When Chu Jiuyue returned to the back garden, she saw Emperor Yu sitting in a pavilion, savoring some pastries.
Emperor Yu had sensed that the several people outside had already left, glanced at the approaching Chu Jiuyue, and thought, this fellow was getting more and more eloquent.
“Xianer has also come, convincing her several brothers to come and plead for that child.”
Emperor Yu sighed lightly, “Ever since Li Junye died, she’s borne a grudge against me, her father emperor. Yet, for the sake of this child, she’s made exceptions again and again.”
Chu Jiuyue spoke softly, “It shows that the little princess has grown up too, knowing that Li Junye’s matter can’t be blamed on Your Majesty.”
Emperor Yu’s eyes drifted off into a trace of reverie, then he smiled gently, as if his mood had brightened a little,
“That child’s wild nature has indeed garnered strong connections; even the Xia Family came to plead for him at the risk of offending Buddha Lord, while the other three Divine General Mansions remained silent, not making a sound.”
Chu Jiuyue silently smiled bitterly in her heart. If the other three families of the Divine General Mansion had also come to plea, it would probably backfire.
After all, if the five great Divine General Mansions pleaded for one person, whose world would this remain?
Not to mention Emperor Yu, any emperor would probably feel fear and apprehension.
“The Xia Family owes that child a favor, so it’s normal for them to come,” Chu Jiuyue spoke in a low voice. If they had not come, it would seem like they were deliberately trying to avoid suspicion. The avoidance, naturally, was of Your Majesty’s suspicion, which wouldn’t appear straightforward.
“That ancestor from the Li Family is indeed able to remain calm, truly a worthy old general who followed the previous emperor to battle, knowing what is right and wrong, what is beneficial and harmful. I wasn’t planning to move against this child at this critical time.”
Emperor Yu tapped his fingers gently on the table, his eyes bearing a smile,
“This Buddha Lord, too hasty, even colluding with demons, too eager to fight for Dao Tong and become a Saint.”
“But in this world, we speak of reason, reason, reason, it’s the reason of the Dao, not the reason of Buddha.”
Chu Jiuyue’s eyes flickered, not surprised; the matter of Buddha Lord colluding with demons was extremely secret, but the emperor had known it already, and she knew it too, not a surprise at all.
After all, where is there paper that can hold fire? Even the light of the Kasaya cannot contain it.
“That child also helped us solve a major concern, a pity, it was done too crudely.”
“However, there are benefits to crudeness too; it’s like setting up a piece for my next move.”
Emperor Yu’s mouth carried a light smile.
Chu Jiuyue remained silent, on this day before the court, she couldn’t be completely sure if His Majesty would forgive that child.
Even though what the child had done was beneficial for them, those ministers weren’t entirely wrong either; the child’s growth rate was simply too fast, fast enough to make one apprehensive!
Fast enough that his threat far exceeded that of Buddha Lord.
Although she was one of the people closest and most trusted by Emperor Yu, she could not say she completely understood the heart of this emperor.
After all, when the previous emperor died, and the princes fought for the throne, this emperor’s ruthlessness and decisiveness were there for all to see, he was certainly not one to be soft-hearted or weak-handed.
After a brief silence, Chu Jiuyue looked at Emperor Yu and finally voiced the doubt in her heart,
“Your Majesty, this old servant has something I do not understand.”
“Speak.”
“Why do you trust that child so much?”
Chu Jiuyue’s gaze became slightly intense.
This was the point she had always found incomprehensible in her heart.
Was it merely over a game of chess by the Willow River?
Or did he feel that the child’s talent was so exceptional, that he might become a Saint in the future and was unlikely to seize the royal power? Explore more at empire
But if one becomes a Saint, it would be difficult to overcome the barrier of Incense Fire.
Moreover, people’s hearts are unpredictable, and the mightier generally prefer to have control in their own hands rather than to pass it to others, relying on the fragile trust alone?
Hearing Chu Jiuyue’s words, the smile on Emperor Yu’s face slightly faded, and without answering, he looked up at the late-season peach blossoms, petals like fallen leaves in the wind, drifting away.
The summer sun scorches hotly, and the spring flowers have already withered early.
“I think I’ll go play a game of chess.”
Emperor Yu said softly.
Chu Jiuyue was taken aback.
But Emperor Yu had already stood up, saying, “You don’t need to follow. Tomorrow at dawn, just say that I’ve been deeply contemplating the Buddha Lord and am feeling unwell.”
Chu Jiuyue’s pupils shrank slightly, but she quickly concealed it and spoke softly, “But Your Majesty, if the disciples of the Buddha Sect are not content and cause trouble again?”
“When I come back, I’ll have an answer.”
Emperor Yu said.
Then his figure vanished in the back garden.
Chu Jiuyue looked at the pavilion that had become empty in an instant, petals falling onto the still-warm stone bench; she stared, slightly lost in thought.
…
…
Gan Tao Palace.
This Daoist Palace, standing atop Heavenly Gate Mountain, majestic and towering, had originally been a modest and quiet place, but becoming too close to the Royal Imperial Palace and receiving too many rewards, golden hues had been added, and it appeared more splendid and dignified.
At the moment, within the calm Secret Hall, lit only by a sliver of light.
Emperor Yu, dressed in a black dragon robe, appeared quietly behind the Daoist seated on the cushion, who was emanating an aura of antiquity, and before him knelt the Dharma Aspects of the Daoist Sect saints.
“I plan on taking a long journey to see that child.”
Emperor Yu said in a low voice.
The Daoist on the cushion slowly opened his eyes and after a long while, spoke softly, “Have you decided then?”
Emperor Yu fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll decide after meeting him.”
The Daoist also fell silent for a moment before speaking, “My lifespan is drawing to a close, not much time left. I had planned to take the Buddha Lord with me before I died, but didn’t expect a child to resolve it first, saving me the wait.”
Emperor Yu nodded slightly.
He had originally planned to wait for the Immortal Gate to open again, for the people from the Jiang family to return, to purge thoroughly. Buddha Lord had already sensed this and thus was racing against time, eight hundred years ago secretly harming his own power to clandestinely cultivate Demon Luo.
Regrettably, he did not perceive it in time to catch Buddha Lord at his weakest.
“He colludes with demons, racing against time, also because he sensed that I had sent a message to the Immortal Gate, to the uncles and old eighteen and others, they were thinking of ways to contact the Saints over there to open the Immortal Gate again. Sadly, inside the secret realm of All Saints a year passes, but it’s ten years in the Mortal World.”