Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1105 Gao Yao Makes Advance Arrangements for Follow-up Matters!

Twenty-four years have passed. The Gao Yao of yesteryear, with his peculiar temperament and ingenious methods, who finally ascended the throne, has long been tempered by time and supreme power into a sage emperor as deep as the sea. But occasionally, Xiao He can still see a trace of the old, unconventional and unrestrained spirit that is out of step with this era in the depths of those increasingly unfathomable eyes.

Just as Xiao He's thoughts began to stir, Gao Yao had already taken action. He did not issue a summons, but simply raised his hand and made a simple gesture.

Like a ghost, a man dressed in a light blue outfit, with a long, narrow, black-sheathed dagger at his waist, silently emerged from the shadows behind the throne. He strode quickly to the foot of the throne, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head in obedience. This man had an ordinary, unremarkable face, except for his eyes, which were as calm as a frozen abyss. He was a member of the Blue Robe Society, a secret force directly under the emperor and a closely guarded secret in the court.

"Go, clear the area within fifty paces of the main hall. No one, for any reason, is allowed to approach." Gao Yao's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone. "Anyone who tries to spy on us, regardless of their identity, will be executed without mercy."

"Yes!" The man in blue did not hesitate or question at all, as if he had just received the most ordinary instruction.

He stood up, took three steps back, then turned around, his figure disappearing silently behind the small door on the side of the hall, like melting ink.

With this order, the palace, symbolizing the core of the empire's highest power, was completely transformed into an isolated island. The mournful autumn wind sweeping through the palace walls and corridors, and the faint sound of distant bells and drums, seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier. The silence within the palace suddenly gained weight, pressing heavily on the heart.

Gao Yao then rose from his throne. He was not wearing the heavy imperial crown, but only ordinary clothes, yet he possessed a profound and imposing presence. He did not summon Xiao He forward, but instead descended the nine-tiered imperial steps himself. The black soles of his boots clattered on the golden bricks, producing a clear and solitary "tap, tap."

Upon reaching the bottom of the steps, he carelessly lifted his robe and sat directly on the cold, gold-brick steps, casually patting the empty seat next to him.

"Old Xiao, don't just stand there, come and sit down."

Xiao He was slightly taken aback. The etiquette between ruler and subject was strictly observed. To sit and discuss matters was something only seen in ancient legends or in private settings of extreme trust.

Such a scene—the emperor sitting on the steps, inviting his ministers to sit with him—had been rare since Gao Yao formally ascended the throne. Xiao He instantly understood that this was no ordinary audience between the emperor and his ministers. His Majesty addressed him as "Old Xiao," dismissed his attendants, and even mobilized the Qingyi Society to clear the room; the matter he wished to discuss was likely far more important and secretive than he had imagined.

He did not hesitate, nor did he decline in fear. At this moment, to dwell on etiquette and hierarchy would be foolish. He strode forward, lifted the hem of his crimson prime minister's robe, and sat down on the cold steps, only half a person's distance between him and Gao Yao. This position, lower than the throne, at this moment represented a closeness that transcended status, bordering on that of a friend or a confidant.

“Old Xiao,” Gao Yao said, not looking at Xiao He, but gazing at the majestic golden dragon pillars deep in the hall. His tone carried a rare, almost wistful, ethereal quality. “It’s been more than twenty years already.”

Xiao He's heart tightened, and he cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, since I first met Your Majesty in Pei County, I have been fortunate enough to be entrusted with important responsibilities by Your Majesty, and it has been a full twenty-four years since then." He paused, then added, "I have always followed Your Majesty."

“I…” Gao Yao habitually uttered this self-reference, but then stopped himself. He tilted his head to look at Xiao He, who was sitting upright beside him with graying temples, and suddenly smiled. There was a hint of weariness in that smile, but also a hint of relief as he let go of his pretense. “Never mind, it’s just the two of us now, so it’s more comfortable for me to say I am. Old Xiao, there’s something I need to do…”

Xiao He listened intently, leaning forward slightly.

Gao Yao continued, lowering his voice even further, as if afraid of disturbing the unseen deities in the hall: "The situation is still unclear. Everything is just my speculation and preparation. But... it is very likely that something similar will happen, like when I became emperor... well, a sudden change."

"Your Majesty, you—!" Xiao He turned his head sharply, his eyes instantly filled with horror, and for the first time, a clear crack appeared on his usually calm and composed face.

He knew all too well what Gao Yao meant by the upheavals before his ascension to the throne! Being trapped at Mount Li had shaken the entire court; some even thought Gao Yao would never emerge alive—this was an absolutely momentous event.

"Look at you, always like this." Gao Yao waved his hand, seemingly having anticipated Xiao He's reaction, his tone even carrying a hint of teasing.

“I’m not sure right now. Maybe nothing will happen, everything will be calm, and we can go about our business as usual. Last time, it was a real accident; I didn’t expect it myself. But this time, it was my own doing. To be honest, I’m not really sure what the consequences will be.”

He paused, his gaze returning to his clasped hands, hands that were steady and strong, hands that had once wielded the simplest farm tools and the sharpest swords, and now controlled a vast land. His voice carried a complex, indescribable emotion—a mixture of inquiry, resolve, and a hint of excitement: "But… I always want to give it a try. Some paths, if you don't walk them, you won't feel at ease."

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Xiao He could no longer sit still. He practically crawled half a step, facing Gao Yao, his voice trembling with urgency.

"Now the world is at peace, all directions are subjugated, and the nation's power is at its zenith! You are the pillar of the nation, the pillar of all people! If... if something were to happen to you, the nation would surely be shaken, and this hard-won prosperity would be in jeopardy!"

He was truly anxious. As the empire's chief minister, he knew all too well what Gao Yao meant to this vast empire. Gao Yao was not only the emperor, but also the chief architect and ultimate arbiter of this empire that was ahead of its time. His very existence was a symbol of stability and a guarantee of progress.

"Shock my foot!" Gao Yao interrupted him rudely, his tone becoming resolute again. "I kept you here just in case! I can't explain the details to you now; it's beyond your comprehension. Just remember what I said: if one day I suddenly disappear, vanish, or can't be found—either through death, assassination, or simply disappearing into thin air—then in court, you should follow the procedures I previously instructed you to uphold the succession of Crown Prince Gao Lin. All other political affairs should proceed according to the established national policy, step by step!"

He stared into Xiao He's eyes, speaking each word clearly and distinctly: "You only need to make one thing clear to me, keep a close eye on one thing: Absolutely, absolutely not, can Lü Zhi have any chance to seize power! Not even the slightest! Understand?"