Chapter 1 The Descent of Magic

Zheng Fan sat by the creek, holding a handful of melon seeds he'd grabbed from the wine table earlier, spitting the shells into the crimson water.

After discovering that Ting Jie'er was still alive, Commandant Zheng felt much better. The previous depression, confusion, and brain fog seemed to have lifted.

Even the sounds of the Jingnan Army soldiers finishing off the corpses one by one weren't as grating.

Was he getting used to it?

No, probably just numb.

This was truly a messed-up world.

Commandant Zheng suddenly felt a little regretful.

If he hadn't decided to leave Tiger Head City and stir things up, everyone could have stayed there:

A Ming brewing wine, Fan Li chopping wood;

Blind Man telling fortunes, Xue San narrating stories;

He could have been a wealthy man, with Si Niang by his side every day. It seemed nice, at least he wouldn't have to experience or see these things. Not that he was afraid, just annoyed, and a little disgusted.

But it didn't seem like he had a choice. If he had truly chosen to be an ordinary person, he would probably have died in that corvée camp, his corpse trampled by barbarian cavalry, then crushed again by the Northern Garrison Army's iron hooves.

If he were lucky, the desert wolves coming to scavenge for food in the morning might find a slightly complete piece of his flesh.

Blind Man, you say the meat-eaters eat human flesh, but you only mean they eat the flesh of the lower classes without blinking an eye;

Damn it, now they're eating their own people's heads, and they're enjoying it just as much.

Although Zheng Fan understood rationally how much courage, even a pioneering spirit for the country and its people, was in Marquis Jingnan's statement, "The downfall of the Great Yan aristocratic families begins with my Tian family,"

But honestly, Zheng Fan felt he could never do that.

If he really had to do that, how boring would life be? What was the point?

For my love of Great Yan and loyalty to the Ji imperial family?

"What are you thinking about?"

Du Juan's voice came from behind Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan coughed and said,

"Nothing."

"After tonight, no one in the capital will be talking about you deposing the Third Prince."

Heh, Marquis Jingnan is going all out to stop me from making headlines.

"Yeah."

Tomorrow, the news of Marquis Jingnan annihilating his entire clan will quickly spread throughout the capital, even throughout Great Yan, and even throughout the entire Eastern Four Kingdoms.

"The Marquis is having a hard time," Du Juan said.

"But the Marquis doesn't need pity," Zheng Fan said.

"Heh, it seems you men understand men better."

"Sister Du Juan is joking, this subordinate only has unspeakable admiration for the Marquis."

"I can tell, that wasn't flattery."

"Indeed."

"The Marquis has an order."

Zheng Fan was stunned, then knelt on one knee,

"This subordinate awaits orders!"

"Commandant Zheng is ordered to return to the capital tonight to enter the palace and meet the Emperor."

"Huh?"

"Relay this message to His Majesty: The head has been opened."

"This subordinate obeys!"

After getting up, Zheng Fan pointed at his face in confusion and said,

"Sister Du Juan, I think I've had enough opportunities to perform recently, I should give more opportunities to the other brothers, so we can get along better in the future. It's not good for me to always hog the spotlight."

Damn it, I just turned the Emperor's own son into Eunuch Wei's adopted son today,

And now you want me to enter the capital, enter the palace, and meet the Emperor?

Are you killing the donkey after it grinds the mill, without even waiting overnight?

"If the Marquis tells you to go, then go. No one in the Jingnan Army dares to question the Marquis's orders."

Du Juan's words sounded a bit cold.

After all, she came from the Secret Intelligence Division, even though she had just become someone else's wife, she hadn't lost her old skills.

"Just kidding, just kidding."

"You don't have to be afraid. You're someone the Marquis values, His Majesty won't do anything to you."

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

Of course you're not afraid. Your parents-in-law just died suddenly after you got married. You must be overjoyed.

Of course, he only dared to think these words in his heart. Commandant Zheng really didn't dare to say them out loud.

Without a seal or document, Zheng Fan wore his armor, mounted his warhorse, and left the residence.

There was one more thing to be thankful for, which was that Zheng Fan hadn't killed anyone in the Ya Garden earlier, so unlike the other Jingnan Army soldiers, his armor wasn't washed over and over with blood.

If that were the case, the cold winter wind would freeze the blood on his body, and then the heat radiating from his body would bake it from time to time…

Ugh, that smell…

After riding out of the residence, it wasn't far before Zheng Fan found a dark mass blocking his path.

There was actually a large army here!

Because it was night, visibility was limited, but after Zheng Fan approached, he determined that the army in front of him numbered no less than three thousand, and there should be more troops nearby.

After approaching, the other side's scouts took the initiative to come over.

"Who goes there?"

"Zheng Fan, Commandant of Cui Liu Fort in Yinlang County, Great Yan."

"Greetings, Lord Zheng."

The two scouts took the initiative to salute Zheng Fan, and Zheng Fan returned the salute.

Then, one of the scouts went ahead to report, and Zheng Fan, led by the other scout, passed through the area with almost no obstruction.

This was… the Jingnan Army.

Marquis Jingnan didn't just bring a thousand men with him to the capital this time. This was clearly the army that arrived later.

Continuing to ride his horse, Zheng Fan arrived at the south gate of the capital after about an hour.

The city gate was already closed, but there was a garrison of Imperial Guards guarding it at the city gate, not on the city tower, but below the city wall.

When Zheng Fan approached on his horse, the Imperial Guards immediately stepped forward to stop him.

"Who goes there?"

"Zheng Fan, Commandant of Cui Liu Fort in Yinlang County, Great Yan."

Soon, a large hanging basket was lowered from the city tower.

Zheng Fan dismounted, entered the hanging basket, and was pulled up to the city wall.

Before Zheng Fan could ask anything, a city gate commandant led Zheng Fan downstairs, pointed to a horse that was already prepared there, cupped his fist at Zheng Fan, and left without saying a word.

"Heh…"

Was his name that famous?

Or did they know that no one would dare to impersonate him at this time?

Or maybe the password for tonight was "Zheng Fan"?

Of course, this was just a bit of malicious speculation. In fact, Zheng Fan knew more clearly in his heart that the palace must have known what was going to happen at the residence today.

The sentence that Marquis Jingnan had asked him to convey, "The head has been opened."

It was clearly like two brothers with a clear division of labor, supporting each other.

Meaning, my side is done, it's your turn.

Of course, the decision to go home and annihilate his family couldn't have been because Marquis Jingnan went back and found that the food at the banquet didn't suit his taste and he was angry enough to annihilate his family;

He must have had a plan in mind long ago.

And the reason for making trouble for the Third Prince during the day was even simpler.

I'm about to annihilate my entire family, it's not too much to vent my anger by crippling one of your sons, right?

He didn't kill the Third Prince, but crippled him, which was likely more in line with Marquis Jingnan's purpose of venting his anger, a more ruthless method, and more satisfying than killing him.

In this way, he really had been licked into instinct by Blind Man Bei and the others, knowing how to make the person he needed to lick more satisfied.

However, the Emperor in the palace was also ruthless enough, sending his Empress back to visit her parents, knowing that there would be a disaster at the residence tonight.

But this seemed to be a deep and subtle way for the Emperor to express his love, giving his wife a chance to go back and see her parents one last time?

Xiao Liu Zi could be more balanced now. His second brother's maternal family was also annihilated, and his father didn't favor one over the other, both were annihilated by Marquis Jingnan.

Outsiders had no way of knowing what this "bearer of heavy responsibility" and "concerned with the fate of the country" was thinking,

What rebellious things were going through his head as he rode his horse from the south gate to the palace gate.

Even Zheng Fan himself didn't know why he was thinking these things. Maybe it was to relieve his inner tension.

Although he probably thought that this Emperor was a great ruler, and great rulers generally had a habit of not caring much about their sons.

But what if?

What if Emperor Yan didn't follow the usual path?

He only had one life.

The Yan Kingdom Imperial Palace, this was Zheng Fan's first time there. Fortunately, it wasn't hard to find. When planning the capital in later generations, attention would also be paid to the height of buildings near the Forbidden City. And in this capital of the Yan Kingdom, no matter where you stood, you could tell the direction of the Imperial Palace with a glance.

The Imperial Guards at the palace gate stepped forward to check Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan once again reported his position and name.

Soon,

A hanging basket was lowered from the palace gate.

Generally speaking, important cities had at least two layers of inner and outer walls. In fact, the Imperial Palace itself was designed to have a defensive effect.

This wasn't used to defend against rebel armies or foreign enemies outside the city. Generally speaking, once the army outside the city entered the capital, it was basically equivalent to the general trend being over, and no matter how well the Imperial Palace was defended, it wouldn't mean much.

But the defensiveness of the Imperial Palace could effectively avoid small-scale rebellions and conspiracies from within the capital.

After going up in the hanging basket, this time, Zheng Fan was not allowed to ride his horse.

After getting off the palace gate tower,

Zheng Fan found an old acquaintance waiting for him here.

Actually, he wasn't that familiar. Marquis Jingnan had said several times along the way that he wanted to introduce him to his department,

At the same time,

This great figure had said to him very seriously during the day today:

This old one has remembered you.

Zheng Fan swallowed subconsciously and quickly glanced back at the tightly closed palace gate behind him. At this moment, he actually had the illusion of a palace maiden entering the palace, with the palace walls separating his life and destiny from then on.

"Commandant Zheng, this old one has been waiting for a long time."

Wei Zhonghe held a horsetail whisk and saluted Zheng Fan slightly.

The familiar voice, the familiar temperament, plus the image that generations of factory directors in film and television works had added to him.

"This subordinate, Zheng Fan, Commandant of Cui Liu Fort, greets Eunuch Wei!"

"Oh, how come Lord Zheng has become so restrained again after only half a day?"

"After all, my lifeblood is in your hands, Eunuch."

Eunuch Wei made a gesture with his left hand, pointing at Zheng Fan and saying,

"Naughty."

Then, Eunuch Wei said again,

"The palace is most in need of clever people like Lord Zheng."

"............" Zheng Fan.

"His Majesty is still waiting in the Imperial Study, Lord Zheng, please follow this old one."

"It's my first time entering the palace, please lead the way, Eunuch."

"You're too polite, let's go."

Zheng Fan had seen Eunuch Wei's speed before.

And this time, Eunuch Wei seemed to be deliberately trying to save time, so he was very fast, so fast that he was clearly walking, but Zheng Fan had to run to barely keep up with him.

After running for about half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Eunuch Wei suddenly stopped, and Zheng Fan naturally stopped as well, starting to pant.

"Lord Zheng, catch your breath first, so as not to offend His Majesty when you meet him later."

"Thank you, Eunuch."

The two began to walk forward at a steady pace, passing through a small garden. This garden wasn't large, similar to the Imperial Garden in the Forbidden City. In short, it was almost impossible for the concubines to play hide-and-seek or encounter each other here.

The Imperial Study was behind the garden, separated by a small pond. After crossing the corridor over the pond, Eunuch Wei signaled Zheng Fan to wait outside while he went in first.

The feeling of an Imperial Palace with a master and an Imperial Palace without a master was completely different. Zheng Fan was standing at the door at this time and really felt a bit cold.

When you were in elementary school, you beat up your classmate Little Fatty, and now Little Fatty's dad is waiting for you in the teacher's office.

Well, of course, the above situation was still good. If it was changed to: When you were in elementary school, you castrated your classmate Little Fatty, and now Little Fatty's dad is waiting for you…

After a while,

Eunuch Wei came out and said to Zheng Fan,

"Come in, Lord Zheng."

Zheng Fan walked in.

The lights in the Imperial Study weren't very bright. It seemed that the Emperor liked this slightly dim style. After Zheng Fan went in and turned right, he saw a person sitting behind the desk, wearing a traditional Yan-style robe, but with gold trim. The specific appearance wasn't so clear, and Zheng Fan didn't have much time to observe closely.

"This subject, Zheng Fan, Commandant of Cui Liu Fort, greets Your Majesty!"

It had been more than half a year since he woke up. He had traveled north and south, causing a lot of trouble, and confusedly, he had finally met the highest leader of Great Yan.

Before, at the bonfire party in Cui Liu Fort at night, Zheng Fan and Blind Man often each held a cigarette and boasted.

This Emperor Yan and Marquis Zhenbei were clearly singing a duet, and he and Blind Man had already guessed it. Now it was good, they had to add Marquis Jingnan to it.

He didn't know what kind of courage and charm this Emperor of Great Yan had to make the two Marquises of the North and South completely believe in him and be willing to stand on the same front with him.

"Zheng Fan?"

Emperor Yan said in a low voice, as if he was slowly chewing on the name.

Zheng Fan knelt on the ground. The uneasiness he had felt when he came here suddenly became exceptionally calm at this time.

It was like you were panicking before the exam, but after the paper was handed out, you had no time to panic anymore.

"Who sent you here?"

Emperor Yan's tone was casual, not like an Emperor, but like a lazy man, naturally annoyed at having to work overtime to deal with government affairs late at night.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Marquis Jingnan sent this subject here."

Zheng Fan wasn't very clear about what kind of format a conversation between a ruler and his subjects should have. Before today, he was just a Commandant of a border fort, although now, he was still just a Commandant.

"Speak."

"Marquis Jingnan asked this subject to bring a sentence to Your Majesty."

"Continue."

"The head has been opened."

"Oh."

From that one "oh," Zheng Fan couldn't infer too much.

"How is the Empress?"

Emperor Yan asked, like you were sitting on your doorstep eating with a bowl in your hand, and your neighbor's second uncle happened to pass by and ask if your parents were okay?

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress is well."

If he hadn't stopped them in time, the Empress might have been killed by the bloodthirsty Jingnan Army.

But Zheng Fan didn't dare to take credit for this, or even mention it.

Who knew if this Emperor would be relieved or unhappy to know that his Empress was safe and sound?

There was an example in front of him before. That Jiedushi Lord of the Qian Kingdom, after learning that his wife, who was from the Silver Armor Guard, had died, he should have been very happy in his heart, right?

"Commandant Zheng, do you have a courtesy name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject was born of humble origins and has no courtesy name."

"That's good. We Yan people don't need to learn the pedantic rules of the Qian people. Commandant Zheng, in the past six months, you have appeared on my desk several times."

"This subject is terrified."

"Saving the Prince outside the Marquis Zhenbei's residence, capturing the Qian Kingdom spy in Huaiya Academy in Yinlang County, and leading four hundred cavalry deep into the territory of the Qian Kingdom to break through Mianzhou City.

Alas, I'm old, old. This future world belongs to you young people."

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and Great Yan is in the midst of a prosperous national fortune. Great Yan's chariot still needs a helmsman like Your Majesty to guide the direction."

"Helmsman, direction?"

Emperor Yan smiled

and said,

"Commandant Zheng isn't from Beifeng, how could you have seen the sea?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject heard it from the Western Region merchants. Their merchants often travel across the sea to do business."

"Oh, it's a pity that Great Yan can't see the sea yet.

By the way, Commandant Zheng, you were born in the North, but you are valued by Marquis Jingnan. I'm curious, are you a man of Marquis Zhenbei, or a man of Marquis Jingnan?"

"This subject is a Yan person, this subject is Your Majesty's subject!"

"Heh, although it's a lie, it sounds comforting."

"............" Zheng Fan.

"Isn't that right, Your Majesty? Although this servant only met Commandant Zheng today, I can be sure that Commandant Zheng is a clever person."

"It's a pity, Wei Zhonghe, he's someone Marquis Jingnan has chosen. You, Wei Zhonghe, have no chance to take him as an adopted son."

"How dare I? This servant wouldn't dare to snatch someone from Marquis Jingnan. It's just a pity that this servant didn't meet Commandant Zheng sooner."

"You castrated thing, wanting to take a general seed like Zheng Fan into your hands, could it be that you want to learn from Grand Commandant Yang of the Qian Kingdom and lead troops out to fight?"

"Oh dear, even if this servant ate the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard, I wouldn't dare to have such a rebellious thought! May Your Majesty see clearly, may Your Majesty see clearly!"

The Emperor and the chief eunuch were chatting,

Commandant Zheng kneeling below was dripping with cold sweat.

"Clang..."

At this time,

A silver token was thrown in front of Zheng Fan,

Zheng Fan took the token in his hand with some astonishment.

Emperor Yan's voice came:

"This is a pass to freely enter and exit the Lake Heart Pavilion."

"Huh?" Zheng Fan didn't understand.

"I heard that you have a connection with Cheng Yue. If you have time, you can go and see him more often for me."

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Thank you to 空闲的思维 for becoming the 73rd alliance master of *The Descent of Magic*.