After resolving the Xiongnu issue, Shen Zhao immediately returned to meet with Song Yanran to discuss their next course of action.
However, the moment he entered their lodgings, he sensed something was wrong.
Song Yanran sat blankly at the table, her gaze dim and expressionless as she stared out the window, lost in thought.
Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon stood silently by the door like two statues.
Di Feijing was huddled in a corner, drawing circles on the floor and trembling.
"What's going on? Why does it feel like a funeral? What happened?"
Song Yanran finally came to her senses and glanced at Shen Zhao with a faint smile. "You're back. Did it work out?"
"Yes, it's done."
That was all she said.
Song Yanran had never doubted Shen Zhao's ability to handle the Xiongnu. After all, she had heard of his military prowess in his previous life as a war god. A mere Xiongnu couldn't possibly be a match for him.
Normally, having the confidence to turn the tide would have filled her with joy. But now...
"What exactly happened? Why are you all acting like this? The sky hasn't fallen."
Seeing the oppressive atmosphere, Shen Zhao couldn't help but raise his voice.
"Let me explain."
In the end, Di Feijing decided to take it upon himself to bear the burden.
"Do you remember the slander against Your Majesty that came from the capital? The situation has worsened considerably since a few days ago.
Numerous rumors and slanders are now circulating among the common people, all detrimental to Your Majesty's reputation."
He paused, then continued.
"The people of the capital are now calling the Empress a slut and a butcher.
They claim she needs over a dozen men to satisfy her in a single night and that she kills any man who fails to meet her expectations in bed.
They also say her constant campaigning has left countless people displaced and their homes destroyed.
Pamphlets spreading these vile lies are now circulating in the markets. It's truly depraved and utterly unreasonable."
Only then did Shen Zhao understand the source of the oppressive atmosphere. As an Empress, Song Yanran couldn't possibly be indifferent to her reputation.
On the contrary, a monarch's reputation is paramount. What she called "indifference" was merely the pride of a ruler at work.
Shen Zhao scoffed in disdain. "Why bother with the antics of these clowns?"
Song Yanran replied, "Building a positive reputation takes years of effort, but a single ridiculous rumor can destroy it in an instant."
Shen Zhao nodded in agreement. "You're right. Public opinion is the easiest thing for those with ulterior motives to manipulate. Without concrete evidence, any rumor can easily shatter the beliefs people have held dear."
Song Yanran gave a bitter laugh. "So, do you think I still have a chance to recover? Even if I reclaim the throne, the labels of 'butcher,' 'incompetent ruler,' 'tyrant,' and 'promiscuous woman' will forever circulate among the people. Even if I suppress dissent with force, how can I silence the mouths of a billion people?"
The saying goes, "Spreading rumors is as easy as moving your lips, but refuting them requires running your legs off." This was Song Yanran's current predicament.
For anyone else, breaking this deadlock would have seemed impossible. But the person standing before her was no ordinary individual.
"Restoring your reputation among the people is actually quite simple."
As soon as he spoke, Azure Dragon immediately retorted, "At this point, what other methods could you possibly have? I know you're strong, but rumors aren't something that can be silenced with a few words."
Shen Zhao smiled and shook his head. "Let me ask you, when a massive fire breaks out on a dry grassland, how do you extinguish it?"
"With water, of course," Azure Dragon blurted out without hesitation.
"But I said it's a *dry* grassland. Where would you find water to fight such a blaze?"
"This..."
"The best way is to start another fire upwind of the original one. That's the correct way to extinguish it."
"Oh..."
Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon looked utterly bewildered, unable to grasp the meaning of Shen Zhao's words. Even Song Yanran frowned, studying him intently, hoping he would offer a solution.
"Since they've used public opinion to tarnish the Empress's reputation, we'll use public opinion to restore her dignity. Moreover, I dare say that with my method, the Empress's reputation won't just be restored—it will shine even brighter than before."
"What method?" Azure Dragon pressed eagerly.
Shen Zhao feigned mystery, walking outside and gazing into the distance.
"The time isn't right yet."
"What time isn't right? Tell me!"
"Don't rush. Wait a little longer."
"Wait for what?"
Shen Zhao took a deep breath and stepped outside to check the sunlight.
"Wait for the perfect moment to turn public opinion around."
No sooner had he spoken than a streak of light suddenly materialized in the sky, hurtling rapidly toward him.
A faint smile played on Shen Zhao's lips. "It seems the time has come. It's time to strike back."
***
Across the streets of Yanhuang City, in every neighborhood,
"Last time, we spoke of Empress Song Yanran. Unable to bear the torment of the long nights, she ordered her agents to search the populace for handsome young men to serve her in Weiyang Palace. From then on, only the moans of the Empress and her male companions echoed through Weiyang Palace, making listeners' bodies tingle with arousal..."
In a tavern, a storyteller recounted the Empress's private history with dramatic flair, his voice rising and falling with emotion. This salacious tale drew countless admirers.
"In days past, the Empress waged relentless war against the Xiongnu, draining the nation's resources to campaign in the northern deserts. Though the war was won, it devastated the Dragon Han Empire. The population of the Central Region was halved, and the land was littered with starving corpses—a truly horrific sight. I ask you, men of ambition, would you support such a war-mongering ruler to govern the Central Region?"
In a teahouse elsewhere, several disciples of noble families held forth, listing the Empress's crimes. Their stance was audacious, prioritizing the dignity of the common people over the glory of the nation—a defiance of heaven itself.
These scenes unfolded repeatedly throughout the capital. The Imperial Guards, responsible for maintaining order, turned a blind eye, leaving the capital's security unchecked.
Inside Weiyang Palace, Xuanhao Hongye remained unaware that the Xiongnu army had already been swayed by Shen Zhaoce. He was solely focused on devising strategies to deal with Shen Zhao and Song Yanran.
Lin Feng, hunched over beside him, spoke in a subservient tone: "Your Majesty, Song Yanran has become a pariah, her reputation among the people greatly tarnished. Now is the perfect opportunity to declare war, join forces with the seventy-two tributary states, and partition the lands of Dragon Han."
However, Xuanhao Hongye didn't even glance at Lin Feng, his eyes fixed on the massive map of Dragon Han's territory displayed before the screen, silent and motionless.
After a long pause, he finally responded in a deep voice: "Until Song Yanran is dead, I will find no peace. Tell me, how has your investigation into the whereabouts of Song Yanran and Shen Zhao progressed?"
"Still ongoing," Lin Feng replied. "Please be patient, Your Majesty."
"Hmph," Xuanhao Hongye scoffed. "The world sings the praises of Nine Nether's unfathomable depth, yet you can't even handle this trivial matter. Truly, the reality falls far short of the reputation."
Lin Feng remained silent.
Though he had joined the Nine Nether faction, it was a desperate measure for survival.
If the opportunity arose, he vowed to break free from their control—or even use their power to achieve his own imperial ambitions.
"Your Majesty, Venerable Haoyue is less familiar with the terrain of Nine Nether than Song Yanran. It's only natural that it would take him some time to find her."
"Is that so? To be honest, this King regrets partnering with you.
You should be well aware of how much effort Nine Nether has put into this operation against Song Yanran.
If Nine Nether wants to use this King to enter the Nine Realms of Immortal Martial, they must demonstrate sufficient sincerity."
"What kind of sincerity, Your Majesty? Please be more specific."
Xuanhao Hongye's eyes turned cold. "I need to deploy the Mandala Formation, and I require Nine Nether's power to do so. Go back and tell Venerable Haoyue to gather all the Nine Nether agents hidden within Yanhuang City to activate the formation together. That is the sincerity I demand."
"The Mandala Formation?" Lin Feng frowned. "Your Majesty intends to..."
"Exactly! I will use the Mandala Formation to utterly annihilate Song Yanran!"
"But Nine Nether's identity is sensitive. If exposed..."
"It's out of the question. Our alliance ends here. If Darba hadn't died, I wouldn't have let you cowards help me. Whether you agree or not—let Venerable Haoyue give you his own answer."
Lin Feng pondered for a long moment before cupping his hands in a bow. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I believe Venerable Haoyue will agree."
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)