Chapter 0165 Xie Chengze’s Reversal Threat Leaves Emperor Jian Speechless
The ice hockey match concluded with great fanfare, leaving the wealthy merchants and common spectators still craving more.
Even Emperor Jian was no exception—he wished he could step onto the ice himself to experience the thrill of playing hockey.
Fortunately, Xie Chengze had prepared for this. Each morning, the rink would open for merchants to rent hockey sticks and pucks, with attendants available to play alongside them.
Of course, the prices were steep.
A veritable money pit.
To entice the merchants to extend their stay in Liaozhou, he deliberately scheduled the auction for three days later, forcing them to remain longer and incur additional expenses.
By the time the match ended, night had fallen. Lanterns were hoisted high once more, and candles beside the ice sculptures were lit, transforming the area back into a vibrant winter wonderland.
Li Dongyao personally prepared to award the winning team, but as the prefect of Liaozhou, he would first deliver a few remarks for the Ice Sculpture Festival.
He stepped onto the pavilion, flanked by two rows of stout, towering Yamen Runners. Starting from Li Dongyao’s position, they fanned out toward the crowd at the rink’s periphery, stationing themselves at twenty-meter intervals.
Li Dongyao’s gaze lingered on Xie Chengze for a moment, and he quickly winked before turning away.
According to the original plan, Li Dongyao was supposed to praise Xie Chengze’s wisdom, express gratitude for his contributions to Liaozhou, and build him up as a heaven-sent lucky star. He would flatter Emperor Jian for his fortunate lineage while subtly enticing a certain someone to believe in Xie Chengze’s divine favor and seek private collaboration.
Clearing his throat, Li Dongyao began, “Fellow elders, esteemed merchants, a Happy New Year to all!”
As soon as he spoke, the Yamen Runner stationed a few meters away drew a deep breath and bellowed like a roaring lion toward the next runner twenty meters distant: “Fellow elders, esteemed merchants, a Happy New Year to all—!”
One by one, the runners relayed the message toward the crowd, their voices booming and far-reaching, ensuring every person present could hear his speech clearly.
Emperor Jian glanced over and remarked, “Well, this spectacle seems grander than when I issue proclamations in the Golden Luan Hall!”
Xie Chengze silently broke into a cold sweat.
He had no idea Li Dongyao had arranged this! There was no such rehearsal!
No matter—he had to shift the blame. Xie Chengze immediately retorted, “It’s all because the Ministry of Works is so incompetent! If they’d invented a horn that could amplify sound, why would we need people to relay messages?”
Elder Gu nearby: ?
Are we the useless ones again?
Meanwhile, Li Dongyao continued his address upfront. “The ice hockey match achieved splendid results; Liaozhou’s ice sculptures celebrate the New Year! Before awarding the victorious team, this official hopes everyone will remember that our ability to overcome the snow disaster and welcome the New Year is thanks not only to the court and the merchants’ aid but also to the Second Prince, who worked day and night, forgetting sleep and meals, to plan for us!”
Li Dongyao raised his head, his expression fervent. “Pacifying bandits to mine Coal Mountain, clearing snow routes to deliver relief grain, warming homes with heated kang through winter, ice sculptures soaring to bring prosperity far and near! Who else possesses such prowess? The heaven-sent lucky star—the Second Prince!”
Xie Chengze gave a slight nod. Good, it seemed the lines matched exactly what they had drafted.
Next came the part where they were supposed to praise Emperor Jian, proclaiming that whoever possessed the Lucky Star would gain the world.
But then Li Dongyao’s tone shifted abruptly, his expression filled with profound sorrow. “However! As I’m sure you’ve all heard, the Second Prince toiled day and night with utter devotion, ultimately collapsing from overexertion and dying suddenly on the ice rink!”
Xie Chengze: ?
Wait? Was this line in the rehearsal?
He instinctively glanced at Shen Yuan, only to see him turn away, shoulders trembling as if suppressing laughter.
The commoners below nodded in agreement and began discussing among themselves. They had indeed heard about the Second Prince’s death. Though many had never seen him in person, they were all familiar with his achievements and felt deep gratitude and reverence toward him.
But…
Some had also heard that the Second Prince had come back to life. What was really going on?
Was the Second Prince still alive or was he dead?
When Xie Chengze turned back, he saw Li Dongyao’s face now glowing with relief as he addressed the crowd below. “Like all of you, I resented Heaven for taking the Second Prince from us too soon. While keeping vigil during his funeral, I fainted from grief. Unexpectedly, the Five Great Immortals appeared to me in a dream!”
The crowd gasped softly.
In the northern regions, people worshipped the Five Great Immortals: the Fox Immortal (fox), the Weasel Immortal (yellow weasel), the Hedgehog Immortal (hedgehog), the Snake Immortal (snake), and the Mouse Immortal (rat).
Also known as the Five Manifestations of the God of Wealth, these deities were believed to coexist with the common people. It was thought that disrespect toward them would bring retribution, while reverence would grant blessings and prosperity.
For the Prefect to receive a dream visitation from all Five Great Immortals simultaneously was clearly an enormous blessing!
“The Five Immortals told me that the Second Prince is a Lucky Star descended from Heaven. The more good deeds he performs, the greater his blessings become. But how can a mortal body withstand excessive divine favor? Therefore, Heaven recalled him early, intending to elevate him to immortal status where he would be worshipped by future generations.”
“However, the Second Prince refused! He declared outright that he wanted to bring blessings to more common people. Moved by his compassion for the masses, Heaven allowed him to return from death. The Five Great Immortals personally escorted his soul back to his body, where he will remain until his virtuous deeds are complete before returning to the celestial realm—”
Another wave of gasps swept through the crowd. Their widened eyes showed both astonishment and a sense that this explanation made perfect sense.
So the Second Prince really had come back to life!
Heaven truly had eyes, actually returning the Second Prince to them!
And the Second Prince had actually given up ascension to immortality just to continue blessing the common people—how could this not move them deeply?
Remembering all the Second Prince had done since coming to Liaozhou, the people felt tears welling up in their eyes.
They knew perfectly well that if the mountain bandits hadn’t been pacified, if the coal mines hadn’t been discovered, and if heated kang beds hadn’t been introduced, they would have faced mass starvation when the heavy snows came, dying in the snowfields without anyone noticing.
If not for the Second Prince, this New Year would have been spent in sorrow and despair. They would have numbly clung to frozen corpses of loved ones, been forced to cut flesh from family members to feed their children, been buried and frozen to death under collapsed snow shelters, or been hacked to death by bandits breaking into their homes…
Instead, they now enjoyed laughter and celebration everywhere.
At this moment, the people’s gratitude resonated deeply with Li Dongyao’s speech. They knew the figures seated on the platform were all distinguished personages. Though they didn’t know exactly who these people were or what official positions they held, they were certain the Second Prince must be sitting among them.
They knelt down one after another, offering clumsy yet sincere prayers for Xie Chengze, “Second Prince, may you live a long and healthy life.”
“Second Prince, may all illnesses stay far away from you.”
“Second Prince, may Jian’an prosper increasingly under your blessed protection…”
The common people knelt and bowed in worship—what a magnificent spectacle.
Even Emperor Jian had never received such treatment, let alone the Crown Prince.
Xie Chengze covered his face, the sense of shame within him reaching its peak.
Emperor Jian stroked his chin and turned to the flushed and flustered Chengze, saying, “Ze’er, are you aiming to become the Crown Prince?”
Suddenly causing such a grand scene—didn’t you say you had no interest in the throne?
Have you changed your mind again?
“Become my ass!” Xie Chengze’s lips, hidden behind his hands, cursed irritably, “Don’t even think about exploiting me! If you dare make your son the Crown Prince, I’ll hang myself right in the Golden Luan Hall!”
Emperor Jian: ?
What a clever counter-threat—you’ve left even me at a loss.