Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Dawn!

There was light rain in Summer Rain City today. The sound of raindrops echoed unceasingly, washing away the stench of blood that was lingering in the sky of the city… and the scars of battle.

Before nine o’clock in the morning, the Great Xia Kingdom’s Glory Palace Hall was filled with people. Every official and general that was qualified to enter this grand hall had all come. This royal court was convened under the decree from Su Ruoxue, and the decree stated clearly that if any of the officials or generals didn’t attend this time, they didn’t have to attend anymore in the future.

Only a portion of the important officials heard what Su Ruoxue said in the royal tombs. Furthermore, she didn’t say it very clearly; many people didn’t understand what she meant. She was going to reveal it today, and she would surely announce her intentions. The Great Xia Kingdom might probably have a new ruler after this royal court session.

This was why the grand hall was bustling with noise as countless officials were whispering to one another and having heated discussions with grave expressions. The Great Xia Kingdom had suffered great losses and had numerous casualties, but none of the politicians in the Great Xia Kingdom were dead. Among the hundred individuals standing in the royal court, two-thirds of them were politicians.

When Old General Lu saw the groups of politicians who were gathered, he revealed this trace of concern. These politicians were all frightened pale when the Great Xia Kingdom was at war and was about to be extinguished. Right now, after everything had stabilized, all of them regained their official’s prowess, criticizing and judging everything they see. General Lu involuntarily let out sighs when he looked at them.

Of course, he wasn’t looking down on these politicians. Generals were meant to conquer and protect the kingdom, but when it came to governing the kingdom, they had to rely on these politicians. All the generals were just boorish men and illiterate. If they were to govern the kingdom, the entire kingdom would be in chaos.

“Lord Jiang has arrived!”

A voice that sounded neither like a female or male echoed. A green figure walked in from the main doors of the grand hall. He was wearing a simple green robe, which obviously looked inappropriate for such a stately and official occasion. He walked in and took a quick glance at everyone’s face before he suddenly gestured and said, “Eunuch Liu, go arrange a chair for me.”

“Wow!”

When Jiang Yi finished speaking his request, the royal court was in an uproar. Jiang Yi’s attire was already not conforming to the rules; now he actually wanted to shift a chair in to sit? If the King didn’t give the order to bestow a seat, only the King should be seated while everyone else had to stand. Furthermore, Jiang Yi didn’t have any official position in the Great Xia Kingdom and was an outright non-conformance to the royal etiquette.

One of the chief eunuchs, Eunuch Liu, was in an awkward position. He looked over to an old and gray-haired official while that official took a side glance at a politician behind him. An official from the Ministry of Rites immediately stepped out and bowed with cupped hands at Jiang Yi while saying, “My Lord, in this royal court—other than His Majesty, no one can be seated. You are not… conforming to the court etiquette.”

Old General Lu took a look at Jiang Yi and didn’t say anything but merely revealing a mocking smile on his face. Jiang Yi rubbed his nose and indifferently looked at that official and replied, “This official is the Patron Envoy of the Azure Dragon Empire. According to ranking, I am even superior to your Great Xia Kingdom’s ruler. Why can’t I sit? According to the imperial court’s etiquette, all of you have to kneel when you see me. Why aren’t you kneeling?”

“Uh…”

The official from the Ministry of Rites was flabbergasted. He was trying to speak to Jiang Yi with reason, but Jiang Yi behaved like a ruffian. Furthermore, he had no way to refute.

Jiang Yi was indeed the Patrol Envoy of the Azure Dragon Empire. According to the imperial court etiquette, a king would have to salute to him. The question was… didn’t Jiang Yi kill the Azure Dragon Empire’s soldiers? The old ancestor from Azure Dragon Empire even wanted to kill him, and yet he still dared to address himself as the Patrol Envoy of the imperial court?

However, the Azure Dragon Empire didn’t make any announcement to expel Jiang Yi from the Patrol Envoy position; this official couldn’t refute. He had no choice but to look over the two leaders of the politicians: the Directors for the Department of State Affairs, Yu An and Ren Ping.

To everyone’s surprise, the two of them remained silent as they probably didn’t want to offend Jiang Yi over such a trivial matter. After all, the two dukes were apprehended by Jiang Yi last night; and he was the savior of the Great Xia Kingdom. They found it embarrassing to step in over such a small problem.

Eunuch Liu waved his hand while two junior eunuchs quickly brought over a marshal’s chair. Jiang Yi sat down confidently and ignored everyone as he closed his eyes and took a rest.

The politicians began to have more discussions, but they were all whispering. They looked at Jiang Yi with eyes of fear and respect. Of course, some of them were rather unhappy as Jiang Yi was too preposterous, and it was an insult to their reputation. These politicians were most particular about etiquette and reputation.

“Princess Ruoxue has arrived!”

Soon after, Eunuch Liu made another announcement. The politicians and generals quickly kept quiet and stood straight. When Su Ruoxue walked in, all of them bowed with respect. Su Ruoxue was just a princess, and in this royal court—if the king didn’t summon her, she couldn’t even enter. Right now, these people were bowing and saluting her; it was already a form of utmost respect.

“Everyone may rise!”

Su Ruoxue was wearing a phoenix robe and a phoenix crown. She was in splendid attire and had an awe-inspiring presence, making her beautiful and dazzling. She flicked her sleeve and spoke indifferently. Immediately after, she continued her graceful steps and walked up to the throne the purple gold platform and sat down.

“Wow!”

Although there were rumors that Su Ruoxue wanted to take the supremacy and titled herself the queen, all the politicians were still unable to accept it. In the history of Stellarsky Continent, there wasn’t any queen ruler in the tens of thousands of years of history. Even though the Azure Dragon Empire’s emperor was dead—and Princess Lingxue had the authority, she didn’t dare to declare herself as the ruler. Su Ruoxue had gone so tyrannical and immediately sat on the throne?

Immediately, the official from the Ministry of Rites that spoke earlier took two quick steps and spoke with an expression of resentment, “Princess Ruoxue, you sat on the wrong place, right? The throne can only be sat on by the king. You are… behaving disgracefully!”

Another politician stepped out and said generously, “Your Highness, please stand up immediately; otherwise, you will be conducting blasphemy towards the late king and should be executed according to rules!”

With someone taking the lead, countless politicians stepped out. Some even knelt, some were berating loudly, and others howled with sorrow. Every one of them was utterly resentful as though Su Ruoxue had committed some heinous crimes.

Old General Lu and his group let out a deep sigh. They had already predicted that these rotten scholars would surely object, but they didn’t expect their reactions would be so dramatic.

He exchanged eye contact with the generals before he turned to look at Jiang Yi who seemed to be sleeping. He helplessly shouted while bowing with cupped hands, “Everyone, you are wrong! We were the ones that begged Her Highness numerous times before she was willing to take this position. I and the other eight generals had written a joint proposal, begging Princess Ruoxue to ascend the throne; and she had agreed! Thus… she is going to be the future ruler for our Great Xia Kingdom. Why can’t she sit in that throne?”

“Hmph!”

Before Old General Lu could finish talking, a serious and cold voice echoed loudly. It was the Director who didn’t speak from the beginning. He suddenly took two steps into the middle and pointed at General Lu while cursing, “Lu Guangyi, you old and ignorant man, shut your mouth! How significant is a matter in regard to a new ruler ascending to the throne? This matter involves all the citizens in the kingdom, and the entire kingdom is at stake here. How can you act so negligently? Moreover, you are supporting a princess to ascend the throne? Do you want the world to mock our Great Xia Kingdom and say that we have no one else?

“Can I ask any of the ancestries has any princess that inherited the throne? Is there any female heir to the throne in the history of the Stellarsky Continent? In ancient words: ‘If the name isn’t proper, the future will be unfavorable.’ If the citizens of the kingdom are unconvinced, how will we govern the citizens? The world is in chaos, and the kingdom is in unrest—the Great Xia Kingdom is in danger, in danger! All of you are destined to be the sinners of the Great Xia Kingdom, and your names shall go down in history with infamy…”

“Director Ren is correct!”

The other elderly director spoke out with the face of resentment while his aged body was trembling with anger. He smeared off the tears and wept with bitter tears while saying, “My late king, can you see it? After you have gone, the Great Xia Kingdom has gone into chaos. This old official better follow along with you…”

“Since you want to die, then go ahead!”

Just as Old Genera Lu and the others were at a loss, Jiang Yi—who was closing his eyes—suddenly spoke.

His eyes were opened, and he looked like a ferocious tiger who bared its fangs. He glanced across all the politicians with blade-like eyes while his body was releasing formless killing aura. Everyone present felt as though they were encased in ice. Many of the politicians immediately shut their mouth while looking at Jiang Yi fearfully.

He slowly stood up and walked into the center of the grand hall. He then declared, “All those that support Ruoxue to become the ruler, step over to the right. Those who do not support Ruoxue, get out. If anyone else dares to chirp and chatter here, this Patrol Envoy doesn’t mind… sending them to follow the late king!”