Three kingdoms (two chapters in one)

River Kingdom, Early Dynasty.

The hall was paved with gold bricks, and officials lined up on both sides, holding tablets and tablets, to present their reports in turn.

The King of the River Kingdom, seated on the dragon throne, rested one hand on his forehead, his eyes slightly closed, looking weary, as if he had not yet fully recovered from the tears of a certain concubine the previous night.

An official in a scarlet robe stepped forward first, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, a murder occurred in the south of the city last night. A merchant's son stabbed the son of the military governor of Duanhexi to death in the street outside the Drunken Immortal Tower. The murderer has been apprehended on the spot and is currently being held at the Court of Judicial Review."

The king didn't even lift his eyelids, and simply grunted an "Mm."

The official continued, "According to the assassin's confession, his motive for the assassination was that the son of the military governor Zhang had glanced at his wife on the street six months ago."

"After that, his wife would weep whenever she recalled that look, saying that it contained three parts indifference, three parts mockery, and four parts nonchalance. The murderer endured it for half a year, but last night he finally could not bear it any longer. I have already submitted the confession to the Ministry of Justice."

"This man loves his wife dearly; his love is pitiful, and his sins are forgivable. Such deep affection is truly beyond words."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another censor stepped forward, his face grave. "Your Majesty, there is more to this matter than meets the eye."

"I have heard that although the son of that military governor is naturally romantic, he is a rare talent in financial management. He is in charge of the military pay allocation for the Duanhexi, and last year he even saved the national treasury 20,000 taels of silver in losses. Such a capable minister died a violent death in the street simply because he glanced at someone else. I believe that the murderer should be severely punished to comfort the spirit of this capable minister in heaven and to uphold the law of the land."

Just as the two were arguing, another official stepped forward. He was from the Ministry of War. He spoke calmly and slowly, "Your Majesty, Military Governor Zhang submitted a report to the Ministry of War this morning. He said that he is over fifty years old and has only one son. Now, as an old man burying his son, he is heartbroken. He requests to resign from his post as military governor and return to his hometown with his son's coffin to guard his grave. He requests that the court select another capable general to oversee the defense of the three prefectures Duanhexi."

He paused here, then added, "One more thing, Governor Zhang said he's waiting for a reply from the imperial court." The three prefectures Duanhexi are the northwestern gateway to the River Kingdom, and in recent years they have relied entirely on Governor Zhang's presence to maintain order.

If he really abandons his post, the border defense will be breached.

But the "response" he wanted was clearly not something that could be resolved with just a letter of retention from the Ministry of War.

An elderly Vice Minister from the Ministry of Rites coughed lightly and slowly stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this old minister received an urgent report this morning."

"His Highness the Regent of the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom's principal wife, the one who left two years ago due to her dissatisfaction with the Regent King taking a concubine, entered the country yesterday and is currently residing in the Pure Water Temple in the east of the city."

"This morning, the Yu Kingdom's embassy surrounded the temple, demanding that our country hand over the person. His Highness Regent King Regent's personal letter has also been delivered to the embassy, stating that if the River Kingdom refuses to return the Queen, he will personally lead his elite cavalry to retrieve her within three days."

A murmur rippled through the hall. Someone whispered, "Leading their personal guards and iron cavalry to fetch the princess? Are they here to welcome her, or to attack the city?"

Another person replied, "His Regent King said in his letter that he cannot live without this woman."

The king finally opened his eyes, glanced around at the assembled officials and ministers, and was about to speak when the old Vice Minister added, "Your Majesty, the abbot of Pure Water Temple refuses to hand over the person. He says that the princess has already been ordained at the temple, with the Dharma name Pure Dust. If the embassy's people try to force their way in, he will kill himself by crashing into the temple gate."

Another official stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. This morning, His Highness the Crown Prince hosted a banquet at his residence, inviting many talented individuals from the capital to write prefaces for the Second Prince's poetry collection. His Highness praised the Second Prince's poems as 'every word a gem, transcending the mundane.' I suggest that Your Majesty, if you have the leisure, would be so kind as to visit the Crown Prince's Residence and join in this grand event."

Before he could finish speaking, the censor sneered, "At the beginning of the year, the Second Prince trampled three acres of wheat fields during a hunt in the suburbs, and His Highness the Crown Prince called it a 'people-friendly act.' Last month, the Second Prince publicly flogged an official of the Censorate, and His Highness the Crown Prince praised him for 'not fearing power.' Now, even reciting a few poems about romance has been labeled 'unworldly.' His Highness's brotherly affection is a bit excessive."

Another person stepped forward, this time from the Ministry of Revenue: "Your Majesty, I received a report this morning. Among the troops sent by the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom to surround the temple, a squad of personal guards has deserted and headed straight for the west of the city." "They learned that before the princess stayed at Pure Water Temple, she stayed two nights at a tofu shop in the west of the city. That squad of guards has surrounded the tofu shop, claiming they want to interrogate the owner, asking him if he gave the princess a bowl of hot soy milk."

The ward owner denied it, and the two sides were now locked in a standoff on the street. The constables patrolling the western city had reported the emergency.

After he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent once more.

The censor and the Ministry of War officials who had just been arguing about the case of the merchant's son looked at each other in bewilderment. Suddenly, they realized that whether it was a murder case triggered by a glance, a military governor threatening the court with border defenses, or the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom bringing his army to the city gates in pursuit of his wife, everything had the same underlying theme.

Absurd.

The Crown Prince's unwavering favoritism towards the Second Prince suddenly seemed easier to understand.

These people are all doing things without considering the consequences for someone.

Some kill for their wives, some lay down their arms for their sons, some raise armies for their concubines, and some distort the truth for their brothers.

Thump.

A strange sound suddenly rang out in the main hall.

The king suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze changed, and he finally spoke his first words at the morning court session, "Has the interrogation of that merchant's son been completed?"

"Not yet," "Kill him."

"Your Majesty, this..."

"Let Zhang Jiedushi come and kill him personally. If he still wishes to resign after killing him, then it is permitted, and he will be immediately promoted to the position of Deputy Jiedushi of Duanhe."

"Your Majesty, rashly changing generals might provoke Zhang Jiedu's former subordinates..."

"If a dignified deputy military governor cannot control his own troops, then replace him. There are plenty of talented people in the world; why worry about not having generals?"

Having said that, the king then looked at the head of the Ministry of Revenue and ordered, "Send men to escort all the troops sent by the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom out. Anyone who refuses will be killed without mercy."

Upon hearing his words, the head official of the Ministry of Revenue exclaimed in alarm, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! If you rashly kill the people sent by the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom, it will be tantamount to starting a war!"

The king leaned back on his throne and looked at the head of the Ministry of Revenue, asking softly, "Are you saying that the Regent King of the Yu Kingdom can send troops to my Imperial City at will to cause trouble, and that my mere act of asking his envoy to leave is tantamount to starting a war?"

The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue felt that the emperor was very different today, and he lowered his head, not daring to say anything more.

The king answered his own question, "If this is what it means to start a war, then let's start this war."

"The Regent King, it's time he woke up."

The prime minister's son, who has concealed his talents for twenty years, is now about to enter the court to govern because of a woman? Get out.

Continue to conceal your talents.

The Empress of the Central Palace, all while claiming to be independent individuals and that everyone is equal.

Then the empress will be deposed.

Huangzhou has Qilin Talented Scholar, and it is said that whoever obtains this Qilin Talented Scholar will gain the world.

Ignore him openly, secretly instruct him to rebel, and then execute him.

What?

What can we do if we don't rebel?

What's the story behind the dragon robe in your house?

The Second Prince's soul is actually a woman?

The crown prince is in love with him, and might even overthrow the world for him in the future?

Then depose the crown prince, exile the two princes, and reinstate a crown prince.

In the imperial court, the king issued one decree after another.

The River Kingdom had never experienced such turmoil, yet it remained peaceful, with no one expressing opposition.

This is the law.

Under the rule of law, no one can disobey.

After the court session, the King of the River Kingdom dismissed his attendants and went to his study, where he took out a piece of paper from a dusty box.

The king stared blankly at the words on the sign.

"Father, what are Celestial Person?"

When he was young, the king, who was still the crown prince, often asked this question.

The old man held a piece of paper in his hand, on which he gently wrote two words and said, "This is Celestial Person."

He took it and glanced at it. The two characters were still fresh, the ink was not yet dry, and it had an unpleasant smell. He had heard that it was a new ink made by the hand of one of his father's newly married concubines.

He simply didn't like that concubine. Ever since she came into his life, his father seemed to have become a different person, neglecting state affairs and indulging in nightly revelry. The concubine even frequently ran away, and his father would chase after her for miles, just like the current Regent King. But today's father was very different. The king only remembered that he pointed to the words on the paper and softly said, "This is Celestial Person."

The Year Kingdom asked in bewilderment, "Are Celestial Person just a piece of paper?"

The old king said, "The concepts of Celestial Person's are two separate words."

"Two words?"

"Those two words crushed the entire world."

The old king knelt down, grasped his hand tightly, and said, "In this world, whether heroes or valiant men, emperors or commoners, everyone is foolish, because only a foolish world can provide amusement for the high and mighty Celestial Person."

The Year Kingdom did not understand what it meant to be Celestial Person or to rule the world, until he himself ascended to that position and inherited the legacy of Jiang Bianyan.

Looking down at the group of people, he only felt... stupidity.

Regent King is forever chasing after his wife; a merchant's son who killed the sons of regional military governors but needs to petition the court for punishment; the prime minister's son who is always hiding his talents; and a second prince with a male body and a female soul...

What's wrong with this world?

Until he also became stupid,

Suspecting that the Prince of Zhenbei harbored rebellious intentions, they massacred him and hundreds of thousands of the Zhenbei Army... More than a decade later, the Prince of Zhenbei stormed the Imperial City, besieging the city, but only wanted a letter of self-reproach from him.

Now he is about to marry the princess to the new Prince of Zhenbei, but the princess is able to easily escape from the heavily guarded imperial palace to pursue her love.

The king's gaze lingered on the sheet of paper that had been sealed away for decades.

Even in his most lucid moments, no matter how much he heard about the theories of Celestial Person, or which ancestors or important officials Celestial Person had killed, those names lived on in history. Hatred and fear crossed hundreds of years to reach him, but they were merely a piece of text.

He wouldn't harbor hatred over a text written with ink he didn't like.

He wanted freedom.

Yes, all he wanted was freedom.

No longer controlled by some terrifying force.

He also has someone he loves, but it prevents him from being with her.

Like the former king and now the Regent King, he rode his horse through the long street chasing after his wife. She watched from the crowd, just like those ordinary people, talking about how the crown prince was so romantic, as if it were a pre-written story, leaving him no ability to even turn around and look again.

He also has people he hates, but it prevents him from fighting or becoming an enemy of those he hates.

In every battle that reached its climax, the person he hated would always find a number of noble reasons to exonerate him. He would say that he had to kill his lover, massacre cities and destroy countries, and leave millions homeless and destitute for the sake of the world. The enemy's reasons were so empty, and his mouth and nose reeked of ink, which he disliked.

Its immense power, however, made him forget his hatred and let go of his prejudices.

Its immense power prevented him from being with his lover or fighting his enemies, leaving him to live in such a fragile world, without even leaving behind a name.

He wondered if anyone else was holding a piece of paper or a book, just like him, with no name on the paper, only replaced by the words "King" or "Emperor".

That's nothing, because compared to its immense power, he is insignificant.

He was merely a puppet; wherever the ink stain fell, he remained, available for people to use at will, becoming a villain, a fool, in a story.

But he'd had enough.

Wavering between folly and clarity, struggling in pain, watching one's country crumble little by little, and witnessing those foolish people and foolish deeds repeat themselves before one's eyes.

It goes back and forth, in an endless cycle.

He wanted freedom; he wanted to be in control of his own thoughts, just like today, to be able to kill whomever he wanted and do whatever he wanted, instead of having a bunch of absurd excuses popping into his head.

But where is freedom?

He didn't know. But history and the legacy of Hegemonic Art both told him that freedom resided in the realm of the Celestial Person.

He could escape this absurd world if he killed the Celestial Person.

Regardless of whether the records in the tradition are true or false, and regardless of whether killing the Celestial Person would allow him to escape, he was determined to kill them.

He refused to die a mediocre death in his bed; even in death, he wanted to die consciously, on the path of pursuing freedom.

Suddenly, the King of the River Kingdom's hands glowed with a blue light. With a gentle lift, the two characters "Celestial Person" on the white paper were lifted up, and the ink on the ground transformed into a figure wearing a yellow and white Daoist robe.

The Daoist quickly vanished, his gaze fixed on the empty space, never before so stubborn.

He suddenly spoke up, "If this world is just an absurd story, and I am merely a piece of text, then now, I have a name."

My name is Jiang Huai.

At the same time, whether it was the River Kingdom, the Yu Kingdom, or the Year Kingdom.

The three rulers seemed to have changed their personalities in an instant, and simultaneously issued their own decrees.

The Regent King killed his wife without regard for her safety, and the King of the Year Kingdom forcibly intercepted the thirty princes who were on their way to the Marriage Alliance.

After that, the three countries launched wars at the same time. Only by taking advantage of this inexplicable moment of clarity and plunging the world into chaos could its great power temporarily set aside these three powers and begin to restore order to the world.

Only under these circumstances can they achieve a longer period of lucidity.

This is a method they all know, but no one has ever done it, because even if it throws the world into chaos and they regain their clarity, its power will eventually come down.

They had nowhere to escape.

But this time was different. The rulers of the Three Kingdoms all witnessed the arrival of the Celestial Person, the Celestial Person recorded in history and in the legacy of Hegemonic Arts.

As long as we can kill the Celestial Person, we can escape this absurd world.

Whether you can do it or not, you have to do it.

Li Fuchan put away the "Errant Thunder Drum," concealed his figure, and stepped out from the Yu Kingdom. Gazing calmly at the troops mobilized by the Yu Kingdom, he said, "Now, I will be the one to orchestrate this."

The current chapter/section is incomplete! To view the complete chapter/section, please exit reading mode! Loading...