24: I want to be a king of a different surname

A poem can express the author's thoughts and evoke different reactions from the world.

The previous poem was specifically written by Su Ming for the soldiers on the Great Gan border, so after the phenomenon appeared, all the benefits were bestowed upon those warriors bravely fighting on the front lines.

Now, the benefits of the phenomenon have all fallen upon Ni Changshang, naturally indicating that this poem was written by Su Ming specifically for her.

Looking at Ni Changshang, who was like a deity descended from heaven, everyone in the Northern Wilderness Imperial Palace, except for Su Ming, knelt down with eyes full of worship and excitement, their voices rising like a surging tide.

“May the Empress live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”

“May the Empress live for ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years........”

A quarter of an hour later, Ni Changshang, who had calmed down, sat back in the imperial study, though the slight rise and fall of her chest occasionally revealed that her mood was not as composed as her expression suggested.

“Hidden Killer, quickly give Mr. Su a seat!”

This time, Hidden Killer did not hesitate, quickly moving a chair for Su Ming to sit on, then bowing deeply.

“This Slave was blind and failed to recognize your great talent, Mr. Su, please do not blame me!”

At this moment, Hidden Killer was completely convinced by Su Ming, even to the point of admiration, and no longer held any of his previous disdain, his tone becoming humble.

Su Ming smiled faintly, maintaining a high level of composure.

“Ignorance is no sin, Mr. Hidden Killer, there is no need for this.”

Once Su Ming was seated, Ni Changshang asked expectantly:

“I wonder if Mr. Su has chosen a name for this poem?”

Su Ming nodded, looking at Ni Changshang without reservation.

“This poem was inspired by your stunning beauty, Empress, so I have named it ‘To the Empress’.”

Ni Changshang’s eyes instantly lit up, and a ripple spread through her heart.

“Thank you, Mr. Su, for the poem.”

Cui Hui’s smile was so wide his mouth almost split; he knew that from this day forward, Su Ming would be completely famous throughout the Northern Wilderness, and he, who had brought Su Ming back, would also rise in prominence.

As if showing off his treasure, Cui Hui cupped his hands towards the Empress and whispered:

“Empress, you may not know, but those people from Great Gan were blind and actually allowed a pearl to be obscured, even attempting to kill Mr. Su Ming.”

“Fortunately, this old Slave acted decisively, using a Great Teleportation Talisman left by the late Emperor, to prevent a future pillar of our Northern Wilderness from perishing like that.”

Ni Changshang nodded, looking at Cui Hui with satisfaction.

“Hmm, you did very well in this matter!”

“For so many years, you have rendered meritorious service in transmitting messages for my Northern Wilderness, and now you have brought back such a great talent. Whatever you desire, just ask, and I will fulfill it.”

Cui Hui’s mouth opened slightly, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face, but then he steeled himself and said:

“It is this Slave’s honor to serve the Northern Wilderness with all my might. This Slave has no requests, but I feel that Mr. Su needs someone to protect him in the Northern Wilderness, and this Slave is willing to take on that role.”

He knew that he was old, and after so many years, there was no longer a place for him in the Northern Wilderness Imperial Palace.

Rather than starting from scratch, it was better to take a gamble and stay by Su Ming’s side.

He had a premonition that Su Ming could lead him to see a broader landscape.

Su Ming looked at him with some surprise, not expecting this character, who in the original work did not survive past one chapter, to have such ambition.

Ni Changshang hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

“Hmm, Mr. Su indeed needs someone to guard him. You are a Martial Dao Eighth Grade Quasi Grandmaster, so being his guard is fitting.”

“Thank you, Empress.”

Cui Hui was overjoyed, bowing three times to Ni Changshang.

Afterward, Ni Changshang looked at Su Ming again, her eyes full of undisguised admiration.

“Mr. Su, with your great talent, since you are willing to join my Northern Wilderness, I naturally must treat you with sincerity.”

“Mr. Su, please state what official position you wish to hold in my Northern Wilderness, and I will consider it carefully.”

Su Ming shook his head.

“Empress, you are too kind. I am new here and have not yet contributed anything to the Northern Wilderness, so how can I possibly ask the Empress for an official position?”

“If the Empress can prepare a residence for me in the capital, allowing me a place to settle, that would be enough.”

“If I truly make a contribution to the Northern Wilderness in the future, then I will ask the Empress for an official position.”

Ni Changshang thought even more highly of Su Ming.

Everyone said he was arrogant and disdainful, but now it seemed he was a young talent who understood propriety and was well-mannered.

To her surprise, just as she thought this, she heard Su Ming’s next words, which were as shocking as a thunderclap, causing her to become enraged again.

“However, I happen to have a plan right now that can resolve the Empress’s worries. If it succeeds, I hope the Empress will grant me the title of a Second Rank Prince.”

Ni Changshang’s face instantly became frosty, her gaze as sharp as an eagle’s.

Kings with a different surname were only bestowed upon meritorious officials who had achieved countless great feats, and when there was nothing left to reward, the Emperor would finally have no choice but to confer the title of Second Rank Prince.

Looking back at the entire history of the Northern Wilderness, only one Second Rank Prince had ever appeared, and that was Tuoba Man, the current God of War of the Northern Wilderness, who was also in the Martial Saint Realm like Su Yiyao.

You, Su Ming, though your poetry is divine, have just arrived in the Northern Wilderness and have no achievements, yet you want the position of a Second Rank Prince? This is simply preposterous!

Even Hidden Killer’s expression changed drastically, but with Su Ming’s previous brilliance, he dared not be rude to him again, and could only kindly remind him:

“Mr. Su, do you know what a Second Rank Prince represents? This kind of thing is not a joke!”

Cui Hui’s heart also sank. He suddenly regretted asking to become Su Ming’s subordinate.

Although Cui Hui hoped that Su Ming would soar in the future, it did not mean that he should make such an absurd request now.

If you’re in a hurry to be reincarnated, don’t drag me along!

Su Ming smiled faintly and shook his head.

“I don’t want a fief, nor do I want private soldiers. I only need the title of a Second Rank Prince.”

Hearing him say this, Ni Changshang’s expression softened slightly, but even an empty title was not something just anyone could obtain.

She was very curious as to what gave Su Ming the confidence to say such words.

“Oh? Mr. Su says he can resolve the worries in my heart right now?”

“How is it that I don’t know what worries I have, and how will you resolve them?”

Su Ming’s originally frivolous gaze suddenly turned sharp, mixed with traces of sinister ruthlessness, making the other three people in the room feel extremely uncomfortable for a moment.

“Presumably, Empress, you have also received news of the plague outbreak in the border military camp, haven’t you?”

Boom~!

An incredibly terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from Ni Changshang, but she quickly reined in this aura.

Although it was only a fleeting moment, Cui Hui still felt the horror of that pressure, and a monstrous wave surged in his heart.

“Martial Dao Ninth Grade! The Empress is actually a Great Grandmaster!!!”

The world knew that this Empress of the Northern Wilderness had an iron fist, but they had never heard that she also cultivated the Martial Dao, and had achieved such high accomplishments.

“The Empress’s ambitions are vast…”

Cui Hui kept his head bowed low, as if he hadn’t noticed the Empress’s abnormality just now.

Ni Changshang gazed at Su Ming for a long time before asking in a low, suppressed voice:

“How did you know about this!!!”

Su Ming smiled and shook his head.

“Actually, there were already signs of this. I heard my elder sister, Su Yiyao, mention it once, but it was just isolated cases then, so no one took it seriously.”

“But now it’s different; the plague is rampant in the military camp, and if it’s not stopped, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

........