Volume 1, Chapter 8: The Tragic Fate of Beauties, the Heartless Emperor

The youth in vigorous attire saw the newcomer, and his arrogant demeanor vanished instantly; he turned to flee.

"Rebellious disciple, come back here!"

The newcomer was an old man in a green robe. Following his angry shout, the youth wilted immediately and trudged back, crestfallen.

With a thud, the youth knelt before the old man. "Master, I was wrong!"

"You scoundrel! Get back to the Imperial Observatory and lock yourself in the Star-Gazing Tower to reflect on your transgressions!"

The youth let out a mournful wail and slunk away.

On the Moon-Gazing Pavilion, the crowd erupted in chaos upon seeing the old man.

"The Chief Astronomer is here! The fun is over! Better run!"

"I’m leaving too. If he reports me to my father, I’m done for!"

The young masters and ladies on the pavilion cursed under their breath and dispersed.

Ye Luoxin was equally surprised to see him. She offered a respectful bow, "So it is Chief Astronomer Ge. My greetings to you."

The old man glanced toward the Moon-Gazing Pavilion and returned the gesture lightly. "May the Sixth Princess be well."

With a wave of his hand, several disciples of the Imperial Observatory stepped forward, lifted Ye Chen, and departed.

Before leaving, the old man looked at Ye Luoxin once more. "I shall report this matter to His Majesty exactly as it occurred!"

On the top floor of the Moon-Gazing Pavilion, only Ye Luoxin remained. She stared with gritted teeth at the direction in which Ye Chen had been carried away, unwilling to leave for a long time.

A short while later, in the prince’s bedchamber, the green-robed old man, Ge Hong, was taking Ye Chen’s pulse while Du Lingfu paced anxiously back and forth.

Although Ye Chen felt as if he were dying, he comforted Du Lingfu, "Teacher, I am fine!"

But Du Lingfu replied, "It is best if you are fine. If something were to happen to you, I would have no reason to live!"

Ge Hong was shocked and withdrew his hand. "Great Scholar Du, what do you mean by that?"

Du Lingfu closed the bedroom door and recounted how he had become a Saint of Confucianism. Finally, looking at Ye Chen with intense emotion, he said, "If not for Your Highness, Great Yu would never have had a Saint of Confucianism in me!"

Ge Hong was truly stunned. He had never imagined that Ye Chen could utter such profound Confucian truths that shook the ages. As if struck by a sudden realization, he spoke slowly.

"It is a pity. With such a heaven-sent talent as Your Highness, I am unable to extend your life. I am deeply ashamed."

Hearing this, Ye Chen felt a sense of relief. "It matters not. I shall live day by day. For the time I have left, I will simply seek joy and freedom."

Du Lingfu was unwilling to give up. "Perhaps the Chief Astronomer could invite the former Chief Astronomer? After all, the Ninth Prince is his grandson!"

Ye Chen perked up upon hearing this. He had not expected the previous Chief Astronomer to be the father of Emperor Qingli!

Ge Hong laughed bitterly. "Listen to what you are saying. Even His Majesty must go to the Ancestral Temple to see the former Chief Astronomer. How do you propose to invite him?"

Concern breeds confusion; Du Lingfu realized his mistake and shut his mouth in embarrassment.

"Then... what if I go to the Ancestral Temple to see him?"

As soon as Ye Chen spoke, Ge Hong and Du Lingfu exchanged helpless glances.

"The former Chief Astronomer, the Retired Emperor Tiansheng, was forced to enter the Ancestral Temple twenty-five years ago to suppress the dragon veins and national fortune of Great Yu."

"That is how your father, the current Emperor Qingli, gained the opportunity to ascend the throne."

"And that case from twenty-five years ago remains a mystery to this day!"

Recalling the past, Ge Hong sighed and muttered to himself.

"My mentor was a peak-level First-Grade Alchemist, yet he has been trapped in the Ancestral Temple for twenty-five years!"

"He has the means to extend the Ninth Prince's life, but one must have the Emperor’s imperial decree to enter the Ancestral Temple."

Hearing this, Du Lingfu lost all hope.

Outside the Great Yu Imperial Ancestral Temple, there was a powerful formation set up by practitioners. Even a First-Grade expert would meet a swift death if they tried to force their way in.

Just then, a disciple of the Imperial Observatory rushed in.

"Chief, it is bad! The Black Beast appeared last night in Pengcheng, three hundred miles outside the capital, and three hundred people have died!"

Ge Hong’s face darkened, and he took his leave immediately. "I have urgent matters to attend to; I must go!"

Watching Ge Hong leave, Ye Chen asked curiously, "Teacher, what is a Black Beast?"

Du Lingfu sighed heavily. "You have spent many years in the palace and have not seen evil spirits or demons. This Black Beast is actually..."

...

Meanwhile, outside the Ancestral Temple at the Northern Mountain Imperial Mausoleum behind the palace, Emperor Qingli knelt before the main hall. A hundred yards around him was empty, with countless secret guards standing watch on the perimeter.

"Father, is this your punishment for me?"

Inside the temple, one could see an old man with hair dragging on the ground, wearing a dragon robe and meditating. Around him, eight golden dragons formed of light guarded him.

The old man was withered, little more than skin and bone, with blackened, curled fingernails. He slowly opened his eyes. The piercing light in his gaze contained an awe-inspiring pressure that forced Emperor Qingli to lower his head.

"Is this punishment? I do not think so."

The raspy voice echoed, and a bitter smile appeared on the old man's face.

"Back then, when the armies of Northern Qiang and Western Mang pressed upon our borders, and the Western Mang National Preceptor Heba Bodhisattva conspired with seven First-Grade experts from Northern Qiang to steal the national fortune of Great Yu, you betrayed us and collaborated with them to seize the throne. What is this minor punishment compared to that?"

Emperor Qingli trembled, weeping and begging. "Father, I know I was wrong! I should not have used such unscrupulous means to ascend the throne."

"It is too late! Now, one of the nine dragon veins of Great Yu's national fortune is gone. Unless the sage foretold by the Ancestor descends, Great Yu will surely perish within twenty years."

Emperor Qingli was shocked. He raised his head abruptly, glaring at the old man in the hall with anger and fear.

"Could it be that you deliberately released that dragon vein to resurrect that rebellious son, Ye Chen?"

The old man smiled cunningly and replied vaguely.

"Hahaha, it is a pity that beauties often have short lives, and the imperial family is the most heartless of all. It is time for you to taste the feeling of being betrayed by your own son."

"If that is the case, Father, do not blame me!"

Suddenly, Emperor Qingli’s face twisted into a hideous mask. The aura of his cultivation surged, and his entire body was shrouded in black mist like a demon.

The old man’s eyes widened in shock. "You rebellious son! As an Emperor, you actually practice the dark arts..."

*Puff!*

Before he could finish, Emperor Qingli seized him by the throat.

The old man’s vast cultivation energy was continuously sucked into Emperor Qingli’s body, causing the black mist around him to thicken. In an instant, the old man’s blood and cultivation were drained, leaving him like a dried corpse.

Emperor Qingli’s cold voice emerged from the black fog.

"Father, Mother has been waiting for you at the Tiansheng Mausoleum for over fifty years. It is time for you to go keep her company."

"You rebellious son... killing your father and your sovereign... you will regret this..."

Before the old man breathed his last, he revealed an eerie smile, and then his life was extinguished completely.

Emperor Qingli tossed the corpse aside and prepared to absorb the eight suppressed dragon veins. But before he could act, the eight dragon veins soared into the sky.

Fortunately, Emperor Qingli was quick; he leaped up, shattered the roof of the hall, and seized one of the golden dragons.

"Hmph, so what if the national fortune has escaped? I will simply find it again!"

"Since my current princes intend to betray me, I shall kill them all!"

"I have plenty of women; it will not be difficult to produce new princes."

As he spoke, Emperor Qingli absorbed the golden dragon. Behind him, five black-purple halos vaguely appeared, and his cultivation pressure descended like a deity, suppressing all directions.

"Announce to the world: The Retired Emperor Tiansheng has passed away. Observe three months of national mourning and grant a general amnesty!"

Emperor Qingli’s voice echoed through the Northern Mountain Imperial Mausoleum, and the secret guards knelt in unison.

"Falcon" was watching from outside the temple. She was the only one who could get this close to Emperor Qingli at such a time.

When Emperor Qingli descended, "Falcon" appeared and recounted what she had seen at the Prince of Yan’s residence.

Emperor Qingli was slightly stunned and murmured, "To obtain the power of the Sword Dao through 'Words Become Law'... this rebellious son is truly full of surprises!"

...

Meanwhile, at the Prince of Yan’s residence, after Du Lingfu explained what a "Black Beast" was, Ye Chen realized they were a type of evil cultivator that thrived by draining life force, longevity, and national fortune.

The Imperial Observatory was specifically tasked with hunting these evil cultivators within Great Yu.

At that moment, an Imperial Guard rushed into the bedroom.

"The Retired Emperor Tiansheng has passed away. There will be three months of national mourning and a general amnesty. The Ninth Prince, Ye Chen, has been pardoned."

After delivering the message, the guard did not forget to offer his congratulations. "My congratulations to the Ninth Prince! Please accept my condolences as well!"

Ye Chen smiled bitterly. His hope for life had been shattered once again. Ge Hong had just said that the former Chief Astronomer, Retired Emperor Tiansheng, had a way to extend his life.

Yet, Tiansheng had died so soon! If this were not Emperor Qingli killing his own father, no one would believe it!

"Your Highness, we must leave the capital immediately, or things will change for the worse!"

Du Lingfu felt the danger and immediately decided to take Ye Chen away from the capital.

But before he could finish, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Hong Sixiang, arrived in person.

"The Emperor has decreed: During the period of national mourning, all princes and princesses must remain in the capital to observe mourning rites and are forbidden from leaving."