Chapter 278: Leaving Chaoge
How many times has this happened?
"This is the third time."
"You play the piano every time?"
"Of course, one session can last for one or two hours."
Hearing the guards' whispers, Bi Gan, who was passing by, looked extremely unpleasant. He clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and finally turned and left.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister."
"General Huang."
On the road, Bigan met Huang Feihu.
Huang Feihu asked impatiently, "I've heard that Your Majesty has the Marquis of Xibo play the zither every day?"
Bi Gan nodded, his face pale. "Indeed."
"This..." Huang Feihu exclaimed in anger, "Your Majesty, this is too much..."
Not only did they arrest the old man, but they also humiliated the young man. Huang Feihu couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to plead for Boyi Kao: "No, I have to go and persuade the king."
Bi Gan grabbed his arm: "General, wait!"
Huang Feihu looked at him in confusion. Bi Gan sighed and said helplessly, "General Huang, haven't we learned enough lessons from the past? Empress Jiang, the Second Prince... the more we try to persuade the King, the less he will restrain himself, not to mention there's Daji bewitching him..."
Upon hearing this, Huang Feihu clenched his fists in anger. "Damn it! Daji, the vixen! Are you just going to let me watch like this?"
"It's just playing the zither for now; at least no one has been killed yet. General Huang, please calm down."
Bi Gan tried his best to persuade Huang Feihu to come down.
Meanwhile, in the palace, King Zhou, Yin Shou, fell into a deep sleep, immersed in the music of Boyi Kao's zither and after drinking heavily.
In the dim, flickering candlelight of the palace, Boyi Kao's slender fingers slowly stopped playing the zither, and the melodious music gradually dissipated into the air.
Unbeknownst to him, Daji had silently appeared behind him. At this moment, in the vast palace, apart from King Zhou, who was sleeping on his throne, only the two of them remained.
A faint smile played on Daji's lips as she slowly extended her jade-like hand and gently placed it on Boyi Kao's shoulder. Then, she leaned down slightly, breathed softly into his ear, and said in a sweet voice, "Your Highness, why did you stop?"
The warm breath sprayed on Boyi Kao's ear, but it did not move him in the slightest.
Bo Yikao remained calm, rising unhurriedly and subtly distancing himself from Daji. With a composed yet dignified expression, he said, "Your Majesty, please have some self-respect."
Daji was not angry. Instead, she smiled gently, took a few light steps, and sat down in the seat that Boyi Kao had originally been sitting in.
She stretched out her fingers and plucked the strings haphazardly, producing a few crisp sounds. Then she looked up at Boyi Kao with a somewhat alluring gaze and asked with a smile, "Why do you avoid me like the plague? Are you afraid of me? Do you not find me beautiful?"
Bo Yikao remained calm and composed, replying, "Your Majesty is naturally beautiful. After all, she is a beauty who can make even the King lose his mind and who can manipulate events in the court."
Upon hearing this, Daji was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, before her smile deepened.
"I thought you were a timid, unassuming, and humble person, but I never expected to see this side of you. In fact, this makes me even more interested in you."
Bo Yikao raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile appearing in his eyes as he looked at Daji. He said bluntly, "I think Your Majesty should be more interested in how to hasten the demise of the Shang Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Daji's expression changed drastically, her previously alluring demeanor turning icy cold. Her gaze, sharp as a knife, shot towards Boyi Kao, and she demanded in a chilling voice, "Who exactly are you?"
Bo Yikao did not respond to Daji's question. He remained calm, lightly dusted off the corner of his robe, and said unhurriedly, "Since the king is asleep, I shall take my leave."
Having said that, he turned and left.
Daji had many concerns and reservations, and in the end she did not stop him. However, her determination to leave Boyi Kao in Chaoge became even stronger.
“Bo Yikao…I will find out your true colors one day…”
...
Who is that?
When Jiang Ziya was about to launch his campaign against King Zhou, he initially favored Yin Jiao, the eldest son of King Zhou. However, after investigation, he discovered that although Yin Jiao was brave, he lacked the demeanor and strategic acumen of a ruler.
After several battles with Shen Gongbao, Jiang Ziya withdrew from Chaoge and temporarily went into seclusion in the mountains. Until recently, feeling something amiss, he consulted the oracle and quietly returned to Chaoge.
They happened to run into Huang Feihu, and the two sat down to talk in a roadside tavern. Through the wooden window, Jiang Ziya saw the young man walking towards them from the direction of the Shang King's Palace. His heart pounded like a drum, and he couldn't wait to ask.
Huang Feihu turned around, his expression somewhat complicated, and said, "That is Boyi Kao, the heir apparent of Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo."
“Bo Yikao…”
Jiang Ziya seemed lost in thought. He had consulted Ji Chang before, and Ji Chang did indeed possess a certain aura of destiny. Now, looking at his son, and seeing his extraordinary bearing, even without divination, Jiang Ziya had a gut feeling that perhaps Ji Chang had found the most suitable ruler for the world.
Before Jiang Ziya could find a way to meet Boyi Kao by chance, news spread from the palace, causing turmoil in the court and among the people.
"Absurd! Utterly absurd! That's the heir apparent of the Marquis of Xibo!"
Bigan was furious at King Zhou's actions. He actually allowed the heir of the Marquis of Xibo to stay in Chaoge as his musician, and even used the pretense of benevolence and kindness to say that because Boyi Kao voluntarily stayed, he was willing to pardon the crimes of the Marquis of Xibo, Ji Chang.
How could this be voluntary? This is clearly using the Marquis of Xibo to threaten Boyi Kao! How will the feudal lords of the world view the Yin Shang Dynasty and King Zhou of Shang?
"No, I must go and advise the king!"
"I will go with you!"
Huang Feihu, sword at his side, shouted loudly and strode to Bigan's side. The two looked at each other with solemn expressions and then hurried towards the palace, encountering many ministers along the way.
A group of people rushed to the palace, but were stopped outside the hall by Shen Gongbao and a group of guards, who said that the king's decree had been issued and could not be changed overnight.
No matter how much the crowd rebuked him, Shen Gongbao did not back down.
On the other side, in the dark and damp prison, Ji Chang sat on the ground, his face full of worry.
Suddenly the door was opened. "Lord Xibo, the King is merciful and has pardoned your crimes. Go out."
Ji Chang was somewhat surprised. As he followed the jailer out, he saw Boyi Kao waiting at the door.
“My son…” Ji Chang held Boyi Kao’s hand tightly, his eyes filled with self-blame and guilt, his voice trembling slightly, “It’s all my fault, I acted carelessly, which led to this end. You have also been forced to run around for me. I’ve really made you suffer.”
Bo Yikao's face was gentle as he shook his head slightly and said sincerely, "Father, what are you saying? As a son, it is only right to share the burdens of one's father."
After saying this, Boyi Kao handed Ji Chang to the guards of Xiqi: "You must send Father back to Xiqi safely as quickly as possible."
Upon hearing this, Ji Chang felt a sudden unease. He stopped and looked at Boyi Kao, asking anxiously, "What about you? What will you do?"
At this moment, the guard who had accompanied King Zhou and was in charge of supervision sneered disdainfully and said in a sarcastic tone, "Hmph, Your Majesty has been merciful and allowed the Crown Prince to stay and play the zither for Your Majesty. The Marquis of Xibo should feel honored."
Upon hearing this, Ji Chang was struck dumb. He would rather be imprisoned forever than have his son humiliated.
Before he could speak, Boyi Kao stopped him directly: "Father, please don't be impulsive. I will stay in Chaoge and nothing serious will happen. But Xiqi cannot be without Marquis Xibo. The people of Xiqi are waiting for you to return."
Ji Chang looked at Boyi Kao, his lips trembling, his eyes filled with helplessness and heartache. Finally, he sighed heavily and nodded with difficulty.
At this point, it was a foregone conclusion that Boyi Kao would remain in Chaoge.
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