Xianxia version of Water Margin

…

Although Empress Ai’s wife Tu Shan had obtained the privileged passage to visit relatives in Wanguo City early on, she was reluctant to leave.

It was not until many women from the royal family and clan of the Jin Kingdom urged her that Empress Ai reluctantly embarked on the journey to Wanguo City.

During this period, Empress Ai was often called by Jiang Hongfei to serve him in bed.

Every night of serving in bed was like a test of physical strength and will, forcing Empress Ai to indulge in sleep during the day.

All this hard work and fatigue were actually due to Jiang Hongfei’s promise to help her get pregnant.

Empress Ai knew that this was not only her personal expectation, but also the only turning point she could seize in this deep palace.

So, she strictly followed the doctor’s advice, took tonics, regulated her body, and tried to maintain an optimistic attitude, just for that glimmer of hope.

However, as the possibility of pregnancy gradually took root in Empress Ai’s heart, her enthusiasm for visiting her ex-husband Wanyan Zonggan and her unfilial adopted sons also quietly diminished.

This complex emotion includes both the joy and expectation of possible pregnancy, as well as the concerns and uneasiness about her current husband Jiang Hongfei. She was afraid that her actions would anger Jiang Hongfei and cause him to withdraw her "treatment", and she was even more worried that the past between her and Wanyan Zonggan would become an insurmountable gap between the two.

Therefore, Queen Ai subconsciously postponed the date of her visit.

It was not until several concubines of Wanyan Zonggan - Li, Da and Xiao - came together and begged Queen Ai to visit their son in Wanguo City with tears in their eyes that Queen Ai had to put aside her hesitation and struggle in her heart and set out on the road to Wanguo City.

On this trip, she not only shouldered her personal emotional entanglements, but also carried the trust and expectations of the daughters of the Jin royal family, the daughters of the royal family, and the daughters of the Jurchen nobles.

In order to save time, the women in Jiang Hongfei's harem would inform the relevant personnel of their wishes and plans in advance before going to Wanguo City.

The men in Wanguo City who were summoned lined up at the meeting place early, waiting for the arrival of these distinguished guests from the harem.

Queen Ai was entrusted by many parties for this trip, including Queen Qinren Tangkuo Huier, Queen Huizhao Pucha, Wanyan Zongpan's wife Wugulun, Wanyan Zonggan's concubines, and Tudanbu, many women who were closely related to Queen Ai.

They hoped that Queen Ai could convey their thoughts on their behalf and bring letters, spiritual stones, and other items to their relatives in Wanguo City.

Therefore, when Queen Ai arrived in Wanguo City, she was greeted not only by the smiling faces of her relatives, but also by the anxious waiting of hundreds of Jin royal family, clan members, and Jurchen nobles.

Some of them had spent more than two long months here, but they still did not know where their fate would go.

This unknown and fear was like an invisible net, tightly binding their hearts.

They were worried that they would be imprisoned here forever like the royal families and clans of other countries, lose their freedom, or even be killed.

This worry was particularly strong among the Jurchen nobles, because, unlike the royal family and clans of the Jin Dynasty, they were not the "main culprits" and still had a chance to leave Wanguo City, as long as the women of their families worked hard.

There were many different opinions about Jiang Hongfei's disposal plan for the royal family, clans and Jurchen nobles of the Jin Dynasty.

Some people said that Jiang Hongfei would cut all the Jurchens into pieces and grind their bones to dust;

Some people said that Jiang Hongfei would only imprison the people of the Wanyan tribe until the end of time, while the people of other Jurchen tribes would be gradually pardoned after the women of their tribes became Jiang Hongfei's concubines;

Others said that Khitan women were whispering in Jiang Hongfei's ear, asking him to kill all the Jurchens to avenge the destruction of his country and his family...

These news, which were difficult to distinguish between true and false, pierced the hearts of every Jurchen like a sharp blade in the cold wind, making them even more panicked.

However, in this predicament, the royal family, clan and Jurchen nobles of the Jin Kingdom did not give up hope.

They tried to get information from the royal family, royal family and clan of the Liao Empire, Goryeo Dynasty, Japan and other countries.

But unfortunately, most of the royal families and clans of these countries were full of hatred and hostility towards the Jin people. Not only were they unwilling to provide any help, but they often united to attack the Jin people.

The royal family and clan of the Zhao Song Dynasty were wary and suppressed them because they were worried that the Jin people would seize their dominant position in the Wanguo City.

The royal family and clan of the Jin Kingdom, especially the Jurchen nobles, had a big stone hanging in their hearts, speculating about Jiang Hongfei's future policies.

If they had the opportunity to leave Wanguo City, would they be willing to compete with the Zhao Song royal family here and destroy their future?

The absence of the Jurchen nobles made the power of the Jin royal family seem weak compared to the Zhao Song Dynasty. After all, the Zhao Song Dynasty was deeply rooted and its historical heritage was not comparable to the Jin Kingdom's twenty years.

The number of Jin's royal family and clans is beyond the reach of even the Liao Empire, the Goryeo Dynasty, and the royal clans of Japan.

At this time, the Jin Kingdom was like ants on a hot pot, eager for accurate news from the outside world.

Just at this time, Queen Ai came to visit relatives in Wanguo City. She must have brought Jiang Hongfei's attitude towards them, as well as news from the outside world, and the money and materials they lacked the most.

In Wanguo City, a land lightly covered by the dust of history, the members of the Jin royal family and clan, as well as the nobles of the Jurchens, were all eager to see Queen Ai come.

In their hearts, there was no impatience at all. To put it bluntly, even if they were asked to wait for Queen Ai until the end of time, they would have to wait.

So, a group of royal family members and nobles, led by Wanyan Zonggan and Wanyan Dan, gathered at the agreed place early, not even taking time to eat, and waited until almost noon, and finally welcomed the figure of Queen Ai.

This reunion after more than three months seemed like a lifetime ago.

Wanyan Zonggan and Queen Ai should have been a loving couple, but now they are as different as heaven and earth.

The frost of the years has left deep marks on Wanyan Zonggan. He is less than 44 years old, and he has witnessed the demise of his family and even the entire Jin Dynasty. He has aged rapidly, his hair and beard are all white, and his eyes are full of memories and helplessness of the past glory.

And Queen Ai, under the nourishment of Jiang Hongfei, not only has not been eroded by the years, but has become more rosy and delicate, as if time is particularly tolerant of her, making her look younger than before.

Such a contrast makes the two stand together, more like father and daughter than husband and wife.

Wanyan Zonggan knows that the arrival of Queen Ai means that he has been cheated by Jiang Hongfei.

How could Wanyan Zonggan, who had been in Wanguo City for more than three months, not know about this unspoken rule?

Moreover, the clerks in Wanguo City had already revealed that it was Tushan Chongyi who summoned them, which was undoubtedly a clear proof of the change in Queen Ai's status.

Therefore, when the two sides finally met, Wanyan Zonggan led everyone without hesitation and paid great respects to Queen Ai: "The criminals Oben, Hela and others, pay their respects to the queen!"

This scene was both dramatic and cruel. Queen Ai felt mixed emotions, but she could only bear it silently.

"No need to be polite."

Queen Ai's voice was calm and powerful. She knew that she was no longer Wanyan Zonggan's wife, but Jiang Hongfei's concubine.

Therefore, she had to act cautiously to avoid bringing greater disasters to these relatives who had become prisoners, and ruining her own future and her chance to have a biological son.

After everyone stood up, Queen Ai slowly spoke: "The emperor has a prejudice against us Jurchens. He thinks we are greedy, cunning, and barbaric. Wherever we go, we burn, kill, and plunder. Therefore, he wants to get rid of our Jurchens as soon as possible..."

When these words came out, everyone was shocked, especially those Jurchen nobles, who were even more terrified.

Tu Shanzhao, the brother of Queen Ai, hurriedly asked: "Then do we have a glimmer of hope for the Jurchens?"

Queen Ai did not evade and said bluntly: "Thanks to our efforts, the emperor's view of us Jurchens has slightly changed, and perhaps he will pardon those Jurchens who have not done evil."

When these words came out, some people were happy and some were worried.

Those Jurchens who were involved with Jiang Hongfei's harem and were innocent saw the hope of regaining their freedom;

And those who had participated in burning, killing, and looting fell into deep fear.

Wanyan Zonggan asked unwillingly: "What about the people of my Wanyan tribe?"

Empress Ai sighed and told the cruel truth: "The government believes that the Wanyan family has committed heinous crimes and will not pardon them."

This news was like a bolt from the blue, causing many people in the Wanyan tribe to collapse instantly.

Wanyan Zonggan suppressed his grief and ordered people to take these out-of-control people away from the scene.

When everything returned to calm, Wanyan Zonggan asked Empress Ai again: "May I ask your Majesty, how is the war in the northeast now?"

Empress Ai replied: "The war in the northeast has been settled. Our Yuan Dynasty has established Liaodong and Beining, 17 military states, and 117 counties here, governed by officials familiar with the customs and customs of the northeast. The government plans to immigrate 30 million people to the northeast in order to achieve long-term peace and stability. At present, millions of immigrants have arrived."

This news shocked Wanyan Zonggan and others. They never expected that the Yuan Empire would recover the territory of the Jin Kingdom so quickly.

Wanyan Zonggu asked anxiously: "What about Wushu?"

Empress Ai replied: "After Wushu left Shangjing, his followers scattered. Now there are only 20,000 soldiers left. They joined Kuonv, who was defeated by Zhu Wu, a famous general of the Yuan Dynasty, and are wandering around Jiashan."

When Wanyan Wulu heard that his brother Kuonv was also defeated, he hurriedly asked for details.

Empress Ai shook her head, indicating that she knew very little: "I only know that Zhu Wu sent the fierce general Wang De to attack the Northwest Recruiting Office at night. Kuonv fought hastily and was defeated. He had to abandon his female relatives and fled westward with the remnants. His female relatives had arrived at the Ministry of Rites the day before yesterday, and they were selecting candidates to enter the palace or the Jiaofang Office."

Hearing this, everyone knew that the Jin Dynasty was doomed. Except for those lucky ones who might be pardoned because their relatives were in Jiang Hongfei's harem, the rest of them might have to spend the rest of their lives in this Wanguo City.

After informing everyone of the news, Queen Ai gave Wanyan Zonggan, his descendants, and her relatives from her mother's side some spiritual stones and property.

Then, she handed over the letters and property from Queen Qinren Tangku Huier, Queen Huizhao Pucha, and Wanyan Zongpan's wife Ugulun.

These items not only included material help, but also their thoughts and expectations for their loved ones.

However, for those who received the spiritual stones and property, this gift was like a hot potato.

They knew the humiliation and betrayal behind these properties, and their hearts were filled with complex emotions.

To put it bluntly, all these properties were obtained by the women of their families in exchange for Jiang Hongfei's bodies, and they were dirty money.

But in the current situation, what else can they do except silently endure all this and continue to spend the rest of their lives in this endless waiting and suffering?

Those who don't have spiritual stones and other valuables may not be better off either, because just because they didn't receive them today doesn't mean they won't receive them. The key point is that without valuables, their days in the City of Nations will be like years, and their situation will be worse than the former.

To put it bluntly, in Wanguo City, men gradually realized that wearing the green hat that symbolizes privilege may be more comfortable than wearing no hat, because it is often accompanied by stable support and a relatively comfortable life, and the price is just some shame.

In this Wanguo City forgotten by history, time seems to have solidified into the heaviest lead block, pressing on everyone's heart, making them all breathless.

Moreover, this is not a day or a night, but forever and ever, until death.

The sun rises and the moon sets, the seasons change, but they can't take away the lingering haze and helplessness.

Wanyan Zonggan stared at the spiritual stone given to him by Queen Ai in his hand. Its light was particularly dazzling in the dim room. It was not only a satire on the past glory, but also a ruthless trampling on dignity.

He closed his eyes and tried to bury this humiliation deep in his heart, but felt an indescribable grief and anger stirring in his chest.

Every corner of the city was filled with emotions similar to Wanyan Zonggan.

The men of the Jin Kingdom either gathered together or remained silent, reminiscing about the glory of the past, or were powerless about the current situation, or wandered alone, trying to find a trace of comfort in the night, but the result was that they could only feel loneliness and despair in the endless darkness.

Some people even began to envy women, the daughters of the royal family, the daughters of the clan, and the daughters of the Jurchen nobles of the Jin Kingdom. Although they had to become Jiang Hongfei's playthings, they could at least enjoy wealth and glory, and still have hope, unlike the men of the Jin Kingdom, who could only be trapped in the City of Nations to atone for their sins.

The night was as dark as ink, the stars were hidden, and the lights in the city were dim, hiding the thoughts of countless sleepless people. The whispers between the men of the Jin Kingdom were no longer the ambitions of the past, but compromises and sighs with reality.

Some people also began to discuss how to find a glimmer of dignity in such an environment, even if it was just a moment of respite.

Some people suggested that they find ways to be self-sufficient instead of continuing to rely on the despicable exchange;

Some people were immersed in the glory of the past, fantasizing that they could regain their glory one day, but they didn't know that this was just a mirage and out of reach.

The royal family and clan of the Jin Dynasty soon became like the royal families and clans of other countries, living a life of mediocrity, numbness, eating and waiting to die, and eventually died spiritually and became zombies.

It is said that good and evil will be rewarded in the end, and karma has its own way of reincarnation.

……