Chapter 579: Shocking, who’s been held under duress? (2/2)
Tang Li’s fury soon grew into amazement. “In other words, it’s almost time for Chu Qingge to give birth? The Chu Clan’s really going to fall out with Western Zhou’s imperial clan? And then take over Western Liang at their base of operations?”
“Exactly!” Gu Qishao gave a cold laugh. He had witnessed Head Elder Ling’s skills firsthand during his youth and was certain that the man had the skills to make Chu Qingge give birth early and preserve the baby!
“That means that master’s efforts with Emperor Kang Cheng will all be wasted!” Chu Xifeng said hatefully.
His Highness Duke of Qin had sowed discord between the Chu Clan and Emperor Kang Cheng just so the latter could whittle down the Chu Clan’s military might. But now they’d driven the Chu Clan to desperate measures until they were utterly devoid of conscience.
“The Chu Clan will probably seize the chance before Emperor Kang Cheng makes his move to catch him unawares!” Chu Xifeng muttered to himself. Both Gu Qishao and Tang Li looked at him in silence.
“What are…you guys looking at?” Chu Xifeng asked nervously. Gu Qishao didn’t speak, but looked back at Thousand Buddha Cave while Tang Li slapped his thigh.
“This is bad! It’s very possible they’ll make their move right here and drag the Duke of Qin down with them!”
As it turned out, Tang Li was completely right!
The Chu Clan had thoroughly planned everything out ahead of time. Chu Yunyi told Gu Beiyue to kill Long Feiye and Han Yunxi to test if he was going to betray the Chu Clan. If he turned traitor, the Chu Clan archers that was coming with them to the Thousand Buddha Cave would shoot him as well. Even if they failed in the end, they could still expose Long Feiye and Han Yunxi’s identities to everyone else here, dragging them down with them to become eternal enemies of Western Zhou. If Long Feiye wanted to stir the deep waters of Western Zhou, he would have to pay the Chu Clan’s price!
Over half of the people accompanying Empress Xue today hailed from the Chu Clan’s archery forces. They hadn’t been idle during their stay in Western Zhou, nor did they run circles around Crown Prince Ye in vain. They had entertained the thought of turning renegade as early as the previous emperor and were simply waiting for their chance to strike. Long Feiye had pushed them too far this time, so they had no choice but to counteract!
General Chu had already prepared the Chu Clan soldiers. As soon as the ‘accident’ happened in Thousand Buddha Cave, the soldiers were to assemble for the offensive. He had even gotten in contact with the Di Clan’s Ning family to come to their aid.
By now, Empress Xue and the rest had already gone past the forest of bodhi trees to head for the altar surrounding the thousand year ginkgo. This altar was circular in shape, with a radius of 10 meters. It was made of stone and completely bare except for the ginkgo tree growing in its center. The tree itself was the height of three men and currently bare branched as it was winter. From a distance, it resembled a large wood block connecting Heaven and Earth, a simple but mystical sight. Surrounded the ginkgo tree altar was a circle of small shrubs and trees of unknown species that were green and luxuriant despite the cold season. The empress and her retinue walked past the lush green forest to enter the territory of the Thousand Buddha Cave. Without exception, everyone was traveling on foot.
As the empress strode on, she paused before the ginkgo tree. No matter who passed by this place, they all couldn’t resist a glance back at the revered and ancient tree. It even garnered more reverence than the caves themselves, and seem to enchant people into prostrating themselves at its feet. When the empress stopped, everyone behind her stopped as well. Before her stood the monks of the temple, while behind her was a dozen or more eunuchs and court ladies and guards.
Chu Yunyi was one of the guards in attendance, taking on the role of the empress’s personal guard in the foremost of the retinue. Right now, he was only two or three people away from her. On his right stood a towering man with a full beard, who had traveled the entire way with his head bowed to hide his face. On his left was a court lady wearing a thick muffler that hid everything from her nose down, her head also bowed. Behind him and not far away was one more guard, a rather thin and weak looking man who also had a face full of whiskers. He hadn’t shifted his gaze from Chu Yunyi the entire time.
“It’s that tree on the right. Don’t think that altar’s empty. According to what this old man found out, three monks skilled in martial arts keep watch on the tree at all times. Without Emperor Kang Cheng’s personal command token, even someone like Empress Xue can only watch the tree from a distance,” Chu Yunyi murmured.
“How are you planning to make your move?” the guard on his right asked coldly.
Chu Yunyi had hardly answered when Empress Xue fell to her knees and gave a distant kowtow to the ginkgo tree. The various monks and palace servants all followed in her wake. A crafty gleam flashed past Chu Yunyi’s eyes before he suddenly stood up. “Your Highness Duke of Qin, when will you destroy the thousand-year gingko tree, if not now?”
As he spoke, he viciously shoved the tall guard beside him out of the crowd. At the same time, all of the hidden archers rose to their feet while the old mama by Empress Xue’s side dragged the empress upright and held her fast, one hand closed around her throat.
Empress Xue’s mind went blank before she shrieked. “Ah…ahhh…ahhhhhHHHH!”