Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 773: Chapter 605: The Choice of Human Nature

Quiet!

As Gu Changsheng’s voice fell, the entire Central Military Tent plunged into a peculiar silence!

All eyes were raised, looking towards the woman standing above with surprise and uncertainty!

In blazing red, like blood, like a phantasm!

This was their king! This was the invincible, omnipotent king in their hearts!

But at this moment, their king told them that she could not do it!

She could not do it either!

If such words were spoken by an ordinary commoner, they would seem pretentious, but the one who spoke them was their king, renowned for her military achievements!

At this moment, their hearts were shaken!

For the first time, they directly faced the conflicted psyche of a king!

A king of great might and authority told them she was aware of the little tricks behind their offers to surrender, that they chose surrender out of fear, she knew all of it! But still, she chose to accept and forgive!

Only because she did not wish to see living beings suffer and rivers of blood flow...

Under supreme imperial majesty and overwhelming power, she made the most cruel, yet the most humane, decision...

”For one general’s success, ten thousand bones lay dry; I have already used the dry bones of two hundred thousand to establish my name as a leading general, and there are many more behind me who, because of me, are bathing in blood on the battlefield! I launched my armies to the Southern Border for my son, I ignited the flames of war in these Southern Borderlands to revive my mother’s clan, all because of me! It was I who broke the balance among the Four Kingdoms, causing turmoil throughout the lands! How selfish and cruel I am!” Gu Changsheng looked down at the kneeling City Lords and spoke softly, ”What you seek is simply to save your lives and maintain your high positions and wealth, what I seek is a quick resolution, to restore peace. People say, ”The Imperial Family is heartless,” I never imagined that one day I would become one of those born into the Imperial Family, yet even so, I cannot bring myself to obliterate humanity for power! I will not march on Heluo City, I will not let these two million army and civilians become mere dust in my hands, I will destroy their rear, rendering them headless and forcing them to surrender. Whether you call me indecisive or arrogantly overconfident, my mind is made up!”

”My Sovereign...”

”Witch Lord...”

”...”

Several City Lords prostrated themselves, suddenly somewhat choked up!

It was their selfishness! Clinging to power and privilege, they thought sacrificing a few people, many people, was justified for power!

But at this moment, they suddenly realized they were wrong!

They lusted after the position of a City Lord, while the person before them sought the imperial rule over the entire Southern Border!

Forgetting the near to seek the far, perched at the pinnacle of imperial power, yet her humanity remained untarnished!

This was indeed their king of the Southern Border!

Heartfelt and sincerely convinced, at this moment, they felt that the king should and ought to be just like this!

This was the true king!

”What the Witch Lord has said makes us feel utterly ashamed!”

”We feel utterly ashamed!”

”...”

Several City Lords prostrated themselves, and from this moment on, they decided to offer all their loyalty!

”If the Witch Lord has made this decision, Hongfu Su dares not question it! I implore the Witch Lord to bestow the Six Maids unto Hongfu Su, and Hongfu Su is willing to travel to Great Swamp Mountain on behalf of my Sovereign to capture the king for the Witch Lord!” Hongfu Su looked at the woman standing above, her eyes brimming with determination, and spoke resolutely!

”I wish to capture the king for my Sovereign!” A City Lord moved forward on his knees, his voice anxious, ”My Sovereign, Great Swamp Mountain is fraught with peril, I am already past fifty, having been steeped in power and privilege all my life, I am already bearing my sins. My death is of little consequence, but even if I die, I would not wish my Sovereign to fall into danger. I beseech my Sovereign to permit me to offset my sins with a meritorious deed and allow me to undertake the journey to Great Swamp Mountain on your behalf!”

”I, too, am willing! I implore my Sovereign to grant me permission to go!”

”I implore my Sovereign to grant me permission to go!”

”...”

One after another, they knelt in front of Gu Changsheng.

All they sought was a death; to die for such a person, they would have no regrets in this life!

Gu Changsheng looked at the people before her, blinked away the moisture from the bottom of her Phoenix Eyes, and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of relief in her heart. Her lips curved slightly, and a faint smile began to spread across her exquisite face, ”With your words, I can see I have not lost the people’s hearts yet, I have not been reduced to a state of utter solitude! To know that you are willing to risk your lives for me moves me deeply and brings me comfort. Yet...”

”But it was Xiangka Tianji who abducted my child, and this war ultimately began because of me. Even if I am selfish, I wouldn’t lack the courage to face the consequences. I won’t let you die for me. I will go to Great Swamp Mountain myself to retrieve my son and to understand the grudges of the former dynasty!”

”My Sovereign!” Upon hearing this, Hongfu Su immediately widened her eyes in anxious distress!

Seeing her like this, Gu Changsheng immediately raised a hand, her expression resolute as she spoke, ”This matter is settled. I hope you can set aside your preconceptions and heed the advice of Yue Xilou, to help me restrain Heluo’s two million soldiers and citizens. Once I resolve the issues at Great Swamp Mountain, it will be the day of stability for the Southern Borderlands!”

With her speech concluded, Gu Changsheng no longer looked at them and turned to walk outside the Central Military Tent!

”My Sovereign!”

”Sovereign!”

”...”

Hongfu Su and several City Lords called out anxiously, reaching out towards her resolute departing figure, but ultimately they were unable to stop her from leaving!

”It’s useless, don’t think that just because the Sovereign always smiles and seems willing to discuss anything, that she can be persuaded once she’s made up her mind. When she decides something, not even ten oxen could pull her back!” Hongfu Su, looking at the empty doorway of the Central Military Tent, couldn’t hide her helplessness as she worriedly spoke.

”What can we do then? Are we really going to let the Sovereign venture alone to Great Swamp Mountain to rescue the prince? Do you know what kind of place Great Swamp Mountain is? Do you know who Xiangka Tianji is? The Elders of the Three Palaces are numerous and formidable, it’s extremely dangerous. The Sovereign might not know, but don’t you, Lord Hongfu, also know?” The Old City Lord, well past his fifties, spoke anxiously.

”She is the Phoenix’s Monarch, tied to the future of the Southern Borderlands, tied to the lives of all the surrendered soldiers and citizens under us. If something happens to her, do you understand the consequences, Lord Hongfu?” Another City Lord also spoke vehemently, ”The Sovereign may be hopeful for a new dawn, but do you think Xiangka Tianji would be the same? I tell you, if anything happens to the Sovereign, none of us can escape; all the lives of the countless people in the cities will also not escape!”

They had once witnessed the methods of Xiangka Tianji more than twenty years ago. If it happened again, it would be a true disaster!

Everyone present was utterly certain of this!

Compared to the Phoenix’s Monarch who hadn’t lost her humanity, Xiangka Tianji was a ruthless king who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at killing!

”Bearing a heavy burden on one shoulder, since the Sovereign can make such a determination, she must have full confidence of victory!” Hongfu Su’s eyes faintly closed as she softly spoke.

”But what if, what if something happens to our Sovereign?”

”Nothing will!” Hongfu Su, upon hearing this, promptly opened her eyes and spoke with unwavering determination, ”Heavenly God looks out for the Phoenix Imperial Clan. Nothing will happen to our Sovereign. We just need to be united to restrain Heluo City’s million strong soldiers. Then our Sovereign will surely succeed in the quest and quell the unrest in the Southern Borderlands!”

At this point, Hongfu Su paused, a trace of a bitter smile appearing on her weathered lips as she continued softly, ”Otherwise, the only thing waiting for us is to follow our Sovereign to the end. In this life, if we can accompany such a ruler, even death would leave me, Hongfu Su, without regrets. Even if we are victorious or defeated, the future generations of the Southern Borderlands will remember that we once followed a king who was able to retain a final trace of compassion before the power struggle, unwilling to swing the sword of slaughter!”

After Hongfu Su finished, the Central Military Tent fell into silence once again.

Several City Lords lowered their eyes, deep in thought!

Yue Xilou stepped down from the edge of the principal seat, gave a deep look at Hongfu Su, and started walking slowly in the direction Gu Changsheng had left.

”Forget it! It’s just a death. Whether we triumph or fail, to follow such a master, my life has not been in vain!”

”Enough, enough! Let’s go along with her gamble. If it comes to it, we just face life and death together! What’s there to fear!”

”What’s there to fear!”

”...”

The voices filled with excitement belonged to the few City Lords, coming from behind Yue Xilou. Yue Xilou bit his lip and smiled, looking towards the red-clothed woman standing on the hill with her back to him.

”Girl, you’ve chosen a good advisor!” Arriving beside Gu Changsheng, Yue Xilou’s colorful clothes fluttered in the wind, a smile gracing his face that outshone any evildoer, ”Every word a gem, every sentence strikes the heart. Whether it’s plot to fight or plot to manipulate hearts, this Hongfu Su is indeed a Chancellor’s talent!”

In just a few words, he had won the lifelong allegiance of several City Lords for his young lady; such a calculating minister was indeed a jewel she had discerned!

”Are you all settled?” Gu Changsheng turned her head, her eyebrows raised as she looked at the man standing behind her as if born from the heavens.

”Your resolute departure left Hongfu Su inside, didn’t it? Weren’t you waiting for her to use the equal status of a subject to swap for the absolute loyalty of those Old City Lords?” Yue Xilou also raised an eyebrow and lightly laughed as he replied, ”Or perhaps, you were banking on me?”

”Don’t even!” Gu Changsheng snorted coldly, disdainfully glaring at him as she retorted, ”You? Forget it! First, you are not a person of the Southern Borderlands; second, you are not a surrendered subject. It would be strange if you could command the masses!”

”Haha!” Yue Xilou burst into laughter upon hearing this and then suddenly adopted a serious expression, standing beside her and asking in a low voice, ”Have you really decided to go to Great Swamp Mountain?”

”Yes!” Gu Changsheng nodded.

”Ah!” Yue Xilou sighed and looked towards the distant peaks, hesitantly spoke, ”Great Swamp Mountain is still a thousand li from here. If something happens to you, you would indeed be truly isolated and without support. Girl, if you were to be in trouble, if Zhou Mu comes back and asks this Tower Master for his wife, what shall I give him to compensate?”

”Get lost!” Gu Changsheng rolled her eyes at him, countering, ”Can’t you spit out any pearl instead of these nonsense? Why can’t you wish me well?”

At that, Gu Changsheng’s voice grew heavier, and she closed her eyes and continued, ”By now, he must be trapped within the encirclement of the Three Kingdoms, incapable of splitting himself into two... Evildoer, tell me, do you think Changsheng can withstand the million Elite Soldiers of Southern Chen?...”