In the capital, within the Hall of Celestial Mechanisms, Emperor Hao paced slowly, walking past one corpse after another. Countless ministers followed him, holding their breath and not daring to utter a single word. The bodies were strewn across half the hall, more than fifty in total. Beneath the white shrouds, each person was a Celestial Mechanist who had entered the Hall, the very foundation upon which the empire relied to counter the Evernight Council.
Those who could follow Emperor Hao at this moment were all true heavyweights, qualified to know state secrets and well-versed in the empire’s history. For a thousand years, the empire had resisted the Evernight, with generation after generation of outstanding individuals. Apart from the celestial kings, the overwhelming advantage of the Celestial Mechanics over the Evernight oracles was a key factor. Among them, Lin Xitang, the foremost master of Celestial Mechanics in the past century, fought both the Evernight externally and the Longevity King internally in the Floating Continent, ultimately securing it for the empire as a crucial stronghold.
Although Lin Xitang had already perished, many believed that several of his significant plans were still ongoing, including matters of great national importance.
Given the critical role of Celestial Mechanics, the sudden death of over half the Celestial Mechanists left one to imagine Emperor Hao’s state of mind. A few ministers who had some inkling of the situation felt increasingly uneasy and deeply troubled.
Emperor Hao stopped before a corpse, crouched down, and lifted the white cloth, revealing a young face beneath. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, his eyes filled with purple-black bruises, completely obscuring his pupils. Even so, one could still see the terror and agony etched on his face.
Emperor Hao slowly replaced the cloth, stood up, and said in a grave tone, “Where is my Empress?”
At the end of the hall, a partition door slid open, revealing Empress Li, kneeling behind it. She lowered her head slightly, hands placed before her knees, remaining silent.
Emperor Hao gazed at her for a moment before asking, “I entrusted the Hall of Celestial Mechanisms to you. Is this how you repay me?”
“It is all my fault,” Empress Li said, bowing her head.
Emperor Hao snorted, “If it were just your fault, that would be better. Tell me, why did they die?”
“From a backlash during a Celestial Mechanism divination.”
“Backlash from whom?”
“Qian Ye.”
Seeing Emperor Hao’s increasingly harsh tone, a minister bowed and said, “According to what I know, this was not a passive backlash but rather an active assault by Qian Ye, leading to such a tragedy. Qian Ye is truly a traitor! He must not be spared!”
Emperor Hao turned, fixing a cold stare on him.
The minister trembled and fell to his knees, saying, “Please forgive my rudeness, but I speak out of loyalty!”
Emperor Hao responded indifferently, “I heard that Chen Rongzhi is your uncle. Tell me, why did Commander Chen leave his garrison to patrol and collect taxes on Yongland?”
The minister quivered, “I do not know about this matter. But since Your Majesty has brought it up, I must say, Qian Ye murdered the imperial commander, a heinous crime that cannot be forgiven! If we tolerate him now, where does the empire’s dignity stand? Where does the honor of our ancestors stand?!”
His words grew more impassioned, brimming with righteous indignation.
Emperor Hao listened quietly and then asked, “Are you done speaking?”
The minister hesitated, glanced at the other ministers, and said through gritted teeth, “For a thousand years, the Great Qin has never punished anyone for speaking. I, though unworthy, am willing to follow in the footsteps of the wise predecessors. If Your Majesty does not heed me, I shall die to advise!”
Emperor Hao laughed bitterly, “True, the Great Qin has never punished anyone for speaking, but that was only for those loyal to the state. As for those who spread false words, we have always killed as many as possible! I wonder, why did Chen Rongzhi ignore the vital military duties of the Fifth Legion and instead go to Yongland to partake in the spoils? Was the collected tax meant for the imperial treasury, the private coffers of the Fifth Legion, or even his own pocket?!”
The minister hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, Commander Chen was acting in the public interest…”
Emperor Hao’s voice turned cold, “I am speaking. Is there room for you to interrupt? Or are you, relying on your status as an old minister of the previous emperor, bold enough to disrespect me, the son of a songstress?”
This was a severe accusation, and the ministers knelt, pleading for forgiveness. The minister, hesitating for a moment, also knelt.
Emperor Hao walked with his hands behind his back, speaking solemnly, “Qian Ye has been dedicated to the empire, but how has the empire treated him? At this moment, any affection he once held for the empire is likely gone. How much of this current situation can be attributed to all of you, you should know. And how much of what you’ve done was truly for the empire, you should also know. Frankly, even before Qian Ye entered the World Within, who among you could survive one blow from him? Yet, you continue to provoke and challenge him. What are you counting on?”
No one dared to answer, nor did they want to.
Emperor Hao, unyielding, thundered, “You count on the empire’s name, the prestige of the Ji family, and the gratitude Qian Ye feels towards his mentor, Lin Xitang. Do any of these achievements belong to you? When Nighteye rampaged in Black Sun Valley, it was Zining and Jundu who led the troops and held the line. Where were you then?”
An old minister, mustering his courage, said, “Your Majesty, we are skilled in planning for the empire’s long-term prosperity, not in warfare. It is unfair to generalize.”
“Planning for long-term prosperity?” Emperor Hao sneered, “As the son of a songstress, you really think I am a foolish ruler? I know what little personal gains you hold. Those who truly work for the human race’s long-term prosperity are Master Lin, Duke Qingyang, and the old duke. What does any of this have to do with you?!”
Emperor Hao’s gaze fell on the minister who claimed he would die to give counsel, then swept over the others, his voice icy, “Remember, the founding emperors are my ancestors. Whether I have the face to meet them after my passing is a private matter of the Ji family. Who are you to use my ancestors to pressure me, showing your ignorance or merely seeking the reputation of a martyred advisor? Do you think future generations will be as foolish as you, unable to see through such tricks? Will history truly remember you favorably?”
The minister, trembling, opened his mouth, but Emperor Hao waved his sleeve, sending a gentle wind lifting him and softly slamming him into a pillar. The sound of breaking bones echoed, and he crumpled to the ground, the pain unbearable yet keeping him conscious.
Emperor Hao declared coldly, “Decree! Chen Rongzhi left his post without permission, collecting unauthorized taxes, a crime unforgivable, showing signs of disloyalty! His entire clan shall be executed!”
A servant swiftly drafted the decree and went to deliver it.
Emperor Hao surveyed the ministers, saying, “Who wishes to speak for Chen Rongzhi, step forward! Any who claim to be the mastermind, step forward.”
Only now did the ministers realize something was amiss. Emperor Hao’s actions today were drastically different from the past, reeking of a deadly intent. They were smart enough not to step forward now. Past strong recommendations required certainty that Emperor Hao wouldn’t react in anger. Turning strong advice into a death sentence was not the act of a wise man, and they all considered themselves wise.
It was only now that they remembered Emperor Hao was already a celestial king. No celestial king in the empire’s history was easily deceived.
Seeing the ministers’ expressions, Emperor Hao smiled faintly, “You are indeed smart, sensing the change in the wind. Now that the Dawn of the Carrying Star has been accomplished, what use are you? Any selfishness at this juncture is a sign of a death wish.”
The ministers trembled, too afraid to respond, each pondering what the Dawn of the Carrying Star entailed.
Emperor Hao turned to Empress Li, his voice cold, “The Dawn of the Carrying Star depends heavily on Qian Ye, a key figure repeatedly emphasized by Master Lin. Has the Hall of Celestial Mechanisms become so idle that half the mechanists were plotting against Qian Ye?”
Empress Li replied, “I was unaware of this, but I am willing to take the blame.”
“Take the blame? If the Dawn of the Carrying Star fails, can you bear the consequences?” Emperor Hao sneered, “You say you were unaware. Then who was behind it? Speak!”
“The previous assignments in the Hall of Celestial Mechanisms were managed by Sima Rutian.”
“The deceased director?”
“Yes.”
“Decree! Execute Sima Rutian’s entire clan! Any who dare to contest, their clans shall also be executed!”
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