Daqin Zhentiansi

The Great Qin Imperial City.

Too hospital.

Several imperial physicians, dressed in medical robes and carrying medicine chests, hurried along.

"Imperial Physician Chen, hurry! His Majesty has ordered that Marquis Qingyang must be saved."

"Imperial Physician Zhao, if anything happens to Marquis Qingyang, those guys from the Zhen Tian Division will tear down the Imperial Hospital."

"The wound from the battle demon, Physician Hu, this time we're afraid we'll have to use our true skills."

Chaotic footsteps and figures came and went, guarded by hundreds of soldiers in black armor, their bodies surging with murderous aura.

Chen Wu, his armor still damp with blood, paced anxiously in front of the steps, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Not far away, Marquis Su Jing of Changning and Grand Secretary Ji Yuntang stood with their hands behind their backs.

"Who made this guy retreat under the pretense of injury?" Ji Yuntang murmured softly, looking at the tightly closed door of the side room.

"Hiring in the East China Sea can be considered a great achievement. If he wants to retire after returning and live a life of leisure as a military meritorious official with no worries about food and clothing, he can keep all the credit in his hands." Su Jing shook his head and chuckled.

With a glint in his eyes, Su Jing said calmly, "If I'm not mistaken, it was probably Tao Yulin's idea."

Having said that, he looked at the figure running towards the front yard and said softly, "Princess Yu Ruo has arrived."

Ji Yuntang nodded, turned and walked down the corridor, while Su Jing walked away slowly with his hands behind his back.

……

Too hospital.

In the wing room.

Zhang Yuan sat leaning against the bed, his face somewhat pale.

Zhao Yu, standing before him, still looked tense.

Zhang Yuan reached out and gently stroked Zhao Yu's cheek, chuckling softly, "I told you, I'm fine."

"After the success in Donghai, Young Master Tao sent me a message asking me to retire gracefully. I was already planning how to extricate myself from this situation."

Zhao Yu nodded, her expression complex.

She looked at Zhang Yuan and whispered, "You asked His Majesty to slay the demon, but you returned severely injured."

"Are you afraid that your achievements will overshadow your master?"

Two days ago, the heavens and earth roared, and endless demonic light poured down from the sky, while the power of the Great Dao of Yongtian Continent supported the light and shadow of the sky.

The collision of the rosy clouds and the magical light made everyone look up.

Then came the explosion of light and shadow beyond the sky, the rampage of demonic light, and finally a long shout: "Your Majesty, slay the demon!"

Such scenes touch the hearts of people all over the world.

Then, the Dragon-Suppressing Platform appeared, and the Emperor of Qin ascended the platform to slay the demon. With a single stroke, he pierced through heaven and earth, and the hearts of all the people were united as the demon-slaying blade.

This strike not only ignited the will of the people, but also the fighting spirit and the very foundation of the Qin Dynasty.

It turns out that the Qin Dynasty was so powerful that even the demons from the outer realms dared not approach!

The slaying of the demon in the East Sea propelled the Qin Emperor's prestige to its peak.

Cheers resounded throughout the imperial city and beyond.

Then news came that a great battle had taken place in the East China Sea, causing the heavens and earth to tremble, and that the Qin army of tens of millions had marched out of Yongtian Continent to slaughter the demons.

Marquis Qingyang was seriously injured in the battle. The court activated the teleportation array, using flying boats for protection, and three thousand black-armored soldiers accompanied him, without stopping for a moment, to return to the Imperial Hospital for treatment.

The flying ship traversed twelve prefectures, and everyone saw the streak of light passing through it.

This reflects both the Qin court's high regard for Marquis Qingyang and the severity of his injuries.

At this time, outside the Donghua Gate of the Imperial City, people had spontaneously lit longevity lamps to pray for the Marquis of Qingyang.

"Yongtian Continent has not been unified, the Nine Continents have not been restored, and the Thirty-Six Ancient Domains have not yet seen the glory of the Great Xia Dynasty again. How can I, Zhang Yuan, claim to have made great contributions that threaten the emperor?"

Zhang Yuan reached out and grasped Zhao Yu's hand, chuckling softly.

His eyes gleamed.

"I stepped down simply because I didn't want to be the Marquis of Zhenhai, and I just wanted to give more military meritors a chance."

"In the current situation, anyone with eyes can see the great power of Qin, and no one can stop the great momentum of Qin to unify the world."

"My strength alone is still insufficient; we need the efforts of everyone in the Great Qin."

Zhao Yu bit her lip and nodded gently.

It's not that she doesn't understand the general trend.

How could she not feel heartbroken seeing her own man so badly injured?

"Princess, several imperial physicians have come for a consultation, and Steward Yu Kuizhen has come to inquire about the Marquis's injuries..." A maid's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Let them wait," Zhao Yu said in a low voice.

After saying that, her gaze fell on Zhang Yuan again, and she said softly, "Are you really alright?"

Zhang Yuan reached out and pulled her in front of him, lowering his voice: "Something's wrong."

Zhao Yu trembled. Zhang Yuan pressed her hand down and said again, "Something's wrong with it."

Zhao Yu looked up and stared at Zhang Yuan.

After a moment, she let out a soft groan and obediently bent down slowly.

……

One day later.

News came from the Imperial Hospital that Marquis Qingyang was out of danger but needed to rest.

The Great Qin Imperial City.

Qianyang Palace.

The grand and imposing hall was now empty and solemn.

Emperor Yuankang stood with his hands behind his back, looking quite robust. Beside him stood Zhang Yuan, whose face was somewhat pale and who was dressed in casual clothes.

"Zhang Qingyang, do you think I am such a petty person?"

Emperor Yuankang looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke calmly.

"The merits of patrolling the East China Sea and the merits of training the armies in the four borders are yours to keep."

"Why can't I bestow upon you the title of Marquis of Donghai?"

Zhang Yuan remained calm and bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Yuan is not declining credit."

"The Great Qin does not lack one Zhang Yuan, but it lacks thousands upon thousands of people who dare to fight Zhang Yuan."

"If I don't back down, they won't dare to fight."

Emperor Yuankang narrowed his eyes, looking outside the main hall.

After a moment's hesitation, he said calmly, "What do you want?"

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I request that you grant me this marriage."

------------------

The main hall of the Zhen Tian Si and Wu Yu Si.

Inside the hall, the black armor reflected a cold light, and the chilling atmosphere had not yet dissipated.

Marquis Su Jing of Changning entered first, followed by Yu Wanjun, whose face was flushed and whose fighting spirit had not diminished, as well as several elite commanders of the Zhen Tian Division who had just returned from the East China Sea front to report their victory.

The air still seemed to carry the salty smell of the boundless sea and the smell of gunpowder.

Su Jing's gaze fell on Zhang Yuan, who was sitting upright on the dark iron dragon throne, and he went straight to the point: "Marquis Qingyang, you patrolled the East Sea, slaughtered demons and returned to the ruins, held up the monument with three maces, and locked the Demon Lord with your strength. This is a feat that can support the heavens!"

"His Majesty's decree to confer titles has been finalized, and the granting of land to a duke is imminent."

"Among the nobles, the Duke of Cheng and His Highness Prince Linglan have both given their approval; this is what everyone hopes for. Why... do you insist on declining this title?"

Yu Wanjun said urgently, "Yes, Lord Marquis! Our brothers have followed you through thick and thin, all for the sake of establishing a glorious and powerful dynasty for you and for the Great Qin!"

"If you grant me the title of Duke, the Eastern Frontier Camp will become the strongest cornerstone of our Zhen Tian Si in the army!"

"This achievement is well-deserved; you risked your life for it!"

The commanders also stared intently, clearly finding it difficult to understand Zhang Yuan's refusal of the title of Duke. Such an honor of granting land was something others could only dream of.

Zhang Yuan raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as the ocean, calm as if the earth-shaking achievements had nothing to do with him.

He gently put down an ancient jade slip in his hand, his voice steady: "Lord Su, Wan Jun, such a feat of splitting the land is indeed immeasurable, and is worthy of being ennobled as a duke."

He stood up and walked to the huge map of Yongtianzhou hanging in the lobby.

My gaze swept across that vast land, finally settling on the boundless sea to the east.

"However, the Great Qin conquers the heavens, so why worry about its achievements? The Battle of the Boundless Sea was a great victory, and the East Sea was pacified, but that was merely sweeping away the filth in front of the door."

"Beyond the eastern border, the three kingdoms of Qi, Wei, and Zhao still stand side by side, and Chenzhou remains frozen, awaiting restoration. The overall structure of the Nine Provinces remains unchanged. Looking across the world," he paused, tapping his finger lightly, "only those who carve out territory to return to Qin can achieve the merit of obtaining the Seal of Heaven!"

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with an air of magnanimity that seemed to survey the landscape.

"The Qin Dynasty has no shortage of battles to fight, nor is it short of military achievements that can lead to titles and honors!"

"The Zhen Tian Division has already grasped the key position, and its contributions this time will certainly be significant."

"Yu Wanjun, with your demon-slaying might and military prowess, whether you remain in the East Sea or move your troops to the Eastern Territory, the foundation for your ennoblement has been laid!"

"I declined this enormous credit to tell the world—"

His eyes sharpened, as if piercing through the dome of the palace and pointing straight to the heavens:

"The glory of the Heavenly Guardians lies not in granting fiefdoms and lands to their own doorsteps, but in conquering the heavens and expanding their territories beyond the six directions!"

"What I, Zhang Yuan, seek is not merely a title of duke, but the unification of the land under Qin, the unification of the nine provinces, and the legendary feat of conquering the heavens—that is what we aspire to!"

His voice was clear and resonant, and his boundless spirit of conquering new territories and striving for the highest position left Su Jing speechless for a moment.

Yu Wanjun and the others felt their blood boil, as if they could see an even more magnificent battlefield.

Although being granted land and being enfeoffed as a duke is prestigious, it feels like being capped off right now.

The feat of conquering the heavens is truly soaring straight into the clouds!
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall, and the calm yet smiling voice of Duke Cheng, Lu Jun, rang out:
"Excellent! What a magnificent achievement of conquering the heavens! This is exactly what I seek!"

Lu Jun, dressed in casual clothes, walked in slowly, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and emotion as he looked at Zhang Yuan.

"I knew you were no ordinary person back then. Hearing this today, I realize your spirit is even greater than before!"

"To reclaim territory from Qin—that is the true, unparalleled achievement!"

"This title carries more than ten times the weight of a dukedom earned for defending the land! The younger generation is truly formidable!"

He patted Yu Wanjun's shoulder forcefully, "Wanjun, do your best to assist your lord. The feat of conquering the heavens... that will be the new peak that Marquis Qingyang has erected for our generation of martial achievements!"

Lu Jun's words undoubtedly provided the highest level of explanation for Zhang Yuan's choice, and completely dispelled the last remaining doubts in Su Jing and the others' minds.

Zhang Yuan bowed respectfully to Lu Jun: "Your Excellency is too kind."

At this moment, a steward from the Heavenly Guardian Bureau strode in and respectfully presented a jade talisman sealed in a jade box, radiating a mysterious starlight fluctuation.

"My lord, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, Yunmiao, has sent twelve trial mission slips, stating that Your lord's promotion this time is to be selected for the path of conquering the heavens. The Director specifically stated that His Majesty has granted you permission to choose one to fulfill the mandate of heaven."

The jade box was opened, and twelve illusory images of fortune slips, each shimmering with a different luster, floated out.

Some were warriors on the battlefield, others were strategists in command; each shone with its own unique brilliance, yet all possessed a grand aura.

Zhang Yuan's gaze swept across the area with lightning speed, finally settling on a jade slip that exuded a mysterious aura, seemed to contain the flow of the nation's destiny, and had a subtle blood-red light swirling around its edges.

Below it, a projection of seal script appears:
Established its capital in the Eastern Qi Dynasty.

Mission: Escort the third prince of Qi, Jiang Zhengcheng, back to the country to seize the throne and eliminate any obstacles to his ascension.

This helped stabilize the situation in the State of Qi, leading to the grand ceremony of relinquishing the state's title, adopting the title of Duke Cheng of Qi, and returning the territory to Qin.

The Heavenly Dao certified that the Qi State's national fortune seal had transformed into the Yongtian Continent's mark, and the Great Qin's fortune, represented by a golden dragon, had taken root in Linzi.

The goal of the trial is to unify the Eastern Qi, change the ancestral temples, and establish dukes and marquises among the landowners.

The oracle's powerful aura carries an indescribable sense of ruthlessness and political intrigue, surpassing even the grand strategic missions of "opening up the Azure Sky Domain" and "the blood alliance to end war" in its essence, directly targeting the core of a nation.

Su Jing, Lu Jun, and the others all stared intently upon seeing the contents of the divination slip.

The mission's clear objectives, extreme difficulty, and profound significance far exceed those of ordinary missions!
“So that’s how it is…” Yu Wanjun murmured, finally understanding why Zhang Yuan didn’t cling to the title of Duke of Donghai.

Escort a prince back to the country to seize the throne, overthrow the regime of a great power, and carry out the unprecedented act of dividing the land and returning it to Qin!
Every step of this is like walking a tightrope over a bottomless abyss!
Once successful, it would be an achievement that would reshape the world!
Zhang Yuan's expression remained unchanged. His fingers, as firm as iron pincers, touched the "Sign of the Return of Qin to the Land" wrapped in blood-red light, producing a crisp sound like gold and jade clashing together!

"I accept this fortune slip."

The jade token transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into his palm.

"Jiang Zhengcheng is already lying in wait at the post station, his mind made up. He is willing to relinquish the title of state after seizing the throne, and become a subject of the State of Qi, following the lead of our Great Qin!"

He glanced at the crowd. "This matter involves the fate of two nations, and there are undercurrents and hidden dangers everywhere. I'm going to the Imperial Observatory to prepare the 'tokens' needed for the trial. As for the follow-up matters here, proceed as planned."

Having said that, he didn't linger any longer, turned around and strode out, his black cloak billowing up in a gust of wind.

His back was straight as a javelin, carrying a resolute and composed air about to plunge alone into the dragon's den and tiger's lair of Dong Qi.

The lobby was completely silent.

Only the spatial ripples caused by the "Sign of the Land to be Returned to Qin" have not yet completely subsided, as if foreshadowing a raging storm about to sweep across the land of Eastern Qi.

……

Two days later, the Eastern Border sent over the Dinghai Halberd.

This ancient treasure used by King Yu to suppress the sea shone with a thousand feet of golden light outside the imperial city. Its mysterious and profound patterns were so striking that one could not look directly at it.

Emperor Yuankang stood before the Qianyang Hall, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials standing solemnly in the square, finally settling on Zhang Yuan:
"Zhang Qingyang, since you have presented the Dinghai Halberd as your betrothal gift, I hereby bestow upon you the title of Marquis of Zhenhai."

"Now, Princess Yu Ruo is hereby granted the title of Princess Zhenhai and is betrothed to Marquis Zhang Yuan of Qingyang."

The assembled officials below held their breath, but Zhang Yuan knelt down, lifting his robe, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great favor, but the achievements of the East Sea were won by the soldiers of the three armies through bloodshed, and I dare not claim the honor for myself. The title of Marquis of Zhenhai should be left to the soldiers of the East Sea."

A glint of light flashed in Emperor Yuankang's eyes, then he suddenly burst into loud laughter: "What a fine way to say 'not daring to claim glory alone'! If that's the case—"

"Zhang Yuan, Marquis of Qingyang of Jin, is appointed as the War Marquis of Zhenguo, and concurrently serves as the Military Inspector of the Three Southern Continents. He is bestowed with golden scale armor and a mountain and river pendant to recognize his meritorious service in vanquishing demons and protecting the country!"

The eunuch presented the imperial edict and announced: "The marriage ceremony for Princess Zhenhai shall follow the regulations for the legitimate daughters of princes. She shall be granted one hundred bushels of pearls from the South China Sea, one thousand bolts of brocade, a jade carriage, and twelve pairs of flying phoenixes from the heavens. In addition, three imperial estates shall be designated as the princess's bathing grounds!"

The Dinghai Halberd hummed and trembled, its golden tip piercing the sky.

Zhang Yuan looked up at the palace gate, where ten thousand longevity lamps lit up one after another outside the Donghua Gate, making the night sky of the imperial city seem like daytime.

Originally, the emperor wanted to arrange for Zhang Yuan to get married soon, but Zhang Yuan postponed the wedding on the grounds that the eastern border was not yet pacified and that his comrades-in-arms from the Great Qin army had not yet returned.

However, while the wedding of Marquis Qingyang Zhang Yuan was postponed, the wedding of another princess was scheduled.

On the third day of the third month of the twenty-fifth year of Yuankang, Prince Jiang Zhengcheng of Qi married Ying Biqin, the daughter of King Fengjue.

The emperor bestowed upon Ying Biqin the title of Princess Yunqin.

She was neither Princess Zhiruo, whom Jiang Zhengcheng admired, nor Princess Bichi, the daughter of Prince Gu, who was strongly recommended by the court officials.

Three days after their wedding, a troop of soldiers escorted Jiang Zhengcheng and Princess Yunqin back to the State of Qi.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Zhengcheng, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, and Zhang Yuan, dressed in a black military robe, sat facing each other.

"I am deeply grateful to have been able to return to my country with the protection of Marquis Qingyang..." Jiang Zhengcheng looked up, his face full of emotion.

"Duke Qi Cheng, there's no need for gratitude," Zhang Yuan said calmly. "I'm going there to help you reclaim everything you've lost."

"As long as you remember the name of the country and the title of Duke of Chengguo, that will be enough."

……

Tianyuan Pavilion, the capital of the Qi Kingdom.

When the Shadow Pavilion Master presented the secret letter, Jiang Yuanliang was gazing out the window at the continuous rain with his hands behind his back.

The moment the letter was unfolded, the sinister look in his eyes almost materialized.

“Jiang Zhengcheng…” he murmured the name, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the dragon-patterned thumb ring.

The icy touch couldn't suppress the surging anger in his heart.

"How dare they bring back the Qin princess to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple? What a show of power! This is clearly an attempt to use their influence to suppress me! To proclaim to the world that they have obtained the rightful claim to the throne!"

An elderly minister in a purple robe bowed cautiously and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Princess of Qin is accompanying us, and it is only proper etiquette to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple..."

“To forcibly stop it now would probably give others grounds for criticism, and would instead make…” He paused, his voice lowering even further, “make His Majesty appear… guilty.”

Jiang Yuanliang suddenly turned around, his gaze sweeping across the old minister's face like a blade. The latter shrank back in fright, falling silent as if trembling in fear.

After a few breaths of deathly silence, Jiang Yuanliang's rage seemed to be forcibly suppressed, turning into a cold laugh, like the hiss of a venomous snake.

"Ha... propriety? What a convenient excuse." The coldness in his eyes almost overflowed. "My guilty conscience? Why should I explain my empire to a mere child!"

He abruptly turned, no longer looking at the terrified old minister, and shouted towards the dark corner of the hall: "Shadow! Send a message to Eastern Wei! Tell Yuwen Tuo that Jiang Zhengcheng's carriage, personally escorted by that evil star—Marquis Qingyang Zhang Yuan! Has passed Luoxia Pass! Tell him..." (End of this chapter)