Yet the Crown Prince was still feeling quite proud of himself, having spent so much money to create these two gifts—they must surely be the best.

Emperor Qizhen choked slightly, his previously delighted smile dimming as he merely said, “The Crown Prince’s thoughtfulness brings me great comfort.”

“As long as Father Emperor is pleased, your son will bring you anything you desire.”

Before making such bold promises, could you perhaps first consider your own capabilities?

If Emperor Qizhen actually demanded the moon from the sky, could you really pluck it down for him?

If he demanded Qujiang and Huyi, would you really lead troops to attack them?

Don’t be ridiculous!

The Crown Prince bowed, utterly smug, lifting his robe as he returned to his seat. His backside had barely touched down when Jing Yi across from him stood up.

Without the Crown Prince’s exaggeration, Jing Yi was obviously much more low-key. This time, he hadn’t submitted his gift to the Ministry of Rites for registration, to avoid having it swapped by the Crown Prince like last year—that would be disastrous.

The brocade box in his hands was small. Holding it, he bowed: “Your son knows Father Emperor has been reviewing memorials day after day, so I specifically traveled to Mount Song to find a piece of thousand-year-old beech wood, then personally carved and polished it into a beech wood pillow.”

With that, he opened the box to reveal an exquisite handcrafted beech wood pillow inside.

Compared to the Crown Prince’s gift, Jing Yi’s gift showed much more care and thought.

Emperor Qizhen nodded, smiling sincerely: “These past days, I have indeed been reviewing memorials daily and am truly mentally exhausted. Right now, Jing Yi’s gift is exactly what I need. Very good.”

A eunuch received the gift, and Jing Yi expressed his thanks.

Consort Xiao naturally had to praise her own son more, so she said with a face full of concern: “Your Majesty, Yi’er searched Mount Song for a long time for this gift, and has spent days and nights without rest polishing the beech wood, all so Your Majesty could sleep peacefully.”

“Indeed, Jing Yi is thoughtful. I understand.”

Jing Yi said: “It is what your son should do.”

With that, he withdrew to his seat.

At this moment, Ji Yinshu curiously leaned toward Jingrong’s side and asked softly: “Your turn now.”

Jingrong: “No rush, there’s still Prince Xian.”

His gaze fell on Jing Xian not far away.

Jing Xian wasn’t a conspicuous person. Supported by palace attendants, he came forward to present his gift—just a string of the most ordinary prayer beads.

Emperor Qizhen didn’t even glance at him, waving his hand to have him return to his seat.

The assembled crowd wasn’t surprised. Jing Xian was sickly and unremarkable—it was inevitable that His Majesty wouldn’t favor him.

Finally—

It was Jingrong’s turn.

He lifted his robe and rose, walked to the center, cupped his hands and spoke a few words of blessing, then ordered people to bring up his gift.

That gift was even larger than the Crown Prince’s, a full two meters tall.

Ji Yinshu’s eyes widened—what on earth had this fellow sent as a gift?

Several eunuchs, sweating profusely, pulled down the red cloth covering it. The sight immediately shocked everyone present. The gift had no gold or silver inlay, no jade embellishments, no intricate carving—it was a Buddha statue carved from stone.

That’s right, a Buddha statue!

Some rubbed their eyes and looked again—it was still a Buddha statue. They were immediately dumbfounded.

The gifts Prince Rong had sent in previous years were low-key and unassuming. By all logic, this year when his momentum was strong, why would he send such a conspicuous item?

The Crown Prince and Jing Yi secretly smiled, and even Consort Xiao covered the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief, laughing.

Emperor Qizhen’s hand trembled as he pointed at the stone-carved Buddha statue and asked: “Jingrong, this is…” What?

Jingrong replied: “Father Emperor, this is a Buddha statue.”

“I know it’s a Buddha statue, but why would you send…” He stopped speaking again.

“Although your son’s Buddha statue has no gold-threaded jade garment, your son believes that gold and silver can melt, jade can shatter, but stone is resilient. Your son carved Buddha from stone, hoping Father Emperor will be like this Buddha statue, eternally presiding over our Great Lin Dynasty.”

This explanation—Ji Yinshu gave him full marks for it.

But stone was still stone. No matter how well he explained it, Emperor Qizhen was still dissatisfied in his heart.

Just at this moment, Ji Yinshu saw Old General Li leave his seat. On some strange impulse, she also quietly left her seat and followed him.

Old General Li walked further and further, actually climbing up to a small tower in the palace. Standing there, one could overlook everything in Chengqing Hall.

There, lanterns blazed brightly, universal celebration, songs and dances of peace—

Old General Li stroked his graying beard and said: “Come out.”

Ji Yinshu emerged from the side, walking to stand beside him, following his gaze toward that place illuminated orange-red by lanterns.

After a long pause, Old General Li said: “Who does Master Ji think is most suitable to be the Son of Heaven?”

Suddenly asking such a question, Ji Yinshu was slightly startled and turned to look at him.

Old General Li’s gaze was fixed ahead as he asked another question: “Can the current Son of Heaven truly be called an Emperor?”

Uh!

“Why does Old General Li ask such a thing?”

“Master need only answer me.”

Ji Yinshu didn’t understand his meaning, but after a moment’s thought, answered seriously: “Although Emperor Qizhen cannot be called a good ruler—he executed inner court officials, distanced close relatives, established private laws and built internal armies—yet in these twenty years, he has quelled internal rebellions, driven out barbarians, and sent troops to conquer Huyi and Qujiang. Under his governance, the Great Lin Dynasty has flourished in prosperity, and the common people live in peace and blessing. He is truly someone who can be called an Emperor.”

As she spoke, Old General Li nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with what she said.

He asked with a smile: “Then what if a ruler, for the sake of his own authority, doesn’t hesitate to eliminate threats ruthlessly and kill innocents indiscriminately?”

“Mm?”

“Does Master know how the late Emperor ascended to the throne?”

Ji Yinshu shook her head—she didn’t know.

Old General Li was silent for a long time before slowly speaking: “Before the late Emperor ascended the throne, he was just a sickly medicine jar. His elder brother, Marquis Chao, was an excellent candidate for emperor. After the late Emperor took the throne, to consolidate his imperial position against threats, he executed Marquis Chao on charges of treason.”

Ji Yinshu understood his meaning.

“So Old General Li means that the great fire at Duke Yuguo’s mansion was ordered by His Majesty, which is why you deliberately brought up Prince Ning and the Eighth Prince with me that day.”

Old General Li didn’t respond to these words of hers, but sighed: “History always repeats itself.”

The implication being that Duke Yuguo’s death was Emperor Qizhen imitating the late Emperor!

Ji Yinshu: “Old General Li, everything is merely your speculation. And even if you use the lanterns to kill this emperor, what of it? There will still be another emperor ascending the throne!”

“What if there isn’t?”

“What do you mean?”

Old General Li looked at Chengqing Hall, the corners of his mouth gradually rising.

Ji Yinshu suddenly realized something, her nose wrinkling slightly as she murmured: “Rust? The smell of rust.”

She was shocked into understanding!

Bang—

A tremendous sound erupted, flames bursting forth.

From Chengqing Hall in the distance, sounds continued to ring out, the light growing brighter and brighter, illuminating Ji Yinshu’s widened dark eyes in a particularly fiery red.

The thin iron wires connecting the lanterns burned like gunpowder, and the hanging lanterns kept falling…

Soon, Chengqing Hall was surrounded by a sea of flames.