Phoenix cries on Mount Qi? Ji Chang: Your Majesty, don't come after me!

In the blink of an eye, three days have passed.

Today is the day when the feudal Human Emperor.

Bells and drums resounded Chaoge City, and the heavy palace gates slowly opened in the morning light.

Outside the various post stations, carriages and horses were bustling about, and various lords, dressed in court attire, with different expressions, converged on the Great Dao leading to the royal palace.

Inside the Marquis of Ji Province's post station.

Su Hu was dressed in court robes with a jade belt around his waist, exuding an aura of uprightness and incorruptibility.

"Su Daji" slowly walked out of the room. She was not wearing any makeup today, and her simple white clothes made her look even more pitiful.

It seemed that the rumors and gossip of the past few days had terrified this sheltered young girl.

"Father."

Looking at his obedient and sensible daughter, Su Hu felt even more frustrated.

Those two treacherous villains actually dared to plot against their own daughter.

This is absolutely outrageous!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his heart, and tried his best to make his tone sound calm.

"I don't know when today's Hajj will end."

"You just stay quietly in the inn, and don't take those gossips outside to heart."

"Once I have finished my audience with the emperor, we will immediately set off back to Ji Province."

"Su Daji" nodded obediently, raised her big, watery eyes, and looked timidly at Su Hu.

"Father, go in peace. Your daughter will wait for your return here."

She bit her lower lip, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Father... those two doctors are, after all, the King's favorites."

"Father, if you can avoid this trip, it would be best to avoid conflict with them."

"It's nothing for my daughter to suffer a little. As long as my father is safe and our family can return to Ji Province, that's all that matters."

These words were spoken with such profound understanding and a willingness to compromise.

This directly ignited the anger in Su Hu's heart.

Su Hu snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve.

"Avoid?"

Why avoid it?

"Those two treacherous villains have wreaked havoc on the court and deceived the emperor!"

"If everyone has to tolerate them, what will become of the Great Shang Dynasty?"

Su Hu revealed murderous intent, and his Baleful Qi caused his robes to flutter wildly.

"Daji."

"Today, as your father, I will go to court and present a report against them before the King!"

"These two treacherous villains have bewitched the king and tarnished His the King's reputation. Such scourges to the country and its people deserve to be punished by everyone!"

Having said that, Su Hu did not hesitate any longer.

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and strode out of the inn's gate.

Looking at his upright back, Su Daji slowly straightened up.

The gentleness and worry on her face vanished the moment Su Hu disappeared.

A cold smile bloomed on her lips.

See a copy?

Okay, let's make it even tougher and the harsher the insults.

It would be best to start the argument in the main hall, making those two petty people resentful and forcing you into a corner.

Go then, my good father.

Let them make a scene, the bigger the better.

Fei Zhong You Hun, you two really need to step up your game!

All that's left is this final spark.

As long as the fire burns bright enough, this stubborn old man will naturally obediently send me to the palace.

Nine Chamber Hall.

The civil and military officials lined up on both sides, each holding their breath and not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Di Xin sat high on his throne, his crown tassels hanging down, obscuring his face and making it impossible to discern his emotions.

The Four Great Vassal Lords— Marquis of Dong, Jiang Huanchu Marquis of the South, E Chongyu; Marquis Ji Chang of the West; Marquis of the North, Chong Houhu— gathered together on either side of the hall.

As for the remaining eight hundred vassal lords, they waited Nine Chamber Hall for their summons.

"Your Majesty, we, your the King."

The four of them bowed in unison.

Di Xin slightly raised his hand.

"Your four esteemed subjects, please rise."

"Thank you, Your the King."

The four people stood up.

Jiang Huanchu stepped forward first, his voice loud and clear.

"Your subject, Marquis of Dong, Jiang Huanchu of the East, reports that the land of Eastern Lu enjoys favorable weather and abundant harvests, and the people live in peace and prosperity. All two hundred vassal lords are grateful for Your the King's benevolence and pay tribute annually without fail."

"Your the King, your subject, Marquis of the South, E Chongyu, is stationed in the southern border, ensuring the peace and prosperity of the nation."

"Your subject, Marquis of the North, Chong Houhu..."

The Four Great Vassal Lords stepped forward one by one to report on the situation in their respective territories. Their reports were nothing more than empty praise and flattery, claiming that the people in their respective regions were living in peace and that the Four Seas was at peace.

Di Xin listened with a perfectly timed smile on his face.

"Your four beloved ministers guard the four directions, protecting the four corners of our Great Shang Dynasty."

"With you all here, my Great Shang Dynasty dynasty is as stable as a rock."

My heart is greatly comforted.

After making those polite remarks, Di Xin suddenly changed the subject.

His gaze fell on the old man who had been keeping his head down and looked the most honest and unassuming.

Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang.

"Marquis of Xibo."

Ji Chang trembled and quickly stepped forward.

"Your old minister is here."

Di Xin remained silent, simply watching him quietly.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

The ministers looked at each other, wondering what the King meant.

a long time.

Di Xin leaned forward slightly, a seemingly gentle smile on his face.

"I heard an interesting story a few days ago, it came from Xiqi."

Ji Chang's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped his entire body.

"What rumors has Your the King heard? The words of country bumpkins are often absurd; Your the King should not take them seriously."

"The Phoenix cries on Mount Qi."

"Mandate of Heaven is with Zhou?"

"As everyone knows, the Mysterious Bird of Heaven's Mandate descended and gave birth to the Shang Dynasty. Our Great Shang Dynasty was established by inheriting the Mandate of Heaven."

"Marquis of Xibo, you are a pillar of our Great Shang Dynasty, and your family has received the king's favor for generations."

"Tell me, what does this 'The phoenix cries in Xiqi, the Mandate of Heaven is with Zhou ' mean?"

Boom!

This is not just a rumor.

This is clearly a malicious attack!

This is a deadly knife!

The ministers around him turned deathly pale instantly.

The Mysterious Bird of Heaven's Mandate descended and gave birth to the Shang Dynasty.

This was the foundation upon which the Great Shang Dynasty established its nation.

Now, rumors are spreading in Xiqi that "the Mandate of Heaven is with Zhou," which means they are plotting a rebellion!

Ji Chang was struck dumb, and with a thud, he knelt straight down on the hard gold brick.

The dull thud of a knee striking the ground echoed clearly throughout the hall.

"Your the King, please be wise! Your the King, please be wise!"

Ji Chang lay prone on the ground, trembling violently, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold earth.

"This is utter nonsense! It's a frame-up by a villain!"

"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to the Great Shang Dynasty; the sun and moon bear witness to that!"

"Xiqi has always been law-abiding and loyal, and has never harbored any disloyalty. This treasonous rumor... I am truly innocent!"

He was genuinely scared.

This the King may appear young, but he is ruthless, cunning, and not easily fooled.

If this accusation is firmly placed on them today, Xiqi will face utter destruction.

Di Xin looked at the trembling old man at his feet.

A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

Are you scared already?

When you rebel in the future, you won't be so timid.

"Injustice?"

"Marquis of Xibo, you have always been well-versed in the principles of the I Ching and the Eight Trigrams."

"Can't you figure out who's destined for this?"

Ji Chang was drenched in cold sweat, which soaked through his court robes.

"Your Majesty, I cannot foresee the will of Heaven, but I know the will of the King."

"Your the King is Heaven, Your the King is destiny!"

At this moment.

"Your the King!"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Huanchu immediately stepped forward to plead for Ji Chang.

"Your the King, please calm your anger. The Marquis of Xibo has always been respectful and obedient. It seems that there are villains causing trouble within his territory."

"They are deliberately spreading rumors to frame the Marquis of Xibo. Your the King, please investigate thoroughly!"

Marquis of the South, E Chongyu and Marquis of the North, Chong Houhu also spoke up.

"Yes, Your the King, there must be something fishy about this!"

"Your the King, please spare him this time, considering the merits of the Marquis of Xibo in guarding the western border for many years!"

Bi Gan stepped forward quickly.

"Your the King!"

"The Marquis of Xibo is benevolent and loves his people; he has a long-standing reputation for virtue and is by no means a treacherous minister or rebel."

"These rumors circulating in the marketplace are mostly the result of someone being jealous of talent and ability, deliberately framing someone, and trying to sow discord between the ruler and his subjects."

"I implore Your the King to investigate thoroughly and not disappoint this old minister."

Following this, Prime Shang Rong, King Wu, Huang Feihu, and others stepped forward to plead for leniency.

"Your the King, please investigate!"

Di Xin looked at the ministers kneeling on the ground.

I felt a little bored.

Ji Chang was truly skilled at winning people's hearts.

So many people are speaking up for him.

However, we're not really going to kill him today.

It's not ready yet.

If we kill Ji Chang now, Xiqi will be leaderless and unable to descend into chaos.

Hehehe...

"Get up."

Di Xin suddenly laughed out loud, and the suffocating pressure in the hall instantly dissipated.

"What are you doing, my esteemed ministers?"

"I was just asking a question casually after hearing a joke."

"I naturally trust the loyalty of the Marquis of Xibo."

"If even the Marquis of Xibo is going to rebel, then the world would probably be in chaos long ago."

Ji Chang felt his body go limp and almost collapsed to the ground.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and thanked him profusely.

"Thank you for your trust, Your the King!"

"This old minister is terrified!"

Di Xin waved his hand.

"Alright, but the existence of this rumor indicates that morale in Xiqi is low."

"After the Marquis of Xibo returns, he still needs to properly manage the people under his rule."

"Do not let these rebellious and insane words reach Chaoge again."

"Otherwise, even if I believed you, the laws of the Great Shang Dynasty would likely not tolerate you."

Although this last sentence was said with a smile, the warning it contained was blatant.

Ji Chang kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, I obey! I will certainly investigate thoroughly upon my return!"

Di Xin waved his hand.

"Alright, you may leave."

Ji Chang felt as if he had been granted a pardon. Wiping away his cold sweat, he retreated back into the ranks. His once steady hands were now trembling slightly.

After this little incident, the atmosphere inside the main hall became somewhat oppressive.

The other feudal lords were even more cautious, fearing that they would be the next to be named.

Di Xin nodded in satisfaction and stopped dwelling on the matter.

One tap is enough.

He was really looking forward to seeing when Ji Chang would muster the courage to lead the feudal lords in rebellion.

In that way, he would have a legitimate reason to uproot these local warlords who held sway over their territories and commanded their own armies.

"Do any other feudal lords have anything else to report?"

The palace guard on duty immediately announced in a loud voice, "Yes, sir!"

"If any feudal lord has something to report, he/she shall immediately enter the palace—"

The sound echoed out of the main hall and reverberated across the Square.

Just then...

A deep, powerful voice came from outside the hall, penetrating through the many palace gates and entering the main hall.

"Your subject, Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu, has a matter to report!"

That shout was full of energy, carrying a resolute air of someone ready to die for their cause.

All the civil and military officials in the hall felt a jolt in their hearts.

They've arrived.

The main character who has been making headlines these past few days has finally made their appearance.

Fei Zhong and You Hun, who were at the end of the queue, exchanged a glance.

They both saw a hint of malice in each other's eyes.

This Su Hu!

They really don't know what's good for them!

They actually dared to bring this matter to the King's doorstep!

Wouldn't this make them look incompetent, unable to even handle a mere Marquis of Ji Province, making them appear utterly useless?

Regardless of what the ministers thought, Di Xin, sitting on the throne, simply uttered a single word.

"Announce."

The eunuch shouted loudly.

"Summon— Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu to an audience!"