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

Ming Imperial Harem, Empress Chambers.

Empress Wu Zhao frowned as she stared at the Golden Ranking that was about to fade.

"Miss, does our Ming Dynasty really have a marshal named Long Xiao? Why have we never heard of him?"

"Exactly. If he had ever appeared, with the intelligence network of our Netherworld City, there's no way we wouldn't have found out."

"Could he be a secretly hidden general under His Majesty's command?"

"After all, His Majesty has always had far too many means of concealment. Hiding the Rank 1 marshal in the Nine Provinces doesn't seem all that strange anymore."

"Is it possible that His Majesty believed that Marshal Long Xiao's achievements outshone his own and had him secretly disposed of?"

The palace maids Qing'er and Shangguan Wan'er exchanged speculations one after another.

This made Empress Wu Zhao's eyelids twitch.

They really dared to say such things.

With His Majesty's capabilities, no matter how powerful Long Xiao was, he would likely have been crushed with ease.

In other dynasties, something like a subordinate overshadowing the Emperor might happen.

But in the Ming Dynasty, that was absolutely impossible.

Perhaps Long Xiao was truly a hidden trump card His Majesty had kept in the shadows.

Revealed only at the most critical moment.

To deliver a fatal blow to the enemy.

Unfortunately, it was exposed by the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking.

It seemed His Majesty's grand scheme had been disrupted.

"Wan'er, there's no need to investigate further about the Rank 1 marshal."

"If His Majesty has chosen to keep it secret, then he must have his reasons."

"If we were to interfere and ruin His Majesty's plans, it could be disastrous."

"Somewhere in the Ming Dynasty, there must be a terrifying army with incredible achievements."

"Otherwise, this Long Xiao wouldn't have been ranked 1st on the Renowned Marshal Ranking."

Just how many secrets was His Majesty still hiding from her?

Empress Wu Zhao was deeply curious.

Every time she thought she understood him well, the moment the Golden Ranking revealed more, she realized that what she knew was merely a drop in the ocean.

==========

Imperial Harem, Xue Yuan Palace.

Xue Yuan, Huang Rong, Shi Feixuan, and Wan Wan had gathered once again.

With time spent helping one another in the palace, though they still had the occasional squabble, their relationship had unknowingly grown much closer.

Even Shi Feixuan and Wan Wan, once bitter rivals, had become more harmonious aside from the usual banter.

The key was Xue Yuan's role in mediating between them.

At first, it didn't seem like much, but over time, the women had indeed grown as close as sisters.

With Huang Rong often livening up the mood.

The last bit of distance between them gradually disappeared.

They helped each other improve.

And together, they faced other competitors in the Imperial Harem.

"He really is amazing. Who would've thought that the Rank 1 marshal of the Nine Provinces would end up in our Ming Dynasty?"

"The Vast Sea Dynasty is strong, but in the end, it still can't compare to the Ming Dynasty."

"Wan Wan, do you know of a marshal named Long Xiao in the Ming Dynasty?"

"No idea. Before I came here, I thoroughly investigated every civil and military official in the Ming Imperial Court. But there was absolutely no one named Long Xiao."

"Hey, do you think it might be an avatar?"

Shi Feixuan's heart stirred with suspicion as she asked.

The women were all startled.

It was entirely possible.

That man seemed to enjoy that kind of thing.

Hiding his true identity and wandering the world under false personas.

Previously, they had been fooled by the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal.

And that man also had another avatars, Longevity Sword Bai Yujing.

And likely many more.

So it wouldn't be strange if one of them was "Long Xiao".

This possibility was more than fifty percent likely.

If it were true, then that man was truly incredible.

He could be both Emperor and marshal.

And his personal combat power was terrifying.

How could someone like Zhu Houzhao exist in this world?

It was as if he left no chance for anyone else to rise.

Even they, who were close to him, couldn't help but feel he was going overboard.

Let alone those bystanders, or even enemies and rivals.

Especially the other Emperors competing with him. They would surely fall into despair in the future.

Of course, as women of such a remarkable man, they all felt a sense of pride.

A faint pride surged within their hearts.

This was the man they had chosen, and he had not let them down.

No, they needed to work even harder.

Otherwise, if they were left behind, they might not even qualify to remain by his side in the future.

The sense of urgency rose again to a new level.

==========

Murong Qiudi Palace.

Lin Shiyin, Song Yuhua, and You Ruo were also gathered, discussing the Rank 1 marshal of the Nine Provinces.

They had thought that the title of Rank 1 marshal would go to one of the other nations this time.

But in the end, it went to the Ming Dynasty.

Yet no matter how hard they investigated, they could find no information about this deeply hidden Marshal Long Xiao.

They were truly women worthy of standing beside Zhu Houzhao.

Their thinking was remarkably quick.

Not only did Shi Feixuan and the others reach this realization, even Murong Qiudi and the others began to harbor similar suspicions.

"Qiudi, do you think Marshal Long Xiao could really be that man's avatar?"

"It's not out of the question."

"Even Bai Qi, the Slaughter God, only ranked 3rd on the Renowned Marshal Ranking. Who else in the Nine Provinces could surpass him?"

"If such a person really existed in the Ming Dynasty, it would be impossible for him to be completely unknown."

"No matter how much His Majesty tried to hide him, it wouldn't be possible to erase all traces."

"Even people like Li Jing, Yue Fei, and Han Xin from the Vast Sea Dynasty were quickly traced to their origins and backgrounds."

"But Long Xiao? It's like he never existed. Don't you find that strange?"

Murong Qiudi took out a stack of papers, jotting things down from time to time.

She constantly shook and nodded her head in thought.

Eventually, she arrived at this astonishing possibility.

"What Qiudi says does make sense. This so-called Marshal Long Xiao really could be that man's avatars."

"But why didn't the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking reveal Long Xiao's true identity?"

"The Hidden Dragon Ranking back then clearly displayed everything."

"What's so strange about that? With His Majesty's abilities, if he truly wanted to conceal something, even the Heaven Dao of the Nine Provinces would be helpless."

Murong Qiudi had always had deep faith in Zhu Houzhao's abilities.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with endless light.

So what if it was Heaven Dao?

This was her man, and he had never disappointed.

"Shiyin, Yuhua, You Ruo, even though we are now in the Heavenly Human Realm and are considered powerful within the Nine Provinces Martial World."

"If we want to stay by His Majesty's side, we must keep improving."

"Heavenly Human Realm is not enough. We need to ascend to the Mythical Realm as soon as possible, or even to the God Demon Realm."

"Ever since I reached Heavenly Human Realm, I've had a bad premonition. In the future, even Sage Realm cultivators might become common throughout the Nine Provinces."

"If we don't work harder, we may very well be eliminated."

"Yes, especially with Shi Feixuan, Wan Wan, Huang Rong, and particularly Xue Yuan next door. None of them can be underestimated."

"They're all formidable."

"And don't forget Hong Lian and Nong Yu. That man spoils them immensely."

"They receive just as many cultivation resources as we do, if not more."

"I've even heard they have several impressive allies. That scoundrel definitely won't let them go."

"We absolutely can't be left behind by them."

"As for that scoundrel's other favored women, we can set them aside for now. They're still technically on our side."

"But within the Imperial Harem, there are those with sinister intentions. They're no pushovers either."

"Like Zhao Min from the Yuan Dynasty, Li Xiuning from the Tang Dynasty, and a few others who were sent here as political brides from other nations. They're all making their moves."

"Things are fine for now, but in the future, they could become serious threats to us."

As she spoke, Murong Qiudi's expression grew serious.

Ever since she had wasted too much time and effort on the Heavenly Venerable Organization and her cultivation lagged behind, she had regretted the misstep.

Though she corrected herself quickly afterward.

It was still a path wrongly taken.

So in recent days, Murong Qiudi constantly reflected on her actions.

Her conduct became increasingly meticulous.

Her potential was being pushed to its limits.

Her abilities were rapidly growing.

And she began to see things that others couldn't.

Perhaps in other places, a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator could be proud and stand above the world.

But in the Imperial Harem of the Ming Dynasty, the Heavenly Human Realm was not much at all.

The Imperial Consorts did not need to compete with underhanded tactics for survival.

But that competition had simply shifted into a different form.

Cultivation and realms.

They could not afford to be careless.

==========

Nong Yu Palace.

At this moment, Nong Yu was gently playing a piece on the zither, one that Zhu Houzhao had recently taught her, slowly getting used to it.

Frequent practice helped her improve her cultivation.

Unfortunately, despite her talent in music, becoming proficient in the piece still required considerable effort.

In the garden, flocks of birds perched nearby, quietly listening to her melody.

Every time Nong Yu played, such a phenomenon would occur.

The other women in the Imperial Harem had grown used to it.

Even those Consorts skilled in music couldn't help but sigh with admiration.

When it came to the way of the zither, they were indeed not on the same level.

Moreover, with Nong Yu's gentle temperament, she hadn't provoked resentment or hostility from the others.

Of course, this was also due to her strength as a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator.

If she had been merely a weak woman with no support, her days would not have been so peaceful.

But there was no "if".

Nong Yu was not only powerful, but her backing was also greater than most imagined.

She was one of those in the Imperial Harem that could not be easily provoked.

"Nong Yu, Nong Yu!"

Just then, an excited voice rang out.

Nong Yu didn't respond and continued playing.

Only after a long while, once the tune was finished, did she finally stop.

The nearby birds also scattered and flew away.

Although Hong Lian had seen this scene countless times, she still found it awe-inspiring.

"Hong Lian, what is it? You're a Heavenly Human Realm cultivator yourself, so why are you still rushing about so carelessly?"

"If other Consorts saw you like this, it would only invite laughter."

"Hmph, let's see who dares."

Hong Lian snorted proudly.

Zhu Houzhao had never tried to restrain her nature.

In fact, he considered her fiery personality one of her most precious traits.

Suppressing her true nature might do her more harm than good.

It could even hinder her future cultivation progress.

"Alright, Hong Lian. What brings you here this time?"

"Yan Lingji and Sister Zi Nu have sent word!"

"I really didn't expect that scoundrel to go all the way to Hundred Yue City to see them."

"No wonder we haven't seen him these past few days."

"He said he was in seclusion to cultivate, but that was clearly a lie."

Hong Lian pouted, clearly unhappy.

"Really? His Majesty went to visit Sister Zi Nu and the others?"

"That's wonderful. Yan Lingji and the others must be thrilled."

"Yes, and I heard that scoundrel is planning to build a Hundred Yue City within the Ming Dynasty as well. It will be under our control from now on."

"The Hundred Yue City of the Qin Dynasty will be gradually moved."

"In the future, we'll be able to visit Zi Nu and the others whenever we want."

"But they won't be entering the palace?"

"Tch, to that scoundrel, what difference does it make whether they enter the palace or not?"

"Maybe, in his eyes, this makes things even more exciting."

"Home flowers can't compare to wild ones."

"Look at Li Hanyi, the Sword Immortal of Snow Moon City. He visits her in secret all the time. He's practically turned Snow Moon City into another Imperial Harem."

"Enough. Let's not talk about this," Nong Yu quickly cut in.

"In that case, we should assist them however we can."

"By the way, where is His Majesty now? Still in the Qin Dynasty? Is there any danger?"

"Hmph. Even if we were in danger, that scoundrel wouldn't be."

"Should we report this to Her Majesty the Empress?"

Hong Lian was taken aback for a moment.

Then she nodded silently.

"We'd better let her know."

"In the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Harem, Her Majesty the Empress is someone we absolutely must not provoke."

"There is no conflict of interest between us and her. If she does not provoke us, we must not provoke her."

"If we turn hostile, it will only make things difficult for that scoundrel."

"I don't want that to happen."

Even someone with Hong Lian's fiery nature held deep respect for Empress Wu Zhao.

As a former Princess of Han Kingdom, she naturally understood who could and couldn't be offended.

She knew not to make enemies lightly.

Unless her core interests or bottom line were threatened, she had no intention of making an enemy of the Empress.

It seemed Empress Wu Zhao's management of the Imperial Harem was truly showing results.

Whether it was Hong Lian, Nong Yu, Murong Qiudi, or the women of Xue Yuan, none would easily cross the Empress unless absolutely necessary.

With their insight, how could they not see that she was a true God Demon Realm cultivator?

She was a monstrous figure.

Apart from His Majesty, no one could suppress her.

With their current Heavenly Human Realm or even Mythical Realm cultivation, they were still no match for her.

If they did turn hostile, the ones to suffer would be themselves.

Perhaps due to that scoundrel, they wouldn't face real danger.

But their lives would definitely become unpleasant.

Until they reached the God Demon Realm, provoking someone at that level was pure foolishness.

Nong Yu fully understood Hong Lian's reaction and agreed with her decision.

==========

Elsewhere in the Imperial Harem.

Zhao Min Palace.

In terms of rank among the Consorts, she was not inferior to Murong Qiudi and the others in the slightest.

After all, she was a Princess of the Yuan Dynasty.

Zhu Houzhao had no need to humiliate them with lower status.

It wasn't that he couldn't, but rather there was no point.

His mindset was far above such pettiness.

At this moment, Zhao Min stared at the Golden Ranking fading from the sky, her expression slightly changing.

Especially when she saw the name of Long Xiao at the top of the Renowned Marshal Ranking.

A flash of light passed through her mind.

She seemed to remember something.

Several years ago, her father, Prince Ruyang, had led a Yuan Army across the grasslands and encountered a mysterious force.

The enemy had only three thousand troops, while her father commanded a force of one hundred and fifty thousand.

Yet the result of the battle shocked everyone.

After one clash, her father's forces suffered devastating losses.

Three thousand against one hundred and fifty thousand.

In the end, her father escaped with only ten thousand battered survivors.

Even those remaining ten thousand soldiers were heavily injured.

Because of that battle, her father was so shaken that he nearly faced execution by Temujin.

Fortunately, due to his many past contributions, he was spared.

Only after earning further merit did he regain his title as Prince Ruyang.

Zhao Min knew very well how skilled her father was in warfare.

And yet, he was nearly wiped out.

That mysterious force must have been terrifying beyond words.

Later, Temujin sent another army to eliminate them.

But they were still utterly defeated.

In fact, their loss was even worse than her father's.

She wasn't high enough in status at the time to know the full details.

But because of that incident, everyone fell silent.

No one dared to mention it again.

It was also because of that mysterious army that the Yuan Dynasty's national strength took a major hit.

It took years of recuperation for the dynasty to recover.

Temujin's eagerness to conquer the Southern Song Dynasty likely had more reasons than ambition alone.

That earlier defeat may have played a part.

Now, putting all the pieces together.

The Supreme Commander of that mysterious army back then was very likely the same Long Xiao ranked 1st on the Renowned Marshal Ranking.

She never would have thought that such a terrifying army belonged to the Ming Dynasty.

Unbelievable.

The Ming Emperor had hidden things so deeply.

If not for the Golden Ranking revealing the truth, she might never have known that the army was part of the Ming Dynasty.

She was sure that the dynasties and forces who had once suffered at the hands of that force were now coming to the same realization.

Ever since joining the Imperial Harem, Zhao Min had studied the Ming Emperor closely.

On the surface, he seemed indifferent to everything.

He barely reviewed imperial documents and spent his days lazing around the Imperial Harem.

Diligent governance seemed completely unrelated to him.

From what she knew, Emperors of other dynasties personally handled their government affairs.

Even the idle Southern Song Emperor Zhao Gou, Northern Song Emperor Zhao Ji, Han Emperor Liu Hong, and Sui Emperor Liu Hong all reviewed documents themselves.

Not to mention the likes of Qin Emperor Ying Zheng, Tang Emperor Li Shimin, and Yuan Emperor Temujin.

They would stay up late into the night reviewing reports.

Even Temujin, when on campaign against the Southern Song Dynasty, would finish reading all military reports in his tent before going to sleep.

But the Ming Emperor?

He simply tossed the documents to his ministers and the Empress.

As if it had nothing to do with him.

To the unknowing, he would seem like a useless and incompetent Emperor.

But the truth?

Anyone who believed that was a fool.

Everything was part of his grand concealment.

The Rank 1 marshal on the ranking had been secretly trained years ago.

If not for the Golden Ranking, no one in the Nine Provinces would have ever known.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Sun Moon In The Sky ( 日月当空 )

・Wu Zhao ( 武曌 ) — Empress of Ming Dynasty

Shangguan Wan'er ( 上官婉儿 ) — Maid of Wu Zhao

Great Tang Twin Dragons Legend ( 大唐双龙传 )

・Shi Feixuan ( 师妃暄 ) — Saintess of Cihang Tranquil School

・Wan Wan ( 婠婠 ) — Saintess of Yingui Sect

・Song Yuhua ( 宋玉华 ) — First Young Miss of Song Clan

Legend of the Condor Heroes ( 射雕英雄传 )

・Huang Rong ( 黄蓉 ) — Young Miss of Peach Blossom Island

Wind and Cloud ( 风云 )

・Xue Yuan ( 雪缘 ) — Divine Princess of Divine Search Palace

・You Ruo ( 幽若 ) — Young Miss of World Association

Sword of Third Young Master ( 三少爷的剑 )

・Murong Qiudi ( 慕容秋荻 ) — Master of Heavenly Venerable Organization

Sentimental Swordsman, Ruthless Sword ( 多情剑客无情剑 )

・Lin Shiyin ( 林诗音 ) — Young Miss of Demon Blade Gate

Nine Songs of Moving Heaven ( 天行九歌 )

・Nong Yu ( 弄玉 ) — Elder of Hundred Yue City

・Hong Lian ( 红莲 ) — Princess of Han Kingdom

Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber ( 倚天屠龙记 )

・Zhao Min ( 赵敏 ) — Princess of Prince Ruyang Mansion