Chapter 369: Chapter 90
September 13th, Princess Zhao Yuan Gongsun Qingyue presented a memorial to the Emperor, requesting an investigation into the cases of her master, Tianxuan, and junior brother, Jiang Li, and the apprehension of the prime culprit.
The Emperor had long been absent from court, and all memorials were sent directly to Ziwei Hall. In theory, only the Emperor or his personal eunuchs would be aware of the contents of these memorials.
But after Gongsun Qingyue submitted her memorial, news of it spread rapidly. In no time, both inside and outside the court, everyone was aware of the deaths of Tianxuan and Jiang Li.
Then, as if hearing the call to charge, a flurry of memorials like falling snowflakes poured into the Imperial Palace.
Among these, some came from within the Divine Capital, others from outside; some were cries of support, others, clear stances.
For instance, Princess Ji Lingguang—her messenger arrived at the Divine Capital on September 16th, petitioning the Emperor and asking to return to the Divine Capital.
After the Princess, on September 18th, the various kings of the Ji Family submitted memorials. King Qi, Prince Zhuang, King Dai—the Three Kings had people present memorials requesting a thorough investigation by the Emperor.
On the same day, the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, one of the Nine Ministers of the current court, Feng Chang, also submitted a memorial, expressing his willingness to assist fully in the investigation.
With Tianxuan’s "death," it was as if the fire had been thoroughly ignited.
Moreover, those loyal to the Emperor and the Emperor himself could not object.
Although the scenario of "Who dares to accuse me in court?" often occurred, at this moment, if the Emperor were to take such a stance, he might have ignited the already fiery situation to explosion.
Thus, the Emperor chose to fall ill.
The gates of the Imperial City were tightly shut, and once again, the Emperor took ill, ignoring the officials who beat their foreheads against the palace gates, almost resorting to death as their firm advice, without giving any response.
After all, those officials all had cultivation, and even if they hit the gates hard, they could still be saved.
They only dared to crash against the Imperial City gates. To barge directly into the Imperial Palace would be seeking death. The Emperor would yield because their actions conformed to the law, and it was also inappropriate to continue using harsh methods.
"Death" had already taken Tianxuan. To take a few more lives would indeed lose the people’s hearts.
But should someone be foolhardy enough to break into or sneak into the Imperial City, the Emperor would surely stage a performance of a critically ill man jolting upright, letting them know that despite old age, the Emperor was still one of the top powerhouses in the world.
For the opposition, the momentum was only just beginning, and it was not yet time for a coup d’état. Even if the momentum increased, a coup would be a last resort, needing a better opportunity.
They couldn’t just say, "Emperor, stop living and burst your Dao Fruit."
Wouldn’t that be losing the moral high ground?
Yet, both sides knew that if things continued, a coup might become an inevitable result.
Moreover, now that the momentum had somewhat built, it was easier to add fuel to the fire.
On September 19th, the Jingzhao Prefecture’s Military Record and Military Justice Assistants were found dead at home.
On September 20th, the Jingzhao Prefecture Military Assistant died on the way to the government office.
On September 21st, the Divine Capital Yun County Magistrate was stabbed at the county government.
Officials from the Divine Capital and nearby counties were being systematically removed with vacancies opening in their positions. According to regulations, new officials should be appointed, or deputies should temporarily manage.
However, for officials higher than the County Magistrate, the final step in their appointment required the review of the Emperor.
With the Emperor sick in bed, new officials could not be appointed, so someone had to take charge in his stead.
In some sense, this was a prime opportunity to bypass the Emperor and place one’s people in position temporarily.
And these changes in authority further intensified the undercurrents.
Bypassing the Emperor to grasp authority—hardly anyone could avoid speculating about certain unspeakable matters.
"Accumulation leads to great consequences, step by step, pressing on, junior sister," commented Gongsun Qi quietly in the solemn hall, reviewing the information sent to him.
The Emperor might choose to feign illness and avoid seeing anyone, but the opposing party could also further build their advantage while the Emperor was "sick," step by step cutting off the Emperor’s limbs to pressure him.
Clearly inferior in strength, yet they managed to create such a momentum; the opposition’s capability should not be underestimated.
There was no doubt to Gongsun Qi that the one with such ability, without a second contender, had to be Tianxuan.
"These officials... and previously killed Shen Yuan and Yang Ji..." Gongsun Qi muttered to himself, "Lawless Freedom, are you also involved in this, junior sister?"
Although the killed officials were not directly slain like Yang Ji and Shen Yuan, their deaths being detrimental to the Emperor made Gongsun Qi begin to suspect their connection.
He subconsciously reached to start calculating, but then he laughed silently.
With the current disorderly Heavenly Mechanism of the Divine Capital, not only was Tianxuan unable to display his best Echange Skill, but Gongsun Qi was equally unable.
To use the Yi Dao Technique, he would have to wait until the storm passed.
"It might also be those from the other side..." Gongsun Qi thought of a figure.
The Divine Capital had become a place of turmoil, and even if various forces did not participate, they would certainly take notice. Just like the few from the Daode Sect, they never returned to their Sect but stayed near the Divine Capital.
But among the current factions, there was an absence of one that was always expected to appear, yet its presence was nowhere to be found.
—The Devil God Sect.
The number one scapegoating force in the Divine Country had yet to make a move.
Logically, when Tianxuan disappeared, someone from the Devil God Sect should have taken the stage and taken the blame for Tianxuan’s death.
But until now, the Devil God Sect had not taken the blame, which was extremely abnormal.
’Are they choosing to watch from the sidelines? Or have they already been involved...’ Gongsun Qi’s gaze was deep and dark, like two unfathomable pools, ’I don’t believe you would just watch this happen, Great Venerable.’
Divine Sense and Telekinesis unintentionally leaked out, distorting the scenery in the hall, occasionally revealing a winding and majestic figure. As if time were flowing backward, certain memories manifested under the influence of that towering Divine Sense, flickering throughout the hall.
A ripple formed in Gongsun Qi’s heart as memories from the past appeared before him, with the winding and majestic figure becoming more concrete: scales of crimson covered the body, a massive face shrouded in light mist, only cold, vertical pupils visible.
Just as these light and shadow were about to solidify, a series of footsteps suddenly approached from outside the hall.
Like awakening from a dream, Gongsun Qi waved his hand, and all the light and shadows dissipated, restoring tranquility to the hall.
But a few breaths later, an eunuch arrived outside the hall, reporting respectfully, "Your Majesty, Elder Kaixiang of the Dinghu Sect requests an audience. Also..."
The eunuch hesitated for a moment but still spoke truthfully, "Elder Kaixiang said if Your Majesty does not see him, he will force his way in."
"Kaixiang?" Gongsun Qi’s brow twitched slightly, and he chided with a smile, "What a reckless man."
Now, with the Imperial City sealed and all others denied entry, Gongsun Qi had also long been dwelling within the palace as if he had completely abandoned worldly affairs, indifferent to both internal and external matters. However, facing this reckless man, he could not afford not to see him.
Otherwise, Kaixiang would truly force his way in.