Chapter 77: Luotian's Calamity 7

  Early morning, the golden light of dawn covered the Luo Tian Imperial Palace with a layer of golden radiance. The grand ceremony of enthronement was approaching. Inside and outside the palace, there was an atmosphere of jubilation. The palace maids and eunuchs were busy preparing for the event, hurrying back and forth.

  On the palace tower, Nan Gong Jin stood with his hands behind his back. His black sleeves fluttered gently in the autumn breeze. The sunlight shone on his face, and his pale skin looked stern and majestic under the morning light.

  At this time, a black figure flashed onto the palace building and knelt behind Nan Gongyu. "Master, General He has already found Princess Huangfu. The Crown Prince Dugu has returned to the post house with General Huo."

  Nangong Jin's face was expressionless. "Then why hasn't she come back yet."

  A black figure replied, "The princess has gone with General He to Qilin Mountain."

  Nangong Jin's expression slightly solidified. "I understand."

  The black figure did not back down and continued: "Also, Master... that thing you had me investigate last time..."

  Nangong Jin turned his head towards him. The black figure trembled slightly and quickly lowered his head. "Inferior subordinate."

  A faint gloom flashed across Nan Gong Jin's eyes. The black figure continued, "Zhao Song kept this matter tightly sealed and never told anyone about it. However, my subordinate found out that the day before Zhao Song took his own life, he had gone to see Princess Huang Fu..."

  A black figure whispered: "They had a secret meeting at the Bai Ming Building for nearly an hour. After Zhao Song returned home, he arranged all the big and small matters and hanged himself at home on the second day."

  Nangong Jin's expression turned slightly cold. A black figure nodded and flew away.

  Today's sunshine is great. In the imperial palace, the palace maids are coming and going, carrying various items to serve the empress in her bedroom. A tall, black figure flashes into the palace gate. The palace maids are all stunned for a moment, then kneel down together.

  Nangong Jin waved her hand, indicating that they didn't need to pay their respects. The palace maids nodded and immediately got up and walked towards the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

  Nan Gong Jin walked to the palace gate, the Empress Dowager had not yet risen. According to etiquette, he and Nan Gong Yan should have come every morning to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. However, at this time of day in the past, he was usually handling government affairs in the imperial study or even on a military campaign outside.

  Nan Gong Yan has been in poor health for many years, bedridden and unable to get up. It wasn't until a year ago when she found that Blood Lingzhu that she became lively again. However, she doesn't remember coming here to pay her respects this morning. He can't quite recall the last time he was alone with his mother.

  He lingered at the gate of the palace for a long time.

  The Queen Mother walked to the gate of the palace with the support of the palace maids.

  Nangong Jin heard the empress dowager's voice and turned around to pay his respects. "I have seen you, Empress Dowager."

  "Oh dear, tomorrow is the grand ceremony of enthronement. What brings you here? Where's Xi Nuo?" The Empress Dowager glanced outside the gate.

  "She... still has some grand ceremony procedures to practice. So she didn't come." Nangong Jin raised his head, but was taken aback.

  Is this... his mother?

  The face that still retains its elegance now has shallow wrinkles, pale and haggard, the hair on both temples seems to have turned white in an instant, deep fatigue in the eyes, the body is no longer as before, without the support of palace maids, it seems like a gust of wind would blow it down.

  Nangong Jin's eyes felt a surge of heat. He walked over and took her hand from the palace maid. "It's windy outside, let's go in."

  Murong Taohou nodded slightly and let out a soft sigh. "Time really flies by quickly. Before you know it, the Empress will be entering the palace soon. In my day, I was also tormented by that grand ceremony of enthronement. Fortunately, at that time, your father, the king, was only a small feudal lord and Luo Tian had only a few cities under its control. It wasn't such a big fuss."

  Nangong Jin smiled lightly. "The Empress is being modest. I've heard that when Luo Tian came to see the Empress's beauty, the queue extended all the way to the villages outside the city walls. It was truly a magnificent sight."

  Being praised by Nan Gongyu like that, Murong Empress actually had some shyness. "Those are just some baseless rumors. You also believe them."

  Nangong Jin supported her in sitting on the couch. "Of course, I believe you. You are my queen mother. Naturally, you should also be the most beautiful and happiest woman under heaven."

  Murong Taohou smiled with relief, pulling him to sit beside her. She stretched out her hand and stroked Nan Gongyin's handsome face, as if before her eyes was still the little boy who followed her around over a decade ago.

  Suddenly, Murong Empress's eyes moistened. Nangong Jin was taken aback and grasped her hand. "Mother..."

  Murong Taohou waved her hand. "People get old and it's easy to get sentimental."

  As she spoke, she raised her eyes and looked at Nan Gong Jin. Although there was a smile on her face, the sadness in her eyes could not be concealed. "You look just like him."

  Nangong Jin's eyes trembled slightly. Murong Empress smiled bitterly. "However, he is not like you. He has love, but no feelings."

  Nangong Jin's voice was a little hoarse. "Empress Dowager, you're talking about... Father Emperor."

  Murong Taohou was taken aback, and then forced a smile. "Of course it's your father the king, who else could it be? Have you heard someone telling you something? No matter what rumors there are, don't believe them. You are indeed the child of your father the king..."

  "No." Nangong Jin replied calmly, but he had already made a guess in his heart.

  Murong Taohou nodded unnaturally. "It's better if there isn't... I'm a bit tired. I want to rest for a while. You go ahead and busy yourself."

  The Empress Dowager's fluster was all taken in by Nan Gongyin. He stood up, slightly nodded his head. "Your subject bids farewell."

  Watching Nangong Jin's figure gradually disappear, Empress Murong covered her mouth and tears flowed down uncontrollably. Beside her, a pair of jade hands handed over a white handkerchief. "Your Majesty, it's cold outside, take care of your body."

  Murong Taohou nodded and took over the white silk to wipe away her tears. "Now that Wang'er has also married the Empress, he will have his own family soon. It's just as well. Children grow up and eventually leave; they won't always be by your side."

  Yanran will always be by your side.

  Qilin Mountain. Inside the camp.

  Nalan Xixi sat on the upper floor, while in the lower hall below, to her left were Nan Gongyin's three most trusted and bravest generals: Quan Long, Huo Zhi, and He Xian.

  Seated on the right are, in order, the First Guardian of Luotian, the Silver Dragon, White Silver Armor God's White Silver Lieutenant; and the one known as [Deep Pool Hidden Dragon], the Commander of Luotian's First Dark Guard, who combines assassination, intelligence gathering, and protection functions.

  There is also the one who has gone through layers of screening, whether it's martial arts or loyalty, they are second to none. The invincible leader of the Heavenly Wolf Guard, Lone Wolf.

  They rarely have the opportunity to gather together. They are the best in all of Luotian, and even the entire Luotian continent.

  Tomorrow is the day of the grand ceremony. The rebellious forces hiding in the imperial capital are already stirring. As predicted by Huo, a great war is inevitable. The mastermind behind all the conspiracies is Huangfu Ling.

  He must have come prepared this time. The Liang State borders the Luo Tian Empire to the southwest, and if war were to break out, it would only take one night.

  Once the city is breached, external reinforcements will certainly take advantage of the situation and pour in. The garrison troops stationed far away at the northern border cannot arrive in time to provide support. Therefore, we can only rely on the strength within the city to fight a desperate battle.

  "Master, in my opinion, why don't we just capture Huang Fu Ling directly and throw him into prison? Without a leader, his men will naturally become disorganized and lose their footing. Moreover, with a hostage in our hands, what do we have to fear from them?" He Xian spoke up first, seeing that everyone else was silent.

  Nalan Xixi's face was expressionless. She didn't say a word. Huo Zhe gritted his teeth and said, "You shut up. Just listen to Master's arrangement."

  He Xian dissatisfiedly said: "What do you mean? Did I say something wrong?"

  Huo Zhen said helplessly, "Now except for us, no one knows that he plans to make trouble at this grand ceremony. You caught him, isn't it our fault? What's the point of catching him when everything was fine? This will allow Lian Xiangguo to rise up in revolt with a clear conscience and just cause. What will you do then?"

  "He won't give up until he's caught. Let everyone know that he attempted to cause trouble and stir up rebellion."

  Huo shook his head. "Even if we catch the person, his people will never admit that Ling Wang was the mastermind. Besides, what's the point of letting everyone know that Ling Wang is plotting a rebellion? This would only make him even more unscrupulous and he can directly raise the flag to rebel. What would you do then?"

  "What's wrong with this and what's wrong with that? How should it be then? You tell me."

  Huo sighed. "Can't you see? He has already made up his mind to rebel. No matter what we do, he will still rebel. So, this time we must give him a fatal blow within the city and make sure he has no support inside. This way, even if he lays siege to the city, we can still hold on for some time and wait for reinforcements."

  Upon hearing this, He Xian took a deep breath of cool air. Only then did he realize that the initiative was no longer entirely in their hands. Moreover, what they could do now was not to defeat them, but to give them the most fatal blow possible, in order to buy time.

  The most important thing is time.

  "Silver Dragon." At this time, Nalan Xinnuo suddenly spoke up.

  "In. The silver dragon stood up and clasped its fists."

  "Divide the Silver Armor Knights into three routes. One route for defense, one route for offense, and one route for guarding. The defensive troops are stationed at the four major city gates to defend the city as the main priority. The offensive troops are stationed at the four major palace gates. If there is any sign of enemy forces, they will launch a full-scale attack. The last route of guard troops is stationed inside the palace. Even if the imperial capital falls, the imperial palace must be defended."

  Nalan Xixi's face was expressionless, her calm and unremarkable demeanor commanded respect without needing to be angry. Her eyes emitted a sharp and cold glow like that of a wolf. She knew well that this was a battle that would decide victory or defeat, life or death, in one move. "Go and do it immediately."

  "Yes sir." The Silver Dragon acknowledged and retreated.

  "Driven to death."

  "In"

  "Your men are to be divided into three routes. One route will stay in the Imperial Capital, awaiting my orders. One route will head to Kanto, to explain the situation to several generals and have them send troops to support us immediately. However, they must be careful not to alarm the surrounding vassal states. If they become suspicious, they will join the enemy army for self-preservation. If they form an alliance, this matter will be difficult to settle."

  She said, her face slightly cold. "Another way is to go to Mo Bei and find General Li. Let him send heavy troops to guard the five cities of Mo Bei. If the imperial capital falls, I will let the Tian Lang Guard take Wang Shang to Mo Bei. That will be Luo Tian's last five cities, our last retreat. Please ask him to hold on."

  "It is." Take orders and retreat.

  Lone Wolf

  "In"

  "You bring the Heavenly Wolf Guard into the palace. You must ensure the king's safety above all else. If the capital falls, you will immediately take the king and head north to find General Li in the desert. If he refuses, bind him and take him away."

  "Yes."