The Great Golden Imperial Hall of the Star Luo Empire fell into a sudden, heavy silence. It was so quiet that even the sound of a tiny needle hitting the floor would have echoed like a drum. Every official in the room held their breath. Their eyes moved secretly back and forth, shifting between the young prince Dai Mubai and the Star Luo Emperor, who sat tall upon the dragon throne. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.
Dai Mubai's face was a mask of pure fury. His expression was terrifyingly grim, and his eyes burned with a golden light of anger that seemed ready to explode. He clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white. Some of the accusations the old official had just shouted were nothing but lies. Others were stretched so far from the truth they were almost unrecognizable. However, there were a few points that hit far too close to home. These were facts that Dai Mubai preferred to keep buried in the dark, away from the prying eyes of the court.
Specifically, he worried about the growing power of Ye Yin in the southwest regions. He also felt a sting of guilt and worry regarding his complicated relationship with the sisters of the Zhu Family. These were private matters of the heart and state, yet they were being dragged into the light of the imperial court.
Up on the dragon throne, the Star Luo Emperor did not move. He remained completely expressionless, like a statue carved from cold stone. The only sign of life was the slow, steady tapping of his fingers against the golden armrest. Tap. Tap. Tap. It was a rhythmic sound that made everyone's heart race, yet no one could tell what the most powerful man in the empire was thinking.
The old official who had spoken out finished his long list of crimes. He threw himself onto the cold floor, prostrating his body in a deep bow. To an outsider, he looked like a brave and loyal minister who was willing to die just to tell the truth to his King. But if someone could see his face, they would notice a different story. In his downcast eyes, hidden from the Emperor's view, there was a flicker of victory. He wasn't actually a brave man ready for death. He was a man who had received secret promises of protection and rewards from other powerful figures who wanted to see Dai Mubai fall.
Just as the pressure in the room reached its absolute limit, a sound broke the silence. It wasn't a shout or a scream, but a gentle, calm voice that drifted in from the entrance of the hall.
"Oh? So, in the eyes of this esteemed official, I am such an unworthy person?"
The heads of every official turned at once toward the heavy doors. There stood Ye Yin. He was dressed simply in a plain, long robe that looked modest compared to the gold and silk of the court. No one had noticed him arrive. He stood at the entrance of the main hall as if he had been there for a long time, watching the drama unfold. He wore his usual smile—a gentle, mysterious look that never quite reached his eyes. Slowly, he began to walk into the Golden Imperial Hall. His footsteps were light and graceful.
As he walked, his gaze fell upon the old official still kneeling on the floor. The smile on Ye Yin's face grew just a little bit wider, though it did not look kind.
"However, official, you did say one thing that was actually correct," Ye Yin said softly. He paused in the center of the room, letting the silence stretch out. "I truly did… come from the underworld."
His voice was soft, almost like a whisper, but in the quiet hall, it felt like a sudden clap of thunder. The words seemed to echo off the high ceilings.
"Came from the underworld?"
The officials felt a cold shiver run down their spines. A strange, ghostly chill filled the room. Even the Star Luo Emperor stopped the tapping of his fingers for a brief second. The old official, who had been so confident moments ago, began to tremble. He slowly raised his head, his eyes wide with a sudden, sharp panic. The air around Ye Yin felt different, as if the shadows themselves were bowing to him.
Ye Yin ignored the gasps of the crowd. He walked to the very center of the hall and gave a small, respectful bow toward the dragon throne. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice smooth.
He then gave a short, friendly nod to Dai Mubai before turning his full attention back to the trembling old official. His face still held that harmless, gentle smile. "Esteemed official, you must know that accusing someone of serious crimes requires proof. Do you have any real evidence for the things you have just said?"
The old official tried to find his courage. He swallowed hard and stiffened his neck, trying to look bold as he shouted back, "Is it not a fact that the First Prince has been missing ever since he fought with you? No one knows if he is even alive! And is it not a fact that your influence in the Yin Feng Territory is growing too fast in the southwest? You are becoming a threat! Not to mention your shameful entanglement with the ladies of the Zhu Family! And finally, everyone knows you humiliated the envoy sent by the Spirit Hall!"
With every question, the official's voice got louder and louder. He was trying to use his loud voice to hide the fact that he was scared. He wanted to overwhelm Ye Yin with his words.
Ye Yin did not get angry. In fact, he looked almost amused. He began to clap his hands together lightly, the sound echoing through the hall. "Well said. Truly well said. It really does make me sound like a terrible criminal."
Suddenly, his tone changed. It remained calm, but there was a sharp edge to it now. "However, official, you seem to have misunderstood a few simple things. First of all, the First Prince is not missing at all."
Ye Yin turned his head, his eyes sweeping across the rows of officials. He made sure every person could hear his next words clearly. "His Highness simply suffered a small setback. He had a relapse of an old injury while he was practicing his cultivation. This caused some trouble with his inner demons. Right now, he is in a very quiet place, focusing on his recovery. He is in secluded cultivation and cannot see any visitors. This is a private matter that the Crown Prince and His Majesty are already fully aware of."
With those words, he skillfully shifted the focus. He passed the responsibility directly to Dai Mubai and the Star Luo Emperor.
Dai Mubai was quick to react. He stepped forward, his voice cold and filled with authority. "That is exactly right! The health and status of my Imperial Brother is a secret of the royal family. Who gave you the right to guess about such things? How dare you spread such baseless rumors in this court!"
The Star Luo Emperor finally spoke from his high throne. His voice was faint, but it carried the weight of a mountain. "I have made my own private arrangements for Weiss."
It was a short, simple sentence, but it was enough. With those few words, the Emperor dismissed the most serious accusation as if it were nothing but dust in the wind. The old official's face turned pale as he realized his strongest weapon had just been shattered.
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