Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Hundred Yue City.

While Yan Lingji was in the middle of a discussion with Fei Yan, Zi Nu, and Xue Nu, her expression shifted slightly.

A trace of disdain curled at the corner of her lips.

"What is it?"

"Another rat has snuck into Hundred Yue City. And this rat is quite fat!"

"Is it someone from the Qin Dynasty or someone under Xiong Qi?"

"It's someone you would never guess, Wu Qi!"

"What? Is it actually him? What is his goal?"

"Wu Qi's military and political abilities are both top-tier in the Nine Provinces. It would be a pity to kill him. Could we possibly bring him to our side?"

"No. We simply can't suppress him. If he regains his freedom, he might turn on us."

"He's already stepped into the formation. Hmph, Hundred Yue City is ranked among the Forbidden Lands of the Nine Provinces. Wu Qi may be strong, but his fate is already sealed."

Yan Lingji spoke with contempt.

Recently, she had come to understand just how powerful the formation that scumbag had left behind truly was.

Forget martial legends, even those at the God Demon Realm could suffer grievous injuries if caught off guard.

Let alone Wu Qi, who was merely at the Mythical Realm.

To other forces, he might seem formidable.

But to Yan Lingji, he was nothing special.

==========

"How is this possible? How did I fall into a formation?"

"Hmph, I am Wu Qi, well-versed in countless formations. A mere minor illusion formation like this cannot trap me."

Facing the illusion formation before him, Wu Qi sneered inwardly.

He immediately strode toward what he believed to be the life gate of the formation.

To his shock and horror, the illusion did not disappear as expected.

Instead, it transformed instantly.

Into something far more terrifying.

It now contained not only an illusion formation, but also entrapment and killing formations.

An overwhelming sense of weakness surged through his body.

Wu Qi was stunned.

He tried to withdraw immediately.

This was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

The formation was not as simple as it appeared.

Layer upon layer, each nested within the other.

By the time he realized this, it was already too late.

"This is bad. My internal energy is vanishing rapidly. If this continues, I'll be nothing but a lamb waiting to be slaughtered!"

Naturally, Wu Qi would not surrender without a fight.

He immediately unleashed everything he had ever learned, trying to break through the formation.

But unfortunately for him, the formation had been laid by Zhu Houzhao.

It was anything but simple.

Even someone at the God Demon Realm would fall into it, let alone someone at the Mythical Realm.

Each time he managed to crack one formation, he would fall into another, even more terrifying than the last.

The more he tried to break free, the more dangerous it became.

These formations were unlike any he had seen in the Nine Provinces.

They resembled the handiwork of true immortals.

Even someone as learned and skilled as Wu Qi was powerless in this situation.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a slash of sword energy came flying toward him.

Wu Qi was unable to dodge in time and was struck head-on.

His body was thrown into the air and crashed to the ground.

At the same time, his internal energy was being drained at an even faster rate.

"I am Wu Qi. I apologize for the unannounced visit. May I ask the host to kindly show themselves!"

At such a critical moment, Wu Qi had no choice but to cry out loudly.

He shamelessly claimed to be a guest of Hundred Yue City.

If he had explained his purpose from the beginning, perhaps Yan Lingji might have believed him.

Unfortunately, he had sneaked in like a thief.

Now begging for help was far too late.

Besides, to be cautious, Yan Lingji would never let him off so easily.

She planned to treat him as a gift for that scumbag.

Surely, he would be very pleased.

Just as Wu Qi finished speaking, the formation's speed increased.

The rate at which his internal energy drained surged as well.

He had no chance to react.

A wave of exhaustion overwhelmed him.

The next moment, he collapsed into unconsciousness.

==========

Hundred Yue City.

"Greetings, Hundred Yue Queen. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me?"

"You should be one of his men, right?"

"As the future Imperial Consort personally chosen by His Majesty, the Queen is entitled to know my identity."

"I am a member of the Inner Guard, specifically responsible for communication between Hundred Yue City and His Majesty."

"Inner Guard? I thought you were from the Dark Guard."

A flash of light flickered in Yan Lingji's eyes.

She had always assumed the person stationed nearby was from the Dark Guard.

With the appearance of the Golden Ranking, the reputation of the Dark Guard had even surpassed that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern and Western Factories.

They were now on equal footing with the Tang Dynasty's Bad People and Qin Dynasty's Black Ice Platform.

But now she discovered that the scumbag had an even more terrifying force, the Inner Guard.

Just how many hidden forces did that man have?

Even Yan Lingji couldn't help but gasp inwardly.

In response to her question, the man simply smiled without answering.

Some of Ming Dynasty's internal secrets could not be disclosed without permission.

Even many of Ming Dynasty's high-ranking officials had no knowledge of the Inner Guard's existence.

Their power surpassed even the Dark Guard.

And their concealment was even more profound.

If he hadn't revealed it himself, even someone as capable as Yan Lingji or the entirety of Hundred Yue City would never have uncovered his identity.

"Can you contact your Emperor? I just captured Wu Qi, but I don't wish to keep him."

"If the Ming Emperor wants him, he can take him. If not, I'll kill him."

"Though it would be a shame."

"What? Wu Qi?"

The Inner Guard agent was visibly shocked. He was very familiar with Wu Qi's reputation.

He never expected the Hundred Yue Queen to have captured him.

No wonder she was the Emperor's designated future Consort, she was truly formidable.

"Your Highness, please spare his life for now. I will report this matter to His Majesty immediately."

"Very well. I'll wait for your reply."

"You may leave."

"Understood. I take my leave."

With a respectful bow, the Inner Guard agent vanished.

Yan Lingji fell into deep thought.

That man just now possessed Heavenly Human Realm cultivation.

An Inner Guard agent, merely assigned to liaise with her, was already that powerful.

It spoke volumes about the true strength of the Inner Guard as a whole.

These Emperors were all cultivators at hiding their cards.

Compared to cunning schemers like Qin Dynasty's Ying Zheng and that scumbag, she now felt like an innocent little lotus flower.

At first, she had been fairly confident in her plans against the Qin Dynasty.

But the more she learned, the more troublesome it seemed.

These people were far more difficult to deal with than she had expected.

She would need to be thoroughly prepared.

==========

Qin Dynasty Territory.

Wang Jian Military Tent.

"Father, congratulations on being ranked 6th on the Renowned Marshal Ranking!"

Wang Ben, Wang Jian's son, smiled as he offered his congratulations.

"Yes, congratulations, General. From now on, your name will be known across all of the Nine Provinces."

Inside the tent, many generals spoke up.

Everyone present was fully aware of Wang Jian's capabilities, so there were no objections.

"I don't accept this. How could the General only be ranked 6th? In my opinion, even if not first, he should at least be in the top three without question!"

At that moment, a discordant voice rang out.

The tent fell silent.

In that general's view, aside from Bai Qi, the Slaughter God who buried 400,000 Zhao Kingdom troops alive, no other generals or marshals in the Nine Provinces could compare to General Wang Jian.

With that said, the others began to voice their agreement.

However, Wang Jian, seated at the head of the tent, remained calm and composed.

Contrary to their assumptions, he did not feel upset or unwilling to accept the ranking.

Instead, there was a hint of satisfaction and relief in his expression.

To be honest, he did not place much importance on the Renowned Marshal Ranking.

Being ranked 6th was just right.

Not too low, not too high.

He currently held a prestigious position in the Qin Dynasty, and his family also commanded significant influence.

Moreover, he had the full trust of Ying Zheng.

But that trust had its limits.

If he were ranked 1st, or even in the top three, it might not be a good thing for him.

Too much attention can bring disaster.

He never underestimated the thoughts of an Emperor.

Right now, Wang Jian and his entire family were standing at the edge of a cliff.

One wrong step, and they would plummet into ruin, their bones shattered.

It was even possible that the one pushing him off would be none other than the Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng.

"Alright, this isn't something we should be discussing. The ranking of the Golden Ranking follows their own reasoning."

"Our most urgent task is to eliminate the remaining forces of the Six Kingdoms."

==========

Vast Sea Imperial Palace.

"Long live the Emperor!"

"Xiao He, all of you may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, this is the Northern Expedition plan we've drafted. Please review it."

Zhu Houzhao took the memorial and skimmed through it, quickly understanding its contents.

The Southern Song Dynasty had been mostly conquered by the Yuan Dynasty. It was indeed time for the Vast Sea Army to launch a Northern Expedition.

"Not bad. It seems all of you have not been idle during this time."

"Very well. This time, the army will be divided into two routes."

"One under Marshal Yue Fei, and the other under Marshal Han Xin."

"Zhou Yu will support them by water."

"First, secure a territory in the north to serve as our stronghold in the Nine Provinces."

"Only after that will we engage in full-scale war."

"There is no need to rush. The unification of the Nine Provinces will not be achieved in a short time."

"We must build a solid foundation and develop steadily. That is the wise approach."

After a full hour of discussion, the Northern Expedition strategy was finalized.

Zhu Houzhao dismissed the officials, leaving only Xiao He behind.

"Xiao He, you've worked hard lately."

"Your Majesty granted me the opportunity I could never have dreamed of. I was but a lowly official in the Qin Dynasty. Yet Your Majesty entrusted me with the authority of an entire nation. I will devote my life in return."

Zhu Houzhao smiled calmly, clearly satisfied with Xiao He's attitude.

"Xiao He, you know my true identity."

"Right now, most of my energy is focused on the Ming Dynasty. As for the Vast Sea Dynasty, we must prioritize stable development and stockpiling resources."

"Once the Ming Dynasty defeats the Qing Dynasty, that will be the time for the Vast Sea Dynasty to truly rise."

"You must be prepared."

"I understand, Your Majesty. I will lay a solid foundation for the Vast Sea Dynasty."

"Good. While I'm away, if a serious issue arises, you can contact the Puppet Body I left behind."

"I'll be informed of everything immediately."

The Puppet Body was one of the recent rewards from the Lying Flat System.

It allowed a portion of his consciousness to merge into the puppet.

It could be controlled freely, just like a part of his own body.

It perfectly solved the problem of traveling back and forth between two dynasties.

No matter where he was, he could instantly receive the information the puppet collected.

The rewards from the Lying Flat System had never disappointed him.

==========

After staying briefly in the Vast Sea Dynasty and leaving the Puppet Body behind, Zhu Houzhao continued traveling with Long Bixia.

Along the way.

Long Bixia kept staring at him with a shocked and puzzled expression.

Which left him feeling confused.

"What's wrong, Long'er? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Husband, you're actually the Vast Sea Emperor?"

"How... How is that possible? Aren't you the Ming Emperor?"

"How could you also be the Vast Sea Emperor?"

Although Long Bixia usually didn't concern herself with worldly affairs, she was still aware of the Vast Sea Dynasty.

On the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking, the Vast Sea Dynasty even surpassed the Ming Dynasty.

She often heard the ministers of the Ming Dynasty and the Consorts in the Imperial Harem discussing it.

They all believed the Vast Sea Dynasty would become the Ming Dynasty's greatest future threat.

But now, it turned out that the Vast Sea Dynasty also belonged to her Husband.

It was unbelievable.

It exceeded anything she had ever imagined.

How did her Husband manage to do it?

Her eyes were filled with confusion and astonishment.

If this secret were ever exposed, it would cause an uproar throughout the Nine Provinces.

At that point, the other nations would undoubtedly label Zhu Houzhao as the number one threat in the Nine Provinces.

Seeing Long Bixia's adorable expression, Zhu Houzhao burst out laughing.

Among all his Consorts, she was the only one who knew this secret.

Even the Empress Wu Zhao had no clue.

And for now, he had no intention of telling her.

This matter was too important.

He wasn't fully prepared yet.

As for Long Bixia, Zhu Houzhao had complete trust in her.

She was someone who could keep a secret.

"Long'er, this is a secret between us. You mustn't tell anyone else."

"Not even the Empress. Understand?"

Long Bixia rolled her eyes at him.

"Husband, I know how serious this is. I won't speak of it carelessly!"

"Hahaha, I believe you!"

"Come, let's keep traveling. This time, I'll show you a good time!"

"It won't be long before the Nine Provinces fall into even greater chaos."

"By then, the beautiful sights we see now may be gone."

"Hmm?"

Just as Zhu Houzhao was enjoying their journey with Long Bixia.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

"Come out!"

"Your servant, Kong Jiu of the Inner Guard Intelligence Division, greets Your Majesty!"

"Rise."

"What is it?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty. We've just received a message from the Qin Dynasty's Inner Guard. The Hundred Yue Queen has captured Wu Qi, a Mythical Realm cultivator. She wishes to know how Your Majesty would like to handle him."

"Shall he be executed or spared?"

Wu Qi?

Zhu Houzhao was slightly surprised.

He was indeed a talented man, but also a double-edged sword.

If used well, he could be of great value.

If not, he could become a threat.

Still, Zhu Houzhao didn't mind.

He was confident he could keep Wu Qi under control.

He didn't care about Wu Qi's character.

What mattered was whether his talents could be used.

As long as he didn't violate Ming Dynasty's laws and had sufficient value, Zhu Houzhao could accept him.

"Send a message back immediately. Have Wu Qi temporarily detained in Hundred Yue City."

"I will decide how to handle him later."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll send the message right away."

"Good. You may go."

Zhu Houzhao nodded.

"Long'er, let's change course. We're going to Hundred Yue City in the Qin Dynasty!"

"Huh? That fast? The ranking was updated again!"

Just as Zhu Houzhao took Long Bixia's hand and prepared to change direction, golden light erupted from the ranking high in the sky.

A new set of names began to appear, line by line.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )

・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Historical

・Xiao He ( 萧何 ) — Prime Minister of Vast Sea Dynasty

Return of Condor Heroes ( 神雕侠侣 )

・Long Bixia ( 龙碧霞 ) — Heir of Ancient Tomb Sect

Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )

・Fei Yan ( 绯烟 ) — Eastern Monarch of Yin Yang School

・Xue Nu ( 雪女 ) — Commander of Mohist School

Nine Songs of Moving Heaven ( 天行九歌 )

・Yan Lingji ( 焰灵姬 ) — Queen of Hundred Yue City

・Zi Nu ( 紫女 ) — Elder of Hundred Yue City

Chronicle of Eastern Zhou ( 东周列国志 )

・Wu Qi ( 吴起 ) — Prime Minister of Chu Kingdom