8 – Offering Nine Thousand Years to the Heavens (Revised)
For a long time, Shang Guanqi remained silent. Jiang Lige said, “Since all my esteemed ministers believe the case should be retried, let it be retried as soon as possible. I entrust this matter to Han Chengxiang. Any objections?”
Han Chengxiang was a neutral faction, highly respected and virtuous, a force that neither party could afford to offend and could only seek to win over.
“This old minister accepts the command and will not fail in this mission!” Han Chengxiang accepted the order.
With this matter settled for the time being, Jiang Lige prepared to adjourn the court. “Are there any other matters to report?”
“Your Majesty, since your ascension to the throne, disasters have been continuous across the land. Recently, strange celestial phenomena have occurred, and now the people are filled with anxiety, discussing it in every street and alley,” one minister reported.
“Discussing what?” Jiang Lige pressed.
The minister said, “Rumors among the people warn that the calamity star is none other than Nine Thousand Years himself. The people are speaking harshly, demanding that the court dismiss Nine Thousand Years and offer him as a Sacrifice to Heaven to appease the heavens’ wrath.”
“Sacrifice to Heaven?”
This was a scheme—since they couldn’t kill Shang Guanqi openly, they were secretly stirring up public opinion, aiming not only to kill him but also to tarnish his reputation for eternity.
Excellent!
Although Jiang Lige sympathized with Shang Guanqi’s plight, she could not accept that he vented his misfortune onto others.
A tragic childhood could not conceal his bloodthirsty crimes, nor could it hide the fact that he had imprisoned her and stripped her of her freedom.
Jiang Lige glanced discreetly at Shang Guanqi, whose expression was grim, likely due to the repeated setbacks he had faced today, leaving him deeply unsettled.
“What do my esteemed ministers think should be done?”
Before Jiang Lige’s words had fully landed, members of the Thousand-Year Faction and the Su Faction began arguing fiercely in the court.
Trying to send Shang Guanqi to the sacrificial altar would not be so easy.
Just as the two sides were deadlocked in a heated dispute, a guard rushed in from outside.
“Trouble! The people of the capital have mobilized and surrounded all four palace gates. They say unless Nine Thousand Years is handed over for the Sacrifice to Heaven, they will not move an inch from the gates!”
Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials were shocked.
Jiang Lige ordered a few swift-footed military officers to investigate further. Shortly after, the officers returned to report.
“Your Majesty, outside the east, west, south, and north palace gates, there are dense crowds of commoners, their emotions running high, shouting to take Nine Thousand Years for the Sacrifice to Heaven. Judging by the situation, if their demands are not met, they may arm themselves and storm the palace gates!”
These words struck like a thunderbolt out of the blue, plunging all the civil and military officials into panic.
“What should we do? Since the founding of our dynasty, such an absurd event has never occurred.”
“If the public’s anger is not quelled, the consequences will be endless.”
The court ministers discussed fervently, while the momentum of the Thousand-Year Faction noticeably waned.
Duke Su seized the opportunity and said, “Your Majesty, Shang Guanqi has incurred the wrath of the people. If he is not sacrificed to heaven, great chaos will surely erupt in the capital. The court is in peril! I implore Your Majesty to order the Sacrifice to Heaven!”
“I implore Your Majesty to order the Sacrifice to Heaven!”
“I implore Your Majesty to order the Sacrifice to Heaven!”
Dozens of ministers in the Golden Luan Hall knelt and shouted, demanding that Shang Guanqi be taken for the Sacrifice to Heaven. Those who had once supported Shang Guanqi could find no words to refute them.
Jiang Lige looked toward Shang Guanqi, who was unusually quiet today.
Shang Guanqi met her gaze once more, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips. He raised his hand, drew out the Jade Bone Fan, opened it, and fanned himself calmly and leisurely.
“Does Your Majesty also wish for this humble one to be sacrificed to heaven?” he asked her alone.
Jiang Lige pretended to be troubled. “The will of the people is clear, and even I am powerless against it. Nine Thousand Years has been loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the nation, a fact witnessed by heaven and earth. The Sacrifice to Heaven could serve as an excellent opportunity to prove Nine Thousand Years’ sincerity.”
Hmph!
From her expression, Shang Guanqi saw excitement and eagerness.She wished for his death with all her heart!
“Very well,” Shang Guanqi closed his jade fan.
Everyone in the Golden Luan Hall was stunned.
Jiang Lige asked, “What did you say?”
Shang Guanqi looked down imperiously at the civil and military officials below. “As Your Majesty wishes, I agree to the Sacrifice to Heaven.”
The hall fell so silent one could hear a pin drop. The ministers exchanged glances.
Shang Guanqi had agreed so readily.
Duke Su, seemingly afraid Shang Guanqi might change his mind, bypassed Jiang Lige and issued the order directly: “The Office of Ceremonies must immediately announce to the world that the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony will be held at noon the day after tomorrow, inviting all under heaven and the common people to witness.”
Once the announcement of the Sacrifice to Heaven was issued, the commoners gathered at the palace gates quickly dispersed. Everyone eagerly anticipated the ceremony two days later, hoping that Shang Guanqi’s life could be exchanged for a year of auspiciousness to follow.
…
Shang Guanqi strode swiftly into Qingyang Hall, his movements carrying an air of desolation.
“Lord of a Thousand Years, you clearly know the Sacrifice to Heaven is a trap set by Duke Su. Why did you agree to it?” Wuhuan asked, both puzzled and concerned.
Shang Guanqi’s face was cold as he drew a soft whip and lashed it fiercely across Wuhuan’s body.
The fabric on Wuhuan’s shoulder split open, and a bloody welt immediately appeared on his flesh.
Shang Guanqi’s expression was stern, his anger barely contained. “Wuhuan, why is Xie Shu still alive? I ordered you to eliminate him by any means necessary! Why does he still live? Why!”
Wuhuan had never seen Shang Guanqi so enraged and dared not offer any excuse. He dropped to his knees.
“I beg for punishment, Lord of a Thousand Years. During my fight with Xie Shu, I saw him fall off a cliff and assumed he was certainly dead, so I did not pursue further. It was my failure, I deserve death!”
Shang Guanqi clenched the whip tightly, closing his eyes to forcibly calm his fury. Yet, scenes from his past life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
“Treacherous minister Shang Guanqi, disrupts court governance, persecutes loyal officials… plots to usurp power and seize the throne, intolerable to heaven. By the Emperor’s decree, execute without mercy!”
In his past life, he had been lured into Moon Departure Palace and surrounded by three thousand imperial guards. It was Xie Shu who produced the imperial edict ordering his execution.
Only in death did Shang Guanqi realize that Xie Shu was the one Jiang Lige trusted most.
Jiang Lige had conspired with Xie Shu all along, using him to deal with the Su Faction, then turning around to accuse him of rebellion and take his life once he was no longer useful.
Since his rebirth, everything had proceeded according to his plans—except for this.
The series of unexpected events from yesterday, from the inexplicably appearing stone tablet to Jiang Lige leaving the palace, Shang Guanqi had now found the answer.
It was Xie Shu. Xie Shu had returned for revenge.
He had approached Jiang Lige and used Duke Su to attack him. All the rumors, all this about the Sacrifice to Heaven—it was all Xie Shu’s design.
Their enmity was destined from their past life, but victory or defeat would be decided by him, Shang Guanqi!
If Xie Shu wanted to use the Sacrifice to Heaven to kill him, then he would show him what it meant to be hoist by one’s own petard!
When Shang Guanqi opened his eyes again, they had regained their clarity.
“Rise,” Shang Guanqi said. “I have a task for you.”