To be honest, when Ji Ao saw the figure of his Imperial Father, Ji Long, within the Nation-Suppressing Qiankun Seal, his first reaction was that his Imperial Father was not dead.
Instinctively, Ji Ao panicked, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.
But Ji Ao was no ordinary man. In an instant, he calmed down.
He had now refined the Nation-Suppressing Qiankun Seal and gained the allegiance of the Heavenly Patrol Division, the Secret Directorate, and the Central Imperial Guard Legion. He also had the loyal support of the nobles and officials from the states and commanderies surrounding Luoyi. Even if his Imperial Father, Ji Long, had truly returned from the dead, he would be unable to seize the great power from him.
"Imperial Father, what exactly is going on?" Ji Ao asked.
Benevolent Sovereign Ji Long within the Nation-Suppressing Qiankun Seal stared fixedly at Ji Ao. Only after staring until Ji Ao's skin crawled did he speak faintly. "You have already ascended the throne, haven't you?"
Ji Ao was somewhat uncertain. After a brief consideration, he still knelt. "Imperial Father, please forgive me. When I first saw that Imperial Father had been assassinated and passed away, I did not know that you yet lived. Thus, the assembled ministers supported this son, and I hastily ascended the throne as Emperor.
"If Imperial Father returns, this son shall serve Imperial Father once more and become Crown Prince again."
Of course, Ji Ao was not so noble.
In struggles for the throne, fathers and sons slaughtering one another was commonplace. How could Ji Ao possibly yield up a throne already in his hands?
It was merely that Ji Ao could not determine Benevolent Sovereign Ji Long's current condition. He was retreating in order to advance, testing him to discover Ji Long's true circumstances