Under the night sky, Tianchuan City is the brightest and most prosperous star in the Great Song Dynasty.

Golden Street and Jade Road, brightly lit, carriages flowing like water, horses like dragons, the shops lining the streets bustling with people, a scene of prosperity.

The Capital, the residence of the Emperor, a wide avenue runs through from the gate, flanked by tall buildings in close formation, this is the Capital's Vermilion Bird Dao. At the end of Vermilion Bird Dao, turn left, enter Cyan Dragon Road, and you will see the dreamlike and glittering Imperial Palace.

Two years ago, a great drought in the Northern Land, the earth scorched for thousands of miles.

Last year, floods occurred in the South, crops failed in many areas, grain prices soared, and a rebellion broke out again in the Northern Land, escalating rapidly. A prophecy claimed it was due to the Emperor's lack of virtue, causing the heavens' wrath and such punishment.

All the blame was placed on the Emperor.

Yet few knew that Emperor Xuanhe, Chu Nan, ascended to the throne at fourteen. Being young at his ascension, he regarded the Prime Minister as a father figure, betrothed the Prime Minister's eldest legitimate granddaughter as Imperial Consort, leaving all state affairs to the Prime Minister's control.

Despite having come of age now, Chu Nan has yet to govern himself.

There is a saying in Tianchuan: The Emperor's decree won't leave Tianchuan City without the Prime Minister's approval.

Taihe Palace, where the Emperor rests.

Soft words and clever smiles, the sound of poetry and prose, faintly drift out from the window.

From up close, one can hear the chirping and twittering from within the resting palace.

"Your Majesty, come catch me."

"Heehee, Your Majesty, I'm here."

"You naughty Princess Consort Jing, daring to tease me; if I catch you, I'll surely teach you a lesson."

"Then, Your Majesty, come quickly."

"Heh, got you."

Chu Nan embraced the person in front of him.

The surrounding chirping and twittering suddenly ceased.

"What's wrong?" Chu Nan lifted the yellow cloth covering his eyes, looked up at the person he held, quickly let go, showing displeasure: "Why is the Imperial Father-in-law here? Couldn't you give a sign beforehand?"

Having said that, Chu Nan showed a smile at the corner of his mouth, straightened himself, and tidied his attire.

Liang Mu wanted to reprimand, but seeing the many consorts around, he suppressed his anger and respectfully said: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened, Nanyang has fallen."

Chu Nan's expression changed but quickly reverted to normal, saying: "This matter, inform the Prime Minister; he will handle it."

"The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister; the Emperor is the Emperor. This realm is Your Majesty's, not Xu Guozhong's, Your Majesty, you must pull yourself together." Liang Mu spoke in frustration, like iron mingling with steel.

"Rude." Chu Nan coldly rebuked, then said: "I didn't hear that; Imperial Father-in-law, stop saying it. If it happens again, I won't let it slide."

"Come, come, hide well, let's continue."

Chu Nan covered his eyes with the yellow cloth, wanting to continue the unfinished game.

"Your Majesty." Liang Mu spoke longingly, then glanced at the consorts and palace maids in the palace, and finally couldn't help but shout: "All leave."

"Imperial Father-in-law." Chu Nan's voice raised a notch, picked up the yellow cloth, and hurled it at Liang Mu's face, then coldly said: "Imperial Father-in-law has forgotten hierarchy, I'm Emperor, you're the minister, do I need you to dictate my actions?"

"Your Majesty..." Liang Mu trembled slightly due to anger.

The consorts and palace maids beside him didn't dare breathe heavily.

"I'm fatigued, Imperial Father-in-law should go rest early." Chu Nan rubbed his brow, saying.

Liang Mu sighed helplessly; as he was about to retreat, a voice sounded behind: "The silk on the ground is hand-stitched by the Empress, bestowed to the Imperial Father-in-law."

Liang Mu picked up the yellow cloth on the ground despondently and left Taihe Palace.

Upon leaving Taihe Palace, an eunuch stopped Liang Mu, followed by two little eunuchs, intent to search him.

"Presumptuous." Liang Mu coldly shouted: "I'm the Imperial Father-in-law, an official situ, what are you to dare search me, who gave you the audacity?"

"Situ lord, it's the Prime Minister's order, please don't make it difficult for us."

"What, you fear the Prime Minister but not me?"

"No, I wouldn't dare."

"Come, situ lets you search." Liang Mu spread his arms, allowing the eunuch to search.

The eunuch signaled the two little eunuchs behind him.

The two little eunuchs stepped forward, rummaged Liang Mu who yielded only a piece of peony-embroidered yellow cloth, handed it to the eunuch.

"Situ lord, what's this?" The eunuch inspected it, finding nothing abnormal.

"It's embroidered by the Empress, bestowed by the Emperor, you want it too?"

"No, I wouldn't dare."

"Not daring, yet dared search me?"

Liang Mu slapped the eunuch's face, then snatched the yellow cloth from him, saying: "You filthy wretch, let this teach you a lesson, if dissatisfied, have Xu Guozhong come to me."

With that, he left swiftly.

The eunuch watched Liang Mu's departing figure, eyes flashing with resentment.

...

Back at his residence, Liang Mu freshened up, prepared for sleep, when suddenly he remembered, took the yellow cloth gifted by His Majesty and carefully inspected it, finding no anomalies.

Just as he thought he over-imagined, he felt a slight bump on a petal of the peony flower.

He activated his Innate Spiritual Qi, unravelled the threads, and found a blood-ridden silk letter within.

Having read the content of the letter, Liang Mu's face showed shock, storing the letter, he exited: "Prepare the horse."

...

The downside of the village is its exceedingly closed-off information.

The world has newspapers named Government Gazette, specifically for disseminating political affairs and intelligence of the Court.

Recording small and significant recent happenings of the Great Song Dynasty.

Unfortunately, the Gazette is only accessible to the County Magistrate, average people cannot access.

Chen Mo was ignorant of court affairs; he led the villagers in building a blacksmith shop, preparing to forge armor.

Yesterday afternoon Zhang River returned with the caravan, though unable to purchase armor, brought back a thousand pounds of raw iron.

The Great Song Dynasty's iron production is plentiful, making prices low, but strictly controlled, ordinary people can purchase only a small amount of raw iron.

The village recruited some blacksmiths and apprentices during refugee resettlement.

Besides raw iron, Zhang River also brought back two taels of white sugar.

Making Chen Mo very elated.

Because homemade black gunpowder, without added white sugar, its power is rather disappointing.

Now the general store's merchandise is quite abundant.

Not only are there chickens and ducks for sale, but also oil, sauce, vinegar.

The money Chen Mo spent was soon returned.

During lunch break, Hu Qiang returned with both good and bad news.

The good news was that the Celestial Master Army accepted Chen Mo's "affiliation."

The bad news was the Celestial Master Army promptly issued Chen Mo the first order, to lead troops to attack Pingting County.

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