Chapter 304 Women Willingly Take Up the Challenge, So Why Must a General Be a Man?
Zhu Xianhe: ???
Looking at the newcomer kneeling beside him, Zhu Xianhe was completely dumbfounded. Then Zhu Xianhe cautiously asked the newcomer, "Prince of Jin, you, old sir... this is..."
Swallowing his saliva, Zhu Xianhe had a bad premonition in his heart. The person before him was a stabilizing pillar of the Great Ming. Now that he was kneeling, could it be that...
The newcomer's name was Li Dingguo, courtesy name Hongyuan. He was an old minister who had served by Emperor Shengzong's side. This man, who had always acted as a stabilizing pillar of the Great Ming, had actually knelt?
After hearing Hakuto's words, Li Dingguo looked at the young man before him. Although his appearance was different, the temperament of Hakuto was something he would never forget.
He directly banged his head on the ground. The stone floor cracked open from the force.
"Your servant, Li Dingguo, respectfully welcomes the return of Emperor Shengzong. Long live His Majesty, long live, long, long live!"
Zhu Xianhe: ???
From Li Dingguo kneeling earlier to now Li Dingguo shouting about the return of Emperor Shengzong, Zhu Xianhe was completely bewildered. He couldn't understand, not one bit. Zhu Xianhe just couldn't figure out why Li Dingguo was calling Hakuto Emperor Shengzong.
"Stop that. Zhu Cilang is dead. Now I am just Yagami Hakuto. You and I will just be old friends now, nothing else."
Zhu Xianhe's body immediately began to tremble, 'This person before me was, actually, actually...'
The name Zhu Cilang was something the Zhu Family would never not know. The name of Emperor Shengzong. The first thing every member of the Zhu Family did after coming of age was to learn about Emperor Shengzong Zhu Cilang's life and deeds.
A speculation arose in Zhu Xianhe's heart: that the Yagami Hakuto before him was the reincarnation of Emperor Shengzong. If that were really the case, then...
Zhu Xianhe's body was now soaked with cold sweat. He was completely depressed. Fear filled Zhu Xianhe's heart.
The Zhu Family all worshipped Emperor Shengzong Zhu Cilang as their idol. They were very clear about what this idol had done. While worshipping Emperor Shengzong, they also knew just how great his desire to kill was.
According to incomplete statistics, during Emperor Shengzong's 68-year reign, at least 100 million people died because of him. Just in Japan alone, Emperor Shengzong killed 35 million people.
Zhu Xianhe now felt an impulse to give himself a few tight slaps. Earlier, Hakuto had only wanted to punish the ringleaders. Now he was about to go on a killing spree. If he had known earlier, he would have agreed. But now...
"Ancestor..."
Zhu Xianhe still wanted to try pleading for mercy, but Hakuto paid him no attention. Looking at Li Dingguo, he asked, "Hongyuan, besides you, who else is still alive?"
"Only your servant and Loyal Marquis. When your servant came, I heard that someone had been sent to invite Loyal Marquis. By now, she should be arriving soon."
Speak of the devil. No sooner had Li Dingguo finished speaking than a woman with youthful features despite white hair walked in from outside.
She was wearing armor and holding a red-tasseled spear. She's truly a majestic heroine, a true woman among women!
"Women willingly take up the challenge, so why must a general be a man? Long time no see, Loyal Marquis!"
Qin Liangyu walked into the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The killing intent on her face instantly stalled.
Then an expression of disbelief appeared in her eyes. Looking at Hakuto before her, although his face was different, his temperament—that domineering aura of "who else in the world but me"—made Qin Liangyu gradually merge the Hakuto before her with the figure in her mind.
The red-tasseled spear in her hand instantly fell to the ground. Qin Liangyu immediately knelt down. "Your servant, Qin Liangyu, pays respects to His Majesty. Long live His Majesty, long live, long, long live!"
Zhu Xianhe: ...
Zhu Xianhe now really felt the urge to travel back in time and give himself a few tight slaps. But there was no regret medicine in the world to buy.
"Rise, rise. Zhu Cilang is dead. Now I am called Yagami Hakuto. There's no need to treat me as an emperor anymore. For now, let us just get along as friends."
Qin Liangyu stood up but remained respectful. Seeing this, Hakuto said to the two, "This time, there is an unexpected blessing. Being able to see you here makes this trip worthwhile. However, I still have some matters to attend to now. We will catch up later."
Li Dingguo looked at Hakuto, then hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Your Majesty, although Zhu Xianhe is cowardly and incompetent, he is still the current emperor of the Great Ming. Please spare his life, Your Majesty!"
Qin Liangyu also looked at Zhu Xianhe. "Although he is not like Your Majesty, Zhu Xianhe has been diligent and conscientious over the years. He may not have great merits, but neither has he committed any faults. Please spare his life, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Xianhe now felt like crying. Was he really that incompetent as an emperor in front of these two?
"I did not come here this time for Zhu Xianhe, but for others."
Then Hakuto told Li Dingguo and Qin Liangyu about his own matters.
"As a son, I cannot not avenge this grievance. Originally, I only planned to punish the ringleaders. But this Zhu Xianhe stubbornly refused to cooperate. So now, I have no choice but to go on a killing spree!"
After hearing what Hakuto said, Qin Liangyu, as a woman, immediately turned cold.
Whether it was the Liu Family as the knife or the others behind the scenes, their actions had already angered Qin Liangyu. Looking at Hakuto, she said directly, "Your servant, Qin Liangyu, is willing to be the vanguard for Your Majesty!"
Li Dingguo followed closely behind. "Your Majesty, leave this matter to your servant. I will bring all those people before Your Majesty!"
Compared to Qin Liangyu, Li Dingguo thought more about the stability of this country.
As a son, Hakuto could not not avenge this grievance. Li Dingguo dared not even try to persuade Hakuto to give up revenge.
So for the stability of the Great Ming, Li Dingguo could only act quickly to cut through the knot, capturing those ringleaders directly to prevent Hakuto from going on a killing spree later.
If Hakuto were to go on a killing spree, the Great Ming would inevitably be thrown into turmoil. To protect the country he had guarded for several hundred years, Li Dingguo had to do this.
"Go. I will wait here. You and Loyal Marquis go together. Three days. Within three days, I want to see all those involved. If one is missing, I'll slaughter their entire clan!"
Li Dingguo, Qin Liangyu, and Zhu Xianhe immediately tensed up all over.
"Yes. If one is missing, your old servant will bring his head to see you!"
After Qin Liangyu and Li Dingguo left, Hakuto looked at Zhu Xianhe. "Get out. You're an embarrassment!"
With a flick of his hand, Hakuto threw Zhu Xianhe out.