Chapter 297 He's the Next One

The Golden Throne Hall in the Imperial Palace is where the Emperor and his ministers discuss state affairs.

Usually, the Emperor resides mainly in the Ziwei Palace.

After Old Master Ge left Yongshou Palace, the graceful figure of the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng, appeared outside Ziwei Palace.

"Greetings, Empress Dowager!"

The palace maids and eunuchs guarding outside Ziwei Palace hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng did not look to the side, dragging her long skirt as she walked directly into the grand hall.

Ziwei Palace is the most magnificent and luxurious hall in the entire inner palace.

Inside, everywhere one looked, there were gilded beams and coiled Dragons winding around the pillars.

The floor was paved with gold bricks, reflecting the brilliant light of the precious lamps in the hall. Pearls and jade were embedded in the carvings, and the jade steps of the imperial dais led straight to the gilded throne at the very top. Sandalwood incense curled in the air, and the entire hall was filled with an unapproachable grandeur amidst the silence.

Right on the incense table in front of that throne, an imperial seal of the realm about five inches in size sat quietly.

The seal was made entirely of an unknown white jade.

Carved on its top were mountains, rivers, and the earth, flowers, birds, fish, and insects, flying beasts, bustling markets, and the myriad states of human life.

At this moment, the seal was emitting a hazy white light.

Within that white light, the mountains, rivers, and figures seemed to come alive, dancing and moving around the white seal, which was exceptionally mysterious.

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng's porcelain-like, smooth face suddenly had slightly rapid breathing, and she unconsciously took a few light steps, moving a little closer to the seal.

"Why has Mother come here so late at night?"

Suddenly, a calm voice appeared behind Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng.

The voice was full of Qi, long and mellow, yet carried an unquestionable dominance, like a Dragon from the Nine Heavens.

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng instantly felt immense pressure.

She slowly turned around, her cold, moist eyes like obsidian looking over, only to see a middle-aged man, dressed in bright yellow robes just like her, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at her.

The difference was that the middle-aged man was wearing the Emperor's Dragon robe.

She was wearing the Phoenix dress exclusive to the Empress Dowager.

The current Emperor, Emperor Li Heming.

Outside rumors said the Emperor was critically ill and did not attend to state affairs, but looking at him now, he was vigorous and imposing; how could he look like someone who was critically ill?

"Your Majesty!"

The Emperor Li Heming before her was not Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng's biological son.

It was just that back then, the late Emperor, in order to win over the Yuwen Clan, married the direct daughter of the Yuwen Clan and made her the Empress.

The two were only mother and son in name.

In fact, Emperor Li Heming was quite a bit older than Empress Dowager Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng.

Because when Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng entered the palace, the late Emperor was already in his twilight years.

"I wanted to ask, when exactly do you intend to make your move?"

"Now that Xue Bai's rebel army has amassed troops in Central Province, battles are happening everywhere, and the Heaven-men from the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave and Nalanda Temple have also appeared. The Buddhist and Daoist Holy Lands have already entered the fray; a decisive battle is likely only a matter of time."

"If you wait until they truly smash Central Province to pieces, what use will it be even if you make your move then?"

Emperor Li Heming's expression did not change at all.

He raised his hand, and the imperial seal of the realm on the table in front of him flew into his hand.

Underneath that seal, eight large characters were carved in a dragon-and-snake-like calligraphy:

"Having received the mandate from heaven, may you enjoy eternal prosperity!"

This was the legendary imperial seal of the realm.

Since the founding of the human Imperial Dynasty, every dynasty had considered the dynasty that obtained the imperial seal of the realm to be the legitimate ruler of the world.

Although Southern Wei also declared itself an empire and established a dynasty, supported by the White Deer Academy, without the imperial seal of the realm, it was ultimately just a regime ruling a fragmented region.

After the imperial seal of the realm fell into the hands of Emperor Li Heming, it shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye, becoming the size of a thumb, and he tucked it into his sleeve.

"The time is not yet right; Xue Bai's Luck is still flourishing, and his fate is not yet sealed!"

"When the timing is right, I will naturally make my move!"

"Mother can rest assured; I will not forget the Yuwen Family's contributions to the imperial court!"

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng sighed inwardly; every time she saw the Emperor, he spoke in this tone.

As for what his actual plan was, even Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng herself did not know.

"There is one more thing!"

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng parted her red lips and recounted what the Prince of Zhenbei had told her.

"Yan Chu?"

Emperor Li Heming narrowed his eyes, a smile suddenly appearing on his face.

"An interesting young man!"

"If he can truly overturn the entire Northern Mang single-handedly, I would have to look at him with new eyes. Even the Dao Heads of the Buddhist and Daoist sects might not be his match!"

"Then how does Your Majesty intend to treat him?"

Emperor Li Heming smiled confidently.

"If he is sufficiently well-behaved, in consideration of the many things he has done for the imperial court, I can allow him to establish a clan that lasts for a thousand years, just like the Yuwen Family, coexisting and prospering with the imperial court."

"If he is not well-behaved, then do not blame me for being ruthless!"

"After I kill Xue Bai, he will be the next!"

Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng frowned; she did not know where the Emperor got such great confidence.

Based on the strength of Yan Chu described by the Prince of Zhenbei, he had definitely reached the level of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.

Not to mention him, just speaking of Xue Bai.

Xue Bai had the entire Buddhist sect backing him, and his Master was the mysterious Old Man of Tianshan; she absolutely did not believe that he did not have a guardian at the level of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown by his side.

Under such circumstances, for the Emperor to still dare to make such wild claims, he must have a powerful trump card hidden behind him.

It was just that she had no idea what this trump card was.

This feeling of things being completely out of her control made her very uncomfortable.

"Alright, Mother, the night is deep; you should go back and rest first!"

"Do not worry too much about the rebel army; just follow the established plan. When the time comes, I will handle it myself!"

Although the Emperor's tone was gentle, his attitude was unquestionable. Seeing this, Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng could only nod and say:

"Then I will take my leave, Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

After saying this, she turned and left Ziwei Palace.

She had come here tonight just to confirm what the Emperor's situation really was.

In the few sentences just now, although the Emperor had not leaked the slightest bit of Qi, at such a close distance, it still made Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng feel that he was unfathomable.

It had been some time since they last met; although the situation of the Great Jin Dynasty was becoming increasingly rotten, the Emperor's cultivation had become even deeper.

Emperor Li Heming watched the figure in the bright yellow dress swaying as she left; even though it was just a back view, it was still extremely graceful and stunningly beautiful.

A hint of heat could not help but appear in the depths of his eyes.

However, this heat was well hidden and only flashed for a moment.

After Empress Dowager Yuwen Feng left, the figure of the Imperial Astrologer emerged from the shadows, and the Emperor asked:

"Old Master Ge, is Yan Chu truly, as you said, a person of the Fire Virtue fate, destined to replace my Li family's empire?"

The Imperial Astrologer shook his head and said:

"This is all just my speculation. The theory of the Reincarnation of the Five Virtues has been around for a long time, but I cannot calculate the background of that Yan Chu, nor do I have complete certainty."

"However, the matter of the Buddhist sect and Xue Bai is imminent."

"How are your preparations coming along?"

A confident smile curled the corner of Emperor Li Heming's mouth as he said:

"Since absorbing the Imperial Dynasty's Luck, my cultivation has broken through the boundaries of the Three Flowers, and I have condensed a wisp of Innate fetal breath. Now, I am confident that I can slay those Buddhist and Daoist leaders one by one!"

"Very good!"

The Imperial Astrologer nodded and said:

"As long as we harvest Xue Bai's Luck, we can make up for the losses of the Imperial Dynasty and extend the fate of the Great Jin Dynasty for several hundred years!"