Ji Chang Enters the Court

The news spread to Xi Qi.

The people of Xi Qi, from top to bottom, were all in a state of unease.

If Xi Qi was truly innocent, they wouldn't be so afraid; they could just treat it as a trip. But the problem was, Xi Qi's hands were far from clean.

Over the years, Xi Qi had painstakingly subdued the surrounding large and small states and tribes, and the people were sharpening their knives, ready to rebel and chop Zhou Wang.

At this critical moment, Zhou Wang summoned Ji Chang to Zhao Ge for an audience.

What did this mean? Had a traitor informed on them? What if he couldn't return?

Bo Yikao paced anxiously in the room.

"Father, do you think Zhou Wang has discovered our plans?"

Ji Chang, the person in question, sat calmly to the side.

"Even if Zhou Wang has discovered us, what can he do? Xi Qi is still too weak to confront him head-on. This trip to Zhao Ge, I must make."

"Father, Su Hu, the Marquis of Ji Province, has long harbored rebellious intentions and even fought a major battle with the North Marquis a few days ago. In my opinion, we can unite with the Marquis of Ji Province to rebel together."

"Kao'er, you are still too young. The South Marquis is upright and loyal to Great Shang; the East Marquis's daughter is Zhou Wang's empress; the North Marquis has always followed Zhou Wang's lead. Which of them would help us rebel?"

Sighing, Ji Chang said earnestly, "If they are not truly forced by Zhou Wang, they will not rebel. Xi Qi alone cannot fight Zhou Wang head-on. The only plan for now is for me to go to Zhao Ge to buy you time."

"Father," Bo Yikao stepped forward, grasped Ji Chang's hand, his eyes filled with tears.

"Kao'er, after I leave, Xi Qi will be entrusted to you."

The young Ji Fa peeked through the window, not understanding why his father and elder brother were embracing and weeping.

The carriages rumbled and the horses neighed along the way.

Ji Chang and his party traveled for more than half a month, and finally Zhao Ge was close at hand.

One afternoon, Ji Chang and his party were traveling through Yan Mountain when they encountered a torrential downpour, making it impossible to proceed.

Their progress was blocked, and they saw a thriving, dense bamboo forest nearby, so they quickly entered the bamboo forest to take shelter from the rain.

Ji Chang stared pensively at the dim sky, wondering what he was thinking.

The heavy rain continued for half an hour, and Ji Chang kept staring at the sky in a daze.

Suddenly, Ji Chang turned to a group of followers and said, "There's going to be thunder, be careful."

Before he finished speaking, the lightning flashed like daylight, and a thunderclap resounded, with thunder and lightning intertwined, shaking the mountains and rivers, causing countless mountains to collapse.

Everyone was shocked and huddled together tightly.

After a while, the clouds dispersed, the rain stopped, the wind ceased, the thunder subsided, and the sun emerged from behind the clouds, shining on the earth once again.

Only then did everyone come out of the forest.

Ji Chang, soaked by the heavy rain, sat on his horse, pondered for a moment, and said, "Where the lightning strikes, a general star appears. Just now, the heavens sent down a thunderbolt of immense power, and a war god who will dominate an era must have appeared. Quickly help me find that general star."

The attendants were dumbfounded. Where did this general star come from in broad daylight? Could it be that the Marquis had gone mad from the rain?

However, no one dared to question him, and no one dared to disobey the order. The attendants had no choice but to scatter and carefully search for the so-called general star.

As they were searching, they suddenly heard a child crying near an ancient tomb.

They felt strange. After such a heavy rain, where would a child come from? Could it be a ghost? And daring to appear in broad daylight?

A few of the braver ones went to the tomb to investigate and found an infant lying in a swaddling cloth next to the tomb.

One of them pondered, "How could there be a child next to this ancient tomb? There must be something strange about it. Could this be the general star the Marquis was talking about?"

Someone picked up the baby and brought him to Ji Chang.

Ji Chang took the baby and carefully examined him. He saw that the child's face was like a peach blossom, and his eyes shone with a strange light. He was overjoyed and thought, This is the general star that Heaven has bestowed upon my Xi Qi.

Ji Chang thought to himself, A fortune teller once predicted that I would have a hundred sons in my life, but so far I only have ninety-nine children. This child must be the hundredth child that Heaven has given me. I will adopt him as my son, which will complete the number of one hundred. This is truly a gift from Heaven.

But this trip to Zhao Ge was a dangerous place, how could he take a baby with him?

After thinking for a moment, Ji Chang ordered his attendants, "Go to the village ahead and send this child there to be fostered. When I return to Xi Qi from Zhao Ge, bring the child back to Xi Qi and I will raise him myself."

Ji Chang teased the little fellow with a smile, "Little fellow, you were born of thunder, so I will name you Lei Zhenzi. You are a son given to me by Heaven, and you will surely have good fortune in the future."

Just as the attendant was about to take the child and leave, a white cloud drifted over.

The white cloud transformed into a human form, wearing a cloud-white robe, extraordinary and elegant.

"Hold on!"

Ji Chang looked at the person in surprise. The white cloud had transformed into a human, so he must be a Qi Refiner with accomplished cultivation.

"May I ask which Immortal Elder is before me?"

Yun Zhongzi nodded slightly, "I am Yun Zhongzi, a Qi Refiner from the Jade Pillar Cave of Kunlun Mountain. My master is the Yuqing Sage."

Ji Chang quickly bowed, "I didn't know it was the Sage's disciple in person, please forgive me."

"North Marquis, there is no need to be so polite. I have come here with a request. The infant in your arms has a karmic connection with me as a disciple, and I hope the North Marquis will grant my wish."

Ji Chang was overjoyed and handed Lei Zhenzi to Yun Zhongzi.

"It is Lei Zhenzi's good fortune to be able to become Immortal Elder's disciple. I thank Immortal Elder for this favor."

Yun Zhongzi took Lei Zhenzi, exchanged a few words with Ji Chang, and then rode the clouds back to Kunlun Mountain.

After saying goodbye to Yun Zhongzi, Ji Chang and his party continued on their way, arriving at Zhao Ge City early the next morning.

Zhao Ge City, the Royal Palace.

Zhou Wang, dressed in a white imperial robe, sat high on the throne, overlooking everyone with a terrifying presence.

"Bold Ji Chang, you sent assassins to assassinate me in secret, which is punishable by death according to the law! What do you have to say for yourself!"

"Your Majesty, I, Ji Chang, am loyal to Great Shang and have been so for decades, never daring to slacken. My Xi Qi is even more obedient to Your Majesty's lead. How would I dare to send someone to assassinate you?"

Zhou Wang waved his hand, and a piece of animal bone covered with writing was thrown in front of Ji Chang.

"Bold! The assassin's testimony is here, how dare you quibble!"

Ji Chang knelt on the ground, bowing his head deeply, "Your Majesty, I truly dare not do such a rebellious thing."

"Still dare to quibble, drag him down and behead him."

"Your Majesty, you must not!" Wei Ziqi stepped forward to object, "Your Majesty, if he really wanted to rebel, would he still come to court to pay his respects?"

Following Wei Ziqi's lead, a group of ministers stood up to remonstrate, hoping to beg Zhou Wang to spare Ji Chang.

It turned out that Ji Chang had already corresponded with important officials in the court before setting off, knowing why Zhou Wang had summoned him. At the same time, he offered generous gifts, asking them to plead for him in front of Zhou Wang to let him off, which led to today's scene.

Zhou Wang was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Although he was the king of Great Shang, he couldn't go against the wishes of so many important officials, so he said angrily, "Ji Chang is to be imprisoned in Youli, and no one is allowed to visit him!"

Ji Chang, you old fool, I'll let you off for now!