After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Zhou Qingzhi's question left Chen Futu speechless.

Admitting that Zhang Liang did it is obviously not acceptable!

Seeing Chen Futu hesitate, Zhou Qingzhi smiled, "I see, I see..."

“Old sir, Military Advisor Zhang has only delayed the inevitable. He did not kill your clansmen. Moreover, I have already punished him.”

"Your Highness need not worry. I foresaw this outcome when I came to Dragon City. It is only a pity that my clansmen died because of me. I have no face to face them."

Zhou Qingzhi knelt beside the messy table and continued talking to himself, "When people get old, their feelings fade, just like the old emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, who became capricious and lost his humanity."

Zhou Qingzhi has a clear understanding of human nature.

Throughout history, even wise and virtuous rulers have inevitably become senile in their later years. Chen Futu alone knows many examples of this. For instance, Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Er) became obsessed with immortality in his later years, Emperor Wu of Han (Han Wudi) experienced the witchcraft scandal in his later years, and Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (Zhu Xi) became tyrannical and bloodthirsty in his later years. These wise and virtuous rulers were not immune to this, let alone the emperor of the Qianlong Emperor.

"Your Highness, I am willing to personally crown you as the King of the Northern Frontier. I only ask that you show compassion for the common people and do not implicate the innocent."

"I have taken your words to heart, sir."

Chen Futu sat opposite Zhou Qingzhi, who then went on and on, confessing that he had only focused on his studies over the years, neglecting the feelings of his family and often criticizing his children and grandchildren, and that he was not a qualified elder.

As the saying goes, a dying man's words are good, and a dying bird's song is mournful.

Chen Futu remained a silent listener, listening to him reminisce about the past.

After a long while, Zhou Qingzhi took out a small sky-blue token from his pocket and carefully handed it over.

Chen Futu asked, puzzled, "What is this?"

"It is a token of Tianyang Academy. I am giving it to the Crown Prince. In the future, when the Crown Prince needs to employ scholars, he can use it to send a message to the Confucian scholars of Shouyang Mountain, and they will naturally help him."

"Shouyang Mountain..."

The name sounds familiar; I feel like I've heard it somewhere before.

After a moment's thought, Chen Futu remembered that he had met a young Confucian scholar in the capital. The man was eloquent and skilled in martial arts. He was from the Tianyang Academy on Shouyang Mountain.

"Shouyang Mountain is the premier place for literature and art in the world."

Zhou Qingzhi sighed as he recounted the various aspects of Shouyang Mountain, revealing that he was one of the five direct disciples.

He would cover his face and weep bitterly, especially when his teacher was mentioned.

"Your Highness, after I die, I hope you will deliver this letter to my beloved teacher on Shouyang Mountain."

"I've got it..."

Chen Futu took the letter and carefully put it into his bosom.

"Furthermore, bury my remains with them."

“I’ve written that down.”

"Now that this matter is settled, Your Highness, go forth. In three days, I will personally attend the grand ceremony to witness Your Highness's coronation as king. Your Highness need not trouble yourself any further for the sake of a dying man like me."

Zhou Qingzhi seemed to have let it go, and waved with a smile.

Chen Futu remained silent for a moment, then rose to take his leave.

Stepping outside, Chen Futu and Zhang Liang looked at the lonely figure and could only sigh in the end.

Before leaving, Zhang Liang instructed his personal guards to take good care of the old man and at least let him live for three more days.

The Tiger Guards received their orders and continued to guard the residence.

Chen Futu boarded the carriage and scolded Zhang Liang: "Are you heartless? What do you mean by 'at least let him live for three days'?"

Zhang Liang calmly replied, "I only plan for the Crown Prince; everything else is none of my concern."

"I have nothing to say to you."

Chen Futu closed his eyes and remained silent.

Zhang Liang continued, “Those who achieve great things cannot be swayed by womanly compassion. Zhou Qingzhi may seem pitiful, but has Your Highness ever considered that if Zhuge Liang hadn’t devised a plan for you that day, allowing you to convey the oath of the King of the Northern Frontier in front of the scholars, and if you hadn’t surpassed them in righteousness, you would have been condemned by thousands if you had succeeded to the throne, and there would have been no peace in the Northern Frontier?”

"Zhang Liang, I don't want to argue with you. Can't you give me a moment of mercy?"

"Liang understands."

Zhang Liang took out the blood-written letter and continued reading, becoming more and more satisfied with it.

The dust has settled, and his plan has succeeded.

For the next three days, Chen Futu stayed at home and rarely went out, while Liu Bowen, following Zhang Liang's advice, published two proclamations in the newspaper.

Firstly, it denounces the brutality and inhumanity of the Great Qian Dynasty, speaks out for scholars across the land, and clarifies the stance of the Northern Frontier.

Both parties announced Zhou Qingzhi's blood-written letter and posted it near the newspaper office for scholars to see.

With these two proclamations, Chen Futu had no more worries about succeeding as the King of the Northern Frontier.

Gradually, Dragon City became festive and lively again, as the succession of the crown prince was a major event, signifying the official start of an era of great contention.

After recovering from her injuries, Consort Ge came to Chen Futu and said, "Young Master, tomorrow is the grand ceremony, and the Old Madam invites you to a family banquet."

"I understand. Go and call Li Xiuning and Ling'er as well. Remember, keep Li Xiuning's pregnancy a secret."

"I understand."

Not long after Consort Ge left, Chen Futu arrived at the inner palace and saw Liu Longyue, Mo Lan, Dong Xian'er, and Guan Xing.

The first two are fine, but why are Guan Xing and Dong Xian'er here? Does Mother intend to take them both as her daughters-in-law as well?

"My son is here, come and talk to your mother."

People are in high spirits when they have good news. The old lady was in a good mood. Her son was going to be crowned a king and become the ruler of the world. The hatred in her heart was also somewhat released.

Chen Futu smiled and talked to the old lady about the recent situation in Longcheng. Liu Longyue and the other women listened silently, not daring to interrupt.

Among them, Guan Xing appeared restless, as if his bottom was being scratched.

Chen Futu said irritably, "Do you have hemorrhoids? Why are you twisting around like that?"

Liu Longyue bit her lip, forcing herself not to laugh, while Mo Lan looked at Guanxing with a mocking expression.

Guan Xing replied sullenly, "I am still recovering from a serious injury and am not feeling well."

"You don't need to eat if you're still recovering from a serious injury? You usually twist and turn like that before you eat, don't you?"

Chen Futu immediately retorted, showing no respect whatsoever.

She's beautiful as a stargazer, but she's also incredibly eccentric. If you didn't know her, you'd really think she was some kind of fairy. But once you get to know her, you realize she's just a complete idiot.

I guess her personality is compatible with Li Xiuning's.

Moreover, the reason she was so restless was because this was a family dinner, and she shouldn't have been there.

As expected, Guan Xing was not angry when she was scolded. Instead, she responded indifferently: "I was injured because of the young master. It is one thing for the young master not to be considerate, but to speak ill of me is not the way of a wise ruler."

"Shut up, my mother is still here, don't make me punish you."

Chen Futu scolded him irritably.

Last time when we dealt with Qiwen, this guy kept saying he couldn't win and wanted to run away. He didn't act like a fairy at all.

The old lady watched with a smile as her son and Guanxing bickered, and asked, "Miss Guanxing doesn't have a husband yet, does she?"

"Not yet, Madam," Guan Xing replied with a forced smile.

"In that case, young lady, are you satisfied with my son?"

"Ah this..."

Guan Xing immediately looked at Chen Futu awkwardly, blinking her big eyes, signaling him to help her out of the predicament.