Chapter 869
Two hours later, Duchess Diphas once again met with all the important figures within the Golden Wall City from behind the glass.
“I hereby formally declare that Lord Shen Lang is my, Diphas's, legal husband and my only direct kin. In the future, our child will inherit the Rousseau family and the Azure Wave Planet. Furthermore, Lord Shen Lang will share my honor and power as the Duke of Rousseau. He has the right to share all the assets of the Rousseau family and all the power of the Azure Wave Planet with me. Lord Shen Lang is my one and only husband, and he will remain so from this day until the end of my life. From today onward, not only I but also Lord Shen Lang is your master. The Rousseau family historian shall print my words as an official decree and disseminate it throughout the entire Azure Wave Planet.”
At Diphas's declaration, the officials and nobles present turned pale. They had all attended the wedding of Duchess Diphas and Shen Lang, but everyone knew that Shen Lang was merely a sacrifice for the Yan Emperor and a contract Duchess Diphas had made with the God of Fire. Yet now, the Duchess was unexpectedly declaring him her one and only legal husband, someone who would share the power of the Duke of Rousseau.
*'Has... has she gone mad? Shen Lang is an Eastern man. If Duchess Diphas does this, won't she become a disgrace to the Western world, like an Amazon tribe? If that happens, should everyone still pledge their loyalty to her?'*
Of course, many thought this, but none dared to voice it. Duchess Diphas possessed immense authority, and everyone who had opposed her was dead. Including her own brother.
“Immediately print my words as an official decree and post it on every street in the Golden Wall City. Also, order the Bloody Baron and all fleets of the Rousseau family to immediately lift the blockade on the Eastern Empress City.”
***
The Duchy of Rousseau moved swiftly. Within nearly three hours, Duchess Diphas's orders were posted on every major street and in every alley of the Golden Wall City. Everyone in the city who saw the decree was shocked and lost their color.
*'Isn't this world changing too fast? Not long ago, Shen Lang was an Eastern clown and a sworn enemy of the Rousseau family, and now he's become Duchess Diphas's only legal husband. And another master of the Golden Wall City? This is too absurd. Why are the nobles just letting this happen? Shouldn't they be rebelling? Shouldn't they overthrow Duchess Diphas?'*
In fact, dark waves were already surging violently among the upper echelons of the Golden Wall City. Although Diphas was their sovereign, her subordinates could not fully accept such an order. Some vassals of the Rousseau family and several influential figures in the Golden Wall City began to conspire in secret.
“It has become very clear that Duchess Diphas does not have long to live. She issued this series of absurd commands hoping that Eastern clown would save her. We are loyal to the Rousseau family, not to Diphas as an individual. If she can no longer represent the interests of the Rousseau family and the Seiren Dynasty, she is not fit to be our sovereign.”
“Count Doyle, you are Duchess Diphas's cousin. Aside from Count Austin, you have the noblest bloodline in the Rousseau family. It is only right that you lead us in resisting the Duchess's delirious command. We will never allow a mere Eastern clown to lord over us. I would rather see the Golden Wall City fall than let it fall into the hands of that Eastern clown, Shen Lang. Even if Duchess Diphas dies, I will not tolerate her kneeling before that Eastern clown's crotch.”
“The others are all cowards. Especially Count Vytin, that fool who is blindly loyal. People like us are the true loyalists of the Rousseau family and the Seiren Dynasty. We must take action. We must move quickly. If we wait for that Eastern clown to react, it might be too late for everything.”
“Take action? How do we take action?”
“By killing Duchess Diphas.”
“What did you say? She is our sovereign. The great Guardian of the South of the Third Seiren Empire.”
“But if she does not die, who can stop her commands? Who can overturn them? Only if she dies can Count Doyle Rousseau inherit the position of Governor-General of the Azure Wave Planet and the ducal title of the Rousseau family, and then reverse all the orders she has given.”
“We should thank that Eastern clown. He sent Amazon masters from the sky to kill a good number of the warriors inside the ducal estate. The Duchess's estate is quite empty now, making it a perfect time for our forces to strike. We will go, kill Duchess Diphas, and set this chaotic world right.”
“But Duchess Diphas's martial skill is formidable.”
“She is dying now. She can't even lift her greatsword.”
All the rebellious vassals, officials, and generals present turned their gazes to one man: Count Doyle Rousseau, Diphas's cousin. He was a naval officer under Diphas and the lord of the Blue Jade Commandery. They had all been loyal to the Rousseau family for hundreds of years. Only if Count Doyle nodded in agreement would everyone here truly rebel. If they killed Diphas and put Count Doyle in power, all their actions would become justice, not treason.
“Count Doyle, for the centuries of glory of the Rousseau family, you must not hesitate any longer.”
“Count Doyle, I know you deeply admire Duchess Diphas. If you were not cousins, you would have already proposed to her. But now she is about to submit to a mere Eastern man. Are you really going to stand by and watch all this happen? Will you watch as the Rousseau family and the Azure Wave Planet fall into the hands of that Eastern clown, Shen Lang?”
Count Doyle Rousseau was faced with a difficult choice. Diphas was too powerful, and devastatingly beautiful. Count Doyle had adored this cousin since childhood. Even now, married with children, he still wanted an intimate relationship with Diphas. That was why, despite being the lord of the Blue Jade Commandery, he had abandoned his fief to follow Diphas and become her naval commander in this battle. He had hoped that one day he could get close to her and take the beautiful woman for himself. But now, Diphas was about to die, and that Eastern clown Shen Lang was to become the co-sovereign of the Rousseau family?
*'No, absolutely not. The vassals are right. Even if Diphas must die, I cannot let her fall into the hands of that Eastern clown, Shen Lang.'*
“Very well. For the Rousseau family, for the Azure Wave Planet, for the Third Seiren Empire, I will do it. Everyone, gather your most loyal family warriors and assemble here in six hours. We will storm the ducal estate!”
“Yes, sir!”
“We assemble here in six hours and storm the ducal estate. We will kill Diphas and place Count Doyle on the throne!”
“Count Vytin is loyal to Diphas. He will be an obstacle.”
“Don't worry. He is my father-in-law. Leave him to me. I can easily take care of him.”
“Everything for the Rousseau family! Everything for Duke Doyle!”
***
Diphas was still inside the ducal estate, cut off from the outside world, struggling against the grim reaper. Her coughing grew more severe, and she now constantly vomited blood. Her high fever refused to break, forcing her to remain bedridden. Moreover, many in the ducal estate, knowing her illness was contagious, no longer dared to approach her.
The peerless beauty had now become a pale woman, her breath faint. Her eyes were completely bloodshot, and she could barely see. Even lying down, she was in such agony that it felt like she could die at any moment. A fear she had never known in her life enveloped her. She even felt as if grim reapers were standing in every corner of the room, constantly reaching for her with their demonic hands. Despair, an endless, dark despair, consumed her. She could only lie weakly on her bed. Outside, a messenger knelt on the floor, trembling.
“Has Lord Shen Lang still not come?”
Diphas coughed violently, asking with great difficulty. Just to utter that one sentence, she vomited two mouthfuls of blood.
“He has not.”
Diphas shouted in anger.
“Why not? *Cough, cough.* If he doesn't come, I will die, and he will gain nothing. Besides, my subordinates will soon rebel. Even if I don't die from this illness, I'll be burned to death or murdered by them.”
Diphas's intuition was correct. Within the Golden Wall City, dozens of people were already secretly plotting a rebellion, gathering thousands of warriors, and preparing to storm the ducal estate to tear her to pieces.
“Tina, you are my sworn sister and the person I trust most. Is that right?”
At the Duchess's words, the messenger knelt and bowed her head.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Go to my study and find the nineteenth volume of *The History of the Rousseau Family*. There is a key tucked into the cover. Behind the bookshelf is a secret compartment. Use the key to open it, and you will find the great seal of the Duke of Rousseau. Take that seal to Lord Shen Lang and request that his Amazon legion enter the Golden Wall City.”
Hearing this, Tina was stunned. Inviting Shen Lang's army into the city was tantamount to handing over the Golden Wall City itself, wasn't it?
“My foolish sister, an enemy can sometimes become a comrade-in-arms, and a friend can become an enemy at any moment. Someone is already rebelling, so Shen Lang has become my only savior. That man is truly too clever. As the Easterners say, his wisdom is almost demonic, isn't it? He first kicks me into the abyss, and just as I'm about to fall into hell, he extends a hand to pull me back up. He's pressured me into losing my status and honor, making me an outcast to all. How impressive, truly impressive. Sister, go and see Lord Shen Lang and immediately call him 'Master.' And deliver this message for me: 'My husband, please come save your Diphas quickly. Once you save me, I will immediately wash myself clean and await your pleasure. I am your little slave girl, so please hurry and save me. Please hurry and make my belly big.'”
After speaking, Diphas coughed violently again, constantly vomiting blood, on the verge of fainting. Tina could not believe what she had just heard. Was this the noble Duchess Diphas? How strong and arrogant she had always been! Yet to say such words, the situation must be dire indeed.
“Yes!”
The messenger, Tina, quickly went to the ducal estate, found the seal, and then ran like mad toward Shen Lang's military camp.
Now, Diphas lay on her bed, completely unconscious. It seemed as if the grim reaper held her life in his hands, ready to take her away at any moment.