Chapter 867: Chapter 688: I’m Such a Gentle Lady
Emperor Zhoulin was dumbfounded; the change in demeanor was so swift, he couldn’t quite keep up with the pace.
The citizens inside the Capital City, unaware of the truth, were saying, “…”
Wasn’t everything fine just now? How did it suddenly get so fierce? Where did the imperial demeanor go?
“Your grandson felt that your family’s gate was desolate, so he buried you himself—it wasn’t on accident. And he dragged my foster father into it, which is utterly rebellious, intolerable by heaven! Yet, you all blame it on me! I’m not taking the blame!” No matter what, she wouldn’t take the blame. Gu Changsheng clenched a fist and shook her head of hair, “I’m such a gentle person, I usually don’t do such unkind things as to storm someone else’s domain. I usually go straight for the main nest, wipe out the entire place!”
In an instant, at the Capital City, thunder roared, frying tens of millions of citizens, including an old emperor who failed to recognize people!
If you sniff carefully, you might catch a whiff of a fragrant aroma…
Emperor Zhoulin was clearly disoriented among the ruins. As an emperor submerged in kingly tactics for half his life, always on the lookout, today he was pecked in the eye by a wild goose—a bloody mess, quite pathetic!
“Foster Father, let’s go find your unfilial son-in-law and settle the score. We’ll make him kneel on a washboard!” After Gu Changsheng finished speaking fiercely, she didn’t even glance at Emperor Zhoulin. She helped her foster father out of the ruins.
Leaving behind an earth-shattering and righteous argument, Gu Changsheng waved her hand and left the city with her foster father.
But this delay allowed the diplomatic procession from the Southern Country to reach the city gate, meeting up with the more than 400 Dark Night Army.
“Hongyan pays homage to Our Sovereign, pays homage to the Imperial Husband, pays respect to Sir.”
“We ministers pay homage to Our Sovereign, pay homage to the Imperial Husband, pay respect to Sir.”
“…”
In an instant, dozens of voices of homage echoed in front of the Capital City Gate, full of vigor, making those who heard it get fired up.
Everyone saw dozens of old women, dressed in Witch and Gu Tribes formal attire, covered in silver ornaments, kneeling respectfully before Gu Changsheng. Behind them, an army of 500,000 stretched endlessly like a long dragon from the gate outward for many miles. There were also enormous gu insects, with eyes as big as lanterns, watching.
But at this moment, whether it was the gu insects themselves or the imposing 500,000 procession army beneath them, they were all kneeling, bowing their heads in the most devout posture, right hand over their hearts, respectfully saluting.
The imperial banners fluttered, and the majestic dragon-phoenix banner with the characters for “Changsheng” soared in the sky, causing the entire Capital City to change dramatically because of the arrival of this group.
Whether they were the commoners of Great Zhou, the officials, or those ambitious vassal kings, even Emperor Zhoulin was stunned by the thunderous sound of homage.
This was the power of faith, with people worshipping en masse, like a sacrifice, making them dare not treat it without solemnity.
Indeed, Hongyan Jiaojiao, that old fox, became smart; from Imperial Consort to Imperial Husband, this voice of greeting made Gu Changsheng very satisfied.
“Your Royal Highness, now that you are safe and sound, we ministers can be at ease. Along the way, you almost scared this old minister to death. If anything had happened to you in this Zhou Dynasty, how could we face the former emperor’s trust! In the future, Your Majesty, never act so rashly again. Even if you want to go out, at least bring more trusted aides with you…” After the homage concluded, Hongyan Jiaojiao grabbed Gu Changsheng and started giving earnest advice.
Bless the heavens, from Great Swamp Mountain of the Southern Country to the Capital City of the Zhou Dynasty, heaven knows how tightly they hurried along, never resting easy for a moment.
Gu Changsheng wanted to tell her that she had been shadowing them closely this entire journey, but thinking about it, she kindly kept it to herself. After all, she was the one who’d shirked her responsibilities and left them hanging, and now she felt a bit guilty.
The senior ministers from Southern Border Bashu also stepped forward, advising the new emperor, Gu Changsheng, earnestly and eloquently, and only then did the matter finally get set aside.
“Since Your Majesty has arrived in the Capital City, you must remember your identity. Even if here to fulfill a marriage contract, you must not disgrace the prestige of our Southern Country. I humbly request that Your Majesty return to the Imperial Carriage with us to change into the Imperial Robe!” Hongyan Jiaojiao said respectfully to Gu Changsheng, then turned to Zhou Mu, bowing low, “Imperial Husband, His Majesty is here as the Southern Emperor. If anything is amiss, we beg your indulgence. In the future, I will certainly come to you with thorns in hand to ask forgiveness.”
Zhou Mu heard this, curved his lips into a smile, and casually waved his hand, “Nation comes before family in matters of state. Between the two countries, we should act according to the proper protocol!”
Hearing this, Hongyan Jiaojiao’s eyes sparkled bright, unreservedly offering flattery, “Imperial Husband, unparalleled and exceptional, truly a perfect match made in heaven with Our Sovereign. I offer my congratulations first.”
“Congratulations to both of us,” Zhou Mu laughed, glimpsing at Gu Changsheng before urging his horse closer to the city gate ruins.
Since they had to adhere to the diplomatic etiquette between the two countries, as Prince Mu of Great Zhou, he was duty-bound to represent Great Zhou at the forefront of the nobility.
Listening to Zhou Mu and Hongyan Jiaojiao engaging in this lively repartee, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. Before being ushered back to the Imperial Carriage by the throng of senior ministers, she couldn’t help glaring at Hongyan Jiaojiao and said angrily, “Flatterer, making me lose face!”
Hearing this, Hongyan Jiaojiao’s old face twitched, feeling extremely aggrieved. Did Gu Changsheng think she enjoyed it? She was merely trying to keep a low profile under the eaves, especially since the future Imperial Husband was such an expert. There weren’t many top-ranking individuals in the heavens and earth combined. She wasn’t a masochist, so if she didn’t make herself known now, was she to wait for the Lord to settle accounts in the autumn?
Feeling aggrieved, Hongyan Jiaojiao huffed through her nose, finally recalling her main task, and with an air of authority, she led a number of female officials to the front of the city gate in a prelude to the two nations’ diplomatic relations…