His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

Chapter 18 Plan failed?

Gong Zhonghou was so angry that he trembled all over.

The handprints were still visible on his face, clearly showing that those seemingly light slaps were actually quite severe.

However, he quickly calmed down.

Liu Yong frowned and walked over. "General, are we just going to let this scoundrel...?"

Snapped--!

Liu Yong hadn't finished speaking.

A loud slap echoed all around.

Liu Yong was slapped to the ground, covering his face with a little blood at the corner of his mouth, staring blankly at his boss.

Gong Zhonghou lifted him up with one hand, saying, "Go and lead twenty batons!"

"Yes...yes." Liu Yong didn't dare to refute, nodded and retreated.

Gong Zhonghou stared at Liu Yong's retreating figure with a cold gaze.

Liu Yong has been promoted too quickly lately; he's really lost sight of himself.

Although Gongzhonghou also looked down on Xu Bing, he at least dared not show it too obviously, and dared not allow his subordinates to shoot arrows to provoke him!

That young man's death was not unjust.

"So young," Gong Zhonghou sighed, looking at the corpse that had been slapped to death.

but……

This imperial advisor doesn't seem to be the useless person I imagined.

The force of that slap alone was at least at the fifth level of the Acquired Realm.

......

[Prestige: 8]

Xu Bing walked along the mountain path, opened the system panel, and browsed his interface.

His prestige has increased slightly.

It seems that the deterrent effect just now was somewhat effective.

As the Imperial Advisor, he had no intention of keeping a low profile, nor did he need to. If he weren't in a hurry to go up the mountain, he wouldn't mind continuing to play with them.

Severe measures are necessary in times of chaos.

Those who disobey him will die.

The entire sky above Jingxin Mountain Villa.

Fifteen crows circled overhead, indicating that the situation was still under Xu Bing's control.

Within the sight of one of the crows, the welcoming procession, composed of imperial guards and palanquin bearers, had entered Jingxin Manor, passed through the gardens, and arrived in front of Jingxin Hall.

"Your Majesty, the seven days of quiet contemplation have passed, and your humble servant has come to greet you."

Shang Shoucheng walked steadily to the gate of the Jingxin Hall, knelt down, and said in a deep voice.

And at this time.

They were separated by only a large door.

Inside the Hall of Tranquility.

Zhou Xiaoyou took a deep breath and imitated Ji Yuan's voice, "Mmm."

The welcoming party breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good that Your Majesty is safe and sound.

Ji Yuan sighed almost imperceptibly; she actually hoped Zhou Xiaoyou would make a mistake.

Shang Shoucheng slowly stood up. The armor he was wearing weighed thirty kilograms. For an ordinary person, wearing it would only make movement difficult and become a burden.

He pushed open the door of the Jingxin Hall.

Sunlight instantly filled the hall.

The first thing that caught his eye was the current Empress of Da Xi, Ji Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on a futon, resting with her eyes closed.

His eyes were so beautiful that he dared not look at her for long. Her long, flowing golden hair was a color that Xu Bing had faked with his vital energy.

Out of some kind of intuition.

Shang Shoucheng first looked around. The hall was very large, the windows were tightly closed, and there was incense smoke.

Upon opening the door, the first thing you see, and the most obvious thing, is a stone tablet with the words "Quiet Mind" carved on it. Over the years, it has been gradually stained with black ash from the incense smoke.

This "Tranquility Stele" is located at the deepest part, and from the inside out, there is an offering table.

The offering table was a large rectangular table with three incense burners on it, one large and two small. The incense had already burned halfway.

It is worth mentioning that the offering table is covered with a tablecloth and extends vertically from the tabletop to the ground.

The Hall of Tranquility, a place of great importance to emperors throughout history, was too much for Shang Shoucheng to look at closely; he merely glanced at it hastily. However, his gaze paused for a moment when it swept over the long offering table.

A strange feeling arose in his heart, and he frowned slightly.

And this moment.

Ji Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged under the table, felt a light shining in his face.

Because the main gate was open, sunlight shone into the Tranquil Hall, allowing her to vaguely see the main hall through the tablecloth.

"coming."

Ji Yuan pondered, held her breath, and narrowed her eyes.

Because of the difference in light, Ji Yuan could see the scene in the main hall clearly, but Shang Shoucheng and the others could not see her.

Imagine two people standing in the dark and one standing in the light. If they look at each other, the person in the dark can see the person in the light, but the reverse is not true.

"Your Majesty, please proceed to the imperial carriage," Shang Shoucheng said, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Ah."

Zhou Xiaoyou nodded slightly.

As the saying goes, the more you say, the more mistakes you make; the less you say, the better.

Xu Bing specifically instructed that if he did not want to be exposed, he should speak as little as possible.

Zhou Xiaoyou slowly got up and walked towards the carriage, trying to imitate Ji Yuan's steps.

"His Majesty!"

Shang Shoucheng suddenly shouted.

"What is it, my dear minister?" Zhou Xiaoyou asked, frowning.

"Your Majesty, have there been any crows appearing near Jingxin Manor recently?" Shang Shoucheng asked.

Zhou Xiaoyou said unhappily, "At Jingxin Manor, where all birds pay homage to the phoenix, what's wrong with having a few crows?"

Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes; Zhou Xiaoyou had indeed learned some of the spirit of the walk.

She was not one to sit idly by and wait for death.

Although she was too ashamed to show her face in this state, if she missed this opportunity, her fate would be completely out of Ji Yuan's control.

Her temporary fame was insignificant compared to the entire Dae Hee region, so she did not hesitate and began to struggle to create a stir.

She couldn't move an inch.

There's quite a bit of space under this table.

How can she attract attention from the outside world?

Even with her strong will, she felt a sense of powerlessness, as if hope was right in front of her, yet she couldn't reach it.

What frustrated her even more was that she knew Xu Bing wanted her to feel this way, and although she appeared calm on the surface, she was still manipulated by Xu Bing and successfully evoked the emotions he wanted to see.

This is also the situation he is happy to see.

Xu Bing is deliberately torturing himself... A cold glint flashed in Ji Yuan's eyes, but he may have underestimated Shang Shoucheng.

"Commander Shang, my life and fortune depend on you," Ji Yuan thought to himself, watching the events unfold.

And Shang Shoucheng did not disappoint.

From the moment he saw the crow, he felt a connection. He possessed a keen intuition; his instincts and perceptions were never without reason.

Therefore…

He sensed something was wrong, and he knew something was definitely wrong.

But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

"Your Majesty, please wait!" Shang Shoucheng called out to Zhou Xiaoyou again.

Zhou Xiaoyou replied, "What is it, my dear minister?"

Shang Shoucheng truthfully replied, "I noticed that Your Majesty is wearing a bracelet on your wrist, and I also remember that Your Majesty was not wearing this before you went up the mountain."

Zhou Xiaoyou flicked his sleeves, his imperial face contorted with rage, "Do I need to report to you what I do?"

Zhou Xiaoyou was flustered; if this guy continued to ask questions...

That's how you expose yourself.

Your true emperor is about to kick the bucket.

Once this trend is established...

The people who came to greet the emperor were terrified and immediately knelt down, fearing that if they hesitated even for a moment, disaster would befall them.

Even Shang Shoucheng realized that his words had been disrespectful and had angered the emperor.

"You brat, you really..." Ji Yuan's feelings at this moment were indescribable.

Did they have to act so well?

If you make even the slightest mistake, neither of us will be in trouble.

Once Shang Shoucheng calmed down, he decided that even at the risk of angering His Majesty again, he would still do as he pleased.

Therefore, he asked again, "Your Majesty, do you... really not feel that there is anything strange about the manor?"

Hearing that Shang Shoucheng had not given up, Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Xiaoyou narrowed her eyes. This guy was too difficult to deal with. She was afraid that if she continued talking, she would give herself away. Moreover... she suspected him and had already become suspicious.

How can this be good?

Just when she was in a dilemma.

A voice came from the mountain path below.

"Jingxin Manor is the result of our ancestors' hard work and has been blessed by generations of emperors. Even evil spirits would retreat in fear. In my eyes, the imperial aura within this manor is soaring to the heavens, which is an auspicious sign. What is strange about it?"

The person hadn't arrived, but the voice had already reached them.

Xu Bingna's tall figure slowly walked towards this place.

After these few days of training, although he is still quite fat, he looks more masculine to others.

"It's him!" Zhou Xiaoyou's pupils contracted.

Ji Yuan could vaguely see that Xu Bing had arrived. The breath she had just relaxed was pulled up again, and she stared intently at him.

Shang Shoucheng, his aura emanating outwards, asked, "How did the Grand Preceptor end up here? Could it be that you infiltrated Jingxin Manor long ago?"

Xu Bing calmly replied, "My Imperial Preceptor and His Majesty have important matters to discuss and have just come from the mountain path. Can your Right Wing Guard testify for me?"

Xu Bing countered, "General Shang, are you implying that you already knew about the oversights in the Imperial Guard's deployment but didn't correct them, or that you have something to hide...?"

As soon as these words came out.

Shang Shoucheng's expression changed. This guy has such a vicious heart, throwing such a big accusation right off the bat.

This is a sensitive time.

Shang Shoucheng said in a panic, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn."

Zhou Xiaoyou breathed a sigh of relief; Xu Bing was more reliable than himself.

"Your Majesty, my Imperial Tutor has important matters to discuss with you." Xu Bing bypassed Shang Shoucheng and went straight to Zhou Xiaoyou.

This was merely an excuse to go up the mountain and take control of the situation.

Whether Zhou Xiaoyou agrees or not is irrelevant.

The two exchanged a few brief words, the gist of which was that Zhou Xiaoyou should rest first, and then they would discuss national affairs after he had rested.

Zhou Xiaoyou sat in the carriage, closed the curtain, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Shang Shoucheng did not relax his brows; even after His Majesty had boarded the carriage, the feeling lingered.

He is even less likely to ignore it.

Suddenly, his delicate heart trembled.

An extremely absurd idea popped into his mind.

He turned around abruptly, his gaze falling on the table under which the incense burner was placed.

And at the same time.

His gaze.

They almost ended up facing off against Ji Yuan.

They were only one step apart, the distance was negligible.

Shang Shoucheng suddenly strode into the hall.

Everyone turned around and looked at him with surprise on their faces, not understanding why Shang Shoucheng had suddenly acted this way.