188: Chapter 188 My Beloved Consort Must Not Lie Anymore

"Just as I expected..."

Su Chen felt somewhat speechless.

"Another classic faking-death scenario..."

But unlike the previous two rounds of investment.

The faked death at the end of this investment round not only required his own willingness.

It also required Su Daji to kill him with her own hands.

Before Su Daji knew the truth, this wouldn't have been difficult at all.

But now.

Su Daji was already in a state where she couldn't live without him.

Asking Su Daji to kill him could be said to be harder than reaching the heavens.

Su Chen couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"You stupid system..."

"Such important news."

"Why didn't you say it sooner!"

...

The snow quietly lessened on the eve of the Great Altar Ceremony.

Atop the walls of Zhaoge City, the accumulated snow had not yet melted, reflecting the rising morning sun.

The long street leading to the Altar of Heaven in the southern suburbs had long since been swept clean by palace servants.

Fine sand was sprinkled, and red carpets were laid out.

Along the imperial path, armored soldiers stood in rows.

Further away was a dense mass of officials, nobles ordered to attend the ceremony, and commoners allowed to approach.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the end of that straight imperial path leading to the high platform.

Waiting for the King who had recently stirred up immense controversy.

Some said he was a tyrant.

Others said he was a wise ruler rarely seen throughout the ages.

But in truth.

Evaluating a monarch's merits and faults does not lie in the will of the Heavenly Dao, nor in the support of immortals, nor in the word of mouth among the people.

Only the tens of thousands of soldiers in sharp armor below the Altar of Heaven, and the well-dressed, well-fed citizens in the prosperous city of Zhaoge...

...were silently providing the answer.

Exactly what kind of emperor Su Chen was.

Deer Terrace, Star-Plucking Tower.

Su Chen had already changed into his sacrificial crown and robes, wearing a black upper garment and a vermilion lower garment.

The Twelve Emblems were solemn and complex; he wore a knee-cover and jade pendants.

The twelve strings of white jade beads on his crown hung low, obscuring most of his face, revealing only his sharp jawline and tightly pressed lips.

He stood before the mirror as palace servants made final adjustments, his gaze fixed on the sky outside, dyed red by the morning glow.

From behind him came the sound of very light footsteps.

Su Daji walked over, dressed today in the formal attire of a Noble Consort.

Although this outfit did not reveal much skin, for the perfectly proportioned and naturally seductive Su Daji...

...it served instead to further highlight her devilish figure and enchanting, coquettish aura.

However, compared to her usual appearance with Su Chen, where she barely wore a few scraps of cloth, she looked much more solemn and dignified.

She dismissed the palace servants and stepped forward personally to straighten the jade tassels at Su Chen's waist, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his cold jade pendant. "Great King..."

She looked up, gazing into Su Chen's dark eyes.

"Must everything... truly be like this?"

"My Master is, after all, at the peak of the Xiantian Realm. Even if I can launch a sneak attack and Your Majesty can use the Power of the Human Emperor, still..."

"Clashing with her head-on, I fear it is still a bit..."

At this point, a glint of cunning flashed in Su Daji's fox-like eyes.

She reached out her jade-like hand and gave Su Chen a few naughty pinches.

"Perhaps there is another way?"

"I am willing to use my frail body to go first..."

"There is no other way."

Su Chen interrupted her, his voice calm.

"This is the only path. It is also the path I have chosen."

He reached out and gently squeezed her misbehaving fingers.

"Remember what I entrusted to you."

"Timing, precision—life and death hang on a single thought."

"Your body hasn't been recovered for long. Once you complete my task, withdraw quickly. Leave the rest to me, and do not cause unnecessary complications."

Su Daji nodded vigorously.

"Demon Concubine Su Daji has committed it to memory. But Great King must be extremely careful."

"Master is cunning and full of tricks, especially skilled in illusions and soul-bewitching arts. She loves to transform into ordinary palace servants, old women, or even young children, making her impossible to guard against."

"Moreover, she carries many magical treasures. In such an important battle concerning the survival of the Hehuan Sect, she will certainly carry all the sect's treasures on her person. Your Majesty must be careful."

"I understand."

Su Chen nodded.

"You as well. Do not push yourself too hard."

The auspicious hour approached, and the sound of bells and chimes echoed through the palace city.

Su Chen let go of her hand, turned, and strode out of the hall.

Su Daji watched his back until his figure disappeared around the corner of a pillar, then slowly raised her hand.

Her crimson-painted fingertips touched her lips, where the warmth of his passing touch seemed to linger.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only a frozen chill remained.

Her outstretched fingertip caught the very last snowflake as the snow finally began to stop.

"Great King..."

"I... have lied again."

...

Southern suburbs, Altar of Heaven.

The altar was ninety-nine feet high, built of white jade, round on top and square at the base, symbolizing the round heaven and square earth.

The altar was divided into three levels, each with bronze ritual vessels, incense burners, and banners.

In every aspect, it displayed the formidable national power of the Yin Shang Dynasty.

After all, while the Ji Clan of Western Zhou loved worshipping heaven...

...it was said their Altar of Heaven was merely a small mound made of branches and dirt.

At this moment, the square below the altar was a sea of people, teeming with life.

Su Chen's carriage slowly made its way to the base of the altar under the gaze of countless eyes.

He stepped out of the carriage and ascended the crimson steps, one by one, steadily climbing the sacrificial altar.

Ritual music played, solemn and grand.

There was a faint stir among the crowd below.

Countless gazes were projected onto Su Chen.

Awe, fear, expectation, resentment, curiosity...

He took a deep breath, trying his best to remain calm.

At the same time, his not-so-formidable spiritual sense scanned every inch of the area, trying to find Xu Xinlei, who might be wearing a disguise.

The heaven-worshipping ceremony proceeded according to ancient rites.

Welcoming the gods, offering jade and silk, presenting the sacrificial meat, and the three rounds of wine offerings...

Su Chen's movements were standard and fluid.

His expression was solemn as his calm gaze swept across the dense crowd below.

As the sun rose higher, the ceremony approached its end.

It reached the final step—

"Partaking of the Blessings and Sacrificial Meat."

This symbolized accepting blessings from heaven.

Usually, a ritual official would present the wine and meat, and the monarch would take a symbolic sip.

However, just then, a slender figure dressed in complex Noble Consort ritual robes suddenly walked slowly from a passage at the side of the altar.

In her hands, she held a gold-inlaid wine goblet.

It was Su Daji.

According to ritual protocol, the person appearing now should be a ritual official.

Even if the official were absent, it should have been Queen Jiang.

In other words, she had no right to step onto the altar at this moment.

The officials and commoners below were all stunned, and a low clamor rose from the observation seats.

The guards maintaining order also showed a moment of hesitation.

Su Daji, however, seemed not to hear.

She walked with a composed pace, straight to the center of the altar.

Right in front of Su Chen.

Su Chen turned at that moment, just as he was about to receive the sacrificial wine from the ritual official.

Upon seeing Su Daji, his movements paused slightly.

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes showed a feigned astonishment worthy of an Oscar.

"Beloved Consort? You..."

He spoke, his voice clearly reaching the ears of those in the front rows.

"Great King."

Su Daji looked up with that stunningly beautiful face, the corners of her mouth suddenly curving into an eerie arc.