Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
The atmosphere in Chaoyang Hall was getting heavier.
The fighting noise outside the hall was also getting closer.
If it was in the past, the Emperor would have sent the Third Prince to engage the enemies.
But today...
Everyone felt the heavy distrust from the Emperor toward the Third Prince.
All the imperial officials and consorts dared not speak. They could only look down while all sorts of thoughts ran through their minds.
Strictly speaking, judging on the Third Princeâs forces, if he really wanted to start a rebellion, he could have done it a long time ago.
How could he left traces behind and let it fall into Elder Wuâs hands?
The Emperor must have known this too and because he knew it, hence his actions.
No Emperor would want to keep a prince with a higher reputation than himself.
Therefore for this particular âactâ, although Elder Wu was the one who suggested it, the one who truly wanted to seize the chance to take down the Third Prince might be the Emperor himself...
âElder Wu!â The man who went over for the search returned quickly and there was delight on his face, it seemed like the trip to Jiuchong Hall was worth it!
Elder Wu glanced over Baili Jia Jue, his brows showing delight, âHow is it? Did you find anything?â
The man nodded, âWhen we entered His Highnessâ study room, the shadow guards were blocking our way at first but we suspected something as they were acting weird, so we barged in. As expected, inside a hidden drawer of the study room, we found a black package that was intentionally hidden!â
Elder Wu indeed ordered his men to wrap the fake dragon robe with black cloth, so that it could stay hidden from Baili Jia Jueâs sight. Since the black package was found, it would mean that Baili Jia Jue has met his doom, there was no way for him to make a comeback this time!
âYour Highness, shouldnât you explain what is inside the black package?â Elder Wuâs smile was bright, âYour Highness, please donât tell me that you donât know what it is as well.â
Baili Jia Jue glanced blankly at the elder while the edge of his mouth seemed to have curled into a sneering smile.
Nangong Lie was a smart person, although he did not know what was the truth behind this whole incident, he knew at first glance that Elder Wu must have did something. As Nangong Lie looked toward Baili Jia Jue, his eyes could not help but show a trace of worry.
He never believed Ah Jue would hide the dragon robe.
He knew better than anyone that with Ah Jueâs forces, if he really was impatient, he would have a myriad of ways to seize the throne for himself, why would he hide a dragon robe?
Yet it could not stop others from setting it up against him.
If Ah Jue is deemed guilty of hiding the dragon robe, then...
Nangong Lie furrowed his brows, the wild and bewitching handsome face of his showed a brutal coldness for the first time.
The Emperor sat on his dragon throne and coughed vehemently. His eyes glanced over the package that the guards brought over and his chest was boiling, âGood! Ah Jue, you are really my good son!â
Bang!
Another teacup was smashed!
But this time, the teacup grazed Baili Jia Jueâs hair and smashed toward the wooden beam behind him.
The faint smile on Baili Jia Jueâs elegant, cold and handsome face remained, he did not move, even his posture was the same, but the pressure that came out from his long narrow eyes shocked even the Emperor!
The Emperor seemed to have noticed that his action was a little over the top, so he took a deep breath before getting up from his dragon throne as his body quivered, âThe kingdom will yours one day, why are you so anxious! Hiding the dragon robe! I have always loved you the most, what about you! Are you responsible for the rebel army causing trouble outside?! What are you trying to do! Force me to abdicate!?â
Before Baili Jia Jue could speak.
Elder Wu knelt on the ground all of a sudden, âYour Majesty! It is my responsibility to protect the kingdom and the people in it for I am from the Elder Compound. Since the matter has come afloat, then I have to step up and say something. Everyone here knows about the attainments that the Third Prince achieved in the martial arts. He was in charge of the security of the palace for all these years and now the rebel army is right at our door and will probably come in here at any moment, yet none of the Third Princeâs shadow guards did anything? Even he himself is here at the Chaoyang Hall, and it seems like he does not have the slightest intention to offer help. Iâve said it very early once that the palace is easy to defend and difficult to attack, there are dozens of courts and halls throughout the palace. If the rebel army really wants to siege the palace, they must have a detailed plan, otherwise it is impossible to take us down! However, today, the rebel army quietly made it through layers of palace walls and are coming straight toward Chaoyang Hall. It can only mean one thing, and that is that someone in the palace is working with them from the inside! Judging from the situation, the person who truly commands the rebel army must be the one who is familiar with the palace and all the inner courts so it must be the Third Prince!â
âNonsense!â Governor Chen could not bear it anymore and stood up, âHow can Elder Wu be so sure that the Third Prince is the one who plotted the rebellion based on your own opinion? There is no evidence at all and you accused him so heavily, if the retired emperor knows about this, do you think he will simply spare you, Elder Wu!â
Elder Wu laughed with his chin slightly lifted, âLord Chen, donât scare me with the retired emperor. His Majestyâs health is not great, he had just left for Lingyin Temple and I am afraid that His Majesty wonât be back for a while. Even if the retired emperor were to return, he would only see how treacherous the Third Prince is, surely His Majesty wouldnât cover for him and will only handle it even more decisively!â
âElder Wu is right.â Elder Zhan also stood up with a righteous look on his face, âThe crime that the Third Prince has committed this time is not something petty. It has come to this and yet you are still defending him, Lord Chen. Are you perhaps one of the treacherous ones?â
Governor Chen turned around all of a sudden with rage on his face, âYou! You are accusing me!â He put his hands together in front of him and said, âYour Majesty, you must examine this carefully!â
âYour Majesty, please examine this carefully!â Starting from Governor Chen, many other imperial officials knelt on the ground as well, trying to persuade the Emperor to carefully examine it and not wrongly accused the good.
However, they did not know that the more they stood by the princeâs side, the most the Emperor wanted to punish Baili Jia Jue!
He squinted his eyes slightly, his hand which was clenching the medicinal pill grew tighter.
Since when did the imperial court become like this?
Half of the imperial officials are pleading on behalf of the Third Prince!
Do they know who is the one who is truly sitting on the dragon throne!
Nangong Lie knew things had gone south after seeing the situation!
As the Genius Worshipper, he understood the Emperor quite well, even if it was not a hundred percent.
The Emperor always had scruples about Ah Jue, intentional or not, he was worried that Ah Jueâs reputation would surpass him.
That was why when that incident happened back then, he did not overly punish the Elder Compound.
Showing the bearing of a ruler too early in his life was not a good thing for a prince.
Ah Jueâs traits of being an Emperor was too pronounced, hence he was given the cold shoulder since he was young.
Now, many knelt down and pleaded for Ah Jue and according to the Emperorâs character, not only will he not spare Ah Jue, he might even punish Ah Jue more severely!