To Ask the World (Part 1)

"The Emperor is ill."

That night, the first thing Chi Lian said upon entering the Secret Realm and seeing Wei Ming was to inform him of this news: "The Imperial Physician has been summoned for treatment. They say it's a wind-chill infection and he needs to rest in bed. For now, the palace has sealed off the news, expressly forbidding it from being spread."

This was clearly unexpected for Wei Ming, making him pause slightly. "If it were just a common wind-chill, they wouldn't be this tense."

"I went to see as well, and it's indeed not that," Chi Lian said. "The Emperor's right hand seems to be not very nimble, and his mind is not very clear."

Wei Ming understood immediately: "A stroke?"

Chi Lian nodded, then added, "But the symptoms are relatively mild, so it shouldn't worsen immediately. However, The Emperor is at this age, after all, and has contracted such an illness. Once word gets out, everyone's thoughts will be entirely on establishing a crown prince."

Wei Ming sighed, "What a coincidence. I only submitted the case file the day before yesterday. Could it be that he was angered by Fang Tianchong?"

On the night of the fifteenth of the tenth month, the two of them used Chi Lian's spiritual power to completely rummage through Fang Tianchong's memories, finding the truth of Wei Chenwu's death. They even left him with three nightmares. The next day, under the torment of Wei Ming's psychological attacks and the nightmares, Fang Tianchong finally crumbled, took up a brush, and wrote a confession, detailing the beginning and end of how he caused Wei Chenwu's death back then. After pressing his handprint, he gave it to Wei Ming.

Because the matter involved an imperial court official, Wei Ming did not rush to expose it. Instead, he privately sought out a few witnesses from the North Land Army and obtained several testimonies to corroborate Fang Tianchong's statement. After being busy for over a month, he finally compiled a complete case file. Before it was stamped by the Three Judicial Offices, he secretly reported it to Emperor Qiansheng.

He just hadn't expected Emperor Qiansheng to suddenly fall ill at this critical juncture, and with a life-threatening disease at that. Under these circumstances, The Emperor's thoughts, intentions, and even all his actions became difficult to predict.

Wei Ming pondered for a moment, then asked, "Who is attending to The Emperor's illness at his side now?"

"Noble Consort Wu is still under house arrest. The authority of the Six Palaces has fallen into the hands of Consort De. Logically, she should be the one leading the various consorts of the inner palace in attending to him," Chi Lian said. "However, The Emperor has been exclusively doting on Yan Jieyu lately, spending day and night with her, his favor for her unwavering. Therefore, Consort De didn't force her way in, allowing her to remain in The Emperor's palace."

A person's mood is especially fragile when ill. If someone were to whisper in The Emperor's ear at this time, they might be able to change his mind. Wei Ming has no mother consort, so he has never been able to exert influence in the inner palace. But fortunately, Yan Jieyu and Prince Kang's mother are on opposing sides, and she has not given birth to an imperial heir. Wei Ming didn't ask her to speak well of him, just that she not cause trouble.

Chi Lian said worriedly, "The Emperor knows his condition; he must be contemplating the matter of establishing a successor in his heart. This is a critical moment in the struggle for the throne. It's hard to say what actions Prince Kang will take. Your Highness, be careful in all things."

At this juncture, if Emperor Qiansheng were to deal with Fang Tianchong and Wu Fuyong, it would mean he was determined to give up on Prince Kang and choose Wei Ming. Even without explicitly establishing a crown prince, as long as the other princes did not grow too powerful, Wei Ming wouldn't need to do much besides wait to inherit the throne.

This was actually the most ideal and smoothest path for him. But with Emperor Qiansheng's unfathomable mind, would he really let him get his wish so smoothly?

"Who was it that patted his chest and said I had the destiny of an emperor and would definitely ascend to the throne?" Wei Ming couldn't be bothered to guess at such uncertain matters anymore. He raised a hand and said, "What's the use of just me being careful now? May I ask, Lord Grand Preceptor, where exactly is my weak spot?"

When he wanted to hold someone, he would always extend his hands first, then wait for Chi Lian to walk into his trap. So Chi Lian walked over, was pulled by the waist to sit on his lap, wrapped his arms around Wei Ming's shoulders, and buried his face in the side of his neck. Like a small animal snuggling and acting cute, he mumbled, "Nonsense. Even without using spiritual power, there are few in the entire Capital who can beat me. It's more like Your Highness is my weak spot."

Wei Ming turned his head to kiss his long hair, held him and rocked him gently, and chuckled softly, "Is that so? But you're clearly very soft right now."

Chi Lian: "...You were the one who reached out for a hug first. I'm leaving then."

Although his words were tough, in reality, he didn't even move a finger. Wei Ming smiled, brushed the long hair from beside his ear, and tilted his chin to make him turn his face. He first gave him a light, fleeting kiss. "Don't go. Am I not your weak spot? Where does the unyielding Lord Grand Preceptor think he's going?"

This person's ability to trim his sails to the wind had reached a state of perfection; he had said everything, both the positive and the negative. Chi Lian was left speechless and could only lean over to block his mouth. Lips and teeth intertwined lingeringly, their breaths warm and fragrant. In the end, whether it was bones of steel or teeth of iron, it all melted into gentle spring water that flowed tenderly through every limb and bone.

Outside the Secret Realm was the deep cold of severe winter, but within the tent, a light, distant lotus fragrance inexplicably spread.

At the morning court the next day, Shang Heng relayed Emperor Qiansheng's verbal edict, stating that due to a slight wind-chill, court would be suspended for half a month. During this period, Emperor Qiansheng only summoned a few important ministers, refusing to see even the princes and princesses who came to inquire about his health. Not until the half-month was nearly over did Shang Heng suddenly arrive with a secret imperial decree, ordering Wei Ming to enter the palace for an audience immediately.

The Golden Hall was filled with the smell of medicine. Because Emperor Qiansheng's illness could not be exposed to wind, and the weather was cold, all the doors and windows in the hall were shut tight. The underfloor heating and incense burners were burning hotly. Although the room was warm, there was a sense of stuffiness and stagnation.

Wei Ming properly stepped forward to pay his respects. As he lowered his head, a flash in his peripheral vision caught a small, pink mark on the floor tiles in front of a nearby screen. It looked like the shape of a lotus, and the air also seemed to be filled with a faint scent of rouge and powder.

Emperor Qiansheng told him to rise and be seated. Wei Ming temporarily put aside the doubt in his heart and focused on dealing with The Emperor.

Emperor Qiansheng had recuperated for half a month. His complexion was all right, but his aged appearance was more pronounced than before. He looked very weak. Despite the heat in the room, a thin blanket still covered the lower half of his body as he half-reclined on a couch, the case file Wei Ming had submitted placed on the low table before him.

There were no warm pleasantries to be exchanged between father and son; the formalities were over in a few sentences. Emperor Qiansheng pressed a hand on the case file, his mind still quite clear. "We have read the case file. Speak, what are your thoughts?"

Wei Ming said, "Fang Tianchong confessed in his own hand, admitting his guilt without concealment. The testimonies of the other witnesses also corroborate the matter. Your son believes this is credible enough. The late Divine Martial General Wei Chenwu was murdered. We should dispatch men to retry this case, punish the murderer severely, and console General Wei's spirit in heaven."

The answer was proper and followed the rules, with no faults to be found, but Emperor Qiansheng was not very satisfied. He snorted coldly, "It is merely Fang Tianchong's one-sided story! He is wildly implicating a high court minister, just wanting to drag someone down with him. If all death row prisoners learn to fabricate stories like him in the future, wouldn't everyone in the court feel insecure, with everyone needing to be dragged out for questioning?"

Wei Ming said, "Father Emperor, please see clearly. Fang Tianchong's transfer to the West Sea was on the recommendation of Minister Wu of the Ministry of War. There was no enmity between them, only favor. If Fang Tianchong were to wildly implicate someone before his death, he should not have implicated Minister Wu. Moreover, Fang Tianchong never proposed to expose others in exchange for a lighter sentence. Whether he carries one case or two, he cannot escape the death penalty. A dying man's words are often true. In your son's opinion, his conscience was uneasy, which is why he confessed the truth of General Wei's death before dying, merely to seek his own relief."

Emperor Qiansheng stared at him grimly, his thoughts unreadable. After a moment, he asked, "Do you know what kind of storm would be stirred up if this case file were made public, if We were to deal with Fang Tianchong and Wu Fuyong?"

Wei Ming lowered his eyes and said calmly, "As this concerns a high official of the imperial court, your son did not dare to act on his own authority, and thus presented it to Father Emperor for a decision first."

"It is just that, since your son is in charge of the Dali Temple's affairs and responsible for judging legal cases, he should be loyal to his duties. I cannot turn a blind eye to an injustice before me just because I fear stirring up a storm. General Wei guarded the borders for Great Zhou for twelve years and achieved illustrious military merits, yet he was harmed by a villain, died an obscure death, and there was not even anyone to clear his name and redress the injustice after his passing."

"If Fang Tianchong is executed without clearing up the matter, allowing the true culprit to remain at large, and the truth can never be revealed to the world, then in the future when your son reaches the Nine Springs, he will have no face to see General Wei again."

Emperor Qiansheng: "..."

'How was this about himself? Could it be that Wei Ming would go to see Wei Chenwu before his own father did?'

"Nonsense!" He slammed a hand on the table and scolded sharply, "Your mouth is full of talk about spirits and strange forces! Wasting your days on improper pursuits, do you still have any bearing of a prince!"

"Father Emperor, calm your anger." Wei Ming conceded, not very sincerely, "Your son is a cultivator who piously believes in the doctrine of reincarnation. Your son's knowledge is shallow; he begs Father Emperor's forgiveness."

Emperor Qiansheng was also at a loss. Only after he finished scolding did he realize his scolding was unreasonable. He was the one who had tacitly allowed Wei Ming to cultivate immortality outside, and he was also the one who had forcibly kept Wei Ming in the Capital to participate in political affairs. The moment Wei Ming acted, he cracked two major cases, taking down a high-ranking regional official and a court minister. If this was considered an improper pursuit, then more than half the people in the imperial court should just pack up and go home to farm.

He was indeed intelligent, and indeed a handful, so difficult to deal with that he gave Emperor Qiansheng a headache—'could it be that the astronomical omen from that year was really true, that this son had a unique star in his destiny and was fated to become the ruler of the world?'

"Wei Ming."

Emperor Qiansheng suddenly called his name. His angry expression vanished, his gaze deep and unfathomable. In a rarely seen solemn tone, he said seriously, "We will give you a choice."

"We can handle this case severely, strip Wu Fuyong of all his posts, and restore Wei Chenwu's reputation. You also know what this means. We will make you the Crown Prince, and after a hundred years, you will inherit the great unification."

"But We will give the succession edict to the regent ministers. Before you ascend the throne, you must disband the Zixiao Academy, expel the State Preceptor, never meet him again, and cease all pursuit of immortality and the Dao. If you cannot do this, then the ministers will enthrone Prince Kang."

"If you are unwilling, then the moment you walk out this door, We will immediately burn this case file. From now on, We will no longer care whether you cultivate immortality or become a monk. We will act as if We never had a son like you."

Wei Ming slightly raised one long eyebrow, his expression not at all surprised, as if it was completely natural for Emperor Qiansheng to use Chi Lian to threaten him. Not only did it not make him hesitate or feel troubled, but it instead gave him a sense of joy, as if by a strange twist of fate, the emperor had hit upon the very thing he desired.

Before he could answer, a bad premonition of having made the wrong move suddenly rose in Emperor Qiansheng's heart.

"Many thanks for Father Emperor's consideration. Your son has failed to live up to Father Emperor's expectations and is truly ashamed beyond words." Wei Ming rose from his seat, bowed, and said cheerfully, "After your son and the State Preceptor return to Mount Ying, they will certainly pray daily for Father Emperor and Elder Brother Prince Kang, begging the heavens to bless Great Zhou with favorable weather and everlasting peace."