470 The Culprit
He was almost on the verge of attacking his own son again if it wasnât for Xi Tou stepping forward and holding his sword.
âBrother, what are you doing? Did you really going to kill your son?â he shouted holding Xi Leiâs sword with his sharp-edged small long spear, which was his mainstay weapon.
Xi Lei pushed Xi Touâs spear with his sword.
âThis brat must be taught a lesson, how can he defend the enemy in front of everyone!â
The weak Ye Lu couldnât get any closer, seeing his young master trying to get up from his fall.
Xi Hu wiped the blood that was on the edge of his mouth, looking at his father sharply.
âFatherâs accusations are baseless, Ye Lu is indeed from the Gao Shan valley but he has stayed with us all this time, do you still doubt all the sacrifices he has made so far?â
Xi Lei was annoyed to hear his sonâs exclamation.
âRotten kid! Whatâs baseless! The box is clearly in his room, what more evidence do you want to see?â
.....
Xi Lei tried to hold his breath he was gasping for air from being annoyed, and he turned to Ye Lu who was limping at the side standing with the others, Xi Leiâs eyes widened, raised his sword and shot toward Ye Lu.
âIâll just kill him!â he exclaimed.
Xi Huâs eyes widened, he tried to stand up to see his father who shot with a sharp sword at Ye Lu.
âNo Father!â
Xi Lei stomped his foot pointing the sharp tip of his sword at Ye Lu who was still frozen in place, the young man could only wait in resignation for Xi Leiâs attack on him, he closed his eyes.
Xi Hu tried to get up and stop his father.
âNo! donât do that father!!â
He couldnât, Xi Hu was late because his fatherâs position was much closer to Ye Lu than he was, his fatherâs sharp sword would really stab Ye Lu when something hit him.
âTing!â
Made the soft sword thrust before it hit Ye Lu.
Prangg!
The force was so great that it even pushed Xi Leiâs body away from Ye Lu and fell heavily against a tree.
Everyone held their breath. Even Xi Huâs eyes widened because he thought Ye Lu had become a victim of his fatherâs anger, but instead, he saw his father was thrown into a tree and fell.
âAh!â
Xi Tao turned his head around, about to attack who had attacked his brother, but, everyone fell silent, apparently, it came with the Crown Prince who had come with Bei Yau behind him. The blow was from Bei Yauâs sword which was even still in its scabbard.
âHis Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!â exclaimed Yue Yangâs little guard.
General Lin Mo and others lowered their heads to welcome the Crown Prince who joined in the garden, later Xi Tou and Xi Lei and everyone there lowered their bodies to see the Crown Prince who was walking calmly with two hands behind his waist towards the seat in the centre, where Chen Ming was still sitting quietly beside him.
âYour Majestyâ Xi Lei tried to get up and kneel down, Bei Yau glanced at Lin Mo who was closest to him to help him.
Luo Xiang sat on his chair and saw Ye Lu who was sitting on the ground after being unable to stand up due to his internal injuries, Xi Hu who was also injured approached him and helped Ye Lu up.
âLu erâ
âYoung masterâ
The Crown Prince looked at Xi Lei, as well as Xi Tou in turn.
âDid you guys find the box in Ye Luâs room?â he asked General Lin Mo.
Lin Mo nodded.
âThatâs right Your Majesty, the soldier found it under the blanket on the bedâ
Luo Xiang looked at Ye Lu who looked helpless, lowered his head trying to endure the pain from his internal wound, it didnât seem like a light wound, he almost fell over from it.
âMaster Ye, are you the culprit? Do you really intend to harm Bai Ying?â Luo Xiang asked.
Ye Lu raised his head, opened his eyes wide, he immediately lowered his body back to his knees on the ground.
âPlease forgive me, Your Majesty, I am willing to die for the Viceroy, I swear I did not do it! Servantâs innocent.â
Xi Lei who saw Ye Lu kneeling clenched his fists.
âInsolent childâ he could only mutter in a small voice, but Luo Xiang clearly heard it.
âYou heard that Chief Xi, he said he didnât do it. And you think, why would he give the butterfly poison to the Young King? Did you find the motive?â asked the Crown Prince.
Xi Lei stuttered, he couldnât answer.
âEh, thatâs, because, eh Ye Lu is Du Gu Sanâs son, and, they are mastering in poison, thatâs, not impossible Your Majestyâ
Luo Xiang thought, he nodded his head.
âEm, thatâs true, but, if youâre just saying it without any evidence, then Ye Lu might not be the culprit, and that means, the real culprit is still out there, I donât want you guys to catch and kill randomly but let whoever the real one goesâ
Xi Lei stuttering, he swallowed hard, the old man admitted he was too emotional. He looked at Ye Lu and his son who were looking at him sharply and annoyed.
âEh, thatâs right Your Majesty.â
The Crown Prince turned to Bei Yau beside him.
âBeiâ
The personal guard understood what Luo Xiangâs glance meant, he nodded at general Lin Mo.
âGeneral Lin, please take Ye Lu into temporary custody, young master Ye, hope you cooperate, as long as the real culprit hasnât come out please understand.â
Ye Lu nodded his head at Bei Yau.
âYes, Guard Beiâ
Immediately two Yue Yang soldiers helped Ye Lu up and led him away, Xi Hu stuttered, he looked at the Crown Prince, lowered his head excusing himself to follow Ye Lu.
âServant will excuse me, Your Majesty.â
Luo Xiang nodded.
âPlease young master Xiâ
After Ye Lu and Xi Hu disappeared behind the building, Xi Lei clenched his fists in front of his head, bowed deeply before the Crown Prince.
âPlease forgive me, Your Majesty, but, may I know, what made Your Majesty trust Ye Lu, even though Your Majesty knows that he is Du Gu Sanâs son?â Xi Lei asked.
Luo Xiang looked at Xi Lei for a moment, itâs true what people say, if the Cold Water clan master is not as cold as his name, he is too hot and fiery.
âHeh, your son trusts him, chairman Xi, do you doubt your own son?â
Xi Lei held back his anger.
âEh, that rotten brat doesnât know how cruel the world is yet, he is still too innocentâ
Luo Xiang looked at Xi Lei for a moment.
âBut I believe in Bai Ying, he trusts Ye Lu a lot, I donât want him to be sad when he wakes up to find out that you killed the person he trusted, and also, I also donât want to, whoever is responsible behind this incident laughs at us, because you are so quick to draw conclusions.â
Xi Lei swallowed hard. The stubborn man looked helpless in front of the Crown Prince, he lowered his head again deeply.
âServant really doesnât think logically, Your Majesty is indeed wise.â
Luo Xiang looked at General Lin Mo.
âGeneral, find out anyone who is known to have entered Ye Luâs room, ask all the maids who cleaned his room, the box should have been there since a few days ago, if it is true that Ye Lu kept it so carelessly in his room, he must have put it in since a few days ago,â said the Crown Prince.
Lin Mo lowered his head nodding.
âReady Your Majesty, I will carry it outâ
Luo Xiang turned at Mu Chun.
âAdvisor Mu, what is the sign of people who open the box when the butterflies were in there?â
Mu Chun stroked his beard, thinking.
âHemh, from what I read, Your Majesty, the box will become so hot when thereâs something in there, and cause anyone who opened will have some bruises on their fingers as if it burnedâ
Luo Xiang nodded.
âSo, the fingers with slightly burned bruises, Bei you heard thatâ
Bei Yau lowered his head again.
âYes Your Majestyâ
On the other hand, Yue Huan who looked a bit strange was getting ready to retreat when no one saw him, the young prince slipped among the people and ran back to his room.
Before long, in Prince Yue Huanâs room. The young prince put all his belongings and gold and some that he found into a cloth bag that had been prepared on the bed. His face looked pale, he broke out in cold sweat and occasionally looked at his bedroom window, afraid that someone might see him. He takes a look at his fingers which were slightly burned, he was the one who opened the box.
.....
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