Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes-Chapter 328 - 327: Heaven’s Will—How Can This Young Man Be Protected?
Surrounding him were the Forbidden Army, holding long halberds, blocking Shen Han outside the palace walls.
Beside him, Dean Tianyi stepped forward with a frown.
"Lord Yingtian, both Shen Han and I are here by His Holiness’s decree, entering the palace to meet him.
Your obstruction here seems to go against the holy intention."
Dean Tianyi did not mince words, directly invoking the authority of the Great Wei Emperor.
The Yingtian Official seemed to have anticipated the words of Dean Tianyi.
He then stepped forward, approaching the two slightly.
"I serve the divine will, advising the holiness.
I dare not defy the Emperor’s decree.
But if he steps within the palace walls, tainting the luck of Great Wei, what then?
In my position, I cannot allow such things to happen."
The Yingtian Official’s face was full of wrinkles, but his expression was extremely solemn, adding to his aura of authority.
Outside the palace walls, many passersby stopped to watch.
They kept their distance.
Upon hearing the Yingtian Minister’s words, many applauded in agreement.
They whispered to each other.
In their words, they agreed that Shen Han should not be allowed inside the palace walls.
Great Wei’s fortune is thriving, with auspicious omens coming from the east; how can it be tainted by bad luck?
If the nation’s fortune declines, all of Great Wei’s citizens will face misfortune.
As they spoke, others who participated in Praying to Heaven yesterday also arrived one after another.
The Yingtian Minister didn’t seem to stop them, letting them pass directly.
Seeing this, Dean Tianyi couldn’t help but step up to argue again.
"Lord Yingtian, during yesterday’s Praying to Heaven, it seemed only Shen Han experienced an abnormal phenomenon.
But another person directly broke the Heaven-Answering Staff.
Why is it that only Shen Han is stopped today?"
The elder slightly raised his head, let out a soft snort, and then raised his voice again. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"I consulted the divine will yesterday.
The breaking of the staff was influenced by this ominous sign.
That youthful one merely had a slightly declining fortune, caught in his bad luck.
That’s why it happened.
I have consulted the divine will and will not unjustly defame others.
This is the duty of the Yingtian Official!"
His loud words garnered much praise.
The crowd watching grew larger, and the once spacious road, fit for three carriages, was blocked tight.
The essence of divine will.
Just this single title was enough to oppress Shen Han to the point of suffocation.
The onlookers were many, but they seemed all afraid of the ominous aura around Shen Han.
Even if they watched, they kept a respectful distance.
Unlike other events where without the Forbidden Army’s obstruction, the audience would press in for a closer look.
Throughout it all, Shen Han remained wordless, quietly observing the Yingtian Minister.
Suddenly, the Yingtian Minister stepped two more steps closer to Shen Han.
The old face was solemn, but in looking at Shen Han, a trace of mockery emerged.
"As expected, just looking at you makes one feel somewhat repulsed.
Indeed, like flies in a silent chamber.
Despising to swat at them, as it would soil the hands."
This Yingtian Minister, though meeting for the first time, spoke without a shred of courtesy.
Beside him, Dean Tianyi’s gaze turned sharper: "Lord Yingtian, your words seem somewhat excessive.
My institute’s student appears to have never offended you."
"I follow the divine will, not driven by personal feelings to disdain others.
But merely observing his visage already discomforts one.
This ominous sign must be eradicated to end his misfortune."
In his words, he had already deemed himself someone to be eliminated.
Upon hearing these, a fierce intent stirred quietly within Shen Han’s heart.
Such targeting tactics were indeed subtler and more vexing than attempting to harm him directly.
At 11:45 AM.
Under the sky, the red sun hung high.
After a loud proclamation, the Great Wei Emperor rode forth on his palanquin from the palace walls.
Behind him were the other eleven young participants in the Ten Nations Grand Competition.
Descending from the palanquin, the Great Wei Emperor stepped forward slowly.
Then he waved his hand, and the other eleven stood beside Shen Han, forming a line.
However, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally, they stayed slightly away from Shen Han.
Outside the palace walls, the populace met their ruler, and without a word spoken, they all bowed deeply in respect.
The Yingtian Minister, slightly bowing, approached the Great Wei Emperor.
"Your Holiness, I have consulted the divine will.
This child’s presence bears an ominous aura, spreading a grayness with his every move.
Such grayness surges forth, and with the slightest carelessness, it could taint the palace’s auspicious aura.
This would damage the fortune of Great Wei."
The Great Wei Emperor, as Shen Han saw yesterday, bore a tranquil demeanor.
Yet seeing this peace, with a single word of his, brought forth immense pressure.
"Those words earlier, was that the reason for Elder Chu’s defiance of the decree?"
A mere trivial question, yet those around felt a weight of authority.
This, it seemed, was imperial majesty.
Beside him, Elder Yingtian knelt on both knees.
"In response to Your Majesty, this old minister is unfalteringly loyal to the nation.
Worried for the nation’s fortune, fearing his presence might ruin our lands of Great Wei.
I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty..."
Speaking, this Elder Yingtian knocked his head on the ground, repenting his mistakes.
As his words fell, the gathered city folk of the capital echoed in plea: "Please forgive, O Majesty, please forgive..."
It seemed he, this Elder Yingtian, was a loyal minister for the nation and its people.
Shen Han furrowed his brows slightly, his peripheral gaze shifting to the Great Wei Emperor.
Seeing him bow slightly, maintaining the same tranquil expression as before, he lifted Elder Yingtian.
"Elder Chu has held the place of the Yingtian Official for a century.
Throughout these hundred years, diligent and devoted to divine will, calculating for Great Wei’s world.
This matter, I understand his intention."
Speaking, the Great Wei Emperor stepped forward.
"According to Elder Chu’s inquiry yesterday, should the roster for this Ten Nations Grand Competition be changed?"
In front of everyone, the Great Wei Emperor posed this question.
And Elder Yingtian showed no timidity.
"By divine will, this child Shen Han is an ominous sign, unfit to partake in this Ten Nations Grand Competition.
Else auspiciousness will be lost, and this competition surely doomed to fail."
With such words, the competition had yet to start, yet the omen of defeat was already cast.
"In my view, with such burdens of ill fortune, not to mention the Ten Nations Grand Competition.
Even his very life should not be spared.
Best it is to end his life by water punishment, to resolve this ill omen!"
Around the capital’s citizens, all raised their eyes stealthily, awaiting the Great Wei Emperor’s words.
Hearing such statements, the Great Wei Emperor too furrowed his brows slightly.
"Shen Han, this young acolyte, whose name I’ve also heard some days ago.
Not yet nineteen, yet he has reached the Fifth Grade First Snow realm.
Such a young prodigy, it’s truly hard to lay a hand on him...
Elder Chu, you, as the Yingtian Official, bear divine will, able to communicate the heavens.
Then transmit my decree, seek divine will, how can this young man be protected."
