Everlasting Immortal Firmament

Book 08 Chapter 041: Envoy Bing Ji

A garden in the palace’s residential area, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Gu Hai enjoyed a lavish feast of animal spirit meat, sating his hunger, with Chen Xianer by his side.

“Husband, this world devouring is too strange, isn’t it? The moment you stop, you feel hungry again?” Chen Xianer said worriedly.

“Perhaps it’s because the strength difference between my Spiritual Progenitor deity king and my three spiritual souls is so great. With such an enormous gap, it urges me constantly. Once the Spiritual Progenitor deity king becomes stronger, I won’t be so hungry!” Gu Hai explained with a smile.

“Alright,” Chen Xianer responded, still somewhat worried.

“Where are Wanqing and Wanyu?” Gu Hai asked, curious.

Chen Xianer took a deep breath and replied, “I sent them away.”

“Oh?” Gu Hai’s expression turned to surprise.

Over the past few days, he had been handling Han Nation’s military affairs and constantly probing Ji Dihong in a mutual exchange using secret factions. He could not afford to be distracted by matters of his imperial harem.

However, Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing had grown as close as sisters during this time, touching Gu Hai’s heart, as he was not good at dealing with household affairs.

Gu Hai knew they had not only accepted each other but were also sacrificing for him, not wanting domestic issues to disrupt his work.

Although he did not say it, he was moved. He felt increasingly guilty towards Chen Xianer and Long Wanqing, pained for them.

The two had reached a point where they told each other everything, so why had Chen Xianer sent Long Wanqing off today?

“Husband, how is Bing Ji doing? You’ve been sending people to probe Xuanyuan City recently,” Chen Xianer asked softly.

“Bing Ji? Xianer, why did you suddenly ask about her?” Gu Hai looked at Chen Xianer, his heart tensing, unsure what to say.

“I mean, shouldn’t you bring Bing Ji back to the palace soon? Although she is Ji Dihong’s granddaughter, he doesn’t treat her as family. Or perhaps Ji Dihong has no close family at all. Leaving Bing Ji in Xuanyuan City is too dangerous!” Chen Xianer stated.

“Bring Bing Ji back to the palace?” Gu Hai repeated, looking at Chen Xianer with surprise.

Back to the palace? Not back to the imperial court?

[TL Note: The phrasing above is more specific to bringing Bing Ji back into the imperial harem as a wife rather than an official.]

Chen Xianer looked at Gu Hai’s cautious expression and could not help but chuckle. “Of course, back to the palace. She’s your woman. How can you leave her out in the world?”

Gu Hai looked at Chen Xianer with a bitter smile. “Xianer, are you willing to let her in?”

Chen Xianer leaned into Gu Hai’s embrace.

”I told you the day I was revived. Xianer can accept them. Doesn’t Husband trust me?” Chen Xianer pouted.

Gu Hai felt warmth in his heart.

“When you met them, Xianer was already dead. How could I be angry with you? Moreover, since I was dead then, I hoped someone who truly loved you could take care of you. Bing Ji risked her life to save you several times. I’m grateful to her, not jealous. If I can accept Wanqing, I can accept Bing Ji. She’s also an unfortunate girl!” Chen Xianer revealed her heartfelt thoughts to Gu Hai.

“Xianer, thank you!” Gu Hai hugged Chen Xianer tightly, profoundly moved.

“Wanqing loves you deeply, too, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. Husband, I know you’ve checked on Bing Ji’s situation. How is she now?” Chen Xianer looked at Gu Hai.

Gu Hai fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “It’s not good!”

“What’s not good?” Chen Xianer asked, confused.

“Ji Dihong? What a heartless grandfather! I thought he would use Bing Ji only to restrain me. I didn’t expect him to be so cruel as to hand her over to Cangjie to increase her strength greatly, using some secret technique. Now, Bing Ji’s consciousness seems completely gone!” Gu Hai said gravely.

“Consciousness gone? What do you mean?” Chen Xianer’s face changed.

“She’s lost her memory, obeying only Cangjie’s commands. I don’t know the extent of her amnesia, but I’ve sent people to keep watch in secret. The moment there’s an opportunity, we’ll rescue Bing Ji!” Gu Hai replied.

“Lost her memory? Only obey Cangjie? She’s a puppet, then?” Chen Xianer’s face changed again.

Gu Hai nodded grimly.

“My husband, you must save Bing Ji! She’s suffered so much for you!” Chen Xianer urged anxiously.

“I will. However, Bing Ji rarely appears in public. Most people there don’t know her whereabouts. Hah…,” Gu Hai sighed.

Thud!

Gu Hai banged his fist on the stone table, upset and frustrated.

Chen Xianer rested in Gu Hai’s arms, stroking his chest to ease his breath.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the other side of the garden. “Husband, Elder Sister Chen!”

It was Long Wanqing and Long Wanyu rushing over.

Chen Xianer sprang up from Gu Hai’s arms. Long Wanqing approached hurriedly, showing no resistance to seeing Chen Xianer and Gu Hai together.

“What’s the matter?” Gu Hai asked softly.

Before Long Wanqing could speak, Long Wanyu blurted out, “Brother-in-Law, envoys from the Huang Heavenly Dynasty have arrived!”

“The Huang Heavenly Dynasty? Envoys?” Gu Hai said in surprise.

“The leader is Younger Sister Bing Ji!” Long Wanqing nodded.

“Bing Ji?” Chen Xianer exclaimed, wide-eyed.

“Yes, Princess Bing Ji of the Huang Heavenly Dynasty. We were inspecting exotic animal spirit flesh outside the palace for Husband when news of the Huang Nation envoys arrived, causing a commotion. However, Younger Sister Bing Ji didn’t seem to recognize us.”

“Bing Ji? Ji Dihong actually let her return? That’s not like him at all!” Gu Hai said in amazement.

“Who cares about what he is thinking? Isn’t Younger Sister Bing Ji’s return a good thing?” Chen Xianer said joyfully.

Gu Hai nodded in agreement.

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Soaring Palace Hall:

Gu Hai, wearing imperial robes and a crown, sat on the throne with a column of officials on both sides.

“Announcing the arrival of the Huang Heavenly Dynasty envoys!” a guard shouted.

The hall fell silent, filled with solemnity, as they had already heard the news. The envoy from the Huang Heavenly Dynasty was no ordinary person; it was the Han Imperial Dynasty’s Third Corps commander, Bing Ji!

Why had Ji Dihong chosen a Han Nation official as the envoy for the Huang Nation?

Then Bing Ji, dressed in a white fur robe, slowly entered the hall.

With one gold and one blue eye and her pretty, iceberg-like face, she looked bewitchingly beautiful. Her appearance was a pure and alluring white lotus, utterly unblemished.

Everyone in the hall watched Bing Ji.

The Unborn Man, Gao Xianzhi, Mo Yike, and others gazed at her intently.

Sitting on the throne, Gu Hai gripped the armrest, suppressing a roaring anger inside despite his calm exterior.

Hearing about it and seeing it for himself were two different things entirely.

Memories of the past resurfaced as he looked at Bing Ji.

Previously, she had done everything she could to avenge her mother’s death despite her weakness, suffering threats and pressure from powerful experts who harmed her loved ones. He remembered her desperation and helplessness, struggling as she made accusations against the Supreme Genesis. Her sorrow still haunted Gu Hai.

Now, exploited by her own grandfather and lost in amnesia, she was on a mission to the Han Imperial Dynasty as a mindless puppet.

Gu Hai felt heartbroken and incredibly furious at Ji Dihong. This fury was on the verge of bursting out uncontrollably.

Now that Bing Ji had returned, he resolved never to let her return to that hellish place, no matter what.

“Huang Heavenly Dynasty’s Bing Ji is here to present an official letter to the Han Imperial Emperor!” Bing Ji announced, bowing.

“Rise!” Gu Hai commanded.

Bing Ji nodded expressionlessly.

“Why did the Huang Heavenly Dynasty send envoys to the Han Nation?” Gu Hai asked.

“His Holy Eminence’s intentions are in this letter. Please read it, Han Imperial Emperor!” Bing Ji handed over the letter.

Curiosity spread among the officials as the letter reached Gu Hai’s hands.

When Gu Hai opened the letter, he saw that Ji Dihong had penned it himself.

Gu Hai’s expression darkened as he read the letter.

In this letter, Ji Dihong wrote about how their previous fights resulted from misunderstandings. After the war, he recognized the Han Imperial Dynasty’s strength and desired world peace. He wished to end the conflicts and foster peaceful relations between the two nations, never to fight again.

The words painted a picture of peace and harmony.

However, Gu Hai understood it was all nonsense. Not a single word expressed Ji Dihong’s true feelings. Ji Dihong was certainly harboring some secret agenda. Gu Hai knew the talk of alliances and eternal friendship was empty rhetoric.

The letter was merely meant to get Gu Hai to lower his guard, and if Gu Hai showed any weakness, Ji Dihong would certainly use all his might to bring Gu Hai down.

However, the official letter was perplexing. Why did Ji Dihong let Bing Ji deliver it?

Was it to show the sincerity of the Huang Heavenly Dynasty? Gu Hai did not believe it for a second.

Nevertheless, Gu Hai would not reject the letter in public.

“Ji Dihong’s official letter writes about fostering peaceful relations between the two nations, never to fight again? We also wish for the same thing. Your envoy group has come from afar. Stay here for now while we discuss with our officials how to promote the harmonious and healthy development of the two nations. Then you shall convey the Han Nation’s intentions back to the Huang Heavenly Dynasty,” Gu Hai said.

“Yes! We will follow the Han Imperial Dynasty’s arrangements!” Bing Ji nodded.

Gu Hai ordered the Huang Nation’s official letter be selectively read in Soaring Palace Hall for the officials to hear. Afterwards, Bing Ji left the hall, and the officials from the ministry of rites arranged accommodations for the Huang Nation’s delegation.

Inside Soaring Palace Hall, some officials, who did not understand what was going on, rejoiced and talked freely.

Yet Gu Hai and the ministers who understood the situation remained silent. The mood at the imperial assembly was incredibly tense.

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The emperor’s study, Xuanyuan City:

Only Cangjie and Ji Dihong remained here.

“Your Holy Eminence, everything is ready. Bing Ji and her party have officially settled in Borderless Heavenly Capital. Gu Hai’s downfall is imminent!” Cangjie declared confidently.

Ji Dihong’s eyes flashed with satisfaction. “Mister Cangjie, your plan is indeed brilliant. Bing Ji? As long as Gu Hai holds even a shred of affection for her, he will meet his downfall!”

“Gu Hai is meticulous and cautious in thought. It would be difficult to trap Gu Hai using intellect. We can only catch him off-guard through emotion,” Cangjie said gravely.

Ji Dihong nodded.

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The emperor’s study, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

After the imperial assembly, Gu Hai summoned a group of key officials to the emperor’s study.

The tacticians shared the same suspicion as Gu Hai, that Ji Dihong was plotting something nefarious, but they did not know what.

“Ji Dihong can’t have sent Bing Ji here to assassinate His Reverence, right? Although Bing Ji has grown significantly stronger, she is definitely no match for His Reverence. I have also checked the other envoy delegates, and there were no experts among them.” Kong Xuan frowned.

The officials tried to guess Ji Dihong’s intentions but could not figure anything out.

“Right now, the most important thing is to help Bing Ji recover her memories. Wanyu, have you figured anything out?” Gu Hai looked at Long Wanyu.

Long Wanyu was Heaven Cang in her previous life, with access to vast knowledge, so Gu Hai asked her first.

Long Wanyu shook her head. “I’m not sure. It would be best if you captured Bing Ji for me to inspect her.”

The Unborn Man suddenly spoke up. “Your Reverence, this official might know why Bing Ji lost her memories.”