Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Let’s go, we can’t waste any more time.” Jia Xu glanced at the carriages at Chang’an City Gate and waved in the direction of Chen Xi. Chen Xi didn’t say much and followed him down the city wall as the assembly was about to begin.

When Chen Xi reached the Northern Palace of Weiyang, the area was already filled with people standing in order, including several familiar heads of aristocratic families and their representatives.

”You actually managed to come?” Hua Xiong looked at Wan Peng nearby in confusion and asked, ”Which requirement did you meet?”

Wan Peng rolled his eyes, ”Hua Zijian, be careful with your words, or I’ll punch you. Look clearly; this entire row is made up of marquis. My ancestors were marquis from the founding of the state, and although now I’ve become the Marquis of Mendeting.”

”So back then, you were fooling us by saying you were a bandit?” Hua Xiong looked around unpleasantly and found that, indeed, all were marquis.

”I ran away from home and became a bandit. My family said I disgraced the family name, but I’m the only legitimate son, so I still inherited the marquis title.” Wan Peng said proudly.

”Back then, if you had joined us in Luoyang, you might have been a marquis too.” Hua Xiong glanced around and whispered.

Wan Peng chuckled and didn’t say anything. Ah, those days...

”General Hua, where’s my gift?” At this moment, a young man in luxurious attire and wearing an imperial crown alighted from a nearby carriage, looking at Hua Xiong with a smile.

”Haha, I’ll give you the Royal Tent Golden Eagle of the Northern Huns as a gift later. I intended to get you a Golden Man for Heaven Worship, but the battle was too fierce at the time, and the Golden Man was likely smashed to pieces.” Hua Xiong, upon seeing Zhen Yan, although surprised, immediately responded.

”Thank you, thank you. But General Hua, don’t be surprised. My family is descended from the Marquis of Chengyang. Previously, because of my sister, my family planned to exchange it for the title of Enfeoffed Lord, but now my sister isn’t prepared to inherit, so I’ve taken it back.” Zhen Yan smiled, and with his coronation robe, he indeed had the aura of a marquis.

”Why do I feel like so many marquis here look familiar?” Hua Xiong muttered, glancing at the other marquis, finding many familiar faces.

”Ha, those are all aristocratic families with county prestige from various counties. Their ancestors were marquis too. Besides the protection of official positions, they also have the protection of titles. Although inherited titles aren’t as valuable as those earned through military merit, it’s better than nothing.” Zhen Yan turned his head and said, recognizing almost everyone.

”But it’s quite strange. I saw the Yuan Family, the Chen Family, the Xun Family, and some slightly weaker family heads or representatives, but I can’t see the Yang Family anywhere. Strangely, shouldn’t the Yang Family be here confronting the Yuan Family with the Guanxi noble family?” Zhen Yan surveyed the situation ahead, somewhat confused, and asked Hua Xiong.

By this time, the palace gate had opened, and the crowd began to enter in order. Yuan Shu was now looking gleefully at the aristocrats around him, who were constantly flattering him. With the Yang Family not causing trouble, Yuan Shu found it easier to push his reconciliation group.

On the other side, at the back of the group, an unmarked carriage slowly approached Weiyang Palace and, upon reaching the gate, alighted to walk toward the palace.

As dawn approached, the main gate of Weiyang Palace was about to open. The ministers were about to enter to present gifts to the Grand Princess. Although everyone was already lined up according to the sequence, there were always disruptions.

For example, Yuan Shu and Jii Ling ended up crowded together without aligning with the hereditary marquis row. But at this time, management wasn’t too strict, and the elite veteran soldiers chosen by the Liu Cao Sunx families were unsure how to manage such matters.

Just as the first rays of sunlight rose and the palace gate of Weiyang opened slowly, a figure suddenly lunged toward Yuan Shu from the front.

”Yuan Gonglu, return my life!” Yang Xiu, looking like a vengeful ghost, startled Yuan Shu. The mournful wail made Yuan Shu’s hair stand on end. Without thinking, he grabbed the sword from Jii Ling’s waist and stabbed the ghost-like Yang Xiu, splattering blood on Yuan Shu.

Yang Xiu, pierced by a sword, naturally fell, but the mocking smile on his lips was seen clearly by Yuan Shu. In that moment, Yuan Shu’s previously chaotic mind became crystal clear—the Yuan Family was finished.

With blood splattered all over, in that moment of clarity, Jii Ling reflexively grabbed the sword from Yuan Shu’s hands, preparing to slice Yang Xiu in half and take responsibility for the incident himself.

”Clang, clatter...” Furious, Jii Ling swung his sword at Yang Xiu, but a nearby Great Axe blocked his strike, and how could a sword, hastily nurtured, compare to Xu Huang’s Great Axe? Instantly, the upper half of the longsword flew off.

”Lord, run!” Jii Ling, seeing Xu Huang deflect his sword, realized the Yang Family truly intended to annihilate the Yuan Family this time.

As the palace gates opened, losing decorum before the emperor, shedding blood at Weiyang Palace’s forecourt, and wielding weapons during the Grand Assembly, and now, in front of nearly a hundred marquises and ministers of the Han, if the Yuan Family wasn’t dealt with, not to mention accounting to the Yang Family, where would the face of the Han Dynasty stand?

The Yuan Family itself, left with only two branches after the Luoyang chaos, had shown great promise after Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu’s subsequent performances. Therefore, even after Yuan Shao’s downfall, no aristocrat dared to underestimate the Yuan Clan of Runan.

But now, Yuan Shu’s actions evidently infuriated the Yang Family. The Yang Family was clearly sending the Yuan Family on their way. In front of nearly the entire world, Yang Xiu’s act was enough to ensure the Yuan Family’s demise. If the Han didn’t provide an explanation, the four-hundred-year-old regulations of the Han would collapse.

As for Yang Xiu’s shout, ”Return my life,” even if not many people heard it, knowing what Yuan Shu had done to the Yang Family and their calculations, it made no difference.

Yuan Shu now understood the full situation, looking at Yang Xiu lying on the Jade Steps, blood flowing around, and the mockery on his lips. It was apparent that this was all part of the calculating plan of the one lying down.

Now Yuan Shu finally understood why the Yang Family had kept Yang Xiu’s death a secret. They were waiting here for him, ready to send the entire Yuan Family away in one breath. Since Yuan Shu disregarded the rules, why should the Old Yang Family reason with him? One more sword stroke, and the Yuan Family would be sent on their way.

”Fine, fine, fine. Good for you, Yang Dezhu. Indeed, for people like you, every move we make is within your calculations!” Yuan Shu glared at Yang Xiu feigning death on the Jade Steps, enraged. The palace gate had opened, the Imperial Eunuch stood at the door, Liu Tong was right there!