Chapter 127 (1/2)

Chapter 127: Magic Tricks

”The State Preceptor?” the third prince exclaimed. ”You're out of your mind!”

Cold sweat broke out of his skin, and his fingers trembled around the blood jade. To understand the reason why the prince reacted so strongly, one had to look back to what had happened in Northern Qi decades ago. At the time, Northern Qi still had a State Preceptor, whom the then emperor trusted with all his heart. He even allowed the State Preceptor to enter the area where the harem resided in freely.

The now emperor had been a child reared in swaddling clothes. Ever since his birth, he was considered to be the crown prince. His father was very fond of him.

But the emperor's trusted State Preceptor colluded with other officials and laid his dirty hands on the harem. He got involved with one of the emperor's consorts and almost got the crown prince killed for his own gain.

A mere State Preceptor like him was able to manipulate the fate of the entire country. Even the emperor hadn't realized his true nature at first. Things could have gone awfully wrong.

On a stormy and thundering night, the State Preceptor snuck into one of the consort's palace. From the ease with which he navigated the palace, it was clear that it wasn't his first time.

After fornicating with the consort, the consort started complaining how her child was deprived of the opportunity to become a crown prince simply because he was younger. Wasn't it unfair?

The child had been the State Preceptor's son. He, of course, wanted his son to be the crown prince. It was a great shame that his son was the younger brother. The consort's words prompted him to make a plan to put his son on the throne.

An idea formed in his mind. Overnight, the area where the harem resided in was filled with filth. Dead crows could be seen everywhere. The emperor was furious. He ordered the State Preceptor to look into the matter.

It all went according to the State Preceptor's plan. He held a ritual to pay tribute to the G.o.ds and rigged the ritual so that all clues pointed to the empress's palace.

Fortunately, the empress was no regular woman. She knew about the State Preceptor's affair with the consort, and she could tell that this was an attempt to frame her. She had no choice but to fight back and give the perpetrator a taste of his own medicine. She found out that the consort and the State Preceptor were behind this, and that they had a child.

The empress told the emperor her findings in private, who doubted her at first. But then he himself witnessed the State Preceptor making his way to the consort's room. The rest was easy enough to figure out.

In rage, the emperor decreed that there would be no State Preceptor in Northern Qi from then on. Northern Qi became the first country to abolish the position. At first people mocked Northern Qi for doing so, but then the memory started to fade from people's minds.

”If you claim to be Mister Ji Bo, how can you not know about Northern Qi's rule?” the third prince sneared.

Ji Bo looked up at him with calm eyes. ”This gentleman knows the history that lead to the abolishment of State Preceptor. However, once Your Highness becomes the emperor, it will only take an order for you to change that. If this gentleman can truly help Your Highness, it isn't unreasonable for Your Highness to grant me the position.”

”The gentleman certainly talks big,” said the prince. ”In this world, however, too many people are all bark and no bite. How can you prove that you are as good as you claim to be? Besides, I still don't believe that you are the lauded Mister Ji Bo. If you truly are an extraordinary a.s.set, I may consider making you the State Preceptor. But are you?”

Ji Bo looked into the third prince's eyes. ”If Your Highness has doubts, this gentleman will show you what I'm capable of.”

Ji Bo pulled his lips into a smile, waving his fan slowly. The prince had become tempted to fight for the throne.

Ji Bo didn't say when he was going to prove himself to the third prince. Instead, he simply told the prince that he needed some time to prepare.

The third prince was in no rush. He would see for himself what Ji Bo was going to do.

When Jun Huang was little, she once left the palace on a trip with Qi Yun.

At the time, Northern Qi and Western Que were on friendly terms. Every once in a while Qi Yun would be sent to Western Que by the emperor to get to know Western Que's customs. That was how Northern Qi showed their goodwill. To return the favor, Western Que too would send their royal princes to Northern Qi.

It was similar to how kingdoms in ancient time sent their princes to the other kingdoms as hostage to ensure peace, but in this case, the princes were not hostages. Rather, they served as a window for cultural exchange.

Once, Qi Yun came to Western Que on the Lantern Festival. Western Que's celebration was different from that of Northern Qi.

Before Qi Yun departed from Northern Qi, his mother had fallen ill. He wanted to ask the emperor to let him stay, but his mother forbade him from doing so. She told him that men had to be responsible and not give in to their emotions. Qi Yun had been upset ever since he arrived at Western Que.