He actually had another trick up his sleeve. His elite guard unit had been recalled to the capital two days prior and were now on standby. That day would undoubtedly be an unstoppable surge. He wanted to see who would truly outmaneuver whom.
However, the most unexpected person this time was Ximen Zhenghao. He had initially thought Ximen would seize this opportunity to have Ximen Xinyue taken into the harem as a concubine. To his surprise, Ximen mentioned nothing of the sort. It seemed he was a shrewd individual. As for himself, he was not someone who could be threatened.
With only a few days remaining until the Grand Wedding of the Prince of Beijin, the entire capital was not filled with joy, but rather a palpable sense of restless anticipation. An oppressive atmosphere permeated Lin'an City, as if something significant was about to happen.
Within the palace, the Emperor continued to hold his court sessions with an unruffled demeanor, attending to state affairs before accompanying the Empress.
Day after day, the routine repeated.
Tomorrow marked the joyous occasion of the Prince of Beijin's wedding. The Prince of Beijin's mansion was adorned with red couplets,幔 (mantle) hung from the eaves, and large red lanterns were hoisted high. This vibrant, striking red permeated the entire sky.
Inside the Prince of Beijin's mansion, the servants busied themselves with respectful diligence. Their faces showed no hint of joy; instead, they were tinged with cautious trepidation. Tomorrow was the Prince's grand wedding day, yet as it drew nearer, the Prince's expression grew increasingly grim and menacing.
As for these maids and servants, who would dare to be presumptuous?
In the study, the Prince of Beijin, Murong Liuzhao, seemed to have recovered somewhat from his pallor, his gaze radiating extreme malevolence.
"Your Highness, your subordinate believes tomorrow might not be feasible."
"Not feasible? Why is it not feasible?" The Prince of Beijin stood up in anger, slamming his hand heavily onto the desk.
How many days had he waited for this moment? Now, his mother was under house arrest. Was he to stand by and watch his mother suffer?
Even if there was a trap awaiting him tomorrow, he had to take the gamble. He who wins is king, and he who loses is a bandit. If he lost the opportunity tomorrow, he would never get another chance.
"Your Highness, has Young Master Chu not appeared yet?"
Ning Fu reminded his master. With the Empress Dowager currently under house arrest in the palace, he too was anxious. However, tonight, he felt uneasy, constantly sensing that something would go wrong tomorrow.
"What are you afraid of? We have already made our arrangements for this matter. It doesn't matter if he appears or not. A portion of the capital's guard forces are at our disposal, and we've also called upon some men from the Ministry of War. Additionally, we have our own people. Tomorrow, I will kill that man. This empire will be mine."
The Prince of Beijin laughed arrogantly. Steward Ning gazed at his master seated above, a deep pang of pain in his heart. His master had been too tense lately. In truth, the Emperor would not be so easy to deal with. He feared tomorrow would be their day of reckoning.
Liuli Palace.
The Emperor was playing with a chess piece in his hand, a thoughtful expression on his face, a playful smile gracing his lips.
Ah Jiu entered from outside. "Your Highness, Young Master Chu is here."
"Mm, invite him in," Murong Liuzun said with a gentle smile. He waved his long, elegant hand that held the chess piece, appearing to be in exceptionally good spirits.
Ah Jiu took his leave and swiftly darted out. Soon, he returned with Chu Qianyi. This demonically handsome man wore his signature smile, his expression one of composed calm. He bowed to the Emperor. "Qianyi greets Your Highness. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me to the palace tonight?"
"I was bored and wished to find someone to play chess with, so I called Qianyi into the palace," the Emperor's handsome face remained unperturbed. The light of the night-shining pearls cast a somewhat dreamlike glow, reflecting in his eyes.
"Oh," Chu Qianyi raised an eyebrow and walked over unhurriedly, taking a seat on the opposite side of the chess table.
He certainly did not believe the Emperor had genuinely summoned him for a game of chess. But what exactly did the Emperor intend to do? He couldn't quite gauge it. They both played chess with their own hidden agendas. The game progressed slowly, with turbulent waves and unfathomable intentions on the board. The Emperor frowned as he looked at the chessboard and spoke slowly.
"Has the Right Prime Minister's illness not yet recovered?"
"Mm, there has been no improvement. I appreciate Your Highness's concern," Chu Qianyi picked up a chess piece and placed it down slowly, a foxy, cunning smile playing on his lips. Since the Emperor was speaking in riddles, why should he be impatient?
The game lasted a full two hours, becoming progressively slower, each move fraught with peril, interlinked and tightly bound. The latter half was increasingly thrilling and suspenseful.
The Emperor chuckled, his eyes sparkling with brilliance. "It has only been a few days, yet Qianyi's chess skills have improved further. Moreover, the way you move your pieces reveals ambition and dominance, which is not to be underestimated."
"I am humbled," Chu Qianyi smiled faintly, a cloud of suspicion rising in his heart. What exactly did the Emperor intend? That unsettling agitation had been growing stronger, increasingly affecting his train of thought. In the end, he lost the game by half a piece.
"Your Highness's schemes are truly unmatched in this world," Chu Qianyi said, a shiver running down his spine. The Emperor's moves were so ingenious, and the rapidly changing fortunes on the board seemed to suggest that the entire world was within his grasp. Chu Qianyi lowered his brow, suddenly exclaiming, "Not good!" Could it be that the Emperor had laid a trap for the Prince of Beijin's wedding tomorrow? His expression darkened subtly, and he clasped his hands respectfully.
"Your Highness, it is late. Yi must return."
"Return?" The man, who had been toying with the chess pieces, smiled enigmatically. His smile was bloodthirsty and chillingly cold. With a forceful grip, the chess piece turned to powder and leaked from between his fingers, scattering across the floor.
"Guards!" he roared, the sound like thunder from a clear sky, erupting in furious rage. "The Right Prime Minister's son dares to attempt assassination on me! Seize him!"
Outside the great hall, a large contingent of guards immediately surged in. With a flick of their spears, they all aimed at Chu Qianyi.
The eldest son of the Chu family finally understood. Emperor Xian's late-night summons was not intended to let him leave. He was prepared to cut off the Prince of Beijin's escape route.
All of this had been orchestrated by the man before him, while the Prince of Beijin was merely a buffoon jumping around. Now, it was time to reel in the net.
They had set a trap for themselves, yet provided this man before them with a righteous justification.
"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"
Chu Qianyi scanned the guards, of which there were dozens. Leading them was Hua Lige, whose dark eyes shot out a daunting gleam. With icy resolve, he declared, "Chu Qianyi, you audacious wretch! You dare to assassinate the Emperor? You are seeking death! Seize him!"
Chu Qianyi was speechless. He had merely played a game of chess with the Emperor, and now he was labeled an assassin who attempted to assassinate the Emperor.
The Emperor intended to frame him, and even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he could not clear his name. The Emperor's reason for doing this must be to restrain his actions, and furthermore, to make the Chu family voluntarily hand over their military authority.
"Seize him!"
A fleeting shadow of malevolence crossed Murong Liuzun's uninhibited face. Since they dared to offend him, he would not show mercy. A mere Chu family attempting to stir up monstrous waves was utterly laughable.
Chu Qianyi scanned the guards who had swiftly surrounded him. Although he could defeat them individually, he was certain he could not defeat the man seated at the head of the hall. It was better to conserve his strength and devise another plan. His eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Alright, I will go with you."