Chapter 11: Grandmaster Ambush
Dream Dao Attainment: Opening Scheme Against Cultivators
Dream-Making Expert
The Peak of the Forbidden City, the highest point of the Imperial City.
What had originally been a simple desire to climb high and gaze into the distance, to watch Zhao Qingxue depart, became Lin Qi looking at the four old eunuchs closing in around him. He cupped his hands with a smile.
“Gentlemen, I was only climbing high to see the view, seeing off an Old Friend. There’s no need for such killing intent, is there?”
“Lin Qi. The Peerless Young Master of ten years ago.”
“Proficient in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Peerless in both poetry and sword. Known as the peerless one of the age.”
“But after failing in the Ascension Assembly ten years ago, he vanished without a trace.”
“The world assumed you had died of a broken heart.”
The four old eunuchs each occupied one direction, their auras surging as they locked firmly onto Lin Qi. One spoke a line each, their tones cold and grim.
Lin Qi’s expression turned serious.
He had originally thought the four old eunuchs had appeared simply because he had infiltrated the Peak of the Forbidden City, and they had come to arrest him.
But from their tone, they were clearly here for him specifically.
“The four of you used to work in the Eastern Depot, didn’t you?”
“You’ve investigated quite thoroughly.”
“Do we have a grudge from before?”
Lin Qi asked in return, noting that within the imperial palace, a large number of Imperial Guards were also gathering, led by several Commanders.
Very quickly, they formed an encirclement from all ten directions.
Such a large formation made Lin Qi understand that this was likely a long-premeditated siege against him.
But why?
Lin Qi pondered. He felt he should not have any enemies.
These ten years of hiding his name and staying out of worldly affairs, he definitely had no enemies.
As for ten years ago, during those Young and Reckless years roaming the world with a sword, even if he had enemies…
He had always pulled out the roots when cutting grass, leaving no future trouble. There should not be anyone seeking revenge on him over a decade later.
So.
Lin Qi sighed. “Because of Junior Sister Qingxue?”
“Insolent! How dare you address Her Highness by name!”
An old eunuch shouted in anger, but it also made Lin Qi understand.
This siege against him was indeed because of Zhao Qingxue.
But he remembered that although Zhao Qingxue was of the imperial family, she was only a collateral Commandery Princess.
She was not particularly valued within the imperial family.
Otherwise, when he and Zhao Qingxue had been closest, Zhao Qingxue’s father Zhao Ming’an would not have hinted that he could marry into the family.
Nor had he heard in recent years that Zhao Qingxue’s branch had gained favor in the imperial family.
But now the State of Song’s imperial family was deploying eunuchs and Imperial Guards to besiege him for Zhao Qingxue’s sake.
That should not have happened.
Could it be that Zhao Qingxue’s cultivation talent was so outstanding that the current emperor wanted to curry favor in advance?