allonlinenovel Chapter 230 Saving Black Bull
Chapter 230 Saving Black Bull
Facing the questioning of Emperor Chai Zhen, Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath and tried to keep calm in front of everyone.
She raised her head, meeting Shai Zhen's deep eyes, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, this black cow is used for plowing. It would be a pity to kill it. Besides, God is merciful, and Your Majesty is kind. Why not let it go?"
Cen Jiexiao's voice, clear and resolute, echoed across the empty seaside altar, like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, instantly igniting the suppressed emotions within the crowd. People began whispering, gossiping, and discussing.
"Who is this woman? How dare she question the sacrificial ceremony in front of His Majesty?" Someone lowered his voice, his tone full of surprise and confusion.
"You are courting death! This is a capital crime!" Someone couldn't help but exclaim in shock, feeling worried about Cen Jiexiao's audacity.
"I think she is quite pretty, what a pity..." Some people also noticed Cen Jiexiao's appearance, but they felt more regretful. After all, in their opinion, beauty is so pale and insignificant in the face of absolute power.
Chen Zigui gazed at Cen Jiexiao's frail figure, his heart churning with turbulent waves. He imagined Cen Jiexiao trapped in a haze of mist, and at the end of it, a tiger with its bloody mouth yawning, ready to devour her at any moment. He couldn't help but clench his fists, his palms brimming with sweat. He knew Chai Zhen was no good. His gentleness was only on the surface, but deep down, he was a brutal being.
"This girl is so bold!" Chen Zigui sighed inwardly, but he couldn't help but admire her courage. He recalled the first time he met Cen Jiexiao. At that time, she was still an innocent girl, but now she dared to face the imperial power. This courage made him look at her with new eyes.
"Your Majesty, please..." Chen Zigui was about to speak when he was stopped by his colleague. He turned around and saw his colleague desperately winking at him, signaling him not to act rashly.
"Master Chen, think twice!" The colleague lowered his voice and said in a hurried tone, "The emperor is furious. If you go out now, you will undoubtedly seek your own death!"
Chen Zigui certainly understood this, but he couldn't bear to watch Cen Jiexiao fall into danger. He tried hard to suppress his inner impulse and thought quickly about countermeasures.
"Is there no other way?" Chen Zigui secretly prayed for a miracle to happen in his heart.
"How dare you!" A roar exploded like thunder in Chen Zigui's ears. Chai Zhen's face was ashen, his eyes wide, like an enraged lion. He hurled the dagger to the ground, where it struck the bluestone with a piercing sound that stood out against the silence of the altar.
"When is it your turn to point fingers at me when I'm doing something?" Chai Zhen's voice was icy cold, without a trace of emotion, like a cold wind from the Nine Nether Hell, instantly bringing Chen Zigui back to reality.
Cen Jiexiao's heart trembled, but she quickly composed herself. She knew fear wouldn't solve any problems; it would only put her in a more passive position. She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Then, she slowly pulled a plain handkerchief embroidered with orchids from her sleeve and gently wiped the nonexistent beads of sweat from her forehead.
"Your Majesty, please calm down," Cen Jiexiao said, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, but with a hint of pleading. "I have no intention of offending Your Majesty, but I simply feel that this sacrificial ritual is too cruel. Besides, the peace and prosperity of the Great Zhou, the people living and working in peace and contentment, are all due to your efforts, Your Majesty. Heaven already knows your merits, so why resort to such a bloody ritual?"
Cen Jiexiao's words seemed to be a plea for Hei Niu, but in reality they were a subtle satire on Chai Zhen's cruelty. She cleverly steered the conversation back to Chai Zhen's achievements, flattering him while also implying that his sacrifice of the ox was unnecessary.
Chen Zigui secretly sweated for Cen Jiexiao. This girl was really ignorant of her own limitations, daring to contradict Chai Zhen like that. He subconsciously wanted to step forward to help Cen Jiexiao, but was held back by his colleagues beside him.
"Master Chen, don't be impulsive!" A colleague lowered his voice to persuade, "His Majesty is furious. Going out now will only add fuel to the fire!"
Chen Zigui gritted his teeth and had to suppress his worries, anxiously watching the development of the situation.
As Chai Zhen gazed at the woman who had dared to challenge his authority, a strange feeling suddenly welled up within him. It was so unfamiliar, yet so intense, like the first rays of spring sunlight, illuminating his once-cold heart. He toyed with the jade ring in his hand with great interest. This ring, emerald green and crystal clear, had been bestowed upon him by the previous emperor, a symbol of supreme power and nobility. Chai Zhen's gaze lingered on the jade ring for a moment, and a sudden, absurd thought flashed through his mind: If he truly ordered the ox to be killed, would this woman, who had dared to defy him, resent him for it?
Once the thought emerged, it grew like wild weeds, dominating his entire mind. He had never cared about others' opinions, let alone hatred. He was the supreme ruler, with the power of life and death at his fingertips. Yet, at this moment, he realized with absolute clarity that he did not want to see the disappointment and disgust in Cen Jiexiao's eyes.
"Oh?" Chai Zhen's tone was a bit playful and inquiring, like a cat teasing its prey. "Then in your opinion, how should this sacrificial ceremony be carried out properly?" As he spoke, he observed Cen Jiexiao's expression with interest, trying to catch any subtle expression on her face.
Upon hearing this, Cen Jiexiao secretly groaned inwardly. How could she possibly understand the rules of a grand sacrificial ceremony? She had stepped forward simply because she couldn't bear to watch that innocent black bull die in vain. She looked around for help, but found everyone with their heads bowed, not daring to meet her gaze.
"What's wrong? Didn't you just righteously accuse me of using cruel methods in sacrifices? Why are you speechless now?" Seeing that Cen Jiexiao was silent, Chai Zhen felt a stronger desire to tease her.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I just…" Cen Jiexiao bit her lip, trying to remain calm. "I just feel that this sacrificial ritual should keep pace with the times to reflect your majesty's benevolence and wisdom."
"Oh? Keep pace with the times?" Chai Zhen raised an eyebrow and motioned for Cen Jiexiao to continue. "Then, young lady, tell me, how can we keep pace with the times?"
A layer of fine beads of sweat oozed from Cen Jiexiao's forehead. She knew that she was already on the verge of collapse, so she had to bite the bullet and said, "I think that this sacrifice is not about the form, but about the heart. Instead of using such a bloody method, it would be better to..."