Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

On this day, the entire city of Beishuo was deserted.

A massive ceremonial procession from Tianjing slowly proceeded along Xuanwu Avenue, which runs through the royal city.

At the very front of the procession, palace guards, clad in crimson-gold armor and carrying imperial banners, stood guard.

Dozens of flags embroidered with golden phoenixes and auspicious clouds fluttered in the wind, each sway casting a faint, pale blue glow.

Further behind is a magnificent cloud chariot suspended in mid-air.

Six snow-white cloud-riding beasts pulled the cloud chariot, with clouds surging beneath their feet. Even though it was still three zhang above the ground, the wheels still made a deep rumble as they rolled over.

A crimson canopy hung down, adorned with countless bright pearls, and behind layers of light gauze, a graceful figure in magnificent attire could be vaguely seen.

That was Princess Qiyang, the most beloved princess of the Great Yin Dynasty.

On the right side of the cloud carriage, there was another group, much smaller in size.

The leader wore a white robe with cloud patterns, rode a magnificent steed, and had a pale purple Dao token hanging at his waist. He had a handsome face and an extraordinary demeanor.

It was Pei Zhaoye, the true successor of the Yunzhuan Taoist Academy.

Behind him were more than ten disciples of the Yunzhuan Dao Academy, as well as accompanying cultivators temporarily transferred from the Princess's residence.

Despite being merely a protector, he was positioned extremely close to the princess's carriage, even closer than some of the wedding officials from Tianjing.

Both sides of the road were already crowded with Wangcheng residents who wanted to watch the spectacle.

The prominent families, civil officials, and former military generals in the city also sent people to attend the ceremony.

Some even went up to the restaurants along the street to observe the team from Tianjing from afar.

"First, an imperial edict was issued, allowing His Highness Prince Xuan to inherit the title in a time of crisis. Now, the most favored Princess Qiyang has been married off to Beishuo."

"King Xuan and his crown prince both died for their country, and the entire army of 300,000 at Chensha Plain perished. Your Majesty's actions are also out of compassion for the loyal and brave descendants and to appease the hearts of the people of Beishuo!"

"Such imperial favor is rare even across the thirteen provinces."

"The old Xuan King was once given the seal of Grand Commander for Pacifying the Rebellion, and he suffered such a devastating defeat at Shensha Plain. With the loss of 300,000 troops, many people thought that Tianjing would punish Beishuo. Unexpectedly, the court not only did not retaliate against the new king, but also granted him the title and bestowed upon him a princess. It is indeed a great favor."

Most of the common people only saw the magnificent procession and the princess's status, so they naturally felt that this was the supreme glory of the Xuanwang Mansion.

But those who were truly well-informed mostly focused their attention on Pei Zhaoye.

On the upper floor of a restaurant, several heads of prominent families looked at each other.

"Is that Pei Zhaoye?"

"I've heard he's a once-in-a-century genius from the Yunzhuan Dao Academy, and he has a very close relationship with Her Highness the Princess."

"Be careful what you say!"

The person next to him changed his expression slightly and immediately interrupted him.

"He is now the Princess's Protector, personally appointed by His Majesty. It is perfectly reasonable for him to accompany the Princess to Beishuo. How many heads do you have to dare discuss matters of the Imperial Family?"

The person who had spoken earlier awkwardly shut up.

After a moment, someone lowered their voice and said, "I wonder what our Prince Xuan will think."

"His Highness is strict in governing the army and decisive in dealing with internal strife in the Prince's Palace. I'm afraid he doesn't like others to arbitrarily change the old rules of the Prince's Palace."

This is already a very tactful way of putting it.

The people present all understood.

They dared to execute even their eldest sister-in-law in the palace, and they could wipe out the Liu clan at will. Could they really tolerate a spoiled princess bringing a man with whom she had an ambiguous relationship into the house?

Everyone was uncertain.

But no matter how you look at it, this is not something they are qualified to get involved in.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the wedding procession finally stopped in front of the Xuanwang Mansion.

The gates of the Prince's Mansion had already been opened.

The chief secretary, his subordinates, and several guards commanders who remained at the palace waited at the bottom of the stone steps. On both sides of the road stood rows of warriors clad in green wooden armor.

They stood silently, spears in hand, just like real people.

The veins on the surface of the armor flowed, and a faint blue light shone deep within the pupils. Their auras were interconnected, bringing Pei Zhaoye a heavy sense of oppression, as if he were facing an ancient forest that had lasted for thousands of years.

Pei Zhaoye's eyes narrowed slightly.

Before coming to Beishuo, he had heard about these strange armies.

But after seeing them with his own eyes, he realized that these plant warriors were far more terrifying than the rumors suggested.

They were by no means puppet soldiers crafted by the Cloud Seal Dao Academy; each one possessed complete intelligence, and there was not a single flaw to be found in their aura.

No wonder that Xuan King was able to suppress the seven prefectures of Beishuo in just a few days.

Princess Qiyang's voice could be heard from inside the cloud carriage.

"Where is the Xuan King?"

The chief historian of the Prince's residence stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Highness, the Prince has recently been away on a border inspection tour to reorganize the troops. He is very busy with official duties and his return date has not yet been determined."

"Before his departure, the Prince instructed that everything at the Prince's residence should remain as before. I hope Your Highness will forgive me for not being able to personally come out of the city to greet him."

There was a moment of silence inside the cloud carriage.

Then, the veil was lifted by a fair hand.

Princess Qiyang sat there, a hint of coldness appearing on her bright face.

"I am traveling from Tianjing to Beishuo by order of my father, the Emperor."

"He didn't even come to greet us at the city gate, and now we can't even see a soul in sight."

"What? Are the military affairs of Northern Shu more important than the imperial decree?"

The chief secretary of the Prince's residence lowered his head and did not respond.

He couldn't very well tell the princess that His Highness the Xuan King's so-called military reorganization trip actually involved leading 30,000 Xuanjia soldiers directly into Hanchuan Prefecture.

"That's enough."

Princess Qiyang snorted coldly, as if she was too lazy to pursue the matter.

"First, clean up the East Garden."

"I don't care who lived there before, they will all be moved out today. The furnishings in the courtyard will also be changed to the style of the Princess Tianjing's residence. From now on, that will be my separate palace."

"The Listening Snow Pavilion next to the East Garden has also been vacated and given to Protector Pei to live in. He is under the Emperor's orders to protect the palace, so we can't let him live too far away."

Pei Zhaoye sat on his horse, a smile flashing in his eyes, but he did not refuse.

Princess Qiyang glanced again at the ceremonial guard in front of the palace gate.

"Half of the royal carriage, ceremonial objects, and regalia of the Xuanwang Palace will also be allocated to the East Garden."

"When I travel, I cannot use the old ceremonial procession brought from Tianjing."

One sentence after another.

The wedding ceremony had not yet taken place, and she had not even stepped into the gates of the Xuanwang Mansion, yet she already regarded herself as the master of this mansion.

In the end, her gaze fell on the grass and wood armor warriors.

Princess Qiyang was not entirely without discernment.

After entering the capital of Beishuo, the royal blood within her body subtly resonated with the heavens above.

The sense of closeness that made the entire province bow down to her completely dispelled any remaining reservations she might have had.

These armored warriors made of grass and wood are clearly the most precious elite troops of the Xuanwang Mansion.

Since it's a good thing, it should naturally be kept in our own hands.

"And these plant soldiers."

Princess Qiyang pointed with her hand, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"All those inside and outside the Prince's Palace will be transferred to my command. As for those scattered in various prefectures of Beishuo, they will be re-registered and placed under the control of the Princess's Palace in the future."

"Protector Pei happens to be familiar with the immortal sect's formations, so this army will be temporarily under his command."

Pei Zhaoye's heart skipped a beat.

Once we truly control these plant-based warriors, what is the Cloud Seal Taoist Academy?

Even the legendary immortals on land might not be able to defeat him by borrowing the spirit of the army!

However, he did not show much on his face, but simply said, "Your Highness's safety is a matter of the imperial family's reputation, and there can be no negligence whatsoever."

The expressions of the Prince's chief secretary and several guards commanders simultaneously turned grim.

They dared not move in the East Garden.

They dared not move the Xuan King's entourage either.

As for the grass and wood armored soldiers, let alone handing them over to Pei Zhaoye, they didn't even have the authority to mobilize these soldiers.

These plants and trees obey only the orders of King Xuan, Gu Changjin!

After a long while, no one moved.

The armored soldiers standing in front of the Prince's mansion remained completely still, not even glancing at Princess Qiyang.

Princess Qiyang's smile gradually faded.

Of course she knew what these people were afraid of.

It was simply because they heard that Gu Changjin had killed his elder sister-in-law and destroyed the Liu family that they felt that the new Xuan King was someone they couldn't afford to mess with.

Others may be afraid, but she is not.

Gu Changjin's throne was given to him by his father, the emperor.

If the Great Yin Dynasty could place this crown on his head, it could naturally also take it off!

"Get it done immediately."

Princess Qiyang slowly rose from her cloud carriage and looked down at the people of the Xuanwang Mansion.

"Even if Gu Changjin were standing here today, he would still have to listen to me."

She looked up at the sky, which had already begun to show a hint of green, yet which she still regarded as belonging to the royal family, her voice filled with deep-rooted arrogance.

"You'd better not forget."

"This sky belongs to the Great Yin royal family!"