Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 852: Chapter 676: Capital City Turmoil (Part 2)

Originally, the plan was to use Mr. Ban Shan as a hostage to bind Gu Changsheng’s hands and feet, but unexpectedly, at this moment, Mr. Ban Shan came up with such a move. He cared not about sacrificing himself but was dragging them along to the grave!

How long did it take the former Southwestern Co-Ruler to sweep through Southern Chen? Merely two months, and the once-glorious Southern Chen vanished without a trace!

Now that the Southern Country is settled, Southern Emperor Changsheng is unstoppable—who can rival him?

At this moment, the vassal kings who once plotted for the Zhou Dynasty’s throne were bewildered!

“Could it be that the grand fate is truly decided just like this? In a world in chaos, the final victor turns out to be a mere Medicine Lady?” Among the vassal kings, a prince murmured softly, filled with reluctance and deep helplessness.

For a while, the Great Zhou’s Imperial Court fell into a strange silence following Mr. Ban Shan’s departure.

After a long while, Emperor Zhoulin sighed deeply and said, “Enough, enough. To this day, your opponent is no longer me. The Crown Prince is about to return to the court, and the Southern Emperor will soon arrive in the Capital City. If you wish to contest and scheme, feel free to act without restraint. Whether you want to use the Son of Heaven to command all lords or threaten with the Southern Emperor’s foster father, fortunately, both I and the gentleman are present in this Capital City. Come then!”

Having said this, Emperor Zhoulin rose from the Dragon Throne and slowly walked outside the hall, followed swiftly by Han Shan.

With these words, the storm on the Great Zhou’s Imperial Court was beyond Emperor Zhoulin’s control!

As an emperor forced to this point by his own sons, it was due to his leniency and benevolent governance, as well as his failure in wielding power, but it was no longer important. The grandson he valued most was about to return.

After more than a decade, they would finally meet again, and indeed, his Imperial Grandson’s choice was quite commendable in marrying a Southern Emperor as his granddaughter-in-law…

In the Great Zhou Dynasty Court, where princes contended for succession, Emperor Zhoulin would no longer appear at court. While the vassal kings hesitated and struggled, Jiang One and others eventually, along with half of Zhou Mu’s troops, returned to the court!

This procession of troops was grand and majestic. It had both men and women, seemed a bit incongruous, and left the citizens of the Capital City gawking.

Where is the prestige of the undefeated division under Prince Mu’s command? Somehow, it looked more like a family excursion?

All the people in the Capital Region were stirred, and when they saw Zhou Mu’s forces, it was such a sight that everyone was perplexed!

Zhou Mu, being the Emperor’s grandson, started battling at the age of ten and achieved brilliant military exploits. Yet, neither he nor his troops ever returned to the Capital City before. This first return looked like this—how could it not drop the jaws of the citizens of the Capital City?

This was… just too incongruous, right?

Do you see those soldiers laughing and bantering with the women—are they really under the iron-blooded Prince Mu?

The onlooking citizens couldn’t believe it!

Just as the folks in the Capital City were utterly disappointed, Jiang One and others, escorting an exquisite carriage, arrived before the Capital City Gate and knocked on the gate.

The Capital Region, being such an important area, naturally had extraordinary defenses. Even with Prince Mu’s troops, they couldn’t enter the city without permission. Besides, the military command in the Capital Region had already been completely divided by the vassal kings vying for succession, hadn’t it?

Jiang One knocked on the gate, but it wouldn’t open.

What a joke, since Prince Liang and others could push Emperor Zhoulin to such a point, how could they willingly watch Zhou Mu’s troops enter the city?

With the gate refusing to open, Jiang One didn’t mind. He shrugged and spoke to the gatekeeper atop the city gate, “In that case, I won’t force the issue. The Southern Emperor offers the Northern Country as a dowry, presenting it to the Great Zhou, yet we were blocked outside the gate. Therefore, I can only wait here outside the Capital City with the Dowager Empress Xiao of the Northern Country, awaiting the arrival of my lord and the Southern Emperor!”

“What?”

“Ah!”

“…”

All at once, both inside and outside the Capital City, everyone gasped, startled!

The few vassal kings observing from afar atop the city wall nearly fell off in shock, all wearing expressions of disbelief.

With the Northern Country as a dowry?

The Northern Country being Liaodong, the Dowager Empress Xiao?

Godfather, the people of the Capital City are in chaos!

At this moment, the curtain of the carriage behind Jiang One and others was lifted, and an elderly lady with white hair stepped slowly out. Behind her followed two slender maidens, one holding an imperial document, the other holding a box, the box opened to reveal a red dragon-carved Jade Seal inside!

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were fixed!

The elderly lady, dressed in a bright yellow Phoenix Robe, despite her old age, was energetic and imposing without anger—this was the aura of royalty cultivated over years in power. For a moment, with her presence, the area in front of the Capital City Gate fell silent. Both the onlooking citizens and the soldiers and vassal kings atop the city gate were stunned!

Leaning on a Dragon Head Cane, Dowager Empress Xiao looked up sharply, “I, from the Xiao Clan after the Jin Family of the Liaodong Imperial Clan, hereby offer the entire country, submitting the state document. Since the Great Zhou City Gate remains closed, I will not compel. Having pledged the entire nation, I will await the Southern Emperor’s arrival here!”

Her words, neither light nor heavy, carried the authority of one in power, and no one doubted for a moment the weight of her words.

It’s not false—it really is offering the entire country as a dowry!

“Two royal children, store away the state document and Jade Seal. Since the Great Zhou does not accept them, simply wait till the Southern Emperor’s imperial carriage arrives, and present it directly to His Majesty the Southern Emperor then!” Dowager Empress Xiao, saying these words without minding the gaping mouths atop the city gate, turned to the two princesses behind her, and then returned to the carriage.

“Hmph! Not knowing what’s good for them!” Jin Miaoer snorted coldly, shutting the box containing the Jade Seal with a snap.

“Utterly foolish!” Jin Zhuer added, putting away the state document with a resentful face, dropping these words…