Castle of Black Iron

On February 14, Xuanyuan Zhu offered sacrifice to the heavens and the earth in the round sacrificial altar of Emperor Xuanyuan"s royal palace escorted by his royal relatives.

On February 15, after finis.h.i.+ng the sacrifice, the three councilors and the nine ministers led all the major officials and officers to the round sacrificial altar to welcome Xuanyuan Zhu. "As Your Majesty has already finished the sacrifice, please ascend to the throne right now." Xuanyuan Zhu then bade farewell to his royal relatives and was escorted by those major officials and officers to the Heavenly Heart Gate of the royal palace, where the councilors, ministers and lords were waiting for him. At Heavenly Heart Gate, there was a golden desk, on which there were the coronet and uniform, especially for the crown prince. When they saw Xuanyuan Zhu, all the dignitaries uttered in unison, "Your Majesty, please put on your coronet and uniform". Xuanyuan Zhu then walked to the front of the golden chair. The protocol officials then helped him put on the uniform. After that, they bowed towards him. Zhang Tie then helped him put on the coronet. Then, Zhang Tie held his hand and walked all the way towards the Nine Heavens Palace from Heavenly Heart Gate while being escorted by the officials and officers. Xuanyuan Zhu then took the jade seal of Taixia Country from the hands of the employed sage-level knight of the royal household who served as a seal keeper at this moment. After that, he ascended to the throne. After all the officers and officials of Taixia Country deeply bowed towards him for three times, he left Nine Heavens Palace for the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

When he came to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he presented the roster and jewelry and conferred his parents, his grandparents, his grandparents" parents and his grandparents" grandparents with important t.i.tles out of courtesy. 

On February 16, all the officials and officers wrote letters and congratulated his ascension to the throne. All the amba.s.sadors from other countries in Xuanyuan Hill then presented the letters of credence to meet Xuanyuan Zhu. When those amba.s.sadors finished their visits in the evening, Xuanyuan Zhu handed the jade seal of Taixia Country to Zhang Tie and officially entrusted Zhang Tie as the regent who would supervise the affairs of the state. After that, Xuanyuan Zhu left Nine Heavens Palace, which symbolized the accomplishment of the entire succession ceremony.

From then on, as Xuanyuan Zhu was still a minor, his preoccupancy was to learn and grow up. Therefore, he could only administer the affairs of the state on the morning of the first day and the 15th day of each month. As for the other days, he had to study in the royal palace. When he finished his coming-of-age ceremony at 20 years old, Zhang Tie would return the power to him. By then, Xuanyuan Zhu would administer the affairs of the state officially.

...

On February 17, the 933rd year of Black Iron Calendar, Zhang Tie in lord"s bosilk uniform was sitting in the Nine Heavens Palace and watching the three councilors, nine ministers, those officers and officials and the five lords with complex moods. 

When he came to Xuanyuan Hill in the beginning, he could only hide his real ident.i.ty and do everything stealthily. But now he was standing on the highest point of the supreme palace on behalf of Taixia Country and humans. When he retrospected the past, he felt like having a big dream.

Zhang Tie"s seat was in front of Xuanyuan Zhu"s throne, which was only one step lower than the 9-step stairs of Xuanyuan Zhu"s. It was the regent"s seat. When Xuanyuan Zhu was not in the Nine Heavens Palace, the place, where Zhang Tie was, became the highest location in Nine Heavens Palace. He would be able to watch everything in the palace. 

The officials and officers were standing on two sides respectively. Under Zhang Tie"s seat, there were 8 chairs, respectively for the commander-in-chief, the one being responsible for public works, the premier, Lord Guangnan, Lord Xuanwu, Lod Jingtian, Lord Dingxi and Lord Yian.

There were respectively two rows of imperial guards in s.h.i.+ny helmets and armors on both sides on the royal stairs. These guards were at least knights.

Meng s.h.i.+dao was sitting in the seat of premier and watching Zhang Tie calmly. Zhang Tie also watched him calmly.

One day before Xuanyuan Zhu ascended to the throne, Meng s.h.i.+dao who was "a bit sick" finally "recovered" and attended the following three ceremonies. In the three days, Zhang Tie had seen Meng s.h.i.+dao for more than once. However, the two parties didn"t make any exchange with each other. Today, it was the first time for Zhang Tie and Meng s.h.i.+dao to meet each other officially after Zhang Tie"s return.

However, one was in a higher position while the other in a lower position.

It was the first day for Zhang Tie to administer the affairs of the state. It was pretty solemn in the Nine Heavens Palace. All the officers and officials in the palace looked calm like Meng s.h.i.+dao, no matter what they thought. Many people had noticed the subtle qi field between Zhang Tie and Meng s.h.i.+dao when the two people watched each other. However, n.o.body opened their mouth. They were all waiting for Zhang Tie to break the silence. 

Watching Meng s.h.i.+dao"s calm look, Zhang Tie felt like watching capricious mist. Actually, Zhang Tie always felt that something in Meng s.h.i.+dao"s eyes was observing him secretly. 

Meng s.h.i.+dao behaved very calmly. He didn"t even look afraid or flurried at all after knowing that Zhang Tie had entered Xuanyuan Hill.

Meng s.h.i.+dao was the premier of Taixia Country, one of the three councilors of the country. After Meng s.h.i.+dao promoted to a sage-level knight, it was absolutely reasonable for him to hurt Yun Zhongzi who was wanted by the supreme court. Even though Zhang Tie couldn"t find any loophole from Meng s.h.i.+dao on this event. Even though he knew that Meng s.h.i.+dao might have made an agreement with Old Man Taiyi and Grand Master Shenkong privately, he still couldn"t condemn Meng s.h.i.+dao because of this because of the two sage-level knights had already died.

Those knights of the three major sects who were captured by Iron-Dragon Sect didn"t even know that Meng s.h.i.+dao had connections with Old Man Taiyi and Grand Master Shenkong, not to mention the agreement between them. Even Xuanyuan Lie, the ninth prince of Emperor Xuanyuan, couldn"t get any intelligence from their mouths; because Meng s.h.i.+dao didn"t have any contact with Xuanyuan Lie at all. Given the above points, Zhang Tie couldn"t find any loophole from Meng s.h.i.+dao at all.

Over 30 years ago, Zhang Tie returned to Taixia Country for the first time. At that time, the Gobbling Party was already a great force in Taixia Country. During these years when Meng s.h.i.+dao served as the premier of Taixia Country, the influence of the Gobbling Party expanded in Taixia Country rapidly. Besides those disciples of Meng s.h.i.+dao"s, hundreds of millions of people were bewildered by the specious theory of humanity, justice and morality of the Gobbling Party. After so many years, many such people had already become the gra.s.s-roots or even middle-level officials in Taixia Country. Their tentacles had already reached every nook and corner of the country; some of them had even become provincial governors and had great influence in the provinces, prefectures and cities across Taixia Country. It was no exaggeration to say that the influence that Gobbling Party posed to the gra.s.s-roots civilians of Taixia Country was absolutely greater than that of the three major sects. This explained why Zhang Tie didn"t catch Meng s.h.i.+dao for the time being. 

However, it didn"t mean that Zhang Tie could tolerate Meng s.h.i.+dao bringing trouble to him on the position of premier of Taixia Country. 

In order to end the holy war as soon as possible, Meng s.h.i.+dao must leave the position of premier and leave Xuanyuan Hill.

...

"When I arrived at Xuanyuan Hill a few days ago, I"ve heard that Chancellor Meng was sick. I wonder whether do you feel a bit better these days?" Under the gaze of so many officers and officials in the Nine Heavens Palace, Zhang Tie asked Meng s.h.i.+dao calmly on the high seat. 

After hearing Zhang Tie"s first words, many officials and officers in the palace felt that their hearts pounded slightly. Everyone knew the old scores between Jinwu Palace and Gobbling Party. They all knew that Zhang Tie was not actually concerned about Meng s.h.i.+dao"s physical condition.

"Thanks for your concern, Lord!" Meng s.h.i.+dao replied with a smile, "A few years ago, in order to promote to a sage-level knight, I got into a devil"s way when in cultivation and got some sequela. I"ve not been completely cured even now. Sometimes, I feel a lack of spirit. As it"s at the critical moment of holy war, the position of premier is closely related to the holistic situation facing Taixia Country, I feel that I couldn"t be qualified for this position any longer; therefore, I especially come here to resign. After resignation, I prepare to return to the Gobbling Province and open a college. I"m going to be immersed in learning and continue to realize the secrets in the far-ancient moral stele!"

Zhang Tie was slightly shocked by Meng s.h.i.+dao"s words. Zhang Tie indeed planned to kick off Meng s.h.i.+dao today. He had long prepared well some tricks and was going to try them on Meng s.h.i.+dao. Unexpectedly, Meng s.h.i.+dao asked for resignation voluntarily. He drew back wisely in the face of overwhelming odds. This really saved Zhang Tie"s time.

"I agree!" Zhang Tie didn"t even urge him to stay out of politeness; instead, he directly agreed with Meng s.h.i.+dao to leave like pus.h.i.+ng a boat along the current. Meng s.h.i.+dao appeared to be choked by Zhang Tie"s words. However, Zhang Tie didn"t continue to see Meng s.h.i.+dao; instead, he told some guards in the palace in a decisive tone, "We"re going to discuss the current situation facing Taixia Country and humans in the holy war; additionally, we should work out the solutions. It would last long. Now that Chancellor Meng doesn"t feel good and always lacks spirit, you"d better leave here for recuperation; otherwise, if there"s something bad happens to you, people would complain to me about not respecting the elder. Accompany Chancellor Meng to go back to his mansion for rest; have imperial doctors make a diagnosis for and give treatment to Chancellor Meng carefully. Chancellor Meng, if you need any pills, just have people take them from the royal warehouse!"

"Thanks for your concern, Lord!" Meng s.h.i.+dao appreciated Zhang Tie as he took got up and took a gloomy glance at Zhang Tie calmly. Before those guards approached him, Meng s.h.i.+dao had walked towards the gate of Nine Heavens Palace.

"Chancellor Meng, please leave the seal of premier in case that I have to have someone to take it!" Zhang Tie said calmly, "Chancellor Meng could leave Xuanyuan Hill at any time; however, Xuanyuan Hill must have a premier every day!"

The entire palace was in dead silence. All the officials and officers in the palace were watching Meng s.h.i.+dao who had stopped his foot.

Even though Emperor Xuanyuan couldn"t dismiss premier, one of the three councilors, in such a simple way. Zhang Tie"s strong resolute decision caused many people"s heart to palpitate.

Meng s.h.i.+dao turned around and took a glance at Zhang Tie with a smile. He then lightly took off a s.p.a.ce-teleportation finger ring and gave it to a guard. Then, he left the Nine Heavens Palace with the "company" of two guards. 

Watching Meng s.h.i.+dao leaving in such a calm way, Zhang Tie didn"t feel relaxed at all; instead, he became intense at once. Actually, Zhang Tie didn"t mean to fiercely maul Meng s.h.i.+dao by the last two sentences; instead, he was just testing Meng s.h.i.+dao on purpose. Previously, he thought that Meng s.h.i.+dao would resist him; unimaginably, Meng s.h.i.+dao just accepted his arrangement calmly. That was too abnormal.

"Did he swallow insult and humiliation wisely or have Plan B?"

Zhang Tie looked a bit solemn...

...