It was in the camp of the Eastern Depot, Guiping.

At the moment, the time seemed stagnated. Within the tent and outside, it was quiet and silent. Only faster and faster thumps ceaselessly trembled through people's eardrums. It was just Min Rui's nervous heartbeat.

His right hand, after reaching into the hole of the wooden box, seemed to have been entrenched inside. It was unmoved and stiff.

With a sneer, Gu Di tightly stared at Min Rui's flushed and pale face.

"Your Highness, please take the bean out."

"... OK."

In Min Rui's eyes, a flicker of fright was betrayed. He embarrassedly looked away, intending to do as Gu Di said. But he was still somewhat reluctant. He made the hand in the hole move around inside the wooden box, which stirred beans frequently clatter and clatter. Eventually, he held his breath and took his hand out.

Min Rui rapidly lowered his eyes, looking at the thing clung in his two fingers.

Black bean?

It was just a black bean!

Seemingly receiving a great strike on his head, Min Rui's mind instantly went blank. What he could do was only to stare at the round bean blankly.

The complete color of blackness was like the vacant darkness in the sky outside, instantly devouring him. Then he was buried into the chilling and bottomless abyss.

At the moment, Min Rui fiercely trembled and quivered. With his two fingertips, he struggled to pinch the round and tough bean more and more tightly. Even when his finger pulps were ached by it, he was still not aware at all.

Gu Di slowly stood up, with no emotion in his clear eyes, pretendedly shouting,

"How could this be? How could this be! The person blessed by the God... should certainly be Duke Min?"

Holding the black bean in his hand, Min Rui slowly moved his eyes and blankly looked at hypocritical Gu Di. He said in a weary and helpless voice,

"Master Leng, could the result... be probably changed?"

"What do you think?"

Gu Di slightly lowered his head, fulfilling pain in his expression. As he archly squinted his eyes, there quietly showed some sneers,

"It is the rule, Duke Min. You command the fleet so that you should understand, if we flip-flop on the decision and contradict ourselves, how can we establish ourselves? How can we convince people? How can we command the army with plenty of soldiers?"

"Just let it be. I am willing to be the one who ignites the gunpowder..."

Min Rui gave up. When his blank eyes turned clear and sensible, Min Rui stared at Gu Di in bright piercing eyes. As the latter felt surprised, Min Rui quietly turned around and slowly took steps.

Somewhat in a trance, Min Rui seemed to be thinking. He even didn't realize how he walked out of the tent. He wasn't awakened until a jumble of voices in his ear struck him,

"Your Highness, what did you draw?"

"Duke Min looked a little terrible."

Several people gathered around him. Among those people, a young man dressed in a guard suit looked worried and anxious. He held depressed Min Rui up, hustling to ask,

"Father, what did you draw on earth?"

In a little astonishment, Min Rui trembled and came to his sense. Subconsciously clenching his right fists, he asked in reply,

"Jun'er, haven't I asked you to return to your barrack?"

"I am so worried that I come back and wait for you there. Father, have you drawn a soybean?"

While tentatively looking down, Min Jun realized his father Min Rui's right hand was shaking and trembling incessantly. At once, his look turned to be serious.

"Father, let me see..."

As Min Jun tried to grab at Min Rui's right hand, Min Rui showed panic in his eyes. Quickly moving his hand and dodging, Min Rui paltered,

"Not necessary. I, I draw a soybean."

Min Jun didn't completely believe him. While struggling with each other, Min Rui accidentally loosened his grip. Suddenly, as his fingers were unfolded, a bean fell down and rolled on the ground.

In the shine of flames, people bowed and could easily recognize the dark and beaming bean's color.

The noisy crowd calmed down. Someone quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Someone shook head and felt pitiful, and someone also became disappointed in tears.

Min Jun was stunned, just staring at the black bean on the ground. Suddenly, he knelt on the ground, in moisty eyes, helplessly muttering,

"Father, father..."

Min Rui closed his eyes and deeply breathed. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were as sharp as a blade.

It was thanks to his wife, Duchess Min's deathbed warning, that he could take action in time, leaving a bridge for himself, for living members of Clan Min.

Min Rui pulled Min Jun up and took him straight to walk to the resting tent. All the way, he said in a low voice,

"Just be at ease, things are not that bad!"

Drawing lots eventually came to a result, so Gu Di ordered those people gathered outside the tent to leave away.

A retinue of Gu Di held the wooden box and walked close to him, flattering,

"Your Highness, the Zhenlong Box is well designed indeed."

Gu Di slightly smiled and said nothing. He took the wooden box, easily and quickly dismantled it. In each hand, he held one box.

The wooden box called "Zhenlong" was originally made up of two large and small boxes, which were assembled according to the design of the large box containing the small one. On the large box at the outer layer, there was not only a hole allowing a hand to freely reach within and out. At the bottom, there was also a secret device, which caught no attention.

On the usual condition that no one touched the device, people could reach their hands from the hole, directly into the inside of the large box.

But when someone switched the device, the small box inside the large box would turn to a certain position, overlapping with the outer hole of the large box.

Therefore, when people put their hands into the hole, they would reach the inside of the small box.

While drawing lots, Gu Di particularly made a swindle with Zhenlong box. He put soybeans in the large box and black beans in the small box.

When others drew lots, they reached into the large box. So all of them took the soybean out. Only when it was Min Rui's turn, the retinue of Gu Di secretly started the device. Eventually, Min Rui took a black bean out.

Gu Di complacently and evilly laughed, pouring the two boxes of beans out. In his chilling eyes, he stared at the soybeans and black beans mingling on the ground. Suddenly he said,

"Don't complain that I haven't offered him a chance. It is Min Rui that is not loyal to me. So, since I can't gain his support, I might as well destroy him and leave no hidden trouble."

As the sound of steady footsteps occurred, Cheng Wanli walked into the tent. He slowly raised his hands and saluted,

"Master."

In his indifferent eyes, Gu Di casually glanced at Cheng Wanli's expressionless and swarthy face. Without noticing anything abnormal, he asked in a little anxiety,

"Why do you come back so late? Where is Yunxi? Have you taken her back?"

Cheng Wanli slowly shook his head,

"No, Miss Yun, is detained by His Majesty in the Imperial Palace."

In order to pretend to be still controlled by Puppet Art, Cheng Wanli deliberately slowed his voice down and spoke thickly.

Gu Di's eyes turned red in madness. With his hands held on the back, he clenched the fists, appearing extreme hatred,

"B*stard! Huanan Xin should dare to covet my woman!"

In his drooping eyes, Cheng Wanli stared at the ground all the time. But he felt much too indignant.

He detested Gu Di who pretended to be his Master, even though he was Master's twin brother.

Moreover, Gu Di not only casually and superciliously took orders to his Master's retinues, but also intended to snatch Master's woman, Gu Yunxi.

In the dark, Cheng Wanli gritted his teeth, trying to refrain from his anxiety. Then he feignedly asked in a slow and blank voice,

"Master, what we should do next?"

Gu Di frowned and quickly walked a few steps,

"What else should we do? The day after tomorrow, Kunhuang Tomb would be opened. I have been making preparations for such a long time, in order that I must spare no cost to gain the jade seal. Anyhow, Huanan Xin can't live to the day. After he dies, Yunxi will naturally come back to me. We will make precise plans tomorrow. Now we gather the majority of our members to Kunhuang Tomb."

Cheng Wanli quietly saluted, not saying words anymore.

Too much speech may make Gu Di perceive something. Currently what he should do was to watch out for Gu Di, and try to tip his Master off.

After thinking a while, Gu Di made another order,

"Besides, you watch out for Min Rui. I have just contrived one fact that Min Rui is appointed as the person who would ignite the gunpowder in Wangxian Rise. But I am worried that he is not willing to obey the determination. Once you found him scheming something in the dark, you could immediately kill him, without asking for my order."

"Yes, Master."

...

It was in the Imperial Palace, Guiping.

The night before last, Gu Yunxi was detained in the Qushui Hall. Since then, she had been huddling in a corner. With her chin on her hands, she blankly stared that outside the window, in rustling winds, the shadows of flowers were swaying and leaning.

It was not until a wisp of sunlight went through the window lattice engraved with gold blessing clouds, shining on her weary and pale face, that Gu Yunxi realized that the day had already dawned.

Outside the windows and gate, the guards stood all night.

Perhaps for fear that she might commit suicide, before closing the gate, some eunuchs removed all hairpins and clasps on her head, and stripped her silk strap cinched on her waist. Thus, she was forced to stay here with hair disheveled and garment loosened.

Gu Yunxi understood, she seemed to be detained by Huanan Xin.

Her mind came back to something before.

Previously, she changed her face and went into the Palace, meeting Huanan Xin again. At that time, he was only a prince. Several times Gu Yunxi was in danger. Fortunately, Huanan Xin was there and she managed to survive the crisis.

At that time, ignorant Gu Yunxi thought she met her mascot, and Huanan Xin was dim-witted indeed. Therefore, she didn't mind the rule of women and men being forbidden to be close to each other. She and Huanan Xin often walked in and out of one same room together, wandering on the Palace hand in hand.

Now as the truth came up, Gu Yunxi was both astonished and angry, in extreme shame and annoyance.

She had been trapped in the Palace for half a year. During the time, she recognized not only the fierce battle in the imperial court, but also the cruel fight in the imperial harem.

But as such, in order to achieve a goal, Huanan Xin had been enduring much humiliation and pretending to be a dim-witted person for several years. In terms of persistence, he was much like Leng Qingtang. However, when Huananxin succeeded, he behaved ruthlessly and indifferently. It was more appalling of him in contrast with Leng Qingtang.

Gu Yunxi knew clearly, Huanan Xin was a smart, treacherous, and ruthless man.

Compared with him, previous Ming Lan, Wan Li, and Wan Zong, even Emperor Jingxiao were all small.

So, now Leng Qingtang was really confronted with a great opponent.

In a chaotic mind, Gu Yunxi was imagining and presuming something. At that time, the gate of the Qushui Hall was slowly opened to the sides.

Harsh white lights suddenly shined on the hall, being so dazzling. That made Gu Yunxi unable to open her eyes.

A dozen maids lined up and walked inside, holding trays in their hands. On the trays, there placed imperial garments, hairpins and jewelry, pairs of red corals, Ruyi (the S-shaped jade), gold vases ornamented with green feathers, and all kinds of treasure.

At the end of the line, the old eunuch Chen Ying stood. He waved the white horsetail whisk, striding to Gu Yunxi. Then he bowed and smiled, in courteous appearance,

"Lady Yun, I greet you."

"What are you saying?"

Having been staying up all night and missing two meals, Gu Yunxi was both hungry and weak. She had even been unable to sit still.

But hearing those words, she immediately raised her body and jumped up from the ground. She was too astonished to remember to breathe,

"Who, who is Lady Yun?"

Gu Yunxi unconsciously moved back. After taking a step backward, a vigilance lingered in her eyes. Nervously, she bit his lower lip with her teeth.

"Ha-ha, it's my duty. I forgot to tell you the great news."

Chen Ying smiled and unfolded the golden silk on his hands, speaking in a sharp voice,

"The daughter of Zheng Ran, answer the imperial edict."

Gu Yunxi stood blankly and said nothing, as she had been stunned for a while.

Chen Ying felt both embarrassed and annoyed, reminding her in a lower voice,

"Aye yo, you are just the youngest daughter of the deceased Lord Protector Zheng, Zheng Ran. I am talking to you! Be quick to kneel and accept the imperial edict! His Majesty will confer you the honor of Lady Yun in the third rank."

Gu Yunxi blushed and slowly turned serious, calmly answering,

"I can't accept the imperial edict."

"Ha, refusing the imperial edict is a great crime, which could kill you. Eunuchs, carefully help Lady Yun."

Immediately, Chen Yin changed his expression. He turned contemptuous and tart, glancing at the side in cold eyes.

Two young and strong eunuchs quickly walked behind Gu Yunxi.

"Let me go! What do you want to do? I don't accept the imperial edict! I won't be the concubine of His Majesty..."

Gu Yunxi suffered Gu Di's secret strike and lost her internal strength. Losing her Kungfu, she was really a vulnerable girl now.

Her fierce struggle didn't make a difference. As her two arms were held to the rear by the two eunuchs, Gu Yunxi was pinned to the ground.

"Take care! If her face were injured, His Majesty wouldn't forgive us."

Gu Yunxi was forced to kneel but she didn't give up. While struggling, her delicate face was almost on the ground. Seeing that, Chen Ying reminded in time.

Joggling the golden silk on his hands, Chen Ying spoke loudly,

"According to the will of God, I, as the emperor, issue the following order. The deceased Duke, Zheng Ran, and all his families were firmly faithful. His daughter, Zheng Wanruo was tender and excellent, calm and smart. Now I confer her the honor of Lady Yun in the third rank. Respect this."