I have Immortality In The Cultivation World-Chapter 527 - 387 The Prince’s Rebellion

Chapter 527: Chapter 387 The Prince’s Rebellion

Power is a fist, and a fist too is power!

Zhou Yi had always relied on his godfather’s influence, but today, he finally earned his status and position with his own two hands.

So what if Little Gui Zi has a background and status? One slap could kill him!

“Eunuch Gui’s changes over these past two years are not small, eh?”

“Eunuch Yi jokes.”

Little Gui Zi sighed, “When I first arrived, I didn’t understand the rules. I owe thanks to Eunuch Yi for his forgiveness in the past. If I were placed elsewhere, I might have fallen down a well not recognizing a single character!”

“Hehehe, our family isn’t a good person, but we don’t do evil!”

In his heart, Zhou Yi silently added a sentence, you should thank Little Xi Zi and Little Zheng Zi. If you had encountered a villain when you first entered the palace, they might have poisoned you to death.

Little Gui Zi said, “Not doing evil is already quite rare.”

The dinner was very enjoyable, with Zhou Yi and Little Gui Zi flattering each other.

Both with the intention to resolve past issues, they became good friends in the same residence.

The two originally had no deep-seated hatred or grievance; their occasional displeasures were not worth risking life and death over!

…

In the thirty-seventh year of Yuanwu.

March.

After forty-five years, the great Daqing military campaigned north against the foreign tribes.

The Marshal of the Northern Defense military, Zhang Polu, swept through their homes and surrounded the Heavenly Wolf King’s Golden Tent. The foreign tribes sent envoys seeking peace.

The victorious report spread to the capital, stirring up excitement throughout the nation.

…

Yangxin Hall.

The lights were bright.

Emperor Hongwu lay on a soft couch covered with a fox fur quilt, his eyes slightly closed, ordering Xiao Yuan Zi to repeatedly recite the victorious report.

Eunuch Yuan’s voice rose and fell dramatically, filling the entire palace.

All the eunuchs and palace maids pricked up their ears to listen, their faces wearing smiles, spreading an atmosphere of joy everywhere.

“…Three thousand light cavalry bypassed An Sui Mountain, attacked Nan Dan City by night, and burned the granaries… A hundred thousand troops fought a decisive battle at Wu Lian Tuo, a great victory… Captured the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Wolf and dozens of his descendants, soon to be escorted to the capital…”

When Eunuch Yuan came to the part about the Crown Prince, his voice increased by threefold and was subtly filled with hatred and satisfaction.

Only after the ninth recitation did Emperor Hongwu slightly wave his hand, and Xiao Yuan Zi finally stopped reciting.

“Sweeping over the foreign tribes, capturing the Heavenly Wolf Crown Prince, hahaha!”

Emperor Hongwu couldn’t help but laugh out loud, which triggered violent coughing from the movement in his chest and lungs.

Eunuch Yuan hurriedly stepped forward, channeling robust True Qi into Emperor Hongwu’s body, helping to ease his heart and lungs, and it took quite a while before he calmed down.

“This is the best congratulatory gift in my life!”

Emperor Hongwu motioned for Wang Gonggong, the attendant from the Ministry of Rites, to come forward with a pen and ordered, “Command the cabinet to draft a decree, promote Zhang Aiqing as the King of the Northern Defense, in charge of military and civil affairs at the Northern Border.”

Wang Gonggong bowed to accept the order.

Emperor Hongwu continued, “Tell Zhang Aiqing that for capturing the Heavenly Wolf’s Golden Tent, promote him to King of the Northern Defense, and all the lands of the Northern Border foreign tribes shall be the Zhang family’s fief.”

Wang Gonggong’s face showed shock, for since the founder of Daqing, no king of another surname had been enfeoffed.

Moreover, of the four kings of another surname enfeoffed at that time, only the King of the Southwest remained to this day; the others had been demoted to viscounts or barons.

“Understood.”

Wang Gonggong hurriedly withdrew, knowing this decree would surely cause a huge uproar.

“Help me up.”

With Eunuch Yuan’s assistance, Emperor Hongwu rose from the couch, saying, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Consort Hua. I’m happy today, let’s go see her.”

“To the Yaohua Palace!”

With a command from Eunuch Yuan, eunuchs immediately brought forth the imperial carriage, and a grand procession of over a hundred people made their way to the Yaohua Palace.

Emperor Hongwu sat in the imperial carriage, feeling invigorated by the wind after not venturing out for several months.

“Xiao Yuan Zi, where is your hometown?”

Eunuch Yuan replied, “Your Majesty, this servant is from Yongqing County, north of Xuanfu. When the foreign tribes invaded the border, they killed my parents and brothers and looted the family’s food. I only survived by hiding in the chimney!”

Emperor Hongwu suddenly realized and sighed, “This is all my fault, the people of the Northern Border have suffered.”

When Emperor Hongwu ascended the throne, he had made a pact with the foreign tribes, offering tribute for peace. Yet these tribes were inherently cruel, and even with a truce, they would often invade and plunder the borders.

Eunuch Yuan’s eyes filled with tears, he knelt to the ground with a thud and repeatedly kowtowed.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for avenging my parents. Long live His Majesty, long may you reign!”

“Get up,”

A soft light flashed in Emperor Hongwu’s eyes as he comforted, “When Minister Zhang escorts the Heavenly Wolf King back to the capital and when we offer him to the ancestors and behead him at the Temple of Ancestors, I will allow you to watch!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Eunuch Yuan was awash with tears. The Temple of Ancestors was a sacred site for the lineage of the Daqing dynasty, and no eunuch was allowed to enter due to a belief that those neither male nor female would affect the feng shui.

They made their way to Yaohua Palace.

Noble Consort Hua had already received the notice from the eunuchs and had dressed and made up, preparing the foods that Emperor Hongwu liked.

“This consort pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“My beloved consort, please rise quickly!”

Emperor Hongwu stepped forward, helped Noble Consort Hua to her feet, and they entered the palace arm in arm.

This scene, witnessed by the attending eunuchs, signified various meanings, such as Noble Consort Hua being in favor or gaining a powerful maternal family’s support, and Prince Wei rising above others who came later.

Truly, if General Zhang was bestowed as King of the Northern Defense, who then could compete with Prince Wei for the throne?

That night.

The news that Emperor Hongwu had spent the night in Yaohua Palace and personally helped Noble Consort Hua to her feet spread throughout the palace and beyond.

Many lay awake, plotting ways to frustrate Noble Consort Hua and the Zhang family, spinning stories of hubris threatening the sovereign, unbridled arrogance, or soldiers looting—regardless of prior arrangements.

There were also officials who were overjoyed, eagerly writing memorials overnight, praising Emperor Hongwu as a sage ruler comparable to the Great Ancestor.

Ascending the throne as a child, he saved the National Dynasty from peril, for sixty-two years foregoing meals and sleep, sweeping the Northern Border to wipe away the nation’s dishonor!

Such memorials, once presented, would surely delight the Emperor, and then he would shower more affection on Noble Consort Hua and Prince Wei.

The next day.

The Imperial Garden.

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Zhou Yi was constantly using the Breath Listening Technique and had just learned of the grand victory at the Northern Border, pondering quietly to himself.

“The King of the Northern Defense, the first king of another surname since the founding of the country—sounds imposing, but it’s like being roasted on a fire… Yes, it’s crushing adulation!”

“Moreover, with the Zhang family being ennobled, breaking the dynastic precedent, they have already been over-rewarded for their services. If the fifth prince ascends the throne next, will Daqing still bear the Zhao surname, or will it change to Zhang?”

Upon this thought, Zhou Yi was suddenly at ease.

It was very likely that the fifth prince would be granted a fief, and certainly, it would be in the rich lands of Jiangnan—a reward for Noble Consort Hua and the Zhang family, and such lands were difficult to raise an army in.

“After the second prince’s tenure overseeing the Ministry of War and then the Ministry of Personnel, just a few more years after the Emperor passes, his ascension to the throne will be a matter of course!”

“I, too, will have served the dragon and could rise by association, possibly securing a management position at the Bureau of Eunuchs…”

Zhou Yi was lost in delightful thoughts, feeling his future was bright. In time, worked to the bone, Manager Xu might pass away, and seizing the legacy of power left by his godfather, he could even take charge of a whole bureau.

Yet, fate is not always in accordance with one’s wishes!

Things in this world do not revolve around any one person, and nobody can predict the changes of the next moment.

Half a month later.

General of the Northern Defense broke through the Golden Tent of the Heavenly Wolf King and captured him alive was sent to the palace. Before the Emperor had a chance to rejoice, the second prince led a rebellion!

The rebellion was unexpected and irrational.

Over the past two years, Emperor Hongwu had shown him extra care, and most officials had already acknowledged the second prince as the new sovereign.

The rebellion was quickly extinguished, lasting less than two hours.

The investigation by the Bureau of Eunuchs revealed that the second prince had been misled by a charlatan fortune-teller, who claimed that the fifth prince’s True Qi would soon culminate, and it must be disrupted beforehand!

So, with his temper flaring, the second prince led his troops into the imperial palace.

On the night of the rebellion.

Zhou Yi was jolted awake from his sleep, barely informing himself of the treason when the second prince was already being escorted to Yangxin Hall.

“Idiot, a complete idiot!”

After cursing angrily several times, Zhou Yi took out all his silver notes, ignoring the pain of loss, and rushed to Manager Zhu’s residence overnight.