Chapter 112 Neither advancing nor retreating…

Chapter 112: Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place...

"Did Chancellor really plot behind the scenes?"

"It seems so. The evidence is all there. Kebozhen is his subordinate—would he dare do this without Chancellor's orders?"

"But why would Chancellor act against Khatun?"

"Because..."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and the gazes directed at Kediyan turned suspicious.

With both testimonies and material evidence present, even if Kediyan refused to admit it, there was no way to refute it.

The muscles around his eyes twitched violently, his temples pulsed, and his expression darkened completely as he glared at Kebozhen kneeling on the ground.

This was his most trusted subordinate, someone who had always carried out tasks to his satisfaction—except this time, when he had been exposed by this Han woman.

Kediyan had already realized that this Han woman had purposely spread that rumor to make him feel threatened. As long as he couldn’t stand to see her successfully cast the golden figure, he would inevitably try to sabotage it—and she had been waiting for him to step into her well-set trap.

He had always been the hunter—never did he expect that one day, he would become someone else’s prey.

This Han woman was indeed cunning. His initial instincts about her had been correct.

When Kebozhen met his master’s murderous gaze, his entire body trembled, and his heart turned to ash. He knew there was no chance of survival—even if the King and Khatun spared him, his master never would.

No—Kebozhen shuddered, a sliver of hope flaring in his eyes. He had heard that Khatun was merciful—what if she spared him?

At this thought, he suddenly raised his head, veins standing out on his neck, and shouted desperately, "Khatun, I am willing to confess—I only beg you to spare my life!"

"You—!" Kediyan roared in fury.

"Good. As long as you confess truthfully, I will be lenient," Jiang Congyan spoke at the same time, shooting a casual look at him.

If looks could kill, Kebozhen had no doubt he’d already be dead. But he wanted to live—since he had already betrayed his master, he was past caring. He spilled everything.

"I only did this on my master’s orders! Yesterday, when my master heard that Khatun had successfully cast the golden figure in the workshop, he grew worried and ordered me to bribe this man with gold. That’s why I sneaked in at midnight... I never meant to frame Khatun—it was all my master’s doing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd exploded in outrage. Chancellor had truly done such a thing!

In the past, they wouldn’t have cared—Khatun wasn’t Xianbei, and many disliked her. But from the moment the golden figure was successfully cast, everything had changed. They turned accusing glares toward Kediyan.

Tuo Baxiao stared at Kediyan for a long moment before suddenly drawing his saber with a sharp *clang*, its cold blade pointing directly at his face.

"Kediyan, you sabotaged Khatun’s casting of the golden figure, attempting to deceive the will of the heavens. You deserve death!" Tuo Baxiao seethed with murderous rage, his voice icy.

As his words fell, the sharp edge of the blade pressed against Kediyan’s neck.

Kediyan wore a sheepskin cap with flaps that draped down to his shoulders, wrapping around his neck—yet even so, he could feel the steel’s icy bite.

"My King, hold your blade!"

Before Kediyan could speak, others couldn’t help but plead.

Once one person spoke up, the rest quickly followed, all urging Tuo Baxiao to remain calm.

"My King, while Chancellor erred, his crime isn’t worth death!"

"He has served the Xianbei faithfully for over a decade—don’t execute him like this!"

Tuo Baxiao swept his gaze over those speaking up for Kediyan and sneered, "Do you think defying the will of the heavens is just a trivial matter? If not for the Khatun's wisdom and the protection of the gods, he would have succeeded. What if the gods grew angry and brought down calamity upon us?"

The crowd was struck silent.

"My King," Kediyan finally spoke again. Though a blade still rested at his throat, his expression had grown calmer. "My King, I too was deceived by Aliudun."

"That day, after the Grand Shaman finished divining the stars, he sought me out and said the Fire Star (Mars) and Water Star (Venus) had appeared beside Antares, portending disaster for the Xianbei. That was why I believed the Khatun was the harbinger of misfortune. It was not my intention to defy the heavens—Aliudun misled me with his treachery. I acted rashly out of concern for the Xianbei."

By tradition, any celestial anomalies should first be reported to the king. Tuo Baxiao had never paid much heed to divinations, and Kediyan, for the sake of his own power, had never reminded him. Instead, he had secretly turned the Grand Shaman into an ally, using omens and celestial signs to burnish his standing in the royal court.

After hearing the prophecy from Aliudun, Kediyan thought of the Han woman who posed an ever-growing threat to him. Seizing the opportunity, he devised a scheme to go with the flow.

He had thought to tarnish her reputation and sow dissent among the tribesmen, but instead, he had only elevated her.

Now, Kediyan regretted it all—falling into her trap and spreading those rumors.

"If that's the case, My King, spare his life," Jiang Congyan said, turning slightly and placing her alabaster hand gently over Tuo Baxiao's sword-holding wrist.

At her words, the others quickly joined in imploring: "My King, we implore you to spare Kediyan."

Tuo Baxiao seemed to hesitate, holding her gaze before finally addressing Kediyan. "Today, the Khatun has pleaded for you. I shall spare your life, but I relieve you of your office as Chancellor. From now on, you may no longer command others."

Kediyan lowered his head, pressing his right palm to his chest. "Thank you, My King."

The ruby's jagged edges in his left palm had already drawn blood, but he felt no pain.

Tuo Baxiao sheathed his blade. "From this moment onward, the Khatun shall assume Kediyan's duties. Does anyone object?"

"We dare not," the crowd murmured, bowing their heads.

The Khatun had just succeeded in the golden statue ritual—her authority was unquestioned. Who would dare oppose her?

And so, the turmoil that had begun with celestial rumors ended with Kediyan's downfall and Jiang Congyan's decisive victory.

Back in the private quarters, Jiang Congyan lifted her gaze to meet Tuo Baxiao's eyes and smiled.

Her plea for Kediyan had not been out of genuine mercy—it was a tactical necessity.

Power was not just a title; its essence lay in how many one could influence.

Kediyan represented not only himself but also the many Xianbei purists behind him. If they were pushed too far, it could plunge the Xianbei into chaos.

This outcome had been discussed and agreed upon between her and Tuo Baxiao long ago. Their foundation was still shallow, and with Wudati Hou lurking like a tiger, open confrontation was inadvisable. A gentler approach might take longer, but it would be far smoother—a slow-boiling frog strategy.

In any case, she was satisfied with the result—but one question remained.

What role had the former Grand Shaman, Aliudun, played in all this? From Kediyan's words, it was clear that the initial decision to spread rumors was rooted in Aliudun's prophecy. One could say everything that had happened today originated with him.

"Has Aliudun revealed anything during questioning?" she asked Tuo Baxiao.

The smile faded from Tuo Baxiao's face. "No. He sticks to his original story—not even torture has made him change it."

Jiang Congyan lowered her eyes, thinking for a moment, then sent someone to summon Mo Wu.

At the Khatun's summons, Mo Wu dared not delay and arrived swiftly.

The moment she entered, she prostrated herself in deference, performing a full ceremonial kowtow to Tuo Baxiao and Jiang Congyan.

"This humble one is deeply grateful for the trust of the King and Khatun, and is willing to serve our sovereign with unwavering loyalty, even if it costs ten thousand deaths."

"There's no need for such formalities, Grand Shaman," Khatun said with a light smile. Her being so perceptive made all her efforts worthwhile.

Hearing her address her as "Grand Shaman," Mo's face lit up with delight. "Might this one ask why Khatun summoned me?"

"Nothing major," Khatun replied. "I only wished to ask about celestial omens. Have you observed the stars and performed divinations in recent days?"

"Due to the heavy snowstorms at night, I did not carefully observe the stars," Mo admitted with a hint of shame.

Indeed, back then, she wasn't yet the Grand Shaman. Even if she had observed the stars, no one would have paid attention.

"But last night was clear, and I carefully studied the celestial signs. If Khatun has any doubts, perhaps I can be of some small assistance." Mo's mind was quick and adaptable.

Khatun's eyes brightened. "A few days ago, Aliudun claimed that Mars and the Deceptive Star were approaching the Heart Mansion. Is that truly what the celestial signs indicated?"

Mo lowered her eyelids, daubed with ritual white, as if calculating something in her mind.

After a moment of deliberation, she opened her eyes. "Based on last night's celestial signs, such a phenomenon should not have occurred."

Her tone was firm. Having studied divination for decades, she had never made an error.

Khatun abruptly lifted her gaze, her pupils trembling slightly as she instinctively glanced at Tuo Baxiao.

There had been no so-called "Mars guarding the Heart Mansion"—Aliudun had lied.

What was his purpose in fabricating such an omen? It brought him no benefit and even implicated himself.

Just as Khatun felt a glimmer of clarity, an even denser mist obscured things.

There was someone lurking in the shadows of the royal court, watching them with ill intent.

"Very well, I understand. You may leave now."

After Mo departed, Khatun sat on a low stool, pondering the shadowy schemer, when she suddenly felt herself scooped up weightlessly into Tuo Baxiao's lap.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "No matter who is plotting, if they only dare to hide like rats in the dark, it means they lack real power. Whatever happens, we'll face it head-on. I refuse to believe they can truly turn the world upside down."

Tuo Baxiao was brimming with confidence, verging on hubris.

"You're right," Khatun conceded. Plots and tricks were ultimately coward's weapons. "But don’t kill Aliudun just yet. Release him and have him secretly watched. See who he meets with."

Though she said this, she entertained scant hope. The mastermind was too cautious—they likely wouldn’t reveal themselves. It was worth a try, though.

"Fine."

Tuo Baxiao lowered his head, gazing at her face so close to his, aglow amidst the backdrop of her colorful robes and filigreed headdress.

It had been a while since he’d seen her dressed so splendidly. During winter, she seldom went abroad, merely making toilet and wrapping herself in a thick cloak like a snowball. Though she was lovely even then, seeing her now in such dazzling brilliance kindled a fire in his breast.

He recalled how she had stood on the golden casting platform, gilded by the sun's caress, transcendent and sacred, like a goddess descended to earth. A furtive pride burgeoned within him—this "goddess" was his. He wanted to pin her beneath him, reduce her to tears, and mark her holy visage with his lust.

Just imagining the scene made his body tense.

Khatun sensed the sudden danger in his aura, as if a wolf had locked onto its prey. Her nape hairs rose. She tried to extricate herself and escape his lap, but his shadow engulfed her.

His lips had just grazed her cheek when the tent flap was swept aside.

"My lady, Lan Zhu is here," A Fei announced.

Khatun recoiled like one scalded, extricating herself from the man's embrace.

The moment Lan Zhu stepped inside, she froze at the sight of the two in intimate congress, rooted in mortified indecision.

"..."

Tuo Baxiao shot his bastard sister a venomous look.