Chapter 521

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I want this person to be executed by slow slicing, and their entire clan to be implicated!" Ji Lin's furious roars echoed through the palace. Below, none of the civil or military officials dared to utter a sound. They stood silently in a row, crescent tablets held in their hands, gazing at the spotless floor.

"Are you all deaf?! Are you all deaf?! My mother! And my imperial sister! Such noble individuals! Their bodies were discarded in the wilderness like stray dogs!"

"Hahaha! Is this still the Ji family's empire? Is this still the domain of Great Liang?!" Ji Lin hurled thick memorials down from his tall dragon throne, scattering them across the floor below.

When the scattered memorials landed on the heads of the civil and military officials, someone finally spoke. A pot-bellied military official stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to information gathered from the survivors, the person who killed the Empress Dowager must be an evil cultivator!"

"I don't care what kind of cultivator he is! I only want his head now! Within three days, I demand to see his head!"

The morning court session ended in this oppressive atmosphere. As Ji Lin, his face still contorted in anger, walked through the palace towards his bedchamber, the eunuchs and palace maids throughout the imperial compound were silent as cicadas in winter, fearing to incur the emperor's displeasure. Yet, the moment Ji Lin entered his bedchamber, the anger on his face vanished, replaced by a strange, bloodthirsty satisfaction.

"Erjiu, you did well this time. Your sword is indeed swift and effective! Much more practical than those who only talk! Speak, what reward do you desire?"

As Ji Lin's words faded, Li Huowang's figure appeared to the left of the massive golden-threaded wood screen. "Your Majesty, I desire neither official position nor wealth. I merely believe that Your Majesty is destined by heaven to rule."

Ji Lin, clad in dragon robes, pushed his slightly sagging left cheek, then, with hands behind his back, walked in a semicircle around Li Huowang. "Hehehe, neither official position nor wealth? So, you wish for me to owe you a favor?"

Li Huowang remained silent in response to Ji Lin's question.

Since he had already demonstrated his considerable value to Ji Lin, his next step was naturally to devise a plan to use Ji Lin against Dice.

Ji Lin placed a hand on Li Huowang's left shoulder, then extended his other hand, gesturing to the old eunuch holding a tray in the corner.

Ji Lin picked up a golden token engraved with a dragon pattern from the tray and placed it into Li Huowang's hand. "This is a death-exemption token. With this in your possession, even if you commit a heinous crime in the future, you can atone for it."

Feeling the heavy golden token in his hand, Li Huowang immediately understood its deeper implication: this item would likely only be effective as long as Ji Lin remained emperor. If someone else ascended the throne, this token would probably be good only for a pawn shop.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ji Lin stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Li Huowang's eyes. "I know this doesn't fully compensate for your merits, but rest assured, as long as I can ascend the throne and survive, you will be my greatest benefactor!"

"Your Majesty, do you hate the Sit Forgotten Dao?"

Ji Lin was momentarily stunned by Li Huowang's question. Why had the conversation suddenly shifted to the Sit Forgotten Dao?

"Your Majesty, do you hate the Sit Forgotten Dao?" Li Huowang asked again.

"Naturally! My imperial father died because of the Sit Forgotten Dao! They are my father's murderers, and I seek vengeance!" Ji Lin said through gritted teeth.

Hearing this, Li Huowang nodded in relief. He raised both hands and bowed to Ji Lin. "Your Majesty, I understand. Who shall I kill next?"

For now, a subtle hint would suffice. If he wanted Ji Lin's help, just these two heads might not be enough.

"No rush, no rush. I need to observe the reactions of others first. This matter is complicated. You are skilled at killing, but you probably can't help with turning their supporters into my own. You should go back and rest. I will have someone notify you when it's time to act again."

Soon after, under the escort of a group of imperial guards, Li Huowang emerged from within the high red walls of the palace.

On his way home, Li Huowang's expression was grave as he recalled Ji Lin's reactions, pondering the meaning behind every subtle change in his face.

In the past, Ji Lin was straightforward and spoke his mind, but Li Huowang wasn't sure if he still acted solely based on self-interest. The Emperor of Great Liang was already at odds with the Sit Forgotten Dao, so if they needed to confront Dice in the future, it would be logical for them not to refuse.

However, at this moment, a question arose in Li Huowang's mind: why did Dice specifically want Ji Lin to ascend the throne? What benefit would Ji Lin's enthronement bring to Dice?

Without clarifying this point, even if Ji Lin were willing to use Great Liang's official power against the Sit Forgotten Dao, Li Huowang would not dare to reveal everything to him.

"Could Ji Lin be a pawn of the Sit Forgotten Dao?" An alarm blared in Li Huowang's mind.

"Brother Li, you can rest assured about this. Ji Lin will not be part of the Sit Forgotten Dao. No matter how incompetent the Directorate of Celestial Observation is, they would never allow an important person under their watchful eyes to be replaced by the Sit Forgotten Dao."

Zhuge Yuan's words dispelled Li Huowang's concerns. He nodded, pondering how to break the stalemate next.

This was difficult because for every possibility he considered, he had to think in reverse: had Dice already anticipated it?

"Dad, you're back! I steamed some buns for you!"

As soon as he entered the house, Li Huowang was stopped by Li Sui, who proudly displayed her accomplishments.

Li Huowang looked at the dense, blackened lumps of dough at the bottom of the pot, completely unrisen. A wry smile appeared on his face as he picked one up and put it in his mouth.

Although Li Huowang understood that dealing with a powerful enemy like Dice required patience, his heart couldn't help but race when he thought of Miaomiao in Dice's hands.

He reached out and patted Li Sui's white skull, and Li Huowang's weary, anxious heart finally felt a slight easing.

"Dad, is it delicious?"

"No, it's not. Don't make them again."

"Why isn't it delicious? I think the buns I made are very tasty."

Just as the two were talking, "Knock, knock, knock." The door, which had just been closed, was knocked upon. "Great Elder, Zu Yi requests an audience."

Sitting on the long bench, Li Huowang immediately stopped chewing and, along with Li Sui, looked towards the door.

"The door isn't closed, come in," Li Huowang said indifferently, seemingly unsurprised by the visitor's arrival.

When he saw this person openly rebel and help him confront the Eldest Princess, Li Huowang knew that the matter was far from over.

The wooden courtyard gate was pushed open, and a man wearing a black veiled bamboo hat and a wide, loose robe entered.

His entire body was concealed by the robe. The only information Li Huowang could gather was the pungent scent of charcoal emanating from him.

Li Sui, with her keen sense of smell, immediately identified this person as the one who was covered in fire earlier.