Chapter 436: Chapter 264: Frontline Secret Report, The Song Country’s Tragedy, Who Will Be Eliminated Next? The Champion Marquis Enters the Capital
The autumn rain was long and drizzling. It lacked the violence of a summer storm, but carried a chill that permeated the Heart Spirit.
The Imperial Capital was in the north of Great Yan, where the climate was dry and cold. The chill was bone-deep, forcing every household to shut its doors and windows, bring in their clothes, and hide from the damp rain.
One moment, the streets were perfectly tranquil. The next, the silence was shattered by the sound of horse hooves splashing through the water.
Lu Mingyuan sat under the eaves of the inn’s bamboo building, gazing at the vast downpour. It had been raining for a full Hour with no sign of stopping.
Yang Yingchan furrowed her brow, carefully watching the path ahead. She tried to navigate around the muddy patches, but it was all for naught.
Her cherry-red embroidered shoes were covered in mud, much to her displeasure.
"Let’s go back to the inn and sit for a while. The rain isn’t going to stop anytime soon." Lu Mingyuan offered a faint smile and turned back toward the bamboo building.
"I was planning to go back to the palace to pack my things. Now I’m delayed," Yang Yingchan muttered, following him with a sigh of resignation.
Lu Mingyuan had no intention of letting her stay in the palace like a Golden Canary that had lost its freedom. Instead, he planned to arrange a spacious and comfortable residence for her, assign a few maids to attend to her, and have her settle in the Capital City for now, awaiting Prince Zhenbei’s return to give his report.
"It’s cold out, and you’re going barefoot?"
As soon as she entered the room, Yang Yingchan took off her embroidered shoes. She padded around barefoot and poured herself a cup of hot tea.
Lu Mingyuan glanced down at her exquisite, jade-like feet before quickly averting his gaze.
Plump as jade and delicate as if boneless, her toes were small and translucent, revealing the faint lines of veins. A pair of the most exquisite little feet peeked out from under her red skirt.
Many images surfaced in Lu Mingyuan’s mind. Even among the numerous famous courtesans his predecessor had bedded in the Brothel and Music Bureau, not a single one had feet that could compare to Yang Yingchan’s.
Yang Yingchan seemed to sense his gaze. She discreetly tucked her feet under her skirt and sat on the bed, her cheeks flushing a faint red.
Lu Mingyuan had already looked away. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed out the window.
The sky was rather gloomy because of the autumn rain.
Lu Mingyuan stared at the drizzling rain and remarked with a sigh, "Rainy weather like this is really perfect for sleeping."
The moment he spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew strangely delicate.
"Your Majesty..."
In the end, it was a blushing Yang Yingchan who broke the silence.
"Urgent report from the front lines!"
But before she could finish, a loud, resonant voice echoed from outside the bamboo building.
Suddenly interrupted, a look of disappointment clouded Yang Yingchan’s eyes.
An armored soldier holding a Command Flag appeared downstairs, astride a massive Dragon Qilin Horse unique to the Great Yan Imperial Guard. His expression was fraught with anxiety.
In an instant, countless gazes were fixed on the bamboo building as numerous waves of Divine Sense swept over the area.
The Great Yan masters standing guard nearby were ready to act at a moment’s notice.
"Halt."
A Ninth Realm Martial Artist Tributor had appeared at some point, his expression solemn as he blocked the soldier’s path.
"I will relay your message."
The Imperial Guard soldier cupped his fist respectfully. "My lord, this is a secret report from the front lines. Only the Holy Emperor himself may view it."
"Let him come up."
A languid, calm reply soon drifted down from upstairs.
Only after hearing this did the Ninth Realm Martial Artist Tributor step aside.
The Imperial Guard soldier went upstairs. He was surprised to see another person in the room but knelt nonetheless. "Reporting to the Holy Emperor! An urgent secret report has arrived from the Song Dynasty’s front lines."
"Give it to me. There are no outsiders here," Lu Mingyuan said calmly.
"Yes!"
A wave of warmth spread through Yang Yingchan’s heart when she heard this.
The Imperial Guard soldier handed the secret report to Lu Mingyuan.
Lu Mingyuan took the sealed letter and began to read.
As he read, his brow furrowed.
When he finished, his expression returned to normal. He waved his hand. "You are dismissed."
After the Imperial Guard soldier had left, Lu Mingyuan mused to himself, ’It’s not a particularly vital military report. The whole world will find out sooner or later. Was it classified as secret just to avoid any potential military delays?’
"What’s wrong?"
Yang Yingchan couldn’t help but ask, her curiosity piqued.
Lu Mingyuan glanced at her and said seriously, "Spies from another Dynasty infiltrated the Song Dynasty’s Hangjing Imperial City. It triggered a massive battle between Cultivators, and large sections of the Imperial Palace were destroyed. Many of the Song Dynasty’s expert Tributors were killed, and the Second Prince, Song Yan You, was gravely injured and remains unconscious. The losses were disastrous."
"Most importantly, the Celestial Destiny and Fortune that belonged to the Song Dynasty has been stolen."
Lu Mingyuan’s brows knitted together tightly once more. "It seems other Dynasties have already set their sights on Celestial Destiny and Fortune and have been quick to act."
’The closest power to the Jingyun Continent is the Silver Frost Empire. Could it have been the Silver Frost Emperor’s doing?’
The Jingyun Continent lay outside the Twelve Great Continents of the Central Plains World. It was a vast land with rich subterranean resources, countless merchant guilds, and a wealthy populace. It once belonged to the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Because of this, Lu Mingyuan had some recollection of the Song Dynasty’s National Capital.
To the north of the Song Dynasty lay the Wilderness World.
As a result, the Song Dynasty had to spend enormous sums every year to repair its border fortresses and defend its territory.
One could say that Hangjing was one of the top five gathering places for Cultivators, second only to places like Great Yan, Great Sui, Nanli, and Great Wu. Although it lacked top-tier masters, the city’s fortifications and Arrays were more exquisitely crafted than any other. Furthermore, the Song Dynasty’s Martial Dao flourished; they focused on nurturing Martial Artists, and the nation was brimming with hidden talent.
