Chapter 1643 — Handwriting Reveals Character
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
The Chancellor said, "There is a problem with the letter of surrender he delivered. His Majesty flew into a rage when he read it and wants to behead him with his own hand. Ordinarily I would not dare barge into a Celestial Master's residence, but His Majesty has given the order, and I had no choice but to intrude. I ask the Celestial Master to grant me this small courtesy."
Yuchenzi said, "Aunt, this must be some misunderstanding. Aunt need not fear for your nephew; once I explain matters to His Majesty, the misunderstanding will be cleared away."
Bai Yuqiong stepped forward and straightened his clothing for him: "Set your mind at ease. I will find some way to preserve your life."
Yuchenzi breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that what she meant to preserve was not his life, but the life of the human race.
In the imperial study, Yuchenzi was brought forward under guard. Before the divine general could kick the back of his knees, he had already dropped to his knees of his own accord.
Hao Tianzun was holding the letter of surrender, reading it closely, and laughed: "In this letter Mu Tianzun did take some pains—he has actually listed out the whole of Jingping's wealth. He was thoughtful, at least."
He closed the letter, and his face darkened.
Yuchenzi gave a timely shudder. Hao Tianzun was plainly in far better spirits than before, but the sight of him inevitably recalled that passage in the letter which had displeased him. He said mildly, "Mu Tianzun sent you here, so you must be one of those glib-tongued creatures. Of all things in this life, what I most detest is a glib tongue..."
"Your Majesty, that old thief Mu is using your blade to kill!"
Yuchenzi hastily cried out his grievance at the top of his voice: "Let not Your Majesty fall for the old thief Mu's scheme!"
Hao Tianzun gave an "oh," and said with a smile, "You mean Mu Tianzun wishes to use my hand to kill you? What virtue or ability have you, that he would not simply remove you himself, but must borrow my hand to do it?"
Yuchenzi said, stiff-necked, "That thief Mu is licentious past all measure. I remonstrated with him again and again, and he came to dislike me. But I am a disciple of the Dao Ancestor; he cannot kill me without cause. So when he sued for surrender this time, he flung me out to die! I know every last detail of Jingping's foundations—he was deceiving Your Majesty in that letter! He has secretly held back a great deal of property, meaning to surrender and then live the merry life with Divine King Langwo and Emperor Yanxiu and a whole bevy of beauties!"
Hao Tianzun could not help laughing, and shook his head: "You measure a gentleman with a petty man's yardstick. Mu Tianzun has fought me for so many years; he is not that sort of rogue."
Yuchenzi said, "Your Majesty, once he surrenders he means to take his beauties and his gold and go back to Yongjiang to herd cattle!"
Hao Tianzun laughed until he could not straighten up: "The great Mu Tianzun, a cowherd?"
The Chancellor beside him said hastily, "Your Majesty, this Mu Tianzun was indeed of cowherd stock in his early years. Your servant has already made the inquiries: Mu Tianzun herded cattle at Yongjiang in his youth, and the name Mu comes from that. Emperor Yanxiu often calls him 'the cowherd' as a term of endearment. Your servant's informants in Jingping say that Emperor Yanxiu is searching for her old father and means to abdicate—most likely to go and herd cattle with him..."
"There is such a thing?"
Hao Tianzun was astonished: "My mortal enemy is such a man?"