Chapter 58 The Qilin Refuses the Commander's Seal, the Emperor's Killing Intent Appears

The noise within the royal tent instantly solidified after Emperor Yi's meager reward.

The generals who had been warmly congratulating just a moment ago now held their wine cups with stiff movements, the smiles on their faces like frozen masks.

An awkward and dangerous silence filled the air.

“Royal Father!”

Zi Shou could no longer hold back. He stood up abruptly, wine splashing out from his movement and spreading into a small, dark stain on the ground.

“Brother Chen's merit is enough to be enfeoffed as a Marquis! How can a mere title of Lord Wende reflect his achievements!”

“I, your son, implore Royal Father to hand over the surrendered Eastern Yi soldiers to Brother Chen's command and establish the Zhendong Camp to secure the borders!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire tent was shocked.

This was not just a reward; this was granting military power!

Everyone's gaze snapped back to Chen Yuan once again.

In that instant, Emperor Yi's eyes became incredibly cold.

He stared at his son as if he were looking at an outsider who didn't understand the gravity of the situation.

However, before Emperor Yi could speak.

Chen Yuan had already stepped forward and gave Zi Shou a deep bow.

“Your Highness's kindness is something I, Chen Yuan, am deeply grateful for.”

His voice remained steady, carrying a hint of perfectly measured weakness.

“It is just that I have been frail since childhood, languishing in a sickbed for thirteen years. Following the royal carriage this time was already a struggle.”

“In the Eastern Yi campaign, though I did not personally enter the fray, it has exhausted my mind and soul. I am truly unable to bear such a heavy responsibility as commanding an army.”

He raised his head, looking at Emperor Yi on the throne, a pale and humble smile appearing on his face.

“The King's bestowal of the title Lord Wende is already a grace as vast as the heavens and earth. I am terrified and overwhelmed; how could I dare to ask for anything more?”

“I only wish to be an idle person in Zhaoge City, praying for the King and for Great Shang. That would be enough.”

His words were airtight.

He both rejected the Crown Prince and elevated the Sovereign.

Looking at his sincere and weak appearance, the anger in Zi Shou's eyes gradually turned into heartache and admiration.

He only felt that Brother Chen's character was noble, viewing power like dross, a true National Scholar who did not covet fame or fortune.

Huang Yuerong's bright phoenix eyes looked at Chen Yuan's profile, her gaze becoming even more complex.

This man could easily see through her spear techniques on the training grounds and calculate the schemes of Immortals from a thousand miles away.

Yet now, he willingly gave up military power that was within his grasp, claiming to be weak.

Which side of him was the real one?

The generals and civil officials in the royal tent were also completely baffled.

This Guardian Qilin was either truly indifferent to fame and fortune, or...

His ambitions were so great that he didn't even care for the military power of the Zhendong Camp.

Emperor Yi looked at the calm, white-clad figure below, his knuckles slowly tightening around the wine cup.

Disguise.

It was all a disguise!

Would someone who can calculate the secrets of heaven, influence the Crown Prince, and win the heart of a general's daughter be content to be an idle Lord Wende?

He doesn't seek military power; he seeks the heart of the Crown Prince, the future of the entire Great Shang!

“Good, a fine 'indifference to fame and fortune'.”

Emperor Yi spoke slowly, his voice betraying no emotion.

“Since Lord Wende is unwell, then it shall be as you say.”

He waved his hand.

“Today's victory banquet ends here. All officials and soldiers, disperse.”

“Zi Shou, stay.”

“Chen Yuan, you stay as well.”

Everyone felt as if they had received a great pardon and bowed to take their leave, not daring to stay a moment longer. Huang Yuerong looked at Chen Yuan with concern, but she could only follow the crowd out.

Soon, within the massive royal tent, only Emperor Yi, Zi Shou, and Chen Yuan remained.

The clamor outside the tent faded away, and the silence within was suffocating.

“Royal Father...” Zi Shou still wanted to argue for Chen Yuan.

“You, withdraw first.” Emperor Yi interrupted him coldly, his gaze never leaving Chen Yuan.

“I, your son...”

“Withdraw!”

Emperor Yi's voice rose sharply, carrying the irresistible majesty of a monarch.

Zi Shou's face flushed red, and finally, he could only flick his sleeve in resentment, glaring at Chen Yuan as if saying he was too foolish before striding out of the royal tent.

Now, only the Sovereign and the subject remained.

Emperor Yi slowly descended from the throne, his steps heavy, each one sounding like it was treading on a heartbeat.

He circled Chen Yuan as if inspecting an object—a dangerous object he could not control.

“Lord Wende, truly a fine maneuver.” Emperor Yi's voice was soft, yet colder than his previous shout.

“Using retreat as a means of advance, you have gained the Crown Prince's gratitude and made the entire court believe in your noble character.”

“Should I also reward you further for this performance of yours?”

Chen Yuan bowed his head slightly in a respectful posture.

“I dare not. Every word I said is true, without the slightest falsehood.”

“Is that so?”

Emperor Yi stopped in front of him, the distance between them less than three feet. He could clearly see the fine downy hair on Chen Yuan's face and his terrifyingly calm eyes.

“Thirteen years ago, when you were five, you used tea to represent the mountains and rivers in the Golden Throne Hall, asserting that our Great Shang could gain a million acres of fertile land. At that time, my royal father felt you were extraordinary.”

“Thirteen years later, at eighteen, you decided victory from a thousand miles away in the Qishan Camp and slew the Chan Sect heretics. Now, even the Crown Prince follows your every word.”

Emperor Yi's voice dropped even lower, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue by his ear.

“Chen Yuan, tell me, what exactly do you want?”

“The late King King Wending of Shang left a secret decree before his death.”

Emperor Yi stared intently into Chen Yuan's eyes, not missing the slightest change in his expression.

“The secret decree stated that the Guardian Qilin can make Shang flourish, or... overthrow Shang!”

He spoke the last two words with great weight, carrying undisguised scrutiny and pressure.

The air seemed to freeze.

This was no longer a test, but a showdown.

However, the panic or anger Emperor Yi expected to see did not appear on Chen Yuan's face.

He only bent his waist more humbly, his voice carrying a perfectly measured hint of fear.

“May the King be the judge.”

“My entire being is thanks to Great Shang. All that I have learned is to serve the King. My heart can be witnessed by the sun and moon.”

“To make Shang flourish is my lifelong wish. As for the words 'overthrow Shang', I would not dare even if I died ten thousand deaths.”

His answer was impeccable, like a mirror polished to absolute smoothness.

It reflected all of Emperor Yi's pressure and suspicion back as they were.

Emperor Yi stared at him, silent for a long time.

He found that he was like a fist striking empty air; no matter how much force he used, he could not hurt the other party in the slightest.

This sense of powerlessness caused the fear and killing intent in his heart to reach their peak.

“Good, very good.”

Emperor Yi suddenly laughed, but there was no warmth in that smile.

“I am weary. You, withdraw.”

“I shall take my leave.”

Chen Yuan bowed once more, then slowly turned around, walking toward the tent entrance with steady steps.

His back appeared solitary and straight under the flickering candlelight.

At the very moment Chen Yuan's hand was about to lift the tent curtain.

In Emperor Yi's eyes, the string called reason snapped completely.

A suppressed, bone-chilling killing intent, like a bursting flood, erupted!

It wasn't a sound or a movement, but a pure manifestation of will.

The most primitive, purest killing intent of a monarch when wanting to eliminate a threat!

The temperature of the entire royal tent seemed to suddenly drop to the freezing point.

Chen Yuan's steps didn't pause in the slightest.

He lifted the curtain and stepped out, his figure vanishing into the night.

As if he had felt nothing at all.

But at the moment he turned, deep within his always calm eyes.

A cold light deeper than the night outside flashed.

He had felt it.

That bone-clinging killing intent, like an invisible ice needle, was pinned firmly to his back.

Meanwhile.

Within the Chen Manor's Side Courtyard in Zhaoge City.

Yunxiao, who was sitting quietly by the window meditating on the stars, suddenly opened her eyes.

Her delicate brows furrowed as she looked toward the distant Mount Qi, a hint of unprecedented gravity flashing in her eyes.

“Not good!”

In the next room, Bixiao and Qiong Xiao, who were also meditating, were startled by that distant killing intent and burst out of their doors at the same time.

“Sister, it's Emperor Yi!” Bixiao's voice was full of anger.

“He has developed killing intent!”

Yunxiao didn't speak; she only slowly stood up, a clear yet majestic aura quietly circulating around her.

The Emperor wants to kill the Qilin.

The most dangerous step in this game of chess has arrived early.