CHAPTER 891: CHAPTER 348: SCREW YOUR TRAGIC BEAUTY (PART 18)

Northwest Prince decisively defeated Prince Liang, apart from small groups of the Righteous Army or remote factions, the vast Jiangshan was nearly all taken by the Wei Family.

The Capital City was already captured, and the time for changing dynasties had matured.

On the advice of strategists and ministers, Northwest Prince led the army back to the Capital City, preparing to establish the Wei Family’s court.

Northwest Prince had a significant advantage: he did not seize the Jiangshan from Dayan.

The last emperor of Dayan was killed by rebels, and the traitor who killed the emperor to become king on his own met his end by the Northwest Prince’s blade.

Initially, when Northwest Prince rose in arms, it was under the banner of rescuing the king and quelling the rebellion.

To some extent, Northwest Prince avenged the previous dynasty’s last emperor, proving himself not a traitor but a truly loyal minister.

Unfortunately, that traitor was too cruel, destroying the Dayan royal family completely.

Northwest Prince wanted to exude utmost fidelity by seeking to reinstate the previous dynasty’s emperor, but couldn’t find any bloodline of the Dayan royal family.

Thus, under repeated requests from former ministers of the previous dynasty, contemporary virtues, and many new nobles, Northwest Prince was unable to decline and finally sat atop the Dragon Throne.

The name of the new dynasty was Qi, also known as Daqi, with the era titled Tiantai, capital established in the Capital City, Northwest Prince also became known as Emperor Tiantai.

In June of the first year of Tiantai, Emperor Tiantai formally ascended the throne.

After enthroning, Emperor Tiantai conferred titles based on merit; former ministers of the previous dynasty, Dayan’s royal relatives, and the new nobles of Daqi all received honors.

The Eight Great Generals were appointed as Dukes of Founding, also known as Lords Duke.

The Twelve House Ministers were granted the title of Marquis of Founding.

Some of the Marquises were still fighting outside, but their families claimed the honor on behalf of their men.

The wife of He Guozhong, Lady Qin, moved splendidly into Marquis Pingnan’s Mansion with their seven-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

"Madam, someone is seeking audience outside, claiming to be Marquis’ kin from the hometown!"

Lady Qin had just settled down in the Marquis Mansion and was yet to catch her breath when a maid came to report.

"Marquis’ kin from the hometown?" Lady Qin’s face fell, and her tone also soured.

Lady Qin knew He Guozhong’s hometown had a wife and child.

But Lady Qin, having lost two fiancés and being labeled as unlucky for husband, had her marriage delayed.

When Northwest Prince rose to arms, her father went along to fight, and by this year, she was already twenty years old.

Mr. Qin, finding his daughter pitiful and wanting to gain favor of a young, promising low-level officer, thus chose the subordinate He Erniu.

He Erniu wasn’t young, but he possessed martial arts skills and knew some military strategy, making him a born leader.

The greatest fortune was that He Erniu was lucky; the villagers forced to become "rebels" or "Righteous Army" with him were nearly all dead or injured.

Only he could, whether passively or actively, return from the battlefield whole each time.

Such a person, with just a bit of opportunity, could soar sky-high.

Mr. Qin saw promise in He Erniu, and with no worthy successors in his own family, he wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law.

He Erniu, having gone through levee repairs, forced uprisings, and other significant turmoil, had his originally meek disposition transformed.

He did not want to be trampled grass, he wanted to become a man above others.

Chaotic times breed heroes.

He suffered the hardships of chaos but also saw the opportunities within it.

As for his wife and children back home —

Truth be told, He Erniu truly resented Ms. Hetian, the foolish woman.

Especially after suffering hunger and beatings, narrowly escaping death time after time, his hatred for the wife causing these woes grew deeper.

Blame her!

All because of Ms. Hetian!

If it weren’t for her endless support to her own family, if she didn’t deliberately hide things, he wouldn’t have come to repair the levee.

Without coming here, he wouldn’t have suffered so much, almost losing his life.

For such an "unlucky for husband" scoundrel woman, He Erniu not running back to kill her was already quite merciful.

From now on, he would consider this woman as dead.

The son was indeed innocent; however, a man never worries about a wife, much less about children.

Hence, He Erniu made his choice.

He told Mr. Qin: "I have married a wife and borne a son, but our hometown is in famine; lately, I met some locals who said my wife fled with her family, only to disappear."

In chaotic times, orphaned mothers and children, even if not consumed by others, cannot survive.

"Alas, likely they have already passed away," He Erniu said feigning sorrow.