Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

In April, the city of Kyoto is filled with warm spring breezes, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom in the Imperial Garden, and the imperial palace with its vermilion walls and golden tiles sparkles in the morning sun.

However, beneath this prosperity, undercurrents are surging.

The night before the enthronement ceremony, in the Imperial Palace, the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhao Yu bowed, his armor still covered in dust from days of searching. He reported in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, I have led the imperial guards to search the capital and beyond, but have yet to find any trace of Han Lie and the others."

Chu Ning stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back. The moonlight shone on his stern face, reflecting a chilling look.

He spoke slowly: "It seems that they have indeed escaped from the city."

"I have ordered all official roads to be blocked and spies to be dispatched to track them down."

Zhao Yu lowered his head and said, "As long as they dare to show their heads, we will definitely capture them!"

Chu Ning snorted coldly: "Issuing a warrant for the arrest of Han Lie. Anyone who provides clues will receive a reward of 100 taels. Anyone who hides him will be executed along with his entire clan!"

"Yes!" Zhao Yu responded with a fist salute and then stepped back.

At the side, Ling Haoran, the Minister of Justice, knelt on the ground trembling with fear, his forehead resting on the cold gold brick:

"Your Majesty, Han Lie escaped this time, and I deserve to die!"

Chu Ning glanced at him and said calmly, "It's not your fault."

Ling Haoran was stunned and looked up at Chu Ning with disbelief in his eyes.

Chu Ning continued, "I didn't expect that the old King Qin's power in the city would be so rampant."

He paused, and spoke in a slightly slower tone: "You still need to attend the enthronement ceremony tomorrow, so go back and rest early."

Ling Haoran's eyes were slightly red, and he kowtowed heavily: "Your humble servant... thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!"

The next morning.

It was just dawn and the palace was already bustling with activity.

Eunuchs and palace maids ran back and forth, the imperial guards stood in line, and civil and military officials in court robes entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony one after another.

Outside the hall, the sounds of ritual music began, the chimes resounded, and the drums and music rang out.

"Announce—Vice Empress Wu Zetian and Princess Xiuning come to the audience!" The ceremonial officer shouted in a high voice.

The palace door slowly opened, revealing Wu Zhao in a golden phoenix robe and a nine-phoenix crown on her head. Pearl curtains hung down, obscuring her beautiful face.

She held the hand of eight-year-old Chu Xiuning and slowly walked into the hall.

Chu Xiuning was wearing a red brocade robe and a small jade sword at her waist. She had a heroic look between her eyebrows and did not look at all like the delicate girl in the boudoir.

She held her head high, her eyes determined, and was not at all stage frightened.

The ministers all looked sideways and talked in low voices.

"Princess Xiuning is quite like His Majesty when he was young!"

"Hush, be careful!"

Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen held the imperial edict in his hand and read aloud: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Wu Zhao, the former empress of the Great Zhou, was virtuous and kind, and gave birth to my eldest princess, Chu Xiuning.

I now offer the Zhou Dynasty's territory and submit to the Great Chu, and am specially appointed as the Vice Queen, with the same status as the Queen, holding the Phoenix Seal and assisting in the administration of state affairs!"

Chu Ning stood up, took the seal of the deputy queen from the eunuch, and slowly walked towards Wu Zhao.

Wu Zhao lowered her head slightly, raised her hands, and respectfully took the seal.

"Your Majesty, thank you for your grace." Her voice was cold and firm, echoing in the hall.

Deng Hongwen continued to read: "Chu Xiuning, gifted with intelligence and heroic spirit, is specially canonized as Princess Xiuning, granted a princess's residence, and enjoys the salary of a prince!"

Chu Xiuning took a step forward, knelt on one knee, and saluted: "Son, thank you for your grace, father!"

Her voice was clear and powerful, without any hesitation, which made many generals nod secretly.

A trace of relief flashed in Chu Ning's eyes, and he reached out and gently stroked her hair: "Get up."

After the enthronement ceremony, Chu Ning sat back on the dragon throne, glanced at the ministers, and said in a cold voice: "I have another announcement today."

The hall instantly became quiet, and everyone held their breath.

"Emperor's Guards report urgently: The Han and Tang have joined forces to annex our Great Chu territory!"

Chu Ning's voice was as cold as ice: "I have decided - I will lead the army in person!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole court was in an uproar!

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not!" An old minister hurriedly stepped forward. "The battlefield is treacherous. Your Majesty is worth a fortune. How can you venture into such danger so lightly?"

Chu Ning sneered: "Why, do you think I am not as good as the old King of Qin in fighting?"

The old minister fell silent instantly, cold sweat oozing from his forehead.

"While I am away from the capital, the Vice Empress will oversee the affairs of state!"

Chu Ning's eyes were like knives, sweeping across every minister: "If anyone disobeys..."

He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Think about what happened to the old King Qin."

The ministers trembled all over and knelt down one after another: "Your Majesty, we will obey your command!"

The enthronement ceremony ended smoothly and everyone went back.

The spring breeze blew through the peach blossoms in full bloom outside the palace, and the petals flew and landed on Wu Zhao's phoenix robe.

She raised her eyes slightly and looked at the distant sky, with a hint of deep meaning in her eyes.

Chu Xiuning gripped the jade sword at her waist and asked in a low voice, "Mother, is Father really going to the war?"

Wu Zhao gently stroked her hair and said softly, "Yes, your father... is going to conquer the world."

A glint of determination flashed in Chu Xiuning's eyes: "When I grow up, I will go into battle and kill the enemy just like my father did!"

Wu Zhao smiled, with a hint of complicated emotions in her smile: "Okay, mother will wait for you."

At this moment, in Lanxin Palace, the faint aroma of medicine and incense intertwined, and the sunlight filtering through the window lattices sprinkled on the brocade quilt embroidered with a picture of a hundred children.

Feng Mulan was half leaning against the head of the bed, her black hair loosely tied up. Although she looked a little haggard due to childbirth, the heroic spirit between her brows had not diminished in the slightest.

When Chu Ning entered the inner hall, she was playing with the baby in her arms. When she heard footsteps, she said without raising her head:

"Your Majesty, how come you have time to come here today?" There was a hint of anger in his tone.

"I will be heading out to fight tomorrow, so naturally I want to come and see my heroic general."

Chu Ning sat down on the edge of the bed and gently stroked the baby's delicate cheek with his fingertips.

The child suddenly grabbed his fingers, causing him to chuckle, "You're as strong as me."

Feng Mulan suddenly looked up, her eyes wide, "Your Majesty is going to lead the army in person?"

She grabbed Chu Ning's sleeve, and the brocade wrinkled into messy lines between her fingers: "Take me with you!"

"Nonsense."

Chu Ning pulled back his sleeves and took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his bosom: "You are now the Imperial Consort. Take good care of yourself in the palace."

"The imperial concubine?"

Feng Mulan scoffed and pushed the imperial edict away: "I would rather go to the front with you than have these empty titles."

She suddenly threw off the quilt and was about to get out of bed, but was pushed back onto the couch by Chu Ning.

"You can't be willful."

Chu Ning's eyes darkened, and his fingertips caressed the arrow scar on her wrist: "Even your father is going to join the army this time. The Feng family must have a backbone."

Feng Mulan's pupils suddenly shrank, her nails dug deep into her palms, and she said stubbornly, "Then I'll go to the front lines to find Your Majesty after I finish my confinement!"

Chu Ning shook his head and chuckled, leaning over to whisper in her ear: "Wait until I return victorious, then I will deal with you, this fierce horse."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and strode away, leaving Feng Mulan staring at the swaying bead curtain. She was so angry that she couldn't help but throw the imperial edict on the ground, scaring the baby to burst into tears.

Feng Mulan came to her senses and quickly began to coax the child.

I can only pray in my heart that Chu Ning returns safely.