Outside the outer courtyard of the Yuchen Mansion, the clash of weapons had ceased.
Twenty thousand frontier soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield. The barbarians had been almost entirely wiped out; those who had not perished under the blades were taken captive and thrown into the great prison.
The disaster brought by Tuoba Xiangtai, which had plagued the ministers, was completely quelled tonight.
Even the thirty thousand barbarian troops north of the capital city had been utterly routed under the personal charge of Wei Shuo and his men, leaving them practically incapable of fighting again.
It could be said that this single battle had driven the barbarians to the point of total collapse. Furthermore, Zhang Shi had led five thousand frontier troops to sweep across the steppes, burning, killing, and looting, inflicting upon the barbarian grasslands a great catastrophe unseen in centuries.
It was almost certain that for the next century, the realm of the Yu people would no longer face the possibility of large-scale barbarian atrocities.
Most importantly, just as the overall situation was being settled, Ren Tianye had this news broadcasted to all divisions of the Imperial Guards. Many guards either witnessed the battle or discussed it. In a flash, the deeds of slaughtering the barbarians spread like wildfire among the two hundred thousand troops inside and outside the capital.
This caused countless Imperial Guards to pale in shock, increasing their awe and reverence for Ren Tianye by several degrees.
If Ren Tianye's control over the Imperial Guards had previously been only twenty or thirty percent, it had now reached sixty or seventy percent. In the future, even if powerful ministers or imperial relatives tried to collude with the guards, it would be difficult for them to make any waves.
Lu Qing's usefulness to Ren Tianye was becoming lower and lower, while Ren Tianye increasingly possessed the bearing of the Grand Marshal of the world's military forces!
All of this had been anticipated by Ren Tianye. He was not surprised.
The only thing that surprised him was that the Empress, Xiao Mingzhao, was actually not completely dead yet!
Damn it, this is absolutely ridiculous!
Stabbed twice and bleeding profusely, yet she still hasn't died and is hanging on by a thread. It seems this world really bestows immense destiny upon certain people!
This Empress Xiao Mingzhao is definitely one of those imbued with immense destiny, absolutely the same kind of person as Ye Fan.
Ren Tianye thought this as he looked at Xiao Mingzhao, who had been moved to the bed by the crowd. Her face was pale, yet she still retained her nation-toppling beauty.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her long eyelashes drooped like cicada wings, and her skin was as luminous and white as porcelain, with delicately lined lips. The world-crushing majesty of an emperor had entirely dissipated, leaving behind only a cold, peerless beauty with a distinct sense of fragility.
To be honest, discounting the hazy, bewildered memories inherited from his predecessor, this was Ren Tianye's first time seeing Xiao Mingzhao, and he couldn't help but sigh in genuine admiration.
No wonder Tuoba Xiangtai couldn't tear himself away. She is truly a rare beauty, surpassing even Su Xiu.
It's just...
When is she going to die for good?
Xiao Mingzhao had fallen into a deep coma, constantly hovering between life and death, but her prolonged refusal to breathe her last left Ren Tianye feeling incredibly anxious.
He knew that only with Xiao Mingzhao dead could he legitimately support a new emperor, serve as an illustrious, powerful minister for a couple of years to win over the hearts of the people and consolidate his authority, and then force the new emperor to abdicate.
But if Xiao Mingzhao didn't die, his plan could not proceed.
In stark contrast to his thoughts, the Minister of the Household, Pei Jingzhi, was jumping with anxiety.
Why haven't the imperial physicians arrived yet?
Why aren't they here?
Even if they had to learn medicine from scratch, they should have mastered it by now. Why aren't they here yet?
Mindful of Xiao Mingzhao being critically ill in bed, Pei Jingzhi did not dare to shout. After all, they hadn't even moved her; she was being treated right here in a room within the inner courtyard of the Yuchen Mansion. Yet even so, his anger could not be concealed, and his voice revealed a helpless panic.
Half the night had passed, the barbarians had been slaughtered, and even the great ministers of Great Yu had rushed over one after another. After so much time, the people who should have come had arrived, and even those who shouldn't have come were here—yet there was no sign of the imperial physicians.
Damn it, there were just no imperial physicians.
Lord Pei, do not be so anxious. The imperial physicians are surely on their way.
Having hurried back from outside the city and hastily changed out of his bloodstained clothes, the head of the Su family, Su Pengcheng, dressed in elegant simplicity and still possessing a graceful bearing despite his advanced age, offered patient consolation.
He was instantly met with an eye roll from Pei Jingzhi.
Did he think Pei Jingzhi was a fool?
Didn't he know that Su Pengcheng had already pledged allegiance to Ren Tianye and was a bird of a feather with him? At a time like this, of course you wouldn't be anxious, damn it.
But he was anxious!
Extremely anxious!
So anxious that he couldn't stop looking outward from the courtyard, even wanting to dispatch someone to fetch the imperial physicians. Unfortunately, the outside was completely surrounded by frontier troops; his people couldn't get in, and even if they did, they couldn't get out!
Fortunately, after enduring the whole night, just as the first light of dawn broke, a group of imperial physicians arrived in a hurry. There were quite a few of them. Pei Jingzhi glanced over and saw the Imperial Physician Director, the Assistant Director, attending physicians, and others, totaling more than thirty people.
It could be said that all the imperial physicians kept by the imperial court had arrived.
Hurry up, hurry up, what are you dawdling for?
Can't you run?
Faster, faster!
Pei Jingzhi personally went out the door to usher them in, terrified of wasting time. On the way in, he explained Xiao Mingzhao's condition to the physicians.
However, this scene caused Ren Tianye to frown slightly.
Wang Ming was never this careless in his work!
Everything was centered around his orders, so how... how did the imperial physicians arrive so quickly?
It had only been one night, and the imperial physicians were all in position.
Had some unforeseen change occurred?
Wang Ming, who had followed them in, looked up at him. There was something hidden in his gaze. Ren Tianye and Wang Ming were old partners, and he instantly read the meaning in his eyes.
Simply put, it meant one word: Relax.
Ren Tianye set his mind at ease and continued to play the role of a loyal minister in front of the assembled officials. Hurry, hurry, hurry, what are you dawdling for? Can't you see His Majesty is at death's door? Why are you only arriving now? If the rescue of His Majesty is delayed because of this, the sword in this Grand Commandant's hand is not dull!
The imperial physicians were all frightened pale. They hurriedly went in one by one to take Xiao Mingzhao's pulse and examine her wounds, and then walked out one by one, all wearing expressions of difficulty.
What's wrong? Are you mute?
Speak!
His Majesty, how exactly is she?
Ren Tianye asked urgently.
Only then did the imperial physicians speak up.
Reporting to the Grand Commandant and the lords, His Majesty suffered two stab wounds. One hit beneath the ribs, injuring the liver and spleen; the other was near the heart meridian, causing severe loss of qi and blood. The blade wounds are deep and vicious. At this moment, the pulse is faint and on the verge of fading. The Emperor has fallen into a deep slumber, with only a thread of life remaining unbroken.
His Majesty's wounds are deep and the pain immense, with stagnant blood clotted inside. The vital energy is greatly depleted, and the foundation of the internal organs has been damaged. We subjects can only use medicine to stop the bleeding, solidify the qi, calm the spirit, and protect the core, barely stabilizing the life force.
At this moment, His Majesty is unconscious, hanging on by a mere breath. If the medication remains steady and the care is without error, we can only barely maintain this lingering breath. As for when the Emperor might wake up, it is still unknown.
The imperial physicians spoke one after another. After they finished, Ren Tianye understood.
Not dead!
Xiao Mingzhao simply wasn't dead!
Stabbed twice by Tuoba Xiangtai—even though Pei Jingzhi had interfered—she still wasn't dead!
She's incredibly tough to kill!
However, although she wasn't dead, she couldn't wake up.
A vegetable?
This... actually didn't seem too bad!
However, Ren Tianye did not jump to conclusions immediately. Instead, he looked at Wang Ming. After receiving a confirming nod from Wang Ming, his mind was completely set at ease.
These imperial physicians had most likely been threatened by Wang Ming, but the current situation should be the truth.
Xiao Mingzhao had truly become a vegetable!
...
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
