The Sovereign – Chapter 45

Volume Three: A Hundred Things Changed with the Spring Breeze

Decisive in Killing

When she kills, she is also very resolute.

Ye Ming hurriedly left; she must notify Liu Qianxun of this news. Such a major event occurred in the Yu Kingdom, yet the Sect Leader kept her in the dark. Is it a matter of no longer trusting her, or is it due to the relationship with King Chong? Ye Ming does not know.

She only felt that Liu Qianxun should be aware of these matters.

Fortunately, Ye Ming could come and go freely among the many guards without being questioned. Anyone could see that Liu Qianxun was the Emperor’s honored guest, and naturally, they dared not neglect those around her.

Upon rushing to the backyard, she discovered Liu Qianxun sitting alone in the pavilion, lost in thought. Liu Qianxun was always so clear and cold, no matter the time. Ye Ming had admired her for many years; thinking back, perhaps it was out of deep concern. She used coldness to isolate herself from everything in the world, merely as a means of self-protection. She struggled to open her heart to someone, only to be met with exploitation and disappointment.

Countless times, she was alone, sadly wounded, yet she never showed weakness to others. Did the Sect Leader know about this or not? Unfortunately, the Sect Leader’s heart was only for the Yu Kingdom; she was not a suitable companion, and certainly not Liu Qianxun’s belonging.

Everyone who loves Ling Yu is wounded all over, enduring endless torture, humiliation, and despair. Lin Wuming is like this, and so is He Xi. Only Liu Qianxun became a special existence, but even this final tenderness was slain within her calculations.

But at this moment, for whom is Liu Qianxun sad? The Empress? From the moment her identity was exposed, Liu Qianxun seemed to return to the past. The colder she became, the more it indicated her bad mood. Others do not understand, but Ye Ming deeply knows this; she is a quiet person, able to capture the changes in Liu Qianxun’s eyes, even if they are only subtle.

Ye Ming glanced around to ensure no one could hear their conversation, and only then did she slowly approach.

“Has something happened in Yu Kingdom?” Before Ye Ming could speak, Liu Qianxun had already guessed. She stood up, with a faint gloss in her eyes, making it hard to discern right from wrong.

“How did Tower Master know? This news did not come from Shura Sect; it was just now that I heard Li Yue reporting to the Empress.” Ye Ming always knew Liu Qianxun could perceive everything but did not expect her perception to be so strong.

“He Xi couldn’t have gone to Jidu for my mother; what on earth happened?”

Ye Ming took a sharp breath, slowly exhaling, “King Chong has been killed.”

Liu Qianxun was slightly startled, the corners of her lips drooped slightly but quickly returned to normal. That kind of tense emotion made her facial features even more distinct.

Her thin lips slightly parted, in a seemingly ambiguous smile.

“Has that person finally died?” This sentence, suppressing emotion, was low and carried a trace of hoarseness.

“Specifically, I am still not very clear, but I boldly guess that the Sect Leader was afraid the Tower Master might mind, so… did not inform.”

“Is that so…” Liu Qianxun sat down slightly, her eyes empty and devoid of light, as mixed emotions surged in her heart.

King Chong, He Xiao, she had never once called him father king. Ever since she became sensible, she only knew of such a father’s existence but never felt warmth. Instead, because of him, she and her mother suffered endless humiliation, and her mother, Liu Zhu, was implicated and nearly lost her life.

“Tower Master, please restrain your grief…” Ye Ming was extremely worried, though she knew that King Chong, He Xiao, was a father in name only. The blood relation, no matter what, could not be changed, so how could she have no feelings at all?

“It’s good that he’s dead, so my mother won’t always worry about me taking my father’s life and being struck by heaven’s thunder. When have I ever feared heaven! I only hate that it wasn’t by my own hand that I ended the entire He family!” Before the words were finished, the sky actually rumbled with dull thunder.

The wind and clouds remained unchanged, yet a sudden dry thunder echoed over Yuzhou City. Liu Qianxun looked up at the sky, her eyes bursting with killing intent, as her deep hatred for the He family surged once again. If her mother hadn’t stopped her back then, she would have surely killed this man herself. Ling Yu, fearing she would be punished by heaven for patricide, personally severed one of his arms, which was truly too lenient for him!

It was as if heaven sensed her mood, as gentle breezes began, and dark clouds unexpectedly gathered overhead. The mansion guards began to urgently assemble, and soon someone came to inform them that Qin Junlan intended to immediately execute a group of corrupt officials.

So sudden was this turn of events that Ye Ming asked, “Tower Master, should we…?”

“Let’s go see.” Liu Qianxun’s aura slightly retracted. Indeed, Qin Junlan was decisive in her anger; she had originally thought there would be a trial, but now it seemed they would directly kill one to warn a hundred. What does she look like when she kills? Liu Qianxun was curious to see.

This sudden change in weather might just be the perfect opportunity to offer a sacrifice to heaven. If heaven could show compassion for the people of Yuzhou, then using the blood of these corrupt officials as a sacrifice to heaven would be most fitting.

Lord Ying was innocently killed in prison, but fortunately, Lady Ying had a ledger left by Lord Ying during his lifetime to save his life. Lady Ying had never opened it, thinking it was an important court document, and only after the incident did she discover that it contained the crimes of the involved officials and the Grand Chancellor.

With tears, she handed the ledger to Qin Junlan, hoping to exempt her entire family from the crime of implication. Qin Junlan, remembering how Lady Ying had once generously helped disaster victims and possessed a benevolent heart and virtue, and considering that the delay allowed the Red Armor Army to rescue the Emperor, exempted the Ying family’s members from crime. Except for the embezzled silver that was confiscated, the Ying family’s property was retained, and everything remained as usual.

The dragon face was greatly angry, and the sky changed color. Thunder rolled, but no rain came. Seven or eight officials were escorted to the street, attracting many commoners to watch, as Qin Junlan personally supervised the execution.

The commoners surrounded the execution platform tightly, and then a Red Armor Army arrived, wearing armor and holding swords, cutting a path through the crowd.

“The Emperor has arrived!”

Everyone bowed and kneeled, with no one daring to raise their heads. Many commoners wished to admire the Empress’s appearance but dared not look directly. Qin Junlan wore yellow patterned magnificent clothes, with a brocade belt coiled upwards, and her robes flowing wide. Her face was like an autumn moon, her hair cut like by a knife, her eyebrows painted with vivid ink, exuding a compelling heroic spirit. She lightly flicked her sleeve, and with a turn and glance back, she looked down upon the world.

That captivating and unparalleled demeanor, combined with the monarch’s majesty, shone together, making the world’s thousands of elegances pale in comparison. She stood high above, causing everything to fade into insignificance, her hands slightly raised, as if with the power to turn clouds and bring rain.

“Stand up!” Her voice thundered, echoing throughout Yuzhou City, as if the sky widened, clouds stretched, the sea calmed, and waves quieted, broadening hearts and leaving them unable to stop.

The people slowly rose and finally saw the Empress’s true face, unable to help but bow. Liu Qianxun stood low-key in the crowd, gazing at her in a trance from afar. This was Chaoyan in female attire, clad in a dragon robe, with brocade satin not enough to match her. Those deep, rain-like beautiful eyes were now full of killing intent, and her majestic aura seemed to rival the sky.

She slightly raised her head, overlooking all beings, and spoke to the commoners, “I wish to execute eight corrupt officials, using their blood to sacrifice to Yuzhou’s sky, for the suffering of my commoners’ disaster, and out of pity for my people’s lives, may heaven especially show pity. These eight people embezzled and acted lawlessly, ignoring the Ji Dynasty system. Today, I punish them with the crime of bringing disaster to the country, harming the people, defying authority with rebellion, and other combined crimes, sentencing immediate execution!”

After speaking, she slightly extended her delicate hand, and Li Yue handed over the command token with the word “execute.” She swiftly threw it, her eyes revealing killing intent, her delicate lips wide open, “Execute!”

Eight executioners raised their blades and let them fall, heads instantly hitting the ground, blood splattering on the spot, and the commoners all cheered.

“Li Yue, announce the imperial edict!” Qin Junlan sat in the main seat, her eyes wandering until they caught sight of Liu Qianxun. She noticed her dim eyes, and between them were countless commoners. Through everything, when their eyes met, it always felt as if time had stopped.

Liu Qianxun’s heart was not at ease. She would never be Chaoyan again; from now on, this world probably would no longer have Yan’er, only this ruler deeply beloved by the people, combining virtue and talent in governance, the eternal female emperor feared by all four nations.

It was time to leave; staying any longer was unnecessary. The Yuzhou matter would probably come to an end. Presumably, Qin Junlan must have discovered that the water source was tampered with and would come up with countermeasures. All Yuzhou officials would have to be cleansed once.

Everything was as Liu Qianxun expected. The imperial edict issued promoted Lord Zhou Jilin to Yuzhou prefecture governor and Jiang Wei to Yuzhou officer, assisting Lord Zhou in managing Yuzhou’s ten counties. At the same time, those who distinguished themselves in this turmoil, combining virtue and talent, were exceptionally promoted.

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered densely, the sky’s wind rose and clouds surged, like a dragon tumbling overhead, and small raindrops began to fall.

“It’s raining, it’s raining!” someone shouted among the commoners, and immediately everyone held their hands out to catch the warm and cool drops, beginning to rejoice.

An elder came forward, knelt down, and said, “The Emperor personally arrived, and corrupt officials have been punished. It is Her Majesty’s heavenly might, blessing Yuzhou and bringing ten thousand blessings to the Ji Kingdom. Long live my Emperor!”

“Long live the Emperor, long live, long long live, long live the Emperor, long live, long long live….” The resonant sound of kowtowing echoed continuously. Qin Junlan squinted her eyes, feeling the raindrops hit her face, nourishing the earth and all living things.

Yuzhou is destined to develop vigorously. Qin Junlan has already formed a water conservancy plan from the water management policy, which will hereafter be supervised and completed by Jiang Wei. Thus, her mission for this southern inspection has been completed, except for the person who changed the direction of the Pingwang Mountain water source with a wall, causing Yuzhou’s water supply to be cut off; she certainly will not forgive them easily.

Yu Kingdom, Ling Yu. Their confrontation is just officially beginning….

At some unknown time, Liu Qianxun disappeared into the crowd, and Qin Junlan searched everywhere but could not see her figure. When she hurried back to the Yuzhou prefecture, Liu Qianxun and Ye Ming were just about to leave on horseback.

“Xun’er!”

Seeing Qin Junlan suddenly return, the two quickly dismounted and almost in unison saluted, “Greetings to the Emperor.”

“Dispense with formalities!” Qin Junlan, even in urgency, maintained the Emperor’s demeanor, receiving and dispensing with formalities.

“Thank you, Emperor.” Liu Qianxun did not raise her eyes, only slightly nodding, “Please, Emperor, grant permission for this humble woman to return to Jidu to visit my mother.”

“The sky is overcast with rain, I have arranged a sedan chair to return with you.” Qin Junlan had already arranged everything properly, just not expecting Liu Qianxun would want to leave without saying goodbye.

“How could this humble woman dare to share a sedan chair with the Emperor? Please, Emperor, retract the order; it is fine for this humble woman to return by herself.” Liu Qianxun wanted to escape; she now lacked the courage even to lift her head to look at her. That set of dragon-patterned magnificent clothes was too dazzling, piercing her eyes so she couldn’t open them. She feared she would uncontrollably miss Chaoyan, afraid that one “Yan’er” would involuntarily slip out.

“Can you not keep referring to yourself as ‘this humble woman’? I invited you on the southern inspection, how could I let you return alone?”

“Please, Emperor, grant permission!” Liu Qianxun knelt down again, and Ye Ming followed suit with a salute.

“You!” Qin Junlan suddenly felt a knot of anger; no matter what was said, she insisted on being so distant, distinguishing all those respect and etiquette so clearly. She never put on the Emperor’s airs in front of her. “Are you truly unwilling to travel with me?”

“Yes, please, Emperor, grant permission for this humble woman to return to Jidu by herself.” Liu Qianxun’s indifferent tone also angered Qin Junlan. Her face was expressionless, her breathing slightly fluctuating. She raised her hand, then helplessly put it down again, “Fine! If you want to go, then go! I will follow your wish!”

She brushed her sleeve and left, leaving a long and distant figure. Liu Qianxun withdrew her gaze, her eyes flashing with a trace of sadness, as if only by deliberately angering Qin Junlan could she find redemption for herself; otherwise, she would always be sinking in that inexplicable emotion.

“Master, why do you do this?” Ye Ming couldn’t bear to say.

“Go.” Liu Qianxun stabilized her mood, pressed on the horse’s head, and leaped up. If she guessed correctly, at this moment Ling Yu was already in Jidu waiting for her return.

Having not seen her for many days, she did not know how she was now. Is it that, except for killing to solve problems, she no longer has other methods?

Sparse raindrops hit her face as Liu Qianxun waved her whip and rode away!

“Ye Ming!” Bai Ruoxi hurriedly arrived only to see the back of the horse. Even if she called out louder, Ye Ming would not hear, “Annoying ghost!”

“Alright, Xi’er, today I will handle some matters, and tomorrow return to the palace.” Qin Junlan did not leave, only distantly watching Liu Qianxun’s back until she disappeared at the horizon.

“Emperor Sister, don’t you miss Sister Xun’er? When you return to the palace, who knows how many court affairs will be waiting for you to handle? The Empress Dowager will certainly lecture you again, and there’s also that annoying Grand Chancellor.” Bai Ruoxi, although childish, saw things clearly.

“It doesn’t matter; if you want to leave the palace, then leave. If you want to see Ye Ming, I won’t stop you.”

“Thank you, Emperor Sister.” Bai Ruoxi held Qin Junlan’s arm intimately, and the gloom in her heart disappeared completely.

Qin Junlan raised a smile, her gaze falling again in the direction Liu Qianxun had left. Her heart suddenly felt empty, and even the joy of solving the drought couldn’t dilute the melancholy in her heart.

The Empress’s great name spread a thousand li daily, and the whole Ji Kingdom rumored she was heaven’s appointed ruler. By slaying corrupt officials, she received heaven’s favor, allowing Yuzhou’s withered wood to meet spring and alleviating the great drought. There were also rumors she was the reincarnation of a divine dragon, possessing the ability to call the wind and summon the rain; furthermore, some people said she should unify the four kingdoms to maintain her brilliance.

In the study of Jing Garden, Ling Yu personally wrote a secret letter to the monarchs of both Luo and Qing kingdoms, commanding Sheng Men to deliver them at the fastest speed. She was always uneasy; this beauty trap should not be dragged on for too long. She wanted a quick battle and quick decision! Therefore, she needed to find a way to enter the palace and assist Liu Qianxun with a helping hand.

“Sect Leader, the spy reports that the Tower Master has already set out to return to the capital.” Lin Wuming lightly pinched his hair, with a smile between his eyebrows and eyes, like a fox’s charm.

“She actually didn’t return with Qin Junlan…” Ling Yu pondered for a moment and then understood clearly in her heart. Her vermilion lips slightly parted as she gazed at Lin Wuming, gently stroking his smooth cheek, truly skin like congealed fat, surpassing that of a woman, “Why do you think Xun’er didn’t return with her?”

“The Empress conceals her identity; how could the Tower Master act as if nothing happened? It’s the desire to capture by letting loose.” Lin Wuming’s every move exuded a faint and quiet aura.

Ling Yu narrowed her eyes, her fingertip lightly teasing his chin, “You are very clever, but cleverness must be used in the right place, understand?”

“Everything of Wuming’s is the Sect Leader’s; the so-called cleverness is only to please you.”

“Hahahahaha~ good~ I just like this shameless aura on you.” Ling Yu raised a trace of a wicked smile, her expression slightly tense, “But after Xun’er returns, you should automatically avoid her, as she does not like you.”

Lin Wuming’s smile froze on his face, even the strength to breathe seemed to dissipate, but he still stiffly maintained the corners of his lips, “Yes, as you command.”