Hearing these words, Sauron could not help being startled, and said: “Demon blood, was it really you who gave it to Zhi Li?”
“Of course not.” Fang Qingyi said.
Sauron said: “Then it was Fang Qingshu who gave it to Zhi Li.”
Fang Qingyi said: “I did not say anything.”
Sauron said: “That is unreasonable. Since it was not you who produced the demon blood, Hidden Continent should use this as a breakthrough point to counterattack, right? Thoroughly wash away the charge of demon blood.”
“Hehe…” Fang Qingyi said: “The matter of demon blood cannot be washed away. This matter certainly belongs to Hidden Continent. And since Zhi Li named me, then I must plead guilty.”
Sauron said: “After all, this was not your doing. You would not pass the spirit test stage.”
Fang Qingyi said: “That is why I must die. After confessing, I must immediately commit suicide, taking all the blame upon myself. Settling this quickly on the demon blood battlefield is called stopping losses. Otherwise, more and more people will be implicated.”
“Suicide?” Sauron said.
“Yes, suicide.” Fang Qingyi sighed: “Zhi Li entered the Yan Capital Sacred Hall. After confessing, he knew he could not pass the spirit lie detection, so he immediately committed suicide after finishing his confession. I must also take this path.”
Sauron understood.
Ji Xiuning certainly did not want the demon blood matter to only burn as far as Fang Qingyi. She wanted it to burn to the Hidden Continent elders, the Hidden Continent master, and others.
But the Hidden Continent master and the people behind the Zhidu Sacred Hall hoped this case would stop with Luo Ge, Ge Li, and Fang Qingyi.
As for Fu Lingxi, she was merely a small fish in a pond that had been caught in the crossfire.
On the demon blood matter, Hidden Continent could not wash itself clean, so they decisively admitted defeat on this battlefield, sacrificing Fang Qingyi to make an explanation.
Then, they would think of ways to raise other great cases to counterattack Ji Xiuning and the forces behind her.
“Then what about Luo Ge, Ge Li, and Fu Lingxi, these three people?” Sauron asked.
Fang Qingyi said: “Their ending should be the same as mine. Similarly, after confessing, they immediately die! Otherwise they cannot pass the spirit lie detection. The three of them are also stopping loss points, cutting off Ji Xiuning’s hope of continuing to dig deeper.”
“Alas…” Sauron sighed.
Fang Qingyi smiled and said: “Anyway, I suffered a crushing defeat in the Fury Wave Kingdom and was already finished. Even without this heaven-shaking great case, after returning to Hidden Continent I would also be thoroughly stripped of my position as young master. Letting me take the blame for the demon blood case is also making use of waste.”
Sauron said: “Does your father have that many sons? You and Fang Qingshu, two sons, sacrificed just like that.”
Fang Qingyi was startled and said: “Who said Fang Qingshu and I are blood brothers? We are cousins.”
Sauron said in surprise: “Then what about Fang Qingzhuo?”
Fang Qingyi said: “Fang Qingzhuo and Fang Qingshu are blood siblings, the daughter of the Hidden Continent master. My father is a Hidden Continent elder. The direct descendants of the elders council all have inheritance rights to Hidden Continent.”
Sauron understood. Hidden Continent adopted an elite-style democracy within the family.
“Die then die, as long as I do not die in the Fury Wave Kingdom.” Sauron said.
“Rest assured, I will not.” Fang Qingyi said: “I need to complete my confession, take all the blame upon myself, and then die.”
“Farewell.” Sauron said.
“We shall never meet again.” Fang Qingshu said.
…
Sauron left the heavenly prison. A little over half an hour later, five Sky Sacred Knights arrived at the royal palace, directly finding Sauron. They produced an official document from the Sky Sacred Hall, coming to take Fang Qingyi away.
Sauron of course could not stop them.
Let alone Fang Qingyi not being a prisoner of the Fury Wave Kingdom, even if he were, the Sky Sacred Hall had the power to take away prisoners from any prison in human nations, even if he had committed the great crime of treason and regicide.
Of course, the Eastern Li Kingdom was excepted!
Because the Eastern Li Kingdom was not within the Dragon God Temple’s sphere of rule.
The deeper he understood this world, the more Sauron admired the successive Eastern Li Kings!
The Yan Empire relied on thorough collusion with the Dragon God Temple to become the sole hegemon of the entire human world, the strongest hegemon.
However, the Eastern Li Kingdom could actually have become the world’s number one hegemon a thousand years ago, but they did not do so.
Because successive Eastern Li Kings all felt they were merely a subordinate of the Dragon Emperor, without qualification to dominate the entire world.
As for the title Eastern Li Kingdom, it was also personally bestowed by His Majesty the Dragon Emperor.
The ancestor of the first generation Jiang clan was the Dragon Emperor’s right-hand man, having established magnificent military achievements. He was bestowed as Eastern Li King by the Dragon Emperor, with territory on the Eastern Li Peninsula of the continent!
The Eastern Li Kingdom came from this, and today the Eastern Li Kingdom’s capital Li Jing was precisely the territory bestowed by the Dragon Emperor back then.
The reason the Eastern Li Kingdom did not pledge allegiance to the Dragon God Temple was also because in the Dragon Emperor’s era, the Dragon God Temple was merely an academic institution without any power.
In short, three thousand years had passed, and the Eastern Li Kingdom still followed the Dragon Emperor’s traditions.
Even, in this nation the supreme monarch was still the Dragon Emperor.
Not only that, while other kings had already called their decrees imperial edicts, the Eastern Li King still called his decrees “your majesty’s command.” In their view, only the Dragon Emperor’s decrees could be called imperial edicts.
It was precisely because of this reason that the Eastern Li Kingdom had indifferent relations with other mainland nations, with very little contact.
But they were simply awesome, completely keeping the Dragon God Temple at bay.
It was also fortunate that the Eastern Li Kingdom existed, so the Dragon God Temple did not dare go too far with the Fury Wave Kingdom, Western Liang Kingdom, and Northern Court Kingdom.
Although these great kingdoms all leaned on the Dragon God Temple, they also faintly relied on the Eastern Li Kingdom as a backer.
Evening fell!
Thirty Sky Sacred Knights escorted Ge Li, Luo Ge, Fu Lingxi, and Fang Qingyi aboard griffons, leaving the royal capital Zhidu, flying toward Yan Capital!
At this time, this news spread throughout the entire royal city.
An unprecedented storm, unprecedented shock!
Whether for the royal city’s nobles or for the royal city’s subjects, this was completely an unprecedented great earthquake, a heaven-shaking great earthquake.
For all the Dragon God Temples and all the Dragon God academies in the entire Fury Wave Kingdom, this was an incomparably dark day.
Immediately after, many nobles discovered that the dark clouds hanging over the Fury Wave Kingdom seemed to have completely disappeared.
Now, no one could resist Sauron anymore!
Within the entire Fury Wave Kingdom, there was no longer a single person who could contend against Sauron.
The Zhidu Sacred Hall was finished. The Hidden Origin Association’s power in the Fury Wave Kingdom was also finished. These corrupt nobles no longer had any backer!
The incomparably terrified royal city nobles made an absurd move. They directly ran to the square before the royal palace to kowtow.
While kowtowing, they shouted: “Duke Sauron is mighty.”
“This servant swears eternal loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, loyalty to His Majesty the Regent King!”
“Long live His Majesty the King, long live Her Majesty the Queen, long live the Regent King!”
At first it was merely the move of some brain-dead nobles. Later, more and more nobles went to kneel before the royal palace shouting long live.
In the end, even some relatively rational nobles became uneasy. Everyone had gone. If I did not go, would the Regent Duke bear a grudge against me?
So, these rational nobles also joined the ranks of kneeling.
Instantly, a strange scene appeared in the square before the royal palace. Over a thousand nobles and officials kneeling neatly in place.
At first the slogans were very scattered, but later they became incomparably uniform.
“Long live His Majesty the King, long live Her Majesty the Queen, long live the Regent King!”
True mountain-shaking cries of long live, voices shaking the heavens!
Sauron did not show his face. He did not find it amusing, only felt sorrow.
These nobles’ actions were completely childish beyond measure, stupid beyond belief.
But were these nobles fools?
Perhaps some individuals were fools, especially those who first ran to kneel and shout long live.
But as it developed, even rational and intelligent nobles had no choice but to come. The eunuchs reported that all the royal city’s nobles had come, including Minister of Personnel Hei Mu, including Tu Lingchen.
They knew this approach was very stupid, but they could not not come.
This was the herd effect, making intelligent and wise individuals become a stupid herd.
In the end, Sauron sent Zhuang Zhixuan to the royal palace gates, where she said one sentence: “Understood. Disperse!”
At this time, Sauron could not even send Gao Yin. He needed to send Zhuang Zhixuan.
Because in everyone’s mind, only Zhuang Zhixuan was Sauron’s true private person. She was not only Sauron’s personal bodyguard, but also his lover.
One sentence from Zhuang Zhixuan: “Disperse.”
The leading Minister of Personnel Hei Mu respectfully kowtowed and said: “May His Majesty the King’s sacred body be at peace. May Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the Regent King enjoy robust health.”
Then, the over a thousand nobles behind him also shouted in neat unison.
“We respectfully wish His Majesty the King’s sacred body at peace, and Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the Regent King robust health.”
Then, these over a thousand nobles retreated in neat formation, returning to their homes!
After everyone had retreated, the obese Duke Zhi Ting hurriedly rushed over. Entering the royal palace, he made as if to kneel, wiping sweat and saying: “Alas, everyone went to kneel before the royal palace. I learned the news too late. Is it still in time to come kneel now!”
Seeing Duke Zhi Ting’s roguish appearance, Sauron smiled and said: “Uncle, if you dare kneel, I dare accept!”
“Hehe, then forget it!” Duke Zhi Ting took the opportunity to stand up.
Sauron said: “I am going home. Will uncle come home with me to eat?”
Duke Zhi Ting shook his head and said: “No, since I am already here, I will go see my elder brother.”
This old playboy was absolutely a shrewd person.
The reason he did not come when the nobles collectively went to kneel was because he did not want to join in the commotion, putting Sauron in an awkward position.
But if he truly did not come, he worried Sauron would have an opinion of him, feeling that Zhi Ting thought too highly of himself.
So in the evening, he hurriedly rushed over, making as if to kneel, exchanging a few bantering words with Sauron.
And previously he almost never called Zhi Bian elder brother, but called him His Majesty the King. But now, he directly opened his mouth calling him elder brother. This was not disrespect toward Zhi Bian, but rather proactively changing roles, strengthening Zhi Yan and Sauron’s royal identity.
Who dared say this person was muddle-headed? He was almost the most intelligent person Sauron had ever seen! Most precious of all, this person was very intelligent, yet still maintained a heart of innocence.
If one were to rank people by character, in Sauron’s mind, three people could be called top-grade: Count Sauron his father, King Zhi Bian, and Duke Zhi Ting.
Even his father-in-law Yan Yan, and Luanyang City Lord Tu Liwen, could only be upper-middle grade.
…
Evening, inside the princess residence.
Sauron once again had his whole family sitting around a large table eating.
Tonight, the dinner table was rather quiet!
Because Zhi Li was dead, having died for the Fury Wave Kingdom, for Fang Qingzhuo and her daughter, even for Sauron.
Everyone could not mention it, because his two daughters still knew nothing. They only thought their father Zhi Li had gone to a faraway place.
Moreover, they were still young. Having had no contact with Zhi Li for several months, they had somewhat forgotten this father.
So, everyone simply ate quietly. The only ones making sounds were the baby, and the two little girls.
“Munch, munch…” The baby used his few tiny milk teeth to chew the rice in his mouth, eating with great relish.
After eating, everyone rinsed their mouths with light salt water and cleaned their teeth with fine salt.
Even the baby’s tiny milk teeth were gently wiped with a fine towel dipped in salt water.
Suddenly, Princess Zhi Ning said: “Now, is the princess residence safe?”
Everyone was startled. No one spoke.
The princess residence was indeed safe now. No one dared harm Princess Zhi Ning and her son, or Fang Qingzhuo and her daughters anymore.
“Sister-in-law, then we will move over tomorrow.” Zhi Ning said.
Fang Qingzhuo rapidly shot a glance at Sauron, and said softly: “We are living well here, why the rush?”
She said this of course for Zhi Ning’s sake, not wanting her to separate from Sauron.
“We are not leaving either, it is more fun here.” Zhi Li’s two daughters also joined in the clamour.
Actually, the princess residence was not particularly fun. It was just that the former young lord residence was too oppressive and cold. But here, every meal had a large crowd of people, which they found lively.
Especially Duke Zhi Ting came over to eat every few days, each time bringing the little girls various gifts, and at the table he was full of witty remarks, with endless amusing stories.
Fang Qingzhuo stepped forward, taking the baby from Sauron’s arms, and said in a low voice: “Coax her. As long as there are feelings, there is nothing between husband and wife that cannot be talked through.”
Then, Fang Qingzhuo said to Princess Zhi Yan: “Yan, let us go.”
“Oh!” Princess Zhi Yan looked at Zhi Ning, still thinking in her mind how to persuade Zhi Ning, but she had not even thought of the first sentence.
When at the Dragon God Temple, Zhi Yan had always been taking care of Zhi Ning, just like an ordinary elder sister and younger sister.
It was just that later because of political stance reasons, their relationship completely cooled. Now that they could be reconciled, she was still very happy.
As a member of the Zhi Clan, Zhi Yan also hoped the family would prosper with many children.
Instantly, everyone left completely clean, leaving only Sauron and Zhi Ning.
“Must you move out tomorrow, must you leave my side?” Sauron asked.
“Yes.” Princess Zhi Ning said resolutely.
Sauron said: “Then what if I miss the baby?”
“You can go see him.” Zhi Ning said.
“The baby is my son. I do not want him to leave my side.” Sauron said.
Zhi Ning said: “The baby was born by me. You only contributed that one shudder, so everything is up to me. Tomorrow I must definitely move out. This matter is not open to negotiation, ah…”
Before she could finish her words, she let out a cry of surprise.
Because her plump and enchanting delicate body had been hoisted onto Sauron’s shoulder, heading toward the room.
Instantly, Princess Zhi Ning struggled desperately and cried out: “Sauron, put me down! What are you doing? What are you doing?”
“Eating you.” Sauron said: “By the way, another shudder.”