Morning fog hung thick over the Golden Hall, shrouding the imperial city in a heavy, almost suffocating haze. The officials stood rigid before the throne, each breath weighed down by the sense of a storm yet to break.
Today, Emperor Qianyang had summoned the court to deliberate on the "Victory at Youzhou" and the fate of the Nation's Fate Envoy.
Li Tianyuan stood among the ranks, clad in dark armor. His expression betrayed no emotion, yet he felt the myriad gazes of the ministers upon him—some filled with respect, some with fear, and some with veiled resentment.
The emperor ascended the throne, his dragon robe catching the early sunlight. His voice resonated through the hall:"The battle at Youzhou was victorious, yet the emergence of the mysterious Ji Shi and the insidious currents of the Niling Sect remind us—this is no time to celebrate. It is a time to examine the realm itself."
A hush fell across the assembly.
Then, the Minister of War, Xu Qian, stepped forward. Bowing slightly, he spoke with measured authority:"Your Majesty, while the campaign at Youzhou was a success, the cost was severe. Li Tianyuan, as the Nation's Fate Envoy, should have assisted the court and steadied the realm. Yet the demonic calamity continues, leaving the people in fear. I submit that this office, irregular in title and irregular in mandate, should be dissolved."
Several ministers immediately voiced their agreement."I second the motion!""The Nation's Fate Envoy is an extraordinary post; it should never rest in one man's hands!""Though he has proven himself in battle, his origins are mysterious. Should he betray the realm, it would be catastrophe!"
The hall erupted into clamor, as if intent on thrusting Li Tianyuan into the eye of the storm.
He remained outwardly calm, though his fingers clenched the sleeves of his armor.So, this 'deliberation of merit' is merely a pretext… to remove me.
As voices rose, Grand Preceptor Jiang Chengsou strode forward, sweeping his long sleeves with calm authority."Gentlemen, your words are excessive. At Youzhou, without Li Tianyuan, how could three thousand iron-clad soldiers have withstood tens of thousands of demons? How many of the people of Yanbei would have survived? The army's loyalty now lies with him. To strip his authority now would be to destroy our own rampart."
His words instantly opposed Xu Qian's, and the court became a battlefield of rhetoric, each faction trading sharp verbal blows. The tension was palpable.
Amid the turmoil, the Chief Censor stepped forward once more, his voice severe:"Your Majesty! I report that last night in the streets of Jinghua, another attack occurred. The victims were obliterated by agents of the Niling Sect. This is no longer a matter of court debate—it is a threat to the very survival of the capital!"
Emperor Qianyang's brow furrowed. His voice was cold as ice."Who is responsible?"
The censor knelt, showing the evidence."The bodies bore fragments of Niling runes. I fear the Sect has infiltrated the court itself."
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
Xu Qian's face paled, yet he retorted sharply:"Superstitions and panic! This is but a diversion. Li Tianyuan's origins remain mysterious, and that alone warrants further scrutiny!"
Jiang Chengsou's reply was a frosty snort:"If you seek investigation, perhaps it should begin with your own circle, Minister Xu. Several of your confidants act in shadow, and may not be innocent."
"You—!" Xu Qian's eyes blazed, nearly losing composure.
"Silence!" the emperor's command cut through the hall like thunder.
A heavy silence fell. Emperor Qianyang's gaze swept across the assembly, his eyes cold as steel."The Niling threat strikes at the very heart of the Great Qian. Li Tianyuan has done much, yet his origins remain suspect. I shall convene a secret council and personally review the matter. No minister shall speak without command."
The ministers exchanged wary glances. Some secretly exhaled in relief; others furrowed their brows in unease.
Li Tianyuan's chest tightened. A secret council… they are drawing me into an even greater trap.
After court, he did not return home immediately. He was summoned to the outer corridor of Qianqing Hall, where he found Fu Yuan waiting.
Arms folded behind his back, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, Fu Yuan said:"Did the events at court surprise you?"
Li Tianyuan's gaze sharpened. "You expected this?"
Fu Yuan offered no denial. "The currents in Jinghua are far more treacherous than Youzhou. Demons are but steel and fang; the court is an invisible shackle. Without your standing here, even the Cauldron's power cannot hold for long."
Li Tianyuan's eyes narrowed, lips curling into a cold smile."Be it demons or men's hearts, I will not retreat."
Fu Yuan's gaze lingered, unreadable."Then let us watch."
Night fell. Li Tianyuan returned to his residence, only to find Bai Luo sitting by the flickering candlelight, lost in thought.
He approached softly. "Have you heard what transpired at court today?"
She nodded slightly, worry flashing across her eyes."They… will not spare you."
He placed his hand over hers, voice low and firm:"As long as I stand, no one shall touch you."
Yet her fingers trembled subtly. Li Tianyuan noticed, but said nothing, unwilling to force her.
Bai Luo lowered her gaze, a flicker of struggle and pain in her eyes.The Niling brand within her stirred, tugging at her will like a hidden blade.
"Tianyuan…" she whispered, as though she wanted to speak more, but swallowed the words.
Li Tianyuan held her close, heart heavy with an unshakable unease.This woman in his arms—she was the key to the coming storm.
Above Jinghua, clouds thickened like a dark shroud.In the emperor's study, Emperor Qianyang gripped a sealed edict, eyes cold and distant."Thunder approaches, and the storm draws near… Will the child of the nation's fate bring blessing or disaster?"
Outside, wind howled through the streets, an invisible shadow sweeping over the city.
Far in the alleys, the agents of the Niling Sect gathered silently, awaiting the perfect moment.
A storm was coming. Shadows thickened. And Jinghua was on the cusp of unprecedented turmoil.