Chapter 99: The Death of the Old Ghost, We Meet Again, Prince Shu

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Death of the Old Ghost, We Meet Again, Prince Shu

Relying on the speed of their Dragon-blood Horses, Pei Shaoqing and his men entered the jurisdiction of Jin Guan City in just a day.

Wei Yue split his forces into two.

He went to deal with the old ghost himself.

He ordered his adopted son, Lu Feng, Pei Shaoqing, and the others to enter the city first. They were to command Lu Dingchuan to surround the Shu Royal Mansion, allowing no one in or out, but they were not to act without his order.

Following the map Pei Shaoqing had provided, Wei Yue easily found the cave.

"Who goes there? State your name!"

Liu Yuheng and Ye Hanshuang emerged from the cave at the sound, both drawing their swords and staring warily at the uninvited guest.

"Wei Yue, Northern Governor of the Jing’an Guard." Wei Yue announced his identity, then took out the waist token Pei Shaoqing had given as a sign and tossed it over. "Leave this place to me."

Liu Yuheng caught the token. After confirming its authenticity, she cupped her fist and said, "Yes, my lord. I will take my leave."

She and Ye Hanshuang then departed in a hurry.

Only after their footsteps had faded did Wei Yue clasp one hand behind his back and stride calmly into the cave.

"Hahahaha, come on, come on! I’ve scraped by for two hundred years. I’ve long since had my fill of living. Even without you, I would have dissipated in a few more days."

The old ghost materialized and laughed heartily.

Wei Yue stopped and looked at him, his face devoid of expression. "His Majesty wishes to see you," he said flatly. "As long as you cooperate, His Majesty can grant you the means to live on."

The old ghost’s laughter stopped abruptly.

Then, it was followed by an even greater burst of laughter.

"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! I see, I see! That little brat from the Yan Family is afraid of dying, isn’t he? He wants my method for clinging to life, doesn’t he?"

Wei Yue’s face turned cold. "Insolence! Dare to disrespect my Emperor again, and I will make you wish you were dead."

"Living like this—neither human nor ghost—is already a fate worse than death! Once you’ve tasted two hundred years of solitude, you’ll know nothing is more painful. Your threats are useless." The old ghost turned into a cloud of black mist and swirled around Wei Yue.

Wei Yue said suddenly, "You’re not a Eunuch."

It was an intuition, an impression the old ghost gave him.

"Does that matter?" The old ghost didn’t deny it as he had when Pei Shaoqing questioned him, but instead asked a question of his own.

Wei Yue had no desire to waste more time. "I will ask you only one thing: do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

"And how would that Yan Family brat extend my life? By feeding me the souls of the people of his Great Zhou? I’m a man of the former dynasty, so I’d feel no guilt. But would he really do that to his own subjects, just to cling to life after death? After all these generations, the Yan Family members are still such bastards!"

The old ghost clearly harbored a profound resentment for the Yan Family.

Wei Yue said no more and attacked without warning.

His sharp Grandmaster Gang Qi exploded like a clap of thunder.

But to his surprise, the old ghost didn’t resist or even try to dodge. He met the punch head-on, and his Soul Body instantly wavered, on the verge of shattering.

"I will not collude with the Yan Ni! Go back and tell that Yan Family brat he can forget about clinging to life. It was you who personally shattered his hopes, hahaha..."

’Damn it!’ Wei Yue’s expression was grim. The Emperor had privately instructed him to bring this ghost back, no matter what.

But now, all he could do was watch helplessly as his own punch caused the ghost’s soul to scatter and disperse.

There was nothing to be done now. Wei Yue searched the depths of the cave but found nothing useful. Frustrated, he had no choice but to head back down the mountain.

He still had no idea how he would explain this to the Emperor.

.........

Meanwhile, the Jing’an Guard had reached the city gates.

"HYA!" "HYA!" "HYA!"

"Jing’an Guard on official business! Clear the way! Clear the way!"

"Urgent military business! Obstruct us and die! Clear the way!"

Nearly two hundred men ignored the gate guards and galloped wildly into the city, charging recklessly through the streets. People screamed in panic and scattered in all directions.

Lu Feng dispatched a rider to the Thousand Households to deliver the order.

The main force, meanwhile, made straight for the Shu Royal Mansion.

"Move, move, move! Surround it!"

"By the Governor’s order! Don’t let a single person escape!"

Upon arrival, they all dismounted and swiftly blocked the front and rear gates of the Shu Royal Mansion. At the same time, others leaped onto the walls, setting up Breaking Gang Crossbows to prevent anyone from escaping.

"What do you think you’re doing?! Don’t you know what this place is? You’re insane! All of you!"

"A pack of fools who don’t know life from death!"

"Quick, go inform the Prince that there’s a rebellion!"

The household servants were shocked and furious, descending into chaos.

At that moment, King Shu’s family was enjoying a pleasant breakfast together. Without Yan Sichen, the family was quite harmonious.

"It’s so nice when the family is together and at peace. If only Sichen weren’t so prejudiced against me, his mother, we could be like this every day," the Princess of Shu said with a sudden sigh.

"Don’t mention that rebellious son." King Shu’s face darkened instantly. He snapped, "That bastard hasn’t sent word in ten days. Who knows where he’s run off to now. Does he even acknowledge me as his father anymore?!"

The corner of the Princess of Shu’s mouth curled into a slight smile. She had deliberately brought up Yan Sichen precisely because he had gone missing once again.

Yan Sikun offered a gentle, cultured smile. "Father, please calm down. This isn’t the first time Eldest Brother has done this in the past couple of years. He probably just forgot to tell you. He’ll likely turn up suddenly in a few days."

"You always speak up for him," King Shu said, shaking his head, "but that bastard never appreciates it."

Yan Sikun smiled innocently. "Eldest Brother just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He’s always been good to me."

Yan Sitong curled his lip. He had no affection for his arrogant eldest brother or his insidious second brother.

King Shu suddenly heard the commotion outside and frowned in annoyance. "Someone, go see what’s going on. What is all this racket?"

"Your Highness! Something has happened, Your Highness!" The steward ran in, panicked, and said anxiously, "There are many men from the Jing’an Guard outside! They’ve surrounded the Prince’s Mansion!"

"What? Lu Dingchuan has some nerve! Has he gone mad?" Yan Sitong slammed down his bowl and chopsticks, his face a mask of shock and fury.

"Third Young Master, it’s not Households Commander Lu," the steward said, sweating profusely. "They’re all riding Dragon-blood Horses."

"Men from the Capital City!" King Shu shot to his feet.

In that instant, everyone realized the gravity of the situation, as this could only be an order from the Emperor himself.

The Princess of Shu’s face went deathly pale. "My Prince, how can this be? Why would the Emperor suddenly..."

"Calm yourself. I have always been nothing but respectful to my Imperial Brother. Perhaps this is a misunderstanding. I will go and see," King Shu said in a low voice, taking a deep breath.

Despite his words, he was panicking inside. ’His second brother on the throne had rebelled against their eldest brother. He had a history of harming his own kin.’

Yan Sikun said, "Father, I will go with you."

"And me," Yan Sitong added, following close behind.

The father and his two sons went together to the main gate of the front courtyard.

There, they immediately spotted one of the men in the lead.

Yan Sitong cried out in shock, "Pei Shaoqing!"

"Prince Shu, Third Young Master Yan, we meet again." Pei Shaoqing looked down on the three of them from atop his horse, a smirk playing on his lips.

King Shu’s gaze swept over the uniform ranks of Dragon-blood Horses, and his heart began to race. He feigned composure and asked, "Viscount of Pingyang, what is the meaning of this?"

Pei Shaoqing glanced toward Lu Feng. ’The man’s rank is higher than mine, so I can’t act like I’m the one in charge.’

"Brother Pei, please, be my guest," Lu Feng said amiably. He could tell there was bad blood between them and didn’t mind doing Pei Shaoqing the favor of letting him have his moment.

In stark contrast to Wei Yue’s cold personality, his adopted son Lu Feng was very skilled at social interactions.

"Thank you, Brother Lu." Pei Shaoqing smiled and cupped his fists at him. When he turned back to King Shu, however, his expression turned to ice. "King Shu," he said coldly, "as a member of the Royal Family, you have basked in imperial grace. Yet, you have shown no gratitude. Instead, you harbor treacherous intentions and plot rebellion. We are here today on His Majesty’s order to apprehend you, Prince Shu, and bring you to the Capital City to answer for your crimes."

"What? I’m plotting a rebellion?!" King Shu’s eyes went wide, and he staggered back a step.

His two sons rushed to support him. "Father!"

King Shu suddenly recalled how Pei Shaoqing had accused Yan Sitong of treason at Furong Pavilion a few days ago. His eyes turning bloodshot, he roared, "Slander! Pei Shaoqing, was it you who framed me? I demand to confront you before the Emperor!"

"Is Your Highness looking down on me, or on His Majesty? How could a man as wise as the Emperor be deceived?" Pei Shaoqing snorted, his eyes full of mockery. "It was your own good son, the Heir of Shu, who personally confessed that the Shu Royal Mansion has been secretly plotting a rebellion!"

BOOM!

The words struck King Shu like a bolt of lightning. Blood rushed to his head, his vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

"Eldest Brother... How could he..."

Yan Sikun’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Where is that rebellious son? I want to see that rebellious son!" King Shu roared hysterically.

The mockery in Pei Shaoqing’s eyes deepened. "Why bother feigning ignorance, Your Highness? The person who exposed the plot was captured. Your son, acting on your orders, went to silence them, but I captured him alive. After some... ’persuasion’ from me, he confessed everything. His testimony has already been presented to the Emperor."

"Feeling deep shame for failing His Majesty, he took his own life in prison two days ago. He even left a final message, saying he’ll be waiting down below for you, Prince Shu, to join him for a family reunion."

King Shu went numb, trembling uncontrollably as he muttered, "Rebellious son! Rebellious son! That rebellious son!"

He was just sitting at home, yet the crime of treason had fallen upon him from the heavens.

"How could Eldest Brother do such a thing! He must have wanted to rebel on his own! It has nothing to do with Father! It has even less to do with us!" Yan Sikun exclaimed, his face flushed with panic.

"That rebellious son wants to drag us all down with him to the grave!" King Shu gritted his teeth. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Pei Shaoqing and said hoarsely, "If His Majesty wishes to hold me accountable, I will cooperate fully. Take us to the Capital City now."

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to resist.

He simply had no power to do so.

Resisting would mean certain death. If he didn’t resist and went to explain himself, there might still be a chance to live.

"I can’t make that call. We will wait for the Governor to arrive," Pei Shaoqing replied impassively.

Hearing that Wei Yue himself had come, King Shu understood just how furious the Emperor must be. He pressed his lips together and fell silent.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Just then, Lu Dingchuan arrived with his men.

"This subordinate, Lu Dingchuan, greets you, my lord!" he said, striding quickly to Lu Feng and dropping to his knees in a crisp salute.

Lu Feng looked down at him and commanded in a resonant voice, "Completely surround the Prince’s Mansion. Clear the area for three li in all directions to prevent any rebels from hiding."

"This subordinate obeys!" Lu Dingchuan accepted the command and stood.

He shot a grateful look at Pei Shaoqing.

Only now did he understand why Pei Shaoqing had confronted King Shu at Furong Pavilion over a mere courtesan, and why he had forced him to make a choice.

Thankfully, he had made the right choice.

As a result, he was now in a position to earn merit for quelling a rebellion.

Instead of being branded a traitor alongside King Shu and annihilated.

The men of the Thousand Households moved swiftly, sealing the Shu Royal Mansion off completely. They violently cleared the surrounding area, driving all residents out.

The common folk, however, were quite considerate of the Jing’an Guard. They all actively cooperated without the guards even needing to draw their blades.

Just as the area was cleared, the crisp CLIP-CLOP of hooves announced Wei Yue’s arrival as he galloped over from the distance.

Atop his horse, his expression was serene and his posture as upright as a pine tree, the hem of his black robes fluttering in the wind.

"We respectfully welcome the Governor!"

WHOOSH! The hundreds of men present dropped to one knee in unison, their shout like a great bell, soaring to the heavens.

"Wei Yue, take me to my Imperial Brother at once! I have been wronged, and I must explain myself to him in person!" Seeing a familiar face, King Shu, whose heart was filled with terror and unease, took a step forward onto the entrance steps to speak.

"WHOA!" Reining in his horse with one hand, Wei Yue tilted his head and cast a sidelong glance at him. His elegant face betrayed no emotion. Without a single word of nonsense, he gave a cold, sharp command: "Kill!"

’Even one more glance at a dead man is a waste of time.’