The snow gradually lightened, but it did not stop.
The mausoleum was filled with spirit banners and white paper, fluttering in the wind.
The surrounding guards had also surrounded the mausoleum, keeping a tight watch on everything.
Qi Zhen and the ministers stood solemnly in front of the memorial tablet in the center of the mausoleum.
In front of the memorial tablet was a large cauldron. Candles had already been inserted into the cauldron, and the smell of incense lingered in the air. On both sides of the cauldron were many sacrificial items.
The monks sat cross-legged on either side of the memorial tablet, their hands clasped together and holding prayer beads, chanting sutras.
The priest handed an incense stick to Qi Zhen.
He received it with both hands and bowed to the memorial tablet, then personally inserted the incense stick into the cauldron.
"Kneel!" the priest shouted.
The crowd knelt and bowed.
"Kneel!"
Bowed.
"Kneel again."
Bowed again.
"Rise."
The crowd rose.
Zhang Quan handed the memorial tablet to Qi Zhen, who threw it into the cauldron in front of him. Ninety-nine of the tablets were burned to ashes.
Occasionally, a gust of wind blew, scattering a few specks of ash...
Suddenly!
"Ah!" Someone yelled.
Looking over, they saw that Assistant Minister Zhang's neck had been pierced by a sharp arrow, and blood was oozing out.
His eyes were wide open as he clutched his neck. He slowly fell to the ground, dead on the spot.
The surrounding officials were in an uproar, retreating in panic.
"Protect His Majesty."
The guards all rushed forward, protecting Qi Zhen and the officials in the middle.
Amidst the panic, a sudden burst of laughter could be heard.
"Haha."
How eerie.
The monk stood up and walked to the front, revealing a hideous and terrifying face. Half of his face was burned to the point of being extremely disgusting. The monks behind him also stood up one after another, but they took the initiative to retreat behind him. Each and every one of them put away their benevolent looks and revealed their ferocious looks.
The guards pointed their swords at the monks.
Qi Zhen stared at the person in front of him, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Wasn't this the monk who came to deliver the scriptures to him yesterday?
"What? Does His Majesty not recognize me? "the Imperial Duke asked.
This person...
The Imperial Duke's face was disfigured, and one of his eyes was wrinkled by the fire. Furthermore, fifteen years had passed since then.
Qi Zhen Emperor frowned and looked at him carefully. He felt that the man's eyes and brows were indeed somewhat familiar.
Who could it be?
When he thought about it again, he was shocked and took a few steps back.
"You are … Jing Li!" Zhang Xuan's voice trembled in disbelief.
"You've finally guessed it." The Imperial Duke stared at him, "Imperial Brother, how have you been?"
"Is it really you?"
The ministers were also astonished.
Imperial Duke? Wasn't he already dead?
The Imperial Duke's heart was filled with joy when he saw so many pairs of astonished eyes. He raised his head, exposing the scars on his face even more clearly, and the hatred in his eyes intensified.
He said, "It's fortunate that I'm still alive. Otherwise, how could I take revenge on you today!"
Qi Zhen Emperor was still shocked, "What do you want to do?"
"What are you doing? Back then, the seventy plus people in my residence were all thanks to you. What do you think I should do? I want to use your blood as a sacrifice for them. "His tone was fierce, and he wanted nothing more than to kill that man right there and then.
Qi Zhen Emperor pushed aside the guards in front of him and walked forward. Zhang Quan tried to pull him back but was pushed away.
"Jing Li, you should know the truth of what happened back then." There was a hint of warning in his tone.
The Imperial Duke's dry lips curved into a smile, "You killed dozens of people in my residence. The person whose hands are stained with blood … is you. Today is the day you die. Don't worry, I won't let you die alone. Your officials will also accompany you in death."
Huh?
The officials began to panic.
Qi Zhen Emperor said, "Jing Li, We could kill you once back then, and we can kill you again today."
"I'm afraid … Imperial Brother, you don't have the ability to do so."
Just as he finished speaking, a dagger was pressed against his neck from behind.
"Imperial Father, this son has offended you." Jing Xian's voice sounded in his ear.
Seeing this, the guards all pointed their swords at Jing Xian.
Zhang Quan stopped him, "Xian Emperor, you can't do this!"
Qi Zhen Emperor was very calm. He turned to Jing Xian behind him and asked, "Do you know what you are doing?"
"Of course, this son knows." He said, "This son has waited for this day for fifteen years, struggling at death's door. Finally, the day has come."
He gritted his teeth!
The Imperial Duke said, "Jing Xian, kill him and you can avenge your Imperial Mother."
Qi Zhen Emperor suddenly understood. So … Jing Xian was doing this for his Imperial Mother.
"I should have known that you would never let go of the hatred in your heart." "It's not too late for you to think of it now." Jing Xian's scarlet eyes fell on Qi Zhen Emperor's face like a knife. "You accused my uncle of treason and sentenced my Imperial Mother to death. If I didn't feign illness, you might have killed me as well. Tell me, should I forgive you? Or should I kill you? Imperial Father, I am your son!
Son! But you wanted to kill me back then and trapped me in the palace for so many years. Do you know how I survived? Every day and night, struggling at death's door, I waited for this day to seek justice for my Imperial Mother. "
"The truth of the matter back then was not what you think."
"I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false?"
Jing Xian raised the dagger a few inches, the sharp edge almost slit Qi Zhen Emperor's throat.
But now, Qi Zhen Emperor was not afraid. "Jing Xian, We will give you one more chance."
Pfft!
"Imperial Father is a man on the verge of death. Why give this son another chance?"
Just as Jing Xian finished speaking, a group of soldiers rushed out and surrounded Qi Zhen Emperor's bodyguards. Even if they had wings, they wouldn't be able to escape.
"Imperial Father may not know this, but when this son requested to go to Shaanxi, it was not to exterminate bandits. I was there to gather troops. My uncle was Secretary Chen, and many of his former subordinates were in Shaanxi. Look around, they are all from my Chen family!"
They are all from my Chen family!
At this moment, Jing Xian was like a pervert.
Zhang Quan suddenly knelt down and pleaded, "Virtuous Prince, what happened back then was not what you think. Please do not listen to the Imperial Duke's side of the story."
"The truth! The truth is that he ordered my Imperial Mother to be poisoned to death. "
"Your Highness …"
"Shut up!" Jing Xian roared, his mouth close to Qi Zhen Emperor's ear. "Imperial Father, this son can no longer turn back."
"So what if you kill Us?"
"After killing you, I can ascend to the throne." Jing Xian's eyes were filled with boundless desire as he said in a low voice, "I forgot to tell Imperial Father that yesterday, Jing Rong failed to escape from prison and was … punished on the spot by this son's subordinates!"
Ah!
Qi Zhen Emperor was startled and his body suddenly trembled.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
