Imperial City, Hall of Supreme Harmony.
“Your Majesty, the southern provinces have suffered consecutive years of drought, the people are destitute and struggling to survive, and the number of displaced persons grows by the day.”
“Have I not already dispatched the Imperial Inspector to provide Disaster Relief? Why bring up old matters again?”
“Your Majesty, distant waters cannot extinguish nearby flames. The drought has left farmers with no harvest at all. If this continues, it won’t be a solution. Moreover, the drought is spreading to more and more provinces, and the relief supplies are simply insufficient to aid so many refugees.”
“Then if you have a good idea, speak it quickly so I may hear it!”
Li Yuhan felt a wave of irritation.
These people were useless, only arguing for the sake of arguing—disgusting.
“I humbly suggest holding a Rain Prayer Ritual within the palace, inviting our Grand Diviner to perform the rites in person. Only a heavy rainfall can end the drought. I have heard that it was only after Your Majesty invited the Grand Diviner that the Empress was able to successfully conceive the Dragon Seed, which proves the great power of the Grand Diviner. Therefore, the Rain Prayer Ritual should be entrusted to the Grand Diviner.”
A bunch of fools.
The Grand Diviner is me.
Do I not know whether I can summon rain or not?
In order to facilitate his nocturnal activities, the Blood King of the Underworld had once brought back a charlatan from the martial world to act as the Grand Diviner, letting him reside in the Grand Diviner’s Residence, forbidding others to disturb him, and publicly claiming the Grand Diviner was in seclusion, enjoying solitude.
Afterward, the Blood King killed the impostor and disguised himself as the Grand Diviner at night, hunting down isolated Sect Disciples or wandering cultivators.
The Grand Diviner’s Residence became Li Yuhan’s stronghold within the palace.
What puzzled Li Yuhan, however, was that most Court officials usually sneered at the fake Grand Diviner, yet now they were fervently recommending that the Grand Diviner host the Rain Prayer Ritual.
Something was amiss.
Could it be that these old fools have detected my impersonation of the Grand Diviner and are probing me?
“Don’t be so nervous, my dear brother. A Rain Prayer Ritual is nothing but wearing a mask, performing a dance, and chanting some incomprehensible incantations. What’s there to worry about?”
“Don’t call me brother. It gives me goosebumps.”
“Then shall I call you Imperial Brother?”
“… Forget it, call me whatever you want.”
Li Yuhan gave up struggling and said,
“I will definitely be present at the Rain Prayer Ritual. That way, no one else can go up and dance.”
“Find someone else to impersonate the Grand Diviner and have them perform the ritual. Afterwards, silence them to keep the secret.”
“Stop coming up with such rotten ideas. Don’t you think we’ve killed enough people already?”
Li Yuhan snapped angrily.
“Aiya, brother, that’s exactly your flaw—you’re too soft-hearted and always worry about the lives of ants. You only bind your own hands and feet and invite suffering.”
The Blood King of the Underworld, bearing the appearance of Li Yuluo, counseled Li Yuhan earnestly.
“Brother, if you had chosen to cooperate with me earlier, you wouldn’t have fallen into such an awkward predicament.”
“Cooperate?”
Li Yuhan gave a bitter smile.
“Isn’t that just looting?”
“You traded your soul with me to solve your problems. You want my soul only so you can take full control of my body. I was too foolish to believe your sweet words—wanting to cultivate immortality, wanting to grow stronger—what was the result you gave me?”
“But brother, you did grow stronger. You’re now only a step away from Foundation Establishment Stage, strong enough to crush everyone in the five great clans. Isn’t that enough?”
“Li Yuluo”
looked wronged, but Li Yuhan turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze.
“But you killed so many people just to practice that twisted cultivation method. Those were living people—our Great Zhou’s own subjects.”
Li Yuhan’s voice turned hoarse and low.
“Brother, it seems you still don’t understand how to be an emperor.”
“Li Yuluo” sighed and said,
“Brother, you must understand one thing. Great Zhou is yours, but I am its sole ruler. Here, you can control everyone’s life and death; you can have everything. They are all your ministers, your servants. The ruler commands, the ministers must obey—even unto death. They should feel honored, grateful to become your pawns and nourishment, stepping stones for you to ascend the throne. On the day I reclaim the world, all traitors shall die. Then, we will stand at the highest peak, overlooking a realm that belongs only to the two of us!”
As “Li Yuluo” spoke, her hands spread wide like a bard singing epic tales in a teahouse.
Li Yuhan said nothing, his gaze drifting over the chattering officials below.
At that moment, he felt utterly alone.
How he wished someone would break through the crowd, run up to him, and lead him away from the hall, away from the palace, freeing him from the incessant disturbances of the Court and the Blood King of the Underworld.
But no one stepped forward.
Once, he thought his beloved Empress would be the one to take him away.
Li Yuhan also knew there was no turning back now.
The Six-Hundred-Year Hidden Danger left over from the founding of Great Zhou was due for final reckoning.
After the morning Court session, Li Yuhan walked back to the palace.
He had always been frugal; the palace Consorts usually rode in sedan chairs, but Li Yuhan never did.
Only two Young Eunuchs accompanied him—no Palace Maids.
This had been a special arrangement Li Yuhan made to please the Empress.
But now, everything seemed ironic.
Since that day, Li Yuhan had not set foot in the Kunning Palace nor seen the Empress even once.
Nor had the Cloud Empress sent anyone to summon Li Yuhan.
Back inside the palace, Li Yuhan dismissed the two Young Eunuchs, wanting to be alone.
The moment he closed the door, his “younger brother” spoke up.
“Brother, there’s someone else in your room.”
“How many?”
“Just one, hiding behind the folding screen.”
“Who?”
“Don’t know, only that it’s a woman.”
“What is her cultivation level?”
“Qi Refinement Ninth Level—not even Foundation Establishment. You could crush her with one hand.”
Li Yuhan ignored him, stretched lazily, and made a contented sound.
Then he walked over to his bed, took off his shoes, and lay down directly.
The girl hiding behind the screen heard the movement and, realizing Li Yuhan was alone, quietly slipped out.
But just as her head peeked out, a pair of large hands suddenly grabbed her, restraining her.
Li Yuhan easily subdued the girl, pressing her head against the wooden floor and demanded sternly:
“Who are you? Sneaking into my room—what do you want?”
Li Yuhan caught sight of her profile—a remarkably beautiful young woman, comparable to any Consort in his harem.
But at this moment, Li Yuhan had no interest in women, especially beautiful ones.
To him, women were synonymous with betrayal.
The girl looked panicked and hurriedly explained:
“Bro-Brother, please don’t be angry, it’s me, I’m Yuluo…”