The Star River Era! The Dimensional Freedom Demon

After a long march, another major battle ensued in Changsha.

Having obtained the cultivation technique, Ji Chen, now having a moment of leisure, couldn't help but feel an empty stomach.

In a world without magic, the human body can only obtain nutrients from food.

Even a grandmaster like Ji Chen is not immune to this.

On the contrary, he has a larger appetite than the average person.

They often had to eat a cow a day to make up for the amount of food they needed for martial arts training. Even if they didn't train on a particular day, a meal of rice and meat weighing ten pounds was just normal.

Ji Chen was in a good mood after obtaining the cultivation technique today, and his appetite also increased.

The kitchen of Changsha Prefecture was still brightly lit until midnight. The skilled chefs were so busy that they served ten large dishes in a row before they could barely fill his stomach.

As for whether anyone would dare to poison someone's food—

Ji Chen didn't care at all.

With his current physical strength, even if refined steel enters his stomach, he can refine it into nutrients, let alone the common poisons of ancient times that are mostly protein toxins.

Think more.

Seeing that he had finished his meal, the group of high-ranking members of the White Sun Sect, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward hesitantly. The leader bowed and tentatively asked:

"Your Highness, there's something I... I'm not sure if I should say it?"

Ji Chen took the silk and wiped the oil stains from the corners of his lips, then gave a faint "hmm".

"Your Highness, the traitor Liu Qiguang dispatched 100,000 troops from Jingzhou yesterday, heading straight for Luling. If nothing unexpected happens, they are already at the city gates... I wonder if Your Highness is aware of this?"

Ji Chen raised an eyebrow; he really didn't know about this.

When he asked Heaven for the location of the Baiyang Sect's headquarters in Changsha, Heaven did not offer this information as a bonus.

The man who had spoken earlier felt a sudden tightness in his chest upon seeing his reaction.

Ji Chen's swift and decisive actions today gave him the illusion that Ji Chen already knew about this matter and had a clear understanding of it.

But now it seems...

"Or perhaps, you..."

"Never mind," Ji Chen waved his hand to interrupt.

"I don't support those generals and soldiers just so they can sit around doing nothing."

Ji Chen had no intention of personally going to provide assistance.

His empire was built entirely by his own martial prowess, and his troops had always enjoyed smooth sailing and had never experienced a truly arduous battle.

If he has to personally take charge of every situation, what use are these people?

There is no reason in the world to obtain official titles and high salaries without meritorious service in battle.

This battle can be seen as a trial for them. In any case, once the 100,000-strong army hears the news from Changsha, they will collapse sooner or later and will not amount to much.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, and with Xue Baochai not present, Ji Chen could no longer indulge in lustful thoughts, so he decided to head to the capital.

If we say we'll see the old emperor off this year, then we'll see him off this year, not even for a moment tonight.

Ji Chen's word is his bond.

It's past midnight now, and it's the 29th, the last day of the first year of Jiaqing.

He glanced at the people gathered around the table, but gave no specific instructions.

Whether they retreat to the mountains and forests, serve another side, or establish their own kingdom—it is all up to them to decide.

He then waved for everyone to leave.

Ji Chen stepped outside. The night was as dark as ink, and the heavy snow was still falling, swirling down onto his shoulders.

"Good snow, next year should bring a good harvest."

A timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest, but this year's snow is blood-red.

In the howling cold wind, Ji Chen's figure disappeared in an instant.

. . . . . .

Beijing.

Just after midnight, all the civil and military officials in the court began to get busy.

Preparations are underway for the grand ceremony of "bidding farewell to the old year and paying homage to the emperor," but this year, the celebration, which should be a joyous occasion, is rather quiet and deserted.

Most of the high-ranking officials in Beijing, including princes, dukes, grand secretaries, and ministers of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, claimed illness and took leave. Those who couldn't avoid it appeared in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City with long faces and no joy whatsoever.

The nation's power is declining day by day, and the day when Qingting is captured and taken to the north is not far off.

The power of these key central officials naturally plummeted into an unfathomable abyss along with the authority of the Qing court.

Before the third clapper of the yin hour (3-5 AM) had even struck, Shen Yanqiu, who had been in the Hanlin Academy for four years, stood waiting outside the Donghua Gate, trudging through the thick snow.

Looking up at the majestic Donghua Gate, Shen Yanqiu, who was qualified to participate in such a grand ceremony for the first time, felt no joy whatsoever.

"Brother Shen, we've been waiting for you!"

A familiar voice reached his ears; it was his friend, a fellow graduate of the same imperial examination, who was also a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel.

However, his once promising friend, who should have been surrounded by many people, is now all alone, huddled in a corner.

I'd rather you never get to wait for me.

Having entered this gate, he was now deeply bound to the dying Liao dynasty.

With this mark, if I want to jump ship in the future, I'm afraid few people will want me!

Unbeknownst to him, Shen Yanqiu hadn't even moved from his seat, but his identity had changed from being a subject of Emperor Qing half a year ago to a "Han subject" who had humbled himself to serve the barbarians and risked his life.

With a bitter expression, Shen Yanqiu and his friend followed the flow of people, undergoing a rigorous search by guards dressed in bright yellow uniforms, before entering the Donghua Gate and heading towards the Taihe Hall.

The square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already filled with high-ranking officials of the court, with nobles and princes gathered at the front.

Shen Yanqiu found a spot to stand on the side. Even though he was in a bad mood, it was his first time attending such a grand gathering, and he might have the chance to meet the emperor. So he couldn't help but secretly raise his eyes to look at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The palace gates were wide open, and inside hung huge red palace lanterns, embroidered with the words "Peace and Prosperity for the Nation" and "Abundant Harvests."

In the flickering lamplight, Shen Yanqiu felt an indescribable sense of irony.

Given the state of affairs in Kyushu, how can you still talk about peace and prosperity?

He suddenly thought of two important figures who had led Qingting to this point.

The leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect, Emperor Lin Chaosheng!

The successor of the Luo Sect, King Wu, Ji Qingyun!

Their titles were increasingly outrageous, and their accomplishments were increasingly sensational.

Of course, if one of the two had to be chosen to fight his way to the capital first, it would be better to choose Lin Chaosheng, who was still in Yongqiu.

The horrifying news of the "cloud dragon devouring people" in Yingtian Prefecture had already reached the capital.

Shen Yanqiu really didn't want to see such a tyrannical and ruthless king who even wantonly ruined his own territory.

It's terrifying. In a city of 800,000 people, nearly half have died or been injured in just a few days.

Sudden.

"The fighting in Yongqiu is intense, Brother Shen, do you have any connections?"

His friend interrupted his thoughts, pulling him aside to whisper something to him.

"Ha, I'd love to! But what connections would I, a mere compiler in the Hanlin Academy, possibly have?"

A hint of hesitation flashed in his friend's eyes, worrying whether his classmate could be trusted after he revealed some key information.

Just then.

"Look! The Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty's imperial carriages are here!"

Someone in the crowd gasped softly in surprise.

A procession of bright yellow ceremonial guards slowly approached, led by twenty-four guards carrying dragon flags, followed by an eight-bearer sedan chair with curtains made of bright yellow satin embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons. The sedan chair bearers marched in unison, seemingly exuding the grandeur of a prosperous era just a few years ago.

"Long live the Emperor Emeritus! Long live the Emperor!"

When the retired emperor and the Jiaqing emperor walked up the steps, the officials in the square knelt down in unison, performing three kneelings and nine kowtows, shouting "Long live the emperor!"

Shen Yanqiu also knelt down, his forehead pressed against the cold white marble floor. Even though his heart was no longer with Qingting, he was so excited to be in close contact with the symbol of the feudal era for the first time that he could clearly hear his own heartbeat.

Boom!!

Just as he knelt on the ground, his hands and feet so frozen that he could barely feel them, a thunderous roar resounded in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Then the eunuch's hoarse voice suddenly screamed!

"Protect the Emperor!!"

"There's an assassin!!"

"Protect the Emperor!"