Da Ji Enters the Palace

Da Ji Enters the Palace

Chong Heihu had been bound by the Crow Army, and Ji Province City immediately erupted in cheers. Yet Su Hu alone wore a grim expression.

He understood the stakes involved. Capturing one or two generals would have been no great matter, but who was Chong Heihu? The Northern Marquis, one of the Four Great Lords.

If they forged such enmity, leaving aside what Chaoge might do, even the northern lands would never let the matter rest.

Moreover, they were both lords, and Chong Houhu was one of the Four Great Lords. Su Hu had no choice but to be wary; he did not wish to drive matters to a complete rupture.

A group of men shoved and dragged Chong Heihu into the main hall.

"Kneel!"

Someone barked the order, but Chong Heihu remained standing.

Su Hu waved his hand. "All of you, withdraw."

Only Su Hu and Chong Heihu remained in the hall. Su Hu personally untied the ropes, then bowed deeply. "My lord, I have offended you."

Chong Heihu snorted. "Su Hu, why put on such an act? Do you not know that you have committed an unforgivable crime?"

Su Hu let out a sigh. "Ah, my lord, how could I not know? It is only that some time ago... Zhou Wang wished to forcibly take my daughter..."

"Spare me your nonsense. Do you think I do not know what happened? Su Hu, you had long harbored rebellious intentions. You merely found an excuse. You think Western Qi's troops are strong and its horses sturdy, so you need not fear the Great King? Heh."

Chong Heihu gave a cold laugh. Zhou Wang had told him every word of their conversation that day, and Chong Heihu had already understood. Su Hu had likely long intended rebellion; his present behavior was nothing more than regret. That old thief Su Hu had a mind as deep as the sea.

"Virtuous brother..."

The moment those words left his mouth, Chong Heihu thought of the past. The two of them had once gotten along well and sworn brotherhood, but now...

Remembering their former bond, he could not help feeling somewhat melancholy. "Elder brother, heed my words. Send your daughter to Chaoge. In the future, you will become an imperial relative—is that not a splendid thing?"

"Th-this..."

Su Hu hesitated. Then something seemed to occur to him. "Someone, serve tea. Bring some food as well."

Before long, fine wine and delicious dishes were brought in. "Virtuous brother, wait for me a little while. Eat something first."

Before Chong Heihu could react, Su Hu had already left.

In the Inner Hall, Su Hu suddenly bowed deeply. "Two immortal elders, Su Hu truly has no way out. I beg you to point me toward a clear road. Quanzhong has now been captured, and though Ji Province won a narrow victory in one battle, I know the fall of Ji Province City is only a matter of days. Otherwise, I can only kill my wife and daughter, then slit my own throat, preserving my honor."

Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen exchanged a glance. "Lord, why must you be so extreme? What exactly happened?"

Just now, Su Hu's words had been three parts truth and seven parts falsehood. He had intended to use them to coerce Zhu Wushuang and her martial sister.

But in the end, he had miscalculated. Someone had long foreseen all this.

Su Hu briefly explained the matter.

Xiang Wuchen said calmly, "Though we cultivate in the mountains, we understand the affairs of the Mortal World as well. They say, 'Under the edge of heaven, is there any land that is not the king's land? Within all beneath heaven, is there any man who is not the king's subject?' Though Lord holds lofty status, you are still a subject of Great Shang. To defy it so is the act of one without benevolence or righteousness. Besides, Sister Da Ji's heart is clear as a mirror. What reason does Lord have to refuse?"

Zhu Wushuang sneered inwardly. Su Hu truly was shameless. Just moments ago, he had wanted to borrow the strength of the two sisters against Great Shang. Unfortunately, he had reckoned wrong.

"Th-this... so that is how it is. So the immortal elders think the same way. Very well, then!"

He returned to the front hall. "Virtuous brother, I was wrong in this matter..."

"Ah, elder brother, it would have been right had you thought so earlier. Why provoke the Human Emperor's wrath? I have my own plan this time and will not let Lord become implicated. But your daughter should still depart for Chaoge as soon as possible."

"That is only proper..."

Chong Heihu was released that very night, and Su Quanzhong returned as well.

However, Su Hu had already made his decision. In the Inner Hall, Da Ji chatted with Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen. "Two elder sisters, try this Hundred Flowers Wine. I brewed it myself; its flavor is pure and elegant."

"Sister Da Ji is truly deft and ingenious. Do you understand what we told you?"

"I understand, of course I understand. The Human Emperor is the supreme sovereign of humanity. If I enter the harem, I will surely urge the Great King to place the affairs of state first and not let him neglect the court."

"Precisely so."

After finishing her second bowl of rice, Zhu Wushuang patted her belly. "Also, we should find an opportunity to have us sisters enter the harem as well. The three of us can look after one another. Senior Sister Xiang, I heard that cultivating beside the Human Emperor brings great benefits?"

"Of course. The Human Emperor is the emperor of humanity. His imperial aura bears nine dragons and can increase the speed of our cultivation."

"Alas, what a pity. We cannot cultivate on that Senior's immortal mountain. Otherwise, if I cultivated there for eight hundred or a thousand years, I might have a chance to break through into the Golden Immortal realm."

"All right, all right. Do not be dissatisfied. That Senior gave us..."

Zhu Wushuang nodded.

Three days later, Da Ji set out for Chaoge.

The moment Zhou Wang saw Da Ji, he froze on the spot. "How can she be so alike?"

Perhaps it was because of his imagination, but he found that Da Ji looked exactly like Nüwa's sacred image. Moreover, it was as though an obsession had taken root in his heart.

Truly!

Truly, Zhou Wang was rendered speechless.

"Good, good, good! From this day forth, Su Hu, Marquis of Ji Province, shall be the State Father. Choose a site in Chaoge and build a State Father Manor."

That night, Zhou Wang favored Da Ji. Da Ji's beauty stirred his heart beyond measure, so much so that he no longer wished to concern himself with court affairs.

"Great King... it is the fourth watch. It is time to rise." The palace attendant spoke softly.

"Great King..."

No response?

The palace attendant was responsible for waking Zhou Wang, and this time he did not dare be careless.

"Great King, it is time to rise!" His voice involuntarily rose a little.

Zhou Wang woke in a daze, immediately growing displeased. "I am unwell today. Court is suspended for the day."

The palace attendant was startled. "Great King, shall I summon the imperial physician?"

"No need!" Zhou Wang's voice carried a trace of impatience.

At that moment, Da Ji slowly awoke. Hearing the exchange between Zhou Wang and the palace attendant, she immediately began to weep softly, tears like pear blossoms in the rain. Zhou Wang was greatly alarmed. "Beauty, what is wrong? Who has wronged you?"

"Great King has wronged me..."

Zhou Wang: ...

"When did I wrong you?"

"Great King, do you wish for everyone under heaven to spit on this lowly one?"

Zhou Wang flew into a rage. "Who would dare? I will kill him!"

"Great King, I have only just entered the palace. If Your Majesty does not attend court, outsiders will say that I have bewitched the king. Then I will be reviled by everyone under heaven. In that case... would I not become a sinner for all eternity?"

Da Ji's words left Zhou Wang stunned.

"Great King, if you truly cherish me, then attend court properly and handle state affairs. I do not wish to become someone reviled by everyone under heaven either."

"This... very well. Attendants! Help me change."

Though Zhou Wang was exceedingly unwilling, there was truly nothing he could do now. Da Ji had forcibly dragged him out of bed.

Going to court was not enough—he also had to properly handle state affairs?

That day, Zhou Wang dealt with state affairs even more earnestly than usual.

Seeing this, Da Ji let out a sigh of relief. At last, she had not let her two elder sisters' goodwill go to waste.

The days passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, Da Ji had been in the palace for a month. During that month, Zhou Wang suffered and rejoiced in equal measure.

Every day he was worked to death, yet the more exhausted he became, the happier Da Ji seemed. When the beauty was happy, he was happy too. Moreover, Da Ji stipulated that there could not be music and revelry every day; there had to be proper timing, and favors had to be spread evenly like rain and dew...

Everyone in the harem had a very good impression of Da Ji.