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Defying the Heavens 

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Chapter Four: Uproar in the Palace
The night was quiet, and the palace was also silent. The sentries, both visible and hidden, stood motionless like wooden figures.
Even when patrol teams passed by, they went their own way! In fact, it wasn't that they were truly strictly following the rules, but rather that after years of guarding the palace
, they simply couldn't find anything to talk about.
Suddenly, a captain passed by, seemingly noticing something amiss. He stared ahead for a while before
saying to the person next to him, "Ding Laosan, did you see anything wrong up ahead?" "No, boss. Maybe I'm just seeing things
because I'm a bit hot-tempered lately?"
Ding Laosan suddenly moved closer, fawningly saying to the captain, "How about we go to the Red Phoenix Pavilion after work tomorrow
to vent our frustrations?" "Damn it, all you ever think about is your crotch!"
The captain leaned closer to Ding Laosan and whispered, "Usually when I try to take you for a walk along the Chunying River, you complain about
being broke. Why are you being so generous today?"
"Usually is! I heard there's a new girl at the Red Phoenix Pavilion, the most beautiful courtesan from the south! She
served the Prince of Nanyang back in the day and almost became his consort!"
"Are you dreaming, you little rascal? I heard about it too! Ten silver coins for a tea party? Are you crazy?" "We
're just eyeing the top courtesan, but she's accompanied by several other girls, all top beauties from Hua Jinxiu. Their prices aren't outrageously high
—two silver coins for a tea party, about the same as the other girls we've seen before!"
The two were chatting happily and didn't notice the unusual situation they'd just witnessed. Behind them, a tall figure
appeared. Watching them walk away, he curled his lip in disdain and headed towards the Empress's palace. Empress Zhou was
the daughter of Grand Secretary Zhou De. Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but she was also well-educated, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—truly born
to be the mother of the nation! It was already past midnight, but the Empress showed no sign of sleeping. A palace maid came and said,
"Your Majesty, the master has sent word, instructing you to prepare to receive him!" She then withdrew from the inner palace. Empress Zhou shivered.
She knew that the person she was receiving was not the Emperor, but her true husband. Even as the mother of the nation,
she dared not resist the person about to arrive!
With a creak, the door opened without wind, and Ming Chenshun stood at the door with a lewd grin!
Empress Zhou, who had already washed and dressed, knelt down with a thud and bowed gracefully, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you!" She was completely
naked, covered only by a thin red veil, which revealed her full, fair figure
to Ming Chenshun, instantly arousing his lust! "Haha, very good!" He laughed and reached out to help Empress Zhou up
. As he looked her up and down with lustful eyes, Empress Zhou immediately lowered her head in embarrassment, unable to meet his gaze.
The lady-in-waiting beside her scoffed, "Hmph, when her master fucks her, she screams louder than anyone else. What's she
pretending for?" Her voice wasn't quiet, making Empress Zhou even more embarrassed. Ming Chenshun, however, was unfazed, laughing,
"What's wrong with that?
When I fucked you, didn't you scream with delight?" Responding to his words, the maid shamelessly retorted,
"Is there any woman in the world who doesn't enjoy being fucked by her master? His penis is simply a woman's nemesis! Hehehe
..." As she spoke, she gave Ming Chenshun a flirtatious wink. It was only because he was Ming Chenshun; if it were any other man, he would have
been completely bewitched...
"Has there been any news from your father?" The emperor, having settled into his seat where he should have been, embraced Empress Zhou,
fondling her soft, white breasts as he asked. Empress Zhou, not daring to be negligent, quickly replied, "Father said that
these past few days, many places have received memorials impeaching you. Some of the less serious cases he simply sent back
. Others were more troublesome, and he made excuses to send people back to verify the evidence before submitting them again. But some with connections
couldn't be dealt with before the memorials reached Father..." "Hmph! Those incompetent fools think they can touch me? They're courting death!"
Ming Chenshun said viciously, "Tell your father that he doesn't need to stop impeaching me anymore. If necessary,
he can impeach me as well!" "I wouldn't dare, Master. Father has always been loyal to you..." Empress Zhou
was startled, thinking Ming Chenshun was being sarcastic, accusing her father of incompetence.
Ming Chen Shun kissed her and said, "Don't worry, I mean it! Even if those who impeach me
have connections in court, how many of their leaders are of higher status than your father? If your father were to step forward, he could easily become
their leader! Rest assured, I'm just being cautious. Before this important matter is resolved, it's not advisable to go to war with the court; otherwise,
this palace would have already changed hands!" As he spoke, he pinched the still-shaken Empress Zhou's cheek and said lewdly:
"Be a good girl and serve me well, and when I conquer the world, I will still keep you rich and powerful! Your father too, as long as he is loyal
to me, when I achieve my goal, he will be a meritorious official who grants you a vast territory!"
Before he could say anything more, Ming Chenshun slapped her plump, fleshy buttocks. She immediately and subconsciously got up, lay down
in front of Ming Chenshun, and offered her buttocks... He was pleased that he had trained the Empress of the Yellow Dragon Empire to be so
"sensible." He lifted the thin gauze dress and said, "Yilan is indeed much more sensible!
I'll pamper you three times today!"
Of course, she knew what he meant by pampering her three times. In fact, besides the humiliation of being raped and coerced, Zhou Yilan
had a lot more to look forward to in the depths of her heart! She looked forward to the excruciating pleasure, she looked forward to
the ecstasy of grinding her teeth! Ever since she was raped by Ming Chenshun in this bedchamber more than two years ago, this
man had become her master!
Initially, she feared that the Empress had been raped; if word got out, she would surely be abandoned by the Emperor, and her family would be
implicated. But Ming Chenshun's repeated rapes, even his brazen overnight stays in her palace, gradually
numbed her. Compared to the fleeting pleasure she experienced with the Emperor, each encounter with Ming Chenshun
was utterly devastating, leaving her feeling like she was being fucked to death. It was through Ming Chenshun that
she finally understood the true extent of female pleasure, what it meant to be in ecstasy.
Ming Chenshun's abilities beyond the bedroom shocked her even more; he effortlessly eliminated
her father's political rival, further hardening her resolve to persuade her father to side with Ming Chenshun. Sure enough,
her father listened to her advice, tested him several times, and, discovering Ming Chenshun's exceptional abilities, formed a bond with him.
They formed an alliance. Until the very end, Ming Chenshun's power was absolute, and her father became his subordinate…
Thoughts flashed through her mind, and suddenly her body trembled, a strong, overwhelming feeling of fullness washing over her. Ming Chenshun
's penis had entered her moist, warm jade passage! The jade passage was slippery, wet, warm, and comfortable. Knowing she
was aroused, Ming Chenshun was secretly delighted; this woman's body had completely submitted to him! His excitement grew even
higher, and before she could fully adjust, he immediately began to thrust and pound wildly, engaging in a vile and unrestrained act of defilement! "Mmm… ooh
…"
Zhou Yilan, being the Empress, tried her best to maintain her composure despite the pleasure, not allowing herself to cry out.
But the intermittent, wordless moans only intensified the desire and fantasies of those who heard them! Ming Chenshun let out a series of strange cries
, deliberately showing off his superior physique. Without even withdrawing his penis, he picked up the Empress, who was crawling on the ground, and,
holding her legs with both hands, spread them apart. Without using too much force, he gently tossed her up using the rise and fall of her legs.
As she landed, he thrust upwards with force, plunging his penis deep into the Empress's vagina!
"Ah...ya..." Unable to hold back any longer, the Empress let out a pitiful yet alluring cry!
Several palace maids arranged by Ming Chenshun watched with envy, but could only stare helplessly! Walking a few steps to the wall, the Empress was puzzled,
wondering what Ming Chenshun was about to do. Suddenly, the white wall rippled and transformed into a giant mirror.
In the mirror, Ming Chenshun's image was fully revealed, and the Empress's mustache appeared clearly. She could see Ming Chenshun's penis, as thick as a human arm,
thrusting in and out of her private parts, the white foam clinging to her dark pubic hair, making it appear as if it had turned white. The Empress
was even more ashamed, and with nowhere to hide, she could only close her eyes tightly and turn her head to the side! Ming Chenshun laughed
loudly, "What? Embarrassed? Your hole is grabbing me, and you're still embarrassed? Hahahaha..."
Ming Chenshun teased the beauty in his arms, deliberately increasing the force as he spoke, his penis thrusting hard several times, knocking her
already delicate flower core about and almost penetrating her uterus!
"Ah, ah! Master, ah... you've fucked me through, ah..." Empress Zhou cried out, then became
even more embarrassed after realizing what had happened, but then she thought, "Anyway, it's already like this, the most common relationship between men and women is this!
Who doesn't know how to do it?"
Having figured this out, she suddenly let loose, "Ah, Master! You're so good, so good, wow!"
"Master, fuck me to death, I want to have your child!"
"Give it to me, give it to me, I want it..." The Empress suddenly let go, and Ming Chenshun was overjoyed, becoming
even more carried away! The two made love in the Empress's bedchamber. Ming Chenshun was powerful, and the Empress naturally couldn't resist,
but she still refused to admit defeat, stubbornly fighting back against Ming Chenshun! Ming Chenshun, in high spirits, didn't care
whether such a respectable woman, a royal noblewoman, could withstand his domineering power! Rolling and entangled, the two were like two human-
shaped worms, engaging in lewd pleasure, utterly shameless!
Ming Chenshun was a lecherous man, and Empress Zhou Yilan, too, was uninhibited, her lewd words
echoing far and wide! Although he had been raised with a strict family tradition and couldn't utter anything truly obscene, it only
made Ming Chenshun more intrigued! With a strange "gurgling" sound, he became even more imposing and menacing, his penis like a thick
wooden pestle, thrusting into Zhou Yilan's honeyed orifice and withdrawing completely. Their private parts rubbed together, flesh against flesh
, releasing wave after wave of love juice. Their bodies went dry and wet, until finally Ming Chenshun completely satisfied his lust,
ejaculating into the Empress's body. The Empress screamed, her body scalded, and then her head lolled to the side, convulsing
as she fainted!
"Master…you should also share your favors…" said the female official Ming Chenshun had assigned to Empress Zhou
, Zhilan, who was originally a maid in the Ming family! Back when Ming Chenshun took control of the Ming family, he first targeted Lin Yucui's four
maids! Considering their loyalty, skill, and intelligence, Ming Chenshun assigned
them to the Empress's side to monitor her and facilitate communication. Ming Chenshun's lust was far stronger than ordinary people, and he also
practiced evil arts. Although he had just released his pent-up desires, the past few days of travel and the fear of encountering powerful enemies had prevented him from indulging too much, even with Xiyuejiao by his side
. He had only released a portion of his desires just now, and with Zhilan's arousal,
his lust was instantly reignited, and his half-soft penis became erect again!
Before he could give any orders, Zhilan immediately pounced on him, her small hands embracing his thick, hot penis, and taking it into her mouth
! "Mmm..." Zhilan was one of the first maids Ming Chenshun had trained, and her tongue was as nimble as Ruyi,
the celestial fox incarnate! Under her flattery, Ming Chenshun felt no discomfort in his limbs, his eyes burning with lust
!
"You slut, I never knew your tongue was so effective!" He slapped her small but pert buttocks and said,
"Sit on me! I'll give you as much as you want today!" Ming Chenshun lay down calmly beside the Empress, and Zhilan
shamelessly released Ming Chenshun's erect penis and sat on it with relish! Watching the petite and exquisite
woman slowly guide Ming Chenshun's penis into her vagina, from one hole to another, deeper and
warmer one, Ming Chenshun's penis grew even larger with pleasure! Another erotic battle of flesh began!
Zhilan was starving, and upon finally encountering Mingchen Shun, she immediately became carried away, spurring her horse on as if riding
a steed across the grasslands, her buttocks rising and falling, completely disregarding
whether she could endure it! In her eyes, a quick and painless "death" was perhaps the most exhilarating thing!
The two of them made love in the dignified Empress's bedchamber, completely unrestrained, the imperial dignity
being utterly worthless in their eyes! As
dawn broke, Mingchen Shun had finished his cultivation, while Empress Zhou Yilan was still fast asleep, limbs spread wide, drool dripping from her mouth
, her private parts a mess, her swollen and parted labia indicating the brutal ravaging she had suffered the previous night!
Zhilan, however, had already woken up, and after struggling to help Mingchen Shun dress and wash, she was gently pulled by him and collapsed
into his arms. "Master...you're going to bully me again...
" "Bully you? Are you willing? Hmm?" Ming Chenshun chuckled lewdly, pinched Zhilan's cheek, and said
, "By the way, who are the ministers who are making the biggest fuss about impeaching me now? Any news?" "Besides her father
, there's also Minister of War Duanmu Xing and Vice Minister of Rites Wan Yunzhou! The others are just cats and dogs, not worth mentioning."
Zhilan thought for a moment, then said, "Also, I heard that Lord Guan is still protecting our master, so some of
his former subordinates, disciples, and followers who originally wanted to get involved have all withdrawn..."
"Hmph, I didn't expect my godfather to be so useful!" Ming Chenshun said dismissively, "I have already
made thorough arrangements. No matter what happens, you must not expose yourselves! Now, no one can do anything to me!"
"Yes, our master is invincible. Those people are nothing but clowns! Hehehehe..." Zhilan
smiled obsequiously, laughing heartily, bending over backward. Ming Chenshun was clearly very pleased! "Clowns? Yes,
they are all clowns! Let's go to the court and see how they cause trouble!"
Today is the grand court session, and all officials in the capital, those of the fifth rank and above, must come! However,
only officials of the third rank and above can enter the hall. Officials of the fourth and fifth ranks are arranged outside the hall according to their rank. As
a marquis of the highest rank and a second-rank military officer, Ming Chenshun's position was quite prominent! However, it was clear that
his arrangement today was somewhat unusual! To his left was Lu Tao, the chief constable of the Six Doors. This was understandable; Lu Tao was
Ming Chenshun's nominal superior. During court sessions, if one's official rank and title were high enough to enter the palace, then the seating arrangement would follow the order of rank
. After all, titles were often just honorary titles and didn't necessarily translate into decisive action in important court matters! But to his right was
Feng Guanghe, the Inspector of the Ministry of War! In terms of rank, Feng Guanghe was a second-rank official, on par with Ming Chenshun. However,
inspectors had the privilege of holding a significant rank over military officers; Feng Guanghe should have been standing to Ming Chenshun's left! Moreover,
the chief constable of the capital's police department, Iron Hand Wu Jianghai, who was as famous as Lu Tao, was only a fourth-rank official, albeit an honorary one,
yet he brazenly entered the main hall and stood behind Ming Chenshun in such a prominent position. The deeper
meaning behind this was something Ming Chenshun smiled but remained silent about…
At the very front of the civil and military officials, on the nine-tiered platform for proclaiming the imperial edict, Marquis Guan Yunxuan sat upright.
He had never used the honor of not kneeling before the emperor upon entering the hall and not bowing to the king upon leaving. Anyone with a modicum of
intelligence could guess that something significant was about to happen! "The court is about to begin! All officials kneel in welcome!"
Feng Ning'an, the Grand Eunuch and Director of the Palace Gate, shouted. With the emperor's court session underway, the officials kneeling were almost certain
that something major was about to occur; otherwise, Feng Ning'an wouldn't have been sent to announce the start of the court session! "Rise, my lords!" Standing up,
Ming Chen Shun glanced at the other three eunuchs beside the emperor. Although they were all quite old, their skills were no less
than Feng Ning'an's! It seemed they were truly targeting him today!
"Today, during the grand court session, there are two matters. First, an urgent report has arrived from Liangzhou: demons have appeared in the Kongtong Mountain area and have
begun harassing nearby towns. I have already issued an edict ordering the Kongtong Sect to assist in resolving this. However, the rampant demons are always accompanied by ominous signs.
Therefore, my lords, tell me, is it because my policies in recent years have been inappropriate or contrary to the will of Heaven that the people are
suffering this calamity? The second matter is a report from Jingzhou: the water level in the upper reaches of the river has decreased significantly this year, raising concerns about drought
. My lords, what measures can be implemented? Let us implement them as soon as possible to prevent the people from suffering when disaster strikes
..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty's benevolent heart is known to both gods and men. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have worked diligently to govern, revering Heaven and
loving the people. Therefore, our dynasty has always been peaceful and prosperous! I believe that even if a few evil spirits cause trouble,
or if there are signs of unfavorable weather, they are merely minor ailments and will not harm the overall situation of the country!" The first to step forward was Shen Wen, the Minister of Revenue. This man immediately began
praising the emperor, glossing over the emperor's mention of omens of disaster with a single sentence, essentially ignoring the emperor's words, yet still
flattering him. This infuriated those who were usually at odds with him. "How could I have been so slow?
This shameless bastard beat me to it!" But while they cursed inwardly, they still had to agree with him and praise the emperor aloud.
Finally, the ministers quieted down a bit, and one stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Wan Yunzhou, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, have submitted
a memorial!" "Speak!" "I believe that the appearance of local demons, though merely a minor ailment that does not hinder our dynasty's peace and
prosperity, is ultimately a warning from Heaven! Your Majesty is diligently governing, yet some of your ministers are using the pretext of suppressing bandits to purge
dissidents with cruel and outrageous methods! I beseech Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
"Hmm..." Ming Chen Shun's lips curled slightly upward; the real show was about to begin! "Oh? I wonder who this
person who has committed such a heinous crime is, my dear minister?" "Your Majesty, the one who has committed such a heinous crime is
none other than Marquis Mingchen Shun! He used the pretext that there were traitors in the Kongtong Sect to massacre hundreds of members of the Kongtong Sect! The Zhongnan Sect, Qinghai Sect, and Qingcheng Sect were all
spared... Later, he attacked the Emei Sect under the same pretext, but fortunately, Heaven protected our dynasty, and with the help of Your Majesty's divine might, the Emei
Sect repelled him! Now, the Emei Sect, Kunlun Sect, Beggars' Sect, Canal Gang, and dozens of other Jianghu sects have jointly submitted
a petition from the people! They beg Your Majesty to kill the treacherous minister, punish the traitor, and restore peace to the people!" After speaking, Wan Yunzhou took out the petition from his sleeve,
handed it to Feng Ning'an, and returned to the ranks. The emperor opened the petition, his brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing, which made Mingchen
Shun secretly smile, while Guan Yunxuan remained silent. The civil and military officials, each with their own thoughts, were all closely watching the Emperor
and Guan Yunxuan. Today's commotion was likely to be quite something!
"Minister Wan, is everything stated in this memorial true?" the Emperor asked Wan Yunzhou,   feigning concern. Wan
Yunzhou replied, "Your Majesty, every word is true! This is just a list of the most serious crimes I've compiled; if I were to write them all down, it would take three days to finish reading them ..." "Your Majesty, I, Duanmu Xing, the Vice Minister of War, have a memorial!" Duanmu Xing stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty,   besides these, Marquis Weiwu's crimes are even more   egregious! He abused his position as Commander of the Inner Guard, falsely issuing imperial edicts and mobilizing a large army—this is treason!"   "Oh..." Seeing the Emperor's anger, the ministers stepped forward one after another to impeach Minister Shun, accusing him of bullying men and   women, embezzling state land, and committing bribery... basically, they pinned every imaginable crime on him.   "Lord Weiwu, do you have anything to say?" Seeing the emperor's question, Mingchen Shun ignored the three   men beside him who were on high alert, smiled calmly, and said, "I have nothing to say! As the Commander of the Inner Guard, it is my   duty to promptly discover those plotting rebellion and eliminate hidden dangers in the court. Now it has become the elimination of dissidents, truly laughable!" He pointed at   Duanmu Xing and said, "Lord Duanmu, you are from the Eight Immortals Sword Sect of Pengzhou, and it is said that your wife is a disciple of the Brocade Gang of Luzhou,   is that true?" "Indeed, what's wrong with that?" "Last year, the Red-Belt Army rose in rebellion, affecting Jiangnan and Hubei and Hunan   provinces. Wherever the bandits went, the people suffered and lived in misery, is that not true?" Faced with his questioning, Duanmu Xing...











He said disdainfully, "I don't know what you're trying to say by going off on such a tangent?" "Tangent? It's not far from others, it's not far from Lord Duanmu
! Your ancestral home is Pengzhou. When bandits breached Pengzhou city, the prefect Xie Lin died a martyr, and all the wealthy households in the city were
looted. But I heard that although your hometown is famous in Pengzhou, not a single tile was lost. I wonder
why?" "You!" Duanmu Xing's face turned red, and he angrily said, "You're rambling on and on, and you didn't answer the Emperor's question! You
're simply showing no respect for the Emperor!" "Hmph," "Yes, I have no respect for the Emperor, but what about you? You are a traitor to the Emperor!"
Ming Chenshun pulled out an envelope and threw it to Duanmu Xing, saying, "Your family was spared because the bandit leader of the Red Belt Army,
Wei Tianbao, is a member of the Eight Immortals Sword Sect! Back then, he had an affair with the wife of the wealthy Yang family in Pengzhou. After being caught, he killed someone and fled.
He should have been arrested, but you, using your position as the garrison commander of Pengzhou at the time, helped him escape from Pengzhou! He became an outlaw at Nianzi Ridge ,
and you, as the garrison commander, ignored him. So, he repaid your kindness, didn't you?"
"Nonsense! You're spouting lies!" Duanmu Xing was speechless. Back then, when Wei Tianbao killed someone and
fled, he did intentionally let him go. And because of the bond between fellow disciples, he knew that Wei Tianbao had become an outlaw in his territory but
did not wipe him out. That's why later, when Pengzhou fell, his family was unharmed! But the wealthy Yang who was killed by Wei Tianbao back then
was no good person either. He colluded with the government and did many immoral things. His wife was Wei Tianbao
's childhood sweetheart, but he forcibly took her away. Wei Tianbao was wrong, but the wealthy Yang was not wronged either. Wei Tianbao joined the outlaws, robbing
ordinary merchants who passed through without taking their lives. His rebellion stemmed from a famine in Pengzhou, where the government refused to distribute grain… But
these words were difficult to explain. As he blushed and remained speechless, Ming Chen Shun ignored him and
turned to the other ministers, saying, “Chi led the rebellion, and the bandit leader and core members are all disciples of the Eight Immortals Sword! Originally, they only
operated in the Pengzhou area, but the Jinxiu Sect in Luzhou, due to a falling out with Shen Tong, the Minister of Textiles of Huguang, over the imperial
tribute of brocade, instigated the bandits to attack Luzhou. Jinxiu Sect disciples acted as their inside agents, leading to the bandits' night raid on Luzhou!” “
Shouldn’t the Eight Immortals Sword and the Jinxiu Sect be wiped out for their actions? You, Duanmu Xing, as an official of the court, have abused your power and attempted to
control everything. I have to wipe out your sect, and you disagree. Don’t you even ask if the people of the two provinces and eight prefectures they have killed
are happy?”
"You...you're just making excuses!" Duanmu Xing's face flushed red and then turned pale with anger. "Wei Tianbao rebelled because
Pengzhou suffered a disaster, and the government refused to distribute grain for disaster relief, so he..." "Haha, he was forced into rebellion by the officials, right?"
After Ming Chenshun finished speaking, Duanmu Xing immediately felt extremely regretful. When Wei Tianbao rebelled in Pengzhou, the emperor was furious and said
that his crimes were heinous. He had actually said to the emperor's face that Wei Tianbao was forced into rebellion by the officials. Wasn't this slapping the emperor in the face?
He glanced at the emperor and saw that his expression was indeed unpleasant. He hurriedly tried to change his words, but Grand Secretary Zhou De had already spoken: "
To rebel because the government doesn't distribute grain? What kind of talk is that? Your Majesty, upon learning of the disaster in Pengzhou, was sleepless and unable to eat or sleep,
issuing seventeen imperial edicts to mobilize grain reserves from various regions to provide
relief to the victims. Yet, before the grain carts even reached Pengzhou, Wei Tianbao not only started a rebellion but also incited the victims to seize the relief grain and kill the court officials sent to comfort them. This...
this... this is all justified? Humph!" Grand Secretary Zhou De was highly respected in the court, and his
words were spoken with righteous indignation. Duanmu Xing knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, I had no
intention of defending Wei Tianbao; it was merely a slip of the tongue. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness..."
"Enough! As an official of the court, how can you behave like a commoner? You're
punishing me by losing half a year's salary!" The emperor waved his hand, seemingly rescuing Duanmu Xing from the predicament. Duanmu Xing returned to the ranks trembling,
no longer daring to act recklessly. However, Mingchen Shun sensed something amiss! The emperor truly intended to deal with him, which was why he let
Duanmu Xing off the hook for challenging him! He gave an unconscious, sinister smile and said, "Your Majesty,
I have nothing to say about my methods in suppressing sects that harbored disloyal intentions towards the court! But which of those sects was innocent
? The Kongtong Sect is one of the eight major sects of the martial arts world, and has received imperial honors for generations! Yet, just after Your Majesty issued an edict appointing Wugou
Daoist as the foremost figure in the Xuanmen, the Zhang brothers, Zhang Ziqian and Zhang Zixiu, from the Xiliang Dao, rebelled. They were both disciples of the Kongtong Sect,
and Wugou Daoist watched his disciples rebel without intervening, turning a blind eye to the disciples who aided them. Does he live
up to Your Majesty's great favor?" The emperor's face turned ashen, not for any other reason than that the Zhang brothers mentioned by Mingchen Shun
were the family members of Empress Zhang, whose entire clan had been exterminated years ago! The Zhang family had been operating in the Northwest for a long time,
yet the Zhang brothers had escaped with their lives. Knowing that their family, though once at its peak, was not immune to crisis, the Zhang family had secretly
laid deep groundwork. After the two brothers escaped with their lives, they gathered other escaped clansmen and,
using this hidden force, gradually amassed considerable power in the Hexi Corridor, Northwest, and Xiliang regions of the Northwest. They
eventually united dozens of mountain strongholds and launched a rebellion! However, neither brother was a capable military leader,
and the bandits were driven by greed and ungratefulness. Initially, they fought diligently in their conquests, but as the war
faltered, they each pursued their own agendas, ultimately leading to the Zhang family's annihilation by the imperial court!
The fundamental reason for the extermination of the entire Zhang family was that Empress Zhang, upon learning of the emperor's incestuous relationship with her birth mother
, wanted to install her brother, the Prince of Liang (who was also her son), as the crown prince, fearing her son would lose his
chance to inherit the throne, and thus pressured the emperor! The Zhang family ruled like local tyrants in the three northwestern regions. The Kongtong Sect's appeasement of them was hardly a problem
. Even if some of their disciples joined the rebels, it was merely a compromise—a way to "avoid offending either side" and
observe the situation first! In reality, it was the very Kongtong Sect disciples who joined the rebels who ultimately executed the Zhang brothers
!
But the mere mention of the Zhang family reminded the emperor of his own adultery with his birth mother, instantly igniting his fury
and inwardly agreeing that the wise minister Shun had done the right thing!
"The Kongtong Sect deserves to die, but what about the Zhongnan Sect?" Duan Xu, the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, stepped forward and asked Ming Chenshun,
"My lord, I am a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect. Many in the court know this, and I see no reason to hide it.
The Zhongnan Sect has always been favored by the Emperor and has always been careful and dutiful. Furthermore, our disciples, once they have mastered their skills and descended the mountain, must not plot rebellion, become outlaws,
or collude with foreign powers! Anyone who violates these three rules will be immediately expelled from the sect! The Emperor's grace is boundless, and Heaven's will is favorable; the Jiangnan region
has enjoyed peace for a long time. Apart from the two rebellions by Wei Tianbao and Jin Guangdao, there have been no major bandit incidents."
" Lord Marquis's reason for eradicating the Zhongnan Sect seems to be allowing his disciples to collude with rebels and commit treason. I don't know
where this argument comes from. If they truly deserve to die, then not only me, but Lord Guan, who is also a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, shouldn't he also be eliminated?"
Duan Xu was a low-key person who rarely spoke. Firstly, although his position in the Five Cities Military Command was important, his official rank was
not high. In the capital, where high-ranking officials gathered, he was not among the most important, so he had no say. Secondly, he
was very cautious and diligent in his official duties and never got involved in the factional struggles of the court. In addition, since he took office, he had never
arrested the wrong person or accepted bribes, so he was respected by others! He didn't speak as aggressively as Mi Xue Wan Yunzhou
and others, but rather stated his points slowly and methodically. Ming Chen Shun took it seriously! "Lord Duan is right   . Lord Duan
, Lord Guan is a disciple of the Zhongnan School, and there are many disciples of the Zhongnan School in the court . Which one was harassed? So how can there be any talk of the Zhongnan School being exterminated?" Ming Chenshun said, "   The evidence is conclusive that Zhongnan School disciples participated in Wei Tianbao's rebellion. Moreover, Liang Sheng, the head of the Zhongnan School at the time, also confirmed this matter and   apologized to the court for lax discipline! The Emperor also pardoned him. In the end, it's because the Zhongnan School does indeed   have three unruly rules. With such a large sect, it's hard to avoid a few unworthy disciples! But what about the Golden Light Path? The leader of the Golden Light Path is an evil cult..."   "   Qiao Rui is the abbot of Qichen Temple in the Zhongnan Sect. It's understandable that he keeps a low profile, but he's already started a rebellion in Jiangnan , captured four or five prefectures, and is preparing to declare himself emperor. How could the Zhongnan Sect claim not to know?" "   Liang Sheng, the leader of the Zhongnan Sect, personally announced in front of the four elders and eight stewards that Qiao Rui was expelled from the sect, and submitted   a memorial to the court. He also issued a proclamation to all martial arts sects, severing ties with them! Furthermore, he dispatched two elders and two stewards, leading dozens of skilled disciples   , to the army to assist in suppressing the rebellion!" Duan Xu finished speaking, still not pressing further. Ming Chenshun remained calm and composed, saying:   "Indeed, but there is one thing: Qiao Rui has been secretly planning his uprising for quite some time now. Does the Zhongnan Sect really not know?   And the Zhongnan Sect doesn't know about the relationship between Qiao Rui and the Jinshe Gang either?" He turned to face the two groups of ministers, coldly scanning them.   Whoever met his gaze would be terrified. After all, the emperor had once issued a strict order to severely punish the Jinshe Gang, and   quite a few court officials were secretly colluding with the Jinshe Gang!   "Wei Tianbao's rebellion was an open one; he burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities, but at least he did it openly and honestly   ! Jin Guangdao and the Jinshe Gang, on the other hand, colluded to prey on the people, and they deserve to die even more!" Having said this, seeing that Duan Xu   remained silent, Ming Chenshun turned to Guan Yunxuan and bowed, saying, "It was precisely because of this evidence that I   reported to the Emperor. The Emperor personally explained the situation to Lord Guan in detail, which led to the punishment of the Zhongnan Sect!" "Yes,   the Zhongnan Sect! To wipe out an entire sect because of a few unworthy individuals—that's a severe punishment..."   Ming Chenshun recognized the speaker; he was Jian Ping, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue! Ming Chenshun smiled and said, "Exterminate an entire family? May I   ask if Lord Guan is a disciple of the Zhongnan School? Is General Duan a disciple of the Zhongnan School? Lord Jian is a civil official, but he is also   a disciple of the Zhongnan School, isn't he? Has anyone offended him? Liang Sheng, the head of the Zhongnan School, tolerated his disciples' wrongdoings and ignored them.   When the court arrested him, he not only refused to confess his crimes and beg for the Emperor's forgiveness, but also fled in fear of punishment! Zhang Taihe took over the Zhongnan School on his behalf,   but attempted to resist stubbornly, so he was executed! Chuyun Temple was damaged in the war, and the court allocated funds to rebuild it and appointed   a disciple of the Zhongnan School who had not sided with the rebels as the head of the school. How can this be called extermination?"   "Your Majesty, after all this commotion, this old minister also wants to speak!" Guan Yunxuan spoke up. If the Emperor didn't stop him, who   would dare not speak? "Ming Chenshun is eliminating internal troubles for the court, just as this old minister is pacifying external threats. When the   Emperor's might prevails, everything is destroyed!" " This old minister, in battle, uses every means at his disposal, his methods undeniably cruel. But if   he weren't cruel to the enemy, wouldn't he have suffered even greater losses with his own soldiers? Don't tell me, Your Majesty, is waging war against internal enemies;   in this old minister's view, it's the same! Those who rebel, aren't they all trying to seize the throne and become emperor?   Is there any difference between them seizing the throne and foreign invaders seizing it? Those who say it's different probably think, 'Since I'm just a subject, the throne   isn't mine, so whoever seizes it is none of my business,' right?" After Guan Yunxuan's words, the court officials were speechless for a moment   . The emperor was also moved; at least for him, whether foreign invaders or internal traitors seized the throne, it was all   the same, because they were both trying to take his throne!   "Lord Guan is quite right. In my humble opinion, Lord Guan seems to be unwell. Perhaps you should rest for a while   ? What does Your Majesty think?" It was Feng Ning'an who spoke. Before he finished speaking, Guan Yunxuan laughed and said   , "I knew something interesting would happen today. Very well, you, a tyrannical ruler who murdered your father and brother, committed adultery with your mother and sister-in-law,   it's already a miracle you've tolerated me until today! Today, I will cleanse the family of the late Emperor and seek justice for the people!"   The Emperor's face changed color. He raised his hand, and eight guards rushed out from behind the curtains on both sides, blocking the Emperor's path!   Guan Yunxuan took out a yellow scroll from his robes and held it high: "Gentlemen, this is the late Emperor's edict! Hear my decree!" "   Guan Yunxuan forged the edict! His crime is unforgivable! Guards, seize him!" The Emperor was terrified, but   no one dared to move! "The late Emperor's edict: The Sixth Prince Teng has deceived the Emperor and harbors treacherous intentions. For the sake of the realm,   I will not pursue the matter further. However, if he continues his rebellious actions, Marquis Guan Yunxuan is hereby appointed to restore order!   All officials of this court who see this edict must act in accordance with the decree. Any disobedience will be punished as treason! So be it! Winter of the sixth year of Baohua!" "Do you think   the late Emperor couldn't see through your actions?   He tolerated you only for the sake of the realm's safety, to avoid the instability of imperial power and the suffering of the people. Yet you have acted rebelliously, plotting against loyal ministers! Do you think I won't appear in court today   ? Let me tell you, those assassins you sent are outside the palace. Can a bunch of eunuch dogs cause trouble?"   The Emperor was surrounded by numerous guards, among whom the Palace Gate Guard was mainly composed of eunuchs, specializing in spying for the Emperor   , assassinating important figures who couldn't be directly dealt with—a group of henchmen who only obeyed the Emperor's orders!   Unexpectedly, the emperor actually sent assassins to kill Guan Yunxuan. Now, the ministers no longer doubted   the authenticity of the edict in Guan Yunxuan's possession. However, the emperor was greatly shocked and angrily said, "Nonsense! When did I send assassins?" He then   looked at Feng Ning'an, who was also taken aback and said, "Lord Guan, you misunderstand. His Majesty has not issued any edict.   How could this humble official dare to disrespect you?" "Bring them in!" Guan Yunxuan shouted. Several tall guards carried four   tightly bound men into the hall and threw them onto the steps. Without waiting for orders, they grabbed at the groins of the four men.





















































With a ripping sound, trousers were torn, revealing that they were all eunuchs! Releasing one man's mouth, the man
immediately shouted, "Guan Yunxuan, we are acting under imperial orders! Do you dare disobey?" "You bastard!" Before the emperor's curse had even
finished, Feng Ning'an waved his hand, and four silver beams shot towards the four men, striking their throats and hearts almost simultaneously,
killing them all instantly! The emperor breathed a sigh of relief, but then realized something was wrong and glared angrily at Feng Ning'an, who also
regretted his actions!
Suddenly, Feng Ning'an shouted, "Guan Yunxuan has rebelled!" At the same time, he drew a soft sword from his waist and thrust it straight
at Guan Yunxuan. Guan Yunxuan was clearly prepared; his left middle finger bent and hooked onto his thumb, flicking the sword's spine.
With a "clang," the blade was deflected, and Feng Ning'an felt a powerful force, almost losing his grip! Just as he regained his hold,
Guan Yunxuan drew a bamboo-jointed steel whip from behind and struck! "Kill Guan Yunxuan!" the emperor commanded.
The eight guards before him simultaneously charged forward. Suddenly, seven or eight generals leaped out, roaring, "A tyrannical emperor deserves
to be killed!" These were Guan Yunxuan's former disciples and followers, drawing concealed weapons and engaging the guards in fierce combat!
At the same time, outside the palace, a cacophony of battle cries erupted. Within the Imperial Guard, those who followed Guan Yunxuan in carrying out his will and
those who obeyed the emperor were locked in a bloody struggle. The entire imperial city was in chaos!
Ming Chen Shun couldn't believe that his move, intended only to win Guan Yunxuan's complete allegiance, had
such an effect. Overjoyed, he prepared to seize the opportunity to kill the emperor in the chaos, when suddenly a cold wind swept from behind! He deflected
the attack with a backhand strike, turning to see that the attacker was none other than Tie Shou Wu Jianghai! Lu Tao and Feng Guanghe
stood beside him! "Very well, since you're so devoted to this tyrant, I'll send you on your way!" The wise minister Shun
stepped forward and engaged the three in battle! Chaos erupted in the hall; civil officials scattered, dodging and weaving, while military officers
seized the opportunity to settle personal scores, engaging in a brawl! Guan Yunxuan and Feng Ning'an were locked in a fierce battle, Guan Yunxuan initially holding the upper hand .
However, just as Feng Ning'an was about to be overwhelmed, two old eunuchs from the emperor's side joined the fray. Both were no less skilled than Feng Ning'an, and Guan Yunxuan
, now fighting three against one, was at a disadvantage. But his innate ferocity and years of battlefield experience gave him a killing intent far superior to that of
the eunuchs who resorted to underhanded tactics and assassinations. Therefore, for a time, neither side could gain the upper hand!
"Second Master, be careful!" Ming Chenshun's voice, imbued with inner strength, pierced through the noisy hall.
Guan Yunxuan was startled, a chill running down his spine. He lashed out with his whip, repelling the attacker, and roared in anger, "Xiao Rongge, you bastard!
Back then, you said the tyrannical emperor wanted to kill you and Zhang Yang to silence them, and I spared your life. Today, you actually…"
"Lord Guan, the emperor foresaw your disloyalty back then. I've endured for years by your side, waiting for
this day! Hahahaha…" Before Xiao Rongge could finish his laugh, a chill ran through his chest as a long sword pierced
his heart from behind! "You bastard, I've been waiting for this day too!" It was another of Guan Yunxuan's subordinates, Wu
Yuantong!
Seeing his opportunity, Ming Chenshun shouted, drawing everyone's attention. He first clashed head-on with Lu Tao,
causing Lu Tao to cough up blood and fall to the ground. Then, he struck Wu Jianghai's acupoint with a finger, the force of which was insidious and directly crippled his meridians!
Then, he kicked Feng Guanghe to the ground! Using the momentum, he leaped to Guan Yunxuan's side, helping him up, and
said to the emperor, "You tyrant! I've devoted myself to you, and you want to discard me after you've served your purpose? Dream on! Your patricide and incestuous acts will surely be
punished by heaven!"
He then lifted Guan Yunxuan up, saying, "Go! Who dares to block our way!" With Guan Yunxuan injured, he had become the undisputed leader
!
Seeing Lu Tao and the other two who had fought him lying motionless on the ground, their fates unknown, who
would dare to approach?
They were allowed to leave the hall!
Outside the hall, corpses littered the ground, all of them Imperial Guards dressed identically! Seeing them retreat, some Imperial Guards
followed suit, while others who had originally followed Guan Yunxuan laid down their weapons…
By the time they left the capital, it was already dark. Ming Chenshun said to Wu Yuantong and the others, “Let’s escort Second
Master home first! I guessed the Emperor would be hostile to me, so I’ve already made arrangements. Let’s go!” No one objected.
The Imperial Guards outside the capital surged forward. Seeing that Ming Chenshun seemed unconcerned, the others followed. Just as the Imperial Guards
surrounded them, a strong wind arose, dark clouds gathered, and a flash of lightning tore open the dark sky.
Countless soldiers, their bodies and faces blackened like charcoal, wielding sharp blades, charged down! "Ghost soldiers! Ghost soldiers!"
someone in the Imperial Guard cried out in alarm. Ming Chenshun grinned maliciously, "These are my ghost soldiers! Today, we'll let this tyrant taste the bitterness of death
!"
Thousands of ghost soldiers charged forward, and the Imperial Guards fought back valiantly. But facing these invulnerable ghost soldiers who seemed to know nothing of death, the Imperial Guards, despite
their large numbers, were no match for them. They were gradually suppressed by the ghost soldiers and pushed back towards the Imperial City!
"Chenshun, you really have ghost soldiers?" Guan Yunxuan was clearly incredulous at what he was seeing, yet it was undeniably real
, right before his eyes! Ming Chenshun nodded, "Not only are there ghost soldiers, but also ghost generals!" Following
the direction he pointed, Guan Yunxuan recognized several ghost soldiers leading the charge as Wugou, Wuchen, and other
fallen members of the Kongtong and Zhongnan sects! "Second Master, the Emperor was indeed wrong. I'm not being
ruthless towards the various factions; I'm wiping them out, and the Emperor himself!" Ming Chenshun's words
stunned Guan Yunxuan and the other generals present. He, however, remained unperturbed and continued, "I am the successor of the Xiulong Sect. That turtle Ming Kecheng
is merely my adopted son. I've already taken his mother and wife, and your second mistress is also mine.
Do you understand?" "How dare you!" Guan Yunxuan roared in fury, but before he could finish speaking, he was speechless as
Ming Chenshun's handprint landed on his chest! The generals were stunned by this turn of events. Ming Chenshun said, "You can become my ghost generals and fight for me! Hahahaha..." With a wild laugh, he casually formed a magic knot,   forcibly taking away the souls
of the generals !   The imperial city, the capital, was a scene of utter devastation. The ghost soldiers, the Imperial Guards, and other troops protecting the capital roared with battle cries!   In terms of numbers, the ghost soldiers numbered at most ten or twenty thousand, while the Imperial Guards alone numbered forty thousand, and the Imperial Household Department alone numbered two hundred thousand!   With the assistance of several other armies, it should have been a one-sided battle. However, faced with the lifeless, pitch-black   ghost soldiers, most of the Imperial Guards and other troops, who usually only intimidated civilians and were merely putting on a show, were terrified. When they saw swords and   blades striking the ghost soldiers, they often couldn't even scratch them. Even after repeated attacks, those that were effective only managed to cut off arms.






Legs, those ghost soldiers still didn't know what death was, charging forward bravely, and many even turned to flee for their lives! Lang
Jie, Luo Ming, and the other three had already arrived beside Ming Chenshun. Seeing the one-sided scene, Kong Yue said, "Hahaha,
this dog emperor, he always flaunts his power and thinks he's so great, daring to make the master kneel before him. After we take
the imperial city, I'll use his head as a snack! Hahahaha..." "Hmph, that's right, and those
dog officials who oppose the master, we'll slice off pieces of their flesh and eat them, let's see who dares not to learn their lesson! Hahahaha...
" Lang Jie laughed wildly, and Luo Ming and Xu Feng echoed him. Ming Chenshun himself seemed to feel that he was about
to be crowned emperor, and he became smug...
"After I accomplish my great task, you will all be founding heroes, granted land and fiefdoms, and you will be rewarded!" As soon as he
finished speaking, his expression changed, and suddenly, a golden light descended from the dark sky, landing directly
above the imperial palace! The golden pillar of light gradually expanded, and the expansion rate increased rapidly... The golden light appeared incredibly peaceful and
dignified, yet it inspired awe. Even the ghost soldiers, who had been dazed and confused, only knowing how to charge into battle, were affected,
their movements becoming sluggish! Ming Chenshun's heart skipped a beat, "Not good! Quick, recall the ghost soldiers, retreat! Hurry!"
Xu Feng and the others, caught up in the excitement, didn't understand his sudden change, but dared not disobey. They hurriedly waved their command
flags, recalling the ghost soldiers. Seeing the golden light approaching, Ming Chenshun could wait no longer. He shouted, "Rise!"
He pulled a golden command flag from his robes and threw it into the sky. The flag instantly grew to the size of a house, meeting
the golden light head-on! "Boom... Rumble..." The collision was head-on, the expansion of the golden light was suppressed, and it stalemated with the command flag.
The golden light could no longer expand, and the command flag could no longer advance! The sound of the collision wasn't loud, but it was continuous
, like rolling thunder, chilling to the bone!
Ming Chenshun exerted all his strength, urging the command flag on, his forehead beaded with sweat as if he were struggling greatly! "Retreat!" With
a roar, golden light suddenly surged, and the command flag also emitted a dazzling light before scattering in all directions
with a deafening "Boom!" The golden light could no longer resist and dispersed, instantly clearing the sky. Wherever
the golden light reached, the ghost soldiers who had not been captured instantly turned to dust!
"Amitabha!" A Buddhist chant rang out, and a group of monks in kasaya robes descended from the sky, eighteen in total!
"Who do we have here? It's the Eighteen Arhats of Shaolin! The Seven Heroes of Wudang must be here too?" "Amitabha!"
Sure enough, seven Taoist priests dressed in robes, some carrying whisks and others swords, also floated down! "Good! I didn't expect
Shaolin and Wudang to come looking for trouble with me together! Very good, very good, rare indeed!" Ming Chenshun's face was pale. Just now, in order to
preserve more ghost soldiers, he activated the command flag to resist the golden light, and the damage was really not light! But there was only arrogance in his eyes, and no
fear whatsoever! "Good, good! Benefactor Ming, you are an official of the court, yet you deceive the emperor with your imperial decree, slaughter your fellow martial artists, and
your methods are cruel! Moreover, there are news from the Emei Sect and Putuo Temple that you also disregard human life, rape and plunder, which is really too much...
" The leading monk had white hair and beard, especially his eyebrows, which hung down to be three or four inches long, and his appearance was very solemn
!
"Hmph! I heard that you also raped many women in the martial arts world, and used evil magic to refine the souls of the martial artists you harmed into
ghost soldiers, is that so?" The Taoist who asked the question also had a sage-like appearance, with white hair and a youthful face, and he was obviously a Taoist master
!
Ming Chenshun laughed unrestrainedly, "Judging from your appearance, you two must be the Pure Monk and the Cangsong Taoist! I trained
them into Yin to atone for my past sins, how could they be ghost soldiers?" Ming Chenshun said, "Very well, today I will meet
the masters of Shaolin and Wudang!"
Before he finished speaking, Ming Chenshun's figure blurred, like a black dragon, and pounced on the crowd. The eighteen Shaolin Arhats and
the seven heroes of Wudang did not dare to be negligent and lined up to meet him! But Ming Chenshun only made a show of charging, and then he did a somersault and leaped
onto the clouds, and said with a wicked smile, "Shaolin bald monks and Wudang scum, listen up! Bing Yuxin of Putuo Temple is already
my Guanyin Consort. If you dare to trespass on Putuo Temple again, don't say I will wipe out your entire family!"
With that, he rode away on the clouds. It was too late to chase after him, and they could only watch him leave.
"This demon's harm is even greater than that of the Cultivation Dragon Sect; he must be eliminated as soon as possible!" Cangsong sighed. "That
golden command flag he just displayed seemed to possess Buddhist true power. Could it really be as he said, that Sect Leader Bingyuxin…?" "Alas
… perhaps this demon is just spouting nonsense!" Abbot Zhichun said. "But he is indeed a scourge! But
where can we find him? His whereabouts seem never to have been exposed!" "Hmph, with the combined power of the martial world, I refuse to believe we can't find
his lair! He has many ghost soldiers; even if he can mobilize them at will using the Great Transport Technique, he still needs a place to store them
!" Cangsong was full of confidence, but Zhichun… Relatively composed, he pondered, "He keeps saying they are ghost soldiers. Could it be that they are
truly ghost soldiers obtained from the underworld through a method of exchanging souls for soldiers? So, they don't need much space to hide them?"
Cangsong immediately shook his head at his statement, saying, "Ghost soldiers can harm people, but their main function is to directly capture souls
. His ghost soldiers kill people directly; how can they be ghost soldiers?"
Zhichun nodded, and Cangsong continued, "Let's go see the Emperor! Let the court intervene; that will make things much easier
!"
(Total 13,900 words .
First published on Xingba, simultaneously published on two sites. Accessing via
VPN was too difficult; the problem was just solved.)

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