With Lin Yi's guarantee, the young Emperor naturally felt completely at ease. Watching his jubilant subjects, he was presented with the spectacle of a nation at peace and his people secure.

The pious men and women dressed up with great care, hoping to encounter a wonderful marriage on this special day.

The official activities of the Qi Qiao Festival only started at noon, and this year, having heard that Your Majesty would personally attend, everyone got up early, waiting on the streets for Your Majesty's carriage to pass by.

By stark contrast to the celebration inside and outside the Imperial City, the Eighth Prince stationed at the border was anxious and restless.

The Eighth Prince had paced back and forth inside his tent dozens of times, repeatedly asking the same question.

"Is there any news yet? Can we strike back at the Imperial City now?"

In ancient times, even if a message was sent with the utmost urgency, it would still take two and a half days for it to travel from the Imperial City to Yumen Pass.

But clearly, the Eighth Prince could wait no longer; his army of one hundred thousand was already poised to strike.

He returned to the map and after observing it again and again, he made up his mind.

"This prince can wait no longer; send the orders down to rally the one hundred thousand troops, get the formation in order, and in one hour, we will strike back at the Imperial City."

"This prince must reclaim the throne that belongs to me!"

As soon as the Eighth Prince finished giving orders, his Think Tank, Sima Shu, hurried forward anxiously.

"Your Highness, this must not be done!"

"At the latest, within three hours, messengers from the Imperial City will surely bring the latest intelligence here, and it wouldn't be too late to act then."

"Please remain calm, Your Highness; if anything goes awry now, we will have no way out. To achieve great accomplishments, there is no need to rush these few hours."

Sima Shu persistently advised, fearing that the Eighth Prince might, in a moment of impulsiveness, make a grave mistake.

The Eighth Prince was fidgety and indecisive, tracing circles on the map over and over again.

Finally, after a moment, he spoke slowly: "Forget it, let's heed the Think Tank's advice. Those destined for great deeds must not rush these few hours."

"Summon someone, keep scouting; I must have the latest intelligence!"

Another half an hour passed, and a scout rushed in.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, a secret report has arrived!"

"Bring it to me quickly!"

The Eighth Prince stood up from his chair, bypassed his Think Tank, and reached out to personally take the secret report.

This was a report he had been waiting for without sleep for two whole days and nights.

When he anxiously opened the secret report and saw the contents, he was instantly dumbfounded.

"The plan has failed, Your Majesty is safe and sound, the old eunuch and other experts were completely wiped out, Lin Yi and the others protected His Majesty."

The Eighth Prince was petrified in an instant, holding the secret letter so stiffly in his hand that it fell out without him even noticing.

Seeing this, the Think Tank mustered the courage, picked up the secret report with great care, and closely read its contents.

But after reading the content, he also became very distressed.

This was the "just in case" they feared most, and this "just in case" had indeed come to pass.

Sima Shu did not dare make a sound; he knew that the Eighth Prince was furious at this moment, and any wrong word might cost him his life.

After a silent half an hour, the Eighth Prince slammed his fist down onto the table and sighed.

"Heavens, all this prince wanted was to take back what is mine; why can't the gods lend me their support?"

"The previous Emperor stationed me in this remote Border to keep my military power in check and prevent it from posing a threat to the imperial authority."

"Now, this young Emperor should be trying to stabilize the realm and win over my loyalty, shouldn't he follow the example of emperors from generations past and invite me back to serve the new ruler wholeheartedly?"

At this moment, the Eighth Prince's heart was filled with ten thousand resentments. He clearly commanded the strongest military force, and he was so close to ascending the throne last time.

Yet, he missed the throne by a hair's breadth.

If he could return to the Imperial City rightfully and openly, he would have a way to claim the throne. Regrettably, he was stationed at the Border year-round without a reason to return to the Imperial Palace.

As the Eighth Prince's Think Tank, how could he not know the frustrations in the prince's heart?

Sima Shu ordered someone to brew a pot of tea, then carefully handed it to the Eighth Prince.

"Your Highness, calm your anger. 'The gods will subject those whom they wish to make mighty to all sorts of trials. They will harness their will, strain their sinews, starve their bodies, deplete their resources, and disrupt their endeavors. To stimulate their minds, restrain their wills, and strengthen their weaknesses.'"

"Your Highness, you have already endured countless tribulations far off at the Border. Now that the regicide plan has failed, you are hindered by the disruption of your endeavors."

"I believe this is Heaven's final test for you. Once you overcome this obstacle, you shall be ready to shoulder the great responsibilities of the realm."

One must admit, with Sima Shu's persuasion, the heavy mood of the Eighth Prince lightened considerably in an instant.

"Ah, if only it were so."

The Eighth Prince picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp, preferring to believe that this was Heaven's final test for him.

But when he thought of Lin Yi, the man who had once again foiled his plans, anger flared up within him.

"It's Lin Yi again!"

"I knew after he repelled the barbarians last time that Lin Yi was no ordinary man, and I even planned for my brother the Fourth Prince to bring him into our fold. And yet, to my astonishment, the Fourth Prince actually chickened out."

Concerning this, the Eighth Prince inevitably lectured the Fourth Prince through letters, but to no avail.

Before, he merely deemed Lin Yi capable in leading troops, crafting weapons, and knowing military strategies. But now, seeing Lin Yi overcome the old eunuch and other experts, it's clear that Lin Yi's martial skills surpass theirs. It seems I have indeed underestimated him."

The Eighth Prince helplessly shook his head and sighed, "Could it be that in our great empire, whoever possesses Lin Yi gains the world?"

From this point on, the Eighth Prince decided to start with Lin Yi. If he could turn Lin Yi to his side, the young Emperor would lose his support.

However, Think Tank Sima Shu proposed a different view.

Lin Yi's unwavering loyalty to His Majesty must stem from great favors bestowed upon him or a grip on his vulnerabilities by His Majesty, allowing him to remain consistently submissive.

If the Eighth Prince doesn't possess equivalent benefits or sufficient authority, keeping Lin Yi would be a curse rather than a blessing, and it might be better to destroy him.

"No!" the Eighth Prince shook his head.

In this whole realm, there is no one that I, the Eighth Prince, cannot bribe. Don't underestimate me; though I'm stationed far at the Border, feeding off the military, I have reserves in the National Treasury in the Imperial City. Throughout the empire, there are no fewer than twenty places where my money is stashed."

And this, is the capital I dare to use to raise an army in rebellion.

It's just a pity that with such capital, I still lack a legitimate reason.

"Order it to be so, I shall offer the reserves of the National Treasury to Lin Yi, on one condition—that Lin Yi comes to Yumen Pass to meet with me personally."

Upon hearing the Eighth Prince's decision, Sima Shu immediately expressed his dissent.

"Absolutely not, my lord Eighth Prince! The reserves of the National Treasury are the result of over a decade of meticulous preparation, and also key to convincing the people when establishing our own state."

"If you simply give it away, wouldn't these ten plus years of effort be wasted, leaving Lin Yi to reap the benefits?"

...End of Chapter...

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