Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 264 A forced abdication and usurpation, unprecedented in history

Mind control techniques.

Yin Zhongxue learned the arts and techniques from the Tong family.

Its effects include captivating the mind and soul, rewriting memories, and even distorting common sense.

Brainwashing is just the simplest method used.

Given Yan Yimei's methods and cultivation level, as well as her mastery of magic, she certainly wouldn't have caused Wang Yuyan to become mentally deranged and suffer from a split personality simply by brainwashing her.

The reason for this is simply that time is too tight.

She was originally a carefree, love-struck young lady. She had never killed a chicken, let alone murder or usurpation. The task was to make her a qualified mission executor in the shortest amount of time.

Simply brainwashing is not enough.

The quickest way is to unleash its dark side.

With Yan Yimei's cultivation level above the terrestrial celestial realm, creating an effect similar to mental confusion, temporarily abandoning the seven emotions, and becoming like a task machine without feelings, would be extremely simple.

This is why Wang Yuyan sometimes acts coquettishly, sometimes coldly, sometimes gently, and sometimes ruthlessly in front of Li Qiushui.

In a single day, the Western Xia imperial palace underwent dramatic changes.

No one expected that Princess Li Qinglu of Yinchuan, who had always been gentle and virtuous, would launch a coup and lead the Western Xia First-Class Hall and the Western Xia Imperial Guard, which she had somehow come to control, to surround the palace.

By the time Emperor Li Liangzuo of Western Xia realized what was happening, it was already too late.

"Why? Qinglu, why did you do this?" Emperor Li Liangzuo of Western Xia's eyes were filled with sorrow. He knew he had been extremely good to this daughter, to the point of granting her almost everything she asked.

But what he received in return was betrayal from his own daughter.

Wang Yuyan sat upright on the dragon throne and said calmly:

"Father, you are old."

"The future is uncertain. The Ming, Yuan, and Song dynasties are vying for power, and the Liao dynasty is eyeing us covetously. You cannot control the situation. Only I can lead Western Xia to a more glorious future."

Upon hearing this, Li Liangzuo almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

The next moment, Wang Yuyan parted her cherry lips slightly and said calmly, "Emperor Li Liangzuo of Western Xia, who was appointed emperor by the mandate of heaven, has accomplished nothing for many years. Several years ago, during the war between the Mongols and Liao and the Ming Dynasty, he suddenly turned against us, putting Western Xia in danger. How can he still respect the ancestral temple? I, Li Qinglu, request that my father, Emperor Li Liangzuo, abdicate and become the Retired Emperor, move to Luoxia Palace, and let me inherit the country and the throne."

"My beloved ministers, who agrees and who disagrees?"

When Wang Yuyan's gaze swept over them, the courtiers of the Western Xia palace instantly erupted in uproar.

"His Majesty abdicates and becomes the Retired Emperor, and the Princess succeeds him as Empress?"

"Am I not awake yet?"

"A woman ruling as empress is unprecedented in history!"

"This old minister disagrees. A hen crowing at dawn is unprecedented. If we were to allow a princess to ascend the throne and rule over all the land, the world would laugh at our Western Xia for having no men!"

"Yes, not to mention that the princess's coup and attempt to seize power were extremely unfilial. Doesn't she fear the wrath of both gods and men?"

"I disagree. There has never been a precedent for a woman to become emperor. If this precedent is set, my Western Xia will be infamous for ten thousand years. Besides, my Li royal family is not all useless. At worst, we can follow the example of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty and Zhu Di to purge the court of corrupt officials."

"Shh, keep your voice down, do you want your head?"

"What are you afraid of? I am a first-rank military marquis. Do you think he would dare to chop off my head?"

The court was in an uproar, with officials discussing the matter and shouting incessantly.

His dissatisfaction with Wang Yuyan was even more evident in his words.

More than half of the officials of Western Xia expressed strong resistance to Li Qinglu's ascension to the throne, and some were even considering contacting other members of the Western Xia Li imperial family and mobilizing troops from all over the country to defend the emperor and eliminate traitors as soon as court ended. Hearing the officials' discussions and condemnations, Wang Yuyan sneered, her aura suddenly changing: "As the saying goes, the ability to govern the people is the will of Heaven, and the ability to bring peace to the world is the will of the people. My father has no sons, and I, as a princess, cannot inherit the ancestral temple. A woman becoming emperor is unprecedented in history. Can't I, Li Qinglu, set a precedent?"

"Since ancient times, the emperor has always been the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses."

"Now, I have reached the realm of a terrestrial immortal in my prime, with ten grandmasters of celestial phenomena under my command, a terrestrial immortal assisting me, the Imperial Guard and the First-Rank Hall, and the support of my grandmother."

"What, you're not fit to sit on this throne?"

As Wang Yuyan finished speaking, her true intentions were revealed, her murderous intent blatantly proclaiming to everyone that if anyone objected, they could try and see if the blade in her hand was sharp enough.

The officials of Western Xia, all civil and military officials, remained silent.

Although there was no precedent in history for a woman to become emperor, they could use this as a reason to oppose it.

Upon hearing what Wang Yuyan had just uttered, a very strange thought suddenly popped into their minds: it might not be so bad for their own princess to ascend to the throne!
The Western Xia in the world of martial arts had been weak for a century, surrounded by enemies on all sides, and could only eke out a living under the triple attack of the Ming, Mongol Yuan, and Song dynasties. All its people lived in constant fear.

They feared that one day they would open their eyes to find that the Ming or Mongol Yuan dynasties had already breached the country's doors and invaded the capital.

Throughout history, the rulers of the Western Xia Dynasty had to maintain good relations with both the Ming and Song Dynasties to restrain the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, yet they dared not offend the Mongol Yuan too much, fearing that annihilation might come at any moment. They always tried to survive in the cracks.

However, if their emperor were a terrestrial immortal, and they had another terrestrial immortal to assist them, along with ten Grandmasters of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, it's hard to say whether they could challenge the Mongol Yuan and the Ming Dynasty.

It doesn't seem impossible to attack the Song Dynasty to the north or have a showdown with the Liao Dynasty!
At least, we no longer have to worry about threats from the Song Dynasty, the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness, is what you just said true? Have you truly reached the realm of a terrestrial immortal?" an old minister from Western Xia asked tremblingly, his eyes filled with hope.

In the prime of their youth, they had already ascended to the realm of celestial beings on earth.

As long as their princess Li Qinglu doesn't cause trouble after ascending the throne and leads Western Xia to prosperity, there is indeed hope.

Youth is an asset.

A twenty-year-old terrestrial immortal, especially one who cultivated from a woman's body, is far more extraordinary than the renowned terrestrial immortals of the Mongol Yuan, Song, and Liao dynasties.

Second only to the Prince Su of the Ming Dynasty next door, who is said to have become a land-based sword immortal at the age of sixteen.

If 'Li Qinglu' wasn't lying, then her ascension to the throne wouldn't be so hard to accept.

"Of course!" Wang Yuyan revealed a proud look. With a casual gesture, the rolling energy swirled, thunder rolled above the palace, and wind and rain gathered. With a flick of her finger, wind and thunder gathered, and with a thought, wind and rain came.

Such abilities are beyond the imagination of even ordinary grandmasters of astronomy.

An absolute paradise on earth.

The entire court, including the Western Xia emperor Li Liangzuo who had been forced to abdicate, and many masters from the Western Xia First-Class Hall, were stunned by Wang Yuyan's move.

The ten Celestial Guards responsible for controlling the palace also cooperated by radiating the aura of a Celestial Grandmaster.

After a moment of stunned silence, the old minister who finally spoke was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Many Western Xia military and civil officials also quickly followed suit.

He shouted, "Long live Her Majesty the Empress! Long live Her Majesty! Long live Her Majesty!"

Even those stubborn and obstinate officials who were unwilling to let a woman ascend the throne were forced to kneel down by their friends.

The empress, a terrestrial immortal, could single-handedly annihilate ten thousand imperial guards.

Add to that another terrestrial immortal and ten celestial grandmasters, and even if the entire Western Xia army were to attack, they wouldn't have a three-tenths chance of winning.

Such a person still doesn't understand the times.

They truly deserved to die.

(End of this chapter)