"Your Majesty! The Marquis of Anguo leads his troops to the Western Frontier!"
Upon receiving the definitive news, the Xianbei King was overjoyed. He immediately ordered his cavalry to harass the Daqian soldiers deep in the desert without any hesitation.
General Nie Yuan personally led the cavalry to guard the area east of Yin Mountains, preventing large-scale invasion by the Xianbei cavalry. The troops along the route were prepared with beacon fires for early warning.
In Yanzhou, thousands of citizens respectfully saw Liang Xiao lead ten thousand infantry to the Western Frontier. Ten days had passed since the Xianbei cavalry invasion.
At this time, the army of ten thousand marched as usual.
And to the north of Yanzhou, a thousand-strong cavalry unit, led by Liang Xiao, rushed towards the desert.
"The Marquis of Anguo is going to the Western Frontier to give the Kui Shang Dynasty's Tian Ri tribe a good beating!"
When the people in the capital area heard the news, they all burned incense and prayed to Buddha, wishing Liang Xiao a safe return.
The Daqian Kingdom did not have the custom of Spring Festival, only the annual "Qianyuan Festival" in the middle of the year, which was extremely lively. Every household decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, and young men and women participated in temple fairs to pray for their relatives and loved ones.
"May His Majesty and the Marquis of Anguo live a hundred years! May the Marquis of Anguo return victorious and in peace!"
In the largest temple fair in the capital, Zhuo Zifang's family was praying here.
Zhuo Yun, hearing the blessings around her, all focused on that man without exception, and could not help but lower her head and wipe away tears.
She had originally thought she would adhere to the path of chess and remain unmoved.
But after returning to the country, she truly understood that because of him, the people of Daqian were truly living unprecedentedly good lives. At least they no longer lived in fear, there were no exorbitant taxes and levies, and no landlords dared to oppress the common people. Everywhere there were soldiers protecting the people, even in a village of a few hundred people, there were more than ten Daqian soldiers upholding justice for the villagers.
And his chess skills were also unparalleled in history, his understanding of chess principles and his skill in playing chess, even her master, the Chess Sage, admitted inferiority. He had also promoted Chinese Chess, which was destined to be famous for ages. Countless talented women and beauties loved him in vain, and some even chose to adopt abandoned infants for him, remaining unmarried for life.
She had missed her chance, and she should pay the price...
Zhuo Zifang could not bear to see her like this, and sighed, "Xiao Yun..."
Zhuo Yun shook her head, "Grandfather, you don't need to say more. I have no face to face him and his wife, let alone His Majesty. I also understand that only by diligently practicing chess, learning Chinese Chess well, and promoting it, can I be worthy of his guidance."
Zhuo Zifang nodded silently, and said no more.
In fact, he knew very well in his heart that this child regretted it.
The path of chess in the Daqian Kingdom was gradually revitalized, but no one paid attention to the stories that unfolded during its revitalization.
Li You, the head of the Li family, upon hearing of Mu Cheng's death, finally decided to surrender to Daqian, accept Xiao Qing's appointment, and serve as one of the Five Classics Doctors at the Imperial Academy with his son.
Mu Xuan, the third prince of Da Liang, due to the death of his six elder brothers, returned to Da Liang, escorted by the Shadow Guard and the Feathered Forest Army, with even his daily meals not allowed to be handled by anyone other than the Shadow Guard.
Mu Xuan laughed heartily all day long, with the Gong sisters by his side, feeling extremely pleased with himself.
"Just bear with it a little longer, we'll be in Da Liang in a few days! When that time comes, you will be the Empress and the Imperial Consort, and your father-in-law will be the Emperor's father-in-law! You will still have the demeanor of an empress!"
Several days later, Mu Xuan crossed the Heng River and finally returned to the capital of Da Liang.
Qin Feng, with a heavy heart, led the officials to welcome him.
Upon entering the capital, Mu Xuan acted unusually, calling out for his father the Emperor all the way, crying heartbrokenly. The surrounding people watched with sighs.
"I hope this Emperor can inherit the benevolence of the late Emperor and treat us common people well..."
Facing the suddenly filial Mu Xuan, Qin Feng had no reason to fault him. He finally announced in public that they would first hold a welcoming banquet for Mu Xuan, and prepare the enthronement ceremony for him tomorrow.
As he had not yet succeeded to the throne, Mu Xuan rested in his prince's mansion and took a look at the handwritten copy of the imperial decree.
"Cannot be killed, cannot be imprisoned, cannot have power stripped, cannot trouble those within the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion and the Regent's mansion... This old fellow Mu Xuan, actually gave Qin Feng so many privileges? Who is his son, after all!" Mu Xuan was instantly furious, tore up the handwritten copy with a roar, and smashed the vase on the table.
Yan Ming said worriedly, "You absolutely must not let Qin Feng know that you are actually my own brother, after all, we look somewhat alike..."
Mu Xuan's heart trembled, and he said with a cold smile, "Anyway, my birth mother is your cousin, what are you afraid of!"
"But we both resemble my father a little! That dog emperor was already suspicious back then, luckily my father had prepared early, arranged for a dead soldier to take the blame, to have an affair with your mother, and they both died, the Yan family would be finished..." Yan Ming reminded him.
Mu Xuan pouted, rolled up his sleeve, looked at his obviously twisted left wrist, and could only nod.
The absurdity of the palace back then, the loss of human relations, even Mu Cheng could not uncover the deeper truth, nor dare to let the family shame be known.
Mu Xuan's birth mother, Yan Liu's niece, the saintess of the Huichun Sect, had an affair with Yan Liu, and successfully gave birth to Mu Xuan!
Judging from Mu Xuan's appearance, which did not resemble his birth mother much but rather Yan Liu, his biological father could hardly be Mu Cheng.
However, because Yan Liu and her elder brother also resembled each other in appearance, the world only said that Mu Xuan inherited his maternal grandfather's appearance...
The next day, Mu Xuan, as he wished, participated in the enthronement ceremony.
Qin Feng publicly read Mu Cheng's will, officially announcing to the world: "The First Prince Qing and the Second Prince Ning died unexpectedly, with no heirs. The nation mourns. Now, the Third Prince Xuan shall be established as the new ruler and inherit the throne!"
Mu Xuan, wearing the imperial crown, finally obtained the coveted Imperial Seal of Da Liang. With a face full of excitement, he strode towards the pre-arranged dragon throne, his imperial crown swaying.
Qin Feng frowned, "Your Majesty, the imperial crown should not sway!"
"I am the Son of Heaven, why would the Regent say this?" Mu Xuan replied proudly.
"The stability of the imperial crown symbolizes the stability of the nation and the firmness of the divine artifact," Qin Feng replied.
Mu Xuan gave Qin Feng an displeased glance, regained his composure, and still did not care, allowing the imperial crown to sway.
The officials below also cast sarcastic glances at Qin Feng.
In their eyes, Qin Feng was trying to put Mu Xuan in his place and let him know who was in power.
Qin Feng saw this and felt sorrow in his heart.
With the support of Qin Feng and the civil and military officials, Mu Xuan officially ascended the throne and became the Son of Heaven of Da Liang.
"According to the late Emperor's great achievements, the temple name shall be Da Liang Shizong, and the posthumous title shall be Da Liang Wu Di..."
After the Minister of Rites announced this, Mu Xuan generously agreed and said, "My father the Emperor has passed away, and I am deeply grieved. I shall surely inherit his will and expand the territory for our Da Liang Kingdom!"
"The Daqian Son of Heaven and Liang Xiao have insulted me too much, and poisoned my six brothers to death. This hatred cannot be borne equally! I will mobilize the entire nation's army to fight Daqian at Heng River, pacify the Central Plains in the north, and establish a foundation for ten thousand generations!"
As soon as the words fell, Dong Chen and others cheered: "Long live His Majesty!"
Qin Feng was shocked, "Your Majesty is making a great fuss on the day of your accession. If the late Emperor knew from the netherworld, he would surely be displeased. Furthermore, the deaths of the six princes can be confirmed to be the work of the Huichun Sect. Our nation's primary task should be to eradicate the Huichun Sect within the country and stabilize the hearts of the people!"
Mu Xuan, furious, slammed the table and stood up, letting his crown fall onto the chair. He publicly accused Qin Feng, "You tell me, who is the Son of Heaven of Da Liang? Is it me or you, Regent Qin Feng? Do you want to be like the powerful minister Xiu Ping?!"