The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 777 - 558: Appeasement

Chapter 777: Chapter 558: Appeasement

Although it is late at night at this moment, in the depths of the Imperial Palace, the winds are stirring.

No one would have expected that at this time, the Emperor within Yongchang Hall would suddenly issue a decree, stopping court sessions for three days, ordering all officials to stay at home, and forbidding them to leave the Capital without permission. Moreover, at this moment, the Emperor summons all the Jinyi Guards. These two actions have made everyone smell the scent of an impending storm.

But no one can guess what exactly the reason is.

Only Prince Xin knows a little bit in his heart at this moment.

"Prince Xin, His Majesty has commanded you to enter Yongchang Hall to appear before him."

Golden Eyes Guard Wang Ning appears on the steps at this moment again. Her pale gold eyes look at Prince Xin with an expressionless face.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Prince Xin trembles all over, then responds before slowly rising from the ground.

He feels cold in his hands and feet, his body weak, as if his soul is about to drift away.

Looking at the brightly lit Yongchang Hall, Prince Xin’s expression fluctuates unpredictably. He feels that if he enters today, he most likely won’t come out. Perhaps he will be accused of patricide and rebellion, or he could be given a cup of poisoned wine and die instantly, or he might just vanish without a trace, with no sign of Prince Xin left in the world henceforth?

"Prince Xin, do not delay the hour," Golden Eyes Guard Wang Ning reminds with a hurried voice.

Prince Xin suddenly comes back to his senses, takes a deep breath and says, "I apologize for my loss of composure just now."

He can’t afford to indulge in wild thoughts and immediately steps up the White Jade steps.

At this moment, Prince Xin feels that these White Jade steps seem not as long as he imagined, possibly even a bit short. If he could just keep walking, perhaps that would be happiness. Why face such earth-shattering matters?

But as he continues, his steps become increasingly resolute.

Perhaps he has accepted his fate, or perhaps he knows he cannot escape, making him somewhat ready to face death.

"Prince Xin, please follow me."

Golden Eyes Guard Wang Ning gestured slightly and then led the way, guiding Prince Xin towards the grand hall.

"Yongchang Hall."

Prince Xin slightly raises his head to look at this grand hall. He remembers that when he was a Prince, he was responsible for overseeing its construction.

The name Yongchang is derived from the mandate of heaven, meaning everlasting prosperity.

Upon reaching the entrance of the hall, Prince Xin is stopped by two other Golden Eyes Guards. He understands the reason and raises his hand, allowing them to search him to ensure he carries no weapons, poison, or even unknown accessories... even though he is a Prince, he is no exception.

After the body search, Prince Xin is then allowed to pass.

As the two of them step inside the grand hall.

On the golden-bricked floor of the spacious and bright hall, their footsteps echo clearly. Looking around, the palace is filled with curling sandalwood smoke, floating divine beasts, and extraordinary grandeur. On the main seat, there is a high platform with a carved Gold Dragon chair, beside which lies a black-furred, gold-striped fierce tiger.

It is a spirit monster that has cultivated into a fierce tiger and was titled Lord Black Mountain by the current Emperor, with exceptional strength.

"Your son greets Father Emperor."

Prince Xin takes two steps forward, immediately kneels down, dares not glimpse at the Dragon chair on the high platform, focuses heavily on maintaining decorum, and lowers his body to say.

"Rise, Rui’er." A deep and grand voice echoes through the hall.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

At this moment, Prince Xin stands up. He glances over with a quick sidelong look but only sees the Lord Black Mountain lying beside the Dragon chair, without seeing Father Emperor sitting there.

At this moment, a tall and burly man wearing Black and Gold Gun Clothes slowly emerges from the direction of the rear hall. With just his appearance, the surrounding air seems to instantly become heavy, the aura of the Emperor spreading, making people’s hearts shrink unconsciously; even before seeing him, it feels like a True Dragon is constantly approaching.

The gap in life level truly makes people shiver.

This feeling... is exactly the same as that mysterious Taoyi Taoist.

Prince Xin’s heart chills, and he can’t help but take several deep breaths to avoid fainting from lack of air.

"Rui’er, did you see that letter?" inquires the current Emperor.

"I saw it, Your Majesty. I personally saw the Daoist write it, but I lack scholarly knowledge and could not understand the characters on it," Prince Xin felt his scalp tingle, yet he answered honestly.

"Did you see that person?" the Emperor asks again.

Prince Xin replies, "I did."

"Tell me about it," the Emperor’s voice becomes slightly gentler, then slowly moves towards the high platform.

Prince Xin thinks for a moment and says, "Tonight at 7 p.m., I was still inside the Prince Mansion in Xinzhou City, at Yaoxing Tower, hosting a banquet, imitating forebears seeking immortals and Dao. The banquet was halfway through when my effort to seek the Dao failed, and I inadvertently voiced a poem Father Emperor once chanted: ’How much sorrow can there be, like a river of spring water flowing east...’ As soon as the verse was finished, a Daoist suddenly appeared outside the window of Yaoxing Tower."

"That Daoist claimed to be Taoyi, treading on red Xiangyun, resembling an Immortal..."

He did not hide anything but recounted what he saw and heard today one by one.

Seated at the Dragon chair at this moment, the Emperor’s face remains calm, quietly listening to Prince Xin’s account without interrupting.

Soon,

Prince Xin finished telling the story, and then he ceases to speak, just standing in place with a slightly bowed head, motionless.

"So, is the Taoyi Taoist already in the Capital?" After a long pause, the Emperor finally spoke.

"Father Emperor, the Taoyi Taoist is currently in the Capital," Prince Xin replied.

"Where is the Jinyi Guard?" Suddenly, the Emperor shouted.

Immediately.

Outside the grand hall, many Jinyi Guards appeared abruptly, their hands resting on the swords at their waists, kneeling on one knee without saying a word, only waiting for the Emperor’s command.

"Is there any news on the Taoyi Taoist?" the Emperor inquired.

"Your Majesty, we received a secret report from Liu Lingyun, the Jinyi Guard Commander in the Capital, stating that the Taoyi Taoist is on a flower boat on Xiang Lake," replied one of the Jinyi Guard commanders, named Lu Bin, a sturdily built middle-aged man, with ordinary looks but eyes as bright as a torch, glowing in the night.

The Emperor said, "Find the Taoyi Taoist and invite him to the Imperial Palace. I wish to meet him. Lu Bin, you are to handle this personally, and you may take the imperial route."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Commander Lu Bin obeyed, then quickly led a squad of Jinyi Guards away.

Their movements were swift, more agile than leopards, disappearing within moments as if their figures had completely blended into the darkness, leaving the Imperial Palace in no time. Horses were already prepared, so when they appeared, they mounted and rode straight towards the Capital along the imperial route.

"Listen carefully, the Emperor wishes to invite the Taoyi Taoist to the palace, so be sharp and don’t mess up the task. Also, remember, the strength of the Taoyi Taoist is extremely terrifying; the previous commanders who were responsible for surveillance got injured without even having a chance to act. You better weigh your own capabilities. Let’s go!"

Commander Lu Bin shouted before riding forward. Though suppressing his voice, the Jinyi Guards, sharp-eyed and keen-eared, grasped the meaning immediately.

The Jinyi Guards promptly followed.

They had imperial permission, heading straight along the imperial route.

Just their appearance startled many.

There had never been an instance of Jinyi Guards taking the imperial route, as they are hidden guards, acting secretly and rarely doing things so openly.

With the departure of the Jinyi Guards.

Inside Yongchang Hall.

The Emperor continued to gaze intensely at Prince Xin, speaking once more: "Rui’er, you must be hiding something from your father. Shortly, the Taoyi Taoist will enter the palace; are you planning to say it now, or later?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Xin felt his heart pounding. He gritted his teeth, knelt down, and said: "Father Emperor, the Taoyi Taoist once said he is not of this realm and claimed that the author of ’Lady Yu’ is equally so... I believe this Taoist speaks deceitful words to shake the foundation of the nation. Your son boldly advises, hoping Father Emperor will destroy this demon to prevent unforeseen disaster."

With that, he heavily bowed his head to the ground.

This was the only method he could think of, to kill the Taoyi Taoist, then treat the incident as if it never happened, as if everything were yesterday.

Having spoken, Prince Xin was prepared to be killed on the spot, determined not to die ignorant, at least confirming the truth of the matter.

However, the Emperor on the dragon throne did not rage; instead, he calmly and slowly spoke: "The Taoyi Taoist is correct. He is not of this realm but a cultivator who crossed between worlds, hence his ability to Cloud Ride and Call the Wind and Summon the Rain. However, this is nothing new; throughout history, there have been many extraordinary talents emerging in every dynasty and era, and some of them could certainly be from other realms."

"Father..." Prince Xin raised his head in shock, looking at the Emperor on the dragon throne.

His father’s attitude was unexpected; not only was he very calm, but he effortlessly acknowledged the matter.

At this moment, the Emperor slowly descended from the high platform, his golden vertical pupils, like dragon eyes, gazing afar: "Rui’er, I know what you fear in your heart, and I understand your grievances. When I ascended the throne, you were a Prince, yet unchurched, and I made you Prince Xin, far from the Capital. Do you know why?"

"I do not know," Prince Xin trembled slightly as he replied.

The Emperor said, "Do you know how many gods this world has?"

Prince Xin answered, "Villages have land gods, mountains have Mountain Gods, rivers have River Gods, clans have ancestral shrines... the Incense Fire Gods are numerous, some ordained by the court, others with spirit monster shrines built clandestinely, but mostly are historical remnants, some controllable, others entrenched on mountains as kings, difficult to govern."

"Correct, your insight pleases me."

At that moment, the Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his dragon eyes like a torch, seemingly surveying the world: "There are indeed too many Incense Fire Gods, Rui’er. Do you think this world belongs to the Emperor or to the Incense Fire Gods? Can a single imperial decree command all the Gods and Ghosts? Across twelve dynasties, do you think the National Guardian Generals even regard the Emperor? In my view, the world is overcrowded with Gods and Ghosts, it is time to bring change, to destroy mountains and temples today."

Immediately, Prince Xin broke out in cold sweat; only his father dared utter such words. Which Prince in the world would dare discuss such matters?

It is said that three feet above the head there are Divine beings.

If this talk were spread, he feared Gods would visit in dreams at night, seizing souls.

"Rui’er, you are my blood, exceptionally wise. If I fail in my life’s endeavor, I will surely be held accountable. Naming you Prince Xin and removing you from the Capital is the only way I know to protect you." With a somber sigh, the Emperor then looked at Prince Xin.

"If I didn’t have such an ambitious goal to reshape heaven and earth, how good father and son we would be. Why should father and son be suspicious of each other today? Rui’er, do you know why I named you Prince Xin?"

"I do not know," Prince Xin had tears streaming down his face, quietly sobbing.

The Emperor said, "To keep one’s word, that is faith."

"Father!"

Prince Xin could no longer hold back, kneeling, weeping aloud.

He felt he misunderstood his father. His father did value him, but was plotting deeply, seeking to compete against the Incense Fire Gods for dominion, fearing to embroil him, thus sending him away from the Capital.

Not only did he fail to understand, he even indulged in pleasure daily, pursued Immortal ways, decadent self-abandonment, truly foolish.

The Emperor walked to his side, patted his shoulder: "The Crown Prince is often ill, you must encourage him."