Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 169: Letter from Xiqi

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Letter from Xiqi

Then Nezha also brought the White-faced Ape into the little world, keeping it in the mountains first.

He said, "There are wolves in these mountains, be careful not to be eaten by them."

The White-faced Ape hadn’t breathed the fresh mountain air for a long time, and was overjoyed, jumping up and down among the ancient trees and vines. When it was enough, it jumped back in front of Nezha and bowed like a human.

It said, "I’ve been without freedom for decades, seeing the daylight today. If I’m eaten by wolves, it shows my fate is destined to end."

"So you can speak after all."

"I’ve been around humans for decades, learned a bit." The White-faced Ape scratched its ears, "The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi here is so dense."

Nezha saw that this ape had extraordinary bone structure, possessing God Absorption Realm cultivation but not proficient in any Daoist Skill. So, Nezha had it worship him as a master, teaching it the Five Elements Style Technique.

Then he told it that the people living in the town at the foot of the mountain were all his family and instructed it not to disturb them. He promised that when the opportunity arose in the future, it would be released back into the world.

The White-faced Ape bowed down again, expressing gratitude with its mouth.

Next morning.

King Zhou asked Daji, "Did you gain anything from learning the zither with Bo Yikao yesterday?"

Daji, who had been delighting with Bo Yikao on the Star Pick Building the day before, blushed upon hearing King Zhou’s question and, recalling Bo Yikao, was still savoring the memory.

She respectfully replied, "Bo Yikao focused earnestly on teaching the zither. Though I am dull, I made considerable progress after a full evening of learning compared to before."

King Zhou was pleased upon hearing this and ordered Bo Yikao to continue teaching Daji the zither skills. In the court, he summoned Bo Yikao to the hall, wanting to see what skills this singing and dancing White-faced Ape had.

At this question, Bo Yikao put on a long face. He had been greatly disturbed the previous day when he returned to find the White-faced Ape had knocked out the guard and escaped after several baths, almost fainting from the shock.

But as King Zhou asked, he had to answer honestly. King Zhou had been in high spirits, but after hearing this, his face darkened like ink.

He asked coldly, "Bo Yikao, do you know the punishment for deceiving the king?"

Bo Yikao, hearing this, fell to the ground, trembling like a sieve.

Seeing her lover in such a state, Daji felt a twinge of reluctance. Still mindful of Bo Yikao’s goodness, she blew a bit of Demon Qi toward King Zhou, causing a dazed fragrance in his eyes.

The emperor turned his head and saw Daji’s alluring beauty, sparkling and enchanting, felt his heart melting at once.

Daji said, "The White-faced Ape is just a beast. If it runs away, it can be caught. Bo Yikao willingly offered tribute from a thousand miles away, showing his loyalty. He wishes for his father to return to the country, demonstrating his filial piety. How can such a loyal and filial person be penalized because of an ape?"

"My beloved wife’s words are wise. Since Bo Yikao is blameless, both loyal and filial, once he has passed all his skills to my beloved concubine, his father and he can both return home."

On one side, Bi Gan listened to these words and was even more astonished.

Originally, whenever Daji spoke, it always involved shocking and sinful schemes, yet now, why did she seem to share his own perspective?

But soon, he also heard King Zhou say Bo Yikao was teaching Daji music, and looked up to see Daji gazing at Bo Yikao.

Bi Gan, with his perceptive heart, instantly sensed something fishy, shocked and dismayed, but helpless without evidence. He dared not directly report but turned his head to look at Bo Yikao, who was bowing and giving thanks, feeling secretly resentful.

He thought, I remember old ties with Marquis Xibo, and I believe your filial piety moved Heaven and Earth, advocating for you with the emperor, praising you to the utmost. Yet, how dare you defame the emperor?

Bi Gan looked up at Daji, who happened to catch the hatred in his eyes, startling her.

She thought everyone in Zhaoge City knew of Bi Gan’s wisdom. Could he have discovered something? This is not good.

Who knew that Nezha’s fire at Xuanyuan Tomb originally spared Bi Gan from this trouble, yet unbeknownst to him, the Heavenly Dao would move on its own, steering events back to their course. It was also due to his intervention in saving Bo Yikao that Daji bore a grudge against Bi Gan again.

The people in the hall all harbored their own ulterior motives. Once Bo Yikao retreated, the banquet concluded, Daji returned to the harem to rest, leaving only King Zhou and his two favored ministers remaining in the court.

King Zhou, seeing the dancers drenched in fragrant sweat, became entranced. Wanting to discard his robes to join the dance with the dancers on the court, but noticing Fei Zhong and You Hun still present, felt displeased, and so asked, "The banquet has ended, why do the two of you remain here?"

King Zhou, occasionally clear-minded, also exhibited shrewdness. He well understood that these two were usually the most perceptive. This time, staying behind meant they must have something to report, hence the question.

You Hun stepped forward and spoke, "To report to Your Majesty, I often visit Ji Chang in Youli and deeply understand that while Ji Chang appears loyal externally, secretly he is deceitful, misleading the ministers with sharp words, pretending kindness on the surface. Inwardly, he is not benevolent. I fear releasing Ji Chang back to his country may result in an alliance with the Southeast to raise troops and disrupt the realm. By then, the army would suffer from the hardship of bearing arms, the generals burdened by wearing armor, the people panicked, and the capital chaotic. It is like releasing a dragon into the sea, a tiger back into the mountain, inevitably leading to regret."

King Zhou, hearing this, also felt it reasonable, frowning slightly, and said, "But I’ve already issued the imperial decree, and all the ministers know about it. How can there be any reason to go back on it?"

You Hun hesitated, finding no solution. Meanwhile, Fei Zhong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the reason for releasing Ji Chang was only because of Bo Yikao’s filial piety. However, I heard that Bo Yikao, appearing loyal externally, is truly as cunning as Ji Chang, extremely deceitful. I fear Your Majesty and the Empress have been fooled by him."

"All nonsense." King Zhou waved his hand. "If either of you has a strategy, present it at once, or retreat yourselves if not, and don’t disturb my enjoyment of the song and dance."

Both men below knew that King Zhou was now again letting his little mind control his big one. Fei Zhong said, "This Bo Yikao is deeply deceitful and wicked, so how about hosting a banquet tomorrow, invite him over, and intoxicate him with wine. Then we can test his loyalty. If he shows any signs of rebellion, chop him into minced meat to eliminate future problems!"

King Zhou nodded as he listened.

You Hun added, "In recent years, I’ve been close friends with Ji Chang at Youli. However, I’m well aware that personal relations cannot outweigh state affairs. This man holds himself in high regard, often boasting of his understanding of past and future. Testing him is simple: once Bo Yikao is chopped into meat paste, make them into meatballs and serve them to him. If he refuses to eat, then he truly possesses great ability and must not be released, but executed publicly. If he eats it, then he is merely a false reputation seeker, not worth worrying about."

"Your strategies are indeed wonderful!" King Zhou clapped his hands, overjoyed.

Only after exchanging glances, did Fei Zhong and You Hun retreat together, leaving the emperor alone to enjoy song and dance with the ten beauties presented from Xiqi.

Why would Fei Zhong and You Hun trouble themselves against Ji Chang and Bo Yikao with no benefit for them?

It was because each had received two letters from Xiqi, bearing gifts worth ten thousand taels of gold, requesting them to find every possible way to prevent Bo Yikao from returning to his country.

Moreover, upon arriving at Zhaoge, Bo Yikao hadn’t first paid his respects to them, nor did they communicate with each other. Devious at heart, they naturally understood each other, each offering their own deceit, laying another trap for Bo Yikao.

However, Bo Yikao didn’t have time to think about these things now.

He was terribly suffering.

Although it’s true that many in this world would willingly bear such suffering for him. I admit, I would too.

For tonight, Daji summoned him again to the Star Pick Building.

With stars glittering above and overlooking Zhaoge, lights all around.

This was originally where King Zhou held his banquets, but at this moment, Daji had placed a soft bed in the middle of the hall, without even a zither, pulling him directly into it.

The person beneath him was the Empress of Zhaoge, the mother of all people, yet she happened to be endlessly charming and alluring.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢