Chapter 123
No one knows where Xiao Minghuang's ultimate achievements will reach.
If she can truly grow up, perhaps she can restore the former glory of the Great Xia Dynasty.
This does not refer to the dynasties before the southward migration, when they had cultivators at the Primal Embryo Realm in charge.
But in an even more ancient era, there existed a dynasty that could be called immortal!
All good things must come to an end.
As Xiao Minghuang descended from the sky, a magnificent and vast voice resounded.
"The ceremony is complete!"
Now.
The voices of countless subjects rang out once more.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"
The roar of mountains and the sound of waves echoed through the sky, the sound waves rolling and surging endlessly, reverberating between heaven and earth.
Xiao Minghuang stood in the void, gazing into the distance, but could only see a dark, oppressive mass.
Countless subjects of the Great Xia Dynasty bowed down and submitted.
She finally...
He truly became the crown Crown Prince of the Great Xia.
This thing, which has been passed down for countless years, from its peak to its decline, has remained ever new and stood firm. And now, it is about to be reborn and grow towards the sun!
Thinking of this, Xiao Minghuang couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Immediately, she looked at the dense crowd and shouted:
"Gentlemen, please rise!"
"Thank you, Princess!"
The crowd responded in unison.
"The ceremony is over, everyone may leave now!"
Xiao Minghuang's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed in the sky, spreading outwards from near to far.
"Your humble servants respectfully see the princess off!"
As the ceremony concluded, the crowd bowed and departed. Some of the foreign visitors would stay in Beijing for a few days, while others would leave.
Xiao Minghuang also returned to Ye Ruoshui and the others, and together they headed towards the capital.
It was around this time.
At the edge of the venue, a figure in black robes flew rapidly towards them.
The man in black robes stopped a monk who was on his way.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait! Has the Royal Competition begun?"
The man in the black robe spoke in a calm tone, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
The cultivator who was stopped felt an intense pressure emanating from the black-robed man, as if he were standing next to a raging fire. He answered tremblingly:
"It's... it's already over..."
Upon hearing this, the black-robed man's aura faltered for a moment, then suddenly erupted like a ball of flame, bursting into countless fragments that scattered in all directions.
The cultivators standing opposite him were instantly incinerated and reduced to ashes!
Beneath the black hood, a nearly distorted face was revealed, crawling with wounds resembling black worms. His pupils gleamed with an eerie light, filled with rage and resentment. He roared in a hoarse voice:
"Xiao Minghuang! I want you dead!!!"
The man in black robes was none other than the First Prince!
Before he could finish speaking...
The First Prince transformed into a ball of red flame, burning away the void, and then vanished as a rainbow.
In his ring space.
The Medicine King suddenly opened his eyes, a cold smile of triumph flashing in his pupils.
"Hmph! You lowly, foolish thief, I merely used a little trick to throw you into disarray."
"With your current state of mind, even if you've fused with some of the Black Dragon Flame, how could you possibly be a match for that woman?"
"At that time, they will have to ask for my help, but this time, the price they will have to pay for my assistance will not be so simple..."
138. Subdue the ministers; a hundredfold critical hit! The Mountain River Town Mountain Seal!
A moment later.
The First Prince arrived at the venue.
At this moment, only a few people remained on the huge viewing platform; it was deserted and desolate.
Looking at the empty venue, a deep anger flashed in his eyes.
"This prince hasn't even arrived yet, so why should the competition end!"
The First Prince roared in the sky, and beams of dark flame shot out, forming a giant dragon in the air that covered the entire venue, turning it into a sea of fire.
This scene terrified everyone.
"Quickly! Inform the princess that someone is causing trouble!"
A cultivator shouted loudly and ran towards the capital.
Now.
A banquet is being held in the Imperial Palace.
Seated in the main hall were figures with powerful auras, the weakest of whom was at least at the first level of the Divine Sea Realm!
At the head of the table stood Xiao Minghuang, who had just been crowned Crown Prince.
Although she was only the Crown Prince, she had in fact taken over all the power of the monarch.
The fact that Emperor Xia did not attend the first grand banquet for his officials after his coronation, but instead had Princess Ziwei personally attend to him, undoubtedly illustrates this point.
The officials present also understood this.
"From this day forward, the princess shall be the true ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty."
"We must change our mindset and be loyal to the new ruler."
Those who held this view were mostly officials in the capital, who knew that Princess Ziwei was exceptionally talented and had long admired her.
However, some people disagree.
"Even though Princess Ziwei is exceptionally talented and has the National Destiny's favor, she is still only the Crown Prince. As long as His Majesty lives, she will always be a subject!"
"His Majesty is still on the throne, how dare Princess Ziwei claim the title of 'Supreme'? This is usurpation!"
Although the murmurs were not loud, they were clearly audible to everyone present, indicating that they were deliberately made to be heard.
Above the ninth tier, Xiao Minghuang, dressed in a light gold dress and wearing a crown, was noble and elegant. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and her beautiful eyes were slightly narrowed, revealing a hint of majesty and domineering, making people dare not look directly at her.
Just now on the plains, the people of Great Xia had already won her heart, and the officials and ministers in the capital also knew how formidable she was and dared not show the slightest disrespect.
But those standing in the main hall at this moment were all high-ranking local officials, who had been granted land and territories and had led their cities to prosperity for dozens of generations, possessing both power and prestige.
Xiao Minghuang's eyes flashed. Dealing with these people, by exchanging favors and slowly winning them over, was certainly a sure thing, but...
Only by first subduing them with force, and then offering them small favors, can you ensure their eternal loyalty!
Xiao Minghuang slowly stood up, her gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and said calmly:
"As the Crown Princess, I am blessed with the National Destiny. My Old Ancestor bestowed upon me the treasured Seal of Mountain River Seal, a symbol of national fortune. His Majesty personally wrote an imperial edict appointing me as regent, and my decrees are equivalent to imperial edicts..."
"... Which of you disagrees?"
Upon hearing this statement...
The entire room fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop!
A short while later.
"Your subject, Li Ziqi, Lord of Lord of Dongyang City Duke Dongyang, pays respects to the Princess!"
An elderly figure knelt down and respectfully called out.
The officials were all startled when they saw the old man kneeling on the ground.
"Duke Dongyang is the lord of a city at the Divine Sea Seventh Level Realm, with great strength and high prestige. How could he bow down to Princess Ziwei like this?"
Some people looked surprised and said in disbelief.
The person who spoke was a burly middle-aged man.
As soon as he finished speaking, he knelt down abruptly, speaking with utmost respect:
"Your subject, Yang Wendao, Lord of Lord of Sanchuan City, pays respects to the Princess!"
Everyone was startled again when they saw the burly man kneel down.
"Yang Sanchuan is the most powerful warlord in the region, yet he so easily bowed down at the feet of Princess Ziwei?"
"Just as Yang Sanchuan said, Princess Ziwei is destined to lead an era. It may be a kind of opportunity for us to become her disciples before she rises to power."
The local lords present were all intelligent men, and they quickly understood this point.
One by one, the figures knelt down and shouted in unison, "Greetings!"
"Very well, gentlemen, please rise!"
The feudal lords expressed their gratitude and rose.
Seeing this, Xiao Minghuang nodded in satisfaction and said:
"You have guarded this land for many years, and your merits are great, so you deserve a reward. However, you are all cultivators at the Divine Sea Realm, and any treasures that would benefit you are too precious to be easily bestowed upon you, even by this princess... How about this, in a month, you will send your juniors to the capital, and this princess will select the best among them to serve before the emperor. What do you all think?"
Upon hearing this, all the feudal lords were delighted.
The princess's meaning was clear: she wanted them to send their children to the capital to stay in the Imperial Palace as her close attendants. This was obviously an attempt to win them over and put their minds at ease.
Moreover, given the princess's unparalleled beauty, if their descendants could obtain even the slightest benefit from her, it would be enough to sustain them for a lifetime!
Therefore.
Everyone knelt down again.
"Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent; we wholeheartedly agree!"
Xiao Minghuang's lips curled up slightly as she chuckled:
"In that case, you may all leave. Some rewards will be delivered to your residence shortly."
"Thank you, Princess!"
The crowd respectfully withdrew and departed.
Xiao Minghuang returned to the inner palace.
Ye and Lin had been waiting there for a long time, and when they saw her return, they immediately went to greet her.
Xiao Minghuang glanced around and noticed that one person was missing.
Where is Xiu'er?
"She brought King Wu'an back to her residence, saying she needed some time to calm down."
Lin Wanqiu replied, her face showing a complex expression.
"I see..."
Xiao Minghuang was also somewhat moved. Unbeknownst to them, the evil cultivators had already infiltrated the heart of the Great Xia, even possessing the body of a powerful expert at the Divine Sea Ninth Level Realm. How could this not be terrifying?
Moreover, she was even more worried about Xu Xiuer. This stubborn young girl had already experienced many hardships, and now she had suffered this major blow. It would be such a pity if she were to give up.