Chapter 50: Past Events
Chapter 50: Past Events
"Huh?" Jin Li was momentarily stunned.
"I'm currently in the Robe Forbidden Zone, and I've gathered a group of followers.
These followers should be strong enough to defeat Sima Ting without any issues.
Should I send them to help you?" Qi Yuan had always kept Jin Li's situation in mind.
Now that he had gained control of the Garment Division's Imperial Army, he should quickly dispatch them to aid Jin Li. Delaying for even a day might lead to irreversible regrets.
"Huh?" An overwhelming joy surged through Jin Li's heart. If Qi Yuan were by her side, she couldn't imagine what crazy or impulsive actions she might take at this moment.
She dared to offer herself, but feared she wasn't worthy of him.
"Are you happy?" Qi Yuan said with a playful tone, "I'll give you a boost."
Suddenly, he felt like a millionaire, spending lavishly on a game.
Jin Li was like an ordinary player.
An ordinary player, yet experiencing the game through the eyes of a millionaire.
Of course, more than that, when he was gravely ill and living alone, Jin Li was the only ray of light he could see.
"But if I send them, it might take a while, and they'll have to attack from outside the city. Without anyone protecting you, Sima Ting might become desperate.
Here's what we'll do: You build a Divine Altar, perform a ceremony, and the Garment Division's Imperial Army will appear.
It should take about three days!"
Qi Yuan explained the method of summoning the Garment Division's Imperial Army in detail, which took about half an hour.
Qi Yuan was extremely exhausted and finally logged off.
Xiao Jia, on the other hand, quietly hugged Qi Yuan, not moving a muscle, as if Qi Yuan was her entire world.
...
"Summon the Garment Division's Imperial Army!" Joy radiated from Jin Li's eyes.
It was a joy of survival, and also the joy of being able to see... Qi Yuan.
"Come, summon Minister of Rites Kong Qi..." Jin Li spoke, then added another name, "and Duke of Guo!"
About half an hour later.
In the palace, Kong Qi and Duke of Guo stood in the hall.
Qin Yi, Hua Xian, and others stood by their side.
They looked at Empress Jin Li, a hint of confusion in their eyes.
"Minister Kong, I wish to build a Divine Altar. Here's the blueprint. How long will it take?" Empress Jin Li handed a blueprint to Hua Xian, who then passed it to Kong Qi.
This blueprint was drawn by Jin Li herself.
Kong Qi took the blueprint and examined it carefully.
After a while, a puzzled expression appeared in his eyes: "Your Majesty, this Divine Altar can be constructed in four to five days.
But may I ask, what is the purpose of building this altar?"
Kong Qi was very perplexed.
The Duke of Guo, standing beside him, also looked confused.
At this moment, with Sima Ting's ambitious and treacherous nature, they should be thinking of ways to counter him or escape, but why would they build this Divine Altar?
Jin Li's expression turned cold and stern: "Just do as I say, no questions asked!"
"This..." Kong Qi's face showed difficulty, "Although I am the Minister of Rites, the Rites Ministry is under that traitor Sima Ting's control.
I must find a suitable reason to mobilize resources for the construction of the altar."
Qin Yi, upon hearing this, showed some dissatisfaction: "Isn't the Emperor's decree enough?"
Although she didn't understand why the Empress wanted to do this, she supported her decision.
"A reason... let's say I want to worship the heavens and our ancestors. Is that reason enough?" Jin Li said, feeling a bit uncomfortable inside.
Indeed, she had no control over the Six Ministries, not at all.
She was like a lucky charm.
Her life and death depended entirely on Sima Ting's mood.
"Your Majesty... I'm afraid... it's not possible." Kong Qi knelt on the ground, prostrating himself, his face filled with shame, "I have failed Your Majesty!"
Although he was a wise and respected figure in Nan Qian, he couldn't even control the Rites Ministry.
However, Kong Qi raised his head again, "Your Majesty, the top priority now is to leave the Imperial City.
Constructing the Divine Altar is not a major issue.
Please, Your Majesty, consider the bigger picture and discuss plans to leave the capital. Order Tian Qi Shang Jiang to defeat the rebels at Yanbei Pass!"
In Kong Qi's opinion, what's the point of building the Divine Altar?
The urgent task at hand is for Your Majesty to leave the capital.
As long as Tian Qi Shang Jiang remains loyal to Nan Qian, Your Majesty will still be Your Majesty!
Jin Li remained silent.
Constructing the Divine Altar is important.
But being able to summon the Garment Division Forbidden Army is something she couldn't disclose, lest it reach Sima Ting's ears.
This matter sounds bizarre, like a fantastical tale, but what if Sima Ting were to be cautious for once?
Kong Qi saw Jin Li's determination and felt a twinge of disappointment in his heart for the female emperor.
Although the previous emperor was also stripped of his power, he always sought to break free from his cage, and his actions carried the air of a wise ruler.
But the female emperor, Jin Li...
Kong Qi's heart ached, and seeing her stubbornness, tears streamed down his face, "This humble subject is useless and cannot alleviate Your Majesty's worries. I offer three hundred and seventy taels of silver to help Your Majesty with the construction of the Divine Altar."
370 taels of silver is a substantial amount for ordinary people, but it's still not enough to build the Divine Altar.
Duke of Guo, standing nearby, heaved a sigh, "Your Majesty, it's best to leave the capital now.
Only then will there be a glimmer of hope!"
Although most people present knew that it was almost impossible for Your Majesty to successfully leave the capital, this was the only chance for survival.
Jin Li's face darkened, "Build the Divine Altar!"
At this moment, she had to be stubborn and firm in her decision!
Seeing this, Kong Qi felt a twinge of disappointment in his heart for the female emperor.
The previous emperor, though stripped of power, always sought freedom and carried the air of a wise ruler.
But the female emperor, Jin Li...
Kong Qi's heart ached, and seeing her stubbornness, he wept, "This humble subject is useless and cannot alleviate Your Majesty's worries. I offer three hundred and seventy taels of silver to help with the construction of the Divine Altar."
Three hundred and seventy taels of silver is a substantial amount, but it's still not enough for the Divine Altar.
Duke of Guo, standing nearby, sighed, "Your Majesty, I offer eight thousand taels of silver and eight hundred artisans to build the Divine Altar. Consider it my final service to Nan Qian."
He recalled when his daughter, Xi Gui Fei, was pregnant, and the empress was also expecting. They enjoyed flowers together, and a palace maid served a bowl of apricot blossom snow soup.
Xi Gui Fei loved apricot blossom snow soup, and the empress shared some with her.
But unbeknownst to them, the soup had been poisoned. Xi Gui Fei drank it and suffered a miscarriage, eventually passing away in sorrow.
It could be said that if not for Xi Gui Fei, the empress would have drunk the poisoned soup, and Jin Li would never have been born.
Xi Gui Fei and her unborn child had saved Jin Li's life.
Of course, rumors outside suggested that Xi Gui Fei was poisoned by the jealous empress, but Duke of Guo knew it was Sima Ting's doing.
So, when Jin Li came to borrow books from Duke of Guo's mansion, he broke the law and made Jin Li kneel before his daughter's spirit.
Because his daughter and his unborn grandchild had died for Jin Li.
At times, he even regarded Jin Li as his own granddaughter.
Jin Li, unaware of these details, was delighted to hear Duke of Guo's words.
"Thank you, Duke of Guo!"
Silver was important, but artisans were the most crucial.
Duke of Guo's offer of eight hundred artisans practically solved all the problems.
How could Jin Li not be pleased?
Duke of Guo looked at the female emperor and stood up, "Your Majesty, I may not understand your purpose, but I must say that your life has been exchanged for the sacrifices of countless others. Your life and death are tied to the stability of Nan Qian.
Please consider the state and the altar. I will stay in the palace and build the Divine Altar!"
He implied that he would create a distraction by building the Divine Altar, allowing the female emperor to secretly depart.
The female emperor understood his meaning, and she replied, "I understand."
(End of Chapter)
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