Chapter 1457: Keluoke Ershisi Shi Makes His Move

Imperial City of the Keluoke Imperium, the Emperor's bedchamber.

The door closed behind Kesi, and Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned against the bed, draped in a heavy, deep purple cloak, his four eyes half-open and half-closed.

"Kesi, you've come. Sit."

Kesi walked to the chair by the bed and sat down.

"Father, is there something you needed me for?"

Keluoke Ershisi Shi did not speak; he waved his hand, and the attendants in the bedchamber all withdrew, leaving only the trusted minister Kedixi standing in the corner.

The bedchamber fell silent.

"Nothing in particular."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi finally spoke.

"Just sit here. Keep me company for a while. You may leave once everything outside is finished."

Kesi's brow twitched slightly.

Once everything outside is finished?

Keluoke Ershisi Shi was keeping him here so he would not interfere with what was happening outside.

He was fabricating evidence of a crime, then pinning the blame on Kesi to eliminate him in a legitimate manner.

"Father, what is happening outside that needs to be finished?"

Kesi asked, his tone calm.

"Nothing major. With Kelake and Kesuosi under house arrest, someone must take over their duties. I have sent Kedixi to arrange it."

Kesi said.

"I see. Father is very thorough."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi leaned back against the bed and closed his eyes.

"I am old, and there are many things I can no longer manage. Among the current princes, only you can still share my burdens."

Seeing that Kesi did not respond, Keluoke Ershisi Shi continued.

"But I also have my worries. You are too capable—so capable that I sometimes wonder how I would treat you if you were not my son."

Kesi said.

"I will always be Father's son."

Keluoke Ershisi Shi revealed a faint smile.

"Is that so? Then I am relieved."

The bedchamber fell silent once more.

Kesi sat in the chair, motionless.

His gaze was fixed straight ahead, landing on the lamp at the head of Keluoke Ershisi Shi's bed.

Keluoke Ershisi Shi's people were in action, and his own people were in action too. Both sides were racing against time.

West side of the Imperial City, Kechasaili's office.

Kechasaili stood before the window, looking at the layout of the Imperial City outside, his four eyes filled with cold severity.

"Have the men been arranged?"

The Adjutant nodded.

"Arranged. Three squads, twenty men each, all changed into civilian clothes, disguised as residents from outside the Imperial City. They will create several conflicts before dark, then leave behind evidence pointing to His Highness Kesi."

Kechasaili said.

"The evidence must be authentic. It cannot be seen as fake at a glance."

The Adjutant said.

"Yes, we 'borrowed' several personal items from His Highness Kesi's palace. A seal, stationery, and the type of ink bottle he uses—enough to forge several secret letters."

Kechasaili nodded.

"Good, go do it."

The Adjutant turned and left, and Kechasaili stood by the window, looking at the low-lying civilian district outside the Imperial City.

A commotion had already begun there; after today, Kesi would no longer be a threat.

The other side of the Imperial City, Kedaolisi's office.

Kedaolisi sat at the desk with several forged documents spread out before him.

His fingers slid lightly over the edges of the paper, checking every detail to ensure there were no flaws.

"Can these documents be delivered to His Majesty?"

Kedaolisi's Adjutant stood nearby, his four eyes filled with caution.

"We have arranged for a dedicated messenger; they will bypass all normal procedures and deliver these documents to the Yushufang before dusk."

Kedaolisi picked up a document and opened it to check.

"The content is evidence of His Highness Kesi colluding with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. There are secret letters, meeting records, and financial transactions. It is enough to make His Majesty believe His Highness Kesi intends to commit treason."

Kedaolisi was silent for a moment.

"Leave a few obvious loopholes in the evidence, but not so many that His Majesty can immediately see it is a forgery. Make him feel it is a trail left behind by His Highness Kesi in haste, rather than something meticulously designed."

The Adjutant nodded.

"Understood, I will revise it now."

Kedaolisi waved his hand.

The Adjutant turned and left.

Kedaolisi leaned back in his chair, his four eyes staring at the ceiling.

Today will decide many things; either Kesi disappears, and the Keluoke Imperium returns to stability.

Either Kesi survives, or they are all purged.

There is no third possibility.

East side of the Imperial City, Daijisiluo's office.

Daijisiluo sat before the desk and spoke.

"How much of His Highness Kesi's capital accounts can be frozen?"

The finance officer to the side said.

"My lord, all of His Highness Kesi's personal accounts have been frozen. But he still has some funds managed through third parties, and we have not yet tracked their flow."

Daijisiluo said.

"Keep investigating; do not let a single cent flow into the hands of His Highness Kesi. Without money, he cannot hire people, he cannot buy information, and he cannot mobilize any resources."

The finance officer nodded.

"Yes, my lord."

Daijisiluo leaned back in his chair, his four eyes staring at the ceiling.

He hoped everything would go smoothly, hoped Kesi would not notice, and hoped that when the sun rose tomorrow, the Luoke Imperium would still be the same Luoke Imperium.

Outside the Imperial City, in the slums, Keta crouched behind a shack, looking toward the direction of the Imperial City in the distance.

Behind him crouched several young Luoke people, and Keta spoke.

"His Highness said to let us create chaos. We must make people see the disorder in the Luoke Imperium."

A young Luoke person asked.

"What should we do?"

Keta said.

"Set fires, smash things, spread rumors; the bigger the better, but do not hurt anyone. Understand?"

The young person nodded.

"Understood."

Keta stood up.

"Begin."

Inside the Imperial City, at the Government Hall.

Several officials from Kesi's faction gathered in a side chamber, the door closed and the curtains drawn.

"His Majesty summoned His Highness Kesi to the bedchamber, and he still hasn't come out; I suspect His Majesty is about to take action against His Highness."

Another official said.

"We must get the news out before His Majesty takes action. Let more people know that His Majesty is persecuting his most capable son."

A third official said.

"I have already contacted several generals in the military; they have a good impression of His Highness Kesi and are willing to express their support when he needs it."

The first official said.

"It is not enough; we need more people. The media, the chambers of commerce, representatives of the commoners. We must let the entire Luoke Imperium know that His Highness Kesi is being forced to defend himself."

They began to discuss in low voices, formulating their next plan.