Chapter 265 The Deal
Upon hearing this, Huo Yunting chuckled softly.
"Your Majesty is indeed wise and brave," he said, looking at Chu Jichen with undisguised admiration in his deep eyes. "I... haven't given you any hints yet, and you've already guessed it."
Chu Jichen's gaze did not fall on him, but instead remained tenderly fixed on Shen Qingci beside him, as if to confirm whether she was safe and sound.
Only after confirming that she was not frightened did he slowly lower his eyes and say in a calm voice, "I still stand by what I said. Since you are the commander of the secret guards, you don't actually need to kidnap the Empress to negotiate with me."
"As long as you introduce yourself, I will naturally be willing to have a good talk with you."
Shen Qingci nodded upon hearing this.
Indeed, that was the commander of the secret guards left behind by the late emperor, capable of turning the tide at crucial moments, and the last line of defense for imperial power.
Whatever Chu Jichen's intentions were, he couldn't possibly ignore it.
Chu Jichen lifted his eyelids, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his seemingly calm phoenix eyes: "Unless... Commander Huo is prepared to make an exorbitant demand?"
“That’s true,” he said with a half-smile. “Commander Huo probably wouldn’t be satisfied with just a lowly position as the commander of the secret guards, or… that empty title of Marquis of Yongning, would he?”
Huo Yunting nodded and smiled.
There was not a trace of embarrassment at being exposed in that smile; instead, it was full of a matter-of-fact composure.
A chilling glint suddenly flashed in his eyes: "As I just said, I originally intended to... use Emperor Yongming's life to negotiate with His Majesty."
"What a pity."
"The identity of the Commander of the Dark Guards," his voice carried a hint of self-mockery and resentment, "is mysterious and glamorous, but in reality... it's nothing at all."
"Even that fool Emperor Yongming doesn't know my true identity. We are destined to hide in the shadows, only appearing when he is desperate and needs our help."
“Otherwise,” a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes, “he would be regarded as a traitor and mercilessly killed by his so-called confidants!”
Huo Yunting lifted his eyelids, his voice filled with regret: "Previously, Emperor Yongming was driven to a dead end by you and me, and had already considered fleeing. That was my only chance to legitimately approach him and take him under my control."
"Unfortunately..." He glanced at Shen Qingci, "the Empress beat her to it."
"I... really have no other choice."
"With Emperor Yongming dead, we, the secret guards who only exist to protect him, have completely lost our purpose and have also completely... lost our bargaining chips to negotiate with Your Majesty."
“But thankfully,” his voice was filled with unprecedented ease and relief, “Emperor Yongming is dead, and we… are now free.”
"After much thought, I realized that this was the only option I could come up with."
“But Your Majesty, rest assured,” he looked at Chu Jichen, his eyes full of sincerity, “I have no ill intentions in doing this. I simply want Your Majesty to know that we, the secret guards, are capable.”
“We invited the Empress here, and from beginning to end, we never disturbed or troubled her in the slightest.”
Chu Jichen nodded, turned his head to look at Shen Qingci, his eyes filled with tenderness.
He could tell that she was neither frightened nor injured.
He then slowly turned his gaze back to Huo Yunting.
"I have seen it."
"So," his voice was flat and emotionless, "what does Commander Huo want?"
Huo Yunting lifted his eyelids, and in his unfathomable eyes, there was no longer any trace of the probing he had just shown, only complete calmness and decisiveness.
“Of course I want one,” he said, looking at Chu Jichen, “an identity that is legitimate and can be seen in the open.”
"An opportunity for us, the secret guards who hide in the shadows all day long, to openly and honestly serve Your Majesty and clear the way for you."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen uttered two words decisively without any hesitation: "Okay."
He looked at Huo Yunting, his deep phoenix eyes gleaming with the all-knowing light unique to an emperor.
"Tomorrow morning at court," he said calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority, "I will personally bring you to the Golden Hall and reintroduce you to all the civil and military officials as my person."
"At that time, I will tell them that your so-called 'fake death' was, from beginning to end, a well-planned show that I and you meticulously orchestrated together."
"The purpose is to lure the snake out of its hole, to use your death to test Huo Yunzhan, and in turn expose Liu Wenyuan, who has been harboring evil intentions behind him all along!"
"Now that the dust has settled, you can naturally reappear before everyone."
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrests of his wheelchair, making a soft "knock-knock" sound, as if he were tapping on everyone's heart.
"I will give you..." He paused, a meaningful smile curving his lips, "the position of a second-rank Assistant General of the State."
"As for your secret guards," his voice was filled with imperial benevolence and power, "I will reward them all and treat them without fail."
Second-rank Assistant General!
Although not the head of the military officers, he was already at the pinnacle of his position and held real power!
Upon hearing this, Huo Yunting smiled.
There was not a trace of dissatisfaction in that laughter; instead, it was full of understanding and confidence.
“I understand.” He looked at Chu Jichen, his sharp eyes filled with complete honesty. “I have never been His Majesty’s confidant. It is only natural that His Majesty has doubts about me. This position is very good.”
"As for the head of the military officers," a terrifying glint flashed in his eyes, "I will earn that position through my own abilities!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his long sword was drawn from its sheath with a "whoosh"!
A sharp sword light flashed, and the rough hemp rope binding Shen Qingci snapped instantly!
Huo Yunting sheathed his sword and gestured for Shen Qingci to leave, his voice filled with just the right amount of respect: "Your Majesty, you may... leave with His Majesty."
“However,” he changed the subject, his sharp eyes falling on Chu Jichen again, filled with undisguised warning, “I hope Your Majesty will keep your word.”
“Otherwise,” his voice was icy cold, “no matter how heavily guarded His Majesty is, I… will have the opportunity to bring Her Majesty the Empress back once more.”
Chu Jichen smiled upon hearing this.
“Of course.” He looked at Huo Yunting, his eyes filled with the sincerity and reliance of an emperor. “As a new emperor, I am in dire need of capable people around me. I would be more than happy to have a general of Huo’s talent serving me.”
Shen Qingci said no more, quickly walked behind Chu Jichen, reached out and steadily pushed his wheelchair.
The two of them slowly walked out of the dimly lit woodshed together.
As soon as Shen Qingci stepped out of that dilapidated wooden door, she immediately felt that in the deep darkness of the night, there seemed to be countless cold, hawk-like eyes staring intently at them!
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