I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

The two embraced and wept, their tears soaking their clothes.

After a long while, Princess Nihuang finally calmed down a bit and raised her tear-filled face: "His Majesty wants to bestow a marriage upon me and Prince Jing. What do you plan to do?"

Mei Changsu's body stiffened visibly for a moment.

He slowly released his arms from Nihuang, took a half step back, and his eyes were filled with unspeakable pain and determination.

"Nihuang."

His voice was so soft it was almost drowned out by the wind and snow.

I trust Jingyan's character, so I feel at ease if you marry him.

If Zhu Houcong heard Mei Changsu's words, he would definitely give him a thumbs up.

They can even give away their wives.

Yi Xiaochuan, you're amazing, you're so aloof.

Fortunately, he didn't hear it, otherwise he would have laughed himself to death not long after becoming emperor, which would have been a huge loss.

Chapter 77 Early Stage of Grandmaster

Soon, Cao Zhichun rushed to the study and reported to Zhu Houcong in detail about Princess Nihuang riding out of the city.

As Cao Zhichun's report reached his ears, Zhu Houcong closed his eyes and swung his mallet like an elegant conductor.

"It seems that the 'long-awaited reunion' drama has finally unfolded."

Zhu Houcong laughed to himself after hearing this, his heart filled with a wicked sense of humor.

He was now very curious to know how this Jiangzuo Meilang would handle the complicated and tangled relationship between him, Princess Nihuang, and Prince Jing.

Could it be that the three of them are living happily together?

A live-action version of "Winter's End"?

Thinking about this, he suddenly recalled the plot of an animated film he watched as a child.

Pretty Sheep: Boiling Sheep, Happy Sheep is out of strength, you push him quickly...

"All of you, get out. No one is allowed to come in."

"Yes!"

Yan Song, Cao Zhichun, and others immediately bowed and left the study, carefully closing the hall door behind them.

Soon, the sound of guards marching in neat formation could be heard outside the hall, surrounding the entire retreat and ensuring that not even a fly could get in.

After confirming that no one was around, Zhu Houcong spread out his fingers, revealing a golden pill.

This is the "Super Martial Arts Golden Elixir" that he obtained by taking advantage of the change of reign title to "Jiajing".

The surface of the golden core shimmered with a strange radiance, sometimes as hot as a raging fire, and sometimes as cold as ice.

[Super Martial Arts Golden Elixir: Forged from materials of three Grandmasters at their peak, consuming it can instantly elevate one's martial arts cultivation to the early Grandmaster level, with no side effects]

hiss~

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but gasp.

This super martial arts golden pill can actually allow someone to instantly break through to the Grandmaster realm?

He frequently used the two Grandmaster-level puppets, Zhuque and Zhuqi, and was all too aware of the vast chasm between the peak of the ninth rank and the Grandmaster level.

It's not just a difference in the amount of true energy, but also a difference in the understanding of the essence of martial arts.

Ordinary martial artists would find it difficult to cross this threshold even if they spent their entire lives.

All grandmasters must comprehend their own unique martial arts essence from the true energy they cultivate.

By using one's own martial arts essence as a guide and true qi as a medium, one can draw upon the power of heaven and earth to unleash a variety of extraordinary secret techniques.

Therefore, the path of martial arts cannot be reached by relying solely on external aids.

Those so-called elixirs and panaceas are ultimately just external aids and cannot replace a martial artist's understanding of the essence of martial arts.

However, this super martial arts golden pill broke this immutable iron law of martial arts.

Zhu Houcong stared at the golden pill in his palm, which was slowly shimmering with nine-colored light, and his heart was filled with turbulent waves.

Once I swallow this golden pill, my fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven!

Zhu Houcong murmured the prophecy.

Finally, he took a deep breath and swallowed the golden pill in one gulp.

The moment the golden elixir enters the body, one involuntarily enters a meditative state.

In that instant, he seemed to see countless martial arts essences flowing before his eyes.

The profound mysteries that ordinary martial artists would need to spend their entire lives to comprehend are now as clear as lines on the palm of one's hand.

The vital energy within his body, which had long since become like rotten wood, circulated freely on its own.

Each cycle caused his cultivation level to surge at a visible rate.

Fourth grade!

Fifth rank!

Rank 6!

...

As Zhu Houcong continued to break through his cultivation level, he began to exude a terrifying aura.

The candlelight throughout the retreat suddenly flickered violently, as if fearing the imminent awakening of some terrifying being.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Houcong suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning.

He slowly raised his hand, his five fingers spread open.

In an instant, the candlelight in the study all converged into his palm, transforming into a fiery dragon that coiled and danced.

Then, with a gentle wave of his hand, the fire dragon vanished instantly.

call out!

Suddenly, Zhu Houcong's figure disappeared over Putian and reappeared at the entrance of the hermitage the next second.

He kept feeling the surging true energy within his body, his eyes filled with disbelief.

That unprecedented power almost made him want to roar to the sky.

No wonder a Grandmaster is a Grandmaster, and not just some 10th-rank martial artist.

This seemingly minor difference in realm is actually the essential distinction between the mundane and the extraordinary.

What shocked him even more was that the internal energy in his body was circulating smoothly and effortlessly, without any of the stagnation he felt after breaking through with the help of external forces.

This elixir truly has no side effects whatsoever!

Just then, Xiaomeng, who had just returned to Xiyuan, suddenly stopped.

Her clear, autumn-water-like eyes suddenly narrowed, and she abruptly turned her head to look in the direction of the hermitage.

An unfamiliar aura of a Grandmaster suddenly appeared there.

"not good!"

Her expression changed drastically.

This aura is too strange. There was clearly only Emperor Liang in the abode, so how could there suddenly be a Grandmaster-level pressure?

Before the guards outside could react, Xiaomeng's figure had already transformed into a streak of blue light.

With a light touch of her toes and a flutter of her robes, she rose into the air like a banished immortal.

The well-trained imperial guards only felt a blur before their eyes.

When they came to their senses, the carved wooden door of the mansion had already been cleaved open by a sharp sword aura.

"His Majesty!"

Xiaomeng's gaze was sharp as lightning, quickly scanning the situation inside the hall.

However, the sight that came into view made her pupils shrink slightly.

Zhu Houcong stood alone in the hall, and the unfamiliar aura of a Grandmaster clearly emanated from this emperor.

"You...how is this possible?"

Xiaomeng's lips parted slightly, and a rare look of shock appeared on her usually aloof and icy face.

He stood there, completely stunned.

At this moment, a large number of guards finally reacted, and the sound of swords being drawn rose and fell.

"Everyone, get out."

As Zhu Houcong's voice rang out, the guards who had just rushed into the palace quickly retreated, and the heavy palace doors closed tightly once again.

Once the hall fell silent again, Zhu Houcong smiled, looking inscrutable.

"Is the Imperial Advisor surprised?"

"How did you do that?" Xiaomeng couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Houcong shrugged: "As I have said, I am the Lingxiao Shangqing Tonglei Yuanyang Miaoyi Feixuan Zhenjun."

"Nine Heavens Spread Teachings, Universal Salvation of All Living Beings, Master of Yin and Yang, Merit and Demerit, Great Dao, Benevolent Thoughts, Purple Extreme Immortal, True Man of One Yang, Primordial Void, Profound Response, Enlightenment, Subduing Demons, Loyal and Filial Emperor."

"You should believe me now, right?"

Xiaomeng rolled her eyes when she heard Zhu Houcong blurt out such a long passage.

Emperor Liang had made these boastful remarks when they first met.

Even now, witnessing Zhu Houcong suddenly transform from a martial artist who couldn't even maintain his third-grade level into a grandmaster is something I can't help but admire.

She still didn't believe the nonsense that Zhu Houcong was some kind of reincarnated god!

Before we knew it, it was the end of the year. The palace was brightly lit and decorated, resplendent in gold and jade.

Zhu Houcong sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over the members of the royal family.

When his gaze fell upon a simple and elegant figure, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

This woman was none other than Consort Jing, whom he had never met since he came into this world.

Consort Jing was dressed in a moon-white palace gown, with only a white magnolia hairpin in her hair. She looked exceptionally elegant and refined amidst the dazzling jewels of the hall.

She sat demurely at the table, yet her natural elegance was undeniable.

Zhu Houcong then discovered that this concubine whom Emperor Liang disliked was in no way inferior in appearance to the favored concubine, Lady Yue.

Chapter 78 Big Bang

Consort Jing seemed to notice Zhu Houcong's gaze and slightly raised her eyes.

In that instant, Zhu Houcong seemed to see a pool of autumn water, clear to the bottom yet unfathomably deep.

Her beauty was neither as charming as that of Lady Yue nor as gentle as that of Consort Hui, but rather a serene and detached beauty.

Like a plum blossom on a branch, about to fall but not yet fallen, after a snowfall when the sun shines.

In the drama, Consort Jing was originally Consort Chen's personal physician.

She had a deep bond with the Lin family and regarded Lin Shu as her own son, which was also an important reason why Emperor Liang disliked her.

It's a pity that such a stunning beauty is going to die tomorrow!

Zhu Houcong calmly picked up the gilded wine cup, took a small sip, and ignored Consort Jing.

He had already secretly taken control of the Jinling underground gang, the "Golden Money Gang," through the Vermilion Bird.

And through them, the batch of black fire was quietly transported into the city.

He was just waiting for tomorrow to give Yan Que a big surprise.