Headache, a sharp pain!
Li Hao tried to open his eyes, but it felt extremely difficult. Finally, he managed to crack them open a bit.
Dim light flooded in, revealing a grand ancient hall, solemn and majestic, with a dark golden dragon-scaled carpet stretching before him.
At the end of the carpet, on a set of steps, sat a towering figure with an imposing presence. His gaze was fierce, like a candle flame in the dark night, radiating a captivating glow.
Where am I?
Wasn't I just playing a game?
Oh, my phone died; I was about to charge it...
Li Hao's mind felt sluggish, and he looked around in confusion.
Crap, I didn't fall asleep while holding my phone again, did I?
But this didn’t seem like a dream.
“Nineteen years old, brave and unmatched, slaying the royal court, exterminating great demons, and bringing peace to Cangzhou after a century of chaos. Such a hero is not only a loss for your Li family but also for the countless people of the Dayu Dynasty!”
“Xing Wuhou, step forward to hear the decree!”
A commanding voice echoed through the hall, loud and imposing.
Li Hao strained to look and saw many figures in official robes standing with their heads bowed on either side of the carpet. This place is... the royal palace?
Dayu Dynasty... I don’t think this dynasty existed in history, did it?
As Li Hao was puzzled, a tall, robust figure suddenly stepped forward. Just from the back, he seemed to emit a chilling and bloody aura.
“Today, I bestow the title of First-Class Zhen Guo Marquis upon Li Jiuyou, and promote him to General. He can be buried in the royal tomb, and I grant him ten carriages of ancient treasures, three Yu Dragon Orders, and ten dou of gold!”
“From this day forth, the nation will mourn for three days, and the court will refrain from meat for seven days to honor the spirit of the Zhen Guo Marquis!”
Such a grand reward shocked everyone in the hall.
At just 19 years old, he was made a marquis!
Usually, marquises are titled things like Zhen Bei Marquis or Ping Yuan Marquis, but being called Zhen Guo Marquis is a title of eternal glory!
There has never been anyone like this before, and it’s unlikely there will be again.
After all, being made a first-class marquis at 19 is truly remarkable!
“I, on behalf of my ninth brother, accept the decree and thank Your Majesty, Emperor Yu!”
The tall figure, as sturdy as a mountain, knelt on one knee. His deep voice held little joy or excitement, only a hint of sorrow, his voice hoarse.
“This is what your Li family deserves; it is I who owe you!”
“Xing Wuhou, that is your child, right? I want to bestow him a name. Do you agree?”
“I have no achievements and do not dare to accept such grace!”
“The sons of the Li family are all heroes of my Dayu! The Zhen Guo Marquis died for the country, and your son was born. Perhaps this is the cycle of heaven; heaven took away my beloved general and granted me a good son for Dayu.”
“I hereby name him... Hao!”
“I hope he can inherit the Zhen Guo Marquis's ambition and help unify the East Huang for my Dayu!”
“Your Majesty, this name is too noble; I fear I cannot bear such grace...”
“It’s fine; the sons of the Li family deserve it!”
Hao as a single name?
Li Hao was taken aback, then felt like laughing. What a coincidence, the name is the same as mine!
Wait a minute.
The child he mentioned, could it be me?
Li Hao looked down and was stunned. He found himself in a swaddling blanket, with tiny hands and feet, looking very delicate, being held by a beautiful woman in military armor.
“Someone, bring my dragon blood jade to Hao.”
Soon, Li Hao saw a pale-faced eunuch approach solemnly, handing over a dark red dragon-patterned jade pendant.
A slender, delicate hand gently took it, and the beautiful woman holding him whispered, “Thank you for your kindness, Emperor Yu.”
What’s going on...
Li Hao blinked. Is this a dream?
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him, and he could no longer hold on, falling into a deep sleep.
...
...
In Qingzhou City, the Divine General's Mansion, the Li family.
The Dayu Dynasty had five divine generals, and the Li family was one of them.
With nine generals in one family, they were known for their loyalty and bravery, considered the nobility among the nobility in the Dayu Dynasty, enjoying endless wealth and glory.
However, beneath this immense wealth lay the bonds of blood and kinship.
Of the nine sons of the Li family, six had already fallen!
The youngest, the ninth son, had only been in the army for two years and had just been promoted to a school officer. Who would have thought that during the Cangzhou battle, he, as a school officer, led tens of thousands of cavalry and charged straight into the enemy's royal city?
He broke through fifteen cities and killed a hundred demons!
He achieved a monumental feat, becoming the sixth member of the Li family to die for the country.
Now, he had a golden statue in the martial temple, receiving the people's worship and remembrance.
At this moment, it had been about three months since the title of “Zhen Guo Marquis” was conferred.
Over the months, the people of the Li family had slowly emerged from their grief, and the gloom on their faces had lessened.
Today, there was a joyful occasion in the mansion, and it was bustling with activity.
Noblemen from various states and court officials either came in person or sent representatives to Qingzhou. Luxurious carriages lined up in front of the Divine General's Mansion, attracting many passersby to stop and stare.
Today was the hundred-day banquet for Li Hao, the son of the Zhen Guo Marquis, Xing Wuhou.
This child, born with a golden spoon, was named by Emperor Yu at birth, his name known throughout the land. As a member of a divine general family, there was no doubt he would have a place in the world in the future.
As the saying goes, one should curry favor early.
Inside the Divine General's Mansion, in a room in the Shanhua Courtyard, Li Hao curiously observed the bustling scene outside while nestled in his mother Ji Qingqing's arms.
After several months, Li Hao had come to understand that he was not dreaming but had... traveled through time.
This was not a historical dynasty but a realm of fleeting time.
There were martial artists, great demons, swordsmen, and temples.
Fortunately, the Dayu Dynasty was strong, and demons were forbidden from entering, so those that dared to sneak in were few. Therefore, the people lived relatively prosperous lives, especially someone like him born into a top noble family.
Life was full of hope!
“Hao'er, actually, your mother didn’t wish for you to be born into the Li family, did you know?” Outside, amidst the noise, Ji Qingqing suddenly spoke softly, her face showing worry.
Li Hao looked up at his mother in surprise.
At this moment, his vocal cords had not fully developed, so he couldn’t speak. Even if he could, he wouldn’t dare to ask why; otherwise, he might scare this young lady.
However, even though Ji Qingqing seemed like a young girl in his eyes, she was only in her early twenties.
Yet, her meticulous care and warmth over the past few months had made him feel a sense of dependence on her.
“Actually, I had already thought of a name for you, called Le Ping, Li Le Ping! I just hope you can grow up happy and safe. Unifying the world is the royal dream, not the Li family’s dream, and certainly not mine...”
Ji Qingqing murmured to herself. The flattering faces of the nobles outside didn’t make her feel proud or happy; instead, they felt somewhat jarring.
“The Emperor named you as a sign of hope after Jiuyou’s death, wishing for the Li family to rise again. This name carries the expectations of the Dayu royal family and serves as a motivation for the Li family...”
She didn’t continue.
This heavy expectation resting on her child was easy to imagine; the more grace received today, the greater the pressure to bear in the future!
Li Hao looked at the sadness between her brows. At this moment, she was no longer the revered Seventh Lady of the Divine General's Mansion or the iron-faced general feared on the battlefield but simply a mother.
He couldn’t speak, so he buried his head tighter against her chest, trying to convey his comfort through warmth.
Feeling the movement in her arms, Ji Qingqing looked down at her child’s long eyelashes and pretty face, and her gaze softened immediately.
She gently rocked Li Hao, her delicate hand soothing the infant, as if comforting her own heart:
“No matter what, your mother will help you. Your father has already entered the ‘Three Immortal’ realm, and you may inherit that power.”
“Even if your martial arts talent is average in the future, with the power passed down from your father, it will be enough for you to keep up with your father’s footsteps when he was young, not falling behind your peers.”
“No matter what happens in the future, your mother will stand in front of you, and I will never let anyone harm you...”
She spoke softly.
“The hundred-day banquet is about to start; what are you doing here?”
At that moment, the sturdy Xing Wuhou approached, gently wrapping his arm around Ji Qingqing’s waist, surprised, “What are you thinking about? Are you not happy?”
“Of course not.”
Ji Qingqing hid her emotions, looked up with a smile, and didn’t share her inner thoughts with her husband. She knew the straightforward nature of the Li family men, who took pride in dying on the battlefield; her personal feelings would ultimately be overshadowed by the thousand-year glory of the Divine General's Mansion.
“Have your sisters-in-law arrived?”
“They're all here, just waiting for you and Hao’er.”
Xing Wuhou glanced at Li Hao, rubbed his little head, but his rough hand felt like a blade, making Li Hao roll his eyes.
Can’t this big oaf be a little gentler?
Ji Qingqing took Li Hao to another room filled with the wives of various officials, and the chatter immediately surrounded them.
“Oh my, Hao’er is so beautiful, even more handsome than Jing’er when he was little.”
“Yeah, Shuang’er, look at your brother; how cute!”
“Oh, his little eyes are staring at me!”
Apart from the wives, there were also their children, the youngest just one or two years old, tugging at their parents' pants, their big eyes curiously looking at Li Hao in the swaddle.
A few older kids, around five or six years old, looked mature and bored, standing aside, not daring to leave, showing little interest in the new little brother.
“Come, Hao’er, let Fifth Aunt hold you.”
A beautiful woman picked up Li Hao, her face filled with affection, suddenly surprised, “Ah, is Hao’er hungry?”
“He just ate this morning.”
The beautiful woman didn’t doubt it, thinking Li Hao was hungry. Hearing Ji Qingqing say he had eaten, she didn’t worry further, just gently pinching Li Hao’s little face, giggling.
The other ladies also gathered around to tease Li Hao, and when the time was right, they began to present gifts one after another.
Ji Qingqing hurriedly declined, but they still insisted on stuffing gifts into her hands.
These were treasures that were hard to come by, and today, at Li Hao’s hundred-day banquet, the gifts alone filled half of the Shanhua Courtyard, all rare and precious.
One jade-like bracelet was placed on Li Hao’s tiny hand, given by the beautiful woman who was holding him, claiming it had a nourishing effect.
Li Hao had initially been a bit tired from the noise, but after putting on the bracelet, he felt a cool sensation flowing into his body, making him feel much more alert.
His drowsiness vanished, and his mind became sharper.
He squinted his eyes, and suddenly a blurry text jumped into view.
Compared to the muddled confusion he felt when he first traveled here, as he grew day by day, his mind developed, and the text gradually became clearer.
At this moment, it was as if he had put on glasses for nearsightedness, and everything became crystal clear.
...
After a six-month break, I may not have written well at the start; it might be slow to warm up, but it will get more exciting as we go on~~
(End of Chapter)