CHAPTER 2041: CHAPTER 2043: CUI IS DEAD

"Bang..."

As soon as Baili Yan finished speaking, the Grand Emperor flipped the table, sending wine and dishes scattering everywhere. Baili Yan couldn’t dodge in time, staining his dragon robe with some broth.

"Outrageous, you want to imprison me in the imperial temple? Are you actually forcing me to become a monk?"

At this moment, the Grand Emperor was both furious and angry, pointing a finger at Baili Yan, as if his eyes could shoot fire at any moment.

"What’s wrong with becoming a monk? Father Emperor, do you look down on monks? Or are you unwilling to protect the dragon’s pulse of Great Zhou? Or perhaps you do not wish for the prosperity of Great Zhou for all eternity?"

In fact, Baili Yan didn’t intend for the Grand Emperor to become a monk; he simply wanted to confine him in the imperial temple. But the Grand Emperor misunderstood, so Baili Yan followed through with the misunderstanding.

"Father Emperor, don’t forget, the ancestors of the Baili Family are enshrined in the imperial temple. Monks have been chanting sutras and praying for the celestial spirits of the Baili Family for years. Saying such things, Father Emperor, where does that leave the masters in the temple?"

"Moreover, Father Emperor is old and idle in the palace. Now, Great Zhou and Great Qi are at war, and the outcome is uncertain. If we win, Great Zhou will enjoy at least ten years of peace. But if we lose, Great Qi’s iron cavalry might someday storm into the Capital City. In the face of such peril, does Father Emperor truly not wish to contribute to Great Zhou?"

"Don’t try to sound so noble, doing it for Great Zhou! You’re just trying to imprison me! You want to murder me, murder your own father!"

The Grand Emperor thought about how the temple was quiet and secluded, far removed from the Capital City and the palace, only visited during the new and full moon. If Baili Yan were to secretly kill him there, no one would know.

And then conceal it so well that no one would ever investigate.

"Cui, Cui, quickly have someone summon the Seventh!"

"Have the Eighth find Prince He!"

But after calling for quite a while, Eunuch Cui still hadn’t come in, and the Grand Emperor realized something was amiss.

"Where has Cui gone?" The Grand Emperor suddenly sensed the breath of death, so gloomy.

"Dead!" Baili Yan sneered, "What use is a turncoat who betrays us? Living off me and then helping others against me—if I don’t kill him, it would disgrace the bloodthirsty nature of the Baili Family."

"You!"

The Grand Emperor took a step backward, and not standing firmly, he fell to the ground, suddenly realizing this son seemed so unfamiliar, as if he had never known him.

Seeing his fear, Baili Yan suddenly felt contempt. How had he spent all these years on the throne?

"What are you afraid of, Father Emperor? Could it be that your son would kill you? We are, after all, father and son—I haven’t become that heartless."

Baili Yan sneered, "Of course, that’s on the condition that Father Emperor genuinely protects the dragon’s pulse of Great Zhou. If you do, you’ll be a hero to the Baili Family, and no matter what I want to do to you, the spirits of the Baili Family won’t agree, wouldn’t you say?"

"Tomorrow, the Imperial Army will escort Father Emperor to the imperial temple, with Seventh and Eighth accompanying you. The head monk will personally perform tonsure; his skills are excellent, Father Emperor, do not worry about accidentally losing your head during tonsure. Thanks to Father Emperor, today’s banquet was quite wondrous, so tomorrow’s early court session will be missed. I have just the time to see you off at the palace gates."

As Baili Yan spoke, he stepped out the door, and the dumbfounded Grand Emperor chased after him, "You can’t take your Seventh and Eighth brothers along!"

"Can’t go?" Baili Yan turned back to look at the Grand Emperor, and said blandly, "Then to the imperial tombs it is."