Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Summer Rain City was bustling with excitement as the new ruler was about to ascend the throne. Moreover, it was the first queen in history. This matter wasn’t just a huge commotion in the Great Xia Kingdom; it brought up controversies in the entire continent.
Whenever a new ruler ascends the throne, they would have to announce it to the world while various kingdoms would send their envoys to give their blessings. If the kingdoms didn’t have a good relationship, the other kingdom wouldn’t send any envoys. However, Su Ruoxue’s ascension was very strange as all the kingdoms and influential forces sent someone.
Mt. Spirit Beast College sent Principal Qi while the other two colleges sent over three vice principals. The Water Moon Observatory sent over an elder while the Great Zen Monastery sent over a little monk, the same little monk Huigeng who Jiang Yi had met before. This little monk had esteemed status in the Great Zen Monastery; and for them to send him, it meant that they had high regards for the Great Xia Kingdom, or perhaps… high regards for Jiang Yi.
The Azure Dragon Empire sent over Jiang Yi’s old friend, General Long, while the Northern Mang Kingdom and the Northern Liang Kingdom sent over a random general. The Saint Spirit Kingdom actually sent someone who Jiang Yi was familiar with. It was General He who helped him to deal with the Lan Clan. The Heaven Mystics Kingdom didn’t send Yun Fei this time, and they sent over a prince instead. The Divine Martial Kingdom’s envoy was a thought-provoking choice, who was actually the Third Prince Xia Tian!
Right now, the Glory Palace Hall’s atmosphere was rather strange. The politicians from the Great Xia Kingdom were all standing on one side while the envoys from the other kingdoms and influential forces were standing on the other side. Many people from the Great Xia Kingdom were looking at the envoys from the Azure Dragon Empire and the five kingdoms with eyes of hatred that couldn’t be concealed.
After the concerted efforts of Su Ruoxue and the state officials for two weeks, the Great Xia Kingdom had finally managed to barely stabilize. Many statistics were tallied, and the death count from the Great Xia Kingdom during the war was more than five million. A majority of them were killed by the alliance army of the Azure Dragon Empire and the five kingdoms.
The various envoys were rather carefree and made it feel as though this was their back garden. The envoys from the five kingdoms were all gathered and talking cheerfully and joking together without any regards from others as they totally ignored the officials from the Great Xia Kingdom.
“The time has arrived. Will Her Majesty, Su Ruoxue, please ascend to the throne!”
Short moments later, Eunuch Liu’s voice echoed while dignified instrumental music resonated in the Glory Palace Hall. The official from the Ministry of Rites walked over to the purple gold platform and yelled out with solemnly and respectfully, “We invite Her Majesty! The officials shall kowtow and the envoys shall welcome with respect!”
Once the voice from the Ministry of Rites’ member fell silent, all the officials from the Great Xia Kingdom immediately prostrated themselves in salute on the ground. Principal Qi and the others stopped their mingling and stood solemnly, bowing lightly to welcome the Great Xia Kingdom’s new ruler.
“Prince Yun Lu, do you know that our royal capital has a building named Drifting Snow Pavilion, where there is a famous courtesan that has absolutely beautiful looks. A pity that she only sells her artistry and not her body. She will only let you stay the night if she likes you. If there is an opportunity, do come over to our royal capital; this prince will bring you for a spin.”
“Hehe, Prince Xia Tian, you are so outstanding and elegant, and yet still unable to take down a woman from the brothel? It is obvious this prince will not be competent as well. It sure is interesting…”
Everyone present was stunned. It was such a dignified occasion, but Xia Tian and Prince Yun Lu of the Heaven Mystics Kingdom were still mingling without the slightest scruple. Their voices weren’t loud, but everyone could hear it clearly. They were actually discussing a woman from the brothel.
The officials from the Great Xia Kingdom were immediately infuriated. A few of them was about to rise up and give a stern criticism, but Director Ren coughed twice to stop them. Those officials merely glared at both of them and continued to prostrate themselves.
Fortunately, after the two of them mingled for a few sentences, Su Ruoxue walked in under the escort of a group of palace maids and eunuchs. The two of them stopped their teasing but still stood sloppily with faces of mockery.
The official of the Ministry of Rites spoke with a solemn and respectful voice again, “When Her Majesty ascends the throne, the officials will kowtow three times, salute nine times, and shout out ‘Long live Her Majesty’. The envoy shall bow with respect!”
Su Ruoxue was dressed in a dragon’s robe and wore a purple-gold crown. She looked imposing and charming at the same time, which had this distinctive style. She walked up the purple gold throne with an awe-inspiring attitude while the officials of the Great Xia Kingdom kowtowed three times, saluted nine times, and yelled out ‘Long live Her Majesty’.
Majority of the envoys bowed thrice in respect. The generals from the Northern Mang Kingdom and the Northern Liang Kingdom, along with the envoys from the Azure Dragon College and Centaurea College merely went through the basic courtesy and raised their cupped hands without bowing. In contrast, General He from the Saint Spirit Kingdom actually bowed obediently with respect.
“Tsk-Tsk! Queen Su Ruoxue sure is beautiful. She is still so attractive when she wears that dragon robe…”
“That is true. Queen Ruoxue is totally superior in terms of looks, elegance, manners, and attire when compared to that courtesan in Drifting Snow Pavilion back at our royal capital. She is truly a remarkably beautiful woman in the human world. When she wears that dragon robe, she is just… gulp, gulp!”
The two untimely voices echoed again. Yun Lu and Xia Tian was actually gesticulating and criticizing Su Ruoxue. Xia Tian even compared Su Ruoxue to a woman from a brothel before he finally gulped down his saliva with exaggeration!
“Audacious!”
“Presumptuous!”
The officials from the Great Xia Kingdom couldn’t restrain themselves anymore. General Lu and the others were brimming with killing aura. Plenty of the officers had already drawn their weapons. Profaning Su Ruoxue meant insulting the Great Xia Kingdom. The official would rather die than let their ruler be humiliated; they were naturally prepared to risk their lives!
“Amitabha!”
The other envoys couldn’t endure it any longer. The little monk formed a prayer hand and spoke solemnly, “Will the two benefactors please mind their words!”
“What, what? What is your Great Xia Kingdom trying to do?”
Xia Tian had an even more exaggerated expression as he seemed to be frightened. He exclaimed, “What do you all want? Do you want to kill this prince? Am I wrong to praise that your queen is pretty? When two kingdoms are at war, envoys are never slain. Furthermore, we are representing our kingdoms to give blessings to Queen Ruoxue’s ascension. Is this how your Great Xia Kingdom treats envoys? Or perhaps… you want to declare war to my Divine Martial Kingdom and the Heaven Mystics Kingdom?”
Yun Lu immediately followed up and spoke with resentment, “That’s right, that’s right! We are here to express our good wishes to the new ruler’s ascension. Saying Queen Ruoxue as a beautiful woman is a sincere recognition, and you actually want to respond to us with weapons? Kill us if you dare! Our kingdom’s army will arrive in just a few days!”
Once the declaration of war was mentioned, the imposing aura from General Lu and the others suddenly weakened. How was the Great Xia Kingdom going to fight with an army of 100,000 soldiers? Their kingdom would have already perished if it wasn’t for Jiang Yi. They truly couldn’t afford another war, and they didn’t… dare to kill Xia Tian and the others.
Of course, most importantly, these two individuals were here to find trouble. Today was Su Ruoxue’s day of ascension, and if they didn’t dare kill after they made such a commotion, it would be the Great Xia Kingdom left in the disadvantage. Su Ruoxue would also be humiliated to the greatest.
Even if General Lu and the others were furious while Director Ren was so angry that he was trembling, no one dared to respond. They were afraid matters might be made worse, and today’s happy occasion would turn into a funeral arrangement.
Su Ruoxue, who was on the top, knitted her brows; and she didn’t look pleased and was obviously infuriated. At this moment, she didn’t know what she was supposed to do.
“Xia Tian, I didn’t kill you previously; and you dare to behave so rampantly? Do you believe I will beat you up so much that your mother won’t even recognize you?”
Right at this moment, a voice which was as cold as a glacier echoed from a side alley of the grand hall.
A youth wearing green robes walked in with a group of soldiers. The moment he appeared in the grand hall, Su Ruoxue’s eyes immediately radiated. The officials from the Great Xia Kingdom seemed to have found their backbone as the killing auras poured out from the various generals.
“Jiang Yi!”
The instant Xia Tian saw Jiang Yi, the corner of his mouth twitched; and his body trembled as he dodged his eyes away. He was seemingly fearful of Jiang Yi and didn’t dare to look at him in the eye.
Prince Yun Lu at the side sneered and said, “Oh! So this is the world-renowned Jiang Yi? Patrol Envoy Jiang? Great Xia Kingdom’s Regent? Such prowess! Immediately saying he wants to beat up someone? I am so scared!”
“Scared, your ass!”
Jiang Yi immediately confronted and replied with a curse. He then looked at Yun Lu indifferently, “Who is this sissy? Eunuch Liu, is he a castrated good like you?”
…
