Chapter 208: King Yu of the Imperial Mausoleum (2/2)

The imperial mausoleum was located on top of a steep mountain, at a high altitude. With the light snow, the temperature there was still a lot colder than the Imperial City, which was regaining its warmth as spring season arrived.

From a thatched house made of twitch-grass, a man dressed in a modest linen garment slowly sauntered out.

The man had a broom in his hands, and stepped unhurriedly into the gloomy but dignified imperial mausoleum, within which were erected numerous gravestones. He swept away the fallen leaves that had landed on the tombstones with his broom.

The crinkling noise from sweeping reverberated within the deadly still imperial mausoleum, adding to it an ominous echo.

”Tsk tsk… the once awe-inspiring King Yu of a generation, badly defeated in the battle over the throne, and now finds himself in this deplorable, wretched state. Has the glory of yesteryears been washed away into tepid streams of water? Oh how pitiable, how lamentable.”

The tranquil imperial mausoleum suddenly rang with laughter, and crispy taps of footsteps followed suit.

The man with a broom in his hands instantly froze. He held his body erect and narrowed his eyes at the sniggering man. His gaze was deadly, as if made of gray ashes, and his face was deadpan.

Zhao Ruge was dressed in a white robe and held his hands behind his back. Besides him were a couple of guards wrapped in black robes, with faces concealed that couldn't be easily discerned. The levels of energy on these guards were terrifyingly strong, and had already suppressed the guards of the imperial mausoleum.

Zhao Ruge strolled around the entrance of the imperial mausoleum with large strides. As an outsider, he didn't dare step into the imperial mausoleum of the imperial household.

He had absolutely no idea what might be the consequence of trespassing onto the imperial mausoleum.

Ji Chengyu studied Zhao Ruge for a bit, then lowered his head and resumed sweeping off dead leaves from the tombstones. His movements were sluggish, much like those of an enervated elder. The once bold, spirited demeanor of King Yu was nowhere to be found.

”Your highness King Yu, surely you don't want to be stuck in this imperial mausoleum for the rest of your life? Think about Ji Chengxue sitting upon the throne right now. Are you not filled with unreconcilable anger?” Zhao Ruge's gaze stared daggers as he continued: ”Why should you, King Yu, guard the imperial mausoleum like some watch dog, while he, Ji Chengxue, sits comfortably on the throne? Why him?”

Ji Chengyu's eyes turned, his ashen pupils revealed a trace of wan smiles, ”Zhao Ruge, what have I got left to fight against Ji Chengxue at this point? Everything has been settled already. Father chose him, that makes me… a sore loser from head to foot.”

”A loser? That's not the King Yu in my mind.” Zhao Ruge snickered.

Ji Chengyu shook his head, ignored Zhao Ruge, and turned to another tombstone. It was the tombstone of Emperor Changfeng, one that was awfully plain and unlike anything one would expect of an emperor's gravestone. Unadorned, it came off as rather shabby.

Ji Chengyu hang his head lower, kept his face obscured, and continued languidly sweeping at the fallen leaves.

”Ji Chengyu, I, Zhao Ruge, came here today just to tell you that you aren't without a chance to turn the tides. As of now, Lian Fu is in the Imperial City, which gives you a window to extricate yourself. if you don't want to leave, I have nothing more to say. But if you feel the slightest unwillingness to take your defeat lying down, then I, Zhao Ruge, and my father… Zhao Musheng, will provide you with all the resources you need!”

Zhao Ruge then asked: ”What will be your choice?”

A winter breeze brushed by and blew at the snow floating in the air. Snowflakes landed on Zhao Ruge's face, but were instantly melted by his body temperature, and turned into droplets of water.

His gaze fixated on the shadow within the imperial mausoleum. He believed that Ji Chengyu wouldn't just give up like that.

Sure enough, the silhouette of a figure slowly walked out with a broom still in his hands. His eyes were still clouded by a deadly gray hue, but this time a stroke of hope burned amidst the deadly ashes.

”Zhao Musheng? That old fox… is truly vexing.”

Ji Chengyu lifted the broom onto his shoulder, and tug apart the velvet hair tie on his head. A headful of hair instantly sprang out and hang loose.

Zhao Ruge peered at him while the corners of his mouth curled.

...

In the dead of night, two crescent moons intertwined as they hang high above in the sky.

In a courtyard within the Imperial City, Zhao Musheng stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze was gentle yet distant, and the energy on his body slightly fluctuated, as if they were streams of moving water.

Suddenly, a figure covered with the stench of alcohol appeared within the courtyard. One could even occasionally hear burps.

Zhao Musheng knitted his brows into a frown and turned toward this shadow.

”Shang De, you were drinking again. Votaries shouldn't drink alcohol to begin with, but now you've gone from bad to worse.”

”Hehe, Head Elder, Shang De knows you understand why votaries shouldn't consume wine. But once the wine and meat had passed through the intestines, this monk only seeks indulgence!” Shang De said to Zhao Musheng with his flushed face and alcohol breath.

”Alright, I don't care how much liquor you drink, as long it doesn't hold things up.” Zhao Musheng frowned and sighed as he responded.

If this were any other monk from the Mahayana Island before him, he would've slapped the wits out of him already. But as for Shang De… sigh.

”Head Elder, I have the intelligence you ordered me to gather. That Owner Bu… admits that he knows these serpent-men.” Shang De's eyes were drowsy and he could barely stand up straight without toppling over.

He leaned against a tree, and remarked: ”That Owner Bu said… 'so what if I know them', what should we do?”

The muscles on Zhao Musheng's face squeezed into a light smile, ”So what if I know them? Things are much easier as long as he does know them… Bu Fang, ah Bu Fang, this old fellow would like to see whether you'll fold your hands and watch them die… hahaha!”