Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

The officials gathered outside Zhengyang Gate early in the morning, each dressed in formal court attire. However, their faces showed no joy at participating in the ceremony; instead, they were all pale and their legs were trembling.

They were all seasoned veterans who had spent half their lives navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom; who could fail to detect the strong stench of blood permeating the air?

But the imperial decree had been issued, and who dared to disobey? They could only grit their teeth and wait, like a herd of cattle and sheep being driven onto an altar, trembling with fear as they awaited their fate.

At the very front of the procession, Fan Xian rode a black steed, his face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

As the Director of the Censorate and the Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he was appointed to accompany the emperor as a bodyguard.

Fan Xian gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

His gaze swept around constantly, his domineering true energy surging wildly within his body as he sensed even the slightest movement of the air around him.

"They're all insane, they're all fucking insane!" Fan Xian cursed wildly in his heart.

He knew better than anyone that this was a setup.

But Fan Xian wasn't afraid of the Grandmasters; he was afraid of how many innocent people would die in this crazy gamble, and whether he himself would be able to leave Taiping Villa alive.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

With a sharp and high-pitched announcement from Eunuch Hou, the bustling Zhengyangmen Square fell into an instant silence.

All the officials knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Surrounded by countless imperial guards, an extremely large and luxurious imperial carriage slowly drove out of Zhengyang Gate.

This imperial carriage was pulled by eight magnificent white horses, and its entire body was crafted from rosewood, carved with nine lifelike golden dragons. The roof was covered with a bright yellow canopy, and thick bright yellow silk curtains hung down all around, completely obscuring the interior of the carriage.

No one could see His Majesty the Emperor's face; they could only vaguely make out the seated figure behind the curtain.

"Cough cough cough..."

Suddenly, a violent and suppressed cough came from inside the imperial carriage.

Although the sound wasn't loud, it was exceptionally jarring in the silent square. Every minister who heard the cough couldn't help but lower their heads even further, their bodies trembling like leaves.

What's going on? Wasn't it said that the one in the palace had gone mad? It seems that His Majesty's health has also deteriorated.

Is His Majesty perhaps overly worried?

Inside the imperial carriage.

Emperor Qing, dressed in a loose dragon robe, leaned against a soft brocade couch. His face was indeed somewhat pale, and there was an undisguised weariness in the corners of his eyes.

He casually picked up a clean white silk handkerchief, covered his mouth, and then coughed violently again.

Remove the silk handkerchief; there is no blood on it.

Emperor Qing looked at the clean silk handkerchief, and a strange smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

There was no weakness in that smile, only a coldness and cruelty that showed someone who could manipulate the world at will.

He slowly extended his right hand, a hand that was exceptionally well-maintained, long and strong. He gently clenched his fist.

"Click."

A very faint, crisp sound.

The incredibly tough silk handkerchief woven from the silkworm silk of the Western Regions, which he held in his hand, instantly turned into powder that was indistinguishable to the naked eye, and fell through his fingers.

"Si Gu Jian, Ku He..." Emperor Qing's voice was extremely low, only he could hear it, and there was a chilling excitement in it, "I have built such a big stage for you, you must not disappoint me."

"Let's set off!"

As the horns sounded again, the massive procession began to move slowly.

Under the protection of the Imperial Guards, the imperial carriage rolled over the bluestone road with a dull thud.

The army set off, marching in a grand procession towards the outskirts of the city.

Countless eyes were fixed on the bright yellow imperial carriage from the attics on both sides of the street and in the dark alleys.

The top floor of a restaurant in the west of the city.

Si Gu Jian sat on the roof ridge, holding a wine jug in his hand, and took a gulp of strong liquor. His gaze pierced through the thick fog and landed precisely on the imperial carriage.

"Cough cough? You're putting on quite a show." Si Gu Jian sneered, casually tossing the wine jug onto the street, smashing it to pieces. "When you get to Taiping Villa, I'll make you cough your lungs out!"

He stood up, dusted himself off, and instantly transformed into an almost transparent sword shadow, skimming along the rooftops and hurtling towards the city's outskirts.

On a Buddhist pagoda in the eastern part of the city.

Ku He clasped his hands together and silently watched the procession depart. A complex expression flashed in his eyes, a mixture of hesitation and determination, but it ultimately settled into a calm.

"Amitabha."

A deep Buddhist chant drifted in the wind, and Kuhe's figure vanished from the spot, as if he had never been there at all.

And inside a towering bell tower not far from the imperial carriage.

Li Chengze stood by the window, looking down at the long line of people below.

Today he wore an extremely luxurious purple python robe, his hair was neatly combed, and he exuded an unprecedented sense of majesty.

The procession left the city gates of Kyoto and proceeded slowly along the wide official road toward Taiping Villa.

The weather today is strange. The rising sun was obscured by thick dark clouds, and the sky gradually darkened.

A heavy, humid atmosphere hung in the air, as if a violent storm was about to break out.

The officials sat in their respective carriages, not daring to utter a sound.

The accompanying imperial guards were on edge, their palms sweating and soaking the hilts of their swords.

Fan Xian sat on his horse, his brows furrowed.

He sensed it; the murderous intent in the air was gathering at an alarming speed.

The feeling was like an invisible sword hanging over everyone's heads, ready to fall at any moment.

Taihei Bessou is located in a secluded valley about 30 miles outside of Kyoto.

This place was once Ye Qingmei's residence, and also the place where Emperor Qing cultivated his mind when he was still a hidden dragon in the abyss.

Nestled amidst mountains and water, this place boasts stunning scenery, but today, this beautiful landscape seems to have become an entrance to hell.

As the group approached, the secluded courtyard nestled among the green hills and clear waters gradually came into view.

It was an extremely simple and rustic courtyard, with white walls and black tiles, without the slightest hint of luxury.

In front of the courtyard gate, there is a huge lake with crystal-clear water that reflects the dark, gloomy clouds in the sky.

The lakeside is lined with weeping willows, their branches swaying in the wind and making a rustling sound.

Everything seemed so calm, so calm it was suffocating.

"stop--"

The group stopped about a hundred paces from the villa.

The Imperial Guards quickly dispersed, completely surrounding the villa. Shield bearers in front, archers behind, forming an impenetrable steel defensive line.

The officials disembarked and lined up behind the imperial carriage according to their rank, each holding their breath and not daring to make a sound.

Fan Xian dismounted, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed wooden door of the villa.

Eunuch Hou strode to the imperial carriage, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, we have arrived at Taiping Villa."

There was a moment of silence inside the imperial carriage, and then a long, strong hand slowly lifted the bright yellow curtain.

Emperor Qing finally revealed his true colors.