Chapter 320: Master Xuanxi’s Divine Retribution

Chapter 320: Master Xuanxi Faces Divine Retribution

If he dared refuse, the Emperor would not hesitate to have the entire Chu Clan exiled to Lingnan executed.

Xiao Fei's chest ached with a crushing pain, as if a fire were relentlessly burning within him.

He felt no attachment whatsoever to this position as the eldest prince.

"This son obeys the decree."

The Emperor smiled. "Do not disappoint Us, Fei Er."

"Make it grand. Make it thorough."

"The garrisons of Ningcheng and Yicheng are fully under your command."

"Father Emperor need not worry," Xiao Fei replied impassively.

What a grand gesture.

Nearly ten thousand soldiers from two cities—yet these troops would be used to slaughter the people of Wanxing.

"Your son dares to ask once more: When will Father summon Minister Sansi to investigate the impeachment?"

The Emperor chuckled. "Upon your triumphant return, We shall appoint you to lead the investigation."

"Your son thanks Father for this honor."

"Father, before leaving the capital, your son wishes to visit The Empress Dowager. May Father grant permission?"

The Emperor's smile flickered briefly before resuming. "The Empress Dowager has always doted on you. It is only right to pay her a visit."

"We shall accompany you."

Changning Palace.

Empress Dowager Xie looked surprised at the sight of the father and son arriving together.

"What brings Fei Er here?"

She gazed kindly at Prince Duan, and a rare smile touched her lips.

"Your Majesty, Fei Er is about to depart the capital with no set return. He wished to see you before leaving." Prince Duan's gaze lingered briefly on the Empress Dowager's graying temples, his voice thick with emotion, his nose stinging slightly.

He too had once grown up kneeling at Empress Dowager Xie's side.

Virtually her own child.

Both Empress Dowager Xie and Emperor Jingxiang had showered him with kindness.

"Are you being sent to inspect the provinces again?" Empress Dowager Xie inquired.

Prince Duan neither confirmed nor denied it, simply kowtowing deeply. "Aunt-Mother, please take care of your health."

Empress Dowager Xie cast her eyes downward, gently stroking the prayer beads at her wrist for a moment before removing them and placing them in Prince Duan's hands. Softly, she said, "This string of prayer beads has accompanied This One for many years. Today, I bestow it upon you, that it may bring you safe passage, free from harm."

Prince Duan received the prayer beads reverently. "Fei Er shall cherish it."

*Note: "This One" refers to the imperial self-reference.*

Seeing this, the Emperor felt a twinge of jealousy.

Empress Dowager Xie had not given him anything in a long time.

No, that wasn’t entirely true.

She had given him scoldings—and slaps.

"You may leave now. This One must begin her prayers," Empress Dowager Xie said as she knelt back down on the prayer mat and closed her eyes.

As soon as they left Changning Palace, the Emperor extended his hand. "Give it here."

Prince Duan pretended not to understand, blinking blankly.

"The prayer beads," the Emperor said, slow and deliberate.

Prince Duan sulked. "Father, those were a gift from Her Majesty to me."

The Emperor lowered his gaze but did not withdraw his outstretched hand.

Grudgingly, Prince Duan handed over the prayer beads with both hands.

The Emperor was pleased.

Empress Dowager Xie, back in Changning Palace, was just as pleased.

Prince Duan had shown he was open to working with her, and by gifting him the prayer beads, she had signaled her approval.

Xiao Yao, who had killed his own nephew for the throne and saw people as expendable, would sooner or later be left with no one.

…

Time crept into mid-May.

Rain finally fell over the parched counties of Wanxing and Beiba.

At first, the raindrops were small and gentle,

a light drizzle, rare as spring rain.

But soon, the rain grew heavier, and thunder rolled overhead.

Before the people could even enjoy the relief of the cool air, they began to dread the prophesied floods and plagues.

Could they really make it through this disaster?

Crash.

Crash.

Crash.

One after another, bolts of lightning struck the courier station in Wanxing County, splitting the beam in Master Xuanxi’s sickroom. As the beam collapsed, flames began to rise.

Right before everyone’s eyes, the renowned Master Xuanxi was crushed beneath the falling beam, his body mangled beyond recognition.

Director Yan of the Imperial Observatory, whose skills were lacking, studied the sky, muttering calculations, his frown growing deeper.

He could no longer make sense of the heavens.

It was utter chaos.

Even worse than when Emperor Jingxiang died suddenly.

Lu Yao promptly said, "Go save him now!"

"What if he's still alive?"

As soon as the words fell, the officers and servants at the courier station exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and rushed into the collapsing room.

Lu Yao also seized the opportunity during the chaos to enter. Though no one was rescued, he slyly extracted several slender metal rods and quietly passed them to Lu Mingchao.

These things were terrifying—they could actually draw lightning from the clouds.

He feared that if he carried them for too long, he might have bad luck and end up like Master Xuanxi.

Lu Mingchao stored the metal rods in her dimensional storage.

That fraud Master Xuanxi, who peddled lies and blasphemies, got what he deserved.

Prince Duan sent a secret letter: the Emperor had ordered him to bring Master Xuanxi back with full honors.

Now, crushed by a lightning-struck beam and reduced to ashes, it still made for quite a show.

After all, it was the first such case in Daqhan's centuries-long history.

"Director Yan, how should we explain this to His Majesty?" Lu Mingchao stood under the intact eaves, her brow furrowed.

Director Yan was dumbfounded.

It was as if he, not Master Xuanxi, had been struck by lightning.

"I... I don't know either."

Who gets struck by lightning over and over again?

Director Yan was convinced Master Xuanxi had secretly angered the heavens.

"Let's just tell the truth."

"The law does not punish the masses. With so many witnesses, His Majesty will believe it."

Her brow furrowed slightly.

The law does not punish the masses?

No—the one sitting on the throne would slaughter a city if he wished.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Director Yan, to prepare the report and send it to the capital."

Director Yan: He was just a fraud!

Director Yan took a deep breath and accepted his fate.

He begrudgingly ordered the officers to carry Master Xuanxi’s mutilated remains out in the rain and place them in an empty room.

Casting anxious glances at the stormy sky, he then hurried away from the room.

You'd have to be crazy not to be superstitious now.

Even an eminent monk was struck dead, let alone a two-bit con artist like him.

On the very night Master Xuanxi was crushed to death, Prince Duan and his entourage, wearing straw raincoats, arrived at the Wanxing County posthouse.

Upon witnessing Master Xuanxi’s horrific death, Prince Duan silently cheered Lu Mingchao on in his head.

He knew she’d come through!

But outwardly, he still had to keep up the act.

"What exactly happened?" Prince Duan snapped.

Raindrops dripped from the straw raincoats onto the ground, like little hammers tapping at their chests.

"Your Highness Prince Duan, Director Yan has already written the report," Lu Mingchao said softly.

Director Yan sighed and spilled everything he’d seen.

Prince Duan was floored.

How the hell had Lu Mingchao pulled this off?

How could anyone in this world bend lightning to their will?

Lu Mingchao: It had nothing to do with her.

Do evil, pay the price—heaven’s justice always wins.

"This matter must not be leaked to outsiders!" Prince Duan narrowed his eyes, scanning the room with authority.

Director Yan wrung his hands. "Too late for that."

"Your Highness, half of Wanxing witnessed Master Xuanxi being crushed by the beam and then charred by lightning."

"Many, fearing the impending relentless downpour, have already skipped town to crash with relatives elsewhere. By tomorrow morning, the news will likely spread throughout Yicheng."

Prince Duan: Good. Let it spread.

Could the Emperor massacre Wanxing? No way he’d butcher Yicheng too, right?

"Just who the hell is she?"