Jun Dingyuan’s wine cup slipped from his hand and tipped sideways. With a clang, it struck the table, splashing droplets of wine like shattered jade across the gold-threaded silver carpet of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Emperor Shunyuan shot him a sidelong glance but paid no attention to his shock. His face expressionless, he said to Luo Mingpu, “Go on.”
Luo Mingpu hurriedly pressed his forehead to the floor. When he looked up, his gaze viciously bored into Jun Dingyuan as he said through clenched teeth, “Earlier, I interrogated Cao Youwei and the other convicted officials. Cao Youwei could not withstand the torture and cried out that he wished to atone for his crimes by rendering meritorious service. He then informed us of this matter. I knew that General Jun had rendered great service to Great Qian, so I proceeded with the utmost caution, fearing that Cao Youwei might be making wild accusations in his final moments. Thus, I repeatedly pressed him with stern questions.”
“Yet Cao Youwei stubbornly refused to recant. Knowing that the matter was of grave importance and fearing that we might miss our opportunity, I immediately sent men straight to the Divine Timber Works he had named, where they apprehended the traitor and brought him to justice!”
“The Divine Timber Works?” Shen Ting had been completely bewildered by the day’s events. Only when he heard those words did he sharply turn his attention to Prince Xian, Shen Bi.
Prince Xian merely knitted his brows, entirely at a loss. As far as he was concerned, the Crown Prince’s faction was already doomed. What new trouble could they possibly stir up now?
Fourth Prince Shen He muttered under his breath, “How did the Divine Timber Works get dragged into this? Isn’t that the Ministry of Works’ territory, under the supervision of the Office of Construction?”
Seeing Prince Xian’s bafflement, Gong Zhiyuan grew even more confident. He suspected that before long, Prince Xian would be dragged from his horse without even knowing where he had lost.
Standing beside Emperor Shunyuan, Liu Quan’s eyelids lowered slightly when he heard the words “Divine Timber Works.” Without revealing the slightest change in expression, he lifted the jade pot and poured half a cup of mung bean milk tea for Emperor Shunyuan, soothing his throat and temper.
When Jun Dingyuan had gone to the Cool Breeze Palace to plead guilty that day, he had mentioned that Mo Shu was searching far and wide for the finest huanghuali wood to use as supporting material for a divine artifact he intended to present to the emperor.
Liu Quan had found the matter novel and casually remarked, “The finest timber in the world is all kept at the Divine Timber Works.”
At the time, Emperor Shunyuan had been half-convinced and half-doubtful about the artifact. He had asked no further questions, nor had he forbidden Mo Shu from continuing his work. He had never imagined that it would become the source of today’s calamity.
“Was he captured?” Emperor Shunyuan asked, his emotions impossible to read.
Luo Mingpu lowered his head. “Indeed. The traitor was selecting timber inside the Divine Timber Works at the time. Thanks to General Jun’s protection, the officials in charge of the guards had not assigned him any menial labor. When I seized him, he was clutching two pieces of premium huanghuali wood and refused to let go. It took no fewer than five constables to pry them from his arms and escort him back to the Ministry of Justice. In court, he admitted that he was a member of the Mo clan and gave his name as Mo Shu, but falsely claimed that he did not know General Jun. Seeing how cunning he was, I ordered him to receive ten strokes.”
At those words, Jun Dingyuan shot to his feet. His eyes were streaked with blood as he pointed at Luo Mingpu, furious beyond measure. “You tortured him?”
Seeing Jun Dingyuan lose his composure so completely, Luo Mingpu secretly rejoiced. He met his gaze directly and gave a cold laugh. “I intended to. However, Magistrate Xue stopped me, insisting that doing so might lead to a coerced confession.”
As he spoke, Luo Mingpu could not help shooting Xue Chongnian a vicious glare.
He knew precisely what Xue Chongnian had been thinking. Since the trial had already offended Cao Youwei’s faction, they could not afford to give that faction any chance of making a comeback. Otherwise, the tables might well turn.
Xue Chongnian hurriedly crawled forward on his knees to defend himself. “I acted entirely according to the laws and regulations of Great Qian. It was Magistrate Luo who, after asking only a few questions, attempted to proceed directly to torture. That was truly incomprehensible. In my view, this man’s identity still requires verification. What if Cao Youwei had found someone to impersonate a traitor in order to earn merit and escape punishment? Or what if, in his final moments, he had deliberately implicated General Jun in an attempt to throw Great Qian into chaos and undermine its foundations? A wrongful judgment made today could become an irreparable disaster.”
Luo Mingpu angrily gestured toward Jun Dingyuan and retorted, “Just look at General Jun’s reaction! That alone proves this man was not fabricated out of thin air by Cao Youwei. General Jun is clearly so anxious because he knows the traitor’s identity and is deliberately shielding him!”
Jun Dingyuan said nothing. His silence made him look as though he had something to hide, leaving him unable to answer.
Gong Zhiyuan gave a cold, mocking smile. Jun Dingyuan truly was a crude military man who knew nothing but brotherly loyalty. At a moment like this, he could not even keep his composure, much less understand that he should cut off one limb to save the rest.
Anyone could sense that something was amiss from Jun Dingyuan’s demeanor. Even Prince Xian had not expected him to be so reckless as to shelter a traitor. Now, it seemed that all his military accomplishments—and the Jun family’s reputation built over generations—were about to be ruined.
Given the emperor’s suspicious nature, he might even implicate Consort Liang and Shen Zheng.
This was truly a plunge from a towering precipice: a single misstep, and everything could rise and fall in an instant.
Shen Chen turned his face with a faint smile. He had intended to savor the sight of Shen Zheng’s stunned dismay, but Shen Zheng was still eating grapes with an air of complete indifference, taking the occasional sip of mung bean milk tea as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Could it be that, after spending so long in Nanping, he no longer understood their father’s temperament and believed the matter could not affect him?
Shen Chen then looked toward Wen Zhuo. Wen Zhuo had no leisure for eating and drinking. He held something in his hand, his eyes lowered as he stared at it, paying no attention to Luo Mingpu’s performance below.
For no apparent reason, Shen Chen’s heart gave a sudden lurch.
He hurriedly turned to Xie Langyang, hoping to confirm with him through eye contact that their scheme contained no oversights. Yet Xie Langyang was standing perfectly straight, his eyes closed and his face filled with grief, as though mourning the Jun family and Mo Shu.
Shen Chen: “…”
Then Emperor Shunyuan asked, “Did Mo Shu say why he was taking those two pieces of huanghuali wood?”
“Er…” Luo Mingpu hesitated before continuing, “He did not. I suspect he intended to steal them and sell them, or perhaps use them to fabricate something treasonous and seditious.”
Emperor Shunyuan took a sip of the mung bean milk tea Liu Quan had poured for him, which indeed helped quell his anger. Then he slammed his palm onto the imperial desk and demanded sternly, “How did Cao Youwei learn that General Jun was hiding Mo Shu at the Divine Timber Works?”
Luo Mingpu froze for a moment.
He had never imagined that the emperor would not question Jun Dingyuan’s abrupt outburst, but would instead interrogate him first. Could it really be because Jun Dingyuan had accumulated such great military merit?
But Luo Mingpu had charged into this attack in a surge of enthusiasm without ever considering how he would answer that question.
How had Cao Youwei learned of it?
Naturally, Gong Zhiyuan had told him at the last moment.
But how had Gong Zhiyuan learned of it?
He had no idea!
Luo Mingpu instinctively turned his gaze toward Gong Zhiyuan, a thin sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Seeing Luo Mingpu fall silent, Gong Zhiyuan hurriedly rose and bowed. “Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has always maintained close ties with Prince Xian and repeatedly obstructed the Crown Prince’s affairs. As Cao Youwei was the Crown Prince’s maternal grandfather, he must have kept a close watch on those around Prince Xian. That was how he discovered this great crime. Yet I wonder whether His Highness Prince Xian had known of it all along?”
Prince Xian thought to himself: You old bastard—you were waiting to spring that on me!
He immediately rose, his face filled with grief. “Father, I have only occasionally exchanged views on calligraphy with Minister Shang Zhiqin. I never imagined that Cao Youwei would regard him as a thorn in his side. Had I known earlier that General Jun had committed such a foolish act, I would certainly have done my utmost to dissuade him, preserving a loyal general for Great Qian and sparing Father the disappointment and humiliation of this grand banquet. I do not know why the Grand Secretary has dragged me into this. By rights, the Ministry of Works belongs to Father. Shouldn’t Father have been the one most likely to know of this matter in advance?”
Gong Zhiyuan retorted, “His Majesty attends to the affairs of the empire from dawn to dusk. How could he possibly know everything? That is precisely why we ministers must report the truth and root out accumulated corruption!”
Prince Xian sneered. “By the Chief Secretary’s reasoning, does that mean I ought to know more than Father Emperor? If a minister of the realm knows more than its sovereign, what exactly are you trying to imply, Chief Secretary?”
Gong Zhiyuan’s face darkened. “What I mean is that General Jun chose not to hide the rebel anywhere else, but specifically in the Ministry of Works. He must have been on close terms with Minister Shang Zhiqin. Since Shang Zhiqin is close to Your Highness, he may well have informed Your Highness!”
Shang Zhiqin also rose to his feet, most of the wine scared out of him. “Chief Secretary, do not make wild accusations! The Ministry of Works handles countless affairs and has a complicated structure. The Divine Timber Workshop is merely a small branch under the Construction Office—how could I know everything that happens there?”
Emperor Shunyuan closed his eyes. The beads of his imperial crown swayed gently before his brow, blocking the lamplight and casting mottled shadows across his face.
“Jun Dingyuan, when was that man sent to the Divine Timber Workshop? You will answer truthfully.”
Jun Dingyuan came back to himself, dropped to his knees, and clasped his fists. His eyes lowered respectfully. “Mo Shu arrived in the capital at the same time as I did yesterday. Since the marquis’s residence was being renovated, he wanted to see whether there was any suitable timber there. We did not find anything appropriate, so I sent him to the Divine Timber Workshop just after nightfall. I did not know he had drawn anyone’s attention.”
Gong Zhiyuan froze. Jun Dingyuan had actually been so straightforward, offering no resistance at all?
Emperor Shunyuan nodded slowly, the gloom on his face deepening.
In other words, Jun Dingyuan had been watched by Cao Youwei’s faction all along—even while he was in the southern borderlands.
The Cao faction had learned of this secret, yet instead of reporting it to the imperial court, they had traded with Nanping and sold out a frontier general.
After failing to obtain the hidden treasure, the Cao faction had not planned to report the matter either. Instead, they had continued monitoring everything Jun Dingyuan did.
How many ministers was Cao Youwei secretly watching? How many people’s secrets had he uncovered?
Had he used those secrets to control the court, secretly colluded with Nanping, eliminated anyone who refused to support the Crown Prince, and drawn those who did support him into his faction?
Factional struggles among ministers had been unavoidable since ancient times, but corruption on this scale was truly horrifying.
Neither the Cao faction nor the master behind it could be allowed to remain!
Emperor Shunyuan asked coldly, “If he was sent there after nightfall yesterday, why was this not reported at this morning’s court session? Why was it only brought up during the Three Offices’ interrogation? Could it be that he learned of it on the way to the Dali Temple?”
Cold sweat instantly soaked Luo Mingpu’s back.
This was bad!
Everything had happened too quickly. He had not had time to carefully review all the problems that might arise.
Cao Youwei had been taken away during the court session. Logically speaking, if he could expose the matter during the Three Offices’ interrogation, he could have done so at the morning court as well—unless…
Emperor Shunyuan shifted in his seat. “Unless he never intended to tell me at all. He was holding on to this secret for another purpose.”
“No, that’s not it… Perhaps Cao Youwei was so terrified that he forgot to mention it!” Luo Mingpu stammered.
The explanation was far too implausible. Cao Youwei had not been seized the moment court began; he had only panicked after the accusations were brought against him.
Gong Zhiyuan hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, perhaps Cao Youwei could not bring himself to expose General Jun at first and wanted to give him a chance. Later, when he realized death was imminent, he blurted it out in hopes of atoning for his crimes.”
“Heh.” Emperor Shunyuan let out a cold laugh. “I believe I know where those three million taels went. Cao Youwei’s intelligence network was more capable than even mine. How could such a thing be run without money?”
“Your Majesty!” Gong Zhiyuan had not expected the emperor to turn his blade back toward the Cao faction.
Could it be that Jun Dingyuan’s concealment of a rebel and Prince Xian’s alleged interference in military authority were not more serious than a mere Cao Youwei?
Emperor Shunyuan was consumed by fury, his gaze growing ever more savage. “The Cao faction has defied the imperial order, committed treason, embezzled military provisions, harmed the state and its people, planted informants throughout the court, spied on ministers, formed a private faction, and thrown the government into chaos. I decree that the entire Cao clan shall be executed through three degrees of kinship. The principal culprit’s corpse shall be whipped for three days, his ancestral graves dug up, his bones ground to dust and scattered, and his body cast into the wilderness without burial!”
Gong Zhiyuan’s face went as white as paper. He had never imagined the emperor could be so ruthless.
The Crown Prince’s hands and feet went limp, and he toppled backward. Terrified, he trembled where he sat, unable even to form a coherent plea.
“Fa—Father… Father Emperor, Fa—Father Emperor…”
Prince Xian was equally stunned.
So that was it? Nothing was going to happen to them? He had nearly been scared to death for nothing.
Seeing the situation take such a sudden turn, Liu Changbai could no longer remain seated.
He struggled to his feet and staggered forward before dropping to his knees. In the blaze of lamplight, his frail body swayed as though the trembling candlelight itself had battered him from side to side.
He bowed until his forehead touched the floor, grief and outrage mingling in his voice. “Your Majesty, whipping corpses, desecrating graves, and grinding bones to dust are the methods of the brutal Qin. They must not be imitated! Moreover, Jun Dingyuan’s guilt far outweighs Cao Youwei’s. I fear he harbors treasonous intentions. I urge Your Majesty to imprison the entire Jun family at once and investigate this matter thoroughly. Only then can Great Qian’s peace be safeguarded!”
Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes as he stared at the aging Imperial Tutor. This was not the first time Liu Changbai had relied on his status to pressure the sovereign.
“Does the Imperial Tutor also wish to impeach General Jun?”
Liu Changbai hammered his head against the floor again and again, his white hair disheveled. “Your Majesty, during the Battle of Hong River, Duke Xiang of Song prided himself on being a gentleman, with a heart of benevolence and mercy. When the Chu army was crossing the river, he failed to strike while half their forces were still in the water. When they had formed their battle lines, he failed to order a surprise attack. As a result, he lost his chance and suffered a disastrous defeat. Later, Emperor Xian of Han indulged the traitor Cao and failed to awaken in time, eventually becoming a puppet and bringing ruin upon himself. His Majesty entrusted me with the care of the dynasty before his death. How can I sit by and watch Your Majesty show mercy to rebels?”
The Marquis Yongning rose in astonishment, unable to believe his ears. “My Jun family has served loyally for generations, Imperial Tutor. How could you also—”
He was so furious that his beard trembled, leaving him unable to finish.
Consort Liang’s eyes reddened as she knelt as well, speaking with restrained emotion. “I have been married to Your Majesty for nineteen years. One of my sons spent ten years as a hostage, while another died in the womb. Yet I have never blamed or resented Your Majesty. My father never sought clever excuses or begged for mercy, forcing Your Majesty into a difficult position. My younger brother guarded the frontier for ten years, covered in scars, and devoted himself entirely to Great Qian. Does this still not prove the Jun family’s loyalty?”
Shen Zheng flicked a grape skin aside with his fingertip, then followed it with a sudden “thump” as he knelt on the prayer mat. His voice rang out, every word dripping with blood and tears.
“Father Emperor, when I was trapped in Nanping, it was all thanks to my maternal uncle charging into battle and routing the enemy forces that I did not die in a foreign land. I can never repay my uncle’s kindness. I am willing to stake my own future and bear the blame together with him!”
When he finished, a hot tear rolled from his lashes and struck the brick floor.
Shen Chen, who had just been hit by the grape skin, said nothing: “…”
Emperor Shunyuan secretly shook his head. The Jun family was excellent in every respect except that they were hopeless with words, far inferior to these eloquent civil officials. If Jun Dingyuan had not been an upright and candid man who had never deceived his sovereign, he would surely have suffered a great disaster today.
Still, Shen Zheng had reminded him of something.
“Jun Dingyuan, I will ask you this: How did you come to know Mo Shu, and why did you take him with you?” Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes at Jun Dingyuan, though his gaze was not nearly as severe as before.
Xie Langyang suddenly opened his eyes.
Something was wrong!
In his previous life, Emperor Shunyuan had not had the patience to ask for an explanation. He had immediately ordered Jun Dingyuan’s arrest and imprisonment, commanding the Ministry of Justice to interrogate Mo Shu.
Jun Dingyuan had endured for an entire year without ever receiving the chance to defend himself. He had not even known that Mo Shu had taken his own life after ten days of torture.
What had changed in this life?
Could the Cao faction case have affected the emperor’s judgment?
Jun Dingyuan looked solemn, showing no sign of avoidance. "When I was stationed in the southern border, the barbarians of Nanping repeatedly invaded the border, burning, killing, and looting. The common people suffered a great deal. At that time, Mo Shu volunteered to join the army, using the alias Li Ping, and came under my command. I found that he had extraordinary talents. The crossbows he made had a very long range and maintained their power. With this powerful weapon, Nanping no longer dared to easily cause trouble."
"Later, the Ghost General of Nanping led a large army to suddenly attack our camp. Fortunately, Mo Shu had made preparations in advance. The underground urns he made could detect the sound of horses' hooves from several miles away, allowing our army to make early preparations and avoid the disaster of being wiped out. I led five thousand elite soldiers to make a surprise attack on the enemy camp. Relying on the long - sounding drums he developed, the drums were so powerful that they imitated the sound of thousands of troops and horses, breaking the enemy's psychological defense. Only then did our army return victorious."
"I cherish his talents and hope that the soldiers of our Great Qian Dynasty will shed less blood. Therefore, I was willing to conceal his identity and failed to report it to Your Majesty in time. It is my fault. I even forgot that Your Majesty has always loved and cherished talents, and Your Majesty's mind is far broader than ours."
Liu Changbai tightly held the court tablet in his hands, breathing heavily with excitement. "General Jun is really good at using clever words. Could it be that all the rebellious parties can be sent to the border to serve as soldiers? Your Majesty, a rebellious party is a rebellious party. We must never set an example of leniency!"
Emperor Shunyuan was well aware that he was old and ill, and probably didn't have much time left. So, these old officials who had assisted him in the past had started to stir up trouble among his sons.
They used the banner of serving the country to seek the throne, trying to undermine his power and suppress his loyal officials.
Their intentions were despicable.
Emperor Shunyuan's eyes swept over Wen Zhuo and found that Wen Zhuo was idly playing with his fingers, as always showing no interest in the court struggles and factional strife.
But now he needed him.
Emperor Shunyuan gave a fake cough.
Wen Zhuo looked up blankly, slightly opening his lips, looking completely out of the situation.
Emperor Shunyuan winked at him.
Wen Zhuo stared at the emperor for a moment. First, he was stunned, and then he slowly widened his eyes, as if he had understood the emperor's meaning.
This scene happened to fall into Xie Langyang's eyes, and he was so shocked that he almost slipped off the cushion.
How could this happen? How could this happen!
Why did Emperor Shunyuan suddenly side with Jun Dingyuan, forgive Mo Shu, and even actively hint to Wen Zhuo to plead for mercy?
What exactly had happened during this period? What tricks had Wen Zhuo played secretly?
This seemingly hopeless situation clearly had no solution, and even in the previous life, Wen Zhuo had been helpless!
Then, Wen Zhuo patted his official robe and stood up, bowing. "Your Majesty, I think what the Grand Tutor said is wrong. When Nanping invaded the border, most of the officials in the court advocated peace. Under pressure, Your Majesty had no choice but to issue an edict for a peace agreement. However, General Jun knew the risk of disobeying the order but still led five thousand elite soldiers on a night - raid and made remarkable achievements. After that, Your Majesty not only didn't blame him for 'a general on the battlefield may not follow the emperor's orders' but also greatly praised him. This shows that Your Majesty is not as pedantic as Duke Xiang of Song."
"Moreover, General Jun allowed Mo Shu to atone for his crimes by performing meritorious deeds in the face of danger on the battlefield. He knew that this act might be criticized, but for the sake of relieving the difficulties of the soldiers and stabilizing the people on the border, he was willing to bear the blame. This shows that General Jun is not like Cao Cao, who said 'Better I wrong the world than the world wrong me'."
Here, Wen Zhuo paused slightly. Suddenly, he raised his sleeve to cover his face, only showing a pair of sly eyes, and quickly winked at Emperor Shunyuan, silently asking if he was satisfied.
A barely perceptible smile flashed in Emperor Shunyuan's eyes. He quickly lowered his eyes and stroked his robe belt, saying in a deep voice, "Continue."
Wen Zhuo then said seriously again, "I once read history. In the past, the imperial censor Quan Wanyi impeached Zhang Yungu, the magistrate of Dali. Emperor Taizong of Tang wrongly executed this good official in a fit of anger. Then, there was a law that capital cases in the capital needed to be reviewed five times, and those in the local areas needed to be reviewed three times. This law has been in use until our dynasty."
"I was an official in Bozhou. I heard that there was a conflict between the Lingyin Sect of the Mo family and the officers and soldiers in Qianzhou. Cao Fangzheng, without careful investigation, classified it as a cult and ordered its extermination without strictly following the procedure of three - time review. Presumably, the memorial he presented to Your Majesty also concealed this matter. So, the charge of being a rebellious party against Mo Shu is not in line with the law and cannot stand scrutiny. Now, it should be called righting a wrong rather than setting an example of leniency."
Xie Langyang felt as if a thousand - jin boulder had fallen into his heart. Not to mention that Emperor Shunyuan already had a bias, even if he didn't, after hearing Wen Zhuo's words, it was hard not to be moved.
In such a short time, Wen Zhuo had come up with this flawless argument, blocking the mouths of the officials, giving Emperor Shunyuan a way out, and proving the innocence of Jun Dingyuan and Mo Shu from a legal perspective.
If in the previous life, Wen Zhuo had had the opportunity to say a single word of defense, perhaps Mo Shu could have been saved.
It turned out that there was no such thing as a hopeless situation in the world. As long as he was allowed to speak and given space, he could resolve the crisis invisibly, like a gentle breeze passing over a hill and the bright moon breaking through the clouds.
All the officials in the court were proud and self - important, but only he was like the bright moon in the clouds, out of reach.
Liu Changbai sneered. "Master Wen is very eloquent. I can't argue with you! But I clearly remember that the laws of our dynasty clearly state that those who privately manufacture weapons are to be regarded as rebellious parties. The law cannot be abolished. That's why the Mo family was classified as a rebellious party!"
"Very well said, Grand Tutor!" Wen Zhuo suddenly turned around. His smile remained on his face, but his eyes were as sharp as a blade. "There is no solid evidence that Mo Shu was involved in the old case in Qianzhou. But now, General Jun testifies that the weapons privately made by Mo Shu in the southern border are the city - defending crossbows, the long - sounding drums, and the underground urns. All of them are aimed at Nanping to protect the territory of our Great Qian Dynasty. Since the Grand Tutor says the law cannot be abolished, then let's sentence Mo Shu according to these three weapons!"
As soon as these words were spoken, more than a dozen generals behind Jun Dingyuan stood up in unison, and their angry gasps echoed through the palace.
Those who had shed blood on the battlefield knew how many lives Mo Shu's inventions had saved. Now, to convict him because of these, the border soldiers could hardly tolerate it!
Liu Changbai was frightened by this scene. He pointed at Wen Zhuo and said, "You - "
"Wen Zhuo is right," Emperor Shunyuan's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Liu Changbai. "Mo Shu has made great contributions in the southern border. His merits and demerits can offset each other. General Jun clearly disobeyed the order on the battlefield to achieve this great victory. I'm not so muddle - headed as to distinguish right from wrong. Grand Tutor, if you insist on me beheading a talented and good general, do you want to chill the hearts of the border soldiers?"
Liu Changbai's fingertips turned white, and he sobbed. "My heart is all for the Great Qian Dynasty. If Your Majesty doesn't listen to my advice today, I'm willing to smash my head against the golden steps to apologize to the late emperor and awaken Your Majesty!"
"Grand Tutor, you mustn't do this!" Gong Zhiyuan quickly rushed forward and hugged Liu Changbai's waist.
Liu Chenming also echoed, looking extremely shocked. "The Grand Tutor is a pillar of the country. You must take good care of your health!"
"Please listen to the Grand Tutor's good advice, Your Majesty!" The officials of the Crown Prince's faction knelt down on the ground in unison, trying to put pressure on the emperor so that the emperor would not dare to bear the name of killing his teacher.
In fact, Liu Changbai didn't really want to die. He just found that he couldn't win the argument, so he played the old - age card and threatened the emperor by saying he would smash his head against the steps.
Unexpectedly, this time Emperor Shunyuan didn't hesitate and almost compromise like he did in the Spring Terrace Chess Tournament case.
He just stared at Liu Changbai coldly and said indifferently, "It's probably too early for the Grand Tutor to knock himself out now. I'm planning to depose the crown prince. If the Grand Tutor were to pass away at this moment, would he have to come back to life and knock himself out again later?"
Like a thunderbolt striking in the palace hall, suddenly all sounds ceased. Even Shen Zhen, who had previously been so frightened that he fell backward to the ground and was shivering, straightened up as if whipped and stared blankly at Emperor Shunyuan on the dragon throne.
Liu Changbai came to his senses, trembling all over, with his eyes full of grief and eagerness. "Your Majesty, the crown prince must not be deposed! Otherwise, it will surely shake the court and the common people will be in panic!"
Emperor Shunyuan said heartlessly, "The crown prince has indulged the Cao clan's villains. He is incorrigible, running amok in the court, deceiving the emperor and disregarding the truth. His crimes are obvious! I hereby issue an imperial edict to strip him of his crown prince status, demote him to a commoner, and imprison him in Fengyang Tower for life. He is not allowed to leave without permission!"
"Your Majesty, even though the crown prince has committed moral failings, it's actually because he was deceived by villains!" Liu Changbai suddenly took off his black cap and shouted hoarsely. "In the past, the crown prince was taught by me. He was diligent in learning, respectful and filial to his teachers. How can Your Majesty forget about this? I am willing to atone for the crown prince's faults with my remaining life. Please spare the crown prince a glimmer of hope!"
After saying that, the old Grand Tutor suddenly stood up and was about to smash himself against the golden steps of the imperial palace.
Gong Zhiyuan slightly loosened his arm and quietly withdrew his strength.
Liu Changbai was stunned, but he had no way back. He closed his eyes and staggered forward. Who would have thought that he suddenly stepped on a grape skin under his feet and slipped violently. His body immediately lost balance and rushed forward like an arrow off the string. With a "thud", he crashed onto the blue bricks in the hall, and blood spurted from his forehead.
Gong Zhiyuan immediately knelt on the ground and wailed in grief, "The old Grand Tutor has died by smashing himself against the steps!"
