At 7:45, Yin Zhi Shu was in the Flower Goddess Temple, encountering the King of Wild Grassland for the first time, and was stopped in his tracks by a single sentence. 

At 7:45, the Emperor of Xiliang arrived at the Grand Ceremonial Hall. The appointed auspicious time had not yet arrived, so he had not yet ascended the throne. He was impatiently waiting in the rear hall, drinking tea and asking repeatedly, “Why hasn’t Zhi Xiao arrived yet?”

At 7:45, the civil and military officials of Xilang were all lined up. Lu Rui was at the head of the military officials on the right. His expression was calm, but his gaze was anxious, frequently drifting toward the hall entrance. The first seat on the right, belonging to the regent, was still empty. Everyone thought he was worried about the regent being late, but little did they know that Lu Rui wished nothing more than for the regent to be late forever. 

His hands were clenched tightly under his sleeves, causing a slight warm sweat to seep into his palms. Both sides were now racing against time. Whether Gu Zhi Xiao or the regent appeared at the hall first would determine which one of them was the final victor and decide the fate of Xiliang. 

Although the regent had not arrived on time, but given Wei Zhi and Gu Zhi Xiao’s traveling speed from the back palace, they should have also arrived by now, yet they are still not here. 

Before the outcome was decided, his heart would be burning as if it were roasting over fire. Three thousand elite guards were already assembled by the Yongkang Gate. With just one signal, they would rush out and surround the main hall, preventing any of the regent’s men from getting any messages out. However, if the elite guards made a move, then that meant there was no turning back. At best, there would be rivers of blood. At worst, the country would be plunged into chaos…a consequence no one could bear. 

In the late autumn chilling weather, Lu Rui’s garments under his heavy robes were already soaked through. Suddenly, amidst his tangled mass of thoughts, he heard the simultaneous sound of bells and drums. He was so startled that he almost stumbled!

The auspicious hour has arrived!

“His Majesty has arrived—–” The eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate announced in a powerful, piercing voice. Instinctively, Lu Rui turned toward the rear hall. The young emperor came walking out behind the screen, looking displeased, and Gu Zhi Xiao was not behind him. 

Lu Rui’s vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground. The words “It’s over!” kept echoing in his mind again and again.

Several senior officials who had received prior information gave him questioning looks. Lu Rui gave a slow, bitter shake of his head. As he rose with the rest of the officials, he pondered how to handle things if the Regent arrived first, such as how he would explain the gathering of the imperial guards at Yongkang Gate. 

He stiffly followed along with the rest of the others, chanting birthday felicitations. Inwardly, he was lamenting that all calculations were useless against the hand of fate. He had placed far too much trust in Wei Zhi’s great reputation. Xiliang’s outer court had Yin Zhi Shu, and the inner court had Empress Dowager Dong. They were a duo that formed an impenetrable iron wall that even he, after years of effort, could scarcely make a single dent in it. Yet he had been mad enough to believe that Feng Zhi Wei, an outsider, could really keep the Regent and bring out Gu Zhi Xiao. 

Perhaps the reason the Regent was not here yet was not because of being delayed by Wei Zhi at all, but because he had already sensed something was wrong, and was secretly making arrangements to deal with him? 

The thought caused Lu Rui to instantly break out in cold sweat. His mind raced like crazy, trying to figure out how to preserve his strength and break out of the grand hall if the worst really came to pass.

In a daze, many thoughts raced through his mind. He even thought of how to leave the capital. Amid the chaos, he was completely unaware of what was happening around him. His body automatically moved through the long memorized etiquette, even if his mind was utterly elsewhere. 

Suddenly, he realized his surroundings had grown quiet. 

Not that it wasn’t quiet before. On occasions such as this, no one would casually just speak out, but the announcements of the Ceremonial Directorate should have been going on all along. Now that the grating, shrill voice abruptly stopped as if it had been chopped off by a blade, the silence was that much more pronounced. 

Startled, Lu Rui lifted his head and saw that the head eunuch in charge of the ceremonies was standing below on the jade steps with his mouth frozen half-open, staring fixedly towards the entrance of the grand hall. Besides him, all the other eunuchs holding the gift registry books all wore the same exact expression, wide-eyed, staring.  

Meanwhile, the previously listless emperor of Xiliang had jumped up, waving his small dragon robe sleeves and shouting, “Zhi Xiao, Zhi Xiao—” 

Lu Rui whipped his head around. 

The red doors of the grand hall were opened fully. Sunlight poured down from the high heavens, unobstructed, as if a shimmering veil of light had been draped over the world. Through the hazy veil, a figure in long robes with hair tied back strolled in carrying a small girl in his arms. His stride was light and steady. Sunlight seemed to swirl around that slim silhouette, scattering the sparkling light that pricked one’s eyes and causing one to squint involuntarily— 

And in that blink of an eye, the hazy figure that had been basking in the glowing sunlight came near enough to reveal part of the delicate face and perpetually smiling, misty eyes. 

Wei Zhi. 

Upon seeing that face, Lu Rui abruptly let out a long breath. His whole body seemed to go limp, but then promptly straightened up in a hurry. 

He had come!

And instead of coming through the back hall, he had openly carried Gu Zhi Xiao straight through the main doors of the grand hall! 

That was indeed more fitting with Wei Zhi’s style. Gentle in manner but acts with lightning decisiveness!

While he was rejoicing, others were displeased. One of the Regent’s trusted confidants, a vice minister of the Ministry of Rites, was the first to act. He stepped forward and shouted angrily, “Who dares to trespass into the Golden Hall and disrupt the ceremony? How did you get here? Guards, throw them out at once——” 

“Shi Zhen! Who gave you the right to speak here!” Lu Rui immediately cut him off. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, “Is this Marquis Wei? Are you here to offer birthday greetings to His Majesty? Such conduct is contrary to protocol….” 

Before he could finish, Feng Zhi Wei had already turned her cold gaze on him. When Lu Rui met her gaze, despite knowing it was an act, he was still taken aback and completely forgot the words he was about to say. 

However, Feng Zhi Wei was already walking past him with Gu Zhi Xiao in her arms. As her sleeve brushed past him, a small paper ball was flicked into his sleeve. Pretending to wipe his sweat, Lu Rui secretly unfolded the paper ball. There were only two words on it, “Surround the hall.” (In Chinese it was only two words.) 

He was startled, surprised that Wei Zhi had already guessed his plan. But was he really going to take such a desperate gamble and surround the hall?

Feng Zhi Wei, however, didn’t spare the crowd a glance and strode confidently into the hall. The young emperor above was delighted and beckoned to Gu Zhi Xiao with his hands, “Zhi Xiao, come up here.” 

The emperor had spoken, so the eunuchs who were about to stop them had no choice but to back down. There were guards with swords in the hall, but those have already been replaced by Lu Rui’s men. After getting a look from Lu Rui, the guards stayed put and pretended not to see anything. 

Feng Zhi Wei smiled and carried Gu Zhi Xiao straight to the throne. The little emperor stood on the throne and reached out to catch Zhi Xiao, but Feng Zhi Wei abruptly stretched out her hand and lifted him off the imperial throne! 　

All text copyright @www.Ninja-Reflection.com  　

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