Chapter 549.1: Fury of the Gods

“Our prince has passed and the Xiyue cannot go a day without a ruler,” the senior consort said solemnly. “We need to start planning who will inherit the throne.”

The officials nodded, finding this quite reasonable.

However, the second consort frowned, her slender fingers gliding across the words “Prince of Xiyue” on the flyer. “Let’s not be hasty, we should determine the situation first.”

Her caution was answered by a sneer, the senior consort hardly appreciated the input. “Regardless of backing or seniority, your son will never become the new prince. Save your blathering.”

Everybody looked at each other. They all knew about the senior consort’s temper, so any son she’d raised might not be a good ruler. But no matter how one looked at it, the second consort’s son was simply too young to be in the running.

The senior and third consort busied themselves with funeral arrangements, calling their children over to grieve and hold vigil. The morning passed in the blink of an eye.

In the afternoon, the guards atop the palace walls noticed suddenly how people were suddenly gathering in the plaza. As time went on, the crowd seemed to be growing larger. Faces turning pale with the development, they hastily went inside the palace to report on the happenings.

Before long, the princess consorts, officials, and Zhou Meng’s children had all received the news. They gathered at the palace walls, peering out curiously. The crowd continued to grow until it seemed like all the people in Xiyue were assembled!

When everyone was present, a large entourage appeared in the distance. They seemed to be protecting wagons in their midst. Everyone held their breaths as they watched the procession slowly approach to the point where they could clearly be seen.

More than fifty black-clad cavalry escorted the group. A beautiful woman dressed in red sat alone on her horse, galloping shoulder to shoulder with a handsome young man in black. Heavily burdened wagons trundled forward behind them, protected by nearly a thousand men.

Silence reigned at the scene. When the Xiyue commoners saw the display of military strength, the Goddess’ celestial bearing, and the provision they brought, the crowd naturally parted to the sides to make way for them. One after another, they knelt and kowtowed with loud shouts, “Goddess! The Goddess has brought seeds to us! Long live the Goddess! Long live the Goddess!”

The cheers of thousands of people rose and fell like tidal waves, shaking the earth and quaking the heart!

The princess consorts, officials, and young heirs on the walls even seemed to feel the bricks tremble beneath their feet. An ashen second consort clutched her sleeves tightly, poking her head out for a good look.

Qin Yining pursed her lips and slightly pressed her arms down to indicate for silence. Surprisingly, the people actually did follow her gesture and quieted down.

She cleared her throat and spoke crisply, “People of Xiyue! The gods have heard your devout prayers and sent me here to bring you provisions and seeds!”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” The people immediately broke into raucous cheers. Those at the front passed on the goddess’ words to those who couldn’t hear clearly at the back. Emotional applause broke out, and some elders and children even dabbed at their eyes.

Qin Yining raised her hand again, gesturing for silence. The crowd immediately calmed down again, but faint sobs could be heard this time.

“Although I am here on behalf of the heavens, the situation in Xiyue was truly unsatisfactory. The heavens decreed that I am to descend with provisions and marry the Prince of Xiyue. However, Xiyue’s prince was a fake!

“Many of you saw what happened yesterday. The reason why I didn’t marry Zhou Meng was because he is not the prince that the heavens have selected for Xiyue.”

Dazed horror slammed into the people.

“How can our prince have been a fake?”

“Impossible, our prince was born and grew up here. He can’t be a fake!” The revelation sent the crowd into a frenzy. Exclamations and retorts rose and fell, everyone talking over each other in their agitation. Qin Yining just listened quietly to their reactions.

When the discussions died down somewhat, she chuckled softly. “There has been a mistake made in the inheritance of Xiyue’s royals. Otherwise, the heavens wouldn’t have waited almost a century to send an emissary to you.

“You all believed in the wrong prince. Only after seeing the true Xiyue prince and receiving heavens’ decree did I learn that Zhou Meng was actually an imposter.”

Pausing for emphasis, Qin Yining stepped aside and pointed at Pang Xiao beside her. “According to the appointment of the heavens, this man is the true heir to Xiyue’s throne.”

Pang Xiao regarded the crowd loftily. His hands behind his back, he wasn’t shy about displaying his handsome appearance to anyone who looked at him. His noble bearing imparted an unapproachable aura to his figure. Compared to the Xiyue prince they knew, this man’s princely aura was a hundred times stronger.

The look of someone who commanded an army and campaigned year round on the battlefield would naturally be different from an ordinary person’s. It held a natural strikingness that spoke of domineering ruthlessness.

One after another, the people fell silent as they considered Pang Xiao. Under this man’s gaze, they could think about nothing but kneeling down in deference. No one could find any words to speak.

The officials on the palace wall looked at each other, dumbfounded by the development. Color drained from the second consort’s face at the implications of these events.