Outside, the civil and military officials waited respectfully, heads bowed and hands clasped, ready to follow behind once the imperial procession passed.
Yin Gezhi wasn’t foolish – even with Emperor Wei’s seemingly sincere attitude, he still glanced at Commander Chen and the Chamberlain. The Commander controlled the palace gates’ guards while the Chamberlain managed the inner palace guards. Both had good relationships with him and if the Emperor planned anything unusual, they would know.
However, these two maintained normal expressions and returned his gaze without any special reaction.
Reassured, Yin Gezhi finally believed the Emperor’s remorse was genuine.
At the ancestral temple ceremony, Emperor Wei showed great reverence, leading the royal family in paying respects in a solemn atmosphere. As the ceremonial officer recited the sacrificial text, everyone maintained grave expressions and spoke in mournful tones. Their kowtows and bows were particularly precise, and the entire sequence of rituals proceeded smoothly without incident.
Emperor Wei helped the Crown Prince rise and ordered, “Proceed to Dragon Terrace Mountain to seek guidance from our ancestral spirits.”
“The procession begins—” the Chief Eunuch announced in his shrill voice.
Yin Gezhi turned his head slightly, gazing far toward the north.
Guanzhi should have already connected with Fengyue, and would soon join up with his arranged people to enter Dragon Terrace Mountain together.
Returning his gaze, he followed behind the Crown Prince, walking with perfect propriety.
Behind them, rows of guards began changing shifts. The guards who had been protecting the royal family at the ancestral temple entrance remained there. Those who had been guarding the surroundings now moved forward in an orderly fashion to escort the Emperor to his dragon carriage.
Fengyue lifted her head slightly and noticed a guard giving her a meaningful look. Understanding the signal, she gripped her long halberd tightly and fell in with the surrounding guards, marching in precise steps out of the palace. Meanwhile, on another side, someone wearing a bright red dress with a gauzy veil sat in Guanzhi’s carriage.
Dragon Terrace Mountain was an imperial forbidden ground. Though it was unknown if the imperial tombs were there, none but the royal family could ascend it for ancestral worship. The mountain was thickly forested, clearly a blessed place.
A magnificent temple had been built on the mountainside. The Emperor alighted here, supported by the Crown Prince as they walked inside.
This place was specifically for royal ancestral worship. The platform had been carefully constructed, with natural rock walls on three sides protecting those conducting ceremonies. Up two levels of steps stood a towering pillar flying the Wei national battle flag, with an altar table below where the Emperor would stand. Guards densely lined three sides for protection.
As positions were taken, since everything had gone smoothly so far, people felt relatively relaxed. Even knowing the Emperor would read a statement of guilt, it didn’t seem like a big deal – they’d finish, disperse, and go home to eat.
However, just as the Emperor took his position and ordered someone to bring the statement of guilt, Prince Xiao’an suddenly spoke: “Royal Father.”
His voice was startling in the quiet forest. Emperor Wei shuddered slightly and frowned. “What is it?”
“One person has yet to arrive. Please grant her permission to come forward.” Yin Gezhi bowed with clasped hands, his cold voice echoing in all directions: “Since this concerns acknowledging guilt, the Guan family’s orphan should be present.”
This statement caused an uproar!
The Guan family orphan – wasn’t that Guan Qingyue, who they’d been trying to capture recently? How dare Prince Xiao’an be so bold – even if the Guan family case was overturned, how could he brazenly bring the fugitive Guan Qingyue before the Emperor?!
Emperor Wei was also startled, his expression turning quite ugly as he stared at Yin Gezhi with suddenly cold eyes devoid of any kindness. “At this proper ancestral ceremony, you insist on making your father uneasy?”
“I didn’t inform Father Emperor beforehand only out of concern for her safety,” Yin Gezhi said calmly. “I beg Father Emperor’s forgiveness.”
Forgiveness? With a contemptuous laugh, completely abandoning his earlier palace concerns, Emperor Wei said mockingly, “The Prince Xiao’an I appointed is truly filial, isn’t he, everyone?”
The officials bowed, not understanding the situation. Yin Gezhi frowned slightly and glanced up at him.
His expression faltering, Emperor Wei seemed to think of something and his expression softened again. “Since she’s already here, bring her up for me to see.”
Feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, Yin Gezhi slowly turned and glanced at his attendant.
The attendant understood and withdrew with a bow. Soon after, Guanzhi led a woman in red up the mountain path, approaching gracefully.
Emperor Wei’s lips curled in derision as he glanced sidelong at the approaching red figure. He smiled lightly: “The Guan family’s daughter is quite beautiful. No wonder some can’t forget her, even bribing jail guards to help her escape.”
Behind them, Princess Nanping didn’t understand these words and just craned her neck curiously to look. Beside her, Feng Ming’s face had turned ashen, his hands clenched into fists.
All the officials turned to look. On the stone-paved mountain path, the woman walked slowly, appearing to need some time to reach them.
“Chengbi.” Emperor Wei watched for a while before losing interest. He waved for the Crown Prince to step down, keeping only Yin Gezhi at his side as he said softly: “You’ve always been clever at scheming. Today, calculate this – will this woman attempt to assassinate me?”
His body stiffening, Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes. “Why would Father Emperor say such a thing?”
“Everyone knows the Guan family’s eldest daughter has a bold and unrestrained nature – even that former ‘Demon King’ Feng Ming couldn’t control her.” Emperor Wei smiled lightly. “Her entire family was destroyed by me. Coming here today, does she truly just want to hear me repent?”
His heart grew heavier, and Yin Gezhi clenched his hand: “With your son present, she cannot assassinate Father Emperor.”
“With you here, Father is even more worried!” With a laugh, Emperor Wei shook his head as he looked at him. “Chengbi, your recent actions have seriously threatened an emperor’s power and position. Under such circumstances, how can Father still trust you?”
His pupils contracting, Yin Gezhi instinctively wanted to step back, but looking at his father’s face before him, he forcibly held his ground.
In the next moment, a knife was pressed against his lower back.
“Even between father and son, Father must guard against you.” Eyes glinting, Emperor Wei wore a smile – those below couldn’t tell what was happening.
Turning his head slightly to look behind him at the palace guard, Yin Gezhi remained silent.
“Can’t figure it out?” Smiling benevolently, Emperor Wei stood beside him, drawing close to his ear without any fear as he said softly: “You thought Commander Chen was your man, so all the guards would listen to you? This unit of guards are loyal men I’ve personally trained. If you make any rash moves, this poisoned blade will instantly pierce your body.”
His eyes surging with emotion, Yin Gezhi looked somewhat incredulous: “How could Father Emperor go to such lengths?”
“Such lengths?” With a light laugh, Emperor Wei shook his head. “Foolish child, you’ve become a threat to me. I still have at least ten or even several decades left to rule – with a prince like you forcing me to overturn verdicts and apologize, how could I let you continue to exist?”
Whoever shames the Emperor, the Emperor takes their life.
His chest constricted painfully with countless emotions flooding his mind, and Yin Gezhi’s eyes reddened. Unable to express the thousands of words inside him, he instead gave a low laugh: “So Father Emperor was deceiving me – you never intended to admit wrongdoing at all.”
“How could I be wrong?” With a sneer, Emperor Wei said: “Guan Canghai had many partisan followers, with more supporters at court than me! Such a person controlling military power – if he harbored ill intentions one day, my throne would immediately pass to another. Tell me, what was wrong with me killing him?”
Partisan followers? Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes: “Those who follow the righteous path gain many supporters, while those who stray from it have few. Those who supported General Guan cannot necessarily be called partisan followers.”
The smile gradually vanishing from his face, Emperor Wei’s expression turned somewhat twisted: “Are you calling me unrighteous? Yin Chengbi, I’ve ruled for over twenty years, and no one has ever dared to be as impudent to me as you!”
“That’s why in these twenty years, Your Majesty has failed to create a golden age.”
No longer calling him “Father Emperor,” Yin Gezhi’s face returned to deathly calm: “Wei’s troubles began with your ascension to the throne.”
Furiously enraged, Emperor Wei nearly struck him! How dare he, how dare he! How could this child speak to him this way, how dare he!
However, just as his hand raised, something flashed through his mind and he lowered it again, plastering on another smile: “Trying to provoke me into striking first, so they’ll think I’m muddle-headed? You won’t succeed!”
Having said this, he turned to look at the red-clad woman who was nearly before them and smiled: “I’ll find a way to make you strike first. It’s time to settle this charge of filial impiety.”
The agreement with Wu State was already settled, and this wasn’t under Commander Chen’s jurisdiction – there was none of Yin Gezhi’s influence here. If he died, they’d add a story about “accidentally falling off the cliff,” and Wu State wouldn’t immediately turn hostile, but would instead employ others recommended by Yin Chengbi.
His Wei State would survive, while Yin Chengbi could die.
A vicious light passed through his eyes, and Emperor Wei’s face was all smiles. Yin Gezhi remained silent, his eyes moving slightly. He turned his head with some worry to look at Fengyue.
As the person drew near, though veiled, a pair of bright eyes came into his view.
When he saw this person’s features, Yin Gezhi was stunned.
This wasn’t Guan Qingyue at all – it was Ling Shu!
Guanzhi stood beside Ling Shu covered in cold sweat, while Ling Shu’s gaze was steady. Gone was her original innocent naivety, replaced by particular maturity and composure as she stepped forward and curtsied: “This commoner Guan Qingyue pays respects to Your Majesty!”
What was going on?!
His heart seemed to stop beating for a moment as Yin Gezhi’s lips went white, looking quite anxiously at Guanzhi.
Guanzhi observed his appearance, his face darkening as he shook his head slightly.
Don’t worry about us, find a way to save yourself first!
How could he save himself? Pressing his lips together, Yin Gezhi closed his eyes. To escape the poisoned dagger at his back, he would need to make a big move. If his actions were too dramatic and alarmed the officials below, Emperor Wei would immediately shout about catching an assassin. If he was treated as an assassin and arrested, he wouldn’t even have a chance to explain before being convicted.
The old fox was still craftier – Emperor Wei was betting he wouldn’t dare harm him, which was why he stood so boldly at his side. And indeed, he couldn’t seize the Emperor, or he truly would be guilty of treason.
What could be done? Ling Shu had come – so where was Guan Qingyue?
Emperor Wei was in a fine mood as he swept his gaze over the person before him and said: “You say you’re paying respects, yet you only curtsy rather than performing a full ceremonial bow?”
Ling Shu raised her head, smiling as she glanced behind him.
His heart chilling, Emperor Wei suddenly felt something was wrong and hurriedly tried to turn around!
However, it was already too late. The palace guard behind him had also pressed a dagger against his lower back, followed by a girl’s voice speaking softly: “Because you don’t deserve it, Your Imperial Majesty.”