If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

Five miles outside the imperial city, in a secluded pavilion, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense.

The pavilion is draped with green bamboo curtains on all four sides, and a magnificent carriage is parked at the entrance, complementing the tranquil environment and adding to its grandeur.

Zhao Yu sat on the stone bench, tapping his palm with a folding fan.

His face remained calm, but a cold smile played on his lips.

Grandpa Hai stood beside him, bowing.

"The beggar will definitely appear during the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven."

At that time, several ministers controlled by the physician will create chaos to distract his guards.

In the chaos, let the beggar die from poisoning, without anyone knowing.

Zhao Yu's voice was smug. "Let's lure him to the pavilion. There's a small hill here that can block the view, making it easier for me to deal with the beggar and then reappear in front of everyone."

Eunuch Hai bowed slightly and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the physician has been going too smoothly lately, and this old servant feels uneasy. That beggar's actions are unpredictable, and I fear there may be unforeseen changes."

Zhao Yu didn't seem to care. He waved his hand and said, "As long as it goes smoothly. What could he possibly discover?"

This game was flawless from the start.

"I do not believe that beggar possesses extraordinary abilities to see through..."

Before Zhao Yu could finish speaking, an old voice came from outside the pavilion, its tone calm, abruptly interrupting Zhao Yu's eloquent speech.

"Would you like this old Taoist priest to tell this young master's fortune?"

Zhao Yu's face suddenly darkened.

He was speaking enthusiastically when he was suddenly interrupted.

He was about to reprimand them when he turned his gaze and saw who it was.

A Taoist priest dressed in a gray-blue robe, holding a whisk, with a long, flowing beard.

The Taoist priest stood at the entrance of the pavilion. He was not tall, but he gave people a feeling of unfathomable depth.

His arrival made the air in the pavilion seem to freeze for a moment.

The anger on Zhao Yu's face vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised excitement.

He practically sprang up from the stone bench.

"Master! You're finally back!"

The Taoist priest's lips curled into a gentle smile.

"Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission and returned in time."

Master Hu walked slowly into the pavilion, and Eunuch Hai quickly bowed and retreated to a corner.

Master Hu ignored him and went straight to sit down opposite Zhao Yu.

"Your Majesty, this old Taoist priest has gained some insights from his trip." Master Hu's voice was calm, but it made Zhao Yu's heart beat a little faster.

However, Zhao Yu also had his own agenda. Instead of asking the old Taoist about his gains, he pretended to be impatient and revealed his original assassination plan.

He described in detail how he used the physician's spies in the court to create chaos during the sacrificial ceremony, ultimately causing Zhao Yu to die in the confusion.

"The physician has successfully infiltrated the core of the court. He only needs to wait for the sacrificial ceremony to create chaos. No matter how high that beggar's martial arts skills are, he will not be able to escape being assassinated." Zhao Yu said this, like a student seeking knowledge.

Seeing Zhao Yu's performance, Master Hu secretly felt more favorably toward him.

He smiled and praised, "Your Majesty has grown a lot, which is truly fortunate, but..."

Master Hu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Zhao Yu quickly pressed, "Just what?"

Master Hu shook his head.

"This physician possesses the brilliance of a star, yet his radiance remains hidden. He is suppressed by other luminosities, a sign of being trapped in a narrow path, or being unaware of his predicament."

Master Hu's voice was soft, yet it struck Zhao Yu's heart like a thunderbolt.

Before Zhao Yu could speak, Master Hu said confidently, "The physician has been discovered and is being closely watched. This plan won't work."

Zhao Yu's face turned deathly pale. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What?! This is impossible! The doctor has been our mole for three years, and we haven't used him yet. How could that beggar have discovered him..."

Grandpa Hai also gasped, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He knew Master Hu's abilities; if he said it couldn't be done, then it truly couldn't be done.

Zhao Yuqiang suppressed his shock and a trace of resentment.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and asked in a deep voice, "Since the Celestial Master has seen the problem, do you have a way to break this deadlock?"

Master Hu stroked his long beard, a smile appearing on his face.

He took out a palm-sized bronze bowl from his bosom.

The bowl was simple and unadorned, its body engraved with winding, dragon-like river patterns, faintly emitting a deep blue luster.

"This item is called the 'Thousand River Bowl,' a superior imperial artifact that I found in an ancient tomb deep in the mountains during my trip to Qin."

Master Hu's voice was deep and had a seductive power.

Zhao Yu stared intently at the bronze bowl, his breathing becoming rapid.

"Once the target is lured to a place near the river, this bowl can be activated, instantly teleporting everyone within a hundred paces to a thousand miles away. At that time, the old Taoist will lay a net that will leave that fake emperor with no way to escape."

There seemed to be flames dancing in Zhao Yu's eyes.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed the Thousand River Bowl.

He felt a cool sensation from the bronze bowl and held his breath, feeling the flow of power through it with his fingertips.

An unprecedented sense of power surged through him, rekindling his hope.

Grandpa Hai leaned closer to examine the Thousand River Bowl, a look of amazement appearing on his face.

"The power of an Imperial Weapon is truly extraordinary!"

"The Celestial Master's abilities are truly unprecedented. This country only has one or two national treasures, but the Celestial Master has found three for the Great Liang within three years."

"However, the ceremony will take place at a Buddhist temple, with no water nearby. How can this imperial artifact function?"

Master Hu sneered, put away his whisk, and his eyes were filled with cunning.

"Before the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, according to custom, the emperor must first go and admonish the three gods: Mountain, Water, and Stove, and pray for favorable weather and abundant harvests."

The old Taoist priest only needs to create some unusual phenomena at the start of the ceremony, making the people believe it's a "warning from the Dragon God," and Zhao Yu will surely go to the Imperial River to offer sacrifices and reassure the people.

Zhao Yu nodded repeatedly, a sinister expression appearing on his face.

"Excellent! The banks of the Imperial River are densely wooded and the terrain is complex, making it perfect for action."

"Master, this time you must make sure that imposter dies a horrible death!"

Master Hu put the Thousand River Bowl back into his bosom, his expression turning serious.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, now that I have taken action, I will not leave any survivors. However..."

He changed the subject, his brows furrowing slightly.

"When I was observing the stars, I discovered that Zhao Yu seemed to have a powerful person helping him, and this person's cultivation level was not far from mine."

Your Majesty should send someone to investigate further, lest something go wrong.

Zhao Yu was taken aback, then he smiled.

"The principles and methods are not far apart, how is that possible?"

The Celestial Master is the Abbot of the Taixu Temple. In the world, who can compare to you in matters of Daoist arts? The Celestial Master is overthinking it.

Master Hu shook his head and said nothing more.

A complex emotion flickered deep in his eyes.

He truly had no idea when such a person with profound Taoist skills would appear in the world.

But just now, at dawn, he had exchanged blows with that person for a fleeting moment.

In an instant, he realized that this person's Taoist skills were profound, perhaps no less than his own.

Hai Gonggong bowed respectfully and replied, "This old servant will make the arrangements immediately, ensuring that everything is handled flawlessly."