With а singlе sеntеnсe, Feng Yue bесame thе one рlауing thе villаin, whilе Yin Gezhi cоntinued his role as the herо: "Нowеver, it sееms уоu all аrе trоublеd bу somеthing. Perhaрs I сan bе of help."
Shi Сhong's eхpressiоn shiftеd, аnd hе immеdiаtеly slaррed his thigh. "Тhаt's right! Wе still havе His Нighnеss here!"
Оr rаther, thе future empеror of Wei Кingdоm wаs on suсh good terms with thеm—whу еven think аbоut ореning аn inn? Evеrуonе herе had cоme frоm thе bаttlefiеld, аnd whаt thеy most wantеd was to return to a рlace whеre theу cоuld rеalizе their ambitions.
The people in the courtyard fell silent, exchanging glances, their faces filled with hesitation. They nudged each other, pushed one another, but no one dared to step forward and speak first.
Feng Yue knew exactly what they were thinking. Without hesitation, she stepped on Yin Gezhi's foot!
Taking a sharp, quiet breath, Yin Gezhi lowered his head and asked through gritted teeth, "What are you doing?"
"Don't scheme against my people!" Feng Yue glared at him. "If you have something to say, say it directly!"
"I'm wronged," Yin Gezhi sighed softly, lowering his voice. "I never intended to deceive them."
Who would believe that? Even ghosts wouldn't! Feng Yue watched him warily, as if he were a thief.
However, this time, it seemed she had truly misjudged him. The man beside her straightened up and spoke directly to the group before him: "The military is currently short of personnel. Would you all be willing to don your armor once more and revive the might of Wei's army?"
Shi Chong, strong and straightforward, happily agreed at once. "Great!"
Yin Yanzhong frowned slightly, glancing at him with some concern. "It's been a long time since we sharpened our blades, and we've forgotten how to fight. We fear we may disappoint Your Highness's kindness."
"General Yin is too modest," Yin Gezhi nodded. "I, too, grew up on the battlefield. Whether you can fight or not, I know very well. With the anti-Song forces gathering soon, I sincerely invite you all. After I ascend the throne, I hope to have your support."
With that, he clasped his hands sincerely and bowed deeply to them.
Yin Yanzhong was startled and quickly reached out to support his wrist. The others in the courtyard were also shocked, looking at him with disbelief.
The lofty Prince Xiao... actually bowing to a group of nobodies like them? All to persuade them to return and serve the country once more?
For a moment, they all remembered who this man before them was—the First Prince, Yin Chenbi! A hero with illustrious military achievements who had galloped across battlefields. If he ascended the throne, Wei Kingdom would surely have a different atmosphere. Why worry that soldiers would be treated as they were under Emperor Wen of Wei—distrusted, unappreciated, and meeting tragic ends?
"This commoner obeys!" Luo Hao, having thought it through, stepped forward and bowed with clasped hands. Seeing this, Shi Chong followed suit. The others in the courtyard hesitated, but one by one, they stepped forward and bowed.
So be it. Yin Yanzhong closed his eyes, chuckled softly, and thought of the bright moon over the battlefield and the frost and snow at the border. His Adam's apple bobbed as he stepped forward and bowed. "This commoner obeys!"
"This commoner obeys!"
"This commoner obeys!"
The scattered voices, after a moment, finally united into one: "We await Your Highness's command!"
Yin Gezhi raised his head, his gaze sweeping over each face, his tone exceptionally sincere. "Thank you."Thank you all, for still having your passion unquenched and being willing to return to the battlefield after enduring a ruler who mistreated his soldiers.
Feng Yue watched quietly, not making a sound to disturb them. Over all these years, these people had helped her a great deal. If there was something they truly wished to do, she was willing to do everything in her power to help them achieve it. As long as she lived, no matter what method she had to use, she would never let Yin Gezhi follow in the footsteps of Emperor Wen of Wei!
The courtyard grew lively. Some picked up their swords, others their blades, while a few loosened their joints on the spot, loudly declaring themselves "still in their prime," which drew a round of laughter.
The moon rose and set. Tomorrow would be the coronation and the empress's investiture ceremony.
Having moved into the palace, Feng Yue slept restlessly, tossing and turning like a pancake on a griddle. Beside her, Yin Gezhi wearily opened his eyes, reached out, and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her hair.
"What are you doing!" she snapped, her tone far from pleasant, as she extended her claws to scratch him!
He caught her hand. Yin Gezhi examined her nails, frowned slightly, then got out of bed and lit a lamp.
Sitting up, Feng Yue opened her wide-awake eyes. "So you can't sleep either?"
Ignoring her, Yin Gezhi fetched a nail file, sat cross-legged on the bed, took her hand, and began carefully filing each nail. "Didn't the imperial physician tell you not to keep your nails long?"
"How does my keeping my nails affect him?" Feng Yue retorted angrily. "Is even this length not allowed?"
"No." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Though his face showed exhaustion and his eyes were half-closed, he meticulously filed her nails smooth. His slender fingers lightly touched hers, making her feel uneasy all over.
What was this? The hardest steel transformed into the softest tenderness? These were the hands that wielded the crescent-moon blade—now holding a tiny nail file to trim her nails? Blinking, Feng Yue stared at his long eyelashes and murmured, "I hope our child takes after you."
Glancing at her, Yin Gezhi nodded. "Indeed. If we have a daughter like you, I'd worry she might never marry."
"You're the one who'll never marry!" Feng Yue frowned. "Back in the day, I had plenty of suitors—the Guan family's doorstep was nearly worn out!"
"Oh?" Yin Gezhi paused his filing and asked calmly, "Who were they?"
Thinking seriously, Feng Yue replied, "So many I can hardly remember. There was the son of the Chief Commandant, the second young master of the Grand Coachman's family, the newly appointed young Diplomat..."
"Write me a list later."
"What?" Feng Yue widened her eyes. "What do you need that list for?"
"When an emperor ascends the throne, he usually needs to make an example of some people to establish authority. Since I'm struggling to find candidates, why not them?" Yin Gezhi said expressionlessly.
Feng Yue: "..."
Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine. This man had been terrifying as a hostage, even more so as a prince. If he truly became an emperor who held power over life and death, what would the world become?
The moon quietly slipped behind the willow branches. After daybreak, the entire city of Lidu was in an uproar.
The new emperor had ascended the throne!The palace gates swung open wide. Rows of guards on horseback galloped in all directions, holding copper gongs and imperial banners, proclaiming the news to the world as they rode. Commoners lined the streets, eagerly discussing the new emperor.
A red carpet stretched from the palace entrance all the way to the front of the court hall. Yin Gezhi stepped down from the dragon carriage, clad in a purple-gold dragon robe with a high dragon crown, his bearing majestic and imposing. Beside him, the phoenix carriage came to a halt. He turned his head and extended a hand, and a slender, delicate hand was placed upon it, its neatly trimmed nails looking exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Feng Yue hadn’t slept a wink all night and was now drowsy. Under the weight of the heavy phoenix crown and wearing the purple-gold ceremonial robe, she forced herself to stay alert, walking gracefully beside Yin Gezhi.
Noticing her expression, Yin Gezhi whispered, "I told you to sleep, but you wouldn’t. Now look at you—even if you want to sleep, you can’t."
Feng Yue let out a disdainful laugh. "If I really want to sleep, I’ll just pretend to faint. What can you do about it?"
"Good idea," Yin Gezhi nodded slightly, his expression calm. "Then faint now. I’ll carry you through the rest of the ceremony."
"..." Glancing at the civil and military officials around them, Feng Yue closed her eyes. She still couldn’t bear the embarrassment!
Still, the scene was truly magnificent. Eight horns, each carried by two people, were arranged on either side of the steps. Hundreds of court officials and members of the imperial clan stood neatly in the open spaces to the east and west. Red silk banners fluttered, and flags waved vigorously. Walking under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Feng Yue almost felt as if she were the one ascending the throne.
This was the supreme glory reserved for an emperor, and Yin Gezhi had brought her along—truly a gesture of great loyalty!
Step by step, they ascended the stairs. Suddenly, Yin Gezhi spoke softly, "You’ve taken your revenge."
"Huh?" Slightly startled, Feng Yue glanced at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You didn’t get to kill Emperor Wen of Wei with your own hands, but you captured Emperor Wei Xiao alive." Holding her hand as they stepped onto the final stair, Yin Gezhi turned his head, his expression serious, and spoke word by word, "His century-old legacy, his kingdom, and his descendants—they are all in your hands now. The Wei Kingdom’s realm is also your world."
Her pupils contracted slightly. Feng Yue stared at him in a daze, but her body was gently turned by him, revealing the vast sea of people below.
"First bow—" a eunuch beside them announced loudly.
Instantly, as far as the eye could see, everyone knelt and bowed, their movements grand and imposing, making Feng Yue’s heart skip a beat.
"Second bow—" They rose in unison, then knelt again in unison. The rustling of their robes, though faint individually, became clearly audible as thousands performed the ritual together.
Goosebumps rose on Feng Yue’s skin. When she heard "third bow," she nearly knelt before Yin Gezhi herself.
"Is that all you’ve got?" Yin Gezhi’s eyes and brows were filled with mockery as he said disdainfully, "You’re receiving these bows alongside me. Can’t you stand a little straighter?"
Sniffling softly, Feng Yue whispered, "Your Majesty, aren’t you afraid the late emperor might visit you for a chat in the middle of the night?"
This was no longer a matter of whether the coffin lid could stay shut. Even if Emperor Wen of Wei were still alive, seeing her standing here receiving the bows of the Yin clan and the civil and military officials would surely make him die of rage all over again!
This feeling was rather satisfying!"If he comes, I welcome him." Without changing his expression, Yin Gezhi said quietly, "I happen to want to ask if he has encountered anyone from the Guan family and whether he has repented. When Father was laid to rest, there were no buried soldiers, so I suppose he could set aside his power and have a proper chat with someone."
Feng Yue swallowed hard and turned her head away. She was thinking... she dared not think anything at all!
The coronation ceremony continued. Tired from standing, she secretly leaned on the hand of the person beside her for support. Yin Gezhi stood straight throughout, and even when she pressed her entire weight onto his hand, his expression remained unchanged.
Thus, while the eunuch recited the lengthy proclamation, Feng Yue boldly dozed off against Yin Gezhi.
The phoenix crown swayed at the corner of his eye. With a faint smile in his eyes, Yin Gezhi glanced at her, gently reaching out to cradle her heavy head and rest it on his shoulder.
OpenNovel