I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 644 Loyal Dog! Rebellious Son Ji Jiu!

The 16th day of the 12th month of the 70th year of the Taikang era of the Yongzheng reign.

At the beginning of the Shen hour (3-5 PM), a mournful dragon aura and the tolling of a death knell filled the sky above the capital.

Emperor Taikang of the Great Yong Dynasty passed away!

……

boom--

When Li Jin stumbled into the main hall of Ganquan Palace and saw the silent figure on the throne, he first stood there blankly at the door, and after a moment, he knelt down with a thud and crawled to the throne.

After confirming this extremely cruel fact for him, it finally turned into a painful cry.

"His Majesty--"

It looked like an old dog that had lost its owner, only able to whimper and wail.

After a long while, he spoke in a hoarse, shrill voice, as if saying goodbye.

"This old servant, Li Jin, respectfully sees off His Majesty the Great Emperor!"

Next, after a series of kowtows, he personally stepped forward to tidy up Emperor Taikang's appearance.

Han Shao, who had concealed his whereabouts, watched him silently from the shadows as he carried out his plan.

Han Shao had intended to see if the old eunuch had any 'backup plan,' but gradually he sensed a hint of suicidal intent emanating from him.

With a sigh in his heart, Han Shao finally spoke.

"My household is still lacking a steward. Would you, old servant, be willing to accompany me north?"

Han Shao's sudden voice clearly made Li Jin stiffen.

He then didn't ask Han Shao why he was in the palace, but simply shook his head silently.

"not going."

“This old servant is but a dog of the imperial family. How could I abandon His Majesty? How could I leave His Majesty all alone in this cold palace?”

His Majesty lived a lonely life, and only this old dog kept him company.

The rest of the people are not to be trusted.

Including those imperial princes...

After saying this, Li Jin did not give Han Shao a chance to continue speaking, but instead asked a question.

"This old servant dares to ask Your Majesty a question—"

"What are Your Majesty's plans regarding Princess Zhaoyang?"

Han Shaodao.

"I have come here to pick up the mother and child."

Upon hearing this, Li Jin, who was carefully adjusting Emperor Taikang's imperial robes, paused, then smiled with satisfaction.

"Then this old servant is relieved."

"I hope Your Majesty will consider His Majesty's reputation and allow this old servant to shamelessly reciprocate our past favors so that I may treat Your Highness better in the future."

"Your Highness, she's not a bad person."

Han Shao glanced back at Ji Zhao, who was somewhat stunned beside him, and nodded slightly.

"She is indeed a good woman."

Looking back over the years, Ji Zhao has truly treated himself well.

Even after making a show of severing ties with the past, the help and protection provided to Li He and others never ceased.

He, Han, was neither stupid nor foolish; how could he possibly betray her feelings?

As soon as he said this, Ji Zhao blushed and glared at Han Shao, as if blaming him for being glib and good at flattering people.

Just as she was about to ask Li Jin to come with her, Han Shao spoke directly.

"Let's go."

Ji Zhao's expression turned anxious, and then he unusually softened his stance.

"I...I want to take him away!"

Not to mention the storms that the capital city will soon face after Emperor Taikang's death.

Even if the new emperor successfully ascends the throne.

With each new emperor comes a new court, and Li Jin, who held the reins of the Imperial Library, had virtually no way out.

Ji Zhao didn't want this loyal dog of the imperial family to die in vain, so her only option was to take him with her.

However, Han Shao shook his head in response to Ji Zhao's words.

"He won't leave."

"why?"

Ji Zhao was puzzled.

This old servant was always trembling with fear in front of her, and was most afraid of dying.

Han Shao didn't know how to explain this to her for a moment.

The only thing we can do is to loosen her grip and let her say a few words to Li Jin herself.

After a short while, seeing Ji Zhao's somewhat dejected and absent-minded appearance, Han Shao smiled.

"Do you understand now?"

……

"Thank you for your understanding and mercy, Your Majesty. This old servant wishes Your Majesty and Your Highness a lifetime of joy, health, and freedom from calamity..."

Amidst the farewells of the old servant Li Jin, Han Shao and his family of three finally left Ganquan Palace.

"You can bring Chang'an back again when the funeral is held later."

Upon hearing Han Shao's words, Ji Zhao silently shook his head.

"No need, it's too dangerous."

If it were just her alone, it would be fine, but she still has Chang'an.

Moreover, the thought that another 'father' was still 'living' well in the Nine Netherworlds made her feel strange.

Han Shao smiled and said nothing more.

Han Shao casually caught a falling snowflake and remarked with emotion.

"This snow is quite heavy..."

This was the first time he had ever seen snow in the capital. It was much finer than the snow in Liaodong in the north, and the ice crystals were much more translucent.

Despite this, in that brief moment, a considerable amount of snow-white snow covered the distant, layered palace walls and golden tiles, as well as the extremely wide palace roads.

Han Shao squinted as he admired the beautiful scenery before him, and for a moment he even had the illusion that nothing in the world could be more magnificent than this.

However, he quickly gave a wry smile.

I felt that I was ultimately limited by the perspective of my past life.

The splendor of this world is boundless; how could it be encompassed by this mere corner of a palace?
The thought flashed through his mind, and Han Shao turned to look at Ji Zhao.

"Is there anything else to pack?"

Perhaps having resigned herself to her fate under Han Shao's domineering ways, Ji Zhao was somewhat silent at this moment. Her once sharp and beautiful face was unusually gentle and pitiful.

"No."

She carried only the truly valuable things with her; the rest were just fleeting possessions that Ji Zhao never really cared about.

He didn't think that Han Shao would mistreat him in this regard once he went to Liaodong.

So she couldn't be bothered to care anymore.

However, after saying this, she hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"What will happen to the people in my household if I leave?"

She put a lot of effort into the female guards, especially the Luanfeng Guard.

Some even showed considerable affection.

If they are simply abandoned, what fate awaits them in the face of the impending chaos in the capital?

Seeing Ji Zhao's reluctant expression and the hint of pleading in her eyes, Han Shao smiled.

For some reason, he just enjoyed seeing this woman submit to him.

This always gave him a strange sense of accomplishment.

This is probably the case at this time as well.

Seeing the pleading look in Ji Zhao's eyes, Han Shao smiled.

"I will send people to the capital later to assist them in their evacuation."

"It's not a big problem."

It is foreseeable that the capital will be in chaos for a while, and once Ji Zhao leaves, the Zhaoyang Princess's residence will not be involved, and those people will not be able to take care of them for the time being.

Taking advantage of this chaotic moment, packing them up and taking them away shouldn't take too much effort.

Upon hearing Han Shao's words, Ji Zhao's expression softened, and her gaze towards Han Shao became gentler.

But as she turned her gaze to the palace where she had lived for countless years, she couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and confusion.

Born here, raised here.

Countless years of long-cherished wishes and desires are contained within this place.

For a woman of Ji Zhao's temperament, being abandoned now is no less than having her bones and muscles ripped out.

From that point on, she had no home...

"If one day you, surnamed Han, despise me, do not belittle me. I cannot bear such humiliation..."

As Ji Zhao spoke, he seemed to realize that his tone was too humble, and was about to say something harsh when suddenly his palm felt a heat.

"will not."

At that moment, the warmth transmitted between the palms overcame the icy chill of the wind and snow.

Ji Zhao lowered her eyes, staring blankly at their clasped hands, and finally chose to reveal her current weakness. "I...I'll trust you just this once..."

Regardless, she chose this person herself.

The most crucial thing is that right now... he's all she has left...

Just as Han Shao and Ji Zhao and their son slowly disappeared from Ganquan Palace, a group of figures dressed in vermilion and purple court robes walked quickly to the gate of the South Palace.

The imperial guards protecting the Southern Palace tried to stop them, but as their leader was killed in an instant, the palace gate, which had once symbolized the last dignity of Emperor Taikang, was opened wide.

As those high-ranking officials filed through the palace gates, some ministers couldn't help but burst into triumphant laughter.

"Haha, we won after all!"

From Emperor Taizu Ji Tianyuan of the Dayong Dynasty to Emperor Taikang, the reign spanned more than two thousand years and ten emperors!
To this day!
They finally succeeded in defeating the Ji family of the Heavenly Clan and trampling them underfoot!
From this day forward, the world will be completely in their hands, in the hands of these aristocratic families!

This laugh quickly triggered a burst of laughter from everyone.

For a moment, their laughter echoed the tolling of the bells, which symbolized the emperor's passing, yet seemed utterly out of place.

However, Shangguan Ding, who was surrounded by a group of nobles at the very center of the crowd, did not smile.

Even if he was the one who should be laughing triumphantly at this moment, even if he originally thought that he would laugh three times to relieve his joy in this situation.

But when the moment actually came, he suddenly realized that he didn't feel much genuine joy; instead, he felt somewhat lost and disheartened.

From a lowly official to a high-ranking minister.

From the Northern Palace to now successfully stepping into the Southern Palace.

He had walked for so long that he had even forgotten why he had done it in the first place.

Having come this far over the years, it seems that only one obsession has driven me.

This drove him to do whatever it took to remove the Ji clan from their supreme position.

And now he's finally going to do it.

Just be patient for a while longer, go through the motions, and everything will seem to fall into place naturally.

Shouldn't we be happy about this?

Standing in the South Palace, Shangguan Ding gazed at the long palace road before him, a look of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

"Prime Minister, Prime Minister—"

The shouts of the courtiers around him brought Shangguan Ding back to his senses, which had been somewhat scattered.

Shangguan Ding, having regained his senses, gave himself a self-deprecating smile.

'What's wrong with me? Why am I suddenly becoming so sentimental at a time like this…'

He who walks a hundred steps is only halfway there at ninety.

Some paths in this world, once embarked upon, can only be followed forward without ever turning back.

"Let's go——"

Shangguan Ding slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, raised his eyes to look at the location of Ganquan Palace in front of him, and finally revealed a smile.

"Follow me to see our Emperor off on his final journey."

This soft whisper, not loud at all, was like the loudest bugle call on the battlefield.

All the high-ranking officials who stepped into the Southern Palace were in high spirits.

"A verbal order from the Prime Minister!"

"Officials, proceed ahead to see our Emperor off on his final journey!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ding took the lead and strode along the palace path.

Behind him followed a large and imposing procession of officials.

At the very end of the procession, in an inconspicuous spot, a minister looked at the man beside him with some curiosity. Seeing that he kept looking up at the empty space above Ganquan Palace, he finally couldn't help but ask.

"What are you looking at? Is there something unusual?"

Upon hearing this, the man slowly withdrew his gaze and grinned.

"nothing."

"It's just to see two old friends."

The minister's expression grew increasingly strange upon hearing this.

An old friend?

These people belong to Prime Minister Shangguan Ding, so where would they find old acquaintances in Nangong?

More like an enemy.

At this moment, the person being questioned sighed and lamented to himself.

"I never expected that my elder sister would be so capable."

"After all these years, she actually got what she wanted."

Not only did she get what she wanted, but she also shamelessly gave birth to an illegitimate child for that person!
Unfortunately, I was too late.

otherwise……

He kept talking to himself, clicking his tongue and looking regretful.

Upon hearing this, the minister's expression finally changed.

wrong!

He actually called himself 'I'm alone'?
And...the Imperial Sister?!

"You're wrong! You're not Zhao Chefu! Who are you?"

As he spoke, the minister suddenly realized something, his expression changed drastically, and he was about to shout loudly and use his divine sense to communicate with the people around him.

But then, he was horrified to discover that he couldn't make a sound at all, and even his divine sense was suppressed within his body.

As the man bearing the Zhao surname, the prefectural magistrate, turned and smiled at him, he suddenly realized something.

'Transformation is effortless!'

'The Ninth Prince! Prince Ji Yin of the South Sea! He is the Ninth Prince, Ji Yin!'

'No! Wasn't he enfeoffed in the distant South China Sea Commandery?'

Seeing the minister's bulging eyes and his expression of fear and confusion, Ji Jiu grinned with pleasure.

"Congratulations, you got it!"

"I never expected that after ten years away from the capital, you would still remember me..."

Ji Jiu captured the minister's thoughts perfectly and responded to them.

The minister's expression grew increasingly fearful.

What filled him with even more despair was what Ji Jiu then said.

Do you know why I came to you?

"why?"

Ji Jiu looked surprised, then said with some helplessness.

"Look, I just praised you, and your memory has already gotten worse?"

"Have you forgotten? When I went south to take up my fiefdom, you not only obstructed me in front of the Emperor, but you also almost killed me on the way!"

In order to trap the entire Ji royal family in the capital, these aristocratic families spent their days advocating the harm of being confined to their fiefdoms before successive emperors.

Over time, the entire Ji royal family was kept like pigs and dogs in the capital.

When Ji Jiu went south to assume his fiefdom, they tried every means to stop him from doing so before Emperor Taikang, and even sent countless powerful warriors to intercept and kill him.

During that time, if it weren't for the special supernatural powers that Ji Jiu cultivated, he would have died long ago.

How could Ji Jiu possibly not avenge such a life-threatening crime?

But these people don't remember...

Seeing Ji Jiu grin, the ministers, who were already terrified, repeatedly denied it.

"Look how nervous you are, I'm not asking you to admit your mistake..."

Ji Jiu said gently.

"I only want your life."

As he spoke, he moved freely and silently.

Feeling his soul being slowly devoured, the minister screamed in terror in his heart.

"Your Highness! No! Don't kill me!"

"His Majesty has passed away! A new emperor is about to ascend the throne! I am willing to assist Your Highness in taking the throne!"

"I...I am willing to be Your Highness's loyal servant—"

Unfortunately, his continuous pleas for mercy eventually dissipated completely with the annihilation of his soul.

A moment later, the minister, who had come back to life, wore the same smile as Zhao Chefu.

"Helping the orphan ascend the throne? You dare to presume?"

"As for 'being a dog'? You became my dog, and now I'm going to be someone else's dog? What kind of talk is that?"

……

The main hall of Ganquan Palace.

Ji Jiu, standing outside the main hall with a group of nobles, gazed at the majestic hall before him.

With a broad smile, he suddenly touched his face lightly.

It was a little cold.

It wasn't snow water; instead, it had a slightly salty taste.

"Father, your rebellious son... has returned."

……

(End of this chapter)