Randeng saw this scene and suddenly felt an endless chill growing and spreading within the pit of his heart.
He clenched his teeth, "Is Shakya Muni truly prepared to commit such an egregious transgression against our Buddhism, ready to honor Great Master Lianhuasheng’s request?"
What ’Dirulai’, what enlightennt eons ago—absurd!
Avalokitesvara didn’t directly answer, but instead, his tone shifted, "As far as I know, Fighting Buddha and Maitreya Buddha both hold high regard for Prince Fenyang. Their temperants, uncle-teacher, are also known to you.
"Dari Tathagata discussed this matter with a few days ago, saying that Prince Fenyang is truly a remarkable person. He even smiled and pointed toward the southwest, saying that in the lands of Tiannan and northwest, it is unknown how many Buddhas will realize their fruition."
Randeng was rendered speechless; he understood the implication in Avalokitesvara’s words.
The situation being such, Shakya Muni had no choice but to agree.
Fighting Buddha, arrogant and insubordinate, would never consider any brotherhood among the sa sect.
As for Maitreya Buddha, for the sake of his ’future,’ he would have even fewer scruples.
The usually smiling Maitreya, in creating Mahayana Buddhism, has already destroyed the cultivation of countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
So, in today’s battle, was that mortal already on invincible ground?
※※※※
anwhile, within Xi’an City.
Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, had already slumped into his throne. His eyes were lifeless, and his face was rigid and blank as he chanically poured cup after cup of wine into his mouth.
But at this ti, Yu Jianshen didn’t even know the taste of the wine; all he could taste was endless spiciness and bitterness.
When Dasiming led the various Buddhas to the First Emperor’s tomb, Xi’an City’s defenses crumbled.
The Court’s forces suddenly intensified their offensive, storming into the city like a bamboo split open.
At this ti, the many Arhats and Bodhisattvas of the Heavens who had helped defend Xi’an with Prince Yi’s army for years, were all silent and nowhere to be seen.
Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, unclear about what exactly happened at the First Emperor’s tomb, and not understanding why Buddhism had suddenly turned its back, had already foreseen his own end.
Thus, he had given up command early on and directly returned to the Prince’s mansion to wait for the last monts of his life to arrive.
Boom!
With that deafening sound, the great doors were suddenly blasted into fragnts, scattering into pieces.
Then, a figure wearing a Dragon and Phoenix Beads Jade Crown and clad in a red dress walked in from outside.
She commanded eight Golden Dragons, and Yin and Yang energies swirled behind her, blasting away all the mansion’s guards as she passed.
"Hongshang?"
Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, glanced at the woman and then let out a bitter laugh, "Sister Emperor, such a ruthless heart, are you aiming to cut off all future troubles?"
At this mont, if Jin Army’s high officials and commanding generals led by Shaofu Yu Jie appeared here, Yu Jianshen might still have a glimr of hope.
These Jin officials and commanding generals, bound by Confucian teachings, would not easily stain the blood of the Jin royal family.
This would not only be of no benefit to their careers but also harm them.
But Yu Hongshang alone had no such reservations, and her coming from afar was unlikely to be for idle chitchat and reminiscing.
Yu Hongshang looked at Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, sitting on the throne with a face full of dejection and despair. Her expression was complex and difficult to discern for a mont.
She thought of the affection between them as siblings, a hint of reluctance to harm appearing in her eyes.
But at the sa ti, she also rembered the figures of her father and younger brother.
The intent to kill in Yu Hongshang’s heart not only remained undissipated but beca even more resolute.
Her brother, Yu Jianji, had yet to gather his True Spirit, lying unconscious in bed like a living dead.
And her father, Emperor Jingtai, was essentially forced into death in front of the Qianqing Palace by an alliance between Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen and his son.
How could she not seek revenge for such enmity and hatred?
Yu Jianshen chuckled, "Actually, there’s no need for this. Right now, the hearts of the people throughout the world are with you and Li Xuan, and the legal precedence of Jin Dynasty’s ’Reforming Emperor’ naturally remains unshakable. I never planned to live on, so after today, there will be no one left in this world who can threaten your son’s throne."
Yu Hongchang, however, stood with her hands behind her back, responding indifferently, "Still, unless I witness the demise of my imperial brother with my own eyes, I will always struggle to be at peace. Rest assured, though, that your imdiate family will be kept safe and after being confined in Fengyang for two generations, they will regain their freedom."
In the past, during Emperor Taizong’s pacification of troubles, a large fire in the palace at Nanjing left the fate of Jianling Emperor unknown.
Therefore, to this day, many people have taken advantage of Jianling Emperor’s na to create chaos in the world, causing repeated disturbances in Jiangnan.
If Yu Jianshen does not truly ’die,’ sooner or later, he will beco a calamity to the Jin Dynasty.
Upon hearing this, Yu Jianshen couldn’t help but be overtaken by a feeling of deep emotion. "Indeed, my imperial sister has changed, to the point where I feel you are a stranger. But that’s alright, it’s with such a deanor that one can control the vast lands of the Jin Dynasty."
He then gazed intently at Yu Hongchang, "I shall resolve everything today myself; there’s no need for you to dirty your hands, imperial sister. But there is sothing I’ve always been curious about and would like to confirm with you. Rumor has it that the current Emperor Yu Youlong is the son of you and Prince Fenyang. Is this true?"
"What if it is?"
Yu Hongchang’s robe sleeves fluttered slightly as she exerted a pressure as imposing as a mountain. Behind her, the eight Golden Dragons roared angrily, their power and authority intensifying beyond bounds, while her vast and mighty Divine Consciousness suppressed nearly all living beings nearby, forcing them to kneel.
"He is the child of Li Xuan and ; does he not deserve the position?"
"Really now—"
Yu Jianshen was montarily stunned, then let out a laugh before forcefully downing a cup of amber liquid.
"During the five years of your regency, imperial sister, the people have lived in peace and prosperity, as under Emperor Yao’s rain and Emperor Shun’s winds. Prince Fenyang has been overseeing the Court, sweeping away the barbarians, and bringing harmony to the laws—peace reigns throughout the world. Your child certainly deserves this position. But you really shouldn’t have co today—"
"Oh? Do you still have a trick up your sleeve, imperial brother?"
Yu Hongchang’s expression relaxed slightly; she knew that Yu Jianshen had just drunk poison, and his life force was fading.
Although she was determined to take Yu Jianshen’s life this ti, Yu Hongchang actually did not wish to personally stain her hands with the blood of her kin.
"The one who has laid down the backup plan in Xi’an City isn’t but Dasiming."
Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, shook his head: "That woman is actually quite mad; she’d rather be shattered jade than intact pottery. Within the entirety of Xi’an City, she has buried twenty-three Annihilation Cores powerful enough to level the city and wipe out millions of its citizens along with a million troops of the Court."
Yu Hongchang at this point ignored Yu Jianshen and turned to look at another person beside the throne.
That person was dressed in green and wore an iron mask on his face, with an unfathomably obscure gaze; he was also sipping an amber liquid nonchalantly.
Yu Hongchang scrutinized the man from head to toe: "Li Xuan says you are Sima Tianyuan. The forr Sima Tianyuan was transported to the Capital City and, after a complete trial, was to be executed after autumn. However, when Li Xuan entered the Capital City a few years ago, a reinvestigation by the Court due to his cause revealed that Sima Tianyuan might have been switched out and his whereabouts unknown."
The Iron-faced Man let out a bitter laugh and removed the mask, revealing a face indeed identical to that of Sima Tianyuan.
"Prince Fenyang is profoundly talented and has far-reaching plans. I’ve exhausted my wisdom and yet, cannot harm even a single hair of his."
As Sima Tianyuan sighed, he placed a piece of paper in front of him: "The locations of the twenty-three Annihilation Cores planted by Dasiming are all on this map. I am unable to remove them directly; I can only suppress them temporarily with the magical instrunts you provided. You must find and remove them promptly to truly avert this disaster."
At that mont, he was already bleeding from all seven orifices.
Yu Hongchang solemnly raised her hand to wave, sending a golden imperial decree flying toward Sima Tianyuan.
"This is what Li Xuan promised you. Within three days at most, it will be proclaid throughout the realm. He also has a ssage for you: regardless of today’s events, Li Xuan was already prepared to remove their lowborn status. To Confucianism, such a status should not exist in the world."
Sima Tianyuan unrolled the scroll and found an already drafted and approved imperial decree.
Essentially, it declared a reversal of charges for Fang Xiaoru and his family, while also abolishing all lowborn statuses across the land.
Yu Hongchang continued, "Li Xuan also said that he will grant them land in Liaodong and Penglai. As long as people are willing to settle there, they will be granted sixty mu of land each."
At this point, although Sima Tianyuan’s lips bore a smile, he made no further sound.
Prince Yi, Yu Jianshen, then chuckled darkly, "So that’s how it is! So that’s how it is—"
His voice faded into a barely audible whisper as blood profusely flowed from all his orifices.
Reviews
All reviews (0)