The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 104 The truth of everything
Li Zhiwei held her breath slightly.

She could feel a surging, wave-like force rising up. Consort Cui grabbed Li Zhiwei's wrist, and Li Zhiwei placed her hand on Consort Cui's shoulder, sensing her fear, her trembling, and her hatred.

The concubine who doted on Consort Cui the most was none other than the peerless beauty, Consort Yang.

Now, that holy emperor is returning. Even his remaining power still terrifies Consort Cui in the distant city of Chang'an. Even Li Zhiwei can't believe that her grandfather, the current emperor Li Heng, would dare to treat Li Longji like this.

What gave him such a sense of righteousness...?

An absurd thought popped into Li Zhiwei's mind.

"Could it be that it was my words that day, and Zhou Yan's Dragon Lord?"

She subconsciously refuted her own idea.

But her extensive reading of history books told her the answer.

In many, if not most, times, all it takes to make a person of high rank and power make a decision is an auspicious omen, which represents righteousness and destiny. There have been far too many such cases throughout history.

The turbulent waves of the times made Li Zhiwei and Zhou Yan the final driving force that propelled Emperor Li Heng to take this step, leading him to make the decision sooner to confront his wise and powerful father.

The appearance of the Jinghe Dragon King coincides perfectly with the subjugation of Chang'an City.

Li Zhiwei's words were like the last vestige of support; the auspicious omen of "the true dragon emperor, as if ordained by heaven" spurred the emperor's decision, and that day's "Let's do it!"

It wasn't just targeting the Pei family.

There are also those who are related to the retired emperor.

To his wise and powerful father.

On that day, after imprisoning the Pei family, the three thousand elite cavalrymen headed for Fengxiang.

On that day, the emperor looked at Chang'an and comforted himself with the image of the true dragon and the Mandate of Heaven, or perhaps he gave himself an excuse and a reason. It was because he had conquered Chang'an and the Eastern Capital that the Jing River Dragon King returned when he conquered Chang'an.

He is the one destined by Heaven.

He is the true emperor!

"Father, you're too old..."

"Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty, the world, need no second sun."

………………

The Pei family's power had waned, and Pei Angju and Pei Xuanbao had become the Pei family's outcasts. Pei Xuanbao knelt at the door, kowtowing repeatedly, but his grandfather only said, "It is taboo for human nobles to collude with powerful demons of the demon race."

"Now that this matter has been exposed, there's nothing I can do."

“Your actions are not clean.”

What this kind old man disliked and rebuked was not that Pei Xuanbao and the others had contacted the demon race, but that he felt the two juniors had acted dishonestly and had been caught, causing the Pei family to suffer heavy losses.

Pei Xuanbao pressed his proud head firmly against the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said:
"Ancestors, ancestors, it was our fault, please grant us a way out."

He crawled forward on his knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

The old man said calmly, "Since that's the case, we'll give you a way out. You can go to the Reclining Buddha Temple in Qian County. The Emperor Emeritus is there. His Majesty won't tolerate you, nor will the Pei family. The only place in the world that can accept you is the Emperor Emeritus."

"If the Emperor Emeritus is truly the chosen one, the Son of Heaven."

"When the Emperor Emeritus returns to Chang'an and reclaims the throne, you will all be able to rise to prominence. Even if that doesn't happen, if you go to the Emperor Emeritus now, you can at least survive. Don't think about anything else."

"The third option is that you chase the criminal outside and die there."

"In short, my Pei family paid a huge price this time. You two are just extras. You weren't executed, but whether you live or die is up to you."

Pei Xuanbao and Pei Angju could only kowtow, and a twisted fire rose in Pei Xuanbao's heart.

He reflected on his life, falling from a high position to the ground. He wanted to find an outlet for his resentment and finally found that young man with clear, bright eyes. If it weren't for him, if they hadn't been hunting him down, Li Zhenyue and his men wouldn't have brought back that intelligence.

If Zhou Yan hadn't taken Li Zhiwei and run through the market, they wouldn't have survived.

Therefore, Li Zhiwei did not appear in his dream.

What they did wouldn't be exposed by those madmen in the Xuanxiang Bureau. The Pei family suffered heavy losses, and now only the main branch remains. Almost all the branches have broken away, and Li Bi used a method similar to the Han Dynasty's "Decree of Grace" to dismantle the Pei family.

The confrontation between these major powers can last for decades or even centuries.

However, once one side makes a mistake, the collapse can happen very quickly.

The pride of aristocratic families began to crumble rapidly among the scions, transforming into extreme hatred.

Pei Xuanbao pressed his head firmly against the ground. He heard the footsteps fade into the distance. Those who were usually so respectful to him were now silent. A profound sense of humiliation and resentment gripped his heart. His fists clenched, and his eyes were almost bloodshot.
"Zhou...Yan...!!!"

It's all you, it's all you, it's all you!
I want--

I'll kill you with my own hands!

With the news of Emperor Emeritus Li Longji's return, waves began to surge in Chang'an. In the Shuofang Army camp, Li Zhenyue, who had been imprisoned, was taken away and secretly sent to the Marshal's Mansion.

An old man sat high above, the surrounding void rippling faintly, transforming into a slow-moving thunderous unicorn, making the old man appear even more majestic. Even someone like Li Zhenyue bowed his head in respect.

When bowing, the man's back remains straight.

"Commander."

Guo Ziyi said, "The Pei family's criminal case, your case is closed."

The ropes binding Li Zhenyue's wrists were untied, and the guards retreated. Li Zhenyue rubbed his wrists, and Guo Ziyi said calmly, "Pei Xuanbao and the others have been ordered to lead the Shuofang army, which has been corrupted by the Pei family, out to investigate the demons in order to atone for their sins."

"Even if they committed crimes, they were still comrades-in-arms. They would be unwilling to die at our hands."

"You are reinstated to your original position."

Li Zhenyue stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Please give me a disguise decree so that I can be assigned to Pei Xuanbao's personal guards."

Guo Ziyi put down his military treatise and looked at Li Zhenyue: "What are you going to do?"

Li Zhenyue's expression was cold and hard:
"This humble general intends to kill Pei Xuanbao and Pei Angju with his own hands."

"Those who betray humanity are not my comrades."

Guo Ziyi looked at Li Zhenyue, whose expression was cold and resolute, and remained silent for a moment before saying, "After you killed him, it will be difficult for you to return to the army. Even so, do you not regret it?"

Li Zhenyue said, "I am tired of the troops that are cutting down the Tang Dynasty with swords and spears."

“I am tired of fighting with my comrades.” “After killing them, I will either become a wandering knight, free and unrestrained, or I will take up my sword again, go to the frontier, and guard a beacon tower.”

Li Zhenyue's voice was firm. This man, just like his name, had a will as firm as steel. When carrying out military orders, he kept a close eye on Shen Cangming and could immediately perceive Shen Cangming's weaknesses.

Now that he has seen the truth, he has turned his attention to the enemy.

Guo Ziyi looked at him.

Whether it's Li Zhenyue or Shen Cangming.

These generals, who emerged during the most prosperous and spirited era of the Tang Dynasty, still retain the unique confidence and vigor of that time. Their fiery brilliance is what he admires most among his successors. But now, these successors have all left him.

Guo Ziyi replied in a similarly cold and firm tone, "Fine."

"How is Shen Cangming doing, given the circular diagram you sent before?"

Li Zhenyue succinctly stated, "Disappeared."

Guo Ziyi walked up to Li Zhenyue. Li Zhenyue was tall, but Guo Ziyi was unparalleled in his imposing presence. Guo Ziyi stared at Li Zhenyue, his voice as cold as frost: "Where has Shen Cangming gone?"

Li Zhenyue gazed at this renowned general and said:

"Missing."

Guo Ziyi said, "You're lying."

Li Zhenyue clenched his fists, his expression unchanged. Guo Ziyi swept his hand, and eight extremely tall, broad-shouldered guards entered, carrying something. When they suddenly put it down, the ground trembled.

Li Zhenyue is as stubborn as steel.

Once a decision is made, there is no going back.

So they only said that Shen Cangming was missing, sticking to that conclusion.

Even when facing Guo Ziyi.

Then he saw Guo Ziyi lift the heavy box up with one hand. The box opened, and a bloody, murderous aura surged out, its cold light sharp and menacing. It was a long-handled battle sword, its blade menacing and extremely imposing.

The handle is seven feet long, and the blade is three feet long.

Mo Dao!

A line of small characters is engraved on the handle of the knife.

[Xingxiuchuan Shen Cangming defeats the Tubo at Qinghai Lake]

[Thirty-seven enemy generals were beheaded in battle]

Guo Ziyi's hand brushed over the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) that he had taken with his power. The Mo Dao, which was filled with a murderous aura, seemed to tremble slightly. Guo Ziyi was serving as the military governor of Longyou, and Anren Army was under the jurisdiction of the military governor of Longyou. He said, "Shen Cangming of Xingxiuchuan."

"died."

Li Zhenyue was stunned.

Guo Ziyi sighed, "Fools, simpletons, are their brains all lumps?"

"This case is closed. As for this Mo Dao (陌刀)..."

When Shen Cangming was caught up in the rebel army, he did not take the Mo Dao with him. He originally intended it to be a flame that would burn out in this chaotic era. When Guo Ziyi saw the Mo Dao in Anren's army, he knew everything.

He clapped his hands, and the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) flew towards Li Zhenyue.

Li Zhenyue gripped the longsword with both hands.

The iron drill at the bottom of the Mo Dao (陌刀) slammed heavily onto the ground, causing the earth to crack.

“Take him away. Find Shen Cangming. Back then, Wang Zhongsi’s favorite thing was to charge into the Tibetan formation and fight the enemy. Shen Cangming was responsible for protecting Wang Zhongsi in the chaos and dragging that guy out of the battle.”

"This Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) should be returned to its rightful owner."

"I also want to see again that brilliant, frost-like light, that whirling slash that cut down several people in succession, that unparalleled cold gleam within its radius. It's such a pity that someone like Shen Cangming died at the hands of his own people..."

Guo Ziyi stood with his hands behind his back, watching Li Zhenyue put away the extremely heavy Mo Dao. As Li Zhenyue left, he said, "Lord Guo."

Guo Ziyi asked, "What?"

Li Zhenyue said, "The Pei family is in decline. There is no force in the Shuofang army that can counterbalance you. I hope that Guo Linggong, who saved the country from danger today, will not become the Pei family in the future."

Guo Ziyi remained silent, only saying, "Who knows?"

Li Zhenyue stared intently at him, then turned and strode away.

He obtained a disguise talisman, changed his appearance, and blended into the Pei family's group. Carrying an extremely heavy long-handled sword, he headed towards the Sleeping Buddha Temple.

Guo Ziyi stood there, picked up his pen, and erased Li Zhenyue's name as well. There was some regret in the eyes of the famous general. The Pei family was weak, but decades later, the Guo family completely controlled the Shuofang Army.

In the Old Book of Tang, he was praised as having immense power and achievements that surpassed those of his generation.

A turbulent affair.

Moved by him, yet seemingly unrelated to him.

He and Shen Cangming arrived at the Reclining Buddha Temple. The temple was crowded with worshippers, and the people were pushing and shoving each other, making it difficult for Zhou Yan to get in. Every breath he took smelled of incense ash.

Shen Cangming told Zhou Yan to wait a moment while he went to find his old friend. He obtained the pills used by Xuan Guan and instructed Zhou Yan to temper his body with the battle fire contained in the pills. As Zhou Yan watched the golden patterns on his arm gradually flow, he felt as if it were a death warrant.

But he remained calm and composed, looking at the temple with its flourishing incense and peaceful atmosphere, showing no signs of being a demon's lair. A breeze blew by, and the strings of the zither worn by the young man at his waist produced a melodious sound.

The strings were a gift from the spirit of a dark-faced musician by the stream when he first started learning martial arts. When the wind blew, it sounded as if the musician was still playing. Zhou Yan liked them very much.

Suddenly a voice came: "Huh?"

"Is this music Lei Haiqing's?"

Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a dignified old man, a strong man, and an old man without a beard admiring the scenery in the pavilion.

The dignified old man listened to the sound of the zither strings at Zhou Yan's waist and remained stunned for a long time. When he realized that this was just the remnant soul of a deceased friend, sadness appeared on his face.

He summoned the bearded old man and asked him kindly:
"Young man."

"Where did you get these strings for your instrument?"

[An Lushan captured the two capitals and held a banquet at Ningbi Pond, where lavish music was played… The musician Lei Haiqing, overcome with grief and indignation, threw his instrument to the ground and wept bitterly facing west. An Lushan, enraged, had him bound and dismembered in front of the Shima Hall and displayed to the public.] ——————Supplement to the Miscellaneous Records of Emperor Ming

(End of this chapter)