Zhao Guangyi knew that after Zhao Pu’s fall from grace, he was the most troublesome person in court, but having been extremely cautious over these years and very skilled at discerning Zhao Kuangyin’s imperial intentions, he had managed to avoid major incidents so far. Zhao Kuangyin was now about eighty percent drunk. He reached out and took the Heavenly Yue Axe that never left his waist, placing it on the low table, and said with a mysterious smile in a lowered voice: “Guangyi, let me tell you a secret about this jade axe.”

Zhao Guangyi’s heart skipped a beat, feeling the brocade cloth in his bosom weigh like ten thousand jin, pressing heavily on his heart.

It was already past midnight, and the hall was dim. Zhao Kuangyin didn’t notice his second brother’s stiff expression and continued smiling mysteriously: “This jade axe can only be lifted by me. If it were anyone else, without exception their wrists would become weak and sore, unable to hold it for even a moment.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guangyi even forgot to breathe. He suddenly remembered years ago, when that boy had opened the brocade box, the obvious mischievous expression on his face. So it turned out this Heavenly Yue Axe truly couldn’t be lifted by just anyone. It truly was something that none but those with the Mandate of Heaven could wield…

“At the time, I felt this axe was unusual. Thinking carefully about it, perhaps only the Son of Heaven can lift this jade axe that symbolizes the authority over the realm.” Zhao Kuangyin wasn’t a mediocre person and had somewhat guessed the unusual nature of this jade axe. Anyone with great fortune believes in the so-called Mandate of Heaven. He took a sip of wine and suddenly sighed: “Except for Dexiu who died young, I’ve tested Dezhao, Delin, and Defang through various opportunities – none of the three could lift this Heavenly Yue Axe. Sigh, could it be that my crown prince hasn’t been born yet?”

Zhao Guangyi was completely stunned. Dezhao, Delin, and Defang were naturally his elder brother’s three sons. He hadn’t expected that after all these years his elder brother still hadn’t appointed a crown prince – so this was the reason. Zhao Guangyi’s gaze uncontrollably fell on the Heavenly Yue Axe beside him. He wouldn’t forget that years ago he had lifted this Heavenly Yue Axe quite easily, just like his elder brother.

Zhao Kuangyin stared intently at the Heavenly Yue Axe, thinking he didn’t believe what he’d said, and immediately laughed: “Guangyi, if you don’t believe it, try lifting it yourself.” As he spoke, he took the Heavenly Yue Axe in his hand, turned the handle around, and offered it to him.

This sentence from Zhao Kuangyin was just casually spoken, but to Zhao Guangyi it sounded like a thunderbolt from clear skies.

He should lift this Heavenly Yue Axe? Was this a test? When he had bought this Heavenly Yue Axe years ago, he had certainly held it to examine it. Could his elder brother have harbored resentment all along, setting up this Hongmen Banquet today?

Chai Rong, the Ten Brothers of the Righteous Society, Zhao Pu… was it finally his turn now?

Zhao Guangyi looked at the lustrous white Heavenly Yue Axe in the candlelight, his heart greatly agitated. Hearing Zhao Kuangyin’s urging voice in his ears, Zhao Guangyi reached for that Heavenly Yue Axe with heart and courage both shattered.

He knew this matter was actually easy to handle – he only needed to act as if his wrist became weak and sore the moment he grasped the Heavenly Yue Axe, and he could dispel his elder brother’s suspicions.

But just as the cool jade axe fell into his palm, his mind went blank for some unknown reason, and he didn’t even notice when his elder brother’s hand withdrew.

When he came to his senses, he looked up in horror and met his elder brother’s complex expression.

It was over. Given his elder brother’s mindset, he definitely wouldn’t survive tonight.

Zhao Guangyi didn’t know where the thought came from, but instinctively he raised the Heavenly Yue Axe in his hand and struck toward the person across from him.

The screen showed flickering candle shadows, accompanied by the sound of a heavy object falling. After a splash of glaring blood spattered across it, there was deathly silence.

Year 2012 CE

“So you’re saying the one controlled by suspicion was actually Zhao Guangyi himself, not Zhao Kuangyin?” The doctor couldn’t help but sigh after hearing the story of the Heavenly Yue Axe.

His body was occupied by Fusu, so he was still in spirit form. The owner had found him a paulownia wood puppet. Paulownia was the lightest wood, and legend said phoenixes roosted in paulownia trees, so paulownia wood naturally had the most spiritual energy. This paulownia puppet was extremely exquisitely made – the puppet’s joints could all move, its body was hollow, and the water-blue jade pendant had been embedded inside. Legend said this could nourish his soul. This paulownia puppet was only the size of a human palm and was kept in the owner’s pocket, which was quite convenient.

“That’s right. Zhao Kuangyin actually left behind the Golden Casket Alliance, and the golden casket edict within clearly designated Zhao Guangyi to succeed to the imperial throne.” The owner was currently standing in a forest in some desolate wilderness. In his hand he held a brocade box with gold and silver inlaid vine patterns, naturally containing that Heavenly Yue Axe that had caused fraternal conflict.

“Ah? So that Golden Casket Alliance wasn’t fabricated by Zhao Guangyi himself?” The doctor had some historical knowledge, though limited to what was mentioned in textbooks during his school days.

“Zhao Guangyi was controlled by suspicion and killed his own elder brother in the ‘candlelight and axe shadows,’ then fearing his throne was unstable, killed his own younger brother Zhao Guangmei. Zhao Defang also died not long after under mysterious circumstances. Li Yu had lived well during Zhao Kuangyin’s lifetime, but after Zhao Guangyi succeeded to the throne, Li Yu was forced to commit suicide. This was truly great suspicion arising, bringing disaster to those around him…” The owner stated calmly, his mood peaceful. For him, this was already a matter from a thousand years ago. When this Heavenly Yue Axe had flowed out from his Ya She back then, he had later specially retrieved it. This Heavenly Yue Axe had been sealed in Ya She for a thousand years.

“Is this Heavenly Yue Axe one of the imperial antiques used to break the malevolent energy of the Twelve Bronze Men? But why come here? There shouldn’t be any Jieshi stones here, right?” The doctor didn’t know where the owner had brought him. He had been lying in the owner’s pocket unable to move freely, and only a quarter-hour ago had been taken out and placed on the owner’s shoulder, finally able to see the surrounding scenery.

“Suppressing malevolent energy also requires proper sequence. Breaking the Heaven and Earth Grand Formation can only be done gradually – only one ancient object can be buried each month. The first month is also called Zhengyang, and the axe is the authority of a nation. Buried at this formation point, it should be able to suppress the malevolent energy.” The owner explained calmly. Breaking formations was easy, but establishing them was difficult. When Qin Shihuang had erected seven Jieshi stones, it had also taken several years, so he wasn’t hurried at all. He didn’t believe Fusu could quickly establish this magnificent Heaven and Earth Grand Formation.

The doctor watched as the owner made some unknown gesture, and a deep black opening appeared at his feet. The owner threw in the entire brocade box into what looked like a bottomless black hole. For a long time, no sound of impact could be heard.

The owner breathed a sigh of relief, his whole body relaxing, and with a wave of his hand restored the ground to its original state.

The doctor remained silent, instinctively feeling that even if he asked, he wouldn’t understand what had just happened. But he could tell from the owner’s relaxed expression that this Heavenly Yue Axe had served its purpose. The doctor tried moving the paulownia puppet’s arms – he could barely raise the wrists. Being trapped in this immobile puppet was truly depressing.

The owner seemed to sense the doctor’s unease and reached out to adjust the paulownia puppet’s posture, making him sit more steadily on his shoulder.

The Heavenly Yue Axe that caused fraternal conflict… In the scattered falling snowflakes, the owner smiled faintly.

What a pity he hadn’t let that pair of brothers Fusu and Huhai try lifting the Heavenly Yue Axe before burying it underground…

Mini Theater:

Doctor: Huh? Owner, the hats worn by Song dynasty officials look so strange – what are those long things on both sides?

Owner: Those are called long-winged caps, invented by Zhao Kuangyin. Song Taizu felt that during court sessions, ministers chatting privately among themselves was disrespectful to him, so he had ministers wear these long-winged caps, which forced ministers to stand farther apart and prevented private conversations.

Doctor: …Song Taizu was really formidable – he started prohibiting employee chatter over a thousand years ago. Having had QQ banned at the hospital, I deeply empathize!!!

Owner: …