Castle of Black Iron

It had been drizzling since the early morning. At noon, it started to rain heavily. As a result, the entire Xuanyuan Hill was covered with misty rain.

Because of the heavy rain, very few people appeared on the streets of Emperor Xuanyuan’s royal city. Only some people were trotting hurriedly in raincoats.

In late months, with the soaring attack of demons in the west and the loss of Lizhou Province and Xianzhou Province, the atmosphere across Xuanyuan Hill was as gloomy as the weather. Everyone felt being depressed like having a huge stone in the heart. It was a bit better inside Emperor Xuanyuan’s royal city; however, outside the royal city, all the boites and clubs were suffering economic depression abruptly.

As the country was faced with a crisis, few people felt like pursuing pleasure anymore.

In order to support generals and soldiers in the frontline, it was said that even His Highness had sent an order to curtail various expenditures in the royal palace. Even all the diplomatic receptions of the court of state ceremonial and those ambassadors of the other countries had been canceled off. Of course, the subordinates dared not go too far. Even if some guys who were lavish with their money could only close their own doors and enjoy themselves. Everybody kept a low profile in the public.

The entire royal palace was also covered in the gloomy misty rain.

The rainwater that poured down the dark clouds which were like lead and ink washed the pink golden glazed tiles above the magnificent palaces which carried cornice brackets. After that, it turned into pure white water curtains and flew off the eaves like tens of thousands of small waterfalls. As a result, the entire Emperor Xuanyuan’s royal palace was suffused with vapor.

Many armored knights of Royal Guards were standing still under the eaves and on the stairs outside the palace solemnly with weapons in hand. They were safeguarding the Nine-Heavens Palace in the heavy rain and fog. At this moment, even these knights could hear His Highness’ growls from Nine-Heavens Palace.

“What do they mean by ‘They’re too busy to attend to other things’? Did the three major sects reply to you in this way? The entire country is facing a crisis. It’s the right moment for those major sects to serve the country. Heavens-Fortune Sect and Demonic-Slaughter Valley have already assigned semi sage-level powerhouses to the west with their knights. How could the three major sects refuse to assign their forces to the frontline because of Yun Zhongzi? How could they just fold their arms and look on demons?”

Standing on the royal stairs inside Nine-Heavens Palace, Xuanyuan Changying became such furious that he roared towards a chancellor with flame in his eyes, “Don’t the three major sects know the proverb ‘with the skin gone, to what can the hair attach itself?’”

The entire Nine-Heavens Palace was reverberating with Crown Prince Changying’s voice. The chancellor who had just reported to His Highness looked gloomy as he became silent. All the other senior officers and officials in the palace were in dead silence. Even a pin drop could be heard. Everyone knew that Yun Zhongzi was taken as a shield by the three major sects. If they assigned all of their knights to the west, I don’t think that Yun Zhongzi would attack the three major sects’ bases during that period. The true reason was that the three major sects were so powerful that they didn’t even hold Crown Prince Changying in awe. Since the battle at Yinhai Desert, the three major sects’ actions had been increasingly more arbitrary. However, Xuanyuan Hill couldn’t do anything to curb the three major sects.

After losing his temper, Crown Prince who was panting gradually recovered his composure. He knew that it was useless for him to lose temper towards the three major sects no matter how furious he was; instead, it might be jeered by the three major sects or be taken as the evidence to waver his authority by the three major sects. If he continued to lose his temper, the rumor that Crown Prince was incompetent and roared at his major officers and officials in Nine-Heavens Palace would spread across the entire country in a few days.

“Li Yunji, is there any news about Yun Zhongzi?” After recovering his composure, Crown Prince Chang Ying waved his hand, asking the official to return to his team. Closely after that, he fixated onto Li Yunji, the president of the supreme court.

“Erm… Yun Zhongzi is a sage-level knight whose trace is erratic. The Supreme Court has already sent an order to arrest him; however, we have not got any news about Yun Zongzi till now!” Li Yunji answered with a guilty conscience.

After hearing Li Yunji’s words, Crown Prince Chang Ying’s face turned gloomy at once as he continued, “Does it mean that the Supreme Court could do nothing to deal with Yun Zhongzi? He could do whatever he wants to do?”

“Erm…” After hearing Crown Prince ChangYing’s words, Li Yunji became silent at once.

Watching Li Yunji’s look, Crown Prince Changying almost lost his temper again. However, when he took a look at Meng Shidao who was always silent, he controlled his anger again.

As Li Yunji was recommended by Meng Shidao, Crown Prince Changying had to respect Meng Shidao to a certain degree. To be honest, shadow knights were not weak. However, Li Yunji’s capability could barely match his position. He behaved too regularly. He could do nothing about those slightly excessive things. As the president of the Supreme Court who had so many human and material resources, Li Yunji couldn’t share Crown Prince’s burden at this critical moment at all; therefore, he let Crown Prince down very much.

At this moment, Crown Prince Changying had already regretted that he followed Meng Shidao’s words and declared Yun Zhongzi guilty too early. If he followed Mr. Fang’s opinion, namely not to declare Yun Zhongzi guilty too early; instead, owe Yun Zhongzi’s vengeance to the three major sects to the old scores between the two parties. In this way, a sharp sword would hang over the three major sects’ heads while their tails were stamped. At this moment, the three major sects dared never behave such presumptuously.

The current situation was absolutely opposite to the judgment that Meng Shidao made when he suggested Crown Prince. Yun Zhongzi became a criminal. The three major sects didn’t appreciate Xuanyuan Hill; instead, they didn’t have any concern anymore. As a result, Xuanyuan Hill’s influence on the three major sects was becoming weaker.

Crown Prince Changying then took another look at Meng Shidao. After the battle at Yinhai Desert, Crown Prince Chang Ying gradually felt that he couldn’t see through his master anymore. Only after a few years, the relationship between the two people had not been as bosom as that before anymore. Recently, Zuoqiu Mingyue the commander-in-chief was defending demons with his army outside. Given that Meng Shidao was said to promote to a sage-level knight soon, even the interior minister as a heavenly knight also favored Meng Shidao. Therefore, Meng Shidao the premier almost became the most influential person in the Nine-Heavens Palace. Meanwhile, the Gobbling Party was also expanding rapidly. As a result, Crown Prince Changying became a bit fearful.

“Is there any other proposal?” Crown Prince asked all the major officers and officials in the court with a hint of tiredness. If there were no more questions, he planned to declare adjournment. Over these days, because of the poor battle situation facing Taixia Country, each early meeting would last long; sometimes, it would last till the evening. All the stress facing the entire empire appeared to be borne by Crown Prince.

“I’ve got a proposal, Your Highness!” a general of the top four armies walked out of the team as he said in a muffled sound, “The battle situation in the frontline is critical. Demons are encroaching our territory step by step. It has been the life-or-death situation facing the entire country and Hua people. As long as demons broke through Tongguan Pass, the overall situation facing Taixia Country will completely deteriorate. Although the commander-in-chief was in charge of the frontline, the materials and human resources in the rear end have not been in a good place. It was like how two people were fighting at the risk of their lives. However, Taixia Country still has one hand for free. Therefore, I suggest Your Highness to issue the decree of military control in all the provinces across the country. The commander-in-chief and the top four armies will coordinate with all the demands for the warfare so that we could exert our full efforts to fight demons!”

Soon after this general opened his mouth, he instantly got the favor of many officers. However, before Xuanyuan Changying opened his mouth, the interior minister had jumped out and opposed him after taking a look at Meng Shidao who remained silent, “Ridiculous. The main force of demons has not reached Tongguan Pass yet. Why did you say that Tongguan Pass was going to be broken through? It’s an alarmist talk. Recently, many provinces in the western theater of operations have been under the control of the top four armies and Lord Zuoqiu, isn’t it enough? If all the provinces across Taixia Country are under military control, the country might have been in chaos before demons arrived. The Ministry of Interior Affairs never agreed with military control across the country…”

When the Interior Minister posed his opinion, he instantly won the favor of many officials.

If Taixia Country as a whole was under military control, the authorities of the commander-in-chief and officers would definitely soar. By contrast, Premier and those officials would become humble. Of course, the general’s suggestion would arouse officials’ opposition.

Both parties then started to quarrel in the Nine-Heavens Palace immediately. They could barely reach an agreement. This proposal had already appeared in the court for more than once. So were similar quarrels.

“Let’s talk about it later!” Xuanyuan Changying waved his hand as he decided to postpone this proposal for the time being.

When Xuanyuan Changying prepared to declare adjournment, Meng Shidao who had been silent for long in front of the team of officials suddenly took one step forward and spoke to Xuanyuan Changying, “A few days ago, the provincial governor of Jinzhou Province has submitted a written statement to me that the Youzhou paddies that Your Highness introduced to Jinzhou Province two years ago had already had a big harvest this year after one year’s breeding and planting. This autumn, all the first batch of Youzhou paddies across 266 million square meters’ land in Jinzhou Province have won a big harvest with 20% more yield than one year before. The entire Jinzhou Province was shocked. All the civilians and major clans in Jinzhou Province are going around spreading the news with great pleasure. Therefore, Jinzhou Province prepares to expand 10 times more planting area of Youzhou paddies. According to the written statement of the provincial governor and major officials in Jinzhou Province, Your Highness is invited to preside the spring sacrifice in Jinzhou Province this year for the sake of the morale of all the civilians in Jinzhou Province.”

This was almost the only good news that Xuanyuan Changying had heard in the Nine-Heavens Palace today. After asking about the situation facing Youzhou paddies in Jinzhou Province, Xuanyuan Changying laughed out aloud as he said, “Agriculture is the foundation of the country. Of course, we should encourage them to do that. Now that Jinzhou Province has such great passion as a whole, I will go to Jinzhou Province to preside the spring sacrifice for them this year!”

After hearing this news, Xuanyuan Changying was inspired greatly. Because spring sacrifice was always presided by Emperor Xuanyuan in the past. When Emperor Xuanyuan was here, he would select one of those provinces which won big harvests in each year and preside spring sacrifice in that province so as to encourage agriculture and stabilize the country. Since Crown Prince was in charge of the country, it was the first time for a provincial governor to submit a written statement to invite Xuanyuan Changying to preside spring sacrifice.

Youzhou paddies were known as high yield. Two years ago, Xuanyuan Changying suggested planting Youzhou paddies in Jinzhou Province. Unexpectedly, he saw such a great harvest two years later. What a great meritorious deed! Therefore, Xuanyuan Changying felt very happy.

When Xuanyuan Changying declared adjournment, he suddenly saw a white light beam shooting down the clouds outside.

Bang!

Closely after that, all of them in the Nine-Heavens Palace were greatly shocked by the loud explosion in the air above Emperor Xuanyuan’s royal palace. Even the water in the two pools under the imperial stairs, where Xuanyuan Changying was at, was covered with ripples due to shock…

There were few thunders in winter, not to mention such a destructive earthshaking thunder.

‘Who’s that?’

Clank!

Before the shiny, white light beam disappeared, a person had appeared at the gate of Nine-Heavens Palace in the abrupt thunder. Watching him, a knight guard instantly roared.

With clanks, everyone in the palace looked at the gate, including Xuanyuan Changying.

A teenager was looking straight into Xuanyuan Changying’s eyes at the gate of Nine-Heavens Palace with a calm look.

Xuanyuan Changying became dumbfounded as he rubbed his eyes…

“Brother Changying, long time no see…” Zhang Tie heaved a deep sigh as he entered the gate decently…