93: The killing intent rises, the unprecedented rebellious person [Explosion asks for help to forward the book

He slowly, yet with absolute clarity, drew the sword from his waist.

The blade was long and narrow, like a clear autumn stream.

There was no hesitation, not even a hint of superfluous emotion.

Gong Jiu's gaze was cold and pure.

He held the sword with one hand, tracing a chilling arc in the dim light.

Swift! Precise! Ruthless! Resolute!

"Pfft—!"

Blood gushed forth like a broken dam from the severed neck, instantly staining the zitan wood desk, then dripping onto the carpet along the table's edge, spreading into large patches of dark brown.

"Thank you, Master, for fulfilling my wish!"

He picked up a piece of brocade from the ground, originally used to wrap a Secret Manual, and meticulously wrapped Wu Ming's head.

The brocade quickly became soaked with blood, heavy and emitting a strong, metallic scent.

Having completed all this, Gong Jiu picked up the wrapped head, placed it in a brocade box, and without another glance at the secret room, turned and strode away.

"Halt! This is a heavily guarded palace area, who dares trespass at night?"

The leading captain shouted sternly, his voice particularly harsh in the silent night.

Gong Jiu stopped, his head slightly lowered:

"Your Majesty, this sinner, Prince Taiping's heir, Zhu Yitan, presents the head of the rebellious bandit, Wu Ming, and requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"The bandit Wu is dead! Please inform the general!"

"Your Highness, please wait a moment, I shall report immediately!"

After about half an hour, the palace gate was opened.

"Your Majesty summons Prince Taiping's heir, Zhu Yitan, to the Imperial Study for an audience! Your Highness, please enter!"

Gong Jiu took a deep breath, clutching the brocade box, and stepped through the palace gate.

The Imperial Study was brightly lit, yet remarkably quiet.

The Emperor, dressed in a bright yellow everyday robe, did not sit behind the imperial desk, but stood with his hands clasped behind his back before a large window lattice, his back to the door.

Outside was the deep night, and his figure appeared somewhat solitary in the bright light.

Feng Bao stood to one side, eyes downcast, like a shadow.

Several other Imperial Guards stood by the door.

Gong Jiu stopped at the threshold, not entering the room, and knelt heavily on the cold, hard golden brick floor, producing a dull thud.

He held the blood-stained brocade box high above his head, his own head bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty, this sinful subject, Zhu Yitan, kowtows before Your Majesty!"

The Emperor slowly turned around.

His gaze did not immediately fall on Gong Jiu, but first swept over the square brocade box.

His eyes were calm and unmoving, like a bottomless ancient pool, without a single ripple.

A moment later, his gaze shifted to Gong Jiu, who knelt on the ground.

"Open it."

The Emperor's voice was not loud, yet it clearly pierced the silence of the Imperial Study, carrying an undeniable authority.

Gong Jiu's body tensed imperceptibly for a moment.

He obeyed, carefully lifting the lid of the brocade box.

An even stronger scent of blood immediately permeated the air.

Inside the brocade box, a white-haired head lay quietly. It was indeed the old man, Wu Ming.

His face was ashen, and the crimson needle mark on his brow was like a brand, dazzling and conspicuous.

His eyes were slightly closed, but a faint, extremely eerie curve seemed frozen on the corner of his mouth, as if he were mocking something.

The Emperor's gaze rested on the red mark on Wu Ming's brow for several breaths.

"Who is this person?"

"Your Majesty, this man is a great overseas bandit, the King of Assassins, Wu Ming! His martial arts are rarely matched in the world, and he is also this subject's Master."

"Your Majesty!" His voice choked: "This subject... this subject has endured humiliation for too long!

This old villain! He harbored malicious intentions, used my Prince Taiping's Estate, bewitched me, and plotted rebellion! His Heart-Nature is punishable! His actions must be eradicated!

And... and he even killed Beef Soup, whom I regarded as my own sister!"

Gong Jiu's voice suddenly rose, filled with deep-seated hatred, his body trembling slightly from emotion, as if the animosity had seeped into his very bones:

"Day and night, all I thought of was finding an opportunity to personally slay this scoundrel!

Today... today, Heaven assisted me; he was gravely injured, allowing me to fulfill my long-held wish!

This subject dares not claim credit, I only seek to use this villain's head to wash away the infamy suffered by my Prince Taiping's Estate! I beg Your Majesty for your discerning judgment!"

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed heavily again, his forehead hitting the golden bricks with a dull thud.

The Imperial Study fell into a deep silence, broken only by Gong Jiu's slightly heavy breathing.

The Emperor looked at him, his eyes deep and unfathomable, and slowly paced towards the imperial desk.

"Prince Taiping's heir..."

The Emperor sat behind the imperial desk, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth, cold zitan wood surface, producing a regular, low thudding sound, each tap like a strike on Gong Jiu's taut Heart-Nature.

"Feudal lords' heirs from various regions are not permitted to enter the capital without a summons; your unauthorized entry into the capital is a grave error to begin with."

"However, Prince Taiping is loyal and brave, serving the nation, guarding the Nine Prefectures of Jin and Yan, and has rendered great service."

"Yitan, you..."

He paused, his gaze, like a physical presence, fell upon Gong Jiu, "...are able to distinguish right from wrong, uphold righteousness, and personally execute this great bandit. Very good. Prince Taiping's Estate should possess such loyalty and righteousness."

A huge weight lifted from Gong Jiu's Heart-Nature. As expected! The Emperor accepted his explanation!

He suppressed his surging emotions, kowtowed again, his voice clearly hoarse and grateful, as if from a narrow escape:

"Thank Your Majesty for your great benevolence! This subject and my father will surely dedicate our lives to repay Your Majesty's great benevolence!"

"Go!" The Emperor waved his hand, dismissing him.

Gong Jiu respectfully rose, slowly backing away, and only turned to leave once he was outside the door.

After he left, Wei Ziyun, Tu Fang, Yin Xian, Ding Ao, and Jin Qiliang, who were by the door, all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty, this scoundrel is too dangerous; you must never allow him near you again!" Wei Ziyun was the first to bow and say.

"Feng Bao, what do you think?" The Emperor did not look at Wei Ziyun, but at Feng Bao as he asked.

"This scoundrel is a mad dog!" Feng Bao immediately bowed, his face extremely somber:

"This servant sensed three instances of dense, palpable killing intent from him just now!

Once when Your Majesty turned around, once when Your Majesty mentioned Prince Taiping's loyalty and bravery, and another just as he bowed out and turned to leave!

His arrogance, his malicious intent, are plainly revealed! Keeping him will surely lead to great trouble!"

Wei Ziyun and the other four Imperial Guard commanders also knelt on one knee in unison, their voices firm:

"This subordinate's protection was inadequate, allowing Your Majesty to be in danger; this subordinate deserves ten thousand deaths! This scoundrel's martial arts are Weird, and his Heart-Nature is deranged, just as Eunuch Feng said, he cannot be kept!"

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling them to rise, his gaze still fixed on the brocade box:

"Enduring humiliation? Upholding righteousness by eliminating a relative? He played it quite well.

Unfortunately, he forgot that every day I face the entire court of civil and military officials, and they are the best actors in this world.

Zhu Yitan, when it comes to acting, is still too green!"

A faint, cold arc played on his lips, as if in mockery.

"He thought that by presenting Wu Ming's head, he could clear his name, and make me drop my guard against him?

Naive! Prince Taiping is a good blade, but unfortunately, this blade points towards my empire, towards my Dragon throne! How can I tolerate him?"

Feng Bao's eyes flashed, and he said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Prince Taiping commands an army of 500,000, is stationed in the Nine Prefectures of Jin and Yan, and has a deep Foundation.

We cannot act rashly; if Your Majesty moves against him now, it might alert him, and if Prince Taiping is truly forced into rebellion... the nation will surely be in turmoil, facing the danger of overthrow!"

"Forced into rebellion... how dare I force him into rebellion? I too fear that this imperial uncle might stage another Jingnan..."

"Issue the decree." The Emperor's voice was decisive, carrying an undeniable resolution:

"First, order Imperial Guards Commander Yu Qian and Eastern Depot Director Feng Bao to immediately and closely monitor all movements of Prince Taiping's heir, Zhu Yitan, in the capital!

Whom he meets, what he says, where he stays—every detail, no matter how small, is to be reported daily! When he leaves the capital, keep a close watch on his route back to the Nine Prefectures of Jin and Yan!"

"Second, send a homing pigeon to the Northern Commandery, instructing them to closely monitor the movements of Prince Taiping's Estate and the great camp in the Nine Prefectures of Jin and Yan; any unusual troop movements are to be reported immediately via urgent dispatch!

Order Prince Taiping's subordinate generals and assistant generals, all those with loyal hearts to the Emperor and the nation, to secretly observe the movements of Prince Taiping and his son, and to await the court's secret orders at any time!"

"Third, summon the Protector of the Nation Sword Saint Lu Jiuyuan... No, let my second brother 'recover from his injuries' well."

The Emperor paused, a flicker of imperceptible concern in his eyes, immediately replaced by deeper calculations, "Tell my brother, the snake has left its hole, the bait has been taken.

The day Zhu Yitan leaves the capital will be the time to cast the net! I must ensure that this mad dog never returns to the Nine Prefectures of Jin and Yan!"

"This servant (this subordinate) obeys the decree!"

Feng Bao and the four commanders responded in unison, their voices echoing in the silent Imperial Study, carrying a chilling aura of Suicide.

"Zhuge Liang of Nanyang, sitting steadily in the central army tent, lays out the Bagua Formation, specifically to capture the flying general..."