Chapter 1: The King of Lanling

  Snowflakes like palm prints are hard to cover one's eyes, and the wind is as sharp as a knife, constantly worrying.

  "It snows in April, a rare occurrence in many years, I wonder if something big is going to happen?"

  Near the city gate, on the side of the big road, the oil seller had his hands tucked in his sleeves, lightly stomping his feet, making the thick snow crunch with a crisp sound. He looked up at the still heavily overcast sky, and sighed softly at the silver-clad and white-wrapped Ye City that had transformed overnight.

  It's still early, and there are few people on the road, all of whom are low-level citizens rushing to make a living.

  "Wow, look quickly, isn't that the Grand Marshal? How did he end up like this?"

  "What's wrong with this?"

  The crowd gathered, discussing and arguing noisily. The oil seller stood on tiptoe to look around, his turbid eyes filled with astonishment and worry.

  Three people wearing hemp shirts, with their hands tied behind them, slowly walked into the city.

  The man in his thirties, with a slender and well-proportioned figure, had a fair and handsome face that made countless women feel ashamed and jealous. However, at this moment, he was disheveled, wearing thin hemp clothes, with a wooden expression, dull eyes, and a pair of straw sandals on his feet, walking stiffly and awkwardly step by step.

  By the man's right side, followed a beautiful young woman, twenty years of age, with a slender figure and elegant features, but at this moment her eyes were red-rimmed, silently shedding tears, her face filled with sorrow, evoking pity in others.

  Another was a young boy, twelve or thirteen years old, with a very delicate appearance. Although he had a face full of sorrow and indignation, there was not a hint of sadness in his eyes, but instead they were rolling around restlessly, revealing a helpless and distressed expression, his lips moving, the oil seller was standing some distance away, but couldn't hear what he was saying.

  "Ah, what kind of stupid idea is this?! It's so cold outside and you're only wearing a thin single-layered garment! You have no style or warmth! Gao Wei, you're such an idiot, a scoundrel, a wretched child! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be suffering like this! Oh God, oh heaven, quickly strike that accursed thing dead and my poor father won't die, and I won't have to endure this inhumane torture!" The youth muttered non-stop.

  "Xing Er, what's wrong with you? Are you frozen stiff?" The young woman asked, her head bowed and sniffling.

  Young man replied, "Mother, don't worry, I'm fine. It's all because of that carefree emperor, causing our whole family to live in fear and suffering." His tone was low and filled with resentment.

  The man's expression remained wooden, silent and speechless, his eyes empty, stiffly and mechanically stepping forward.

  The snow on the ground was too thick, reaching up to his ankles. The young man's body seemed a bit weak and he wasn't walking very carefully. "Plop", his foot slipped and he fell onto the ground, getting a mouthful of snow.

  "Damn it, you bald thief! Look at the good deed you've done! You gave me a famous father, but he's a dying father. If only you had died a few years earlier!" The young man got up from the ground, spat out the snow foam in his mouth, and cursed in a low, angry voice.

  His name was Gao Xing, but he wasn't happy at all. His father was the King of Lanling, Gao Longzang, the Grand Marshal of Northern Qi Empire, who held a prestigious position in Northern Qi. However, his glorious ending was being overthrown by his own accomplishments and meeting an untimely demise.

  Gao Xing, originally a member of the national dragon team, caught up with the trend of crossing over the night before last and came to the Northern Qi in 573 AD during the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

  Just woke up, excited to know that after crossing over, he was really happy, jumping three feet high, looking forward to it for more than a decade, waking up with the power of the world in his hands, and sleeping on the knees of beautiful women, how could he not be excited.

  But he was soon overjoyed, why? His father Gao Longxu was about to die because of his high position and being given a death sentence by the Northern Qi Emperor. And as the son of Gao Longxu, how could he survive? Moreover, in the west there was a formidable enemy, the great emperor Yang Jian, who was extremely strict with his own sons, would soon swallow up the Qi state, and he himself was a direct descendant of the Gao family, his fate was worrying.

  So when he was delighted to see Gao Changgong, his first words were "Old man, you'd better escape quickly, Gao Wei is going to kill you!"

  This sentence shocked Gao Changgong as if he had been struck by lightning, and he was stunned on the spot. His mother, Zheng Shi, was so frightened that she almost fainted on the spot.

  Compared to Zheng's worry that Gao Xing had gotten sick and burned out his brain, Gao Changgong was much calmer. He was very clear about his own situation, and he had long understood Gao Wei's intention to kill him. For so many years, he had endured and been cautious, as if walking on thin ice, and he had long expected that there would be a day like this, only he hadn't expected that 13-year-old Gao Xing could see through it.

  Gao was delighted and thought Gao Changgong would not believe it, so he swore solemnly: "In May, Gao Wei will secretly send someone to poison you!"

  Gao Zhanggong asked: "How did you know?"

  "Grandfather entrusted me with his dream."

  He then happily analyzed the situation and Gao Wei's cautious and cruel personality, and came to the conclusion that Gao Wei would definitely kill Gao Changgong. From then on, Gao Changgong deeply believed in what Gao Xing said.

  Although Gao Changgong knew the situation was critical, he had no way out. He had previously been corrupted by greed and bribery, and now feigned illness at home, wanting to resign but not being allowed to, still being suspected by Emperor Houzhu.

  Happy is now very depressed, extremely. Although the idea of a family of three tying themselves up to plead guilty was his suggestion, he never expected God to be so generous, and in April, when spring is warm and flowers are blooming, there would still be such a crazy big snowfall.

  At last, under the gaze of thousands of onlookers and commentators, the happy family of three finally arrived at the gate of the Northern Qi imperial palace.

  Gao Changgong, accompanied by Princess Zheng and Crown Prince Gao Xing, knelt respectfully in front of the palace gate and called out sorrowfully: "Guilty subject Gao Changgong, specially come to beg for forgiveness from Your Majesty."

  The officers and soldiers guarding the city were startled, unclear about what was happening, and didn't dare to persuade Gao Changgong to get up. They quickly went to report. Gao Changgong's clothes were very thin, his face was pale, and there were icicles hanging from his hair and beard. If a prince of the royal bloodline froze to death at the gate, it would not only be a joke for the Northern Qi imperial family, but also a responsibility that these gate-guarding officials would have to bear.

  "Cough, cough", Zheng violently started coughing, her body shaking all over.

  "Mother, it was all the child's foolish idea that made you suffer!" Gao Xing anxiously furrowed his brow, apologetically looking at Zheng Shi, and took a Buddha pendant from his chest to gently put it on her.

  Zheng shook his head with difficulty, looking at Gao Xing and Gao Changgong with a sorrowful yet deep expression: "If you father and son die, what's the point of me living alone? If heaven is blind, we'll all go to the Yellow Springs together, and on the way, we can take care of each other."

  Daughter.

  "Madam." He exclaimed with excitement and nervousness, but didn't know what to say next. The cold wind seemed less fierce, his eyes were blurry, and his chest was burning with fire.

  It wasn't long before Zheng's complexion improved significantly. She looked at Gao Xing in surprise, just about to ask a question, when someone shouted: "The Emperor has arrived!"

  "Long live our Emperor, long live, long long live!" The people watching and the soldiers guarding the city all knelt down to the ground, shouting "Long live our Emperor".

  "You're welcome."

  Delighted to steal a glance, she saw a handsome young man with a dragon robe inside and a thick, luxurious fur coat outside, walking towards the three of them under the escort of dozens of palace maids.

  "The guilty minister Gao Changgong, together with his wife and children, specially begs for punishment from Your Majesty. We beg that you will execute us in the ancestral temple." Gao Changgong knelt down to the ground respectfully and pleaded sincerely.

  Gao Wei said inexplicably, "Gao Xiaoguang, what crime are you guilty of?" He was eager for Gao Changgong to die in his heart, but with so many people watching, and now that the Southern Chen had already invaded, if he did so, wouldn't it cause the army's morale to fluctuate?

  Gao Changgong did not get up, wailing: "Last night, the late Emperor Wenzheng appeared in my dream, scolding me for being disloyal and unfilial to Your Majesty, not knowing how to sacrifice myself for the country to resist foreign insults, only knowing how to be greedy for wealth and bribes, afraid of death. He said that I am a shame to the Gao family and wanted to remove my name from the records. I was terrified and begged Your Majesty to have me and my family executed at the ancestral temple, using our fresh blood to wash away the shame suffered by our ancestors. Your Majesty, I only ask for a quick death!"

  Gao Wei listened and was overjoyed in his heart, saying: "Since it is the order of Emperor Wenxuan, how can I not obey? From today on, Gao Changgong will be removed from the imperial clan and given the surname Zheng. Considering that you are a descendant of the previous emperor's bloodline and have made many great achievements, you will be spared from your position as Grand Marshal and demoted to Marquis of Xuyi County, governing the military and government of Xuyi County. You are limited to leaving Ye City within three days."

  "Your Majesty, you are so magnanimous, I am deeply grateful!" Gao Changgong wailed and continuously kowtowed, Gao Xing and Zheng Shi also kowtowed together to thank him.

  After Gao Wei left for a while, Gao Xing got up from the ground and was about to call Gao Changgong to get up, only to find that the latter had already fainted, with stiff limbs, scorching body, and really fell ill.

  Gao Xing and Zheng were in a flurry, fortunately, with the help of kind-hearted citizens, they managed to carry Gao Changgong back to the Wang mansion. After a warm water bath and finding a doctor, after much ado, Gao Changgong's life was finally saved, but he remained unconscious.

  After supporting Zheng's rest, Gao was happy to return to his own room and sat quietly on the couch, thinking about the future path.

  Although Gao Changgong was expelled from the Gao clan and his official positions were abolished, Gao Xing believed that Gao Wei still had some suspicions about him. It's better to do so to temporarily gain some time and mediate in between.

  Heaved a sigh of relief, happily shook his head, except for shoes and socks, sat cross-legged on the couch, assumed a five-heart-towards-the-sky pose, and began to cultivate.

  In this chaotic world, in an era fraught with crises, where human life is as worthless as a blade of grass, only great power can be the capital for survival.

  The name of the cultivation method is "Longevity Secret", which was obtained by him under a coincidence, and at the same time, he also got a half-piece Buddha pendant. The golden pendant, made of unknown material, feels soft and warm to the touch, emitting a faint aura of peace and tranquility, calming the mind and spirit, greatly benefiting cultivation.

  What's astonishing is that the Buddha pendant seems to have traversed with me as well, and has become intact. There seems to be some kind of extraordinary energy within it, which doubles the effectiveness of my cultivation. Moreover, it has great benefits for the body; if I didn't have it during the day, how could Zheng's weak body withstand such wind and cold?

  The sky finally cleared, and the warm sunshine spilled on Gaoxing's body. Gaoxing slowly opened his eyes, like a pair of bright, calm, and peaceful pools of water, without any ripples. After a night of cultivation, he didn't feel even slightly tired, but instead felt invigorated and refreshed.

  Out of the door, lightly stretched his limbs, feeling a lot more strength in his body, with a satisfied smile on his face.

  When he went to see Wang Zhongxian, Zheng's wife was already guarding the bed, and such a change occurred. How could she sleep peacefully? She came early.

  "Mother, let's pack up our things and leave today!" Gaoxing said.

  "But your father..." Zheng's eyes reddened as she looked at the bed.

  Gao Chang Gong was still in a daze, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, his lips dry and cracked, his face still slightly flushed, and there were faint beads of sweat on his forehead.

  He let out a sigh of relief, muttering to himself: "Damn Gao Wei, damn this weather!" He said helplessly: "But the Emperor has already issued an edict. If we don't leave Ye City quickly, I'm afraid something else will happen."

  Tears streamed down Zheng's face as she nodded silently.

  Gaoxing grasped her somewhat chilly hand and comforted, "Mother, don't worry, everything will be alright with me here!" After speaking, Gaoxing stepped out the door.