son-in-law

Chapter 1310 Chapter 125 Coronation (Part 2)

Chapter 1310, Part 1250: The Coronation (Part 2)

News of the female prime minister's return is spreading throughout the city.

As the news spread among the crowd, the constables and yamen runners who heard about it also sprang into action. The female prime minister's order to forbid a mutiny and for everyone to stay at their posts was carried along by the running crowd. The panicked and chaotic crowd, which had become flustered due to the fire in the city, began to join in the firefighting efforts.

On the east side of the city, people with headscarves were stopped by the arriving constables. Upon hearing the news, whispers spread through the crowd, and someone shouted: "They were sent by the treacherous Yu Shen. I fear Yu Shen is about to surrender the city!"

But on the other side of the road, news of the female prime minister's return came from the mouths of the people on the street, and some people who had been hiding in their houses opened their doors and stepped onto the street.

"He's a traitor sent by Zou Xu—" the crowd roared, swords flashed, and in an instant, a bloody battle erupted.

At Qing Palace, the debate continues.

A young eunuch ran across the palace eaves and entered the hall from the side. He walked behind the curtain and told Madam Jin a certain message.

Behind the curtain, her breathing suddenly became much heavier, and after a moment, she stood up from her seat.

"The situation is urgent... we can't worry about anything else now. Gentlemen... I'll make the decision for you. Wu Xingdang, a palace guard, is known for his loyalty and integrity. Shan'er and I both trust him completely. So, let him go to the East Gate to temporarily replace Yu Shen, and let... let Yu Shen return so that you gentlemen can determine whether he has surrendered to the traitor Zou..."

Madam Jin's words suddenly became forceful, and Shao Qingshi and the others frowned: "No..."

"Shut up—" Madam Jin's shrill voice rang out from the other end. "My husband has entrusted the nation to you! Now, war is raging and danger lurks, and you've been arguing all day without reaching a conclusion. Everyone, watch closely, whoever delays any longer is a traitor, and you must eliminate the traitor..."

Several minor officials in the hall immediately came out and pointed at Shao Qingshi: "I think Shao Qingshi is a traitor. You all should seize him!"

"Let's see who dares—" Shao Qingshi looked around in confusion, and other officials also stepped forward to reprimand several minor officials, and the hall was immediately thrown into chaos.

At that moment, a figure entered from the side behind the curtain. It was He Yuncang, the chief eunuch who always accompanied Lady Jin in the palace. In the silhouette seen through the curtain, he casually picked up an incense burner beside the dragon throne and held it in the air. Tian Shan, behind him, called out in confusion, "He Yuncang—"

There was a bang.

Madam Jin screamed "Ah—" as the incense burner smashed on her head, knocking her to the ground.

"The Female Prime Minister is back!" He Yuncang's usually shrill voice now roared hoarsely, "The Female Prime Minister entered the city through Dingyuan Gate and has returned! What are you all arguing about? I, He Yuncang, though a eunuch, still understand righteousness. The Female Prime Minister has returned after surviving countless dangers; all of you, eliminate the traitors—"

He screamed hysterically.

"Ahhhhhhh-"

At that moment, perhaps realizing that the shadow of death was imminent, Madam Jin, who had been knocked over by the incense burner, also let out a sharp scream. She got up from the ground, her head bleeding, and rushed towards He Yuncang, and the two began to fight.

Inside the hall, some of the officials who had been standing on Madam Jin's side and supporting her collapsed to the ground, while others shouted and grabbed whatever was around them as they rushed toward Shao Qingshi. The other officials also swung their fists and attacked. In an instant, the officials in the entire hall were in chaos as they beat each other.

In any case, the invisible banner belonging to the female prime minister is replacing everything that was originally chaotic in Weisheng City.

In the southeastern corner of the city, Zhan Wu stood in an alley, sensing the atmosphere that had arisen since Lou Shuwan's return to the city. He smiled slightly, then shook his head: "It seems Zou Xu really hasn't let me off the hook..."

At both ends of the alley, figures who appeared to be ordinary people appeared, drawing their weapons. Zhan Wu, who looked like an old farmer, also raised his hands, revealing two gleaming swords. Suddenly, however, he realized something: Fang Chengye was likely in grave danger.

—Since Zou Xu has even arranged for people to be sent to him in Weisheng, how could he possibly let Fang Chengye, who has gone to the Northwest, go? With the Northwest rebels suffering a crushing defeat and the Mongol cavalry rampaging, is there any chance that Fang the Monkey will ever return?

He paused, and the warriors who had entered the alley quickened their pace: "For the sake of the people and the nation, we will eliminate you treacherous officials!"

"Dai Mengwei really taught you loyalty and righteousness..."

He smiled and sighed, and then figures appeared on the walls on both sides of the alley.

Soldiers from the Huaxia Army leaped down from above.

Zhan Wu rushed forward.

In the blink of an eye, the ground was covered in blood.

……

The oxcart was still moving forward.

Officials of all ranks had arrived nearby and were following the procession.

Only Yuan Xiaoqiu, the maid who originally followed Lou Shuwan and now held considerable power, was allowed to step forward. She stood by the oxcart and reported more information to Lou Shuwan.

"The news from Dongcheng is bad..."

"Why? Weren't they on guard?" Lou Shuwan wasn't in a hurry.

"Master Zhan, General Xue was indeed prepared. Zou Xu's two raids were both thwarted. However, after midnight last night, some members of the technical team, along with their families, crossed the city walls and even blew up half a wall. Zou... may have already discussed this with them..."

Lou Shuwan was stunned: "Ning Yi... how did you do... ideological work? He's always bragging..."

Yuan Xiaoqiu lowered her voice: "Most of those who defected this time are... the very ones we wanted to win over..."

"..." Lou Shuwan glared, her gaze shifting complexly. After a moment, she remained sprawled out, both amused and exasperated. "I'm not angry anymore, Xiao Qiu..."

"Yes."

"Find me a bowl of food, preferably porridge, and bring it to me secretly later..."

The oxcart moved forward, and kneeling by the roadside were officials, yamen runners, and commoners. Time gradually passed, the fires in the city went out, the smoke stopped rising, and the riot subsided. Lou Shuwan could still hear people's low shouts and cries. As the Shenshi hour ended, the sunlight on the horizon became gentler, its light mellow, turning into the sunset.

The east gate is getting closer.

……

On the hillside outside the city.

Zou Xu got up from his seat, took two steps forward, and frowned as he sensed the strange silence that gradually descended upon the city.

Not far away, many soldiers were still working, digging the ground and building defenses.

"What's going on..."

The setting sun shining from the opposite side was like flames, and he felt the city within those flames.

Suddenly, it stopped moving...

……

Lou Shuwan got off the oxcart.

She quietly thanked the old man who was driving, waved to stop the officials who were about to follow, and slowly walked towards one side of the city gate.

Soldiers guarding the city stood along the road, while people in the courtyards and buildings further away peered out.

Lou Shuwan walked to the foot of the city wall and slowly and laboriously climbed the steps.

She was wounded, her clothes were tattered, and she carried the mud and grime of her journey. People watched as she climbed the steps one by one, sometimes reaching out her right hand to steady herself against the wall beside her. The Weisheng city wall was over three zhang high, with forty-two steps. Finally, in the setting sun, she reached the top of the wall. On the wall, soldiers stood silently behind the parapet, no one speaking, they stood quietly.

On the distant hillside, Zou Xu's large flag could be seen flying high.

Lou Shuwan walked to the front of the gate tower, where there was a large drum. A strongman standing beside it was striking the drum. Lou Shuwan walked over and weakly waved to the strongman. With her back to the outside of the city and facing the drum, she laboriously lifted the drumstick with her intact right hand. The strongman beside her tried to help her up, but Lou Shuwan swung the drumstick and smashed it onto the drumhead with a thud.

Her body was frail and weak, so the drumbeat wasn't very loud, but she swung it again and struck it a second time.

The drummer was running frantically towards the distance of the city wall. He didn't shout, but just waved to signal that a soldier was coming over from the second war drum and picked up the drumstick.

bang——

Lou Shuwan knocked for the third time.

A heavy voice echoed from the city wall.

The fourth beat was followed by a resounding drumbeat that spread outwards.

Under the setting sun, her slender figure remained fragile. The drumbeats were not loud, but with each swing of the hammer, the war drums on the city wall sounded simultaneously.

bang——

bang——

bang——

Like the heavy beating of a heart.

The female prime minister sounded the war drums for the entire city, and the drums never ceased. Beneath the city walls, in the streets within the city, those kneeling and watching the female prime minister pass by mostly understood the significance of this moment. Some cried out, some shed tears, and some roared hysterically. The drumbeats were thunderous, and so were the shouts. As the golden sunset fell, only that slender figure wielded her hammer in the shadow of the city tower, and everything in the golden light seemed to echo her call.

On the hillside outside the city, Zou Xu also heard the gradually rising, heavy war drums. His gaze calmed down, and he picked up his monocular telescope to look at the distant city wall. He could vaguely see the slender figure waving the drumsticks.

Zou Xu put down his binoculars, and in a moment of realization, he burst into laughter.

A general approached from the side: "What's wrong?"

Zou Xu handed him the binoculars: "Look."

He pointed in that direction. The general looked at it for a moment, then lowered his gaze, still appearing flustered: "This is..."

In the sunset, he heard Zou Xu sigh.

"Bearing the nation's shame, serving as the master of the state."

Then, amidst his laughter, he said, "You know... how come I never thought of that—how did she come back?"

"Is now the time to talk about this?"

But Zou Xu looked at him and then calmly gave the order.

……

He paced quietly in front of the army formation for a while, waiting for the clamor of war drums in the city to subside, then led a warhorse forward and slowly rode ahead.

He was followed by several loud-voiced soldiers.

They stopped a short distance from Wissen and dismounted.

“I am speaking to the female prime minister—” he called out slowly.

The soldiers behind him shouted, "General Zou wants to speak with the female prime minister—"

On the city wall, Lou Shuwan was leaning against the shadow of the tower, drinking porridge. She asked Yuan Xiaoqiu to go and take a look.

Zou Xu stood in front of the city, arms outstretched.

"To congratulate the female prime minister, I am alone; the female prime minister may bring one person—"

The soldier relayed his words, just those two sentences, and then turned back, leaving Zou Xu to face the entire Weisheng.

Yuan Xiaoqiu returned and told Lou Shuwan about the situation.

Lou Shuwan took a bite of the pickled vegetables.

"Can we shoot him dead?"

Several generals then came over and assessed the situation.

The answer lies outside the firing range.

"Look, what use are you all?"

The city under the setting sun is solemn and quiet.

Zou Xu awaits an answer.

(End of this chapter)