Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

[Renowned Minister Ranking – Rank 4]

[Li Si]

[Nation: Qin Dynasty]

[Potential: Capable of becoming a Top Prime Minister of the Nine Provinces]

[Governance Capability Rating: Five Stars]

[Strength: Second-Rate]

[Reward: 1x Ultimate-Tier Civil Minister Skill Card, 1x Ultimate-Tier Spiritual Power Enhancement Card, +10% National Fortune]

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Li Si?

How could it be?

Why is Li Si only in Rank 4?

He didn't even make it into the top three?

Ying Zheng stared at the ranking in the sky with disbelief.

There was a flash of unwillingness and anger in his eyes.

Though Rank 4 and Rank 3 are only separated by one rank, the difference between them is immense.

Even the Heaven Dao Reward has a qualitative difference.

Among all the civil ministers across the Nine Provinces and various dynasties, who could possibly compare to Li Si?

Unacceptable!

Not only was Ying Zheng displeased, but Li Si below was also in disbelief.

He had full confidence in himself.

He should absolutely be among the very top of the Renowned Minister Ranking.

There were virtually none who could match him.

But now, he hasn't even made the top three. How could he accept that?

Yet the ranking was issued by the Heaven Dao of the Nine Provinces. Even if he wanted to refute it, he had no way to do so.

"Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness. This minister has let you down!"

"Prime Minister, what fault do you bear? Being ranked on the Renowned Minister Ranking proves that you are a great talent. I am more than pleased, how could I possibly blame you?"

"By the way, Prime Minister, what is your Heaven Dao Reward this time?"

Just moments ago, as Qin Emperor, he had clearly felt the changes in his nation's fortune.

He was also very curious about what reward Li Si had received.

"Your Majesty, I have gained a powerful skill called "Law Net, Wide but Not Loose"!"

"In addition, my spiritual power has undergone a tremendous transformation."

"As long as I channel my accumulated knowledge and fuse it with spiritual power to activate the skill, I can cast a thunderous "Law Net" that can imprison or even suppress those who violate the laws of the Qin Dynasty."

"As long as they are within the borders of the Qin Dynasty, no enemy can escape!"

Though Li Si was unsatisfied with his ranking, he was extremely excited about the Heaven Dao Reward.

Perhaps in solo combat, he didn't amount to much.

But in large-scale warfare, this skill could be unimaginably effective.

"What a fitting Law Net, Wide but Not Loose."

"It truly suits you, Prime Minister!"

"If I were to let you use this skill against Xiong Qi, what's the likelihood of success?"

What Ying Zheng cared about most was still the matter of eliminating Xiong Qi.

That man had already seriously hindered the Qin Dynasty's progress.

Each day he continued to live was another day of harm to the Qin Dynasty.

Wang Jian, Bai Qi, and Shang Yang had joined forces to surround and hunt Xiong Qi, but so far, there had been no victory to report.

That made him increasingly impatient.

Now that Li Si had gained power, adding him to the effort could only be a good thing.

"Your Majesty, if I am given the opportunity, once Xiong Qi is caught in my "Law Net", escape will be impossible."

"At that point, Monarch Wu'an and the others would have nearly a 100% chance of killing him!"

Li Si was brimming with confidence.

Even if Xiong Qi was a Mythical Realm cultivator, he could still trap him.

A flicker of delight passed through Ying Zheng's eyes.

But then, as if he had remembered something, he asked again.

"If you were to cast your "Law Net" on the Hundred Yue Queen, what would be the likelihood of success?"

"According to the Black Ice Platform's investigations, her strength surpasses Xiong Qi by a great deal!"

"Do you have the confidence?"

"Your Majesty, do you plan to go to war with Hundred Yue City?"

"Naturally. Once I eliminate Xiong Qi and the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, this poison known as Hundred Yue City must also be eradicated immediately."

"I absolutely cannot allow her to leave the Qin Dynasty unscathed."

"If she truly escapes, it would be a tremendous humiliation to me!"

"Moreover, she has a close relationship with the Ming Dynasty. If she gets away, she will surely head for the Ming Dynasty."

"If we don't eliminate her, would we allow Hundred Yue City to throw itself entirely into the Ming Dynasty's arms and become a future enemy of the Qin Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Li Si's expression grew solemn.

"Your Majesty, if the move is made inside Hundred Yue City, there is no chance of success."

"However, if we act when they are in transit, there may be a 70% chance."

"Of course, this requires the cooperation of Monarch Wu'an, Lord Shang, and others!"

"Very well. Li Si, you are to prepare a plan for this matter in secret and await my command."

"For now, the priority remains Xiong Qi."

"I will have someone send you to the front lines to join up with Lord Shang and the others."

"With all of you together, and with so many backup plans, if you still fail to bring me Xiong Qi's head, I will be greatly disappointed!"

"Yes. I will not disappoint Your Majesty!"

==========

Yuan Dynasty Territory.

Yuan Imperial Palace.

Temujin sat on the dragon throne, his face pale.

At this moment, his expression was extremely grim.

His army of 300,000 had been completely annihilated at the hands of the Vast Sea Dynasty.

It was a harsh and bloody lesson.

Had it not been for timely reinforcements, he might have perished on the battlefield himself.

Because of two consecutive crushing defeats, much of the Yuan Dynasty's foundation had been thoroughly depleted.

Although not completely crippled, attempting to mount another offensive would likely be beyond their means.

"Prime Minister, has the National Master returned?"

"Reporting to the Khan, the National Master has yet to return, but there has been no news of his death either."

"No news is good news."

"I believe that with the National Master's abilities, the heavens will surely protect him."

The Prime Minister of the Yuan Dynasty, Yelu Chucai, replied respectfully.

Temujin's face twitched upon hearing that, then darkened completely.

A fury ignited in his heart.

"By the way, where is Prince Ruyang? Has he returned?"

"Khan, as of now, this subject has not received a single report about Prince Ruyang."

"In that case, convey my decree!"

"Prince Ruyang conspired with the Vast Sea Dynasty and betrayed us on the battlefield, leading to the massacre of hundreds of thousands of our Yuan Dynasty soldiers at the hands of the Vast Sea Dynasty people."

"His crimes are beyond redemption!"

"Seize the entire clan of Prince Ruyang and execute them on the spot!"

Temujin barked fiercely, his face full of malice.

"What?!"

"Khan, could there be a mistake?"

"The Prince Ruyang, he..."

Yelu Chucai panicked and quickly questioned.

However, before he could finish, Temujin cut him off.

"I have made no mistake. If that traitor had not betrayed me, how could we have lost that battle so quickly and so tragically?"

"300,000 troops wiped out, and only Prince Ruyang's forces remained completely intact?"

Yelu Chucai gave Temujin a long, deep look.

He now understood.

The Khan intended to shift all responsibility for the war's failure onto Prince Ruyang.

He himself would only bear the fault of poor judgment.

Realizing this, Yelu Chucai felt a chill run through him.

Such a poisonous mind!

Prince Ruyang had been so wrongly accused by the Khan, he would likely never find a place to stand in the entire Nine Provinces again.

What was even more horrifying.

Not only was he falsely accused, but his entire clan was to be exterminated?

This was not the Temujin he once knew.

Temujin saw the hesitation in Yelu Chucai's expression, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

But thinking of the possibility that this man might make the Renowned Minister Ranking, perhaps even in the top three, he was reluctant to kill him.

Still, from that moment on, Temujin began to harbor suspicion toward him.

No longer did he trust him as he once did.

Since the consecutive defeats in Southern Song Dynasty Territory against the Vast Sea Dynasty, Temujin's ambitions had been nearly shattered.

Even his state of mind had suffered greatly.

Falsely accusing Prince Ruyang, something he would never have done before, he now executed without hesitation.

Cunning, treacherous, deceitful, ruthless.

He was no longer anything like the Temujin of old.

In the end, Yelu Chucai did not protest.

Though he had past ties with Prince Ruyang, they were not deep enough for him to risk his own life.

"Khan, I will carry out the order at once!"

Very soon, news of Prince Ruyang's treason, betrayal on the battlefield, and causing the annihilation of hundreds of thousands of troops, spread like wildfire across the entire Yuan Dynasty.

It rapidly reached every corner of the Nine Provinces.

In an instant, public outcry exploded.

People from other nations thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

Many even took pleasure in the Yuan Dynasty's misfortune.

After all, the Yuan Dynasty was a foreign regime. For most Chinese, it was difficult to harbor goodwill toward it.

Especially since the Yuan Dynasty's troops had ravaged city after city, looting, burning, killing, committing every imaginable atrocity.

Countless commoners had died at their hands.

Now, seeing the Yuan Dynasty not only defeated but also torn by internal strife, how could they not rejoice?

They even looked forward to further infighting, it would be more entertaining that way.

Unlike the common folk of the Nine Provinces, the Yuan Imperial Court was filled with righteous indignation.

Voices rose in condemnation of Prince Ruyang.

He was immediately branded as the greatest traitor in the history of the Yuan Dynasty.

Even if he were to return, he would have no chance to explain himself.

From top to bottom, although many officials harbored doubts, they still followed the herd.

None dared offer him the slightest opportunity to defend himself.

The verdict was final.

Soon after, all the household members and relatives of Prince Ruyang were executed without mercy.

Not a single one was spared.

Furthermore, public opinion was manipulated to focus all blame for the failed war on Prince Ruyang.

As for Temujin, not only was he unscathed, but he received even more "respect and admiration".

Temujin's shameless maneuver left those with insight utterly speechless.

==========

Ming Imperial Palace.

When Zhu Houzhao received this news, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

After two crushing defeats, Temujin was no longer the proud and ambitious Genghis Khan of old.

Such underhanded tactics could only fool common folk and the ignorant.

But in the eyes of the wise, all causes and consequences were crystal clear.

On the contrary, Temujin's actions would chill the hearts of many virtuous and capable men under his rule.

They could no longer truly stand with him.

Even the fiercely loyal Prince Ruyang had ended up so miserably.

How could others expect a better fate?

Many had already begun to harbor rebellious thoughts.

In the short term, this might not be obvious.

But as time passed, chaos would inevitably erupt.

Zhu Houzhao instantly saw through the heart of the matter.

Though he felt some regret that Temujin had not perished on the battlefield and had managed to escape back, this outcome was not necessarily a bad one.

It offered opportunities for further maneuvering.

Schemes began forming rapidly in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

A sly smile curved at his lips.

The Yuan Dynasty was the next target the Ming Dynasty had to eliminate.

Its time had come.

==========

"Your Majesty, I wish to see His Majesty!"

At that moment, a familiar voice came from outside the palace gates.

"Zhao Min?"

As a Consort in the Imperial Harem, Zhu Houzhao naturally recognized her.

Though not fully on the same side, Zhu Houzhao, ever the lecher, didn't mind.

He would often "attend" to this renowned beauty.

They were quite familiar with each other.

He could easily guess her purpose in requesting an audience.

"Let her in."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and spoke indifferently.