Chapter 949: The Imperial Tomb Disturbed

Human effort ultimately cannot triumph over heaven!

Upon hearing the news of the old lady’s passing, the Marquis of Pingjiang sighed. On the surface, he appeared calm, having long prepared for everything—no grief, no anger, no wind, no rain.

Chen Guanlou told him, “The messenger from Hou Fu should already be on the way. The court, barring unforeseen circumstances, will also send someone. Should the First Master wait until everyone arrives before drafting the memorial?”

“Of course I’ll write it. But when to write it—that can wait. With the old lady gone, Hou Fu must remain quiet for two or three years. But before that quietness, certain things must be handled in advance, and preparations must begin.”

The Marquis of Pingjiang spoke with deep implication.

Chen Guanlou asked, “What do you need me to do?”

“Can you lead troops?”

“Don’t joke. Let me run errands, fine. Let me lead troops? Drop this unrealistic idea right now. I’m just someone who eats and waits to die—don’t overestimate me.”

“Hahaha… you underestimate yourself! Fine, I won’t force you. For the next few days, stay in the camp. I’ll give you a token to facilitate your comings and goings.”

“I don’t need a token—I can come and go freely.”

“That’s different! The old lady has passed; if they don’t see you at Hou Fu, they’ll panic. They must know you’re with me, so certain people will hesitate to act. Remember: my safety rests entirely on you.”

“That doesn’t make sense! Why does your safety rest on me?” Chen Guanlou held the token, utterly baffled.

“Because there will be several assassination attempts!” The First Master spoke with absolute certainty.

Chen Guanlou: …

He stared, dumbfounded, and blurted out, “First Master, are you staging this yourself—hiring people to assassinate you?”

“Absurd! Don’t speak nonsense. Do I need to stage a play? There are more people who want me dead than fish crossing a river. Never mind—you don’t understand. Just remember: my safety rests entirely on you.”

Chen Guanlou grew uneasy.

He had a gut feeling the First Master was playing a very large game.

Unfortunately, he had become a pawn on that board.

He whispered, “Are you planning to rebel?”

“Stop talking nonsense!” The Marquis of Pingjiang glared, his beard bristling. “They all say your strength lies in your mouth—and your downfall too. Indeed, you’re unfit for speech. Better off as a mute.”

Nonsense.

Chen Guanlou chuckled twice, expressing his disdain.

“If you’re not rebelling, why all this grand preparation?”

“This is called strategy. If you don’t understand, don’t speak foolishly. Power, wealth, and safety aren’t granted by others—they’re won through repeated struggles and maneuvers. The same applies to dealing with the Emperor!”

The Marquis of Pingjiang refused to say more or reveal any secrets.

In just two days, before the court’s envoys had even reached their destination, he learned what the First Master had done.

A surprise force suddenly appeared at the imperial tomb, striking unexpectedly and slaughtering every single Imperial Tomb Guard. For the first time in three hundred years of the Great Gan Dynasty, the imperial tomb had been disturbed.

The court was stunned!

The entire realm was shaken!

Emperor Jian Shi’s face turned ashen. He became an unfilial son, a sinner of the Great Gan Dynasty. Under his reign, the imperial tomb had been disturbed—he had no face to meet his ancestors!

Upon hearing the news, Prince Chu immediately regained his momentum.

He spread rumors claiming Emperor Jian Shi seized the throne illegitimately, having murdered his brother and father—this was heavenly retribution!

Heaven could no longer tolerate it, hence this calamity befell the three-hundred-year Great Gan Dynasty.

In broad daylight, even the ancestral tombs could not be protected—how could anyone be so incompetent? Such an emperor is unworthy!

Demand Emperor Jian Shi abdicate!

Suddenly, from east to west, north to south, voices rose in unison: Emperor Jian Shi seized power illegitimately—demand his abdication!

The disturbance of the imperial tomb plunged court and realm into chaos. Emperor Jian Shi suffered a severe shock and ceased court sessions for days. He refused to see anyone—everyone was ordered out.

He wandered alone in the Taiji Palace, like a lost soul. He summoned no concubines, received no ministers, yet in his rage, he had beaten over a dozen servants to death.

As a result, everyone in the Taiji Palace, from top to bottom, lived in terror.

It felt as if they had returned to the era of the late Emperor, when corpses were carried out daily.

This was great terror!

Court ministers, seeing the Emperor in this state, secretly pondered: his resilience, compared to the late Emperor, was utterly inadequate.

Had the late Emperor faced the disturbance of the imperial tomb, he would have been furious, he would have killed—but he would never have hidden away, never remained silent like a lost soul.

At least give orders, give a stance—so we can act!

No one to see, no orders issued—what does this mean?

Are we to let the Council of State govern on its own, without the Emperor’s approval?

If you’d done this earlier, it would have been fine.

But now, slacking off—it’s too late!

…

“Your Majesty, it’s time for your meal!” Wang De, braving the great terror, served with utmost caution.

Emperor Jian Shi’s hair was disheveled, his beard unshaven for days, his body unkempt—hair and beard tangled, showing not a trace of imperial dignity or decorum.

Shameful!

“Any news yet?”

“Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei has already led a team to investigate the imperial tomb. But…”

“But what?”

“Eunuch Wei is a Grand Master with great ability, but he is not skilled in investigations. The assassins, it is said, move like the wind—no news has returned yet.”

“Incompetent! Incompetent!” Emperor Jian Shi raged, furious. “It’s been days—what has Wei Wubing been doing? He’s a Grand Master! A Grand Master rendered helpless? What good is he?”

“Your Majesty, the ministers of the Council of State are outside, begging for an audience. Perhaps Your Majesty should summon a few of them. They may have solutions.”

“I won’t see them! How can I face them? I’ve become a laughingstock of the realm—do you want them to mock me?”

“Your Majesty, calm yourself! Heaven and earth bear witness—I have no such intention! If I harbor even a shred of disloyalty, may thunder strike me down and may I die a wretched death!” Wang De knelt on the ground, swearing with tears and snot streaming down his face.

He was truly terrified!

Emperor Jian Shi killed when he said he would—no joking.

Even his personal eunuch was not safe from becoming a vessel for his rage.

Emperor Jian Shi glanced at him with disdain and snorted coldly.

Wang De quickly wiped his tears and snot. “Your Majesty, please eat something. You haven’t taken food or drink in a day—your body cannot endure it! Perhaps summon Master Xie. With him, no matter how great the crisis, it can be resolved.”

Emperor Jian Shi was dazed, half-conscious.

“Is this truly heavenly retribution?”

“Of course not!” Wang De declared firmly. “Your Majesty is destined by heaven!”

Emperor Jian Shi swept his tangled hair behind his ear. “You’re right—I am destined by heaven! Even if I bear guilt for the disturbance of the imperial tomb, it is not a crime deserving death! Summon Master Xie! Prepare my robes!”

Wang De, overjoyed at the Emperor’s revival, trembled with excitement and cried out loudly, “Yes!”

His life was saved!