The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 506 If it is evil, it must be eliminated!

The Grand Preceptor left as silently as he had come. After he disappeared into the darkness, the oppressive atmosphere in the hall vanished abruptly, and the candlelight began to flicker again.

Emperor Anhe remained limp on the spot, drenched in cold sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water. His clothes clung to his body, and his eyes were filled with endless fear and confusion.

He got up from the ground and walked towards the dragon throne in the hall in a daze. He walked up the steps and sat down. His hands touched the dragon head carvings on the armrests of the throne again and again. His eyes were full of reluctance and unwillingness.

Suddenly, he let out a roar, his voice filled with frustration and resentment.

Even in the former Liang Dynasty, whoever became emperor was chosen by others. Before he died, he was told to get out and someone else would take his place. Which dynasty was like that?

Only the Tantai clan suffered terribly as emperors. Their ascension to the throne was by imperial decree, and their abdication was equally arbitrary. They could be forced to step down with a single word, yet they were powerless to resist and dared not harbor any resentment, having no choice but to obey unconditionally.

Dare to resist?
The likely outcome would be that it would be used to guard the foundation of the imperial mausoleum, thus ensuring the dynasty's continued existence.

But how can one be content with that?
Emperor Anhe slapped the dragon throne and laughed out loud, tears streaming down his face. At this moment, his imperial authority and ambitions were all worthless and could no longer be mentioned, because he was just a useless pawn!
Beside the open palace gate, the chief eunuch knelt and trembled in the corner. Hearing the mournful, maniacal laughter coming from inside, he trembled even more violently.

It was the height of summer in June, yet the deep palace was chilled to the bone.

The night was cool and still, in the pomegranate orchard.

In stark contrast to the solemnity that had just occurred in the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace, the Pomegranate Garden was filled with pomegranate trees, their branches and leaves lush and their blossoms fiery red, their beauty dazzling. When the moonlight shone upon them, they possessed a unique charm.

Princess Tantai sat cross-legged on the roof of the Star Gazing Tower, her hands forming a mudra, bathed in moonlight as she walked the Great Circulation, a faint glow swirling around her.

Suddenly, the air beside her rippled, and a familiar aura appeared in her senses. Princess Tantai trembled almost imperceptibly, opened her eyes, nimbly stood up, and respectfully curtsied: "Master, why did you come down the mountain?"

The Imperial Advisor stood two steps away from her, not speaking immediately, but simply looking at her quietly with his eyes that seemed to see through everything, his gaze calm and unwavering.

Princess Tantai, who was usually aloof and indifferent, was stung by this gaze, and a chill rose uncontrollably from the depths of her heart, as if she had been stared at by some terrifying beast.

"The events in Wujing, even the Rong family affair, have caused quite a stir and are known to everyone. You have already returned to the capital, and you were even present when Rong Yiming died. Why didn't you send a message to your master in time?" The Grand Preceptor finally spoke, his voice as cold as water, yet carrying an invisible pressure. He said, "All these events bear the shadow of Lang Jia Jiu Niang. The Rong family's downfall was even caused by her stirring up trouble. This is so unusual. You have already met her. Did you notice anything? Or did you notice something, but you didn't send a message? Aqing, tell your master why, hmm?"

His tone was calm, even gentle, but each time it carried an unquestionable question, striking Princess Tantai's heart like a heavy hammer.

She knew all too well the terrifying power of the Imperial Advisor; any concealment or oversight could lead to unimaginable consequences. She lowered her eyes, steadied herself, and tried her best to keep her voice as clear and calm as ever, saying, “Master, the Rong family head is notorious for his evil deeds. For his own selfish desires, he has cultivated heaven-defying evil arts. I know that if he masters these evil arts, our Great Dan will be plunged into a terrible calamity. That is why I stood by and watched when Lang Jiuchuan joined forces with the Fourth Master of the Rong family to deal with him. As for Lang Jiuchuan, this woman possesses extremely high Taoist skills, but her identity is a mystery. Where she acquired her cultivation is unknown. I have been unable to glean the full picture from her, and I dare not disturb Master's cultivation.”

"Oh, is that all?" The Imperial Preceptor stepped forward, his aura pressing down on Princess Tantai so much that she could hardly breathe, yet she dared not move, her fingertips slightly clenching towards her palm.

"Ah Qing." The Grand Preceptor's all-seeing eyes were fixed on her, his voice still calm, yet carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hint of disappointment. He said, "You are the person with the purest bloodline, the purest Dao root, and the highest talent in the recent history of my Tantai clan. You also carry the hopes of my Tantai clan, and in the future, you will be able to govern the country and even help your master perfect the Great Dao, laying the foundation for the faith of all people. Your master places high hopes on you."

His long, slender hand landed on her head, noticing her stiffness. His gaze fell on her thick, trembling eyelashes, and his tone suddenly turned cold: "But are you going against your teacher's high expectations?"

Princess Tantai was jolted awake. She looked up in fear and tried to kneel down, but the hand pressing down on her head made it impossible for her to move.

"Why are you hesitating to send a message? Is it out of curiosity about this girl, or out of pointless pity? Is your judgment being influenced by that vague, unrequited affection from the past?"

The word "past" exploded in Princess Tantai's mind like a thunderclap. She looked at the handsome and otherworldly man in front of her, her beautiful face drained of color, and her eyes were filled with undisguised shock and fear.

Fragments of memories flashed through my mind, finally settling in a pair of clear, cunning eyes, like a cat's, reflecting my pitiful figure.

The Imperial Advisor, seeing this, chuckled.

Princess Tantai seemed to come to her senses and hurriedly lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly: "Master, I dare not. I have never forgotten my identity. I am the Holy Maiden of Tantai. My only mission in this life is to protect the foundation of my Great Dan. I am willing to give everything for this and have no other intentions."

Her fearful expression of loyalty caused the Grand Preceptor's cold eyes to soften slightly. He gently patted her head and said, "It's for the best. Remember, your bloodline, your glory, and everything else all originate from the surname Tantai. You were born for it, and you should die for it. Anyone who threatens the fate of the Great Dan Kingdom and the Tantai legacy, no matter who they are or who they once were, must be eliminated."

His words were loaded with meaning, and Princess Tantai nodded nervously, "Yes."

"This woman from Langjiuchuan, since she can stir up trouble here, if her actions benefit the common people, then let it go. But if she brings disaster to the world and causes chaos in Dadan, then she is an evil spirit and must be eliminated. The nation's fate is in danger, and a new emperor will ascend the throne. You do not need to return to Cangshan. Stay in Wujing to assist the new emperor, cultivate at Canglan Temple, and keep an eye on her. If there are any unusual movements, report to me immediately." The Grand Preceptor withdrew his hand, turned around, and his moon-white Taoist robe drew an arc in the moonlight. He tilted his head slightly: "If you ruin the nation's fate because of a moment of reluctance, then you will be a sinner of mine, Tantai. Aqing, you cannot bear the consequences. Do not do anything to disappoint your master."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished like a ghost.

"Yes." Princess Tantai staggered a step, looking at her trembling fingertips, and murmured, "But Master, do you really remember my nickname?"

(End of this chapter)