37. I’ll Just Watch You Pretend
One was the Palace Master of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace, and the other was the Deputy Sect Master of the Cloud Rainbow Sect.
It wasn’t that there was an irreconcilable conflict between the two sects.
But because the two were completely incompatible.
The two, one on the left and one on the right, were like door gods, and the kind that could start a fight at any time. At this point, who could stand it?
Therefore, the people on the main seat felt that this emperor was truly a master of the arts. He actually dared to put these two on the same stage. He really wasn’t afraid that they would turn the entire hall into a fighting stage if they had a disagreement.
Of course, the two of them didn’t think so. Although Elder Zhao didn’t know that Gong Muzhi would come here, and Gong Yiling had never mentioned her relationship with the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace—if this was made clear, it would inevitably give Elder Zhao a bad impression.
In short, the current Cloud Rainbow Sect did not have the ability to directly confront the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace. And since Murong Jing was willing to let him come here, it meant that he at least wanted to win him over. Therefore, the reason why the people of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace appeared here should be for some other matter.
Since the two sides were irrelevant, then they would just be strangers. You didn’t care about me, and I didn’t care about you. That was all.
As for Gong Muzhi’s side, how could she possibly find trouble with the sect that Little Qiu Shui was in charge of?
And she naturally knew that the current Cloud Rainbow Sect was not a big deal. It was just another sect with the same name. She had no need to consider this matter for the future of the sect.
Therefore, this was simply a case of “the emperor is not in a hurry, but the eunuchs are.” Even if a few people jumped out to stir up trouble, Gong Muzhi and Zhao Huaiji would not take it to heart.
“There are a few other honored guests who may not be able to arrive here in time due to sect matters. I thank them for the birthday gifts they sent and express my regret that they could not come in person.”
“But before the celebration begins,” at this point, Murong Jing suddenly paused. With this pause, his tone suddenly changed. “I have a few things to announce.”
And just as he finished speaking, a commotion suddenly came from outside.
Logically, basically everyone had already taken their seats at this time, and it was impossible for anyone to cause trouble at this time. This commotion came suddenly, and it was even more malicious.
“What’s going on outside?” Murong Jing was very displeased after being interrupted by this commotion and immediately sent a guard to see what had happened.
This guard went for a while, at least for more than twenty minutes. When he came back, his face was filled with a bit of excitement.
“Reporting to Your Majesty!”
“What is it?”
“It’s… it’s the sign of a celestial dog eating the moon.”
“What!?”
The celestial dog eating the moon was a real sign of great misfortune in the past. The expressions of all the civil and military officials in the court changed instantly. But the next moment, they heard the soldier continue.
“But this eclipse was quickly forced back by the golden light that suddenly erupted from the dome of Your Majesty’s main hall. And after that golden light disappeared, it left this object in front of the hall.”
The guard, while speaking, had a eunuch present the object he had picked up. It was clearly a jade pendant.
This jade pendant was probably because it had fallen from a very high altitude, and it was very neatly broken into four pieces. But when the eunuch presented it to Murong Jing, it could be seen very clearly that these few pieces, in Murong Jing’s hand, without using any method, were closely attached to each other.
“Oh?” Murong Jing didn’t seem to understand the key to this for a moment and just picked up this jade pendant and showed it to everyone.
And the next moment, some plots that must have been arranged long ago came to the fore. Especially a few civil officials who checked the legislation, etiquette, and astrology immediately stood up and said.
“The celestial dog eating the moon was originally an inauspicious sign, which means that someone is now coveting our Youhan Dynasty. But Your Majesty’s golden hall has made it so that these thieves can only come and not return. Your Majesty will surely protect our dynasty and bring peace and prosperity for all generations.”
After these words were said, Murong Jing was very satisfied. And although his move was not clever, and anyone with a discerning eye could see it, there was no way to criticize him.
Metaphysics and the like were things that you could believe if you wanted to.
“What you said is very true.” Murong Jing was greatly pleased when he heard this, but he quickly put his mind on this piece of jade.
“I wonder how you would explain this matter, my dear minister?”
“This matter of the perfect jade…” The minister couldn’t help but look up at the people present, and then put his gaze back on Murong Jing’s head.
“There is one more thing.” That minister then said, “I wonder if I should say it or not.”
“What can’t be said here?”
At this point, this minister did not say anything more, but hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed. “Your Majesty, these four scattered jades are very likely to refer to this continent. The four pieces correspond to the Four Kingdoms. And in the end, the Four Kingdoms will walk towards eternal prosperity in the hands of one person.”
Here it came, here it came.
Until this sentence appeared, the previous words were at most just a prelude. Murong Jing’s true intention was also clearly revealed with the appearance of this sentence.
It was just that this routine was really old. Originally, Gong Yiling thought he would play some new tricks.
And Murong Jing did indeed follow this minister’s meaning and continued to speak.
“My dear minister, you don’t have to be alarmed.” He said, “I did have this idea before.”
“In my Youhan Dynasty, the soldiers are strong, and the people live a prosperous life. All my ministers, all my generals, and all of you have also made considerable progress on the path of cultivation. Why should we be content with a corner?”
“My ancestors, the original masters of this land, once created a peerless empire. All under the heavens is the king’s land. And the collapse of that empire was only because of the invasion of evil demons, and not in accordance with the times.”
Hearing this, Miss Gong’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
Perhaps others might not know who this “ancestor” he was referring to was, but Gong Yiling could tell at a glance that this old brother had found a wild father for his ancestor.
Was there such a way to play?
“Now, I also have a great wish to unify the world. But I don’t want the people to be in misery because of the war, and the country to be in a state of exhaustion, and to destroy my peaceful and prosperous era.”
“Therefore—”
“Your Majesty is truly magnanimous!”
A sudden female voice inexplicably interrupted Murong Jing’s speech.
“For Your Majesty to realize that war is just a waste and has no benefits, I, a humble woman, will first thank Your Majesty on behalf of the people of the several states!”
