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墨書 Inktalez
After a long while, Night Star finally raised his dark eyes and slowly looked at the three people in front of him. "What about Mo Xi'er?"
"Don't worry, she won't die. But if you keep hesitating, I can't guarantee that she will still be alive," Old General said coldly, casting a disdainful glance at Night Star.
Mo Xi'er was the key to making Night Star compromise; the only way to hit him where it hurt was to touch on his most painful spot. Otherwise, this person was truly uncontrollable.
"Star, just agree to them. Mother doesn't want to see you two turn against each other!" The hand turning the prayer beads suddenly stopped, and his dark pupils glimmered with a hint of moisture. He turned his head, seemingly pleading with him.
The meaning behind the words was clear: if he did not agree, then the Emperor and Old General would turn their hostility towards him. The implication was that anyone who obstructed his path to success must die!
His cold eyes narrowed as he glanced at the plump Old Madam, who looked very tired. He suddenly recalled what Rong Mama had said in the morning about Old Madam not feeling well; perhaps she had exhausted herself making soup for him.
He reined in his icy aura, as if compromising. For the sake of his mother, he had no choice but to do this. "I agree to your terms!" After a pause, he looked at the person seated above him. "However, after the Nation Name is changed, I want to see Mo Xi'er!"
"Good!"
Old General took over his words with a somewhat pleased tone. However, thinking of the request he mentioned afterward, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his lowered eyelids. Hmph! We'll see if she can still survive by then.
The Heavenly Universe Kingdom trembled; a great change was coming. Emperor Li Ye suddenly issued a decree changing the Nation Name to Night. The ministers were taken aback and confused; although many did not object to this matter, the old members of the Li Family were all dissatisfied.
They began to impeach Li Ye in court, questioning why he changed the Nation Name. At this moment, the Prime Minister's faction and General Zhen Guo stood up to support the Emperor's viewpoint.
Thus, regarding the Nation Name issue, the Emperor claimed it was calculated by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau that the surname Li was inauspicious, leading to its change.
At this point, although there were still some members of the Li Family who were dissatisfied, they realized that they could not change an established fact by their own strength and thus gave up.
The night was like water, with sparse stars and a darkening sky. Occasionally, a harsh caw of crows broke the silence as the guards, armed with swords, patrolled the imperial city, diligently ensuring the safety of every corner.
In the Imperial Study, dim candlelight flickered, casting weak light on the uncertain expressions. Sitting on a sandalwood chair was the sullen-faced Li Ye, while the Chancellor stood before him, slightly bent over.
The atmosphere was strange; the room was silent, with no one speaking, only the sound of crackling candle flames could be heard.
After a long pause, the man in the leading position slowly spoke, his voice heavy, "I do not agree to this!"
"Your Majesty, two tigers cannot share one mountain. Although he is your brother, think about it: if he suddenly turns against you, with his status in the Heavenly Universe Kingdom, can you still protect your throne?" The elderly Chancellor patiently advised.
Li Ye's cold face showed a moment of emotion but quickly returned to normal. "He is not capable of shaking my position. If I transfer him now, the Li Family will be restless. How can he help me from afar? Moreover, taking away his Military Authority without reason would likely make him resentful."
After being emperor for several years, he understood the complexities involved. When the Chancellor suggested sending Night Star to Boiling City, his first reaction was to oppose it.
The nation's name had just changed. Although those ministers did not openly express their opinions, they were supported by the Chancellor's faction and feared the might of the seasoned general on the battlefield. For a time, they kept their mouths shut.
If he were to be transferred now, it would likely stir up a storm.
"Making him surrender his Military Authority is not a big deal. As long as we devise a complete plan, he will have no say in it. As for those old subordinates—hmph!"
A cold snort escaped his nostrils, filled with disdain. "If they dare to cause trouble, we will deal with them as rebels; they wouldn't even have the courage to revolt."
The dim candlelight concealed the ruthlessness that flashed in his eyes. He dared not let the emperor notice and merely lowered his eyelids to hide his ambitions. Everything he did was not for the person before him but merely to serve others' interests.
His icy gaze swept over the person standing before him. The Chancellor appeared old and frail yet stood respectfully in front of him without showing any signs of discontent. However, Li Ye's intuition told him that their desires extended far beyond this point—or perhaps...
Thinking of this, a glimmer flashed in his narrow eyes, which narrowed sharply, and his voice was as cold as a sword. "First, you made me change Nation Name, and then you forced me to transfer from Night Star. What exactly is your conspiracy?"
With a thud, the chancellor's knee hit the ground hard, making a crisp sound as he prostrated himself, seemingly expressing loyalty. "Your Majesty, please see clearly; everything I have done is for your benefit!"
"Think about it. The woman you love holds him in her heart, and you are all connected by blood. He is a formidable general who commands respect. Yet, the master he serves diligently is coveting his woman. Would he not harbor resentment?
Now that he knows your background, and you sit comfortably on this throne enjoying Wealth and Glory, while he has to sell his life for you, how can he be willing?"
The chancellor's words struck deep into his heart, causing a slight loosening of his hardened emotions. He was startled to realize he had overlooked this point. The chancellor was right; how could Night Star, such a proud and aloof person, allow himself to serve someone who coveted his woman?
Could it be that he is not as submissive as he appears on the surface, merely reducing his guard to prepare for his own schemes?
Thinking of this, his cold eyes narrowed further, and his long fingers tapped rhythmically on the Sandalwood table, creating an unusually loud sound in the quiet night.
"You are right; I cannot give him a chance to resist. If he truly harbors resentment, I fear for my throne." He stopped tapping the table, and cold words slowly escaped his thin lips.
In the Celestial Court, within the Golden Throne Hall.
Li Ye sat in a Bright Yellow Dragon Robe on the heavily adorned dragon throne, facing above where a flying dragon made of pure gold hovered. Below the dragon was a plaque framed in gold with four neatly written characters: "Zheng Da Guang Ming."
Li Ye leaned comfortably against the armrest, appearing leisurely and content. However, beneath his slightly lowered eyelids, his eyes sparkled with sharp starlight.
The civil and military officials stood cautiously before him. Ever since the change of Nation Name, this ruler's temperament had become even more unpredictable, making everyone wary of provoking him!
His gaze lingered on Night Star, who stood with his hands behind his back. The Black Armor fitted him perfectly without any discord; instead, it added an air of solemnity.
His gaze was cold and hard, and his tone was filled with confusion. "Your Majesty, I do not understand why you suddenly revoked my Military Authority. Have I violated the law of the land?"
"No." The emperor lazily leaned back, comfortably reclining against the throne, appearing indifferent.
Furrowing his brows deeply, his eyes glimmered with intensity as he slightly narrowed them. Since there was no violation, why would the emperor take such action? An explanation was needed.
This statement was neither too deep nor too shallow. He had made significant contributions to the Heavenly Universe Kingdom, and now the emperor had removed his Military Authority without any reason. If he could not provide a suitable explanation, it would be difficult to appease the public.
A flash of light crossed his eyes before he lowered them, wiping away that glimmer. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the dragon chair, and a cold smile replaced his previous expression.
"Why is Night General in such a hurry? I revoked your Military Authority for a reason. The Three Major Tribes have recently allied together and are invading our kingdom. This time, I intend to send Vice Minister of War Liu Qiankun to confront them."
Night Star immediately understood; the emperor intended to hand over his Military Authority to Liu Qiankun, aiming to weaken his own power and prevent him from becoming a threat.
He couldn't help but let out a mocking smile. It seemed the emperor was already wary of him. The irony was that he had exerted himself to protect the kingdom, only to end up in this situation.
Liu Qiankun, who had been named, trembled and then stood up from among the officials, prostrating himself on the ground with an excited voice. "I thank Your Majesty for your trust; I will not fail your expectations and will return victorious."
His sharp eyes swept over Liu Qiankun as he spoke coldly. "Does Your Majesty believe that I lack the ability to deal with the Three Major Tribes?"
"You know well that when I sent you to the Three Major Tribes last time, you secretly met with that minister's daughter and returned severely injured. If you claim you have no ulterior motives, it would be hard to silence public opinion. This time I am sending General Liu to ensure your integrity."
The powerful words echoed in the Golden Throne Hall, leaving no room for doubt. His gaze swept over Liu Qiankun kneeling on the marble floor as his cold voice rang out again. "I hope you do not disappoint my expectations this time and return triumphantly."
"Yes, I obey." His voice carried an indescribable excitement. Did this mean that the emperor was beginning to rely on him?
Thinking about the possibility of winning this battle and the subsequent smooth sailing ahead, his heart felt like a joyful little bird, eager to take flight.
Night Star understood that what Li Ye was doing was meant to intimidate him, but at this point, he could not say much. If he expressed his disagreement, he would be seen as someone with military power plotting something sinister.
"What does Your Majesty intend for me to do?" Since he had relinquished his Military Authority, he certainly would not be allowed to be a leisurely general. Even if he agreed, his subordinates would not. Li Ye knew this well and would naturally arrange other tasks for him.
As expected, Li Ye, lazily leaning on the dragon throne, slowly sat up. "I have decided to send you to the Boiling City border."
"What?" Night Star looked at Li Ye in disbelief. "Boiling City already has guards stationed there; why assign me?"
"Boiling City is the most important border of the Heavenly Universe Kingdom. You understand the significance of this. If it falls, the enemy could directly attack the imperial city. Entrusting such an important place to you is a sign of my trust," Li Ye said with a serious expression.
Feeling a chill in his heart, Night Star wanted to say something more but suddenly stopped when he saw the coldness in the emperor's eyes.
"I understand. I will return to prepare after court and set off immediately," Night Star replied, his voice devoid of warmth.
If there had been any brotherly feelings towards Li Ye before, they all vanished in that moment. He felt that he threatened Li Ye's throne and was being exiled to the frontier.
That place was remote, and without Military Authority, even if he wanted to covet the throne, it would be futile. Moreover, with him gone and Mo Xi'er still in their hands, it would be easy for Li Ye to obtain her. A perfect plan to kill three birds with one stone.
But you underestimate me, Night Star. I do not covet your throne or care about Military Authority. However, if you dare touch my woman, I will not let it go easily. The fierce light in his eyes flashed with anger!
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