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Chapter 52: Stirrings in the Imperial Capital
Chapter 52: Stirrings in the Imperial Capital
The night was pitch-black.
Within the Imperial Capital, Qin Yi was covered in blood.
The horror in her eyes had yet to dissipate, but at this moment, she was frantically running towards the city.
The two auras behind her did not pursue; instead, they chose to lie in wait.
However, Qin Yi's fear had not yet subsided.
She quickly entered the palace.
"Qin Yi, what happened to you?" Seeing Qin Yi covered in blood, Jin Li's face was filled with shock.
Beside them, Duke of Guo and Kong Qi, who were overseeing the progress of the Divine Altar's construction, hurried over, clearly noticing Qin Yi's dire state.
Upon seeing Qin Yi's severely injured appearance, both men's eyes revealed worry and despair.
These past few days, they had not only been constructing the Divine Altar but also secretly plotting with Qin Yi to find a way to send Empress Jin Li out of the Imperial Capital.
Tonight, Qin Yi secretly left the city to test the waters.
But unexpectedly, she returned heavily injured.
"Cough, cough..." Qin Yi coughed, spitting out a mouthful of bloody froth, seemingly mixed with fragments of shattered internal organs.
Seeing this, Jin Li quickly fed Qin Yi the healing medicine that Hua Xian had brought.
After taking the medicine, Qin Yi's complexion improved slightly.
"Qin Yi, are you feeling better?" Jin Li asked with utmost concern.
"I'm feeling better, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Qin Yi looked at the crowd and spoke with gravity, "Just now, as I prepared to leave the city, I encountered the ambush of two Sovereigns!"
"What? Two of them?"
"If it were just two, I wouldn't be this heavily injured. There are also several others lying in wait."
"Most importantly, they are not humans, but demons! Outside the Imperial Capital, they've set up a massive array!" Qin Yi spoke with incredible speed.
Upon hearing this, everyone present paled.
Kong Qi's beard trembled, "Demons? An array?"
"Beyond this array, bloodlight fills the sky, and three thousand white banners flutter, seemingly the Soul-Entering Banner Array!" As Qin Yi spoke, those present struggled to remain standing! The Soul-Entering Banner Array was infamous for its malevolence.
Fifty years ago, a small country bordering the Demonic Beast Territory had been invaded by the Demonic Clan, who deployed the Soul-Entering Banner Array, refining alive tens of thousands of its people.
Because of this incident, the human nations on the Moonward Continent were enraged, forming a coalition to wage war against the Demonic Clan.
As a result, their vitality was severely damaged.
It was also due to this event that the imperial authority of the Nan Qian Kingdom began to gradually decline.
Several great human kingdoms underwent tremendous changes.
Now, hearing from Qin Yi that the Soul-Entering Banner Array was outside the Imperial Capital, how could they not be terrified?
"Are you sure you didn't mistake it?" Duke of Guo looked at Qin Yi, his voice low.
The others also stared at Qin Yi, their faces filled with anxiety.
Qin Yi said, "I didn't mistake it; that's the Soul-Entering Banner Array!"
Upon hearing this, Kong Qi lost his composure and sat on the ground. Suddenly, he stood up, "I must go and ask, what exactly is Sima Ting planning?"
Hearing this news, Jin Li also felt a hint of fear.
She had originally thought that Sima Ting was merely aiming for the throne, targeting her and those backing her.
Now it seemed that Sima Ting harbored sinister intentions, aiming to destroy the entire Nan Qian Kingdom!
However, so many demons, and even Sovereigns, had entered Nan Qian!
Could Tian Yun Sheng Men be unaware of this?
Jin Li felt inexplicably chilled, knowing that this matter was even deeper than she had imagined.
Nevertheless, gazing at the nearly completed Divine Altar, her eyes flashed with determination, "Let's put this aside for now. We must first complete the Divine Altar!"
Her voice was resolute, carrying an unquestionable conviction.
Kong Qi, who had been dispirited, also stood up, "As you command."
However, his vitality was completely gone.
Jin Li returned to her chambers and stood alone in her bedroom, gazing at the ancient Ji Chun Tree in the sky through the window, tightly holding the Lustrous Jade Tide.
"Qi Yuan, if it were you, what would you do?"
...
In the Chancellor's Mansion.
Sima Ting bowed his head, appearing obsequiously.
"Your Highnesses, if that person isn't eliminated, they might expose the grand formation and disrupt your grand plans."
The thin sovereign of Tian Yun Sheng Men smiled but remained silent.
The sovereign of the Demonic Clan was unconcerned. "The formation is already set. Let it be exposed if it's meant to be."
"But... if they spread the word, it might cause an uproar and incite a mutiny among the soldiers in the city!" Sima Ting expressed his concern.
"Can't you, Sima Ting, control your own troops?" The Demonic Beast sovereign mocked.
Sima Ting broke into a cold sweat. "If the news leaks, I'll find a way to calm the troops."
Now, with the entire imperial city under his control, soothing the troops wouldn't be difficult.
"I heard that tomorrow at noon, your female sovereign will ascend the Divine Altar to worship the heavens?" The Demonic Clan sovereign changed the subject.
"Indeed," Sima Ting replied.
……
The Divine Altar stood over two zhang tall, topped with a pavilion, each of its four corners adorned with small beast sculptures.
The entire altar exuded an aura of ancient simplicity and rustic charm, infused with a primal and rugged essence.
From a distance, it appeared vast and imposing.
Due to its simplicity, the construction of the Divine Altar didn't take much time.
Sima Ting sat upright in his position, while the Demonic Clan sovereign sat beside him, unbothered by posture.
Sima Riyue's hair was loose, making him appear even more reckless.
To the side, a group of civil and military officials whispered quietly.
Some glanced at Sima Ting with questioning eyes, while others looked at the Demonic Clan sovereign, their expressions thoughtful.
Apparently, Qin Yi had already leaked the news about the formation.
However, most people believed it was just a ploy by Queen Jin Li to sow discord.
And without the strength of a Royal Powerhouse, they couldn't possibly detect the Soul Entering Banner Array.
"Her Majesty has arrived!"
With that announcement, Queen Jin Li appeared before everyone's eyes.
She wore a golden yellow collared robe with wide sleeves, adorned with golden phoenix birds, a white jade necklace with golden flower accents, and a Lustrous Jade Tide around her waist, topped with a pearl phoenix crown.
At that moment, she truly embodied the regal elegance and majestic dignity of a queen.
Unfortunately, when Queen Jin Li appeared, aside from the Minister of Rites and a few others, no one else bowed.
By then, the army had entered the imperial city, and Sima Ting's faction no longer bothered with pretense.
Sima Riyue, upon seeing this, felt triumphant. He leaned towards Sima Ting's ear, speaking loudly, "Father, if you had done this earlier, your son could have been the crown prince?"
Many officials in the court heard this and smiled.
Queen Jin Li, upon hearing this, remained silent.
"Her Majesty is here to worship the heavens!" Kong Qi stood tall, his voice deep and resonant, as if this ceremony would mark the end of an era.
(End)
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