Peace Order-Chapter 1586 - 26: Bestowal of Title!

The civil and military officials are not present; only the Ritual Office eunuch remains nearby.

"Nan Hanwen, here to request funds, huh... Ten million taels of silver, you say, how much of it will actually end up in his hands?"

The Ritual Office eunuch remained silent and said, "This servant doesn’t dare to say."

Chen Dingye said indifferently, "You don’t dare to say?"

"I guess less than thirty percent."

"And whether this thirty percent is enough to corrupt Li Guanyi."

"I feel there’s only a thirty percent chance, frankly, it seems somewhat futile."

The Ritual Office eunuch’s face turned pale, unsure how to respond to the king’s question. Chen Dingye casually put down the scroll, resting his hand on his knee, and said, "However, one wonders what Nan Hanwen will do with the remaining thirty percent of silver."

The Ritual Office eunuch suddenly understood something and said:

"Your Majesty, was it intentional?"

Chen Dingye closed his eyes and said, "Intentional? No, it was not intentional. I did hope to defeat Li Guanyi. Lu Youxian set an example for me, the fall of Great Chen cannot be so plain and uneventful."

"It’s just, I also know, it’s unwinnable."

"The tide is gone, it’s unwinnable."

Chen Dingye voiced it himself—it’s unwinnable—but his eyes still showed indifference and arrogance: "But, if it’s unwinnable, should one just concede? It’s not that simple reasoning, like the king of Tuyuhun indulging in desire or the Dangxiang king going mad like death."

"How laughable indeed."

"As the emperor of the Central Plains, I must have the death of a Central Plains emperor."

"Great Chen once had its dominance."

"If an overlord, then how can its ending not be spectacular."

"Even if collapsing, it must bite off the arm of the world, furthermore..."

Chen Dingye extended his hand.

His hand was overly pale and slender, seeming to grasp the empty hall ahead, the Ritual Office eunuch suddenly felt a chill, he lifted his head in panic, as the sunlight of sunset fell, the emperor seemed to transform.

His shadow stretched backwards, twisted and grotesque, coiling and swaying.

Like some hideous poisonous dragon.

Chen Dingye murmured softly:

"A hundred-year dynasty, a thousand-year noble clan."

"These Great Chen noble houses, ministers, eating the flesh of Great Chen, as Great Chen topples, should they clean their hands, wipe their mouths, and move on to another era, to become those exalted officials?"

The Ritual Office eunuch looked at the seated king, at those clear cold eyes, and a mocking smile on the lips, suddenly felt a freezing chill.

It was intentional.

Intentionally placing the upright Nan Hanwen, giving him hope, and then crushing this hope with Chen Country’s decay, trampling it into the mire, letting money that should have gone to Prince Qin be swallowed by all ranks of civil and military officials in Great Chen.

They devoured like beasts or parasitic worms, consuming the flesh of Great Chen.

Eat, eat, eat!

Eating until their bellies swelled, eyes widened, bursting with blood.

Such people are the so-called gluttons, even if their own bodies are devoured by themselves, even if they die from insatiable hunger, they will not stop their actions, they will continue to eat.

Only these officials indulging in feast.

Unaware that Great Chen has long turned into a poisonous dragon.

Light and shadow shook, Chen Dingye’s white hair fell, carrying a hint of a cold smile.

Seemingly saying ————

Those beasts poisoned by the flesh of Great Chen, may they vanish completely in the midst of that grand warfare along with Great Chen!

Great Chen’s fall, I too should meet my doom.

But the loyal officials, why should they not accompany in burial?!

With majesty and disdain, yet hideous poisonous dragon.

Those stuffed officials, with their oily mouths, their deeds all under Chen Dingye’s watch.

The Ritual Office eunuch’s lips trembled.

He felt the emperor before him filled with hostility, yet it is the hostility belonging to a monarch.

Suddenly uttered words of utmost rebellion:

"Your Majesty, also the hope for future peace in the world."

"Wouldn’t want these people to survive?"

Chen Dingye’s gaze dropped down.

The Ritual Office eunuch bowed, body stiff and trembling.

For a long, long time.

Only heard the king indifferently reply: "What a laughable question indeed."

Chen Dingye stood up, stepped out of the palace, his sleeves trailing on the ground, and he said coldly, "I am destined to have my own ending. Since Great Chen can no longer aspire for the world, it must fight bravely to its demise."

"Respected officials, families of civil and martial significance."

"They should, die for the country!"

"If they do not, I will help them."

...

The Ritual Office eunuch kept his head down, not knowing how much time had passed, only feeling the chilling wind outside the hall, finally lifting his head stiffly after a long daze.

Your Majesty has truly changed...

Such depth of thought, such indifference.

The Ritual Office eunuch heard laughter from outside, it was Chen Tianyi the Crown Prince, he slowly walked out, observing the emperor stop his steps to accompany Chen Tianyi in play, that child was still young, not yet speaking fluently.

Everyone else was terrified of this tyrannical and dangerous king, only this little child clung to Chen Dingye’s leg, begging the emperor to play with him, the Ritual Office eunuch watched as Chen Dingye squatted, allowing the child to sit upon his shoulders.

Chen Tianyi waved a leafless willow twig in his hand and shouted: "Giddyup!"

"Giddyup!"

"Go forward!"

All around, people were scared to death, wanting to come and take the little Crown Prince down, but Chen Dingye just brushed them aside with his sleeve, saying indifferently: "It’s only natural for a father to play with his son, you all may step back."

"Today, I will accompany Tianyi."

"Yes, yes..."

The Ritual Office eunuch saw a rare warmth in the emperor’s eyes, stood pensive for a long time, yet did not know why he thought of the gentle and quiet former Crown Prince Chen Wenmian, sighed.

Your Majesty, today’s actions, how much of it is an attempt to make up for the past?

Yet... time has passed, ultimately one cannot make up for it.

But these things, back then, you did not value.

The Xue Family, the Xue Family...

Alas.

The head of the Xue family was the Left Minister of Chen Country, his eldest daughter was the wife of the famous Ying Country general Qin Yulong, and his second daughter was the empress of Chen Country, his granddaughter was Princess Yun Meng, who had close ties with Prince Qin.

His granddaughter is also the Crown Prince of Chen Country.

Xue Daoyong, oh Xue Daoyong, what an old gambler he is.

Yet in such a turbulent world, this old gambler bets accurately at every step.

The Ritual Office eunuch sighed.

At this time, the young Princess Yun Meng, the Long Wind Tower Master was saying farewell to her aunt, the current Empress, under the protection of Princess Chen Qingyan, as she left and arrived at Guan Yi City, she encountered something different.

The cavalry galloped, the sound thunderous like a storm, with flags pointing skywards like long spears, the flags fluttered like dragons, the crimson golden hue bore ancient Red Dragon patterns.

This was the imperial cavalry of the Central State, the last courtesy.

With a chariot leading the way, the grand display enveloped the entire Xue Family, the surrounding commoners were stunned, not knowing what was happening, Chen Chengbi the elder prepared to go out and fight the people from the Central State.

"Are they here to fight?!"

Chen Qingyan stopped him, saying: "They are the Red Dragon imperial cavalry."

"The last dignity of the imperial family."

Chen Chengbi’s logic was straightforward: "Since it’s the last dignity of the Central State emperor, isn’t that even more reason to fight?"

"Afterwards, even this little foundation will be gone."

Chen Qingyan was momentarily speechless, only Xue Shuangtao said: "Elder, Aunt Qingyan, don’t argue, let’s go down and take a look."

Xue Shuangtao descended, seeing an elder there, it turned out to be the last grandmaster of the Central State imperial family, Ji Yanzhong, Xue Shuangtao saluted him, saying: "Greetings to Imperial Uncle Ji, may I ask, why have you come here?"

Ji Yanzhong held a scroll, smiling:

"It is the decree of His Majesty the Red Emperor."

The Central State emperor remains the nominal ruler of the world, still holds conferring authority with dignity, and still possesses a great flow of Qi Fortune, such a grand occasion, surging forward, Xue Shuangtao initially thought it was an imperial decree for the elder.

But Ji Yanzhong just said it was for her, then added there was no need to kneel in thanks.

Xue Shuangtao was puzzled, just stood quietly there.

Chen Chengbi and Chen Qingyan both stepped back.

Xue Shuangtao stood there somewhat bored, thinking about the intelligence of Long Wind Tower, listening to the elder reading the imperial decree, people discussing around, her expression unchanged, starting to daze and drift off.

Ji Yanzhong unfolded the imperial decree, after reading for a long time, finally reached the last sentence, saying: "... I have heard that Xue Shuangtao, granddaughter of Duke Xue, is virtuous and intelligent, wise and serene, a rarity in this world, I am very pleased with her."

"Wishing to be siblings."

"Conferred the honorific title of Central State Red Emperor’s Commandery Princess, with ceremonial dress equal to the vassal king!"