Pangu World, China's Divine Land, Nine Dragons Commandery, Nine Dragons Forbidden City.
After clearing up the aftermath in the ancient capital of Luoyang, Xiao Ying and Great Huan's senior ministers returned to the Nine Dragons Forbidden City.
For the next fortnight, Xiao Ying was in no hurry to recover his lost lands or ignite another war. He spent most of his time learning how the overall situation in Pangu World had changed over the past twenty-odd years, assessing the circumstances, receiving his ministers, and sharpening weapons and feeding horses for the battles ahead. Even this alone left him dizzy with work; he truly attended to a myriad affairs each day.
In particular, he met privately with many of Great Huan's old guard, including the six brothers and sisters from his early days on Nine-Dragon Island: Jiang Yao, Jiang Qing, Gao Hong, Gao Gong, Yang Ning, and Shi Jin. To Xiao Ying's relief and delight, all six were still there. None had left, betrayed him, or fallen.
As for the younger generation-Tian Feng, Guo Jia, Xu Fu, Zhao Yun, Gan Ning, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, and the others-who had still been immature before Xiao Ying ascended, they had now grown into renowned commanders and pillars of Great Huan. They had lived up to their reputation as people blessed with Heaven's Favor, their prestige no less than that of Great Huan's veteran ministers.
What left Xiao Ying sighing with sorrow was the Zhao Clan, which had been among his earliest followers. Of its younger generation, only Zhao Yun and Zhao Yu remained. Zhao Feng, Zhao Lei, Zhao Dian, Zhao Lu, and the other youths had fallen one after another, some on the battlefield, others to assassination and the like.
One day.
Xiao Ying, Bai Ze, the four sons, Great Huan's six consorts,