459 The Son of Heaven Guards the Gate of the Country
The city of Heavenly Revelations was currently white in colour.
Not just because of the sudden blizzard a few days ago that dyed the whole of Heavenly Revelations City in a layer of white, but because lots and lots of white silk were hanging in front of almost every house and shop.
It took a whole three days before they cleaned up all the corpses in Heavenly Revelations City. Regarding the disorder and calamity, it was recorded by the Directorate of Astronomy as thus: Mingde Year 23, there was a naturally occurring but strange appearance of an epidemic that spread throughout Heavenly Revelations City. The infected lost their reason and became extraordinarily strong and bloodthirsty. The Imperial Army and the Court of Judicial Review took over in a time of crisis and exterminated the root cause in one night. The Red Prince Xiao Yu personally went to assist, but unfortunately died in duty.
And three days later, Mingde Emperor passed away.
National mourning began.
Hence, for several days, people said that Heavenly Revelations City was white all over.
During the national mourning, the people honoured the late emperor, but at the same time, the same question was on everybody's mind: who was the new emperor?
Jin Xuan weighed the scroll in his hand and looked at Xiao Se. "His Majesty instructed me not to open this scroll, so the one that will be announced to all under Heaven can only be the one in your hands."
Xiao Se retrieved the scroll from his sleeve and casually opened it.
Jin Xuan looked at the name on it and was slightly taken aback.
Xiao Se immediately rolled up the scroll and said solemnly, "When the national mourning is over in three days, I will announce it to all under Heaven."
However, at that moment, Lanyue Marquis pushed open the doors to the palace hall and strode in towards the other two. In his hand was a military report. "Xiao Se, the border sent a request for emergency assistance. They need us to send reinforcements!"
"The Langya Army is defeated?" Jin Xuan frowned slightly.
Xiao Se received the military report, opened it and pored over the contents. His brows tightened. "The Nanjue army has 600,000 men?"
Lanyue Marquis nodded. "This time, I'm afraid they're determined to win. Although the Langya Army was reporting successive victories at first, the difference in numbers is too great. They're no match."
Xiao Se kept the military report and asked, "Where's the Luo City Army?"
Lanyue Marquis's expression tightened with unease. "Entering the city now."
Cheng Luoying rode his horse inside Heavenly Revelations City, looking at the white silk fluttering everywhere. He could hear the sounds of crying and his frown tightened. He waved his horse whip and remarked to his deputy general, "If I saw this scene in a dream, I would think I was on a battlefield."
The deputy general bowed his head and said, "A scout I had sent to investigate just reported. The Red Prince Xiao Yu is dead, and the late emperor left behind the Dragon-Sealed Scrolls. They're with Xiao Se and Jin Xuan."
"Jin Xuan?" Cheng Luoying tapped lightly on the hilt of his blade. "Xiao Yu is dead, but he's still alive?"
"We don't know much else. He hasn't even stepped half a foot out of the palace these last few days, and he didn't leave any messages," the deputy general replied.
Cheng Luoying continued riding his horse forward but he saw a young man in a fluttering red shirt and armed with a sword standing on the road not far away. The young man raised his head and gave a brief smile. "General, would you like to dismount and join us for a drink?"
Cheng Luoying raised his head to look at the person sitting upstairs in the building. He hesitated for a while before he flipped off his horse.
Ye Ruoyi stood behind Xiao Se and said in a low voice, "Why would he appear in Heavenly Revelations City at this time? Bringing his army into the capital when His Majesty didn't send any summons is an act of rebellion."
"Xiao Yu brought him here. According to their plans, Xiao Yu would now be the emperor and Cheng Luoying would have come following the emperor's order. So, you can't say he's rebelling." Xiao Se poured a cup of wine and pushed it forward before he stood up in greeting. "Upper General."
Cheng Luoying bowed and returned, "Your Highness Yong'an Prince."
"General, you rode here from the city gates so do you have any thoughts?" Xiao Se asked.
Cheng Luoying stated bluntly, "Four words, ghastly sight to behold."
"General, as someone who has been on the battlefield, you've witnessed true bloodbaths before. Xiao Yu lived his life in Heavenly Revelations City and though he was ruthless in his heart, no one knew the degree of cruelty he was capable of. Now that the general has seen this city and what it's become, are you perhaps rejoicing somewhat in your heart?" Xiao Se asked again.
Cheng Luoying didn't answer right away, and instead took a sip of wine. "What exactly is Your Highness trying to say?"
"The border has sent an emergency request for assistance. I need the Luo City Army to march out and support," Xiao Se said slowly.
Cheng Luoying frowned. "I only follow the sovereign's command."
"Bah." Xiao Se suddenly flung his wine cup fiercely on the ground. "If you only followed the sovereign's command, you wouldn't be appearing here at this time! Cheng Luoying, if the Langya Army is defeated, do you think your Luo City Army can withstand Nanjue's 600,000 soldiers of tigers and wolves? When the time comes, Beili will fall and where will you go to be your General-in-chief? Don't even think about negotiating with me here. I can kill Xiao Yu, I can kill you too! If you don't send reinforcements, I will let all under Heaven descend into chaos. You know best your own abilities. If all under Heaven descends into chaos, will you be swallowed up or will you be king?"
Cheng Luoying was stunned for a long time. "Is there anything else?"
"We march out immediately. You lead the army." Xiao Se slammed half a Tiger Tally on the table. "I will be the Army Supervisor."
In the Yong'an Prince Residence, Sikong Qianluo had put on a light armour and armed her spear.
When Xiao Se returned to the princely residence, he received a rude shock. "What are you doing?"
Sikong Qianluo waved her spear. "What else? Ride into battle and kill the enemy."
Xiao Se shook his head and said, "This time, I'm going alone. None of you are allowed to go with me."
Lei Wujie spread his hands. "Are we doing this again?"
"I'm for real, this time." Xiao Se sighed. "The battlefield is not the same as everywhere else. You're not allowed to go! Lei Wujie, you keep your eye on them for me."
Wuxin sat on the eaves and whistled, "Do you need my help?"
"Help me to knock them all out? Does that count?" Xiao Se asked.
"Alright!" Wuxin jumped down, his white robes flying, and swept to Ye Ruoyi's side. He raised his palm and dropped it, and she fainted right away. With another leap, he swept in front of Sikong Qianluo.
"You stinky monk!" Sikong Qianluo swung her spear down.
Wuxin tipped his toes and stepped onto the long spear. He jumped smoothly off and pointed a finger right in the middle of Sikong Qianluo's forehead. "You're already seriously injured. Why force yourself like this?"
Sikong Qianluo's vision went black and she fainted resentfully. Wuxin flapped his sleeves and swept towards Lei Wujie.
Lei Wujie hurriedly waved his hands. "Don't hit me, don't hit me. I'm very reasonable."
Wuxin withdrew his hands and wagged his eyebrows. "Oh?"
Lei Wujie patted Xiao Se's shoulder. "This time, I won't go against your request. Because I trust you. I trust that you'll be able to handle it this time, am I right?"
Xiao Se shrugged. "When was the last time I wasn't able to handle it?"
"I'll bring them back to Snow Moon City. Will we meet up there?" Lei Wujie asked.
"We'll talk about the future when the time comes." Xiao Se returned to his room and fetched his Heaven Breached sword. "In any case, when you leave Heavenly Revelations City, it's best if you never return."
Lei Wujie laughed. "Yeah, I don't like this place either."
Xiao Se walked straight out the door and waved his hand. "I seldom agree with you, but this time, I feel the same. I don't like this place either."
Outside Heavenly Revelations City.
The new city plaque had already been fixed on.
Under the plaque was an elegant noble son dressed in white and next to him was a middle-aged swordsman armed with a huge sword. The noble son in white heard the sound of horseshoes behind him and he turned around to call out to the rider, "Liu-di."
Xiao Se returned his bow and acknowledged, "Er-ge."
Xiao Chong looked at the army behind him, shook his head and said, "You shouldn't leave. The country cannot be without its monarch for a day. You should immediately ascend the throne and Lanyue Marquis and I can go to the battlefield."
"I should ascend the throne?" Xiao Se smiled and shook his head.
"You're the chosen Son of Heaven." Xiao Chong pointed at the Heaven Breached sword at Xiao Se's waist. "That sword was used only by our founding emperor, but it chose you."
"Since I'm the chosen Son of Heaven, I should guard the gate of our country of Beili." Xiao Se swung his whip vigorously and rode up a cloud of dust.
Mingde Year 23, Mingde Emperor passed away but no new emperor ascended the throne. Instead, there was an unprecedented three months of interregnum.
Yong'an Prince Xiao Se led a great army of 200,000 to face the invasion from Nanjue.
The late emperor's younger brother, Lanyue Marquis, and his second son, the White Prince, kept watch in Heavenly Revelations and served jointly as regents of state.