Chapter 588: Sky Burial
Chapter 588: Chapter 588: Sky Burial
A middle-aged man standing behind Ugle grabbed his arm, his voice filled with agitation.
"Crown Prince! This is a trap!"
In his panic, he switched to the Wazhen language.
Though no one present understood the language, they could all guess the meaning behind his words.
Chen Songshi tutted softly and murmured,
"Luring the tiger from its mountain to strike at its empty lair. What a brilliant scheme!"
Tang Zhongli stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing slightly as he seemed to recall something from the past.
After a moment, he grunted out a laugh and said,
"I met their Fourth Prince once. Back then, he was a scrawny boy, not at all favored by his father, the Khan. To think that after all these years, he would be the one to take his father’s place."
Everyone had assumed it would be Ugle. With Mu Mu Zhen’er gravely ill, sending Ugle to the Capital City for peace talks was a clear signal. Once he returned with this monumental achievement under his belt, the title of Wazhen Leader was practically in the bag.
But who could have predicted that at this very moment, he would be so thoroughly backstabbed?
And how could Ugle not have realized it?
He stood frozen, feeling as though the blood had stopped flowing in his veins. His mind felt like it had been split open by an axe.
Emperor Muwu, though quite surprised himself, was accustomed to great turmoil. He quickly regained his composure and said,
"Mu Mu Zhen’er has just passed away. The Fourth Prince has succeeded the throne and should have his hands full. Why send a Jin Xin now?"
His words made many of the officials pause. It dawned on them a moment later. ’That’s right! Shouldn’t Zhuola be busy consolidating his power right now? Why send a message so quickly?’
’Is he afraid Ugle wouldn’t find out? Is he sending this specifically to taunt him?’
’But someone so calculating and secretive doesn’t seem like the type to do something so impulsive...’
The soldier replied,
"Your Majesty, this Jin Xin from Zhuola is, in fact, also a wanted notice. Wazhen has sent out missives to all lands, declaring that Crown Prince Ugle attempted to usurp the throne, murdered his father, colluded with foreign powers, and committed treason. His crimes are punishable by death! Effective immediately, he is exiled for life. Should he ever set foot in Wazhen again, he is to be killed on sight!"
It was a bolt from the blue!
Everyone was stunned into silence, unable to process what they had just heard.
’What does this mean?’
’Ugle is now a traitor to Wazhen!? And he’s been exiled for life!?’
’This Jin Xin is clearly a death warrant!’
All the blood rushed to Ugle’s head. He was so furious he actually began to laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Ha! Has he lost his mind? I led this delegation for the good of Wazhen, only to be branded a criminal in the end!? Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!"
In the blink of an eye, he had gone from a hero to a criminal. They had even declared to the world that he was forbidden from ever setting foot in Wazhen again, on pain of death!
Was there anything in the world more absurd than this!?
The members of the delegation watched his frenzied state, but none of them could laugh. Their faces were all ashen.
The Jin Xin had been issued. It was proof that the political landscape in Wazhen had truly changed.
They—could never go back.
Ugle’s laughter slowly died.
Deep down, he knew better than anyone just how desperate his situation had become.
’A homeless dog. That’s all I am now.’
Ugle’s expression turned cold. He strode forward, snatched the Jin Xin, and unfurled it with a sharp SWISH!
"Ah—"
Eunuch Li started to protest but trailed off. Emperor Muwu, however, showed no anger. He simply leaned back in his throne and said, "Let him look."
The others then settled down.
Ugle gripped the Jin Xin tightly. He recognized every word on the page, but strung together, they were utterly absurd!
A furious rage swelled within him. When he saw the Khan Seal at the bottom—the symbol of the highest authority in Wazhen—his anger finally boiled over.
SLAM!
Ugle slammed the Jin Xin to the floor. He spat out a curse in the Wazhen tongue, but it did nothing to quench his fury.
"Damn it!"
He had traveled a thousand miles for Wazhen, and that bastard had played him like this!
But no matter how furious Ugle was, what was done could not be undone.
He was now the one in the most trouble. With the Jin Xin issued, he couldn’t even return home.
No!
’I can’t just sit here and wait for my doom!’
His mind raced. He made a decision in an instant, whirling around to bark at his trusted men, "Pack your things immediately! We’re returning to Wazhen!"
But his decision was immediately met with opposition.
"Crown Prince, you can’t! The Fourth Prince has already taken the throne and issued a warrant for your capture. If you go back now, it will be incredibly dangerous!"
It was obvious that Wazhen now belonged to Zhuola.
If they returned now, they would be walking straight into their graves.
"He wouldn’t dare!"
Veins bulged on Ugle’s forehead, a clear sign of his extreme rage.
"I have never done anything to betray the people of Wazhen! This is slander! If I don’t go back, it will be the same as admitting my guilt!"
After all the years he had poured his blood, sweat, and tears into Wazhen, he had been just one step away from the throne. To fail at the final hurdle and be branded with such infamy... how could he possibly accept it!?
"But—"
The members of the delegation exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what to do.
’Go back?’
’Zhuola has surely laid an inescapable trap!’
’Don’t go back?’
’Are we really supposed to become homeless dogs, doomed to a life in exile!?’
Either choice was an incredibly difficult path.
While Ugle and his men agonized over their predicament, the others in the hall had their own thoughts.
Who could have imagined that while they were in the middle of peace talks, Wazhen would erupt into internal conflict?
Tang Zhongli looked at the two copies of the Peace Negotiation Book before him, suddenly hesitant.
’The delegation has been branded as traitors. So... should we still sign this?’
Just then, Shen Yanchuan spoke again.
"Since the Crown Prince intends to depart at once, we should not delay you. However, it is already late, and the city gates are closed. Even if you wish to leave, it would be more appropriate to set out tomorrow morning."
Ugle was baffled. For a moment, he didn’t understand what Shen Yanchuan was trying to say.
The others in the hall were equally perplexed. ’At a time like this, he’s actually advising Ugle to return to Wazhen? Isn’t that sending the man to his death?’
But Shen Yanchuan acted as if there was nothing wrong with his words. He ignored the various stares and simply glanced at the Jin Xin lying on the floor.
"I recall that the Wazhen funeral custom is the sky burial."
Ugle froze.
’Yes!’
’For generations, the people of Wazhen have lived on the grasslands and worshiped the Sky God. When a person dies, they are not cremated or buried in the earth. They are given a sky burial.’
’The hyenas and vultures of the steppe are their final resting place.’
Shen Yanchuan paused before adding, "If you calculate the time, and you set out tomorrow, you might just be able to see your esteemed father one last time."
The Wazhen people firmly believe that forty-nine days after death, the soul follows the Sky God on its journey, bringing a final end to its mortal life.
Mu Mu Zhen’er had passed away eight days ago. If Ugle traveled day and night, it would still take him nearly a month to get back, meaning he would barely make it before the sky burial period concluded.
This single sentence completely tipped the scales in Ugle’s heart.