Chapter 200: Your Majesty! The Drunkard Returns to the Capital!
Zhuge Zhengwo, who had been watching the entire battle, finally understood Chu Yang's true strength.
Hmm.
Very strong.
So strong that even he couldn't estimate Chu Yang's realm.
For decades, the "Heavenly Human Realm," also known as Great Grandmaster, has been recognized by human martial artists as the ultimate limit.
Zhuge Zhengwo was the only acknowledged Great Grandmaster in the world; whether there were other experts among the common folk remained unknown.
Moreover, many aspired to break through to this realm. Among them, Zhuge Zhengwo favored Guo Bujing the most—he had a solid foundation, robust vitality, and only needed some refinement.
Others like Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng, sword prodigies, also had potential to reach Grandmaster status.
Even so, the number of Grandmasters in the Ming Dynasty was still inferior to the Demon Kings of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation, not to mention even more terrifying beings above the Demon Kings.
Since the establishment of the Divine Marquis Office, Zhuge Zhengwo never stopped gathering intelligence on the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.
With many constables sacrificed, he was nearly certain of the existence of Demon Emperors. The reason they hadn't appeared in the human world was due to severe chaos among the demons within the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.
Compared to humans, demons posed a greater threat to demonkind itself, so their focus was naturally elsewhere.
Just the thought of possible Demon Emperors made Zhuge Zhengwo lose sleep, worrying every day about humanity's future.
But after today, he no longer needed to worry. The one capable of safeguarding all people had finally appeared.
Zhuge Zhengwo wished Chu Yang were even stronger—so strong that even looking up, he couldn't see his brilliance, crushing all monsters underfoot and ending the people's fate as mere blood food for demons and monsters!
"Divine Marquis, haven't you seen enough yet?"
Having slain Zhu Wushi, Chu Yang slowly stepped out of the ruins, the strange aura around him fading.
"Your Majesty's divine might has captivated me utterly," Zhuge Zhengwo stroked his beard, laughing heartily.
"You're getting old—don't be like that old dog Cao Zhengchun," Chu Yang chuckled.
"Your Majesty, why say that? All my words come from my heart," Zhuge Zhengwo put on a sorrowful look as if complaining that Chu Yang didn't understand him.
The old fellow sure knew how to flatter—calling him "Your Majesty" left and right, almost on par with Cao Zhengchun.
Chu Yang just let it be—he'd be called that sooner or later anyway, no need to put on airs.
"The Hall of Supreme Harmony is gone; it will be troublesome to hold court meetings now."
"Your Majesty need not worry. Morning court is held outside the hall entrance; it can't fit that many officials inside anyway."
"Divine Marquis, I meant canceling morning court. Getting up before dawn is no joke."
"Hmm… I feel the same. Not attending morning court would be better. Not just Your Majesty, even I can't get up that early."
"Heh heh heh, I didn't expect the Divine Marquis to be quite the character."
Chu Yang had never interacted with him before and thought Zhuge Zhengwo was a stern old scholar, but he turned out to be humorous and talkative.
Zhuge Zhengwo adapted well to Chu Yang's unique style. To him, a wise king should be different from past emperors, or how could he lead humanity out of crisis?
The two chatted as they walked toward Zheng Dongliu and the others, who were still stunned and had yet to recover from the shock.
Especially Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui, two civil officials, who had never before seen such a spectacle in their lives—it felt like a dream.
"Now that Zhu Wushi is dead, the Dragon-Guard Manor is ownerless. Who do you think should manage it?"
Upon hearing Chu Yang's question, Zheng Dongliu and the others snapped back to reality.
Cao Zhengchun eagerly responded first, "Dragon-Guard Manor mainly handles intelligence, and the Eastern Depot is also involved. If Your Majesty agrees, let this old servant take charge."
Chu Yang replied coldly with one word: "Get lost!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was wrong," Cao Zhengchun immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
Yu Huatian sneered, "Idiot."
Cao Zhengchun glared at him angrily, "Don't get too cocky; I surrendered before you did."
Yu Huatian said, "You still have the nerve to say that?"
The two were about to quarrel when Zheng Dongliu immediately intervened, "In front of Your Majesty, the two of you must show respect."
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian glanced at Chu Yang's expression and obediently shut up.
Guo Bujing, hearing Zheng Dongliu call Chu Yang "Your Majesty," couldn't help but smile, "Lord Zheng, this is the first time in all these years I've seen you so compliant."
Zheng Dongliu nodded, "I learned from Lord Guo."
The two shared a smile.
Zheng Dongliu then turned to Chu Yang and said, "Dragon-Guard Manor's original task was to cooperate with the Divine Marquis Office. Now that Lord Zhu is gone, why not hand it over to the Divine Marquis?"
In terms of cultivation and power, Zhuge Zhengwo was the strongest among the six. If Dragon-Guard Manor were added to his command, no one in the court could rival him.
When Zheng Dongliu made this proposal, not only Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian grew anxious, but Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui also couldn't sit still.
"Absolutely not," Zhang Juzheng said sternly, "The Divine Marquis Office already holds a special status. If Dragon-Guard Manor's duties are added, who will be able to control them?"
"I don't distrust the Divine Marquis's character, but this will cause endless trouble. I ask Your Majesty to consider carefully."
Hai Rui spoke bluntly, "If the Divine Marquis truly cares for the realm, he shouldn't think this way."
Guo Bujing remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
"Brother Zheng, look at you—one sentence and you've made me the target of everyone's arrows. What did the Divine Marquis Office do to deserve this?" Zhuge Zhengwo sighed helplessly. Dragon-Guard Manor was a hot potato; he had no intention to take it. The Divine Marquis Office was already burdened with heavy tasks; even his own duties were overwhelming.
Chu Yang understood the core conflict was a power struggle. The six great powers were giants in the court, and any change would ripple through the entire government—no one could escape unscathed.
This was the system his wise emperor brother had built: balance to keep people competing for favor and obedient.
But this wasn't what Chu Yang wanted.
He hoped for a more efficient Ming court, not pointless wasting of time and energy.
"If the court becomes a dictatorship, that person will be me. As for the Divine Marquis… even if he devours the Six Gates, this realm won't be named Zhuge."
"I have no interest in court intrigues. Some old history ends today—don't make me say it twice."
"Furthermore, not only will the Divine Marquis Office and Dragon-Guard Manor merge, but so will the Eastern and Western Depots. Also, your authority over the Jinyiwei will be revoked. From today onward, you will guard the palace gates."
Cao Zhengchun panicked, "We guard the palace gates? What about the Imperial Guards?"
Chu Yang spat out two words that sent a shock through everyone:
"Deploy!"
...
When Zhu Wushi transformed into a gigantic monster, the citizens of the capital all witnessed it.
In a city where demons hadn't appeared for years, this was undoubtedly a bombshell!
Panic quickly spread.
"Demons have descended from the sky! The kingdom is doomed!"
Whether out of fear or malice, such words rapidly circulated among the crowd.
Until a flash of sword light suddenly appeared.
The world returned to silence.
The demons appeared and were eradicated in less than a minute.
Those who spread false rumors were swiftly arrested by the arriving constables.
Lu Xiaofeng, drinking in a tavern with friends Sikong Zhaixing and Ximen Chuixue, witnessed everything.
All three were stunned.
Even the usually cold Ximen Chuixue looked dumbfounded.
"What was that just now?"
"No idea. The capital lives up to its name—always something unseen elsewhere."
"There's really such swordsmanship? The capital hides many talents."
"Feels familiar somehow... like a celestial transcendence."
"Ximen Chuixue, I think you're still affected by your previous duel."
"Maybe... I even sensed some of my sword intent in it."
"Old friend, drink up. You're sounding a bit crazy."
As they spoke, a large group of Divine Marquis Office constables rushed down the street, heading straight for the palace. Soon, they saw officials fleeing the palace gates in disarray.
Most conspicuous was Elder Yan, who despite his age, ran ahead of all the civil officials.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed, "Elder Yan is still vigorous in his old age."
Sikong Zhaixing sneered, "That demon should have crushed Elder Yan. Too bad it didn't."
Lu Xiaofeng smiled, "Don't worry, he'll die soon enough. The emperor's dead; the realm will soon be in the prince's hands. When the drunkard returns, we'll settle accounts properly."
Ximen Chuixue asked curiously, "You, Lu Xiaofeng, are the kingdom's top drunkard. Who else can call you a drunkard?"
Lu Xiaofeng said, "When I drink, I'm particular—light drinking to lift the spirit, heavy drinking harms the body. But those two really drink themselves to death. Most of the time, I just pretend to be drunk and slip away when they're done."
Sikong Zhaixing sneered, "No wonder the prince says you never pay for your drinks."
Lu Xiaofeng rolled his eyes and said speechlessly, "When they're talking about decades-old vintage wine, who besides big shots like the prince can afford to pay?"
Ximen Chuixue's cold, icy face revealed the slightest hint of a smile. "I've always heard you mention that prince. I wonder when I'll get to meet him. Is his martial cultivation really that unfathomable?"
Lu Xiaofeng looked up toward the palace and said with a meaningful tone, "That sword just now was probably the prince's doing."
Ximen Chuixue's eyes brightened, growing more curious about the Virtuous Prince.
Not long after, a group of constables passed by the three men, splitting into two rows. At the front were four people—three men and one woman—one of whom was in a wheelchair, strikingly eye-catching.
"The Four Great Constables and the Four Divine Constables appearing together—something serious must be happening at the palace. Should we go check it out?"
Sikong Zhaixing said excitedly.
"You're a thief; can you be a little quieter? Didn't Guo Bujing warn you last time?"
Lu Xiaofeng scolded irritably.
Sikong Zhaixing's excitement abruptly faded, and he sulked as he poked at his food with chopsticks.
"Among the Four Great Constables, only Wuqing has mobility issues; the other three rarely return to the capital. The same goes for the Four Divine Constables. The emperor just died—they couldn't have gotten the news and rushed here already. The timing doesn't add up."
"Something must have happened outside."
Ximen Chuixue's words reminded Lu Xiaofeng of the earlier demon siege. His heart jumped in alarm. Could the demons have returned after they left?
Probably not…
If the demons had attacked the border, the urgent dispatch from eight hundred miles out would have arrived earlier.
Just as Lu Xiaofeng was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby.
"Lu Xiaoji, you guys actually left me behind to return to the capital, making me miss a big show for no reason!"
Lu Xiaofeng turned to see a dust-covered Li Gexiao.
"Speak of the devil," Lu Xiaofeng smiled happily and stood up, handing the nearby wine jug to Li Gexiao as if they were old friends.
"Not bad, kid. You've got some eye for things."
Li Gexiao took the jug and drank deeply, gulp gulp gulp—down to the last drop.
"Someone tell me what's going on. I just entered the city and heard people wailing. Could the emperor really be dead?"
Li Gexiao asked with a puzzled look.
Lu Xiaofeng clapped and laughed, "Impressive, drunkard. You guessed right."
Li Gexiao's expression turned serious. "Where's the prince?"
Lu Xiaofeng said, "He's probably sitting on the dragon throne right now."
Li Gexiao was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, startling the nearby drinkers.
"The drunkard's losing it again!"
"Speaking of which, it's been a while since we've seen this drunkard. That sudden outburst caught me off guard."
"Better if he died outside—out of sight, out of mind."
They didn't know Li Gexiao's true identity, only seeing him as one of the many beggars outside the city. For years, mocking him and the Virtuous Prince had become routine.
Li Gexiao didn't care at all. He was happy now—happier than he'd been in over a decade. Even if he died now, he'd have no regrets.
Because the one Li Gexiao hated most was never Yan Song, but the emperor sitting high above.
All the misfortunes began with the emperor.
But the mentor and father figure Zheng Dongliu always taught Li Gexiao to be loyal to the emperor and love the country—those values were ingrained deep, making it hard for him to act on his hatred.
In his struggle, Chu Yang appeared and helped Li Gexiao realize the goals buried in his heart.
At this moment, Li Gexiao felt a great relief. Now, if he could just get rid of that old thief Yan Song, he could find peace for his late wife.
Seeing tears of laughter in Li Gexiao's eyes, Lu Xiaofeng quietly poured his wine on the ground and said, "This cup is for your sister-in-law. May her spirit rest in peace."
"If you need me, I'll follow you anytime."
Li Gexiao slowly withdrew his smile and shook his head, "Yan Song's life can wait—I'll take it sooner or later. Right now, there's something more urgent I need to tell the prince."
"What could be more urgent than your revenge?" Lu Xiaofeng thought of the hurried Four Great Constables and Four Divine Constables and suspected a connection.
Li Gexiao said, "By order of the prince, Guhai Yidao and I were to escort the Qi family army back to Jinling City. Though we met General Qi smoothly, we heard bad news."
"The demon kings besieging Wanglong City are few. More demon kings are leading their tribes north via waterways, bypassing the thousand-mile Ice City in Liaodong, heading beyond the border."
"Beyond the border? What's out there in the frozen wasteland?" Lu Xiaofeng frowned deeply, suddenly shouting, "This is bad—they intend to swallow the Jian tribes and carry out the old plan to invade the Eastern Isles."
"Li Chengliang is still in the capital—Liaodong is in grave danger!"