Peacock Great Bright King

--Clip-clop-clip-clop!

Banners fluttered, horses galloped, and Wen Zhong, seated atop the Ink Jade Qilin, gazed toward Chaoge, a surge of excitement coursing through him.

"Soldiers, we're going home!"

"Chaoge!"

"Chaoge!"

"Chaoge!"

Their voices, like vast, rumbling clouds, their spirit like solidified, chaotic iron, the hundred thousand troops advanced with the momentum of a tide, their speed increasing by a third as they raced towards Chaoge's East Gate!

"We're finally almost at Chaoge!"

Fei Zhong was so moved he was in tears. Once they reached Chaoge, he wouldn't have to live in fear anymore! All the way here, he'd felt as if Su Hu had been constantly eyeing his neck...

Once we get back, I'll definitely be a loyal minister, a competent minister, a good minister!

Nowadays, who knows when a treacherous minister might meet a violent death...

"Chaoge?"

Su Hu glanced at Fei Zhong's neck again, then rode his horse to the front of the imperial carriage.

"Daji, my daughter, you can still regret it. Once you enter the palace, the depths are like a vast sea; stepping further is like walking through the gates of hell!"

"Marquis Su, what are you...?"

Fei Zhong stammered, but a glare from Su Hu made him shrink back, and he declared with feigned bravery from behind the captain of the guards:

"My Lord, we're almost in Chaoge, just settle down. This is a divinely ordained marriage, the Great King will treat Niang Niang Daji well."

"Silence!"

Su Hu turned and slashed down with his saber, a torrent of blood-red energy aimed directly at Fei Zhong.

"Hmph!"

The captain of the guards, Zhao Tao, let out a roar, his spear darting out like a viper's tongue, striking Su Hu's saber energy!

With a loud "Bang," Zhao Tao's spear snapped, and a large gash appeared in his chest armor, yet his body remained unharmed.

Startled, Zhao Tao ignored the searing pain in his torn hand, clasped his fists, and bowed his head:

"Thank you for holding back, my Lord!"

"Hmph!"

Su Hu snorted coldly, waiting for a response from within the imperial carriage. The matter wasn't settled yet, and there was no need to completely fall out.

Fei Zhong's face was ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably. He didn't dare say another word, but his resolve to behave himself only strengthened: I must be a good person!

"Father, your daughter is unfilial. I can no longer serve you by your side."

A clear, ethereal voice came from within the imperial carriage, sounding distant yet carrying a hint of enchantment. Just the sound was enough to stir the heart and ignite the imagination, making one wonder what kind of beauty spoke.

"Alas!"

Hearing Daji's reply, Su Hu sighed deeply, sheathed his saber:

"Continue onward!"

The three thousand troops then resumed their march. At this moment, on the walls of Chaoge, the words "North Gate" were already faintly visible.

--Dong! Dong! Dong!

"The Nine-Chamber Hall rings its bells and drums! Grand Tutor Wen returns victorious from his campaign! Escort His Majesty to the hall!"

Hearing the herald's cry, Di Xin, holding Yin Jiao's hand, led the procession to the Nine-Chamber Hall.

The officials welcomed Grand Tutor Wen into the court. After offering their collective congratulations, they lined up in civil and military ranks.

"Your subject, Grand Tutor Wen, has finally vanquished the rebels in the Northern Sea led by Yuan Futong and seventy-two other lords. I have swept through and pacified the vast lands of the Northern Sea, and now I return victorious, fulfilling the late king's hopes and the Great King's grace!"

Wen Zhong stepped out of the ranks, his voice choked with emotion, tears of joy streaming down his face.

"Hahaha! Grand Tutor, you ventured far into the Northern Sea, enduring hardships and eliminating all traitors, showcasing the might of our Yin Shang! Now that you return victorious, you shall be greatly rewarded!"

Di Xin strode down the jade steps, placing his hands on Wen Zhong's shoulders and saying softly:

"Teacher, you have worked hard."

"Not hard, not hard!"

All the praise in the world couldn't compare to Di Xin's few words that struck straight to the heart.

Wen Zhong trembled, following Di Xin's gentle force as he looked up. His gaze swept over Di Xin's softened features (Ah, he's gotten a bit plump from all the daily tonics), and he was too moved to form a coherent sentence:

"Good! Good! Good!"

"During this campaign, the rebels were no match for us. However, there were powerful and unusual individuals among them who set up an evil formation..."

After this heartfelt exchange between ruler and minister, Wen Zhong wiped his tears and briefly recounted the battle.

"Great King, this great victory is thanks to the brave fighting of all our soldiers and the timely rescue by Pavilion Lord Kong Xuan, which allowed us to crush the enemy's wicked sorcery. This old minister is already old, and fame and fortune are useless to me. If Your Majesty is inclined, why not bestow great rewards upon Pavilion Lord Kong Xuan, generously reward the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, and generously reward these scarred warriors."

"Teacher, there's no need to say more. I will not let the soldiers fighting bravely on the front lines suffer further heartache on top of their injuries!"

Di Xin turned and ascended the high platform, facing the assembled officials:

"For the soldiers who have fallen in this battle, their rank will be advanced by one level, and they will receive corresponding compensation. Those severely wounded may retire from the army, their families will be exempt from all corvée service for three generations, their rank will be advanced by half a level, and they will receive rewards! For all other soldiers, their families will be exempt from corvée service for two generations, and their rewards will be doubled!"

"Furthermore, any soldiers in the army who are forty-five years old and below the rank of Centurion will all be retired, their rank advanced by one level, and they will receive generous rewards!

Those who are fifty-five years old and below the rank of Myriad Commander will all be retired, their rank advanced by half a level, and they will receive generous rewards!"

"Furthermore, for any soldiers who participated in this expedition, if their families relocate to the Northern Sea, they will receive twenty mu of fertile land per person based on the household population! The army will clear the path and escort them!"

"Furthermore, all rewards from this campaign will be delivered safely to each household:

Those who falsify records! Executed!

Those who embezzle privately! Executed!

Those who insult the martyrs! Executed! Executed! Executed!

With execution as the path, I want these soldiers who fought for Yin Shang to not be mistreated in any way!"

"This minister, Wen Zhong, thanks the Great King for his grace on behalf of the hundred thousand soldiers!"

Wen Zhong bowed again, looking at Di Xin, who was full of spirit and regal bearing, and had only one thought in his heart: he had no regrets even if he died!

"General of Sanshan Pass, Kong Xuan, his merits in this battle are immense and cannot go unrewarded! Now that strange beings are rampant and the Star-Gathering Pavilion is about to be completed, I hereby confer upon Kong Xuan the title of Pavilion Lord of the Star-Gathering Pavilion, to command all strange beings within Yin Shang! I also bestow upon him a royal title: Peacock Great Bright King!"

The Kongtong Seal in Di Xin's hand suddenly radiated golden light, and a layer of Yin Shang's Destiny was bestowed upon Kong Xuan.

"This minister, Kong Xuan, thanks the Great King for his bestowal!"

Kong Xuan nodded, and the Human Race Destiny merged into his own Destiny, confusing the heavenly secrets and concealing his fate!

"Great King, bestowing a royal title, this...?"

"This action is not proper, Great King!"

Amidst the agitated crowd, Di Xin spoke again:

"It is merely a conferment of a royal title, without enfeoffment or slaves. The court will fund the construction of the Peacock Great Bright King's mansion."

"Great King! This reward is acceptable!"

Wen Zhong calmed his emotions and spoke in support. The previously boiling court instantly quieted down.

"This minister agrees!"

"This minister seconds the motion!"

Seeing this, Di Xin surveyed the Four Great Earls before speaking again:

"Kong Xuan, quickly fill the Star-Gathering Pavilion with personnel and register the strange beings. I grant you the authority to act first and report later! However, if strange beings cause trouble again in the future, I will hold you accountable!"

"This minister will certainly not fail the Great King's high expectations!"

With the Human Race Destiny in hand, Kong Xuan naturally cooperated very well with Di Xin.

"Hahaha, come, prepare a banquet! On this joyous occasion, I will not return until we are drunk today, my beloved ministers!"

Before Di Xin's voice had even fallen, Fei Zhong scrambled into the great hall:

"Report! I report to the Great King, the Marquis of Jizhou, Su Hu, has arrived with his daughter and is currently waiting outside the hall."

Yes, it was indeed a joyous occasion.