"It seems that Minister He knows a great deal about my affairs," the emperor said in a low voice that sent a chill down people's spines. The air pressure in the grand hall was so heavy that it was hard to breathe. At this moment, no one dared to say a word.
The man in the black court robe calmly met his gaze. "Your Majesty, I don't claim to know much about your affairs. These are just the insights I've gained from observing the stars at night. If Your Majesty thinks there's no truth in them, it's my incompetence. But if there's a single word that rings true, then all my efforts in these years haven't been in vain."
Sheng Jiu narrowed his eyes and stared at him. After a long silence, he suddenly let out a soft laugh. "You must have some skills. For example, isn't the throne I'm sitting on now taken by force?"
As Sheng Jiu said this, his eyes casually swept across the ministers with their heads bowed. As soon as his words fell, the ministers below knelt down in a flurry.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Sheng Jiu raised his eyes indifferently, his tone soft and gentle.
"Why should I be angry? It's quite normal for you to think this way. After all, this throne was indeed taken by me."
Sheng Jiu looked at Zhan Tianjian, his lips pursed as he asked in a low voice, "According to what Minister He said, should I now return the throne to my elder brother?"
The man in the black court robe probably didn't expect that he would use the throne as a shield. For a moment, he didn't know how to steer the conversation back. After staring at Sheng Jiu for a long time, he slowly knelt down following the other ministers.
"I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty. What I meant by the thing you took by force is not the throne you're sitting on now, but..."
He slowly raised his head and looked into his eyes. "The treasure hidden in Your Majesty's palace."
His words were full of implications, which made some ministers recall the old rumors from the time when Sheng Jue was on the throne. It was said that there was a treasure hidden in his bedroom. As for what kind of treasure it was, no one had ever seen it, let alone reached a conclusion.
But since the new emperor ascended the throne, such rumors gradually died down, and no one bothered to find out where the treasure had gone...
Zhan Tianjian's words brought them all back to the past. Could it be that the treasure they were talking about now was the same one that used to be in Sheng Jue's palace?
If that was really the case, then perhaps the reason for the new emperor's usurpation of the throne... was related to this treasure?
Who wouldn't want to take a look at the treasure that two emperors had fought over?
"Your Majesty."
While everyone was silent with such thoughts in mind, a bold one couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
"It's been rumored for a long time that there's a treasure hidden in the former emperor's palace. Everyone is extremely curious. Why doesn't Your Majesty take out the treasure and let us have a look?"
The speaker was the vice - minister of the Ministry of War. Having been used to training rough soldiers, he spoke bluntly and didn't notice the current atmosphere at all. He actually dared to inquire about such a matter.
Sheng Jiu's look at him was full of danger. Everyone held their breaths. In fact, some observant people had noticed the matter of the treasure long ago. But in the past, the reigning emperor had kept it a tight - lipped secret. Even now, with a new emperor on the throne, no one could get any information about the treasure from them.
No one even knew the whereabouts of the treasure that had been hidden in the former emperor's palace.
If an ordinary person had this treasure, there would surely be some news leaking out. But now, no one had heard anything about it. So who was the one holding the treasure?
Everyone tacitly looked at the man sitting on the throne.
Sheng Jiu stared at him for a long time, then got up with a fake smile. "If you want to know what treasure was hidden in the former emperor's palace, why don't you go to the prison and ask him yourself?"
Even the stupidest person, like the vice - minister of the Ministry of War, could sense that there was something wrong with his tone. He quickly knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. "Your Majesty, I was just speaking casually. If I've offended Your Majesty in any way, please punish me."
Although the emperor didn't say anything, his reaction was enough of a warning. In the future, they shouldn't casually inquire about the matter of this treasure.
But it also confirmed one thing.
The treasure that was rumored to be in the former emperor's palace was now in the hands of His Majesty.
But no one knew if the treasure in His Majesty's hands was the very one that Zhan Tianjian had mentioned... the thing that His Majesty had taken by force and that could threaten his own life.
Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between the emperor and Zhan Tianjian, hoping to see who would speak first and reveal more information. But the two of them were at a standstill, and neither seemed to be willing to talk.
At this moment, the man in the black court robe said, "Your Majesty has gone to great lengths to please someone, but in this matter, a life has been wasted. I wonder how Your Majesty intends to make up for it?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the court was in an uproar.
The information revealed in these words was truly astonishing.
If what Zhan Tianjian had said earlier... the thing His Majesty had taken by force was the former emperor's treasure, then what he meant now... was that the treasure His Majesty had taken by every possible means was actually a person?
Moreover, His Majesty had wasted a life in order to please this person.
Did it mean that the lake behind the palace was dug for this person?
Could it be that the treasure hidden by two emperors was actually a beautiful person?
After hearing these words, Sheng Jiu was completely unsettled. He stared intently at the man and slowly stood up.
"Minister He, when you observe the stars at night, have you ever foreseen the end of your own life?"
The meaning of these words was obvious. He was threatening the man with his life.
Zhan Tianjian shook his head, as if he didn't understand the implication of his words. He chuckled and said, "I observe others but not myself. Fate is determined by heaven, and I won't comment on it."
Sheng Jiu slowly walked down the steps, speaking as he walked. "I remember that you said in the morning court a few days ago that if this thing wasn't driven out of the palace, I would be in danger of losing my life?"
Zhan Tianjian looked at the figure that had come up to him. He felt an invisible pressure, but his expression remained unchanged. He bowed and said, "This is also what I've observed from the stars at night. It's not that I'm asking Your Majesty to destroy this thing, but to drive it out. Your Majesty and this thing are naturally mutually generating and restraining. For the sake of the people and the country, Your Majesty must take this to heart."
"The life lost in the lake the day before yesterday was a warning to Your Majesty."
Sheng Jiu narrowed his eyes. "You mean that if I don't do as you say, I'll end up like him?"