Chapter 82: The Empress Draped in Phoenix Feathers

On the screen, the video played. Looking at the furious representative from the Free Nation, Shang Weitian barely managed to hold back his laughter. Still, as a professional, he maintained a perfectly expressionless face.

“So, that’s it?” Shang Weitian said coolly.

The white palace fell into a strange silence.

A reporter muttered softly, “There’s nothing to see at all…”

Viewers around the world, watching the livestream, were even more merciless. After a brief pause, the comments poured in.

“Um, can someone explain to me what the word ‘evidence’ means?”

“What does this prove? I can’t see anything!”

“I mean, I support the Free Nation too, but… come on, this video is basically a black screen! All I saw was the back of a bird from start to finish!”

“If you want to frame someone, at least put some effort into it! Use some special effects to fake a surveillance video or something!”

“Are they going to pull out a vial of laundry detergent next?”

Audiences across the globe were left bewildered.

Everyone had expected the Free Nation to present some powerful evidence to condemn Daxia. Instead, after all the anticipation, this was all they had?

On the podium, the Free Nation’s representative gripped the table tightly.

He was genuinely wronged! Those people had left no evidence at all. The two-story building belonging to the Phoenix Society had been burned to ashes by a mysterious fire, leaving nothing behind.

And the only surveillance footage…

At that moment, Shang Weitian, infuriating as ever, said calmly, “It’s all right, perhaps you just picked up the wrong USB drive. I’m sure you have irrefutable evidence in your possession.”

“Could you show it to us?”

“All the surveillance footage is like this!” the Free Nation’s representative ground out, teeth clenched. “But this is enough to prove—”

“Prove what, exactly?” Shang Weitian adjusted his glasses, face blank. “You claim that Daxia sent people to infiltrate, but even if they did, surely to reach the residential area, they’d have to pass through several streets?”

“At the very least, there should be a few more backs visible, shouldn’t there?”

“Are you saying all your surveillance cameras were blocked by birds?”

“Or is it that all the birds in your Free Nation are actually Daxia’s spies?”

At this, even the journalists at the Free Nation’s press conference couldn’t help but laugh, though they quickly remembered which side they were on and stifled their amusement.

“If videos like this count as evidence, then Daxia could provide similar footage, claiming your Free Nation invaded us.”

“So, you have no evidence,” Shang Weitian said coolly. “We strongly condemn the slander against Daxia by the Free Nation.”

“As for your claim about the shelling, I actually have some evidence here.” Shang Weitian added evenly, “You didn’t finish playing your video just now. Why don’t I continue for you?”

A new video appeared on Shang Weitian’s screen.

It seemed to have been shot from a warship; below was a beach, where soldiers from the Free Nation had surrounded several people of Eastern appearance.

The tension was palpable.

And then—

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

The sound of cannon fire erupted!

At that moment, the atmosphere reached its peak of tension, and all who watched felt a jolt of shock.

“Did Daxia really open fire?”

“That’s Free Nation territory, isn’t it? Is Daxia trying to start a war?”

However.

Moments later.

No shells landed, and no explosions followed.

At the same time, banners unfurled across the warship, and what had been a tense scene suddenly transformed into a festive one—

“Welcome home!”

“Daxia has come to bring you back!”

Then, an elderly man in a general’s uniform piloted a small boat alone, making his way straight onto the Free Nation’s beach.

The video ended there.

“So this is what you call an invasion? This is the ‘shelling’ you accuse us of?” Shang Weitian said calmly.

The Free Nation’s representative was at a loss for words.

“We simply fired ceremonial salutes, unfurled some banners, and paid a visit. If that counts as illegal entry, you’ve done plenty of the same in our waters.” Shang Weitian’s tone was unruffled. “Enough, let’s put this to rest. Once again, Daxia protests the slander from the Free Nation.”

And thus, the Free Nation’s grand attempt to seek accountability came to an end.

In truth, the Free Nation did have more leverage—such as questioning why Elder Jin went forward alone, or why those Daxia citizens were surrounded by Free Nation soldiers.

But.

Daxia also had leverage over the Free Nation!

Not to mention the matter of the Empress’s Phoenix Cape, which Lin Fan had recovered and which the Free Nation had been hiding. If it ever came to light that three Phoenix Society members had been apprehended in Daxia for capturing gifted individuals, the Free Nation would find itself hoisted by its own petard!

If that day ever came,

Daxia would have every justification!

So, it was better for both sides to argue a bit and let the matter quietly drop.

Only, the Free Nation hadn’t expected Daxia to stand so firm!

Yes.

Firm!

This livestream revealed a new reality to people all over the world: Daxia had suddenly become assertive!

Though their rhetoric was still full of protests and condemnation as before, this time Daxia had left the Free Nation speechless!

Three days after this press conference,

A military transport plane took off from an aircraft carrier fleet conducting exercises in international waters.

Four hours later, the plane landed at Jingzhou Airport.

Inside the airport, the head of the nation himself was there to greet the arrivals!

A red carpet was laid, flowers were arranged, and Daxia’s journalists had their cameras set and ready!

At this moment, every television station and livestreaming platform in the country was broadcasting this event.

“Whoa, I’m new here—can anyone tell me what’s with all the pomp and circumstance?”

“Is that the head of state standing there?”

“Who’s arriving that deserves such a grand welcome? Must be someone of incredible importance!”

“Are you dense? Look at the livestream’s headline!”

News headline—“A Joyous Welcome for the Return of Daxia’s National Treasure—the Empress’s Phoenix Cape!”

At that moment, everyone who saw the headline widened their eyes in shock.

The Empress’s Phoenix Cape!

These four words whipped up a storm across the internet.

“The Empress’s Phoenix Cape… which empress?”

“Didn’t you ever study? Who’s the most powerful female emperor in Daxia’s history?”

“Wu Zetian?!”

“Wu Zetian’s Phoenix Cape? The first Phoenix Cape in Daxia!”

“Everyone, I’m a professor of history. In fact, Wu Zetian wasn’t the only female emperor in Daxia’s history, but she was the most famous, the most forceful, and the greatest embodiment of empressly virtue. One of her famous edicts was that every woman of Daxia, regardless of wealth or status, could wear imperial attire—the phoenix crown and cloud-red robe—when she married. That is, the Phoenix Cape. The very first Phoenix Cape, the Empress’s Phoenix Cape, is undoubtedly our national treasure!”

“It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s tied to the very fate of our nation!”

“But this national treasure had long been lost. Who would have thought it could be recovered and returned to Daxia today!”

Thanks to the explanations from experts and hosts, viewers now understood both what the Empress’s Phoenix Cape was and its immense significance!

At this moment,

Everyone’s mind turned to a single question.

“Who retrieved this Phoenix Cape?”

Whoever managed to recover it was surely worthy of being called a hero!

As everyone waited in anticipation,

The newly landed transport plane slowly taxied toward them.