The afterglow of the great victory at Cheshi had not yet dissipated and Chang'an had not yet recovered from the miracle of the 'heavenly fire' that had burned the enemy, when Liu Bingyi dropped another bombshell in court that could shatter the shackles of traditional etiquette. In the Xuan Shi Hall, Huo Guang's supporters once again resorted to their familiar strategy of using the momentum of the victory to force Huo Chengjun to become empress.
'Your Majesty, the great victory at Cheshi is a blessing from Heaven for the Han dynasty! Now is the perfect time to establish the Grand General's daughter as empress, demonstrating the unity of the emperor and his ministers and solidifying the foundation of the empire!' Huo Guang sat to the side, still somewhat shaken by the self-doubt brought on by the 'heavenly fire', but his expression had regained its usual composure. He stared at Liu Bingyi, eager to see what trouble this young emperor might cause over the crucial matter of choosing an empress.
Liu Bingyi did not refute this, but slowly took out a pre-written scroll from his robes. 'When I was down on my luck, I lost an old sword. It was worthless, rusty and worn. But in this world, besides that sword, no weapon, however fine, could catch my eye.'
Amidst the astonished gazes of the officials, Liu Bingyi instructed a eunuch to read the imperial edict:
'In my youth, I possessed an old sword, and I vividly remember it and miss it dearly. Ministers and officials, who can obtain it for me?' Although the edict did not mention the name 'Xu Pingjun', every word spoke of the peasant girl who had wandered the streets with him, waiting patiently for his return with a solitary lamp during his darkest years.
[System 2.0 Notification: [Deep Affection for the Sword] Plot Kill Activated.
Current public sentiment: +200% (Upon hearing this, the people are all moved by the Emperor's loyalty and gratitude; he is truly a wise ruler).
Huo Guang's prestige: -30% (His forced marriage of his daughter appears greedy and despicable in the face of 'holy affection').
That evening, Chang'an was bathed in the golden-red glow of the setting sun. A simple blue cloth carriage, escorted by the imperial guards, slowly drove up the white marble steps of Weiyang Palace.
Xu Pingjun, dressed in faded, coarse linen clothes, clutched the broken sword that Liu Bingyi had used for chopping wood tightly. Looking up at the towering palace, her eyes were devoid of greed for wealth and glory; they were filled only with worry for the man named 'Bingyi'.
Liu Bingyi disregarded the officials' attempts to stop him and rushed down from the Xuan Shi Hall without even putting on his dragon boots.
'Pingjun!' In full view of the crowd, the Emperor of Han embraced the ordinary peasant girl. At the same time, the five Shadow Guards had completed a thorough 'silent sweep' of the Jiaofang Palace (the Empress's palace).
'Jin, that's the head maid arranged by the Huo family. The poison is hidden in her fingernails,' whispered Lei Zhen from the shadows.
'Leave it to me.' Jin transformed into a blur, dragging the newcomer to the bottom of the well before she could see who it was and replacing her with one of the Shadow Guards.
When Liu Bingyi led Xu Pingjun into the palace, it had been transformed from a heavily guarded prison into a haven cleared by the Shadow Guards — a refuge just for the two of them.
Just as this tender scene was becoming the talk of the town, Huo Chengjun appeared in a side hall of Weiyang Palace, carrying a pot of wine.
She looked at Liu Bingyi, who was holding Xu Pingjun's hand. A complex expression flashed in her eyes: jealousy, but even more so, mockery of her father, Huo Guang.
'Your Majesty,' said Huo Chengjun, raising his wine cup in a toast. 'Your "Edict on the Lost Sword" has won the hearts of the people and conveniently eliminated my father's last excuse. However, I must remind you that my father is the kind of person who, if he cannot achieve 'fame', will directly seek 'life'."
Liu Bingyi stopped and gave Huo Chengjun a cold look. 'Since you know your father so well, which side will you stand on?'
Huo Chengjun tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup, smiling bitterly. 'I stand on the side that will allow this charade to continue.'
[System feedback: Huo Chengjun has officially entered 'double agent' status.]
[Mission Announcement: 'Huo Guang's Plan to Depose and Reign' is in progress.
The bells of Weiyang Palace tolled melodiously, but within those tones lay a deadly intent capable of tearing Chang'an apart. The news of Xu Pingjun's entry into the palace sent the Huo family into a state of complete lunacy.
As soon as Xu Pingjun was escorted into the Jiaofang Palace, a piercing red alert rang out in Liu Bingyi's mind, almost shattering his eardrums:
[System Warning] The Jiaofang Palace has been sealed with 36 fatal acupoints by the Shadow Armor Guards.
[Deep Scan] The Huo family had implanted a high concentration of Soul-Severing Incense into the palace pillars. Once lit, within three breaths, all living beings within the palace would perish.
Liu Bingyi's face wore the joy of reunion, but his hand behind his back made a "kill" gesture.
The Shadow Guard "Wood" was hidden on the beam, moving like a snake. He precisely sliced open the ventilation opening of the bronze crane incense burner with a short blade cleansed by the system, before the fragrance could dissipate. He then slipped in a piece of Xuanbing (a type of ice) soaked with medicinal powder.
"Your Majesty!" Huo Guang arrived uninvited, stepping directly into the Jiaofang Palace. Looking at Xu Pingjun, who had not yet changed into her best robes and whose feet were still covered in mud, he sneered disdainfully.
"This woman is of lowly status and carries the filth of the common people. Her presence in the Jiaofang Palace is an insult to the majesty of our Han Dynasty. Your Majesty, I implore you to immediately move her to a side palace and let Huo Chengjun take her place as empress." Only then can the hearts of the realm's scholars be pacified."Behind Huo Guang, a score of old, pedantic scholars knelt in unison, their booming voices echoing: "Your Majesty, please follow the proper protocol and do not allow the 'old sword' to become a scourge that erodes the nation's foundation!"
[Ding! Group mental pressure detected. Main quest activated: Investiture Ceremony]
Objective: To publicly vindicate Xu Pingjun and have Huo Guang personally acknowledge her as his mother.
Reward: Han Dynasty Dragon Aura – Materialisation (Can create a real dragon illusion in the palace for a short time to intimidate officials.) Liu Bingyi slowly rose and took Xu Pingjun's hand. Ignoring the pedantic scholars, she coldly stared at Huo Guang.
'General, you say she's of lowly status?' She pointed to the broken sword in Xu Pingjun's arms. 'This sword has suffered with me, escaped hardship and shielded me from assassins' blades when it broke. If it is 'filthy', then shouldn't I, the emperor who wanders among the common people, also take off my dragon robe and return it to your Huo family?"
At that moment, Liu Bingyi activated the system reward, 'Dragon Qi Infusion'. The rusty sword suddenly emitted a clear dragon's roar and a faint purple aura rose from it, vaguely forming the phantom of a guardian in mid-air.
'This... this is a divine revelation?'
The group of pedantic scholars who had been clamouring were stunned. Their strongest belief was in 'the connection between heaven and man'.
Liu Bingyi stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "The old sword returned to its sheath because it recognised its master. My harem only has a 'home' because of her. General, if you wish to touch my 'old sword', you should first ask the ancestors of the Han dynasty for their permission!"
Huo Chengjun, who had been standing outside the door, looked at Xu Pingjun, who was protected by Liu Bingyi. Hidden envy flashed in her eyes. Instead of standing beside her father, Huo Guang, she entered the hall and gave a graceful bow before kneeling before Xu Pingjun, saying, 'Chengjun greets Empress Sister.'
This 'Sister' was like a resounding slap across Huo Guang's face. Huo Chengjun knew that her father wanted the position of empress to consolidate his power, whereas Liu Bingyi wanted a lover to spend the rest of his life with.She made a decision: she would take a gamble and trust that Liu Bingyi could lead her out of the quagmire that was the 'Huo family'.
[System Settlement] Public Support: +100% (Everyone in Chang'an knows that His Majesty is fighting powerful ministers for love).
Family Rift: +50% (Huo Chengjun's defection has caused internal strife within the Huo family).
Tens of thousands of imperial guards stood solemnly on the white marble plaza of Weiyang Palace, halberds in hand. Today was the day that Liu Bingyi would formally confer the title of Empress upon Xu Pingjun. This was a grand ceremony that defied the logic of 'marrying someone of equal social standing', yet it was the most popular with the people since the founding of the Han Dynasty.
Huo Guang stood below the high platform; his face was so dark that it seemed to be dripping with water, yet he did not obstruct the ceremony. He had already planted the final poison needle on this path to heaven, enough to pierce Liu Bingyi's heart.
[System 2.0 Emergency Red Code Warning]
"Mother-Child Heart-Connecting Gu" fluctuation detected!
Source of the poison: The gold thread on the investiture robes.
Effect logic: As soon as Xu Pingjun receives the phoenix seal, the Gu worm within the gold thread will vibrate in response to the ceremonial bells and burrow instantly into her heart.
'Your Majesty, I have prepared a grand gift for you and the Empress.' Huo Guang bowed; to Liu Bingyi, his smile appeared like that of a cold, venomous snake. The ceremonial bells were about to ring — the signal for the Gu worms to activate.
Appearing to gaze at Xu Pingjun with deep affection, Liu Bingyi held her hand. In reality, he activated the Shadow Guard – Instant Sharing skill in his mind: 'Jin, make your move.'
Amidst the ceremonial music, the Shadow Guard, utilising the power of fluid manipulation granted by the system, neutralised the sound waves aimed at Xu Pingjun the instant the bell tolled through air fluctuations. Meanwhile, the Shadow Guard, Fire, silently appeared in the shadows behind Huo Guang and attached a specially made magnet to the sole of his boot.
'Today, in establishing an empress, family background is irrelevant; only true affection matters.' Liu Bingyi received the Phoenix Seal and raised it high with one hand, rather than handing it to Xu Pingjun immediately.
[Skill activation: Dragon Qi materialisation – Nine Heavens Thunder]
A bolt of purple lightning suddenly appeared in the previously clear sky. Enhanced by the system's special effects, it transformed into a gigantic golden dragon which circled and ascended around the Jiaofang Palace. The entire city's population knelt, shouting, 'Long live the Emperor!' This miraculous scene dispelled all doubts about the 'improper etiquette'.
At that moment, the powerful shockwave from the dragon's energy expelled the Gu worm from the gold thread in Xu Pingjun's ceremonial robes. Liu Bingyi casually flicked his sleeve and the tiny Gu worm transformed into a streak of red light, drawn by the magnetic attraction of the 'fire', burrowing directly into Huo Guang's ankle. 'General, I accept this "gift" on behalf of the Empress,' whispered Liu Bingyi in Huo Guang's ear, his voice low but carrying a world-destroying killing intent.
Huo Guang's face instantly turned deathly pale. He felt a piercing pain spreading from the soles of his feet as the Gu worm he had personally cultivated frantically gnawed at his meridians. This pain was both physical and mental. His meticulously planned trap had backfired. 'Your Majesty... what a skilful manoeuvre.' Huo Guang struggled to stay upright, his body trembling with pain, but he still had to maintain the composure of a general in front of the people. As the ceremony ended, the setting sun cast a blood-red glow. Liu Bingyi stood atop the highest point of Weiyang Palace, holding Xu Pingjun's hand, the roar of kneeling worship echoing beneath their feet. 'Pingjun,' he said. 'The palace paths are cold, but I will always hold your hand.'
[Ding] Results Achieved:
- The formal establishment of the Empress, which completely shattered the Huo family's control over the harem.Backlash against powerful ministers: Huo Guang has been poisoned and his martial prowess and energy will continue to decline.
- Huo Chengjun submits, unlocking the hidden side quest, 'The Palace Rebel'.
Looking at the old sword in his arms, its rust faded and its sharpness revealed, Liu Bingyi said, "The Great General is old. It's time for him to retire. Jin, inform Lei Zhen that the Embroidered Uniform Guard can begin their audit.'