Firefly Journey

Chapter 149 Rescuing the Journalists in Action (6)

The old man, with his white hair and beard, didn't immediately bleed profusely; instead, his head struck a soft, yielding hand.

From nothing to something, the Green-Clad Sword Saint suddenly appeared in the East Palace study, his expression gentle.

"Grand Tutor Zhao, why do you seek death?" Chen Qingchen asked calmly.

Zhao Zheng, a veteran official who served as both the Left Chancellor and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince for three reigns, quickly raised his head, abandoned his suicidal thoughts, and respectfully said:

"The Emperor's brother-in-law must have heard it all along, so why ask when you already know the answer?"

Chen Qingchen withdrew his hand and looked at the Emperor of Great Chu beside him. The Emperor was also looking at him.

The Great Chu Dynasty placed great importance on etiquette, with strict rules governing the performance of greetings according to different occasions and social classes. The man before them, clad in a yellow robe, was the ruler of the nation, a man of immense prestige. Naturally, he deserved the highest form of respect when someone came to pay him homage.

Chen Qingchen didn't need to. Regardless of whether he was the Sword Saint or the Imperial Uncle, only the Emperor was entitled to bow to him.

Emperor Zhuang really did bow.

The moment Emperor Zhuang saw Chen Qingchen, he took a half step back, bowed slightly, and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Greetings, elder brother. What brings you to the palace today..."

Chen Qingchen turned his gaze toward the entrance.

Her uncle could teleport, but Lü Hongxiu couldn't, so she slowly walked in.

When the little princess came in, she saw a group of formidable elders and quickly lifted her skirt to bow.

"May Your Majesty be well." He then turned to the old scholar, "Greetings, Grand Tutor."

"Alright, I will seriously consider Zhao Qing's suggestion. We will discuss this matter in detail at tomorrow's morning court."

Emperor Zhuang waved his hand impatiently. Zhao Zheng saw that everyone was family and there was nothing for his old bones to do, so he quickly took his leave.

After Zhao Zheng left the room, Emperor Zhuang's face fell, and he muttered, "That old geezer Zhao Zheng is always causing me trouble. Oh well, in seven or eight years, when he retires, I'll finally have some peace and quiet."

Chen Qingchen said, "As far as I know, Grand Tutor Zhao is nearly seventy years old. More than ten years ago, he mentioned that he wanted to retire and go home to live out his retirement, but you rejected it."

Emperor Zhuang was immediately embarrassed. Zhao Zheng was an exceptionally capable man who had served three emperors and enjoyed immense prestige among civil and military officials. He wished to retire and enjoy his grandchildren, but Emperor Zhuang refused.

If anyone else had said these words, Emperor Zhuang would have asked him if he wanted to live anymore. But since it was Chen Qingchen who said them, even if he felt humiliated, he would never dare to show it.

When he was to marry Empress Jingmu, this brother-in-law of the emperor did not want to agree, but he could not resist his sister's affection.

When Chen Qingchen gets angry, he doesn't care about the difference in status or morality and etiquette. He speaks without thinking and slaps without warning. The Lü family father and son know how dangerous this is.

Strangely enough, the Green-Clad Sword Saint, who was ruthless towards his brother-in-law and nephew, was exceptionally patient when facing the little princess. The reason was simple: Princess Qingjia was the biological daughter of Empress Jingmu, and they resembled each other by seven or eight points.

"Ahem, Hongxiu, what brings you to the East Palace? Are you with your uncle?"

Lu Hongxiu said, "My brother made a deal with me. In return, I can take any of the treasures from his Eastern Palace!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhuang slammed his hand on the table, splashing out ink that was not yet dry, making the table surface yellow and black in patches.

"Damn it! He's even learned how to resell? It seems that all these years he's spent in the Duchy of Bema have taught him is how to do business!"

It was true that Lü Hongxiu was favored, but she dared not be arrogant because of it. She was still very afraid of her father and stood there without daring to speak. Chen Qingchen remained calm. He knew that Emperor Zhuang never showed his emotions, and if he were truly angry, he would be far calmer than he was now.

“Hongxiu, your brother’s palace doesn’t have anything good. Why don’t you come back with me later? The southern barbarians have recently offered some rare and exotic items as tribute…”

"Rare and unusual things!" Upon hearing this word, Lü Hongxiu lost interest in her brother, the Crown Prince's, collections and eagerly awaited the more interesting things that Emperor Zhuang would mention.

Emperor Zhuang looked at Chen Qingchen: "Brother, you've come all this way, why don't you have a meal before you leave?"

Chen Qingchen sat down at the desk, picked up the brush, and began to write, using the ink he had prepared.

"No need, I'll just write a letter to the Crown Prince and then leave."

Emperor Zhuang couldn't help but ask curiously, "You two are actually connected?"

He knew how afraid Lü Jianming was of his uncle; he wouldn't even mention him in his usual letters home. How come their relationship has improved now? I had no idea.

Chen Qingchen explained, "He had a problem with his cultivation, which is the same profession as mine, so I will teach him if I can."

Have a question?

That good-for-nothing son finally came to his senses and, apart from his mischievous ways, finally decided to start studying hard.

Thinking of this, Emperor Zhuang's mood improved.

……

……

As dusk fell, the Tongyun Fortress lit a large fire on its battlements as usual, in order to clear the surrounding area by the light of the fire.

The moment the firelight blazed, all the soldiers guarding the city were stunned, followed by a deep-seated fear.

Below the city, countless orc soldiers, armed with spears, axes, and other weapons, launched a fierce attack on the fortress.

The firelight could only illuminate a limited area; beyond the immediate vicinity, no one knew how many other figures were in the more distant areas.

However, judging from the current situation and the number of orcs already seen, this is not a harassment or attack, but a real siege.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Chaos erupted on the city wall as longbows and crossbows unleashed a barrage of arrows, forming a vast net that swept down towards the city below.

The orc warriors who charged in the first wave wore simple leather armor, which, combined with their tough skin, prevented the crossbow bolts from penetrating them even a fraction of an inch. Most of the bolts only left minor scratches before falling to the ground.

Upon hearing of the riot, Bert, the highest-ranking officer of Tongyun Fortress, donned his armor and rushed out.

Having experienced countless battles, he immediately recognized the role of the orc warriors at the front of the Allied forces.

There are also physical differences among orcs. The current charge is a mixed formation of orcs known for their defense, including armadillos and rhinoceroses. Their main role is to withstand the first wave of attacks from Imperial soldiers and provide shelter for the main fighting force behind them.

"Quickly! Send a message to Seril, tell them that those damned orcs have launched a full-scale attack!"

Berth's eyes held both fear and determination as he drew his sword and headed for the city gate. His followers, hearing his command, also turned back to seek reinforcements from Seror.

Bert stood atop the city gate and brandished his longsword: "Bring the ballistae over here! We absolutely cannot let them breach this gate!"

"Yes!"

The so-called fire crossbow is a type of mobile ballista. The arrowheads are forged from extraordinary minerals. After being launched a certain distance, the arrowheads and shafts separate in mid-air, releasing the fire magic hidden inside.

The fire elements fell from the sky like a rain of fire; any ordinary human who came into contact with them would be instantly burned to a crisp.

boom!

Several flaming arrows exploded in the sky above the city, and countless fire points fell rapidly, illuminating the space as bright as day.

In the instant the flames soared into the sky, Bert saw the entire scene of the orc siege.

It was definitely not a feint; they were going all out!

The fire rain fell on the heads and shoulders of the orcs, causing a commotion. But they were not a disorganized bunch. Even though they were in great pain, they gritted their teeth and endured it. The feeling of losing their home was worse than the physical pain.

The moment the Imperial Army embarked on its northern expedition, it was destined to be locked in a life-or-death struggle with the orcs of the north.

Nell looked at the orc warriors bathed in fire rain, his heart bleeding.

But he had no choice. The Great Teacher of Wisdom had said that the most effective way to maintain peace is to eliminate war through war.