Chapter 4: Removing the Fuel from Under the Cauldron

“Pian Fu, take this letter and this jade pendant to the Imperial Palace, and say it is my intention!” Ji Kece wrote the letter through her pain; that jade pendant was the token of love Yin Xi had given her at that time.

Pian Fu nodded woodenly, stowed the letter and the jade pendant away, closed the door to Ji Kece's boudoir, and departed using light kung fu.

Pian Fu’s light kung fu was excellent, not disturbing the Imperial Palace guards in the slightest. He arrived easily at the Yan Dynasty Great Hall of the Yidu Imperial Palace. At this moment, Yin Xi had not yet retired for the night; instead, he was reading at his imperial desk. Yin Xi did not look up, but sensing movement, his voice rang out, “Come in, Pian Fu.”

Pian Fu walked to the doors of the Yan Dynasty Great Hall, opened them, and entered. A half-smile curled at the corners of his mouth as his lips parted slightly, “Your Highness has such keen observation; you even know who the visitor is. Pian Fu is impressed!”

Yin Xi did not answer him directly, instead changing the subject, “Is Kece feeling any better?”

Pian Fu placed the letter and the jade pendant on the imperial desk in front of Yin Xi’s books. The sight of that jade pendant caused Yin Xi’s eyes to flicker momentarily. Pian Fu did not answer his question, but instead changed the subject again, “The Young Mistress has asked Pian Fu to give these to Your Highness. I trust Your Highness understands her meaning!”

Yin Xi picked up the jade pendant from the desk; how could he not know the origin of this piece of jade?

Crossing his arms, Pian Fu said with solemnity, “Your Highness has already seized absolute power. Pian Fu hopes Your Highness can return the sovereignty of the Thousand Fiends Sect to the Young Mistress; this is also the Young Mistress's wish.”

Pian Fu also knew that the current Emperor still held the token of the Thousand Fiends Sect's Vice Leader. Naturally, Pian Fu did not want the Emperor to interfere in the affairs of the Thousand Fiends Sect again, nor did he want him to tarnish the sect's reputation once more.

Yin Xi kept his head lowered, hiding any expression. One could only hear his words as he gripped the jade pendant in his hand, “Does she truly think so?!”

Pian Fu answered sincerely, “Mhm, the Young Mistress truly thinks so. She hopes Your Highness can satisfy her request.”

Suppressing the dissatisfaction in his heart, Yin Xi picked up the jade pendant and waved it before Pian Fu's eyes, “And what is the meaning of this?”

Pian Fu shrugged, pointed at the letter on the imperial desk, and said with a pout, “That letter might answer your question, Your Highness. Mm-hmm.”

With the grin of a smiling tiger, Pian Fu waved his hand in front of Yin Xi without saying another word.

Yin Xi walked around him and sat at the imperial desk. He set the jade pendant down, and his cold tone left Pian Fu feeling a slight sense of dread, “You may leave. As for the Vice Leader's token of the Thousand Fiends Sect, I shall deliver it to her personally.”

Pian Fu glared at Yin Xi, who sat at the desk, huffing and stomping his feet. He did not dare to speak too insolently; after all, the man was still the Emperor of the Yidu Dynasty. They were companions who had grown up together since childhood; Yin Xi would not be overly harsh toward Pian Fu's actions, which was why he was willing to let them offend him.

Yin Xi stroked the jade pendant, looking at it pensively. *Ji Kece, do you truly, truly want to sever all ties with me?*

He opened the letter, which was written in formal, serious seal script

*Your Highness, please cancel that marriage decree!*

*Kece knows well that Yin Xi has always held that woman in his heart; Kece only wishes for Your Highness to give that woman a formal title.*

*Furthermore, please do not blame Pian Fu; it was Kece's intention.*

*Kece knows that Your Highness has successfully ascended the throne. Now that the Thousand Fiends Sect is lacking a leader, Kece hopes Your Highness can return the Vice Leader's token to Kece.*

*The only thing Kece has is the Thousand Fiends Sect. Kece never wanted to be Your Highness's wife.*

*The world is vast; there will always be a path that Kece is meant to take.*

*Kece.*

After Yin Xi finished reading the letter, his brows furrowed in anger. His hands clenched into fists, and a moment later, he tore the letter into pieces.

The corners of his mouth curled up as he looked at the jade pendant, his eyes seemingly shimmering with a complex emotion, “Kece, I can give you the Vice Leader's token of the Thousand Fiends Sect, but as for that marriage decree... I cannot do it!”