Chapter 2712 The Mad City Lord's Love-Hate Relationship 34
Incense wafted through the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, creating a solemn atmosphere.
The Imperial Advisor sat upright in the highest sandalwood armchair, his face somber, his gaze fixed intently on the leisurely Jin Chen below.
On the rosewood table in front of her were several ancient manuals and magical artifacts.
“Jin Chen,” the Imperial Advisor frowned, trying to intimidate him, “I know you have extraordinary cultivation and are a rare talent.”
"But you must understand that Princess Chiyin's identity is mysterious and she is definitely not a good match. There must be something fishy about her sudden awakening after being in a coma for five years. If you insist on getting involved with her, let alone rising to prominence, you will probably bring trouble upon yourself and be doomed forever!"
She paused, tapped the gold ingots on the table with her fingertips, and softened her tone, "If you are wise enough to abandon the darkness and embrace the light, and help me accomplish my great cause, these are nothing more than a small token of my appreciation."
"Once I achieve success, I will enjoy wealth and honor, and cultivation resources will be inexhaustible! Why ruin my promising future for a woman of unknown origin?"
Jin Chen lazily lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the meager gifts, and said in a light tone, "They are indeed meager gifts, Grand Preceptor, are you a pauper?"
"Is this all you're trying to bribe me with?" He clicked his tongue lightly, clearly disgusted by the shabby appearance of the item.
National Division:"……"
Her well-maintained face flushed red, and she almost couldn't catch her breath. Having been in charge of the Imperial Preceptor's Pavilion for many years, she had never been so humiliated.
The Imperial Advisor suppressed his surging anger, put on a compassionate face, and tried to suppress him with righteous indignation.
"Jin Chen! Do not be so stubborn! Everything I have done is for the sake of all living beings. The ghost city is rampant with yin energy and coexists with the capital. Only by completely destroying the ghost city and killing the vengeful ghost city lord can we restore order to the world. As a cultivator, how can you disregard righteousness and associate with ghosts?"
Jin Chen laughed clearly, "For the sake of all living beings? Then you are truly noble and virtuous. The Ghost City and the mortal world are clearly separated. We only need to strengthen the barrier seal to ensure peace between them. Although Yin Chaosheng, the lord of the Ghost City, is a fierce ghost, he is not unreasonable or indiscriminate in killing innocent people."
"Why must the Imperial Preceptor insist on carrying out such a ruthless act of extermination, which only increases bloodshed and disrupts the balance of Yin and Yang?"
"Absurd!" The Imperial Advisor slammed his hand on the table, abruptly standing up, his face contorted with barely suppressed rage. "Trying to reason with a ghost? Jin Chen! You're completely bewitched! Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts! You'd rather believe the feigned kindness of an evil ghost than stand on the side of the righteous path of humanity?!"
Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
"Imperial Advisor! Your Excellency Imperial Advisor! Something terrible has happened!"
A disciple of the Imperial Preceptor's Pavilion scrambled into the hall and knelt down with a thud. "His Majesty has suddenly fallen seriously ill! He is vomiting blood and is unconscious! The head of the Imperial Medical Academy and several senior physicians have worked together to diagnose him, but they cannot find the cause! His breathing is barely a whisper! Please move to the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately!"
"what!"
The Imperial Advisor's expression changed drastically. Before he could even argue with Jin Chen, he abruptly waved his sleeve and shouted, "Prepare the carriage! Quickly!"
Jin Chen observed coldly, taking in the tension and panic that the Imperial Preceptor displayed, far exceeding what a subject should have.
He recalled what he had seen before: the Grand Preceptor's attitude towards the elderly emperor was utterly disrespectful. Why was he reacting so strongly now?
Could it be that, in the eyes of the Imperial Advisor, this old emperor is not yet ready to die?
With a quick thought, Jin Chen's eyes flickered, and she followed.
The emperor's bedroom.
Upon entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a pungent, nauseating stench assaults the senses. Expensive ambergris desperately tries to mask the putrid, rotten smell, but to no avail, only exuding an air of extravagance and decay.
In the outer hall, a large group of imperial physicians and palace servants knelt on the ground, their faces ashen and trembling like leaves, fearing that if the person on the dragon throne took his last breath, they would be buried with him.
The inner palace was even more oppressive and suffocating. Jin Chen walked around the screen and saw the emperor of the current dynasty on the dragon bed. He was emaciated, his face was ashen, and there were still dark red bloodstains at the corners of his mouth. He was breathing more out than in, and was obviously on his deathbed.
Beside the dragon bed, besides the Grand Preceptor who had just entered, stood a familiar crimson figure.
Yin Chaosheng's face was covered by a light veil, and his palace attire was gorgeous and elaborate, which was out of place in this dying and decaying scene.
Hearing footsteps, he turned his head slightly, his beautiful eyes coldly sweeping over the Grand Preceptor who was rushing in, his gaze icy and indifferent.
Upon seeing him, the Imperial Advisor was overcome with both old and new grudges, disregarding etiquette, and sternly questioned, "Your Highness!"
"His Majesty is unwell, why are you here? His Majesty has already decreed that he does not wish to see you again! Just now... what exactly did you say to His Majesty? Why did His Majesty's condition worsen as soon as you arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Chaosheng let out a very soft sneer, his voice low and indifferent through his veil, "Why is the Imperial Preceptor making such a fuss?"
"It's just that the emperor is old and frail, his life is nearing its end, and it's time for him to pass away."
"You!" The Grand Preceptor trembled with rage, but he knew this was not the time to argue. He forced himself to endure the nauseating, corrupt stench, stepped forward, and reached out to touch the old emperor's withered wrist, attempting to channel spiritual energy into it to investigate.
Jin Chen stopped in the shadow of the screen, releasing a little spiritual energy to sense the person on the dragon bed...
He can barely be considered a human being.
The old emperor was beyond saving; his internal organs were failing, and he was only clinging to life by spiritual power.
It's truly strange that the Grand Preceptor would rather pay such a high price to keep this empty shell of a ruler than establish a new one.
Jin Chen swept past the anxious imperial advisor and the lifeless dragon bed, across the hall full of fearful and numb palace servants, and landed on that scarlet figure from afar.
Yin Chaosheng stood beside the dragon bed, behind him was the golden dragon bed, a symbol of supreme power in the human world, yet now dead and decaying.
He was surrounded by palace servants who lay prostrate on the ground, numb yet secretly hoping for the emperor's swift death.
And in front of him...
Before him stood the only thing that caught his eye amidst the deathly silence and hypocrisy of the entire hall.
Yin Chaosheng and Jin Chen looked at each other for a moment, then raised their hands and, one by one, removed the gorgeous and heavy constraints from their bodies.
A jeweled hairpin was carelessly tossed to the ground, an elaborate sash was undone and slipped off, and a shawl embroidered with a golden phoenix was torn off...
"Princess! No!" A bold palace maid tried to dissuade her in a trembling voice, but when she met the eyes that were looking over her through her loose hair, she was so frightened that she immediately fell silent, lowered her head deeply, and dared not say another word.
And so, in full view of everyone, Yin Chaosheng shed his princess disguise, his long, dark hair cascading down like a waterfall, slightly disheveled and partially obscuring his stunningly beautiful face.
He wore only a scarlet undershirt and was barefoot, stepping on the cold gold bricks as he walked step by step toward Jin Chen by the screen.
Yin Chaosheng stopped in front of Jin Chen, looked up, and gently stroked Jin Chen's warm cheek.
In her eerie eyes, all the indifference and mockery faded away, leaving only dependence and grievance.
“Take me away,” he said.
Jin Chen reached out and wrapped his arms around his waist and knees, easily lifting him up in her arms.
Yin Chaosheng nestled obediently in his arms, her veil slipping off her face as she moved, revealing her stunning beauty. Her pale arms emerged from her sleeves, tightly hooking around Jin Chen's neck, and she pressed her cheek against his warm neck, dispelling the chill and decay around her.
Jin Chen held him in her arms, ignoring the horrified gazes of the palace servants, and strode out of the bedchamber.
Outside the hall, Chu Jiushan and his three companions, who had rushed over upon receiving the news, happened to witness this scene.
When they finally saw the princess's true face, the four of them were struck dumb.
We haven't even recovered from yesterday's shock yet! And here comes today's dose of saga!
There are so many secrets in the palace!
Further away, Fu Lingjing, who had hoped to see Jin Chen make a fool of himself, was struck as if by a heavy blow. He staggered back two steps and collapsed onto the cold steps, muttering to himself in a daze.
"How could it be him? Princess Chiyin, how could it be... Lord Yin Chaosheng of Ghost City!"
