Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 403 A Series of Schemes to Escape the Cage
After Chen Ye left, Princess Hongyu did not relax at all.

She gripped the Ten Thousand Souls Banner tightly in both hands, yet felt somewhat lost.

Seeing her like this, Yang Chongguang smiled and said, "Your Highness, we are actually old acquaintances. It is fate that I was able to see you die and then come back to life. I may look frightening, but I would never harm anyone. Your Highness need not be afraid."

Princess Hongyu smiled upon hearing this. Although the commander of the ghost soldiers looked frightening, he spoke kindly.

"Thank you for your advice, General, but it's not that I'm afraid of you, but I'm afraid I don't know how to use this treasure."

Let alone using it, Princess Hongyu needed both hands to barely hold it steady.

A cultivator who hasn't undergone the Qi Refining Body technique isn't much stronger than an ordinary person; at most, they're at the level of a third-rate martial artist.

But this Ten Thousand Souls Banner was made of some unknown material, and it was so heavy that it was impossible to wave it.

Yang Chongguang asked doubtfully, "What's so difficult about that? Can't you just inject your spiritual energy into it and use it? Isn't that how you use magic weapons?"

Princess Hongyu asked in confusion, "But the Taoist priest didn't teach me how to break the seal. Aren't all magic treasures like that? Just anyone can pick them up and use them."

She thought this was a test from Chen Ye, after all, she knew what the Ten Thousand Soul Banner was and had seen this kind of magic weapon in recent days.

Yang Chongguang replied, "Haha, our Huangquan Sect's Ten Thousand Soul Banner is different. Princess, you should try it yourself."

Princess Hongyu tentatively infused the meager spiritual energy within her body into it, and immediately felt the Myriad Soul Banner in her hand "come alive." The immense pressure disappeared, and she could wave it at will.

Princess Hongyu could still sense all the Yin spirits within the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, three of whom were servants of the Soulfire Lord who had just been sent inside.

These three so-called Nascent Soul Realm cultivators were repeatedly fried in oil inside the Myriad Soul Banner, and they were almost fully cooked.

Princess Hongyu was shocked that the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had no restrictions, but she quickly understood why.

Because the Ten Thousand Souls Banner is merely a place to reside, it does not impose any restrictions on the spirits within. Princess Hongyu can use the Ten Thousand Souls Banner to convey her thoughts to the spirits inside, but whether they listen or not is up to them.

This is not the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls at all; it is merely a place where wandering spirits reside.

"That's just like the Taoist priest's style."

Princess Hongyu smiled and then asked Yang Chongguang, "The Taoist priest said I can ask you all for help, but I don't know what the general can do."

Yang Chongguang laughed and said confidently, "If the sect leader agrees, it will be easy for me to wipe out everyone in and out of the court."

Princess Hongyu shook her head and said, "If it's going to be a massacre, why would the Taoist priest need me to take action? He can just give the order to the general directly."

Yang Chongguang added, "Letting them be sick for a few days is not a problem. That way, we can replace them. The sect leader does the same thing elsewhere, just letting his deputy take over."

"The Taoist priest is indeed very knowledgeable about the rules of the court, and this is indeed the safest way to operate. However, the ministers in the court cannot operate in this way. Firstly, there are too many of them, and if they all fall ill, it will inevitably cause panic. Secondly, each of them is a person in a high position, and if there are any errors or omissions in the daily review of memorials, it may cause local unrest."

"Secondly, unless someone dies of illness, if a senior official in the court falls ill, it will only delay the daily work, rather than immediately replacing him. Even in disaster relief and suppression of rebellions, delays of ten days or half a month are common, and delays of a year or two are not impossible."

Yang Chongguang was dumbfounded and couldn't help but curse, "These officials really don't treat people like human beings. Oh, Princess, please don't be offended, I wasn't talking about you."

Princess Hongyu said nonchalantly, "I am also a person dressed in fine silks. The general is right to scold me. Any item in my palace could support a family of five. My daily expenses are more extravagant than those of an entire village. However, it has always been so. As the Taoist priest said, all beings suffer. It just depends on who is more lucky."

Yang Chongguang never expected that Princess Hongyu would say such a thing about him. It seems that this girl is indeed quite extraordinary and deserves Chen Ye's special attention.

Princess Hongyu was indeed different from ordinary nobles. Even though she was born into an imperial family, she was controlled by a demon from a young age. For Princess Hongyu, who had suffered so much, the so-called luxurious enjoyment was not as good as a moment of freedom.

She knew her background, so she never considered herself a real princess. Like ordinary people, she was someone struggling to survive. However, while ordinary people worried about food, she worried about being refined into a blood pill.

Seeing the somewhat awkward atmosphere, Yang Chongguang returned to the main topic and asked, "What ideas does the princess have?"

Princess Hongyu said, "It's not difficult. We should follow the Taoist priest's idea and make these court officials sick, and take away their power as a result. That's the first step."

"Since the princess has already made up her mind, then we will simply follow her orders. May I ask what your instructions are?"

Princess Hongyu asked, "May I ask, General, do the spirits within this Ten Thousand Souls Banner possess the ability to create illusions?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Chongguang said with a smug look on his face, "Of course, Princess, you've come to the right place. Other ghost soldiers may not know it, but the soldiers under my command have all learned some illusion techniques from the Mirage Elder of the sect. They can even be used to deal with demons, and fooling mortals is guaranteed to be no problem."

When the Yellow Springs Sect was first established, the Myriad Souls Banner still contained the soul of the Mirage Demon. Yang Chongguang took the opportunity to learn a lot from it, but he rarely had the chance to use it. Today, he could finally show off his skills.

Princess Hongyu immediately said happily, "Then I'll have to trouble you, General. This matter is of great importance, so please be sure to follow my orders..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The following morning, a startling piece of news began to circulate—His Majesty the Emperor was ill, his health deteriorated due to overwork, and he was critically ill.

For a time, people were filled with anxiety. The princes rushed around inside and outside the palace gates, and the court officials were even more worried, sending memorials to inquire about the situation.

The emperor is seriously ill; this is no small matter.

Although the crown prince was established early on, in order to balance the crown prince's power, the emperor secretly supported several other princes. This strategy of dividing the brothers and causing them to fight among themselves made his throne quite stable.

But trouble arose when the emperor suddenly fell ill.

It wasn't just the crown prince who wanted to be emperor; the other princes were also very interested in the dragon throne.

With the emperor's instigation over the years, court officials have become increasingly divided in their allegiance, and with all these factors intertwined, it's hard to say who will succeed to the throne.

Just then, Princess Hongyu, who was hailed as a "national auspicious omen," suddenly stepped forward.

She announced to the officials that she had observed the celestial phenomena at night, sensed divine intervention, and learned that there was a way to save the emperor's life.

However, a grand prayer ceremony needs to be held to use one's own auspicious energy to pray for a glimmer of hope for the emperor's survival.

No one dared to object to this auspicious princess who had repeatedly shown divine favor. Moreover, this was a golden opportunity for the officials to demonstrate their loyalty and win favor.

Thus, in just half a day, a simple yet grand prayer and sacrificial ceremony quickly began.

Incense smoke curled from the altar, and sacrificial offerings were piled everywhere. Princess Hongyu, dressed in elaborate sacrificial robes, stood in the center of the high platform, her expression solemn and dignified, chanting incantations.

She appeared to be praying, but in reality, her mind was already immersed in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

As the ritual progressed, she channeled her magic and gave orders to the assembled spirits.

Above the altar, auspicious clouds gathered, radiating golden light. Then, celestial music drifted in, and golden lotuses bloomed in mid-air, enveloping the entire area in a sacred and solemn atmosphere, leaving everyone mesmerized and captivated.

Just as everyone was bowing and worshipping, a grand and majestic voice seemed to descend from the heavens:

"The emperor's illness is a calamity for the nation's fate. Only those with unwavering loyalty who are willing to share the burden can move Heaven and avert this calamity."

After a long while, the sound faded away, the illusion disappeared, and all the ministers stood there stunned.

It was for real! Did they really hear a divine decree?

"Only those with the utmost loyalty can share his burdens"—what does this mean? Before many could react, one by one, the old ministers who supported the Crown Prince knelt down, tears streaming down their faces, and said, "It is our duty as ministers to share Your Majesty's burdens! We are willing to share Your Majesty's pain, even unto death!"

Now, the others understood as well.

Regardless of whether it's true or not, someone has already spoken out, so who would dare to pretend not to know?

With one person taking the lead, the other ministers followed suit, afraid of falling behind.

"I am willing too!"

"It is my greatest honor in life to be able to share Your Majesty's suffering!"

Shouts rose and fell, especially from the ministers who had already taken sides, who were more excited than anyone else and frantically hinted to the princes present to express their opinions immediately.

The second prince, the third prince, and the other princes were not stupid. The ministers were going to share the burden of the emperor's illness, so how could the sons back down?
The princes also knelt down, shouting slogans to show their filial piety to the emperor. The scene looked like a picture of fatherly love and filial piety, and harmony between the emperor and his subjects. Anyone who didn't know better would think that the emperor was a very good person.

Looking at the "loyal" faces below, Princess Hongyu stood on the high platform and couldn't help but smile slightly.

It's this effect.

The sudden illness of a group of ministers would naturally cause widespread panic, but if it were attributed to relieving the emperor's burdens, it would make perfect sense.

But you yourselves claim you want to share the emperor's burdens, yet there are truly gods watching from above.

Princess Hongyu spoke slowly, her clear voice resonating throughout the hall: "Your loyalty is commendable, but this matter must be done willingly and without any coercion for it to be effective. If there is even the slightest hesitation, not only will it be fruitless, but it will also bring disaster upon yourself."

She was giving them one last chance, and also using words to shut down all their escape routes.

"Princess, rest assured! We are speaking from the bottom of our hearts without the slightest falsehood!"

"If I am even slightly dishonest, may I be struck by lightning!"

The sounds of swearing oaths and vows were incessant.

As expected, no one backed down.

Anyone who dares to back down at this moment is essentially admitting they're not doing it willingly. Do they have no family left to die?
Moreover, with so many people sharing the burden of the emperor's illness, it probably wouldn't be too unbearable.

With this sense of wishful thinking, naturally no one backed down.

"it is good."

Princess Hongyu softly uttered a single word.

She lowered her eyes, her long sleeves concealing her slightly moving fingers.

With a thought, the Myriad Souls Banner hidden in her sleeve trembled slightly. In an instant, several illusory figures of Yin soldiers, invisible to the naked eye, silently emerged from the banner and passed through the crowd. As per the rules previously set by Princess Hongyu, varying amounts of Yin energy were sent into the bodies of these ministers and princes.

How could ordinary people withstand such methods? The crowd reacted almost immediately.

"Ugh..."

A high-ranking official who had just been speaking eloquently suddenly turned pale, clutched his chest, and collapsed in pain.

Then, it was as if a plague was spreading.

"My head hurts!"

"My body...my body is so cold..."

Screams, groans, and thuds of people collapsing to the ground rang out one after another. In just a few breaths, nearly a third of the high-ranking officials in the court turned pale, trembled all over, and fell ill on the spot, losing consciousness.

Several princes were also pale-faced and looked like they were about to collapse.

Of course, some people have milder symptoms, but they still feel uncomfortable all over, such as dizziness or cold sweats.

This was also Princess Hongyu's order. Ministers and princes on the list who had been infected with the Arrow of Time were all seriously ill and would have to lie in bed for at least a few months. Others had mild symptoms and would recover after a night's sleep.

However, at this moment, everyone knows how to distinguish between mild and severe illnesses; all they know is that ministers have collapsed on the ground, and chaos has broken out on the scene.

Princess Hongyu hurriedly ordered her guards to carry the "loyal" ministers off the altar and send them back to their respective residences to "rest."

It is conceivable that, after tomorrow, the timeless tale of "loyal ministers sharing the emperor's burdens and willingly enduring illness" will spread throughout the capital and even the entire country.

Under such a righteous and awe-inspiring narrative, no one dared to question it, and no one would gossip at this moment.

When the last guard disappeared at the end of the steps, only Princess Hongyu remained on the empty altar.

Yang Chongguang emerged from the shadows and said to Princess Hongyu, "Princess, everything is going smoothly. The people on the list have all been infected by Yin energy and will be bedridden for at least six months, spending several days in a coma."

"Thank you for your hard work, General," Princess Hongyu said politely.

“This is my duty,” Yang Chongguang waved his hand dismissively, then asked, “Now that this first step has been accomplished, and all opposition forces in the court have been paralyzed, can we begin preparations to directly appoint the Eighth Prince…”

“It’s not that simple.” Princess Hongyu shook her head. “What I just set up was a scheme with a beginning and an end. I used the excuse of relieving Father Emperor’s worries to make them fall ill. Then, Father Emperor’s illness must get better. Otherwise, I would be guilty of deceiving the emperor and spreading rumors, and I would be the first to be arrested.”

Yang Chongguang frowned and asked doubtfully, "The Taoist priest's order is to change the emperor and the ministers. If the emperor recovers, wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?"

Princess Hongyu's lips curled into a cold smile.

“Of course it won’t be in vain.” She said slowly, “People’s temperament often changes drastically after they are on the verge of death. My father was no exception. This serious illness was supposed to be his death, but he was fortunate to survive because of the loyal ministers and filial sons who helped him prolong his life.”

"After this incident, Heaven gave him a warning, and my father had a great awakening and saw through the vanity of the world. He no longer wanted to covet power and was unwilling to deal with the mundane affairs of the court. He only wanted to find a quiet place to spend his old age in peace. Therefore, he decided to issue an edict to pass the throne to my pure and kind-hearted eighth brother."

Yang Chongguang was taken aback, then let out a disdainful sneer: "So you think it's all right? Once you sit on the dragon throne, no one wants to get off. Which emperor doesn't treat it as his lifeline, wishing it were an extension of his body?"

Princess Hongyu said calmly, "He will see things clearly. If Father Emperor himself cannot understand and see through this mortal world... then please ask the General to help him see things clearly."

Looking at Princess Hongyu's indifferent expression, Yang Chongguang was also somewhat surprised. This young girl was quite ruthless, completely different from the princess he had met before.

Yang Chongguang cupped his hands to Princess Hongyu and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, tonight I will definitely help Your Majesty to have a complete awakening and see through the illusions of the world."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General."

Princess Hongyu smiled, thinking that in this way, she could be considered to have fulfilled Chen Ye's request.

It's far too easy for cultivators to change dynasties; it's like controlling a swarm of ants.

I was originally just one of those ants, but I think that after a few days, I will be able to break free of the cage.

(End of this chapter)