The storm is coming, the wind fills the building.
Even though the territory of Qingyang Town and even the entire Jiacheng city area appear very peaceful.
Xi Zichu was dead, the Xi family had withdrawn, and the new Jiacheng City Lord had already taken office, still respecting the Chongxuan family's governance over Qingyang Town.
To most common people of the Yang Kingdom at this time, this year was a year of very bad luck. A terrible plague had broken out, many people had died, and several incompetent bureaucrats had been exposed.
But that was where it ended. The incompetent bureaucrats were punished, the plague had been contained, and the entire nation's situation was improving—at least in the eyes of many people.
Only a small number of people knew about the plague's mutation, and the news of the army besieging the Yang Kingdom had just happened, now only those in Hengzhao City among the Yang Kingdom's rulers were discussing it, planning countermeasures.
Therefore, at this time, the Yang Kingdom was actually still in a very subtle atmosphere of peace.
But Jiang Chen had made the atmosphere in Qingyang Town very tense.
He had been insisting that Zhu Biqiong set up more phantom arrays, even going so far as to use his Dao Essence Stones, allowing Zhu Biqiong to replenish his consumption at any time, almost covering all the roads leading into Qingyang Town.
His own Dao Essence Stones couldn't really hold up, and Zhu Biqiong was even more on the verge of collapse.
"I can't do it anymore, I can't do it anymore. This lady needs, to, to rest!"
Zhu Biqiong was dizzy and disoriented, complaining endlessly. The number of phantom arrays he had set up in the past few days was almost equivalent to what he would usually do in a month. In the past, when he was cultivating in the Diaohai Tower, he had never worked this hard.
Xiao Xiao immediately rushed over to massage his shoulders and legs, coaxing him with "good sister" every other sentence.
For the past few days, it had been her half-coaxing and half-deceiving that had kept Zhu Biqiong working hard.
"Forget it." Zhu Biqiong pouted. "I've figured it out now, you heartless girl. No matter how your sister teaches you, no matter how good she is to you, your heart is always with your master!"
"Of course!" Xiao Xiao said while professionally massaging his shoulders. "My heart holds sister you, it's just that the direction is toward the master."
"Tsk, I don't usually see you being so sweet-tongued. You and your master really are family. You both are attentive when you need someone, but discard them like worn-out shoes when you don't."
Jiang Chen was nearby, watching the scene outside Qingyang Town, pretending not to understand the complaints in her words.
The sky was surprisingly warm and gentle, with several white clouds drifting leisurely.
Xiang Qian, who had already taken a nap, walked over from the shade of a tree and couldn't help but ask, "Do you really think something will happen here?"
"It's not just a feeling." Jiang Chen didn't shift his gaze. "Can't you smell the scent of danger?"
He then called out to Zhu Biqiong, "Fellow Daoist Zhu, can your Fortune and Misfortune Ball be used now?"
Zhu Biqiong glanced at Xiao Xiao, meaning: wasn't I right? Look at what your master is like.
He then shouted back, "Not yet!"
Xiang Qian hesitated for a long while before reluctantly saying, "I have a sword array that might be useful. But if it can be avoided, it's best not to use it..."
...
...
In Hengzhao City, in the Yang Court palace.
The twenty-seventh ruler of the Yang Kingdom, Yang Jiande, had surprisingly attended court.
To be precise, with the plague mutation inside and the sudden siege of the borders by the Qi Kingdom's army outside, the Yang Kingdom had been plunged into a life-or-death crisis almost overnight.
Yet Yang Jiande was still cultivating in the Heart-Nourishing Hall, seemingly intending to ignore it, still wanting to let the Crown Prince handle governance as usual, with the court ministers assisting, to deal with this situation.
It was only when the Yang Kingdom's Crown Prince, Yang Xuanji, tearfully and desperately pleaded that he was brought to the hall to convene this court assembly.
Below the imperial steps, the court ministers expressed various opinions, one after another, their voices loud but without any definite plan.
Not for any other reason than the fact that the Qi Kingdom's power had deeply penetrated people's hearts. Even if they sent just one army, the Yang Kingdom would have absolutely no chance of victory. Regarding the current situation, these ministers of the Yang Kingdom were truly somewhat in despair!
On the dragon throne, Yang Jiande was drowsy. The only reason he was forcing himself not to leave was just to wait for the main act.
He just hadn't expected the prelude to be so long, making him feel extremely bored.
"Father!" The Crown Prince's voice startled him awake, suppressing the thought of sitting cross-legged to cultivate, and he straightened his body.
As the de facto ruler of the Yang Court in recent years, the moment the Crown Prince spoke, the entire court instantly quieted down. From a place noisy like a vegetable market, it returned to a solemn and dignified place.
The Crown Prince stood at the head of the ministers, facing Yang Jiande from a distance.
Tall in stature, broad-faced with a booming voice, truly imposing: "In your son's opinion, the Yang Kingdom's ailments of several hundred years have reached a time when change is necessary!"
"Oh?" Yang Jiande's expression didn't change. "How should it change?"
The Crown Prince was clearly prepared and immediately spoke in a booming voice: "First, Father must issue an edict of self-reproach, honestly admitting his mistakes, and seek the people's understanding!"
As the most trusted eunuch by Yang Jiande's side, Liu Huai, who was always attending nearby, immediately shouted: "Crown Prince, do not forget the order of hierarchy!"
In the struggle between the Crown Prince and other princes, he naturally stood on the Crown Prince's side without question. Because he knew very well that Yang Jiande had no intention of changing the Crown Prince. And the other princes indeed posed no threat to the Crown Prince.
But if the Crown Prince challenged the ruler, then he would also undoubtedly stand before the ruler without question. As a eunuch, he knew very well that everything he had was granted by Yang Jiande, he existed by relying on Yang Jiande, and his loyalty could only be given to Yang Jiande.
And today, in this court, he was horrified to discover that the Crown Prince had actually initiated a challenge, and in such a dire situation of internal and external difficulties!
He hadn't had time to think, and had instinctively shouted to stop it.
But...
"Eunuch slave!" The Crown Prince pointed angrily and said: "When I speak with Father, is there room for you to interrupt? The court's discipline has decayed because Father mistakenly trusted small men like you!"
This Crown Prince had always been gentle and benevolent, previously addressing him as "Eunuch Liu" with great respect, and his intentions had never wavered. But today, he was actually pointing at his nose and calling him an eunuch slave.
Liu Huai felt humiliated, followed by anger and hatred, all surging up at once, but he dared not speak back.
Because eunuchs were originally the emperor's household slaves, and as the future master of the Yang Kingdom, the Crown Prince could absolutely curse his own slave like this, perfectly justified.
Yang Jiande himself was very calm, waving his hand to dismiss Liu Huai.
Sitting on the dragon throne, leaning slightly forward, looking down at the Crown Prince he had chosen: "An edict of self-reproach? Your father would like to hear it—what sins has your father committed?"
Liu Huai retreated to a corner, and hearing the ruler's words, his old eyes suddenly filled with tears.
He wasn't crying for the humiliation he had suffered, but for Yang Jiande!
Yang Jiande, as the ruler of a nation, in this court, did not refer to himself as "lonely one" or "solitary," but spoke as "your father." He appeared calm, composed, and serene, but actually within him was that hard-to-detect plea and vulnerability... Others might not know, but he Liu Huai had served the ruler for most of his life—how could he not know?
Since ancient times, the imperial family has had no kinship, yet they long for kinship!
"Dare I ask Father!" The Crown Prince immediately responded, without a moment's hesitation, clearly having been pent up for a long time, unable to contain it: "Without our own calendar, having abandoned our own writing system. What makes a nation a nation? How can a family be a family?!"
Yang Jiande was silent for a while before saying: "These two matters were indeed implemented under my hand..."
"My sin!"
...
...
ps: Additional chapter at 12 AM tonight.
Le Wen