Sirius Ji had no idea what strange thoughts were swirling in Nathan Ye's mind. Seeing Nathan's expression of disbelief and his complex gaze, he assumed Nathan was deeply moved.
"Such a loyal and righteous man as Minister Ye deserves to be honored as one of the ancient sages," Sirius Ji thought to himself. "To protect him, revealing the Imperial Relic is a worthy price."
Although he didn't say these words aloud, his gaze conveyed every sentiment. In his mind, this was a moment for the history books, a scene that would be passed down through the ages. He envisioned generations to come remembering a ruler and his subject, bound by mutual trust and devotion.
Nathan Ye caught this sentiment and, instead of feeling grateful, felt an overwhelming urge to curse.
"Is this emperor insane? I helped him, and he's trying to save my life?!" Nathan fumed internally. "Who knew there could be such a twisted individual in this world?"
Yes, in Nathan Ye's mind, anyone who wanted to kill him was a friend, while anyone trying to save him was an enemy.
"Well then, I never expected His Majesty to have an Imperial Relic hidden up his sleeve. Quite the surprise for us in the Immortal Sect," Gavin Tsai sneered, his anger simmering.
Nathan Ye's blatant defiance was beyond what he could tolerate, but Sirius Ji's persistence caught him even more off guard. For a fleeting moment, he began to wonder if this emperor, whom the world saw as inept, wasn't so weak after all. At the very least, keeping such a powerful artifact hidden suggested a subtle defiance within him.
"Your Majesty, please, I urge you to show restraint," Sirius Ji declared, his expression resolute as he gripped the oil lamp.
Today, Nathan Ye had displayed the kind of virtue found in the ancient texts—a man with the bearing of a sage. How could Sirius Ji bear to let such a person die before his eyes? He would willingly risk everything, even provoke the ire of the Immortal Sect, to protect Nathan Ye.
"This man has slandered the Immortal Sect and deserves death. There is no room for negotiation!" Gavin Tsai declared coldly, his brow furrowing deeply. "However, given the emperor's plea, I will show some leniency. If Your Majesty agrees to the title of prince and orders Minister Ye to kneel before the Yuhua Sect's shrine for seven days, then perhaps I can spare his life."
"If not, even if you protect him here in the royal hall, he will eventually have to leave the palace," he added with a sinister smile. "And at that point, I can't guarantee his safety."
Gavin Tsai was not a fool. Committing regicide would bring divine retribution, dooming not only himself but also the entire Yuhua Sect. Instead, weakening Da Zhou's influence gradually was the best strategy. Once the emperor lost the military's support, the nation's fate would crumble naturally.
So, even though Sirius Ji's resolve to protect Nathan Ye was troublesome, Gavin Tsai saw it as an opportunity.
As Sirius Ji froze in indecision, glancing uncertainly toward Nathan Ye, Nathan noticed the emperor's face beneath the pearl curtain—a face as delicate and ethereal as a snow-white fox's.
Startled, Nathan Ye thought, "Wait, this emperor... is almost too beautiful..."
A shiver ran down his spine. What was happening? Why was he reacting this way to a man's appearance? He shook his head vigorously. "Something's wrong here. Why am I even thinking about this? I came here to die, not to admire anyone!"
Growing furious, Nathan Ye was determined to prevent this absurd negotiation. He burst out in hearty laughter, his voice resounding through the hall, filled with defiance.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to deliberate," he said with a calm smile. "To bestow a princely title would only shake the very foundation of this nation. My life is nothing compared to the stability of Da Zhou. If Your Majesty dares to make such a deal with this rogue monk, I will die with regret!"
Sirius Ji's eyes filled with tears.
"But if we don't, you'll die!" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Nathan Ye simply smiled, his eyes clear and unwavering, carrying no trace of fear—only a glimmer of exhilaration. In his heart, he sought death, but to others, this was the light of wisdom, the light of an idealist.
"Confucius taught virtue, and Mencius taught righteousness. If Da Zhou has stood for ten thousand years, should it not have loyal ministers ready to die for it?" Nathan Ye declared, his voice echoing. He stepped forward, lifting his head as if preparing himself for execution.
"Blood must be shed by someone, and let mine be the first!" he shouted.
What valor! What righteousness! Those who still held a sliver of conscience felt their eyes welling up with tears. In that moment, human goodness was reawakened, and many took a step forward, anxious and desperate.
"Minister Ye, please, don't!" they pleaded, unable to bear the thought of his sacrifice.
Nathan Ye inwardly cursed.
"Why is everyone trying to stop me?"
He kept a gentle smile on his face, motioning for everyone to step back. By now, he had reached the steps leading to the throne.
"Master He, proceed!" he said calmly.
"No! I won't allow you to die! You're still so young!" Sirius Ji cried out desperately.
"Who hasn't faced death since ancient times?" Nathan Ye replied quietly. "Let me die with a clear conscience, my heart steadfast as iron."
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