Free Web NovelChapter 331: The Emperor’s Promise
The royal convoy returned to the capital shortly before sunset.
News of the monk’s ritual had already spread throughout the kingdom.
People crowded the streets.
Markets that should have been busy with trade were instead filled with anxious discussions.
Everywhere people asked the same questions.
What was the crying voice?
Would it return?
Were they truly safe?
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The moment the royal carriages entered the capital, thousands gathered.
The citizens wanted answers.
Not rumors.
Not guesses.
Answers.
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The Emperor understood.
Fear was more dangerous than any monster.
Fear could destroy a kingdom from within.
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As the royal family entered the palace, the Dowager Empress immediately issued an order.
"Prepare the eastern balcony."
"Inform the citizens that the Imperial Family will address them."
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Servants rushed to obey.
Within an hour, the palace square below the balcony was overflowing with people.
Thousands upon thousands.
Nobles.
Merchants.
Soldiers.
Scholars.
Farmers.
Families carrying children.
Everyone looked toward the palace.
Waiting.
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Inside the palace.
The Emperor adjusted his robes.
His expression was calm.
But his mind was busy.
The kingdom needed strength.
Not fear.
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Nearby stood the Empress.
Princess Zhi.
Prince Liang.
The Dowager Empress.
Lady Chen.
And several trusted officials.
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The Empress looked through the window.
The crowd seemed endless.
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"So many people."
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Princess Zhi sighed.
"They’re terrified."
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The Dowager Empress nodded.
"And terrified people need hope."
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The Emperor finally stood.
"It’s time."
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The large palace doors opened.
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The royal family stepped onto the balcony.
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The moment they appeared—
The entire square erupted.
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"His Majesty!"
"The Emperor!"
"The Empress!"
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People immediately knelt.
Thousands of voices echoed together.
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The Emperor raised his hand.
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Slowly.
The crowd became silent.
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A silence so complete that even the wind could be heard.
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The Emperor stepped forward.
His voice carried across the entire square.
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"People of the Empire."
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Every eye focused on him.
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"I know you are afraid."
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No one denied it.
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The Emperor continued.
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"You heard the crying voice."
"You witnessed the strange events."
"You have questions."
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Many nodded.
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The Emperor looked across the crowd.
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"I cannot explain everything."
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A few worried expressions appeared.
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"But I can tell you this."
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His voice became stronger. freewebnσvel.cøm
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"You are not alone."
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The square became silent again.
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"The Imperial Family stands with you."
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"The army stands with you."
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"The palace stands with you."
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"We will not abandon our people."
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The words spread through the crowd like warmth.
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The Emperor continued.
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"Today, the monk created a sacred boundary."
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Many people looked upward instinctively.
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"The kingdom is protected."
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Relief spread through the crowd.
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Children smiled.
Parents relaxed.
Elderly citizens wiped tears from their eyes.
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Then the Emperor made a promise.
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A promise that would be remembered for years.
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"As long as I sit upon this throne—"
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The square became completely silent.
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"No harm shall come to this kingdom without a fight."
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His voice echoed across the capital.
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"I swear to protect my people."
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"I swear to protect this land."
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"I swear to stand before danger."
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"Not behind my subjects."
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The crowd exploded with emotion.
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"Long live His Majesty!"
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"Long live the Emperor!"
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"Long live the Empire!"
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The cheering continued for several minutes.
---
Beside him—
The Empress quietly watched.
---
For the first time in a long while—
The Emperor truly looked like a ruler.
Not because of power.
But because of responsibility.
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The Dowager Empress’s eyes softened.
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Prince Liang smiled proudly.
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Princess Zhi looked emotional.
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Even Lady Chen appeared impressed.
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The Emperor then stepped back.
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The Empress moved forward.
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The cheering immediately quieted.
---
Many people adored the Empress.
Especially after the rumors of her miraculous survival.
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She looked down at the crowd.
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Not as an Empress.
But as someone who genuinely cared.
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"You have all been brave."
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Her voice was gentle.
Warm.
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"I know these days have been difficult."
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"But fear grows stronger when we face it alone."
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She smiled softly.
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"So stay together."
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"Protect your families."
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"Help your neighbors."
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"And trust that we are doing everything we can."
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Many people began crying.
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Not from fear.
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From relief.
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The Empress’s words felt sincere.
---
Real.
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Princess Zhi stepped forward next.
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"If anyone spreads ridiculous rumors, tell Prince Liang."
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The crowd laughed.
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Prince Liang immediately pointed at her.
"Why me?"
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The crowd laughed harder.
---
For the first time since the crying voice appeared—
People smiled.
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The tension eased.
---
The atmosphere became lighter.
---
Even the Dowager Empress spoke briefly.
Offering calm reassurance and reminding everyone to remain united.
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Eventually—
The address ended.
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The crowd slowly dispersed.
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People returned home carrying something they hadn’t had before.
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Hope.
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As the square emptied, the Emperor remained on the balcony.
Looking across the capital.
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The sun was beginning to set.
Painting the city in gold.
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The Empress stepped beside him.
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Neither spoke for a moment.
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Then she quietly said,
"You did well today."
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The Emperor looked at her.
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For a moment—
His serious expression softened.
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"No."
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He looked toward the kingdom.
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"We all did."
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Far away—
Hidden among the palace corridors—
Shin Gu watched the scene from the shadows.
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Everyone looked hopeful.
---
Everyone looked relieved.
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Everyone believed the danger had passed.
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A faint smile appeared on her lips.
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Because she knew something they didn’t.
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The most dangerous storms often arrived—
After the sky became clear.
The capital was peaceful that afternoon.
The sky was bright.
The streets were crowded.
Merchants shouted from their stalls while children ran through the market laughing.
In the center of the city, a large platform had been prepared.
The Emperor stood there with members of the royal family as they addressed the people regarding recent matters in the kingdom.
Behind him stood the Dowager Empress, Princess Zhi, Prince Liang, ministers, generals, and several royal relatives.
Thousands of citizens had gathered.
The atmosphere was lively.
Hopeful.
Normal.
At least—
Until the sky changed.
Suddenly.
Without warning.
A cold wind swept across the city.
People shivered.
The Emperor paused mid-sentence.
His gaze slowly lifted upward.
Dark clouds.
Black as ink.
They appeared from nowhere.
One moment the sky was blue.
The next—
The sun disappeared.
A shadow fell over the entire capital.
People began whispering nervously.
"What is happening?"
"Is a storm coming?"
"The weather was fine a moment ago..."
Even the ministers looked confused.
The clouds continued gathering.
Darker.
Heavier.
Almost alive.
Princess Zhi felt her heart tighten.
The Dowager Empress gripped her sleeves.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Then—
The sky trembled.
BOOM!
A thunderous sound exploded overhead.
The crowd gasped.
Children cried.
Some people fell to their knees.
And then—
A voice echoed from the heavens.
Not loud.
Not soft.
But impossible to ignore.
It sounded as though the entire sky was speaking.
As if a giant invisible speaker had appeared above the kingdom.
Every single person heard it.
Every noble.
Every servant.
Every child.
Every soldier.
The voice declared:
"THE DOOM OF THIS KINGDOM IS COMING."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The city froze.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Then the voice continued.
"THE ROYAL FAMILY CANNOT ESCAPE."
"THE SHADOWS HAVE AWAKENED."
"BLOOD WILL COVER THE LAND."
"THE END HAS ALREADY BEGUN."
The words rolled across the heavens like thunder.
The ground itself seemed to tremble.
A woman screamed.
A child began crying.
Several elderly citizens collapsed from fear.
Even battle-hardened generals felt chills running down their spines.
The voice carried something unnatural.
Something terrifying.
Then—
It vanished.
Just like that.
The sky fell silent.
Only the black clouds remained.
Fear spread through the crowd.
People began talking all at once.
"What was that?"
"Did you hear it too?"
"Is it a curse?"
"The heavens are angry!"
Panic started spreading.
The ministers exchanged worried looks.
The Emperor’s face darkened.
Because he knew.
This was not normal.
Beside him, Princess Zhi had gone pale.
The Dowager Empress looked shaken.
Several members of the royal clan were visibly frightened.
Only one person suddenly burst into laughter.
Prince Liang.
"Hahaha!"
Everyone looked at him.
He continued laughing.
Holding his stomach dramatically.
The crowd stared in confusion.
Prince Liang pointed toward the sky.
"Really?"
"The doom of the kingdom?"
"The end has begun?"
"Hahaha!"
He wiped away imaginary tears.
"What kind of terrible performance is this?"
The crowd blinked.
Prince Liang continued loudly.
"Someone is playing tricks!"
"Perhaps a storyteller wanted free publicity!"
A few people laughed nervously.
Prince Liang wasn’t finished.
"What next?"
"A dragon appears?"
"A ghost starts collecting taxes?"
The crowd finally began laughing.
Some hesitantly.
Others more confidently.
The fear slowly weakened.
Prince Liang grinned.
"There is no doom."
"There is no prophecy."
"Someone simply enjoys causing trouble."
More laughter spread.
The people visibly relaxed.
Even some ministers smiled.
The Emperor glanced at Prince Liang.
He understood immediately.
Prince Liang was calming the crowd.
Preventing panic.
And it worked.
Within minutes, most citizens convinced themselves it was simply a prank.
A strange prank.
But a prank nonetheless.
The gathering slowly resumed.
Yet—
The royal family remained silent.
Because they knew.
That wasn’t a prank.
The Emperor looked toward the black clouds.
His expression was grim.
Princess Zhi stepped closer.
Her voice barely above a whisper.
"Brother..."
The Emperor turned toward her.
She looked terrified.
"I felt it."
A chill ran through him.
"What?"
Princess Zhi swallowed hard.
"The pressure."
"The same feeling from before."
The Emperor understood immediately.
The night she lost her child.
The strange darkness surrounding the palace.
The lake incident involving the Empress.
The unexplained attacks.
It was the same.
Prince Liang slowly stopped smiling.
Once the crowd’s attention moved away, his playful expression vanished completely.
He stepped closer to the Emperor.
His voice lowered.
"Tell me honestly."
The Emperor looked at him.
Prince Liang continued.
"That wasn’t normal, was it?"
Silence.
The Emperor stared at the dark clouds.
Then finally answered.
"No."
Prince Liang’s face hardened.
The Dowager Empress closed her eyes briefly.
Around them, the citizens laughed and resumed their day.
But the royal family knew the truth.
Someone—
Or something—
Had just announced its presence.
And the warning was aimed at them.
Not the people.
Not the ministers.
Them.
The royal family.
Far away, hidden somewhere within the kingdom, a figure stood in darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
A faint smile appeared on their lips.
The first move had been made.
The game had begun.
And for the first time—
The Emperor felt something he rarely experienced.
Unease.
Because deep in his heart—
He believed the voice.
Not every word.
But one part.
A storm was coming.
And it was far from over.
