replied, "No, there is one army we can still mobilize."
"Which army? The entire Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty has no truly trustworthy forces left. Either their loyalty is insufficient, or their combat effectiveness is inadequate. The elite troops are all in the hands of the Feudal Lords and local commanders. Where could we possibly find an army we can use?" Azure Dragon demanded.
In response to Azure Dragon's challenge, Shen Zhao pointed toward the Great Wall.
"Why not summon the Xiongnu troops to the capital to support the throne? Remember, the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty is the Xiongnu's suzerain state. Xuan Hao Hongye's private entry into the capital is tantamount to treason. Do you think the Xiongnu will still sincerely fight for Xuan Hao Hongye when the Empress's decree appears before them?"
At these words, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and even Song Yanran stared in disbelief.
If not for Shen Zhao's proven capabilities, they would have truly believed him to be insane for uttering such words.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)