Mountain Patrol Military Officer-Chapter 1085 - 708: The Imperial Uncle Questions Emperor Wu
"Wait!"
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak of tension and the palace servants were about to leave quickly to deliver the decree, a voice suddenly rang out inside the hall.
The voice was aged yet strong and powerful.
Then, a tall figure strode in from outside the hall.
Dressed in a black python robe that only a prince could wear, he carried himself like an old pine tree, vigorous and powerful. His chin bore three strands of goat beard, grey intermingled, trimmed meticulously, hanging upon his neck. His eyes were clouded, as if veiled in mist, a mysterious aura circulated around him. As he entered, the light and shadow within the hall became illusionary and chaotic.
Even the candlelight before the imperial platform was affected, the light becoming distorted.
Upon the dragon throne, the reigning Emperor Wu saw the newcomer, and his hands gripping the imperial desk slightly loosened. The fury beneath the nine dragon crown subsided, his body straightened, and a few words squeezed out from his throat,
"Has the Imperial Uncle come here for a reason?"
The newcomer slowly made his way to the Taiji Palace, seemingly walking leisurely, yet in a flash, he was before the imperial platform. His gaze fell on Lü Tianji, who was kneeling with half his face smeared with fresh blood, and then on the scattered scraps of paper on the imperial desk. He raised his hand, beckoning towards the imperial desk.
The paper fragments scattered like snowflakes flew towards this person, congregating together, and the memorial was restored to its original state, appearing anew in the newcomer’s hand.
He swept his gaze over the memorial in his hand, his voice low,
"If I didn’t come to stop Your Majesty, you might be about to make a wrong step, leaving this old minister no choice but to show up."
Holding the memorial of Helian Mountain, he raised it up, casting his gaze towards Emperor Wu, the face of majesty, undeterred by the authority of the heavenly being, speaking straightforwardly,
"Just because of this, Your Majesty intends to punish Helian Mountain?"
Beneath the Nine Dragon Pearl Crown, Emperor Wu’s eyelids narrowed, his face dark with anger, "Is the Imperial Uncle accusing me of wrongdoing?"
The atmosphere in the hall was perplexing, the palace servants knelt on the ground, with their buttocks high, wishing their heads could burrow into the floor; such words were not meant for them to hear.
The newcomer was Emperor Wu’s royal uncle, Xiao Xuanze, the old imperial uncle who lived for more than eight hundred years, a martial arts master of the divine, controller of the Sky Patrol Department’s six paths, guardian of the Dragon Court, and the stabilizing force of Daqian’s royal fate.
This old imperial uncle now openly questioned the Emperor, and if this spread, their heads might have to relocate.
"I wouldn’t dare!" the old imperial uncle spoke softly, and abruptly shifted his tone,
"Yet regarding Helian National Master’s issue, Your Majesty should not be hasty in judgment; Helian Mountain has served for three reigns, establishing great merits for Daqian, his loyalty goes without saying. The situation at Jiannan Road is uniquely complex, and Your Majesty, high in the temple, cannot act simply on fate to de-throne, for what’s written in this letter is undoubted."
At this, the old imperial uncle steadied his hand, his voice grew louder,
"I urge Your Majesty to think thrice, lest you chill hearts."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu, on the dragon throne, slapped the desk and stood abruptly.
This sound startled all those kneeling, a shiver running through their bodies in fear.
"Even the Imperial Uncle intends to oppose me now?" Emperor Wu moved past the imperial desk with a kick, sending the servant kneeling beside it sprawling, his gaze burning with imperial anger directly towards the ancient-calm-faced Imperial Uncle.
Xiao Xuanze lowered his hand, his eyes as profound as a deep pool, unfathomable, "Your Majesty, as the Emperor of Daqian, fires burn across the lands, you must know what to do and what not to do. Imperial intrigue holds no effect on the battlefield, it only hastens the empire’s demise. Daqian has stood for fifteen hundred years, weathering six dynasties’ storms, now amidst turbulent winds. If you make a wrong step, it may be irreparable, pouring forth uncontrollably, you must be cautious, not ruled by emotion."
"At this time, let go of the past, discard barriers, unite all usable forces, only then can stability be achieved."
Upon such direct confrontation by Xiao Xuanze, Emperor Wu’s face flickered rapidly with emotions, attempting to suppress the surge within him, yet unable to fully hide a flicker of murderous will.
"Is the Imperial Uncle accusing me of playing power games, suggesting I let Jiannan Road’s people kill my sent capital officials, defy my decree, misbehave, and refuse to report, which equates to slapping my face?"
"Should I, the Emperor of Daqian, become a laughingstock to all, resulting in imitation from top to bottom, where is the court’s majesty? Who in the world would heed my words?"
His angry reprimand carried a tinge of hysteria.
Meanwhile, terrified by this atmosphere, the palace servants kowtowed with fright,
"Your Majesty calm down."
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
"..."
Amid such alarming tension, the Imperial Uncle, faced with Emperor Wu’s outburst, neither challenged nor feared, remaining in a suffocating calmness.
He spoke still,
"Has Your Majesty’s anger been spent?"
"Old Minister still avows, Your Majesty, now is the time to have a heart for victory, unite all potential forces, look across the world, where only you are the heroic ruler, and let the court truly move. All problems will then be resolved, nothing can obstruct an emperor with ambition for all under heaven."
"The royal decree for Shu, don’t delay anymore, or it will truly be too late."
The Old Imperial Uncle finished with a long tone, laced with helplessness.
After speaking, his form vanished dream-like amid the distorted light within the hall.
Only the sound of "Your Majesty calm down" from kowtowing remained in the hall.
Emperor Wu watched this Imperial Uncle’s departure, his heavy breaths slowly calming, then he laughed in anger, an eerie laugh that sent chills through the body.
"In the end, I am to bow my head, hahahaha."
The laughter echoed through the swaying candlelight of the Taiji Palace, eventually fading away, the hall returning to silence.
Before the imperial desk, the chief companion rose from afar, prostrating, seeing the Emperor’s expression calming down, he appeared weary, two steps back to the dragon throne, hurriedly got up to assist.
While assisting Emperor Wu’s arm, he gingerly whispered:
"Your.. Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body, the decree.. should it still be delivered?"
Back on the dragon throne, beneath the Nine Dragon Pearl Crown, Emperor Wu’s eyes were traced with hints of blood, his gaze turned to the chief companion, dauntingly, instantly terrifying this close attendant to kneel,
"A slave deserves death, please Your Majesty punish."
As he spoke, "pang""pang" he kowtowed again.
To serve an emperor is like serving a tiger; even as the close chief companion, just now he saw the murderous intent in the Emperor’s eyes, feeling death was imminent.
While the terrified chief eunuch was consumed by fear, Emperor Wu’s voice sounded near his ear,
"Forget it."
"This lonely one is exhausted today, wishes to see no one."
"Yes, yes, then let me assist Your Majesty in rest. All you, are you dead..." Feng Daban immediately felt revived, promptly stood to support, then turned and angrily yelled at the palace servants kneeling below.
"No need, just prepare a decree for me!"
