Chapter 194: Chapter 194 : The Auspicious Date
The atmosphere in the Golden Dragon Palace was as solemn as that of a burial ground. The Heavenly Emperor’s foul mood was not to be overlooked.
Head Eunuch Wang kept his head lowered and did not dare to breathe too loud, lest he incite the Heavenly Emperor’s fury.
"Do you take
for a fool, Liu Yichen?" The ruler of the entire Heavenly Realm growled.
Liu Yichen knelt on the floor on all fours.
"Your Majesty, this subject swears that this subject spoke the truth."
A shichen ago, troops were sent to Wuyang Palace to capture Liu Wenyuan. They ca back with not Liu Wenyuan but his father Liu Yichen, who claid that his son had been kidnapped -- again.
The first ti Liu Wenyuan went missing, Liu Yichen almost went insane. This ti around, he did not even bother to kick a fuss. Almost as if the oga did not get kidnapped but went into hiding instead.
"Your good son worked together with the Demonic Realm to kidnap the Crown Prince. Liu Yichen, you must be very proud."
Liu Yichen swallowed hard and kept his head bent as low as possible.
"Arrest him," the Heavenly Emperor spoke. "Maybe his son will show up when I order for his father’s execution in three days."
Liu Yichen did not even bother to ask for forgiveness. He let himself be dragged out of the room without offering any sign of resistance. His resignation toward the ill fate that awaited him did not make the Emperor any happier.
"Hmph!!!"
The Heavenly Emperor flicked his sleeves in anger.
One by one, the other eight clans started to show their fangs.
Now that Xie Jianyu was going to be the first oga to rule the entire heaven, the Heavenly Emperor was all but relieved.
His reign was going to be short, and dotted with bloodbaths. The Palace Masters were not going to let him sit on the Dragon Throne for too long.
Therefore, it was necessary to seek allies among the other palaces.
The Heavenly Emperor ran the list of nine palaces in his head.
His first wife hailed from Qifeng Palace. Though Song Weiyang always appeared amicable and unhurried, his ambition was hardly concealable when he suggested the match between Xie Jianyu and his son, Song Zhuquan.
The Emperor recalled that Song Weiyang was quite bitter about him choosing his next empress from the fox clan instead of the phoenix clan.
Looking back, the Emperor could hardly rejoice over his choice back then.
His second wife -- the current Empress -- was so ambitious about putting her biological son on the throne, no matter the fatherhood. When the plan failed, she did not hesitate to kill the baby.
After what transpired between her and Xie Jianshen, the Ling’an Palace must be secretly holding a grudge toward the Xie family.
Juhua Palace...
Wu Qingyou had too much on his plate right now, what with Wu Shenxia beating his rightful heir at the recent martial arts competition. He wouldn’t try to cause any scene. Not for now.
Qingyuan Palace...
Zhou Guizheng ruled the rmaid clan with iron hands. The rmaid clan lived under the sea. If they planned to stage a riot, they could do it with ease.
On the other hand, Zhou Guizheng had yet to sire an heir. He only had his younger brother, Zhou Guiying, to take his place should he beco the emperor. Zhou Guiying was known to be unreliable. Despite having differentiated as an alpha, he spent his days chasing ogas.
Wuyang Palace...
Whether he executed Liu Yichen in the end or his oga son Liu Wenyuan, the wolf clan would thereafter beco his mortal enemy. He needed to kick the Liu family out of the leadership position and give power to another wolf family. One that was easily controllable and less ambitious...
The last ti he checked, there were a few noble houses that fit the requirents.
He needed to discuss this matter with his Grand Chancellor...
Longjing Palace...
"Your Majesty, Longjing Palace Master Zhang Zhiyuan begged for an audience."
The Heavenly Emperor furrowed his brows. He was just thinking about the very person. What a coincidence.
Zhang Zhiyuan knelt in front of his liege as soon as he entered.
"Wishing Your Majesty a reign of ten thousands years!"
"Yes, what is it?" The Emperor cut the greeting short.
Zhang Zhiyuan looked as nervous as he could be.
"This subject is here to officially propose to the Crown Prince on behalf of my son, Zhang Fengxi."
The Heavenly Emperor glowered at this insolent subject of his.
"Jianyu has refused all marriage candidates previously. I do not think that he wants to go through a second round of husband selection."
Zhang Zhiyuan swallowed hard.
"Your Majesty, this subject is under the impression that the Crown Prince has already agreed."
"... He, what?"
Zhang Zhiyuan raised the marriage proposal and the notice from the Sun and Moon Temple above his head.
"Your Majesty, please have a look."
The Heavenly Emperor was stumped.
The familiar seal from the Granny of Love and Devotion was clearly visible.
...
No way, could it be?
The Heavenly Emperor unrolled the scroll from the temple first. His eyes scanned the content from top to bottom. They darted between the nas of his son and the prince of Longjing Palace again and again before they landed on the most auspicious date for the wedding.
His mind turned blank when he saw the date.
The nineteenth of this month. Nine more days.
Nine.
"Head Eunuch Wang," he slowly called out with a hollow voice.
Head Eunuch Wang, who until then was standing stock still in his corner, slowly stepped out.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Postpone the execution," he said.
It was bad luck to kill a man shortly before or after a wedding took place.
At the sa ti, Xie Jianyu was visiting the Hall of Worship in the Golden Dragon Palace.
He lit a couple of incense sticks for his mother, the forr Empress, and placed them inside an ornate ash pot.
He then knelt in front of his mother’s wooden placate and murmured prayers for his mother’s soul with a bead bracelet clasped between his hands. One bead symbolized one prayer. After each prayer ended, Xie Jianyu shifted from one bead to the next.
He only rose to his knees after he finished saying all his prayers.
When he left the Hall of Worship, Head Eunuch Wang was already waiting for him.
"Your Majesty," the elder eunuch almost doubled up at his sight. "His Majesty the Emperor is expecting you at his study."
Xie Jianyu’s grip around the prayer bracelet tightened.
Here it cos, he thought.
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