The emperor retracted his gaze from Su Zimo and Just Now, the pressure disappeared instantly, as though everything was just an illusion.
"Xue 'er, come here."
The emperor turned his head slightly and looked at Ji Yaoxue, smiling as he beckoned with his hand.
Ji Yaoxue frowned slightly and did not move.
The emperor asked with a smile, "Why? You don't want to eat with me?"
At that moment, the emperor had a benevolent expression as he looked at Ji Yaoxue with a doting gaze – he looked like a slightly older father.
Even though he could not sense any killing intent or hostility from the emperor, Su Zimo's spirit perception told him that this person was extremely dangerous!
Furthermore, he was on the brink of death!
Ji Yaoxue had a hesitant expression. After a moment of hesitation, she walked over slowly and sat beside the emperor.
"Father, Mr. Mo is …"
"Let's eat."
Before Ji Yaoxue could finish, she was interrupted by the emperor. His tone was calm but no one could refute him.
With that said, the emperor ate the dishes on the table as though no one was around. He ate elegantly and slowly without making any sound.
At that moment, even Ji Yaoxue could not figure out the emperor's thoughts.
Ji Yaoxue glanced at Su Zimo and felt uneasy. Even though she was eating symbolically, it tasted like wax.
Su Zimo seemed to have become an extra person in the Rain Admiration Pavilion.
It was as though the emperor had forgotten about him and left him on the spot.
Su Zimo smiled indifferently and was not annoyed. With one hand behind his back, he strolled to the side and looked at the beautiful scenery outside in a relaxed manner.
Time passed bit by bit and the Rain Admiration Pavilion was silent. Su Zimo seemed to be completely immersed in the beautiful scenery and had forgotten everything around him.
At that moment, Bai Yuhan nodded secretly with a look of admiration.
Not everyone could maintain such a calm demeanor in front of the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
A long time later, the emperor wiped his mouth as a shuddering cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Ji Yaoxue put down his bowl and chopsticks. He coughed lightly and said, "Let's go."
Ji Yaoxue's words were partly to summon the maids to remove the dishes, and partly to remind Su Zimo.
Su Zimo gradually regained his senses and returned to a spot not far away from the emperor.
"Should I call you Mr. Mo, or … Su Zimo?"
The emperor suddenly spoke and asked straightforwardly without any concealment!
Su Zimo said, "Either one is fine. It all depends on your majesty."
Bang!
The emperor's palm suddenly slammed down heavily on the table with a loud bang.
Ji Yaoxue was shocked.
"Su Zimo, do you know your crime?!"
The emperor slammed the table and stood up. Suddenly, his aura changed and he was like an enraged lion, exuding a massive might that swept over like a tidal wave!
These words were like a great bell, deafening to the ears.
Su Zimo's figure swayed.
Under the emperor's might, Su Zimo felt as though he was suffocating and could be beheaded at any moment!
"Father …" Ji Yaoxue's expression changed as she stood up hurriedly.
"Don't interfere in this matter!"
Without even looking, the emperor waved his sleeves gently and sent Ji Yaoxue to the side.
It was unknown what sort of Dharmic art was used but Ji Yaoxue could not move at all. However, she was agitated and her eyes were filled with endless worry, unable to speak.
Su Zimo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were sparkling and shimmering!
"What crime have I committed?" Su Zimo asked instead.
The emperor's gaze was dark as he said slowly, "You hid your identity in front of me. That's a grave crime of deceiving the emperor and deserves to be beheaded!"
Everyone in the Rain Admiration Pavilion could sense the emperor's killing intent!
However, Su Zimo's expression was unchanged as he replied calmly, "Your Majesty has never asked me about the matter of hiding. How can you talk about that?"
"Nonsense!"
The emperor shouted, "Back then at Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop, I asked you personally which sect you were from and who your master was. How dare you quibble now that things have come to this!"
Su Zimo replied indifferently, "Your Majesty, you were incognito the other day. How would I know your identity? There's naturally no way to talk about the matter of hiding. "
The emperor frowned slightly.
The meaning behind Su Zimo's words was simple – the source of this matter was not him, but the emperor.
Right from the beginning, the emperor had never asked about Su Zimo's background in his capacity as the emperor. As such, the latter naturally could not be considered as deceiving the emperor.
No matter what, Su Zimo had saved Ji Yaoxue's life before.
Furthermore, Su Zimo's other identity was Mr. Mo who was famous throughout the capital.
Logically speaking, the emperor should not have killed Su Zimo.
However, the moment the emperor found out about the truth, he felt a sense of shame as though he had been deceived.
He was indignant about letting Su Zimo leave just like that!
He wanted to kill him but at the same time, he did not want to kill him!
The emperor's inner conflict was at its peak!
Therefore, if he wanted to kill Su Zimo, he had to find a reason that could convince him.
Right from the start, when Su Zimo stepped into the Rain Admiration Pavilion, his spirit perception had sensed an intense danger. That was because the emperor had already intended to kill him and was merely lacking a reason.
Therefore, the emperor left Su Zimo where he was.
As long as Su Zimo did not deal with it properly, the emperor would strike immediately and kill him on the spot!
Under normal circumstances, someone at Su Zimo's age would be the most impetuous. Coupled with the fact that he was the number one Weapon Refinement Master of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he would definitely be enraged to be ignored as such. He would either step forward to reason with the emperor or leave in a huff.
Regardless of the choice, Su Zimo would definitely die.
However, he was neither angry nor frustrated. He walked to the side calmly and looked at the scenery outside.
Helpless, the emperor could only make things difficult for him once more and pin down the crime of deceiving the emperor as a reason to kill Su Zimo.
However, Su Zimo resolved it with just a few words, leaving the emperor with no reason to refute.
Although it seemed like a verbal exchange, there were sabers and swords behind it. Any mistake and Su Zimo would stain the Rain Admiration Pavilion with blood!
Ji Yaoxue, who had seen through everything, heaved a sigh of relief and her expression relaxed.
"Very good."
The emperor nodded expressionlessly. His tone was cold and one could not tell if it was praise or mockery.
"Let's put aside the matter of deceiving the emperor first."
The emperor's gaze was cold as he asked coldly, "Do you admit to killing the Imperial army guard, Dai Xu?"
Actually, as long as this matter was investigated carefully, Su Zimo would definitely be implicated.
Back then, Dai Xu caught sight of Su Zimo's figure outside the Rain Admiration Pavilion and followed him. That night, he died – it was obvious who the murderer was.
Su Zimo pondered for a moment before nodding. "I was the one who killed him."
"Alright!"
The emperor shouted with a cold glint in his eyes, "Since you admit to it, there's nothing more to say. A life for a life!"
Su Zimo raised his head and looked at the emperor, asking instead, "Dai Xu wanted to kill me. Why can't I kill him?"
"As long as someone wants to kill you, you'll retaliate?" The emperor raised his brow.
"Yes!" Su Zimo did not hesitate.
Suddenly, the emperor narrowed his eyes and asked slowly, "If I want to kill you now, what do you want?"
When she heard that question, Ji Yaoxue shuddered.
That was an unsolvable question!
No matter how Su Zimo answered, it would be wrong!
If Su Zimo showed weakness and did not dare to retaliate, he would have to renege on what he said Just Now and the emperor could go with the flow to kill him.
If Su Zimo's attitude was firm and he dared to retaliate and kill the emperor, that would be regicide and he would definitely die!
It was an unsolvable situation.
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