That was the Crown Prince’s voice, filled with rage and unease, and all around, everything suddenly fell silent.
Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi exchanged a glance, both turning their heads in unison. Through the screen, they saw the Crown Prince rise angrily in the outer hall, stepping forward to attempt a flying kick at the assassin prostrate on the ground, but was held back by the guards.
The Crown Prince panted heavily, his face iron-blue, pointing down at the hall and cursing furiously: “What demonic creature! How dare you make such slanderous accusations!”
The gravely wounded assassin below raised his blood-smeared face, his gaze venomous, coldly saying: “Why is Your Highness so anxious? I haven’t said anything!”
The Crown Prince’s chest heaved, uncontrollably furious, yet truly unable to utter a single word—earlier, filled with triumphant satisfaction, he had personally interrogated the assassin before the several important ministers who remained and all the princes. But that assassin was extremely cunning, refusing to answer who the mastermind was, yet hinting with every sentence that the mastermind was someone of high status with heavenly means, intimately familiar with Qingming’s internal and external routes, with countless people serving under him, and that he was loyal to his master and would never betray him in this crisis.
The Crown Prince hadn’t caught on at first, but gradually noticed the strange expressions on everyone’s faces. Chewing over those phrases “high status, heavenly means, intimately familiar with Qingming’s internal and external routes, countless people serving”—wasn’t that referring to himself?
This realization made his rage surge to his crown, and if not for someone restraining him, he nearly delivered a heart-piercing kick to finish it.
He was angry, but the others were pleased. The Second Prince said idly: “The innocent will prove themselves innocent, the guilty will prove themselves guilty. The Crown Prince needn’t be so agitated—let’s see what else this person can say.”
The Seventh Prince frowned: “Truly the height of shamelessness! To speak such words! He should be sent to the heavenly prison for the Three Judicial Offices to interrogate thoroughly!”
The Fifth Prince, who had arrived later, said coldly: “The Court of Judicial Review is also under the Crown Prince’s jurisdiction. I think we needn’t bother with that.”
The Crown Prince glared back furiously. The Fifth Prince averted his gaze, the Seventh Prince smiled gently, the Second Prince’s eyes slanted sideways.
The several important ministers who had always maintained neutral and fair attitudes previously were also acting contrary to usual today, having not spoken a single word in the Crown Prince’s defense.
Emperor Tiansheng had been coldly observing the undercurrents surging all around. He didn’t necessarily believe entirely that the assassin was implicating the Crown Prince. Sitting in the supreme position of nine-five, he had long understood that not only might what the ears hear be false, but even what the eyes see might not be true. This assassin had obviously bypassed the Crown Prince with his methods during the assassination, and now was attempting to implicate the Crown Prince—however one looked at it, it seemed someone was setting a trap to frame him, and moreover, the methods were hasty, making it not necessarily credible.
But then again, who knew this wasn’t the Crown Prince’s method of exonerating himself by placing himself in mortal danger first?
Those who had witnessed countless power struggles and seen through ghostly schemes would think more deeply when encountering situations. Emperor Tiansheng’s gaze swept over the princes’ faces with their varying expressions, his calm exterior concealing dark speculation.
Who could it be?
His gaze fell again on the assassin’s face on the ground, discovering that although the man’s look at the Crown Prince was venomous, he consistently didn’t avoid eye contact, always staring directly at the Crown Prince, firmly watching him, as if reminding him of something.
Thinking this, his heart stirred again.
Just as the standoff continued, suddenly urgent footsteps sounded from below the hall, someone calling repeatedly: “Where’s Wei Zhi, where’s Wei Zhi?” Pushing aside the blocking guards all the way, barging in.
At this time, all the students had already been dispersed by Xin Ziyan and his men. Though the newcomer was dressed as a student, her identity was clearly anything but ordinary. The guards didn’t dare block her with all their might, and could only urgently report up the chain.
The white gauze lifted, and Lin Shao Bao’s brilliantly sparkling big eyes brightened the entire hall. Seeing Emperor Tiansheng seated above, she cried out “Father Emperor!” and threw herself over.
Everyone bowed in unison: “Princess!”
Emperor Tiansheng caught his most beloved young daughter, and his constantly tense expression finally relaxed slightly. Shaoning urgently examined him up and down, calling out: “Father Emperor, are you alright, are you alright? You’ve frightened your daughter terribly!”
Emperor Tiansheng frowned, scolding: “A dignified princess—why are you in such a flustered state!” Though his tone was reproachful, his eyes couldn’t hide his indulgence.
“I’ve been a student for so long, I can’t change my ways.” Shaoning giggled. Turning her head, she saw the assassin on the ground and the Crown Prince huffing with anger. Her delicate brows rose, murderous intent suddenly appearing, saying: “It’s him?”
“Yes! Little sister.” The Crown Prince had always doted on this full-blooded sister. Many times when he couldn’t gain their father emperor’s favor, this sister’s coquettish pleas had turned things around. Now he complained to her: “It’s this person who attempted to assassinate Father Emperor and tried to implicate this prince!”
“Truly fearless of death.” Shaoning sneered coldly, slowly walking to the assassin’s side. After examining him up and down, she suddenly grabbed a decorative rock from the nearby rosewood basin stand and smashed it down on the assassin’s head!
“Splat.”
Like the sound of a watermelon splitting open, fresh blood immediately shot out like silk, the man’s throat gurgled a few times, his body twisted bizarrely, then convulsed and collapsed.
Falling into a thick pool of blood, and, never able to rise again.
The entire hall fell silent, everyone shocked speechless by the young princess’s sudden lethal move. Only Shaoning remained calm as before, clapping her hands, sneering coldly: “Thus eliminating you, this scourge.”
The Crown Prince stumbled back three steps in shock, collapsing weakly into his chair. After a long moment, he raised his hand and wiped away a handful of cold sweat. Yet in his heart, he felt vaguely somewhat relieved—regardless, the situation was unfavorable to him, but now with the witness dead, surely His Majesty wouldn’t pursue it further? Even if he did pursue it, it would be an investigation after the fact, which was always better than being framed right now before all his brothers, having them kick him while he was down.
Only Shaoning, who had always been heavily favored, would dare to do such a thing. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel even more grateful to his young sister.
When Emperor Tiansheng reacted, his face was already covered in frost, roaring furiously: “Outrageous!”
“Father Emperor—” Shaoning rushed over, her mouth turning down, already wrapping her arms around Emperor Tiansheng’s neck. “Your daughter heard that someone boldly attempted to assassinate Father Emperor—how could she bear it! This person plotted to assassinate the Son of Heaven and implicate imperial heirs, his vicious intent going so far as to attempt to throw our court into chaos! Not killing him would be insufficient to vent the hatred in my heart!”
Hearing that phrase “attempt to throw our court into chaos,” Emperor Tiansheng’s gaze flashed, and he felt somewhat hesitant. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind—when did Shaoning become so articulate?
Just as he was about to speak and probe, he suddenly heard a low exclamation from below from the guard collecting the corpse.
Everyone looked over and saw the guard slowly peel something from the assassin’s face, then hold it up in his hand—an extremely well-crafted human skin mask.
Earlier, Shaoning’s stone had smashed through the assassin’s skull, massive amounts of blood soaking his face. The mask had been soaked until a corner edge floated up. When the guard was collecting the corpse and discovered something amiss, he peeled it with his fingernail and discovered the second face.
The Second Prince quickly went over, craned his neck to look, and immediately said: “Eh, this person looks familiar!”
The Seventh Prince pondered silently. The Fifth Prince folded his arms, saying flatly: “Isn’t this the martial arts expert that Sixth Brother recruited for his prince’s mansion some time ago? I even saw him at the mansion.”
The Crown Prince froze.
This person—he also recognized him.
A month ago, he had once chatted idly with Sixth Brother, mentioning how there were always people spying and inquiring around the Eastern Palace, with all his brothers eyeing him like tigers, making him uneasy. Sixth Brother had said he would help find reliable martial artists from the jianghu to guard the Eastern Palace’s security. Later, he had recruited this person, saying he was a supreme expert from the Alien Sword Sect of Huzhuo Snow Mountain. He had been extremely pleased upon meeting him once and immediately wanted to bring him into the Eastern Palace, but was stopped by Sixth Brother, who said he felt this person’s gaze wasn’t right and might have other intentions. To be prudent, it would be better to first settle him at a別庄 and observe before deciding. Later, he had also forgotten about this matter, never expecting this person truly had problems!
It was probably when Sixth Brother brought that person for him to examine that his brothers, who liked to drop by from time to time, saw him, which was why they thought he was Sixth Brother’s man.
The Crown Prince lowered his eyes, anxiously deliberating in his heart—should he speak of this matter or not?
However, almost immediately he made his decision—he had already been placed under suspicion. To explain the true situation now would be to be stained with trouble that couldn’t be shaken off even if he tried. Why bother?
As for Sixth Brother… he himself was the sovereign, and Sixth Brother was the subject. For a subject to die for his sovereign was naturally righteous. May he find his own fortune!
His mind made up, he no longer hesitated, immediately saying: “This prince has also seen him. This is Sixth Brother’s mansion guard!”
With this single sentence, everyone’s expressions changed—Ning Yi had always been part of the Crown Prince’s faction, extremely loyal. All the princes thought he would at least speak a few words in Ning Yi’s defense, which was also a necessary means for a ruler to win his subordinates’ loyalty. They hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be so ruthless—this was sacrificing a pawn to save the king!
Behind the screen, Feng Zhiwei’s heart brightened like snow in an instant. She turned her head and glanced at Ning Yi.
This glance flowed with infinite meaning. Ning Yi caught her gaze and smiled faintly, his smile cold and resolute.
Yet in that smile, Feng Zhiwei perceived some well-concealed bitterness and desolation.
Outside the screen, the princes had already reached a tacit understanding—if they couldn’t bring down the Crown Prince, bringing down Ning Yi was also good. Everyone was happy to clip the Crown Prince’s wings. Since the Crown Prince himself had thrown the first stone, they needn’t be polite either.
Moreover, Ning Yi had just performed meritorious service in rescuing the emperor. If they didn’t seize this opportunity to push him, there was no guarantee that after today, he wouldn’t catch the old man’s eye and rise rapidly.
“Qingming Academy was also under Sixth Brother’s jurisdiction before the Crown Prince. Naturally, he would be familiar with all these routes.” The stern-faced Fifth Prince spoke first.
“No wonder he spoke of high status, heavenly means, intimately familiar with Qingming’s internal and external routes, countless people serving…” The Second Prince crossed his legs, speaking with eyes wide open and lying through his teeth. “Looking at it now, Sixth Brother seems quite suitable.”
“Let’s postpone drawing conclusions.” The Virtuous King, Seventh Prince, spoke earnestly. “We should allow Sixth Brother an opportunity to defend himself. I request Father Emperor’s sacred judgment.”
Behind the screen listening, a cold smile floated at the corner of Feng Zhiwei’s mouth.
This one was even more ruthless. Without the crimes being determined, he first used the term “defend himself.” With a single light phrase, he had already convicted Ning Yi.
What a Virtuous King!
The corner of the screen half-concealed Emperor Tiansheng’s countenance. He kept his eyes half-closed and remained silent the entire time. His sons’ noisy attacks seemed not to enter his ears at all. From Feng Zhiwei’s angle, she could faintly see his brow twitching slightly, and at the corner of his lowered eyes, the light was deep and dark.
But someone spoke loudly: “Qingming’s guard was insufficient, causing His Majesty to be frightened. Ziyan specially comes to request punishment.”
The gauze curtain stirred as Xin Ziyan knelt remotely at the base of the steps.
The Second Prince immediately laughed: “The Academy Director arrives most timely. However, whose crime this actually is—I think you needn’t rush to claim it.”
Xin Ziyan straightened his waist, staring at the mountain-browed, narrow-eyed Second Prince, his voice clear and bright, completely different from his usual lazy, charming manner: “Then whom does Your Highness think it is?”
The Fifth Prince said coldly: “You just heard everything. No need to pretend not to understand.”
“This subject simply doesn’t understand!” Xin Ziyan’s words shot straight back. “Being familiar with Qingming and having close private relations with this subject is a crime? Then Second Highness, when you forced the academy to accept your distant cousin-in-law’s nephew as a student and forcibly gifted the academy five hundred fine horses—is that a crime or not? Fifth Highness, at the beginning of the year, you invited this subject to feast at Nearwater Residence, where you presented this subject with a bushel of tribute pearls from Minghai—is that a crime or not? Seventh Highness, you frequently ‘happened to encounter’ this subject at Mountain Moon Study Residence, and in the name of kindred spirits, presented this subject with thirty-two rare ancient texts—is that a crime or not!”
Three consecutive “is that a crime or not!” fell like clanging steel hitting the ground, smashing the entire hall into suffocating silence. The expressions of the several princes turned purple with congestion, iron-blue, or deathly pale—not a single normal one among them.
Feng Zhiwei stared at Xin Ziyan in amazement. Who would have thought—uncle, aside from your two great specialties of climbing brothel walls and being chased by Jin Hua, you actually do possess scholarly backbone.
Ning Yi suddenly stood up and walked out silently.
He walked to Emperor Tiansheng’s feet and knelt on the ground, yet from beginning to end remained completely silent, not once glancing at the princes.
Defense was inferior to non-defense. Ten thousand words of perfect justification couldn’t match one silence. Sometimes silence was the greatest expression of grief and indignation. Feng Zhiwei silently praised him—when it came to grasping psychology and controlling measure, Ning Yi was truly the most crystalline.
She watched silently, yet suddenly felt a faint desolation rising in her heart—even if everything was within his calculations, so what? This fraternal strife, this group attack—it was all real, truly real.
Emperor Tiansheng looked at Ning Yi, his eyes changing expressions. After a long while, he said in a heavy voice: “What do you have to say?”
With these words, all the princes showed pleased expressions.
Ning Yi seemed to freeze, looking at Emperor Tiansheng with momentary disbelief, then turned to look at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince avoided his gaze.
Closing his eyes, Ning Yi’s body trembled, his face turning deathly pale in an instant. Feng Zhiwei’s sharp eyes noticed that the wound on his shoulder was seeping blood, apparently having torn open.
After a long while, Ning Yi prostrated himself, saying lowly: “This person is a guard from your son’s mansion… but your son didn’t know…”
Emperor Tiansheng interrupted him, saying coldly: “If that’s the case, you will remain in the side palace until the matter is investigated clearly before emerging!”
This was detention under suspicion of guilt. Beyond the princes’ expectations, they all showed pleased expressions. Faintly, someone—no one knew who—exhaled a long breath.
Ning Yi prostrated on the ground. After a long time, he said: “Yes.”
Guards came forward, half-supporting, half-pulling. Ning Yi shook them off and stood up himself. Turning to withdraw, walking to the front of the hall, facing a line of pale golden sunset, he suddenly said quietly:
“The legitimate heir of the imperial dynasty shall be as thin as the western mountain’s setting sun.”
Then he swayed.
And fainted.