ALL NOVEL Chapter 39 – The Rule of Law
“Am I going to die?” Having just used the Overlord Spear once, Xiang Ning's spiritual energy was completely depleted.
At this moment, she was entirely powerless to defend herself. Watching the swooping Ming dynasty golden dragon qi, she felt like a lone leaf boat on the vast ocean. A mere leaf boat did not have the right to contend with the ocean!
Despair...
Dispirited...
Bewildered...
As fellow Sons of Heaven, the disparity was so enormous that perhaps she should surrender her entire nation to Great Ming?
Xiang Ning took another look at Fan Li beside her. At this time, he was probably also equally despairing and at a loss, right?
‘He's even weaker than I am, only at the Body Refining Realm. He must have already been scared witless.’ Xiang Ning thought this to herself, but discovered that Fan Li had a faint smile on his face, vaguely possessing the bearing of someone unperturbed even with Mount Tai collapsing before him.
"Lord Lu Chunqiu, protect His Majesty." Fan Li did not make any other moves. He only calmly spoke these five words.
An unbelieving expression appeared on Xiang Ning's face! At such a critical juncture, would Lu Chunqiu truly dare to openly declare his stance and swear to protect her, the Son of Heaven of Chu, with his life?
The fleeting thought of doubt had just appeared in Xiang Ning's mind for a second before she felt a barrier envelop herself and Fan Li within a radius of ten zhang.
It was an unadorned yet solid barrier, possessing an earthen color like soil and rock. It was indeed as thick as soil and firm like stone!
The Ming dynasty's golden dragon qi collided with the barrier. Xiang Ning only felt the earth shake and mountains tremble!
However, after the trembling subsided, the dragon qi dissipated into the space between heaven and earth. It even let out a reluctant dragon's cry!
As for Xiang Ning herself, she did not suffer the slightest harm. Fan Li, standing by her side, was also completely unharmed.
At some unknown point in time, Lu Chunqiu, Lord of Lu City and Marquis Wenxin, had arrived before the two of them and taken up his position. Lu Chunqiu spread open both arms, appearing like a mother hen protecting her chicks! Three chi above his head floated a book.
Xiang Ning took just one look, firmly engraving the four words on its cover into her memory: Annals of Lü Buwei!
"The Confucianist and Taoist supreme defensive treasure, Annals of Lü Buwei? Hmph!" Having failed to succeed in one strike, Emperor Jiajing did not continue his pursuit.
After all, he still possessed the bearing and dignity befitting a Son of Heaven, unable to resort to shameless pestering.
Emperor Jiajing spoke coldly, "Lord Lu Chunqiu, are you truly determined to oppose me?"
A bead of cold sweat emerged on Lu Chunqiu's forehead, but his expression remained calm and tranquil. "This feudal official is well aware that he is absolutely not Your Majesty's match. However, if Your Majesty insists, this feudal official also has absolute confidence that even at the cost of his life, he can escort His Majesty the Emperor of Chu back to Great Chu's capital city, Peng City."
Emperor Jiajing glared furiously, "You would rather die for the Emperor of Chu instead of stand aside?"
Obviously, he acknowledged that Lu Chunqiu's words were no boast. As long as he resisted with his life on the line, Lu Chunqiu truly could escort Xiang Ning back home!
Lu Chunqiu said no more. Serene calmness was proof of determination.
After his initial fury, Emperor Jiajing also sank into deep contemplation. He couldn't figure out just what Great Chu possessed that was worth such unswerving loyalty from someone like Lu Chunqiu?
It was merely Lu Chunqiu's adamant yet tranquil expression that made Emperor Jiajing, who touted himself as the hero of his age, inexplicably feel a trace of absurd powerlessness in his heart.
Should this great battle continue? If done openly before everyone, Jiajing absolutely had the heart to directly kill the Emperor of Chu on the spot!
Because if he didn't kill Xiang Ning today, when he personally led troops to invade Chu in the future, he would still have to behead the Emperor of Chu with his own hands and raze the Xiang clan's ancestral temple to ashes!
However, to cut down Master Lu Chunqiu, supreme mentor to all Confucian scholars and Taoists under heaven, right in front of three thousand Confucians?
Emperor Jiajing firmly believed that if he really did such a thing, at least half of Great Ming's civil officials would probably resign their posts to become hermits.
The Son of Heaven governed All Under Heaven together with the scholars. And the scholars consisted of both civil and military men. What kind of emperor abandoned by civil scholars could not be considered an incompetent ruler?
Emperor Jiajing wanted to become the decisive founding emperor who unified All Under Heaven, to leave a wise and brilliant mark in the annals of history. How could he possibly leave behind a foul name that would stink for ten thousand years?
Thinking to here, even that last trace of murderous impulse in his heart was finally suppressed.
Emperor Jiajing spoke heavily, "Very well. Today, i shall spare the Emperor of Chu for your, Lu Chunqiu's sake."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lu Chunqiu was verbally respectful on the surface. But the defensive power of the Annals of Lü Buwei summoned above his head did not dare to relax one bit, still fully activated and on guard.
"There is no need for thanks." Emperor Jiajing said coldly. "How can the heavenly grace and favor of the Son of Heaven be freely given away?"
Xiang Ning's expression changed slightly, fearing something bad would happen.
Fan Li, on the other hand, appeared rather carefree. He knew that Emperor Jiajing was now going to make demands.
Forcing such a domineering lord to the negotiating table was already Fan Li's limit of power. If he truly wanted to defeat Emperor Jiajing? Even if he completed another ten or even a hundred system missions from now on, it would probably still remain a daydream.
"Lord Lu Chunqiu has no way of repaying Your Majesty's heavenly grace." Lu Chunqi bowed deeply to indicate gratitude. "As long as Your Majesty states your desires, no matter how reasonable, Lu City will exert our utmost efforts to serve and assist Your Majesty to the best of our abilities."
Emperor Jiajing was not the least bit pleased at his bow instead of kneeling. After all, one's own subjects did not bow to foreign lords. To Lu Chunqiu, Emperor Jiajing was already considered a foreign lord.
"I have three conditions that the Marquis Wenxin must accomplish."
"Please state them, Your Majesty!"
"First, you must not spread word of today's events."
Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Chunqiu nodded in agreement. "The three thousand scholars, this feudal official can still keep under control."
Emperor Jiajing's expression was gloomy, seemingly resentful that Lu Chunqiu possessed such influence yet refused to serve him instead.
"Second, the Lü clan must not openly acknowledge surrendering to Great Chu for the next ten years."
Since Lu Chunqiu held such tremendous prestige among Confucian scholars and Taoists, if the news spread of him surrendering to Chu, it would certainly have an enormous influence on the civil servants of Ming and Han.
Perhaps upon receiving the news, some officials of Ming and Han might even abandon their posts and run over to Chu to follow Lu Chunqiu? Who knew?
However, Lu Chunqiu said, "This official has already become His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu's subject. This matter will still have to be decided by my lord, his Majesty the Emperor of Chu."
After speaking, he did not bother about Emperor Jiajing's feelings at all. Lu Chunqiu directly turned around and looked towards Xiang Ning with an inquiring gaze.
The four people were several dozen zhang high up on the platform. Their voices were not loud. The three thousand scholars below knew something major was happening but did not know the specifics.
"Please make your decision, Your Majesty." Lu Chunqiu said to Xiang Ning.
Xiang Ning was somewhat flustered and had temporarily forgotten how to judge and decide.
Fan Li spoke on her behalf, "Your Majesty agrees."
This was a serious attempt to help Emperor Xiang Ning out of a dilemma. Even she felt that Fan Li wasn't overstepping; instead, he was cooperating by nodding in agreement.
"For the second condition, our Great Chu Emperor has also agreed. Within ten years, the city of Lü will not publicly acknowledge its relationship with Great Chu."
Emperor Jiajing took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to act aggressively. He said coldly, "Thirdly, there is no need for the Three Emperors Alliance to hold the next session. After returning home, it must be unilaterally declared by the Chu Emperor that they will no longer participate in the Three Emperors Alliance."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xiang Ning's face changed. To pronounce the 'death sentence' on the Three Emperors Alliance was to tell the world that she, as the Emperor of Chu, was giving up the peace that had been maintained for thousands of years.
Would the three nations now enter a period of war? If Emperor Jiajing launched an invasion, it would be just and reasonable. And all the blame for disrupting peace would fall on her, the Emperor of Chu.
"I...," Emperor Xiang Ning wanted to refuse. But before she could speak, Fan Li, standing beside her, once again stepped in.
"On this matter, our Great Chu also agrees!"
Emperor Xiang Ning was furious, her eyes turning red. Unexpectedly, it was Fan Li who pushed her into the 'abyss,' taking on the burden of eternal condemnation.