517-520

Chapter 517: Words From The Heart

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After generally checking the time, Yan Bingyun closed the window and sat back in his chair. He took out a beautifully embroidered pouch from his shirt. He dug out a few pumpkin seeds and brought them to his mouth. He chewed on them carefully and appeared to be bored. It was only when his gaze landed on the pouch did they become gentle and filled with feeling. This pouch had been embroidered by the lady of the Shen family.

These past few days, Sir Yan had been particularly leisurely. He no longer had to lead Council affairs or be as watchful of the court officials with abnormal sensitivity like the officials in the First Bureau. Other than day-to-day tasks in the Fourth Bureau, he didn't have much to do.

On a patch of wilderness between Yanjing and Cangzhou, Shang Shanhu calmed down after he suffered a great loss at Yan Xiaoyi's hands. Although the Northern Qi people had sent a letter in reprimand, the accidental injury investigation was still being carried out. There had been no move from Shangjing. Dongyi was also being very quiet.

These were the only things the Fourth Bureau had to concern themselves with. Before the Emperor left the capital, the Fourth Bureau had already put out sufficient amounts of false information to ensure the silence of the two powers. Yan Bingyun believed that given the power of the Overwatch Council, even if the Northern Qi royal family and Sigu Jian knew the Emperor was out on inspection, they wouldn't be able to react in such a short time.

Furthermore, he had no choice but to be leisurely. Even if there were not these tasks, the Qinian unit in Jingdou was still under Yan Bingyun's control. He should have notified Fan Xian ahead of time for such a major matter as the Emperor going out on inspection. However, inexplicably Director Chen had returned to the capital and decisively suppressed this thought.

This was the question that plagued Fan Xian while he was in Danzhou. Yan Bingyun still did not know that Commissioner Fan had already met up with the royal entourage. He was still faintly at a loss in his heart.

At the same time, he was nervous.

Jingdou appeared calm. With the Imperial Army, Jingdou Garrison, and Director Chen, who radiated a dark and terrifying aura everywhere on his body, it was impossible that something major would happen. If something were to happen, it should be far away from Jingdou at the Emperor's side.

Yan Bingyun forced a smile and stood at the window, looking at the Tianhe Avenue below the building and the Royal Palace not far in the distance. His position was not high, but his role was very complicated. He was the third-ranking person in the Overwatch Council and Fan Xian's trusted aide. His father had a different identity. He was also one of the young people summoned into the Palace by the Emperor. After a long night of conversation, he gained another identity.

No wonder Director Chen had immediately suppressed him after returning to the capital. Presumably, the Director had some opinions about him.

As for why Director Chen would not allow him to inform Fan Xian, Yan Bingyun faintly guessed a sliver of the truth through information from three sources. He began to fear this truth. Was Director Chen dead certain that something major would happen near the Emperor? Thus, he wanted to go with the flow and have Fan Xian be as far away from the royal entourage as possible.

Director Chen was loyal to the Emperor. No matter how much he cared for Fan Xian, how could he put Fan Xian's safety above that of the Emperor's life?

Ding, dong rang the bell. The most special of the return home signal in various large Jingdou yamen's rang out. Countless hurrying officials came out of the Overwatch Council's square building. They were not rushing to spread evil tricks. They were just rushing to return home. Special operations were still business, so the Overwatch Council was filled with common workers.

Yan Bingyun didn't have anything to tidy up, so he made a beeline out of the building. He sat in his carriage and hurried home to his manor. He didn't stop to talk of love with the girl from the Shen family. Instead, he directly went to his father's study and asked, "Is there any news from the Qin family?"

Yan Ruohai glanced at his son and shook his head. "You're in charge of the Fourth Bureau in the Council, has there been any movements around Xiao Mountain?"

Xiao Mountain's location was special. It happened to be at the entrance to Dongshan Road. It was northeast of Qing Kingdom and not far from Dongyi. Because of the primitive forest between Danzhou and Dongyi, no one dared to pass through. Thus, the communication between the two places depended on the sea or going around Xiao Mountain.

Originally, there were not any powers in Dongshan Road that could threaten the royal entourage. But, Xiao Mountain just happened to be on the way back from Dongshan Road to the capital. As the Yan father and son both knew, they had been using the mountain to train their private soldiers. The group that had attacked Fan Xian in the outskirts of Jingdou at the end of the year had been soldiers the Qin family had transferred from Xiao Mountain without the court's knowledge.

"Xiao Mountain has been quiet for a long time. Ever since that incident, the Council has spent a great of energy watching the area. If there is any movement, it can't be hidden from us." Yan Bingyun relaxed slightly and sat down.

Yan Ruohai smiled slightly and said, "What we know is something that the Director knows, which is something the Emperor knows. Since the Emperor took 2,000 Imperial Soldiers to the great Dong Mountain to worship heaven… If it isn't because he doesn't take the few people in Xiao Mountain seriously, then it is because he trusts in the old Qin master's loyalty."

"Loyalty?" Yan Bingyun sighed. "Secretly killing important court officials is considered loyal?"

"There are many layers to loyalty. Perhaps the Emperor already suspected the old man's loyalties after the last incident. There is always a difference between officials and the Emperor himself."

Yan Ruohai paused for a bit and then asked, "I have already retired from the position and should not ask, but I am still curious. Are there any problems in Dingzhou?"

Yan Bingyun shook his head. "At the beginning of the year, they beheaded 600 Hu people. He should have returned to the capital to report on his work. It is clear that Ye Zhong is worried that the Palace suspects him. Thus, he has left his people in Dingzhou. He doesn't dare to return to the capital while the Emperor is not here."

He gently clenched his fist in his sleeve.

Yan Ruohai glanced curiously at his son and said, "You're not usually like this. Speak if you have something to say."

A faint shadow of doubt rose onto Yan Bingyun's cold face. "I don't know if the Emperor's safety can be assured."

"What dangers are there?" Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. "Qing Kingdom has seven Roads of elite soldiers. The three Roads you suspected cannot even get near the great Dong Mountain and are all watched by the Council."

"What about Yan Xiaoyi?" Yan Bingyun stared coldly into his father's eyes, as if he wanted to find something else in his eyes.

Yan Ruohai naturally turned his head and broke away from his son's gaze. "What about Governor Yan?"

"There is something wrong with the Cangzhou pass," Yan Bingyun lowered his voice and said. "I said before that there was a problem this time with the Cangzhou pass. The Fourth Bureau secret agent investigating military merit has reported back. Although those heads had been disguised, there are some problems…"

"You are the head of the Fourth Bureau, taking over from me. You should know that although killing civilians to claim military credit is a serious crime, it has always been impossible to completely stop. These border generals need extra rewards from the court to balance out the harshness of living on the borders," Yan Ruohai said coldly. "Besides, even if Yan Xiaoyi lied in his reports about his military works, what does that have to do with the Emperor on Dong Mountain? Don't forget, the letter from Northern Qi has already arrived. Are you saying that the Northern Qi people would put on a show together with Governor Yan?"

"That is exactly what I am afraid of," Yan Bingyun said coldly. "If it is only killing civilians for military credit, it could be excused. If this incident is connected to Northern Qi, then I'm afraid the matter is not so simple."

Yan Ruohai slowly stood up and stared into his son's eyes as he stated each word clearly, "You are clear about what you are saying? Perhaps you think that because the Director and Commissioner allowed you to temporarily run Council business that you are the most incredible person in the world? Somehow you can see through all the tricks in the world? Even if Governor Yan and the Northern Qi people are putting on a show together, what problem is there?"

"What problem?" Yan Bingyun looked at his father. A fire of rage ignited in his chest. He angrily said, "Five thousand people died in the Northern expedition army! Is this a great victory? Eight thousand beheaded, but probably more than half were fake! Did those 5,000 people die or not? If they didn't die, then where did they disappear to without a sound or trace?"

He pointed to the table and the non-existent maps of Qing Kingdom borders. He angrily said, "Father, although the Northern expedition camp was between Cangzhou and Yanjing, if a straight line was drawn, it is less than 500 li from the great Dong Mountain! If these 5,000 people, who are supposed to be dead, suddenly turned up at the foot of Dong Mountain, then what?"

Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said in a cold voice, "Idiot! Although it is not far from Cangzhou to Dongshan Road, one would need to go around Xiao Mountain and through countless counties. The distance is upwards of a thousand li. Do you think 5,000 people could enter deep into this territory without a sound or trace?

"What if they didn't go around?" Yan Bingyun blocked his father and would not give a single inch. He laid out all the fear and confusion that had been swirling in his mind. "If Dongyi opened its country and allowed 5,000 dead men to pass through, then what?"

His words did not make Yan Ruohai nervous. He gazed at his son and smiled coldly, "Idiot! Even if the 5,000 people had truly become, as you described, dead soldiers, and even if Sigu Jian was as stupid as you and opened the country without fear of Qing Kingdom at all… Did you think that one would need to pass through Danzhou to get from Dongyi to the great Dong Mountain. To the north of Danzhou are high cliffs and treacherous precipices. It is impossible for anyone to climb over!"

This was the truth that had been proven by people's eyes and abilities. The primitive forest and mountain peaks to the north of Danzhou were not places that mortal people could cross, much less an army of 5,000 people.

"No one has crossed it before, but it doesn't mean that no one will ever cross them." Yan Bingyun thought of the environment there. He weakened slightly but still did not rest and. "Besides, who knows if there are any secret passages in those mountains."

"Secret passages? Do you think this is a novel published by Danbo Bookstore?" Yan Ruohai laughed coldly and prepared to leave the study.

Seeing his father's completely uncaring attitude, Yan Bingyun finally couldn't endure it anymore. Slamming his palm onto the table with a giant crash, he said, in a rage, "I don't know if what I am worried about is like a novel, I only know that what the Overwatch Council is doing right now is a joke. Regardless of whether or not this will happen, there have already been points of suspicion. I have followed the process in the Council and reported it up. Why has the Director suppressed this matter?"

Hearing these words, Yan Ruohai's body trembled. He slowly turned around and gazed at his son with a complicated gaze.

Yan Bingyun thought that he had finally convinced his father and felt a wave of relief rise in him.

Unexpectedly, Yan Ruohai shook out his sleeve and left the study. He summoned his trusted guard and coldly said, "The young master is not feeling well. Have him rest in the manor. He is not to take a step out of the door."

A few guards acknowledged the order.

After Yan Bingyun's recovered from his shock, a sense of coldness rose in his heart. He stared at his father's retreating figure and suddenly thought of a conversation he had with his father a long time ago and couldn't talk for a while.

That day, he had asked his father, "If… I am saying if, you had to choose between the Palace and the Council, how would you choose?"

At that time, Yan Ruohai looked at him with a laughing gaze and sighed. "Silly child, naturally, I would choose the Council. I the old Director did not have such confidence in me, how could he have said so much to you?"

Yan Bingyun took one step toward the door and was stopped by a guard in his family with powerful martial arts training. He did not uselessly struggle. He just sighed and asked his father, "Where are you going?"

Yan Ruohai turned around and looked at his son with a smile. "Since you are ill, I am going to the Council to ask for leave for you."

Yan Bingyun didn't say anything more. He was loyal to the Emperor and court. He had already done what he could do. He was, after all, an official of the Overwatch Council and his father's son. He could do no more.

…

…

"The Ye family is indeed too quiet. Ye Zhong has been too well-behaved. Offering prisoners is such a good opportunity to enter the capital. Is he just going to let it go like this?"

Chen Pingping, sitting on the wheelchair, shook his head and said, "He is afraid that the Palace will fear him and have something go wrong early. However, the Second Prince must be feeling concerned thinking to himself that the Crown Prince was about to be deposed. If the Crown Prince messes up something now, the Second Prince, with the support of the Ye family, would be able to take the throne on his own. He is probably hoping and eagerly waiting for his father-in-law's return."

"Right now, everyone wants to make a move. But, no one has the power or courage to be the first to make a move." The old man smiled slightly and pushed the wheelchair over from beside the black cloth, "If one wants to self-destruct, one must be crazy. The Eldest Princess is sufficiently crazy."

Yan Ruohai smiled. He understood what Director Chen meant and said, "But with you in the capital, even if she had plans, she will have to wait for news from that side."

Chen Pingping smiled slightly and said, "Our mighty Emperor will certainly give the Eldest Princess a surprise. As for the message she is waiting for, it may never arrive."

"What about Yan Xiaoyi's 5,000 elite troops?" Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. "This is something I don't understand. Even if he managed to get the soldiers into the country by the skin of his teeth, how could he have shipped them to the foot of the great Dong Mountain?"

"Yan Xiaoyi's trick in the Cangzhou pass was done very well this time.

Who would have thought that it would be Yan Bingyun who spotted a discrepancy," Chen Pingping said with approval. "That child is truly very good."

Yan Ruohai forced a smile and said, "Usually, he looks like ice. When major things happen, he is still uneasy."

"He isn't like you and me. He doesn't know of the Emperor's plans." Chen Pingping sighed. "His suspicion of us is normal."

"Afterward, how will we explain it to the Palace?"

"The Emperor does not want to alert them, so the Council cannot react ahead of time to Yan Xiaoyi's actions." Chen Pingping coughed and thought to himself that the question was whether or not there would be an afterward.

After Yan Ruohai left, the old cripple habitually pushed his wheelchair to the side of the window and looked outside through the layer of black cloth. The corners of his lips twitched up slightly. He thought to himself that there was indeed a secret passage through the group of mountains in Dongyi's vassal states that passed through Danzhou and reached Dong Mountain. He knew, the Emperor knew, and it looked like now the Eldest Princess' side also knew.

Even if 5,000 people went, they could only surround the summit. At most, they would be able to control the messages the people worshipping heaven could send. Of the entire matter, the only vital part was still on the summit of the mountain.

Chen Pingping scratched his white hair with his withered and dry right hand, quietly thinking to himself that he had missed a bit. Fan Xian had run to the summit. He could only hope that he would be lucky and not lose his life in the earth-shattering event that was about to happen.

The Emperor had prepared a major surprise for the Eldest Princess and Ye Liuyun. Would the Eldest Princess not prepare a surprise for the Emperor?

Chen Pingping tilted his head and leaned weakly against the wheelchair, feeling the taste of life slowly flowing out of his body. He became excited by the pictures being displayed in his head. He seemed to find an element of the excitement, energy, and fascination that he had in the past.

The surging in his state of mind made him cough. Although he coughed joyfully, it sent stabs of pain through his chest. Unconsciously, he pressed the secret bell on his desk and found the person who opened the door and came in was not Fei Jie.

It was only at this moment that he remembered Fei Jie had already followed his instructions and left Qing Kingdom. He should already be in Quanzhou, preparing to have the life he had wanted for a long time.

"I'm coughing a bit. Please find some medicine." Chen Pingping smiled slightly at the subordinate who had walked in and spoke amiably. If he could live two more years, he would do so.

The subordinate was surprised by the kindness and left with the orders.

…

…

Just like the Emperor at the summit of the mountain had guessed, as long as the Eldest Princess Li Yunrui did not die, she would always be able to find a hidden power in Jingdou. Even though she was being imprisoned in a side courtyard and watched by the Overwatch Council, her life remained at a very luxurious level.

Unexpectedly, the Xinyang strategist who had escaped Jingdou months ago was sitting in the side courtyard across from the Eldest Princess.

"Even a blind man can see what the Emperor is thinking. However, I don't know where his confidence comes from." Li Yunrui's appearance was still beautiful. Her eyes remained charming and filled with emotion. However, a truly meticulous person would be able to see that this woman's state of mind had changed slightly. Under the emotion, there was a coldness etched into her heart.

Chapter 518: The Crescent Moon Shines On Dong Mountain

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In the quiet side courtyard, a guard was patrolling outside a window. It seemed as if he was blind and deaf. The Eldest Princess, who he was supposed to be keeping an eye on, was secretly plotting something with her trusted aide.

"He's is too overly suspicious, so there is no need to plan anything. He will jump out and plan it himself." Lin Yunrui slowly closed her eyes. "Furthermore, he is arrogant to the point that we will be able to beat him at his own game. That piece of sh*t! What plan is there? It is just him playing by himself."

She suddenly opened her eyes and said, "However, I am afraid that brother will be lonely, so I can only play along. An assassination at Dong Mountain seems to have become an absurd and public matter. He knows I want to kill him and is waiting for me to do it."

Yuan Hongdao listened and looked at the smile at the corners of the Eldest Princess' lips. He did not find it amusing. On the contrary, he felt a faint chill. The Eldest Princess knew clearly that Dong Mountain was a setup, yet she was still going into walk into it without a second thought. Did she really think that Ye Liuyun, a Great Grandmaster, could change the entire world?

After Huang Yi's death, he had become Li Yunrui's closest strategist. He knew that although the Eldest Princess had seemingly been forced back step by step by the Emperor and Fan Xian with no more brilliant moves to execute, in terms of plotting and strategizing, she really didn't have much of a need for him.

It was because of this that he did not clearly understanding the details of the Eldest Princess' last plan. He was unable to report to the Council and Emperor.

As a strategist in such a crucial moment, there were some suggestions Yuan Hongdao had to make regardless of whether it was for a disguise or to win someone's trust. He looked into the Eldest Princess' eyes and quietly said, "Amusement is sometimes the joining of absurdity and stupidity. I don't know just which side is absurd and which is stupid. Since the person who started to move first was the Emperor, then you should choose the other path. Otherwise, no matter how you move, your pieces will always be one step behind your opponent's."

The Eldest Princess Li Yunrui slowly closed her eyes. After a long silence, she said, "Another path? You are urging me to temporarily not move."

"Correct."

The Eldest Princess suddenly opened her eyes and smiled. Her smile was very pure and innocent. "What use is there in not moving? If the heaven worship at Dong Mountain concludes successfully… Mother will eventually pass one day. Do you expect me to be imprisoned in this courtyard forever?"

Yuan Hongdao was silent for a long time then smiled. Since he could easily enter the courtyard, the Eldest Princess certainly had many ways to leave it. He knew the Eldest Princess was only thinking about the future of Qing Kingdom. Regardless of which angle, if they didn't grasp this opportunity with the Emperor out of the capital and the Eldest Princess wanted to rise again, what chance did she have?

"Fan Xian." Yuan Hongdao tried to persuade the Eldest Princess. Before the Council gave further instructions, he wanted to do best to delay the Eldest Princess' actions. "This is your opportunity."

"Fan Xian?" The Eldest Princess became interested and smiled slightly. "Even if the Emperor wanted to take away Fan Xian's power, this won't be my opportunity."

"Nothing is so simple as taking away power," Yuan Hongdao lowered his voice and said. "Fan Xian's relationship with the North is too intimate. Once the Emperor has calmed the internal conflict in court, the tip of his knife is going to point to Northern Qi. It is worth thinking about what Fan Xian would do. This may be your opportunity."

"So, I have to stay alive?" The Eldest Princess laughed self-mockingly.

"You have to stay alive."

She laughed somewhat lazily and didn't comment. Her orchid-like hands tapped the teacup on the table. In the time it took for Yuan Hongdao to rise and pour the tea, she had slowly lowered her face and was thinking quietly. Yuan Hongdao's thinking wasn't wrong. He didn't understand just what kind of a person the Emperor was.

In this world, only the Eldest Princess Li Yun Rui knew best what kind of person her brother was. Only she knew that this was an opportunity the Emperor was giving her. If she didn't grasp it, there was no need to talk about the future at all.

The Emperor had too many opportunities to kill her, but he didn't. It was because he hoped to use her to draw out the Junshang Conference people, who had long hidden in court.

She thought to herself that if she won, it wouldn't matter much. Even if she lost and the Emperor was able to achieve his goal, that would also be good. A devious smile appeared once more at the corners of her lips.

"Brother Hongdao, say, for something like killing, what does it, in the end, depend on?"

Yuan Hongdao thought for a bit and then replied, "Time, opportunity, and situation."

"Correct but also incorrect." The Eldest Princess slowly lowered her head. "In the end, it actually comes down to the crudest, most boring, and direct things. It depends on whose knife is faster and who has the most helpers."

"Fighting for the dragon chair is essentially no different to the gangs on the jianghu fighting for territory. The Emperor is overly suspicious and arrogant. He thinks he can calculate the world, but he has forgotten that not all the knives are in his hand. Don't forget something I've said previously, he who is overly suspicious will certainly fall without question."

The Eldest Princess' cold words set the tone for the entire matter.

Yuan Hongdao laughed and knew that he couldn't convince the Eldest Princess anymore. He was worried, but he hid it well and said, "Contact has been made with the Crown Prince and Second Prince. Once the message arrives, they will make the arrangements. There shouldn't be any problems with the civil officials. Mournful news can always knock down their defenses. Regardless of which angle, they have no reason to refuse."

"What you said makes sense," the Eldest Princess smiled slightly and said. "The Overwatch Council still cannot see the light of day. They are a powerful tool. But, in some moments, they will never be a decisive power. As long as the officials and Palace give their support, what can Chen Pingping do?"

Then she smiled slightly and said, "I hear that Wan'er has been looking after the concubine that is about to give birth. Go make plans for this matter."

…

…

At the tip of Dong Mountain, Fan Xian, outside of the door, looked at the man on the praying mat. The blind man, whose figure was not very large, had a piece of black cloth over him. He always appeared so calm. Fan Xian opened his mouth but didn't say anything.

The Emperor laughed and turned to leave the uncle and nephew alone.

Fan Xian walked in and carefully closed the door. After checking that there was no one eavesdropping nearby, he allowed his joy to rise onto his face. He grabbed the blind man in a hug, patting him gently on the back.

Wu Zhu was still cold, but this kind of cold was not the same as Sir Yan. It was not an expression of self-protection. Rather, it was a sense that external things had no ties in his heart and of an absolute internal calm.

When Fan Xian held him tightly in his joy, the corners of the blind man's lips, behind Fan Xian's head where he couldn't see, crinkled slightly in a rarely seen warm smile.

It was a pity that Fan Xian didn't see. He would have certainly had some strange action.

They hugged and immediately parted. Wu Zhu was not someone who liked to be physically intimate with other people. Fan Xian was the same. The embrace only happened because Fan Xian could not suppress the joy in his heart at meeting again.

The two of them sat on the praying mat and looked at each other. They were silent for a long time.

Fan Xian's expression became warmer and happier. He confirmed that his uncle's injuries were almost recovered, but he didn't know what to say or where to start. Since a year and a half ago when they separated, he had gone south to Jiangnan to battle the Ming family, been attacked in the valley, killed people at night in Jingdou, and experienced countless dangers.

None of this was probably what Uncle Wu Zhu wanted to hear about. These things didn't matter much to him. Who were the Ming family? Wu Zhu didn't care at all. As for the dangerous situation in the valley, Wu Zhu would only think that Fan Xian had performed badly.

After being silent for a long time, Fan Xian opened his mouth and said, "Uncle, I'm going to be a father."

After hearing these words, Wu Zhu, whose expression wouldn't change even if Dong Mountain's summit was pressing down on him, became uncharacteristically heavy. It was as if he was slowly digesting the information. He slightly tilted his head and said, "You are also having a child?"

This "also" encapsulated countless messages. For Wu Zhu, there were only two people in this world. Nothing else existed. For him, only the matters of these two people were worth remembering.

Twenty years ago, that woman had a child. Twenty years later, the woman's child was going to have a child. Although the two events were separated by two decades, he felt as if they had happened one after another. Thus, the use of the word "also."

The corners of his lips once again gave a warm smile. He said to Fan Xian seriously, "Congratulations."

Because of this smile and one word, Fan Xian sank into boundless shock and joy. He didn't understand how after not seeing Uncle Wu Zhu for a year, he would say such a common word and be so generous as to demonstrate in front of him his most human side. When was the last time he saw Uncle Wu Zhu's smile? Probably when he had brought up his mother in that junk shop in Danzhou.

Fan Xian didn't know why his heart was warm and soothed. It seemed that Wu Zhu was finally willing to smile for him rather just because of Ye Qingmei. This was something that deserved to be remembered.

Wu Zhu's smile was immediately withdrawn. He quickly recovered his usual appearance. In a serious voice, he said, "When someone is going to have a child, I need to say congratulations. This is something the young mistress taught me. I haven't forgotten, so you shouldn't be shocked."

Fan Xian forced a smile. "This should be something that comes from the heart and doesn't need to be remembered."

Wu Zhu's face was turned toward the wall painting inside the temple. He said, "For me, this is a very difficult thing. For you, you are happy too early."

The very thin but absolutely impenetrable piece of black cloth tied around his eyes made the bridge of his nose appear particularly straight. His following words were also very straightforward. "The time isn't right."

If it had been anyone else, they would certainly not have understood these words. Fan Xian had lived with Wu Zhu since a young age, so he easily understood the meaning contained in those four words. He laughed bitterly and nodded his head, confirming Uncle Wu Zhu's judgement.

The Emperor was at Dong Mountain worshipping heaven. If someone rebelled, then Dong Mountain was the most dangerous place on earth. Similarly, Jingdou was the second most dangerous place in the world. Fan Xian was far away by the seashore and completely unable to give much thought to the situation in Jingdou. If the Eldest Princess and Princes truly had the boldness to do such a thing, what kind of actions would they take against Fan Xian, who appeared to be dead loyal to the Emperor?

Wan'er was the Eldest Princess' trueborn daughter, so Fan Xian was not too worried. However, what about Sisi and the child in her that she was about to give birth to? Even if the Emperor gained a large advantage at Dong Mountain, if Jingdou fell into turmoil, what kind of harm would the people in the Fan manor, the people Fan Xian worried about, have to suffer?

This was the source of Fan Xian's shock and worry after seeing the Emperor in Danzhou. However, he could not express anything to the Emperor's face. Only after Wu Zhu had directly spoken of the reason did his expression reveal his true feelings. A wave of heaviness fell.

"The Director and father are in the capital. There shouldn't be any major problems." He seemed to be trying to convince Uncle Wu Zhu as well as comforting himself.

"The Emperor has never allowed Chen Pingping and Fan Jian to control troops. That is a problem." Wu Zhu's words still did not have any deduction, only results. He lowered his head and said coldly, "If you rush back to Jingdou right now, you might still be in time."

Even if the people in the capital were going to rebel, they needed a reason. They would need to find a scapegoat for the Emperor's assassination. Thus, the revolt in Jingdou had to begin 15 days or so after the incident at Dong Mountain.

If Fan Xian rushed back to Jingdou now, he should be in time.

Wu Zhu said, "You are of no use here."

Fan Xian thought for a while then suddenly opened his mouth and said, "My use seemed to have been completed the moment I saw you."

The moment he saw Wu Zhu, Fan Xian understood why the Emperor gave an edict for him to follow him to worship heaven—why he had to stop him in Danzhou and bring him to Dong Mountain.

Just as the Emperor had said earlier, since this entire set up was targeted toward Ye Liuyun, he needed Wu Zhu's participation. Wu Zhu would not leave Dong Mountain because of the Emperor's plans. Even if he were on Dong Mountain, if he didn't want to attack Ye Liuyun, he would not do so. The Emperor could command everyone in the world except Wu Zhu. Thus, the Emperor needed Fan Xian's help to convince Wu Zhu to participate in the matter.

"Presumably you know why the Emperor brought me to see you," Fan Xian looked at Wu Zhu and said with his head lowered.

"You also know." Wu Zhu said.

Fan Xian slowly raised his head. There was a complicated expression on his face. A moment later, he said, "It's been three and a half years since I entered the capital. I have done many things. I know that for these things, someone was using me. Now, those people are using me to use you. It is fine that they used me because I have my own desires, but you have no desires of this world. This is not fair for you."

"There is no such thing as fair and unfair in this world," Wu Zhu said calmly. "What is important is whether this matter is beneficial to you."

Fan Xian noticed a strange thing. In the time he had been separated from Uncle Wu Zhu, he seemed to speak much more and his expressions were much more vivid. He smiled bitterly and shook his head. "The Emperor has thrown himself into this dangerous situation. If we don't help him, he will be chopped in half by Ye Liuyun. Then, it will be a major problem. He is using his own life and the turmoil of the world to force us to help him."

"Even if we don't care about these two things, we have to care about the safety of those people in Jingdou." Fan Xian paused and then smiled bitterly. "If Ye Liuyun attacks, the Eldest Princess must have made a deal with the Second Prince in Jingdou. We cannot let them succeed."

Wu Zhu was silent for a moment then said, "Speak straightforwardly."

Fan Xian sat properly in front of him and said sincerely, "Uncle, please protect the Emperor's life. As for Ye Liuyun, don't mind him."

Wu Zhu nodded his head.

Fan Xian let out a breath in his heart. The Emperor could use him, but he didn't want to use Uncle Wu Zhu. He only had a few family members in this world. He didn't want too many other things mixed in. Asking Uncle Wu Zhu to participate did not mean that Fan Xian was not worried about his safety. The actions to be taken before the heaven worship would be the greatest shock to this area in 20 years. Even if Uncle Wu Zhu had the cultivation of a Great Grandmaster, it didn't mean that he would be fine.

Fan Xian was not too worried because this temple was on a precipice on a tall mountain. Even if Uncle Wu Zhu was defeated in the end, he could jump into the ocean. With this skill, Ye Liuyun and those other masters would not be able to catch up, even if they chased on horseback.

"I should go down the mountain at this time," Fan Xian lowered his head and said.

In the major event that was about to happen, he didn't have much authority to speak. Furthermore, speaking from the depths of his heart, he didn't want to go crazy and take such a risk with the Emperor.

However, he knew the Emperor would probably not allow him to leave the mountain. Only if the kidnapping of hostages was done well would he be able to use Uncle Wu Zhu as he wished. If Ye Liuyun's sword turned accidentally to the side and pointed to Fan Xian, Wu Zhu would have no choice but to act.

"If the other party is going to do something, it will certainly be before the heaven worship ceremony is completed. In a moment, I will try to convince the Emperor to let me down the mountain." Fan Xian furrowed his brows. "When this is done, please come and find me quickly."

He looked at Uncle Wu Zhu's face and asked in a daze, "I don't know what rules there are for the heaven worship ceremony or what symbolic meaning there is, but I am very curious, Uncle, have you been recovering on Dong Mountain during the last year?"

Wu Zhu nodded.

"Everyone says that Dong Mountain is magical. Is it true?" Fan Xian looked at the black cloth on his face and furrowed his brows.

Wu Zhu opened his mouth and said, "I don't know if it's useful for other people's illnesses, but it is very good for my injury."

Fan Xian's heart jumped slightly. He didn't quite understand these words and asked, "Why?"

"The essence at Dong Mountain is very thick, more so than any other place in the world," Wu Zhu said.

Fan Xian's brows tightened even further. "I can't feel it."

"You can only feel the true essence in your body," Wu Zhu said. "However, the essence between the heaven and earth is not so easily captured."

He paused for a moment and then said, "Ku He has previously practiced magic from the West. He should be able to feel it."

Fan Xian was silent. He suddenly remembered that two weak sorcerers had once appeared in his life. He seemed to vaguely guess at something but was unable to connect all the clues together. Magic… What a distant and unfamiliar word. When he was young, he had once considered practicing magic. In this land, no one fully understood it. Even Ku He was more focused on the collecting and research of theory and knowledge in this area.

The night was gradually growing darker. The temperature at the top of the mountain gradually fell. The bugs in the grass stopped their cries due to the cold. A stern atmosphere gradually congealed between the numerous temples. Fan Xian lifted his face in a daze and looked at the paintings on all four walls of the temple. They were almost exactly the same as those in Jingdou's Qing Temple.

Fan Xian was filled with curiosity about the holy temple and Qing Temple that carried on customs as before. He had originally thought to ask Uncle Wu Zhu, but given the presently urgent situation, he was not able to stay too long.

He rose and bowed to Wu Zhu. In a low voice, he said, "On this summit, it doesn't matter if someone dies, but you cannot die."

Wu Zhu didn't reply. He turned his ear and stretched his right-hand half-way out of his sleeve. He then placed it on the ground and froze in place.

A moment later, Wu Zhu quietly said, "You won't be able to go down the mountain."

…

…

"You convinced him?" The Emperor had his hands behind his back as he stood at the side of the pitch-black precipice. The moon was hidden behind the thick clouds. An inky darkness floated on the blue sea far away below the precipice. A few weak lights could faintly be seen. They were from the Jiaozhou Navy boats protecting the imperial entourage.

Fan Xian stopped behind the Emperor's back and furrowed his brows slightly. This afternoon, the Emperor had almost fallen down. How exactly did the Emperor have such daring? The situation had suddenly become urgent. He didn't reply to the Emperor's inquiry. Instead, he directly said, "Your Majesty, there are riders coming to attack at the foot of the mountain."

The Emperor slowly turned around with a slight smile on his face. He didn't ask how Fan Xian knew about the movements at the foot of the mountain while he was at the top. Warmly, he asked, "Is that so? How many people?"

"I'm not sure," Fan Xian lowered his head and replied. "I think that since the enemies have come to attack, the Tiger Guards should immediately be sent out to break the siege and ask for help from the surrounding area."

The Emperor looked at him calmly and didn't reply to his words. He only slowly said, "I have other things to give to you to do."

A firecracker suddenly shot up into the sky from the foot of the mountain and illuminated a patch of the sky, reporting the urgent situation at the foot of the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, the sounds of killing had probably already reached the heavens with flesh and blood flying across the scene. The most daring attack on the monarch in Qing Kingdom history had just begun.

"Report!" The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army ran out from the camp at the top of the mountain. Kneeling in front of the Emperor, he quickly reported the events happening at the foot of the mountain. However, the distance between the summit and the foot of the mountain was very far. It was impossible to fully understand the situation through a few message arrows.

The Deputy Commander's face was deathly pale. In the cold night wind, he was sweating profusely. He only knew that enemies had attacked the foot of the mountain. This reality was already enough for him to lose his head. He could not understand how these attacking soldiers could have arrived at the foot of Dong Mountain without alerting the local government and carrying out a ferocious attack under the cover of night against the 2,000Imperial Soldiers at the foot of the mountain.

Fan Xian watched as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard's mouth moved up and down, but it seemed he couldn't hear a single word. It was like an absurd and funny soundless picture.

The monarch of a country had been surrounded on Dong Mountain deep in his own territory.

…

…

The sound of killing could not reach the distant summit of the mountain. The stench of blood also could not waft up so high. The summit of Dong Mountain remained quiet and calm. The thick layer of clouds in the sky closest to the top of the mountain suddenly dispersed and revealed a bright crescent moon.

The moonlight poured down like silver on the Emperor and Fan Xian standing on the top of the mountain. Fan Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the Emperor enveloped in the moonlight with a godlike shadow. He began to feel nervous and excited. Through the Emperor's iron-like shoulders, he saw a small boat floating toward them far away on the ocean.

The little boat rose and fell on the waves and slowly came forward under the moonlight toward Dong Mountain.

The top of the mountain was very far away from the sea, but Fan Xian could still sense that little boat because Ye Liuyun stood on it.

Chapter 519: Longbows Seal The Mountain At Night

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The moon was as cool as water [JW1].

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and looked down at the distant foot of the mountain and seashore. He gazed at the little boat rising and falling on the ink-like ocean.

His internal strength was powerful. His eyesight was startling, but he still couldn't see the boat clearly. Strangely, he seemed to be able to, across the vast distance, see the old man on the boat, his straw hat, and wiry whiskers.

Of the four Great Grandmasters in the world, he had only seen Ye Liuyun.

Once when he was young and in Suzhou. Each time it had been startling. Ye Liuyun was a carefree person. This night, he rode a boat across the waves straight toward them. Before his aura had arrived, his graceful bearing had already enchanted everyone.

Fan Xian saw the boat on the vast ocean and thought of the Great Grandmaster. Although he was opposed by countless enemies, he stood isolated on the boat and headed straight for Dong Mountain. Seeing this, Fan Xian couldn't help but feel moved. A thread of respect grew in his heart.

The little boat appeared closer than further. It was bathed in the moonlight on the horizon. Slowly, it came their way, as if it would never reach the shore.

Fan Xian knew the largest distance in the world was not between life and death. Thus, that little boat, which would determine the lives and deaths of countless people, would eventually arrive on the shore.

At the foot of the mountain, on the side with its back to the sea, there suddenly appeared flickers of firelight. Although they were just flickers, the light was enough to travel to the summit of the mountain. One could imagine the powerful rebel army that had suddenly appeared like ghosts on the battlefield fighting ferociously against the defensive line held by the Imperial Soldiers. The fire in the camp had grown to an uncontrollable size.

Fortunately, there was a lot of rain during summertime, in addition to the sea wind and damp atmosphere in the mountains. Otherwise, the fire would have scorched the entire Dong Mountain and burned everyone on it to death.

A few more signal arrows shot into the sky, but they only flew to about halfway up the mountain before tragically and disappointedly falling back down. Like the Imperial Army's defensive lines at the foot of the mountain, there was not enough follow up power. They were about to break.

…

…

The little boat still had not yet arrived, but powerful enemies had already reached the foot of the mountain. The Qing Emperor and his group stood with their backs to the ocean, standing in front of the scenery viewing stone railings at the front of the mountain. They looked silently at the action at the foot of the mountain, watching the sometimes lit sometimes extinguished flames. They listened to the faintly audible sounds of killing. However, they were too far. By the time the sounds of killing had reached the summit of the mountain, they were changed by a slight breeze and the rustling of the trees into a twisted rhythm.

There was no murderous intention. At least the people at the summit of the mountain couldn't feel such an atmosphere. In comparison, the little boat slowly floating toward them on the ocean behind Dong Mountain brought them more of a tense feeling.

At this time, the Minister of Rites, officials from Taichang Temple, and officials for the heaven worship had long come out of their rooms. Following behind the silent Emperor, they all felt shocked and terrified. No one spoke.

The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army had long charged down the mountain, preparing to die on the front lines. Except, before he even arrived, the Imperial Soldiers would probably have dissolved into ghosts in the night and bodies in the mountain woods.

Fan Xian tasted a bitterness in his mouth. He unconsciously extended his tongue to lick his dry lips. An uncontrollable feeling of shock grew in his heart. Just where had this army at the foot of the mountain come from? Why did the Overwatch Council network in Dongshan Road not hear about any of this ahead of time? Why had the Black Knights placed in the Xiao Mountain region not come to any use? How was the opponent able to get to the foot of Dong Mountain without anyone knowing?

What shocked him the most was the situation moment at the foot of the mountain. Looking at the retreating fires, hearing the rising sounds of killing, and determining from the communication arrows being fired, he knew the Imperial Army couldn't hold out for much longer. Two-thousand Imperial soldiers had fallen so quickly.

Qing Kingdom used martial strength to conquer the world. The Imperial Army was usually stationed in Jingdou and not as capable of fighting in the wild as Dingzhou troops, or the armies of the seven Roads of the Northern expedition camp. Ever since the Great Prince had taken over the position of Commander of the Imperial Army and brought over a number of capable generals from the Western expedition army, the strength of the Imperial Army had been effectively supplemented. Even if it was not a match for the national armies, it shouldn't have fallen so quickly.

A glimmer of suspicion rose along with his shock. Who did the attacking army belong to?

"They are Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers." The Emperor stood beside the stone railing and looked toward the foot of the mountain. Although it was clear that he couldn't see what was happening below, he saw a glimmer of unease in Fan Xian and Eunuch Hong's eyes. Coldly, he said, "The Imperial Army is not a match for them."

"Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers?" Fan Xian furrowed his brows and immediately thought of the strange Cangzhou pass between Cangzhou and Yanjing. He didn't know what trick Yan Xiaoyi had used to deliver the soldiers to the foot of Dong Mountain. Since the enemies had already arrived, thinking about this was purely a waste of time.

"You are the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. An army has raided a thousand li deep into the country. What crime are you guilty of?" The Emperor watched Fan Xian and asked with a slight smile.

Fan Xian forced a laugh and knew that the Emperor was making a joke. Given the dangers of the situation at the foot of the mountain, he did not have the frame of mind to make jokes. "Even if there is a secret passage to the north of Danzhou, the Overwatch Council should have received wind of it. I think there is someone in the Council helping them."

The Emperor smiled and didn't say anything. There was an additional glimmer of self-mocking in his smile.

Fan Xian spoke about the problem with the Overwatch Council to be honest and as a test. He wanted to test if the elite force at the foot of the mountain that was as ferocious as a tiger or wolf. Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers had been purposely let in by the Emperor. Looking at the Emperor's confident expression and calm posture, Fan Xian believed this deduction in the depths of his heart. But, the Emperor's smile appeared rather helpless.

"I want to know the specific situation at the foot of the mountain right now," the Emperor suddenly opened mouth and said coldly. "I don't want to be blind."

The Emperor used to personally lead troops into war and had won many honors in battle. He had been known as the foremost general in the land. However, he had not gone out personally in 20 years. He had allowed Shang Shanhu, the Northern Qi person who had opposed the Man people, to gradually submerge the monarch's military glory.

In this situation, in which the imperial entourage was under siege, if the Emperor could personally direct the Imperial Army, presumably the soldiers at the foot of the mountain would not have fallen so badly. However, although there was a bright moon hovering high above, it was not as if they were singing mountain songs up and down the mountain. Sending commands needed a long amount of time and personal direction.

That was why the Emperor's expression was rather icy and his tone was unkind.

This slight unkindness did not terrify the people around the Emperor. Under the present circumstances, it was already very calm of the Emperor to not have flown into a great rage and beheaded all the officials beside him.

Fan Xian lowered his head slowly and connected the index and ring fingers on his hands into a bridge. In a flash, he began to activate all of the Tyrannical zhenqi in his body. He pushed into action the two circulations in his body that were different to other people and forced his six senses into the highest possible realm.

In a flash, the aura around his body grew enormously and whipped up a wind on the summit, slightly shaking the rocks and stones.

The Tiger Guards around the Emperor readied themselves. In such a sensitive time, they all began to take defensive actions. Only old Eunuch Hong remained in a half-sleeping state, standing behind the Emperor.

A moment later, Fan Xian respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, it is very strange. The other side seemed to have pulled back their soldiers."

Hearing these words, the Emperor's brows began to furrow. A moment later, he faintly said, "Just how many people did he bring to try and seal off the entire mountain and not let anyone out? Yan Xiaoyi… What an appetite!"

For the rebel army to pull back at the height of their victory gave the Imperial Army a moment to breathe. The officials at the summit of the mountain, including Fan Xian, were confused. Only the Emperor clearly realized what the rebel army was trying to do. They were giving the Imperial Army an opportunity to tighten their defense. They were afraid the two sides would descend into chaos and a few survivors would escape this massive net. The rebel armies at the foot of the mountain were not planning to let anyone escape Dong Mountain to send news to the provinces around them.

"Impossible," Fan Xian said. He knew that according to the Overwatch Council's process, the Sixth Bureau swordsmen mixed in with the Imperial Army should, at the first opportunity, break through the blockade to inform the Dongshang Road government and urgently relocate nearby provincial guards to their rescue.

Given the ability of the Sixth Bureau Swordsmen to move through the darkness, even if there were tens of thousands of riders at the foot of the mountain, it was impossible in a night like this for all of the swordsmen to have been killed or captured. Some must have escaped.

The shadow of a grey-clothed man suddenly rose from the 10,000-step staircase to heaven. His qinggong was exemplary, although his posture was strange. It was as if springs had been fitted to his knees. Each time they touched the ground, they bounced up gently. Although the pose was not as elegant as legendary masters, it was faster and quieter.

Before the grey-clothed man had reached the top of the mountain, countless snowflakes began to fall from the night sky. Snow like knife blades were hidden in the long knives the Tiger Guards around the Emperor held. They chopped toward it. In a flash, it buried the brilliance of the moon.

The grey-clothed man did not strike out. He only held up a token. The token shone clearly under the light of the moon and knife blades. It was an Overwatch Council token.

Eunuch Yao swung his hand. The Tiger Guards pulled back their knives, but they continued to show their figure and surrounded the grey-clothed man in their center. A dozen long knives pointed toward him. The aura was very imposing.

Fan Xian believed that even if was him who was caught between these dozen swords, all he would be able to do is to escape. However, he took a step closer to the grey-clothed man with a questioning and worried expression on his face.

The grey-clothed man was one of the two wings of the Overwatch Council, Wang Qinian, Fan Xian's trusted aide. During the great battle, he was down at the foot of the mountain leading the Overwatch Council in setting up a defense. He had long been shocked beyond description. He didn't say much to Fan Xian. He directly knelt in front of the Emperor and Fan Xian while surrounded by swords and said, in a low voice, "Five-thousand rebel troops. Archers, they were all archers…"

Everyone on the top of the mountain fell silent because of this message. It confirmed the Emperor's deduction. The attacking rebel soldiers were indeed Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers. Only a God of the Bow like Yan Xiaoyi could be able to train his soldiers to all become expert marksman.

Although arrows could not go as far as crossbows, they were much faster. In the darkness, without 5,000 godlike archers coming to attack, legend said that Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers were all longbow men. No wonder the Imperial Army and Overwatch Council at the foot of the mountain were finding it so difficult to resist.

The Emperor looked at Wang Qinian kneeling in front of him and asked in a low voice, "What of the battle situation?"

Wang Qinian's tone broke. He immediately replied "When the attack started, I came up the mountain. I don't know about the present situation."

The Emperor huffed coldly but did not continue demonstrating his displeasure. The attack had happened in a short amount of time. Plus, there was a large distance between the foot and the top of the mountain. Other than a few communication arrows, Wang Qinian was the first official to run up to the summit to report. Looking at his pale face, he knew that in the short amount of time it had taken to charge up the hill, he had already burned much of his energy.

"Five-thousand longbowmen…" The Emperor suddenly laughed coldly. "If he wants to kill all 2,000 Imperial Soldiers, Yan Xiaoyi doesn't have this kind of wild ambition and evil tricks. I am very curious as to who the genius is directing the troops at the foot of the mountain."

The rebel soldiers sealed the mountain but did not attack at once. The situation was a bit strange. Fan Xian looked at Wang Qinian and directly asked, "Did anyone breakout?"

There were processes in the Overwatch Council. When a superior asked, the subordinate knew what they were asking about. Wang Qinian's expression changed slightly and reported to Fan Xian, "The 17 members of the Sixth Bureau all died."

Fan Xian's expression did not change. "Are you sure?"

"Sure…" Wang Qinian lowered his head and reported. "I turned back once at the middle of the mountain. There were battles on the quiet southwest and northwest roads. There were aces ambushed there."

Fan Xian's eyes narrowed as his heart gave a pang of pain. He forcefully suppressed the thick anger and sorrow in his heart. The Sixth Bureau had always walked in the dark. How could there be swordsmen so familiar with assassination amongst Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers? To be able to kill all his subordinates in the night proved that the level of the assassins were much higher than that of the Sixth Bureau swordsmen.

Afterward, he glanced deeply at Wang Qinian.

Wang Qinian did not nod or shake his head. Only his right hand twisted slightly on the ground.

Fan Xian let out a breath in his heart and knew that Thirteenth Wang was still somewhat safe. Relaxing his heart slightly, he turned to gaze at the Emperor. Without consideration, he said calmly, "Your Majesty, Dongyi's people have also come."

Hearing these words, the Emperor didn't have any reaction as if he was waiting for something. A moment later, Eunuch Yao returned from the stone steps and said something into the Emperor's ear. The Emperor's expression gradually became dark.

Only now did Fan Xian know that when the first warning arrow had gone up, Eunuch Yao had already arranged to Tiger Guards to break through the siege to send a message. However, the report right now confirmed the breakthrough had failed.

The swordsmen of the Sixth Bureau of the Overwatch Council and the valiant Tiger Guards tried twice to break through the siege and both failed. How many aces did Dongyi lend to the Eldest Princess? Did all the ninth-level aces produced by the Sword Hut, which produced the most ninth-level aces in the world, gather at the foot of Dong Mountain? Did Sigu Jian come?

A breeze picked up again at the top of the mountain. In the distance, the little boat continued to come closer on the ocean. The sounds of killing gradually reduced at the foot of the mountain. The moonlight lit up the mountain woods but did not chase away the darkness in the woods. No one new how much murderous intention was hidden and waiting for the people on the summit of the mountain.

The Emperor suddenly remembered the sight of Fan Xian using his training earlier and coldly asked, "Your abilities seemed to have recovered. Has your injury from last year flared up again?"

Fan Xian didn't understand why, at this time, the Emperor would suddenly ask such an unrelated question. "It has not flared up again."

"Very good." The Emperor calmly looked at the ground below the moonlight. "Then I am at ease giving you this task to do."

"Get out!" The Emperor roared in a dark and deep voice.

On the top of the mountain, other than the Emperor, Fan Xian, old Eunuch Hong, and the Tiger Guards hidden in the darkness, all followed the order and returned to the temple and their residences. They left the area empty for the Emperor and the Commissioner, this pitiful father and son.

"My trip to worship heaven this time was originally a gamble. I worshipped heaven and also gambled on heaven."

A weight flashed across the Emperor's brows. "I don't want to wait anymore, so I bet with my life. I am betting that the Mandate of Heaven would return. Regardless of success or failure, it was all within the calculations. If it was a success, then the Qing court would not have internal strife again. Within three years, the sword would be pointed at the world and no one would hold back my steps."

However, he didn't say what would happen in a defeat. He opened his mouth and said coldly, "Perhaps I miscalculated one thing. I lured Uncle Liuyun to the mountain tonight because I had thought those two would not interfere. After all, this was Qing Kingdom breaking out its own pillars. If it had been in the past, they would have stood aside and watched."

To the side, Fan Xian stood in silence. He was sure ninth-level aces from Dongyi were part of the rebel soldiers. As for whether Sigu Jian would come, no one could guess.

"Even if that idiot came, so what? However…" The Emperor closed his eyes and let out a breath. "I have to consider the aftermath, so you should leave the mountain."

Fan Xian raised his head in surprise and didn't know how to answer. He had thought for a long time about how to convince the Emperor to let him leave the mountain. Unexpectedly, the Emperor had raised this himself. However, all the paths out of the mountain had been sealed. With 5,000 longbows and the terrifying ninth-level swordsmen from Dongyi, how could he get out of the mountain?

The Emperor smiled with ridicule and said, "Did you think that I would keep you at my side to force Lao Wu to act?"

Fan Xian smiled helplessly.

The Emperor took in a deep breath as if he was going to suck in all the moonlight on top of the mountain. A moment later, he said in a cold voice, "Regardless of whether or not I can succeed, Jingdou will certainly say that I died. I need you to get out of the mountain. I need you to go back."

He watched Fan Xian's eyes calmly and said, "I have four sons. Other than two that are not even as good as pigs and dogs, help me discipline them when you return to the capital. Don't disappoint me."

Fan Xian's emotions were complicated. Then, he heard the Emperor say something that was gentler than the ocean breeze, "There is no need for you to stay here to gamble your life with me. Go back to the capital. If things don't end the way I imagined, go do what you want. You can decide who sits on that chair."

Fan Xian's heart jumped in shock. He was completely speechless.

[JW1] It might be, "The moon was like water."– I suspect a typo, but I'll leave both translations here..

Chapter 520: Covering The Moon

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Fan Xian was shocked for three reasons. First, the glimmer of tenderness with which the Emperor sent him down the mountain had truly been out of his expectations. Second, the Emperor's tone seemed to be lacking his usual confidence. Third, the last thing that the Emperor said… He can decide who sits on that chair? Were these his last words or what? Even if he was lucky and able to reach Jingdou, thousands of li away, before the Eldest Princess announced and decided reality, what power did he have to turn his ideas into reality?

This was not the Ming family in Jiangnan, Cui family, officials in Jingdou, or pitiful people in the Imperial Observatory. This was the Royal Palace, where the world belonged.

A bitter smile rose to the corners of Fan Xian's lips. Even if he was a powerful official in Qing Kingdom, he didn't have a single soldier in his hands. What would he use to stabilize Jingdou for the Emperor? And, with what would he determine who that chair belonged to?

"I won't lose." The glimmer of a smile rose to the corners of the Emperor's lips. The smile was filled with cold murder. "Even if I lost, if I have Ye Liuyun and Sigu Jian accompany me to the grave, what is there to be afraid of? Don't be worried. Director Chen is in Jingdou, and the empress dowager is in the Palace. Those people won't be able to cause any big waves. Take my edict and royal seal. If anyone dares to stop you, kill them all!"

A cold sweat broke out on Fan Xian's forehead. If the Ye and Qin families also rebelled, even if he were a Great Grandmaster, he would, at most, be able to fight some guerilla battles. How could he kill them all?

He had already seen the glimmer of uncertainty in the Emperor's heart and couldn't help but feel his mood become dim. If the Emperor actually died on Dong Mountain, what would this world become? Regardless of whether it was the Crown Prince or Second Prince that took the throne, there would probably not be space for him anymore in Qing Kingdom. Would he really have to take his wealth and choose the second path?

However, the situation had not reached the most dangerous time. There was still old Eunuch Hong and Uncle Wu Zhu on the summit of the mountain. In addition, there were over a hundred Tiger Guards. Regardless of what tough enemy they met, they would be able to hold out for a long while.

There was only one way to forcefully ascend the great Dong Mountain. The task of the 5,000 longbowmen at the foot of the mountain clearly prevented communication between Dong Mountain and the rest of the world. They would have to block it for at least three days to give time for the revolt in Jingdou. However, if they really wanted to kill the Emperor, these rebel troops would not be of any use because the Emperor would not stupidly descend the mountain.

So, Ye Liuyun would ascend the mountain.

This was indeed a gamble. If the Qing monarch set up a situation to kill Ye Liuyun, it would certainly be something that Northern Qi and Dongyi would be very happy to see succeed. Ku He and Sigu Jian would not toss aside their identity and interfere.

The cold sweat on Fan Xian's forehead had already dried. Now, he only felt a chill throughout his body. While he was in Wuzhou, his father-in-law, Lin Ruofu had reminded him that for a sufficiently alluring and magnificent target, the Great Grandmasters may come together.

Fan Xian's mouth tasted somewhat bitter. If the situation truly developed like this, how could anyone survive on Dong Mountain? Did the Emperor not calculate for this situation from the beginning? He carefully slanted his gaze toward the Emperor's expression and found that his expression was rather dark. Fire flickered in his eyes in the darkness.

He didn't continue thinking about this question. In his mind, he quickly analyzed the situation at hand. The result of the situation in Dong Mountain was unknown. If it sank into a stalemate, there would certainly be problems in Jingdou. He had to carry the news that the Emperor was still alive to Jingdou and the empress dowager.

Even if the Emperor died, he had to return to Jingdou and make the empress dowager believe the Emperor was still alive. Otherwise, once she knew of the Emperor's death, she would definitely choose to have the Qin family support the Crown Prince in taking the throne and stabilizing Qing Kingdom's court politics.

The Emperor was her son. If someone wanted to hurt the Emperor, the empress dowager would not allow it. If the Emperor's death became a set reality, as the last elder in the royal family, the empress dowager had to consider the survival of the entire royal clan and the world.

Regardless of whether it was for his own personal safety or for the situation in Jingdou, Fan Xian knew the Emperor's plan was correct. He had to take the Emperor's personal letter and seal back to Jingdou to stabilize the situation and deal with the era after Grandmasters.

With one stroke, regardless of victory or defeat, one or two Great Grandmasters would certainly retreat from the stage of history on Dong Mountain.

…

…

He nodded his head heavily and said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, nothing will happen to Jingdou."

The Emperor gazed deeply at him and said, "The road before you is very dangerous. You must be careful."

When he had heard the Emperor say "my four sons" earlier, Fan Xian had felt a cold ridicule and self-mocking deep in his heart. Unexpectedly, hearing such words made his heart soften a great deal.

Tying on his belt and confirming all his equipment was present, Fan Xian quickly changed from an official to a ninth-level nightwalker. His entire body restrained his aura. It was as if he was going to meld into the scenery on top of Dong Mountain.

Only the slightly irritating silver moonlight shone inharmoniously on his body.

The Emperor's royal seal and a personally written letter for the empress dowager were stuffed in his shirt. They were not heavy, but he felt they were. He knew the news of Dong Mountain being surrounded would soon get back to Jingdou. At the same time, the news of the Emperor being assassinated would also get back to Jingdou. The Eldest Princess had created a perfect time difference. She didn't even need to do anything in Jingdou. As long as she confirmed the Emperor's death, the empress dowager would have to talk out sorrowfully from behind the screen and choose a successor from among the three Princes.

At this moment, the worship of heaven had not been completed. Heaven's will had not descended. Although everyone knew the Crown Prince was about to be deposed, the Crown Prince was still the Crown Prince. Regardless of whether it was from the perspective of stabilizing court politics or some other angle, the empress dowager would choose the Crown Prince to take the throne.

This wasn't a conspiracy. It was seizing an opportunity. Even if the Emperor had left countless backups in Jingdou, or Chen Pingping and the Imperial Army were completely loyal, once the news of the Emperor's death had spread throughout the world, who would openly resist the empress dowager's edict? It would only lead to a second rebellion.

Fan Xian relaxed his limbs as if he was trying to make the burden on his shoulders a little bit lighter. He knew that he had essentially put Qing Kingdom's dragon throne onto his back.

"They are, after all, your true brothers", the Emperor said coldly, standing beside a black-clothed Fan Xian. "If you can, try to not kill them, particularly Chengze. But, if you must kill them, then kill them all."

Fan Xian's heart trembled slightly as he nodded.

The Emperor's lips tilted up slightly. He gazed at the little boat in the distance on the ocean and mockingly said, "Why is Uncle Liuyun so slow? Does the Great Grandmaster still feel an uncontrollable fear when meeting me that he needs a helper?"

Fan Xian smiled and didn't say anything. He raised his head and glanced at the moon in the sky. He then furrowed his brows together.

"During the day, I had once told you why I chose Dong Mountain to worship heaven," the Emperor suddenly said. "First, of course, it was to invite Lao Wu out of the mountain."

Fan Xian looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor gazed at him calmly and said, "The second reason is that Dong Mountain is an isolated peak beside the ocean. It is the best place to die. Yunrui had Yan Xiaoyi encircle the mountain and then had Uncle Liuyun ascend the mountain to assassinate me. There is absolutely nowhere for me to go."

Dong Mountain was isolated by the ocean. Toward land and the foot of the mountain, there was only one path. The back of the mountain that faced the ocean was a precipice as smooth as jade. Even a Great Grandmaster would be unable to execute techniques on its surface to ascend. If the Emperor was assassinated here, it would truly be very difficult for him to escape.

"I chose Dong Mountain to die to mislead Yunrui." The Emperor seemed to have already shaken off the news that Sigu Jian may come and recovered his self-confident attitude. He looked calmly into Fan Xian's eyes, as if he wanted to see through to his true heart.

"She thought she could seal off all messages from Dong Mountain so that she could do as she wished in Jingdou. But, she forgot I had chosen to die here because I have someone at my side that can fly out of this forsaken land."

Fan Xian forced a smile. He thought to himself that his unique skill had not escaped the Emperor's eye. It looked like there were very few things about him the Emperor didn't know. In this world, probably only his strange technique could help him slide down that mirror smooth Dong Mountain. So, the Emperor had brought him to Dong Mountain because he had set an ambush here.

The Emperor had indeed thought far and deep enough. Fan Xian's heart suddenly shifted. He was no longer so worried. Since the Emperor could even make use of him, then how could he not have made a plan to deal with the most dangerous of situations in front of them?

The Emperor smiled slightly and said, "I had once said to Gong Dian that your wall-climbing ability was very like me and much better than mine."

Fan Xian gazed at the abyss like precipice below his feet. He twisted his neck and made a rare joke. "There is someone climbing over the wall. It's just a pity that the moonlight tonight is too bright."

"The moon waxes and wanes. This is something you once said." The Emperor raised his head to gaze at the sky. "I cannot guess everything that will happen. I know that the moon cannot be as bright as this forever."

As his words fell, a layer of dark clouds floated across the sky and hid the moon behind the clouds. The silver light immediately disappeared. A dark night once again fell over the world. The summit of Dong Mountain was pitch black.

At the Emperor's side, Fan Xian's shadow had already disappeared.

…

…

In woods at the foot of the mountain, the stench of blood was everywhere. It was much stronger than the scent of the sea breeze. Occasionally, the moonlight slipped through the woods, allowing one to faintly see the bodies everywhere in the woods. Some of the bodies were splayed on the ground while others were leaning against the trees. Most of the dead wore the uniform of the Imperial Army. Uniformly, the killed imperial soldiers were all pierced with a number of arrows.

The arrows had entered deep into their bodies, pinning them viciously against the trees and on the ground. The scene was very tragic and horrifying.

The woods at the foot of Dong Mountain were dense. The official road was hidden at the same time by the darkness and woods. It was already difficult to see its general appearance. One could only see countless bodies and puddles of blood. Close to the foot of the mountain, the remnants of the scene announced the intensity of the killing earlier.

A fire flickered into life and then extinguished again. Only the woods near the gates to the mountain were still burning, illuminating one corner of the heavy and dark night. The burning smell lying on the ground began to gradually rise, submerging both the stench of blood and the scent of the sea breeze. It made the army on both sides begin to feel nervous.

"Psh!" A sharp sound broke through the air. A long arrow flashed out like lightning and shot into an imperial soldier closest to the outside of the woods.

The soldier clutched the long arrow in his chest. He wanted to pull it out, but he was already weak from the terrible pain and slowly sat down.

As he was sitting down, three more arrows shot through the air and viciously pierced into his body.

The head of the soldier tilted to the side. A mouthful of blood sprayed out from his mouth as he died.

…

…

Silence fell over the foot of the mountain. Five-thousand rebel soldiers had quietly and secretly come to Dong Mountain and carried out the most despicable and sudden nighttime attack against 2,000 imperial soldiers. The Imperial Army did not react in time. Furthermore, they had come with the royal entourage to worship heaven and had not prepared the heavy armor needed for battlefield operations.

Between Cangzhou and Yanjing, the rebel soldiers circulated while pretending to attack. With Sigu Jian's implicit consent and purposeful concealment, they crossed Dongyi's 16 vassal countries and emerged from a secret passage to the north of Danzhou. Using 20 days, they blockaded Dong Mountain like 5,000 spirits.

The scouts along the way to Dong Mountain had all been killed by aces in the rebel army. They didn't have time to send back any messages.

The rebel bowman had used flaming arrows on the first wave of attack. In an instant, it was as if thousands of lights had been lit up at the same time at the foot of Dong Mountain. Lightly, they flew toward the Imperial Army's campsite. The moment the flaming arrows landed, they caught fire. The campsite burned. The woods burned. Everything burned. The power was immense. Those were the flickers of fires the Emperor and his group saw from the top of the mountain.

The Imperial Army did not have the extra thought to put out the fire because the immense flames had suddenly lit up the woods. It rendered all their figures completely exposed in front of the enemy's bowmen. Although the imperial guards were well trained and immediately found a suitable location to hide, the arrows that rained down immediately took out 200 lives.

Afterward, there was a bloody and tedious counterattack that broke through the camp and annihilation after being surrounded. Bodies covered the ground, and fresh blood flowed all over the mountain.

In just a few rounds, the rebel army had broken through the Imperial Army and won an initial victory. They locked the Imperial Army to the left of the mountain gates in an area that was half a li radius. It was at this time that the rebel army's attacks suddenly stopped. There was only the occasional arrow being fired out, killing those imperial soldiers who attempted to break through to send a message.

The occasional sound of an arrow made the suddenly silent woods even quieter. It became a deathlike silence.

…

…

Suddenly, a blood-covered person stood up from the pile of dead bodies. In such a moonlit night, in a massacre ground such as this, this sudden scene horrified soldiers on both sides. However, they immediately became numb. So many people had died, how could they be afraid of a mutated body?

The fingers of Yan Xiaoyi's trusted and personally trained soldiers trembled. Ten arrows flew out. The target of each arrow was different. Each aimed at one part of the bloody man's body. The arrows enveloped his entire body. There was no chance for him to avoid them.

This was a military order. It was forbidden for anyone to break through. Thus, for each person the rebel army shot, they ensured the person died. Suddenly, a person had walked out from a pile of dead bodies. The bowmen unconsciously fired, thinking to themselves, Are you still alive?

However, no one expected that the bloody man would not care at all about the dozen spirit-like arrows in front of him. He casually picked up two bodies from beside him and waved them like shields.

A series of thuds rang out. A dozen arrows seemed to land at the same time on the bloody man. However, it was clear in the next instant that they had landed on the bodies the bloody man had waved around. They sprayed out countless drops of blood and made the bloody man even more horrifying.

The bodies were heavier than shields, yet this bloody man was able to wave them around and block the very fast arrows. It had to be said, the man's arm strength was astonishing while his eyesight and realm were also a cause for shock.

Someone seemed to have not given an order in the rebel army. Thus, the phenomenon of 10,000 arrows flying out together did not happen.

The bloody man slowly put down the bodies in his hands and bared his mouth. It was as if he was mourning, sympathizing, or moved by something. He slowly walked in the direction of the mountain gate. No arrows disrupted him as he calmly walked.

He walked to the mountain gate. A deafening cheer rang out from the Imperial Army.

They didn't know who the bloody man was, but they knew he was an official of the Overwatch Council, one of Fan Xian's trusted aids. Furthermore, he was a definite ace. In the third wave of attacks from the rebel army, this Overwatch Council official had killed 40 longbowmen by himself until he was pushed over by the wave of people and drowned among the bodies.

Everyone had thought he had died. No one thought that he was still alive. In such a terrifying night when the rebel guards could wipe out the Imperial Army at any moment, to suddenly find that they had such a strong ace on their side was enough to lift what was left of the Imperial Army's morale.

Thirteenth Wang walked out of the burned and charred mountain gate and slowly sat down on a stone step. He accepted a towel that a member of the Qinian Unit beside him handed over to him and wiped at the blood on his face, revealing the bright and handsome visage.

He stretched open his mouth, revealing a mouthful of healthy white teeth. He gazed into the dark night and smiled as he looked at where the rebel army was.

Thirteenth Wang was a truly courageous soldier. He had learned to use bodies to block arrows, yet could not be considered a savage. If Fan Xian had seen this sight, he would certainly have said this with a sigh.

…

…

The sounds of horse hooves rang out. From one area of the rebel army's campsite, a few horses came out. A person sat on the horse in front. The person was covered in black clothing from head to toe. Their face was also hidden.

Yan Xiaoyi's trusted soldiers did not know who this black-clothed man was, but they knew of Governor Yan's strict orders that this battle would be directed by this person.

Although the soldiers strictly followed the military orders, they felt unsatisfied in their hearts. It was not until they had crossed mountains and rivers, the black-clothed man gave out orders to divide and encircle, and they had completely crushed the Imperial Army that this changed.

They were all simple orders carried out very straightforwardly. However, it cleverly brought together the terrain at the foot of Dong Mountain and the environment of the night. This black-clothed man used soldiers like a god.

Reality proved everything. Other than admiration, the 5,000 longbowmen looked at the black-clothed man with fear. Even with the sudden order earlier to retreat, which was not understood at all by the soldiers, no one expressed their doubt.

The figure of the black-clothed man was large. He sat formidably on his horse. It was only a pity that he was enveloped by the black clothes. No one could not see his true face and might hidden under the black clothing.

From a distance, the black-clothed man looked at the bloody young man with pearl-white teeth beyond the mountain gate. A voice came through the black cloth. It was filled with feeling.

"How powerful… He's still not dead after three attacks. He is truly a courageous soldier. If this man entered the army, in less than a year, there would be one more courageous general in the world."

The black-clothed man suddenly smiled slightly. "The major part is completed. It hardly took any effort. How is this in defiance of the natural order? It is only a pity that in a while, that powerful soldier is going to die."

Suddenly, someone gave a sigh beside him. The black-clothed man turned his head to gaze over. He asked in a warm voice, "Master Yun, are you lamenting the loss of a talent?"

The person who sighed was Sigu Jian's first disciple, the swordmaster of a generation, Yun Zhilan.

Fan Xian had indeed guessed correctly. Dongyi had indeed sent their most elite assassination team to help the Eldest Princess' rebel soldiers. Furthermore, it was Yun Zhilan personally leading this team.

Yun Zhilan glanced at the black-clothed man beside him and barely managed a smile. He didn't make a reply to his question. Only he knew who the young man covered in blood was, but he still managed to maintain a smile.

That person was not an official of the Overwatch Council. He wasn't even a citizen of the Qing Kingdom. He was Thirteenth Wang, his teacher's favorite disciple, and his most talented younger brother disciple.

"Are you all crazy?" Yun Zhilan muttered to himself. He wondered to himself, since his brother disciple knew their teacher had sent people here, why did he still stand guard at the mountain gate like a ferocious tiger? What exactly was he thinking?

Teacher had you follow Fan Xian, but he doesn't want to you to actually be of help to Fan Xian. Yun Zhilan looked at the bloody man far away at the mountain gate and he thought in great confusion, Doing one thing and being loyal to it to the point of not even caring about the interests of your school? Was this lunacy or was this the public execution of one's nature that the teacher was most appreciative of?

"Without going crazy, nothing is accomplished." The black-clothed man lightly replied to Yun Zhilan's sigh.

Yun Zhilan shook his head and didn't say anything. Although he didn't know why his younger brother disciple would do something like this, as a disciple of the Sword Hut, he respected his younger brother disciple. Thus, he would not expose his secret in front of the black-clothed man.

He didn't know who the black-clothed man was, but all of the troops were commanded by him. After watching from the side for a long time, he had to admit that this black-clothed man was indeed very good at using troops. He took no risks. Everything was fought steadily. His use of the all the resources in the rebel army neared perfection. He didn't give the Qing Imperial Army any chance to counterattack or break through.

Yun Zhilan let most of the aces from the Sword Hut out in full strength and cooperated with Yan Xiaoyi's trusted army. At first, there were great problems with the two working together. If the Sixth Bureau swordsmen or Tiger Guards with powerful martial training on top of the mountain broke through, it would not be easy to completely seal everything.

However, the black-clothed man on the horse seemed to have a pair of godlike eyes that could see every detail on the battlefield. At the beginning of the sudden attack, he had forcefully commanded the Dongyi aces to various unremarkable locations to wait in ambush.

At the beginning, Yun Zhilan did not understand. However, as each attack in the darkness happened and as each attempt to breakthrough on Dong Mountain was viciously crushed by the black-clothed man's actions, Yun Zhilan finally understood. This black-clothed man was certainly not an average person. He was able to lead the entire battle and not let slip any possible loophole.

To be able to use soldiers in such a way, it was impossible to reach such a level without dozens of years of practice on the battlefield. Yun Zhilan was very confused.

Why didn't Yan Xiaoyi lead the troops here personally, and who was this black-clothed man?

He had his guesses, as did many people in the rebel army. This black-clothed man had only joined the rebel army because of two trusted soldiers. He had come with nothing but directed troops like a god and killed with confidence. It made one very admiring.

The black-clothed man did not explain to his subordinates the meaning of stopping the attack. He only looked coldly at the abruptly rising mountain in front. On this mission, leading the rebel army in an attack was only one part of the agreement. If he didn't have the other side temporarily hold this power, the Emperor… It would be very difficult for him to make that decision.

Suddenly, a black cloud floated across the sky and completely hid the bright moon. The area around the mountain gate was pitch black. The black-clothed man sat on his horse without moving. Only the short weapons in cloth bags that were held in the hands of his two subordinates to either side of him that shone with a faint light.

…

…

Fan Xian didn't know how long the cloud would block the moonlight. He silently slid down the mountain. His speed didn't decrease or increase. Terrified, he maintained a steady speed. The precipice facing the sea that was like jade during the day gave off a faint light in the night. It perfectly melded with him.

The knife-like boundary line between the two sides of Dong Mountain that followed the mountain entered directly into the ground beside the ocean. Dongyi aces were waiting in ambush there, so he would not choose that path. He could only go down on the side facing the sea breeze.

In this world, no one could slide down in such an extreme environment, other than Fan Xian. Thus, he was not worried about people on the ocean and the rebel soldiers on land finding his tracks. He remained very nervous because he consistently felth that there was a pair of eyes behind him watching him calmly through the dark night and whistling sea breeze.