Chapter 315: Internal Strife
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The battle outside of Summer Rain City quickly spread throughout the continent. This was the first allied attack on a kingdom in ten thousand years, and such an incident would surely be in everyone’s attention. The final outcome resulted in an uproar in the continent, and Jiang Yi’s name was spread throughout the continent again—so much that even three-year-olds knew about his prowess.
No one could do anything about it!
The Great Xia Kingdom was originally destined for destruction, but that had been forcefully reversed by Jiang Yi himself. The alliance army even sent out ten martial experts, which resulted in an even worse outcome. Eunuch Lin was nearly killed, and the ten martial experts had been suppressed by the Demon Empress—where no one dared to make a move.
There might be a promise of three years that allowed everyone to extricate themselves, but… everyone knew that it was a huge defeat for the alliance army and the utmost humiliation for the ten martial experts.
Of course, the majority of the citizens from the various va.s.sal kingdoms was extremely indignant and eager to take action. They were all waiting to join with the alliance army three years later—to extinguish the Great Xia Kingdom again. By then, the Demon Empress, Shui Youlan, Abbot Yanshe, and Zhuge Qingyun would not be able to protect Jiang Yi anymore. Would Jiang Yi be able to stop the alliance army of one million soldiers by himself?
At the same time, countless individuals on the continent had the same suspicion. Why were the six influential forces so eager to extinguish the Great Xia Kingdom? It was understandable for the Azure Dragon Empire because they wanted to rule the continent again. Why did the five other kingdoms risk it as well?
Could it merely be the fact that the Great Xia Kingdom was the mastermind? Was it for the justice of the human race?
This was enough to convince the commoners, but the upper echelons of the regular clans would understand that there weren’t enough benefits for the five kingdoms to go all-out. After all, extinguis.h.i.+ng the Great Xia Kingdom would bring about a change in the power balance on the continent. This time, it was the Great Xia Kingdom which would be extinguished; what about next time? Would it be the Heaven Mystics Kingdom? Or would it be the Saint Spirit Kingdom?
Once chaos broke out, all the six va.s.sal kingdoms might be extinguished; and currently, none of the va.s.sal kingdoms had the strength to rule the continent. If the power balance of the continent was ruined now, it would be of no advantage to the six va.s.sal kingdoms.
Thus, what was the reason for the five kingdoms would want to urgently extinguish the Great Xia Kingdom? This was a deep suspicion that was lingering in countless minds. No one could understand, and probably, only the true upper echelons of the five kingdoms would understand.
Actually, this suspicion had been in Jiang Yi’s mind, too!
Things like justice were just utter nonsense to the politicians. Victory had always been recorded by the victors, and as long as there were enough benefits, they would risk everything to stab their allies in the back.
Extinguis.h.i.+ng the Great Xia Kingdom didn’t have any substantial benefits, apart from some territories. What was the use of plundering some material wealth? The Northern Mang Kingdom and the Northern Liang Kingdom probably wouldn’t even get any share of territories, right? Still, these two kingdoms actually sent two Vajra Realm martial experts.
Since he couldn’t understand, he just simply stopped thinking about it. Jiang Yi’s body was still recovering, and under the nourishment from the countless spirit herbs of the Great Xia Kingdom’s royal clan, he took just three days to recover 70% or 80% of his original condition. Su Ruoxue was still asleep, and so Jiang Yi had been staying in her Drifting Snow Palace and waiting for her to wake up.
Su Ruoxue had released the Purple Charm Divine Light plenty of times, which consumed plenty of stamina and soul spirit. She was also injured afterward. It would be considered good enough if she could awaken after half a month.
The strange thing was… Su Diw.a.n.g actually didn’t awake. Su Diw.a.n.g might have overly indulged in wine over these years, which hollowed out his body. After witnessing that the Great Xia Kingdom was almost extinguished—and after getting to know that his sons, his daughters, and the elite descendants were all eradicated, he might have been overly grieved. But… it had been so many days. After consuming so many spirit herbs, he should be recovering, right?
There were only a few generals in the Great Xia Kingdom while the rest of the Su clansmen were arranging the matters for the aftermath of the battle. Nearly all the cities in the Great Xia Kingdom had been plundered, and the kingdom was in turmoil. The alliance army might have withdrawn, but it was impossible for them to stabilize within a short period of time.
Xiaonu and the little fox were rather contented in the royal palace as they treated them like ancestors. Especially the little fox which only had spirit fruits in the past. It was getting used to the delicacies within the royal palace and had forgotten the tastes of the food back at home.
Jiang Yi didn’t bother about them and remained inside Su Ruoxue’s room. He would be cultivating apart from recuperating. As he saw Su Ruoxue’s complexion getting better by the day, his mood was also getting much better.
What was he going to do in the future? Jiang Yi didn’t go thinking so far into the future. He didn’t even want to think about the three-year promise. He was satisfied that he could survive, and the things about the future could be considered later on. If Su Ruoxue was willing to go with him, he would be willing to let go of everything and live a peaceful life in Mt. Thirty Thousand.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
On the fifth day, Jiang Yi was still cultivating when he was suddenly awakened by a dull bell sound. It sounded off for nine consecutive times, and Jiang Yi saw a strange scene. All the eunuchs and palace maids in the Drifting Snow Palace suddenly knelt on both knees and prostrated on the ground.
“What happened?”
Jiang Yi’s brows lifted as he yelled out. The chief eunuch, who had always been with Jiang Yi, howled in grief. “Lord Jiang, His Majesty has ascended to the heavens!”
“What?”
Jiang Yi stood up with shock and glanced at Su Ruoxue. He then gave his orders: “Take care of the princess. I will go take a look!”
Jiang Yi brought along two eunuchs and rushed to the Peace Sun Palace where Su Diw.a.n.g was residing. Along the way, he could see countless palace maids and eunuchs who were kneeling on the floor and howling with grief. It didn’t matter whether it was all a pretense or sincere; it was still a mournful sight.
After arriving at the Peace Sun Palace, there were even more people here; and all of them were palace maids, eunuchs, officials, and generals who were kneeling. Jiang Yi walked in with a solemn expression. When he took a glance, he quickly fixed his eyes onto the Old General Lu and asked, “General Lu, what happened? Wasn’t His Majesty doing fine recently? Why did he suddenly pa.s.s away today?”
General Lu let out a slight sigh and wiped off the tears in his eyes as he spoke in a heavy tone, “His Majesty’s body has always been weak, and it might be due to the overwhelming grieve and the despair in his heart. He had been begging for death. Because he didn’t wish to awaken, he laid in slumber forever…”
“Huh!”
Jiang Yi nodded slightly. If a person was having despair in his heart and believed that he must die, the lingering thoughts in his might caused to die slowly. Furthermore, Su Diw.a.n.g’s body was originally weak. It was normal for him to not awaken.
Jiang Yi didn’t consider too much about this matter and quickly tossed this matter aside. He didn’t have a good impression of Su Diw.a.n.g. He was concerned that once Su Ruoxue awakened, she would be filled with grieve; and her body might not be able to take it.
After he made a prayer, he left immediately. Su Diw.a.n.g’s funeral would be arranged by someone else as he wasn’t a subject of the Great Xia Kingdom. He didn’t have to be bothered by it.
Fortunately, Su Ruoxue has yet to regain consciousness; and there were already countless deaths in the Great Xia Kingdom. The death of Su Diw.a.n.g wasn’t a huge commotion in the Summer Rain City. However, the atmosphere within Summer Rain City did become even more depressing.
Su Diw.a.n.g’s funeral procession was set three days later. When Jiang Yi received this information, he found it very strange. A King was actually arranged for burial in such a short period of time?
Even if the Great Xia Kingdom had a thousand things to do, it was still unacceptable for the funeral to be in such a hurry, right? Furthermore, Su Ruoxue had not come to yet. If they were to bury him like this, wouldn’t it rob her final chance to mourn?
“Lord Jiang! Lord Jiang!”
Just as Jiang Yi was hesitating, there was an aged voice that suddenly shouted out from outside the palace. It was the old General Lu who came in a hurry. He gestured for all the eunuchs and palace maids to be dismissed and suddenly knelt and spoke while gritting his teeth. “Lord Jiang, please offer your help to save the Great Xia Kingdom. Otherwise, the Great Xia Kingdom would be completely ruined by these people.”
“En?”
Jiang Yi nodded in a daze and asked in a dignified voice, “What is the situation?”
Old General Lu’s expression was filled with anguish. His body was trembling as he spoke with grief, “His Majesty’s corpse has yet to even go cold, but Duke Su Heng and Duke Su Yu have already begun to strive for the throne. They are preparing to use the military for internal strife. In addition, I am suspicious that His Majesty’s cause of death might be due to the two dukes…”