Chapter 46: Shang Rong speaks directly, Ji Chang falls into evil

  That beautiful Taoist saw Zhang Emperor Xin writing with ink on the wall, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, and his body gradually disappeared into the crowd.

  "What's going on here!" Zhang Di Xin was greatly alarmed in his heart, he had been extremely cautious, but unexpectedly fell into someone else's trap. The Mandate of Heaven is hard to violate, could it be that this is really the Mandate of Heaven?

  For the first time, Zhang Di Xin doubted the conviction in his heart, and after exhausting his mind to change his fate, he didn't realize that in the midst of uncertainty, he had actually returned to the original path of Xinyin. The way of heaven is vast and subtle, and the path of life is ultimately difficult to express.

  All the ministers were shocked by Zhang Emperor Xin's words, and just now the emperor himself was about to write this poem with a pen, why ask again?

  "Nüwa is the orthodox deity of ancient times, the auspicious master of the morning song. I, your old minister, request that you hold incense and pray for blessings, so that all people may rejoice in their work, the rain may be timely, the wind may be moderate, and the soldiers' fires may cease. When Shang Rong saw the Son of Heaven's countenance fall, he continued to speak as before, his emotions growing more intense, and he knelt down and proceeded, 'Now Your Majesty has composed a poem that blasphemes the sacred and wise, utterly lacking in sincere reverence; this is to invite guilt from the divine, not the ritual of the Son of Heaven's tour of inspection and prayer. I wish my lord to wash it away with water!'"

  Zhang Di Xin was now anxious and flustered, how could he listen to Shang Rong's advice? He still had doubts in his heart, so he asked again: "You really didn't see a female Taoist?"

  Everyone who heard it shook their heads, but when they saw Zhang Emperor Xins words were sincere and didn't seem like lies, they secretly opened the three eyes between their eyebrows, looked around in all directions, and saw that there was a faint scent of incense wafting from all sides, as if it was an aphrodisiac. Their doubts were immediately resolved, and they thought that this time someone must have been secretly framing them, but the method was too subtle and difficult to detect!

  Who would have thought that someone would dare to commit such a heinous crime on the day of the emperor's incense ceremony? Once this matter is carefully investigated, the truth will be revealed.

  Wen Zhong saw that things had come to this, and the matter of Qing Xiang could not be mentioned again, lest it shock the court and raise doubts among the people. He immediately knelt down on the ground and said: "Your Majesty's love for beauty is a good thing, everyone loves beauty, what's wrong with the Son of Heaven? Why not choose a good opportunity to select the best beauties in the world to fill up the number of the harem?"

  The harem of the emperor, only three people, including Empress Jiang Wenyue, Empress Yang E, and newly entered Empress Huang Feiyan, are far from the traditional numbers of three empresses, nine consorts, twenty-seven imperial women, and eighty-one palace ladies.

  The Emperor's selection of a queen is originally an important matter for the imperial family. If one were to be honored, they would become a member of the royal family and their rise to prominence would be imminent. Previously, many officials had gone to Jiang Wencan's residence to pay their respects, but since Zhang Emperor Xin was not in the palace for a long time, this matter was delayed. Now that the Grand Master has mentioned it, everyone's attention naturally shifted, and privately, they began to discuss it enthusiastically.

  Everyone here is discussing, but Ji Chang's brow furrowed, the things that Guiguzi said earlier, three thousand iron knights and eight hundred imperial guards, all turned out to be true, even the number of incense sticks in front of the emperor, and the method of inserting them into the tripod, also corresponded one by one. However, this was not informed beforehand, nor did he expect that the emperor would compose such a poem, let alone bring about such a disaster. His heart is now hesitant, wondering whether to follow Guiguzi's words or wait and observe without taking action.

  Zhang Di Xin knew that the Grand Master was helping him out, so he suppressed his anxiety and performed a kneeling bow ceremony. As he was about to leave, someone hastily called out: "Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot do this! Nuwa is the mother of humanity, how can you speak to her with such disrespect? Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"

  Damn it! Zhang Di Xin cursed in his heart, just as he had diverted everyone's attention, Shang Rong stirred up trouble again. This old stubborn man, how could he be so forgetful!

  "Someone, take down Zhang Rong!" Emperor Xian's heart was furious, but he couldn't say much. Wen Zhong, who was beside him, understood the emperor's thoughts and thought to himself that if the emperor were to get angry now, it would damage his imperial authority. This matter of the black-faced eunuchs could only be handled by himself. "The Emperor is offering incense, and you still dare to speak such nonsense, aren't you tired of living?"

  Shang Rong was taken aback upon hearing that Zhong had been reprimanded, and he found it hard to imagine that Wen Taishi, who had always been known for his straightforward advice, would behave so out of character this time!

  Bi Gan was born with a heart of seven orifices, knowing that what Taishi said must have had deep meaning. In his heart, he really couldn't bear to see Shang Rong being pushed out like this. He took a step forward and pulled him back, saying: "Your Majesty, the old Chancellor is probably tired from traveling by boat and carriage, please forgive him, I'll help the old Chancellor down."

  Shang Rong was originally like this, although his words were abrupt, he was ultimately thinking for the country. Zhang Emperor Xin was angry in his heart, but he couldn't pursue it further and could only temporarily put it down, indicating that Bi Gan would be dismissed.

  This side is more than seeing the emperor agree, pulling the prime minister to go out, but did not expect Shang Rong this age, still has a stock of strength, directly broke away: "Benighted ruler! You are infatuated with wine and lust, abandoning the governance of the country; do you not think of the former kings, diligently cultivating virtue, and receiving the clear mandate of heaven? Now again you do not listen to loyal words that go against your ears, our great Shang will certainly perish!"

  "Get out of here! Take this good-for-nothing away!" Zhang Disheng was already furious, and being scolded by Shang Rong made him even more angry.

  Hou Zhong and Bi Gan secretly stamped their feet in anger, thinking to themselves: "Shang Rong, how can you be so unreasonable!"

  Ji Chang watched from the side, secretly delighted in his heart. In an instant, a plan was born: "Old Chancellor, why are you doing this? Under heaven, all is the king's land; on the borders of the land, all are the king's subjects. This world is already yours, so why worry about just one person?"

  Ji Chang's words, on the one hand, shielded the Son of Heaven, but in reality, they subtly criticized the Son of Heaven for lacking virtue. On the other hand, they were intended to provoke Shang Rong and the officials of the imperial court, all of whom spoke in favor of the Son of Heaven. Now, as a loyal minister, see how you can handle this chaotic situation!

  "Old Duke, don't say any more, don't say any more!" Wen Zhong and Bi Gan were deeply afraid that Shang Rong would be deceived, so they spoke out to dissuade him, thinking that Ji Chang was a cunning calculator. This one sentence was like a two-edged sword, it was impossible to guard against!

  Shang Rong, at this moment, was on the verge of fury and couldn't listen to any words. Standing aside, he shouted loudly: "You foolish ruler! Seeing the calamity unfolding before your eyes, disasters piling up one after another, soon the ancestral temple will be in ruins, and the state will change hands. Alas, our ancestors toiled in the wind and rain, laying the foundation for their descendants' prosperity for ten thousand generations, a world of gold and jade, but you, this foolish ruler, have ruined it all! When you die beneath the nine springs, what face will you show your ancestors?"

  "Despicable! Don't take down this husband yet!" Zhang Di Xin heard these words, and his anger reached new heights. He slapped the table and stood up, "What are you waiting for? Why haven't you taken action?"

  Zhang Di Xin was so angry, also for the sake of protecting Shang Rong, telling him not to make any more trouble, but unexpectedly this old stubborn man shouted loudly: "Who dares to take me! I am a pillar of three generations, a great minister who has been entrusted with the orphan!"

  "I'm not afraid to die! Emperor Yi, my former lord and old minister, today I have failed the country and cannot save you, I am truly ashamed to face our ancestors! You foolish ruler! Afraid that this world of Shang will soon be handed over to others!" With a loud cry, Shang Rong's body flashed and he rushed straight into the dragon coiled stone pillar in front of Nüwa Palace.

  You scoundrel, how dare you not know good from bad, seeking death like this, and yet you don't even know the value of a precious name! Zhang Disheng's heart was greatly alarmed, his hand grasped a curtain cord and he struck directly at Shang Rong.

  Shang Rong suddenly felt a blackness before his eyes, and then he felt that his body was wrapped in a long cloth, unable to move or see anything. His mouth was also difficult to speak. The old prime minister knew that he couldn't be a "martyr", but he struggled with all his might, yet he was no match for the several soldiers on this side, who directly lifted him out.

  Wen Zhong and Bi Gan let out a sigh of relief. Although Shang Rong was stubborn, he was also an old friend who had served as a minister for three generations. To die by crashing into the stone pillar here would not only be a waste of his reputation but also a waste of his life.

  Ji Chang showed his concern and stepped forward to block the way. Just as he approached Shang Rong, a crisp sound rang out, and a cold light flashed as a dagger fell to the ground!

  Everyone's eyes were already focused on Shang Rong, and the object that Ji Chang had dropped was even more eye-catching. Zhang Emperor Xin looked at it from outside and slightly relaxed his eyebrows. Huang Feihu's duty was to guard the safety of the Son of Heaven, and seeing this dagger, he pressed Xi Bo Hou to the ground with one hand: "You carry this murderous weapon, what for?"

  If it were in peacetime, let alone a dagger, even if it were a sword at the waist, all officials would also be used to it. The Shang Dynasty valued martial arts, and it was normal for them not to put down their swords during the day or take off their helmets at night. However, when entering the Temple of the Queen of Heaven for incense, it was a grand celebration in the Shang Dynasty, and coincidentally, it was also the Jiazi Festival, which was extremely important, and even the Emperor himself did not dare to carry any sharp blades. The Iron Cavalry and the Imperial Forest Army were already stationed ten miles away from the Temple of the Queen of Heaven, and even the generals guarding the temple, such as Huang Feihu, were not allowed to carry sharp blades.

  This time, Ji Chang's unexpected legacy was a cold and gleaming dagger. Everyone who saw it couldn't help but be shocked. Even Wen Zhong and Bi Gan, the two men who had heard everything, furrowed their brows in surprise. The Marquis of the West was usually meticulous, so how could he have made such a mistake today?

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I am innocent! I...I did not bring any weapon!" Ji Chang was even more shocked to see the dagger, as he never carried a weapon. This time when he came to offer incense, he had even replaced his hairpin with a jade one, how could he possibly be carrying this silver dagger?!

  "This thing, isn't it a heavenly gift!" Huang Feihu heard this and became angry, his strength increasing, Ji Chang was just a scholar, how could he endure such physical suffering, his legs went soft and he fell to the ground, shouting: "Ah... Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I really don't know!"

  "Fei Hu, you can let go and see how Xi Bo Hou speaks." Zhang Di Xin signaled to Huang Fei Hu to let go, then walked forward. Ji Chang heard the words and slightly calmed down in his heart: "Your Majesty, this humble minister did not bring this thing, it was just that Wu Cheng Wang came over earlier and only saw this thing fall to the ground, I hope Your Majesty will investigate clearly!"

  "Are you implying that Wu Cheng Wang wants to assassinate me?" Zhang Emperor Xin's brow furrowed at the words, his hand pointing at Huang Feihu, "General Huang has been with me for a long time, and before we came here, he was still in the palace chatting with me. How could he bring such an object? Your words, sir, are quite suspicious!"

  "Xī Bó Hóu, you'd better not spout nonsense! As the personal guard of the Emperor, how could I be so foolish as to choose this occasion to make an assassination attempt!" Huang Fei Hu's words struck a chord with the crowd. If Wu Cheng Wang had wanted to make an assassination attempt, there would have been countless opportunities in ordinary times, how could he be so foolish as to do it at the Temple of Nüwa!

  Ji Chang knew that his words were inappropriate, and he secretly regretted them. However, unexpectedly, Zhang Emperor Xin suddenly asked: "Marquis of the West, are you planning to assassinate me or the Prime Minister?"

  "How could your old minister possibly assassinate Your Majesty!" Ji Chang hastily replied, and as soon as the words left his mouth, a wicked intention arose in his heart. "How could I possibly assassinate the Prime Minister... no... no... how could I possibly assassinate Your Majesty... no... no... how could I... how could I..."

  Zhang Di Xin's question was a trap from the start. If things were normal, Xi Bo Hou would have had a good solution, but why did he suddenly become flustered and make a slip of the tongue, getting more and more confused and making things worse? At this point, it's hard to recover!