Chapter 4, Humiliation

On the day of entering the capital, the weather was pleasant and sunny, with a clear autumn sky. The blue brick pavement of Zhuque Street appeared particularly delicate and smooth under the sunlight

Baojin smiled coldly, drawing the snow-white arm into her silk robe, and then casually asked, "Which of my arms do you want today?"

That is the voice of the emperor

To be a leader, having courage is not as important as having wisdom, and having wisdom is not as important as having knowledge... At this time, you need not be overly modest; this is indeed the case, and it is evident to all.

Yun Shi gazed into those heavy eyes tainted with anger, momentarily lost in the unpredictable allure of their darkness. He did not become angry; he merely sighed softly and turned to leave gracefully.

I am truly apprehensive; it is only by relying on Your Majesty's great fortune and the united efforts of the soldiers that we have been able to...

A low, deep laughter came from the high tower, interrupting his statement, like an icy blade slicing through the hearts of the crowd

Baojin was also frightened to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat. She tucked the silver needle in her hand into her sleeve, patted her shoulder nonchalantly, and whispered words of comfort.

It was as if a decisive statement had been made, resonating with the weight of gold and jade. The emperor reached a conclusion, and those present, including Yun Shi, could no longer voice their opinions.

A young person exclaimed with excitement

There is only one daughter, named Yu Ran

The soldiers maintaining order lashed fiercely with their long whips, yet they could not suppress the clamor and uproar of the people

A seemingly endless line of people flowed in, with clean water splashed on the ground of Zhuque Street, creating a scene where both sides were packed tightly, leaving no room for water to leak through

In the howling north wind, a distant whisper can be heard, as Baojin caresses her left shoulder, her gaze distant and profound

In the old system of the Celestial Empire, the emperor was supposed to meet with his ministers in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, until Emperor Jingyuan had a sudden inspiration to construct the majestic Purple Censer Hall that reaches into the clouds. From that point on, all court meetings were held there, and the emperor's visage was no longer visible to the ministers. Subsequently, chaos ensued across the realm, and then this sovereign entered the capital, establishing a new dynasty

Are you using such a title to imply that we both should lose our heads

Yet there were older individuals who coldly laughed and said, "The outcome is not yet determined; it is too early to say such things"

Baojin smiled, her usual elegance and ethereal grace transformed in that moment into an imposing presence

She chewed on these four characters, as if they carried immense weight, and yet, they seemed to linger in her soul, haunting her dreams, leaving her in a state of melancholy.

The capital city of the empire

The voice is deep, evoking endless melancholy

Ji Xin returned to the top of the slope, utterly terrified and pale as a ghost. Her whole body trembled lightly, and upon seeing Bao Jin, she could only cover her sleeves and weep softly, unable to utter a single word.

The quartermaster, having received Yun Shi's instructions, promptly arranged new carriages for them. The following day, as the wind and snow subsided, when they set out again, there was already a warm charcoal brazier in the carriage

Brother Xian has captured Gumo City, truly a hard-earned victory

Suddenly, the voice from the throne spoke; it was originally a naturally clear and bright tone, yet it resembled a long-unstrung musical instrument, carrying a faint sense of bitterness and fatigue.

Yun Shi gently rolled up her lace sleeves and examined them carefully before her eyes

Although Gumo City is small, it has allowed several of my great generals to return in triumph. Ah Shi, you truly deserve the title of the greatest general in the world

I have returned

Yun Shi suddenly jolted, extinguishing the dangerous and rebellious thoughts within him, and on the surface, he still appeared to be humbly submissive and reverent.

Yun Shi listened to this immense praise, yet he felt a chill run down his spine, almost causing his hair to stand on end. In a moment of panic, he exclaimed, "Long live..."

I heard that the city of Gumo has finally been taken down

Bao Jin cast a glance at her, and in her deep eyes was an unprecedented sharpness and brilliance

... ...

Amidst the pearls and jades, a faint sound of sighing could be heard, yet it was not truly distinct. The emperor chuckled lightly and inquired, "Has King Gumo passed away?"

Do you also have to speak in clichés with me

I know that you share a deep bond with Princess Yu Ran, but from now on, you must remember: I am Princess Yu Ran

Yun Shi lowered his head even further, making it impossible for anyone to see his expression

At the highest and deepest point of the Purple Palace, the heavy curtains of pearls and jade obscure the imperial throne, allowing it to overlook all things in the world from a lofty height, while those below the steps are unable to glimpse the emperor's visage

The New Dynasty is flourishing, and it seems that soon peace will be restored throughout the land, unifying the world under one rule. Those fragmented powers are but fireflies in comparison to the bright moon!

Upon hearing this sentence, it was as if a bolt from the blue struck, causing my entire body to tremble

In the snow, his figure stood tall and heroic, yet somehow, it bore a hint of loneliness and desolation

The recovery is going well

As Yun Shi spoke, his gaze trembled slightly, and before him seemed to appear the girl's clear and enchanting deep eyes

It is so, upon seeing that Wang's army had arrived, he then took the medicine and died, his body having already fallen into the depths of the ice and snow.

The scholars and students who have benefited from the new dynasty proudly expressed their ambitions among the crowd

Baojin wanted to struggle, but felt that the hand was like iron, firmly restraining him, and he could not move an inch.

In just over a year, he has actually moved into this Purple Hall. Does he not know the lessons of the past

Although King Gumo has died, he still bears more than his share of guilt. His daughter, therefore, shall be sent into the church's brothel as a punishment for her father's crimes

I am sorry

Upon seeing him, Baojin felt a faint pain beginning to throb in her left shoulder. She slightly furrowed her brow, and Yun Shi immediately sensed something was amiss. He reached out and firmly grasped her wrist without allowing her to protest.

Without mentioning the various discussions among the common people, Yun Shi arrived at the Shenwu Gate with dozens of riders, dismounting automatically as he entered. The group passed through numerous restricted gardens and finally arrived beneath the imperial palace.

The imperial throne is too deep, so that even sunlight cannot directly penetrate. ... The person on the throne, in such circumstances, either dies in solitude or, claiming to be a deity, ultimately descends into a path of madness and folly

It is important to know that we are about to enter the capital city

Ji Xin recalled the scene from yesterday; although she felt a lingering fear, she also harbored gratitude towards Yun Shicun. As soon as the words left her mouth, she remembered that this person was not only the mastermind behind the destruction of the city and the nation but also the culprit who had broken the left arm of the "princess." She hesitated and said: "Imperial Princess..."

General Yun initially appeared fierce and intimidating, yet his heart was still kind

The skin appears even more radiant under the snowlight, and the redness and swelling on the shoulders have also diminished significantly, with no noticeable issues in the muscles and bones

What about his family?

Yun Shi secretly sighed, thinking that with this round of examination results being announced, it would surely incite jealousy in many. However, he maintained an even more respectful demeanor and said: "Even so, this is still in accordance with His Majesty's past teachings... I have always kept it in mind and dare not forget it"

The triumphant returning troops were welcomed outside the city, at the Yiting located forty li away, by officials from the Ministry of Rites dispatched by the Emperor.

Yun Shi felt at ease, and only then did he relax his grip

What?

The new dynasty has just been established, and civil officials are still extremely scarce. The officials of the Ministry of Rites were actually promoted from the newly appointed Jinshi, and Yun Shi, upon seeing these new faces, although surprised, felt deeply the emperor's solemnity this time.

He gazed at her silently, without uttering a word

A shadow obscured the snowy light above, and Baojin looked up to see a figure in the clouds, unarmored, with azure garments fluttering in the wind, making their striking features even more radiant.