He Zhixian immediately understood upon hearing this.
It had been nearly half a month since Young Wei was poisoned, and it was about time for him to die. If he didn’t die soon, those people would start to panic.
During this period, Ji Chenghe had been secretly corresponding with his cousin. It was also during this time that he witnessed how some of the originally “law-abiding” court officials began to grow restless.
It was only when his cousin was “on the verge of death” and unable to assist him in court that Ji Chenghe realized how much he had relied on his cousin in the past.
Back then, it was his mother and Aunt who had pushed for his cousin to help him.
The art of rulership, military strategy, governance techniques…
All these were taught to him personally by his cousin, which was why Ji Chenghe addressed Wei Rong as “teacher.”
Standing in the secret chamber, Ji Chenghe felt a tumult of emotions.
Just then, he heard movement at the entrance and quickly turned around. “Cou…?” sin?
When Ji Chenghe saw his cousin appear holding a cat in his arms, he was completely stunned.
What was he seeing?!!!
His cousin was actually holding a cat?!!!
Ji Chenghe’s eyes widened as he stared at the little creature in his cousin’s arms, looking several times to confirm it was indeed a cat.
Wei Rong walked into the secret chamber holding A Fu, paying no mind to the astonishment in the emperor’s eyes, and strode directly inside.
Yun Fu lay limply in Wei Rong’s arms, nearly asleep, but when they entered a dazzlingly golden underground secret chamber, the brightness jolted her awake.
Her eyes fell upon the enormous Night-Shining Pearls embedded in the four walls, illuminating the chamber as brightly as daylight.
Supporting this vast secret chamber were four Sky-Supporting Pillars carved with Coiled Dragon Patterns.
The giant dragons had skeletons of pure gold, their bodies winding and coiling, with every scale meticulously inlaid from whole pieces of translucent jadeite.
Their heads were held high, mouths wide open in a fierce snarl, each holding a massive coral pearl as red as blood.
The shimmering pearls cast reflections on the golden scales and jade armor, creating a mesmerizing, fantastical glow.
The most luxurious secret chamber Yun Fu had ever seen was her master’s private treasury. At that time, she thought her master’s treasury was the most extravagant and beautiful place in the world.
It was also then that Yun Fu developed her fondness for all kinds of beautiful things.
But here, Yun Fu saw an even more, more, more beautiful and magnificent secret chamber.
For Yun Fu, who adored all things sparkling and lovely, this place was no different from a celestial realm.
“Meow ow ow~” Quick, quick, quick~ Let me down!
Wei Rong watched as the previously drowsy little creature suddenly became as energized as if injected with adrenaline, struggling to break free from his embrace.
No longer restraining her, he loosened his grip, and the fluffy little creature nimbly leaped to the ground.
As soon as she landed, Yun Fu’s paws slipped slightly, and she noticed that the floor was actually paved with slabs of white jade!!!
“Meow wow~” So bright and slippery~
She ran up to one of the coiled dragon pillars, instinctively raising her body and placing her two front paws on the jade-inlaid dragon scales.
“Meow, meow~” So beautiful~
The warm-colored little creature, like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, touched here and wandered there, her fluffy tail held high and swaying constantly behind her.
From time to time, she let out soft, sweet meows that echoed clearly in the secret chamber.
Wei Rong watched the unusually excited A Fu, a profound glint flashing in his eyes. So he had been right—his A Fu truly adored sparkling, beautiful things.
“Be careful, don’t fall~”
Wei Rong called out a warning as he watched A Fu, who had already climbed along the dragon patterns to crouch at the dragon’s head, stretching out a paw to touch the coral treasure pearl in the dragon’s mouth.
Hearing this gentle, clear voice, Ji Chenghe momentarily thought he was hallucinating.
Had the one who just spoken been his cousin?
Since when could his cousin produce such a tender tone?
In Ji Chenghe’s memory, whenever his cousin smiled at him, it was a cold, mocking smirk—words never explicitly accusatory, yet each time leaving him utterly ashamed, even wishing for death.
Never once had his cousin spoken to him in a gentle tone.
But now, his icy, sharp-tongued cousin not only spoke softly, but even his expression was radiant, as if bewitched.
Yun Fu was currently crouched on the dragon’s head, extending a paw to fiddle with the pearl in its mouth. As she pawed at it, the pearl spun incessantly.
This seemed to awaken her feline instincts, making Yun Fu play with increasing enthusiasm, letting Wei Rong’s words go in one ear and out the other.
Ji Chenghe watched as his cousin gazed at the cat playing with the pearl and revealed a helpless smile—a genuine one, with upturned lips, smiling eyes, and softened facial features, like an ink-wash painting slowly unfurling.
But when his cousin turned and sat before him, the smile and gentleness had vanished without a trace, as if the scene he had just witnessed was a trick of the eyes.
“Everything is arranged?”
The cold, indifferent voice was a stark contrast to the earlier soft tone.
Ji Chenghe felt the disparity in his cousin’s attitude toward him was rather glaring. Without comparison, it might have been tolerable, but with it, the psychological gap was immediate.
He was inferior to a cat…
“Um… yes, everything is arranged. You can rest assured, Cousin.”
The two began playing chess.
Wei Rong held a black piece, the dark jade stone making a crisp sound as it landed on the board.
“Hmm.”
The bland reply made Ji Chenghe’s hand, holding a white piece, pause briefly before he placed it, blocking the black piece’s path.
“Wei Qing, I need you to secretly head south during your feigned death and investigate the substitution of court relief grains during the southern flood disaster.”
This time, Ji Chenghe’s words carried none of his previous caution or hesitation—they were firm and resonant, bearing the authority befitting an emperor.
Hearing this, Wei Rong lifted his gaze, quietly observing the emperor before him.
Yun Fu, who had been playing with the pearl, also overheard their conversation. When she heard the handsome youth with a trace of youthful innocence refer to himself as “Zhen,” her movements halted.
Zhen? This youth was the current emperor.
No wonder this place was so extravagantly dazzling—it was the possession of an emperor.
Listening to the conversation below, Yun Fu couldn’t help but perk up her little ears, pretending to paw at the pearl while focusing all her attention on the two.
Ji Chenghe sat upright, meeting his cousin’s gaze directly.
Wei Rong, seeing the clear and resolute determination in the youth’s eyes, felt a flicker of complex thoughts stir within him.
He drew another black piece, trapping the white one.
“If you want my help, then answer me one question: Why are you doing all this? You’d better think carefully before you reply.”
Ji Chenghe’s heart tightened. Why was he doing all this?
Strengthen his position? Maintain his current standing? Purge the court? Seize complete control of power?
But upon careful reflection, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
The books on statecraft and governance his cousin had taught him ultimately served one purpose… the people!