The Hall of Purple Splendor.
Emperor Yuanyou looked at Cheng Guang before him, then shifted his gaze to Song Yu. "And this is..."
"Imperial Father, this is a capable man under my command, named Cheng Guang."
As Song Yu spoke, Cheng Guang slowly straightened his back.
"The evidence of the Xiao family's treason was uncovered by Cheng Guang."
"Explain in detail." Emperor Yuanyou's gaze was sharp. As the emperor, what he could least tolerate was anyone harboring rebellious intentions.
Cheng Guang began his account from the dog hole at the Xiao residence, then mentioned the eccentric Old Madam Xiao, thereby unraveling the Xiao family's arrangements outside the capital.
Cheng Guang talked until his lips were dry.
"However, without obtaining concrete evidence, this remains mere speculation." Emperor Yuanyou released his full imperial pressure. Cheng Guang paused, then spoke:
"His Highness the Crown Prince should... be the evidence, no?"
Emperor Yuanyou's fury instantly escalated from seven parts to ten.
That useless thing, a complete disgrace.
"Summon the Crown Prince."
At this moment, Emperor Yuanyou no longer merely wished to depose the Crown Prince; he wanted to strip Song Ling of his royal status and expel such a fool from the Song family registry.
Seeing Wu Qi hastening towards the Eastern Palace, Song Yu quietly spoke, "Imperial Father, please do not be angry later. Just let Cheng Guang question Song Ling."
Our side only needs to send Cheng Guang alone to handle the battle.
...
Song Ling used to look forward to coming to the Hall of Purple Splendor, but now, just hearing the name filled him with dread, always feeling it boded no good.
Yet, thinking of the proper matters he had attended to recently, Song Ling felt slightly reassured.
Perhaps his father intended to praise him.
But as soon as Song Ling stepped into the Hall of Purple Splendor, a memorial thrown at him struck his head, its corner nearly scratching his eye.
"Kneel!"
Song Ling thudded to his knees. "Imperial Father, your son is wronged."
"I haven't even said what the matter is, and you're already wronged?"
Emperor Yuanyou was both angered and amused by Song Ling's foolish appearance. "Did you know the Xiao family had problems?"
Seeing the evasiveness in Song Ling's eyes, Emperor Yuanyou spoke to Wu Qi with difficulty, "Summon Mei Zhilin."
He felt himself nearly overcome with anger.
Song Yu gave Cheng Guang a meaningful look. Cheng Guang immediately understood:
"Might I ask Your Highness the Crown Prince, where did the recent grain and manpower come from?"
"Who are you? Who gave you the audacity to question this Crown Prince like this?"
"I gave him the audacity!"
Emperor Yuanyou's roar echoed. Cheng Guang adjusted his sleeve, inwardly thrilled and jumping for joy.
The Great Yue dynasty was indeed not as comfortable as the Great Qi.
"Please answer my question, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"The grain was bought with profits from shops under my command, and the manpower is mine."
Song Ling spoke, suppressing his anger.
"However, as far as I know, the Eastern Palace has not been procuring grain recently. On the contrary, the Xiao family has been stockpiling grain. Those manpower are scattered across various prefectures of Great Qi, and they all just happened to send birthday gifts to Old Madam Xiao some time ago."
Cheng Guang smiled slightly. "Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Xiao family are on very good terms."
"What do you mean?"
"Your Highness, you have been in close contact with the Xiao family recently. With your intelligence, you must have noticed their impropriety. Yet you still cooperated with such people. Is the position of Crown Prince more important than the safety of Great Qi?"
Song Yu could barely restrain himself from applauding Cheng Guang.
That sentence was the finishing blow! It was the true grain of sand his old man could not tolerate.
Sure enough, before Song Ling could even open his mouth to refute, Emperor Yuanyou's voice rang out again:
"Song Ling, if you continue to help the traitors conceal the truth, I will have your head today to console the soldiers who died in the war to found our nation."
His father wanted to kill him...
Feeling an unmistakably clear killing intent, Song Ling's legs went weak.
"I... I'll talk... I'll tell everything..."
During the period of cooperation, Song Ling had naturally also sensed the Xiao family's impropriety.
But Song Ling wanted the Xiao family's help, so he had no choice but to help conceal their actions.
The more he heard, the more Emperor Yuanyou's anger burned.
Finally, Emperor Yuanyou looked calmly at Song Ling. "Guards, take him away and hold him under guard."
Countless pleas for mercy died on Song Ling's lips when he saw Emperor Yuanyou's expression.
He dared not speak...
"Shen Xiao."
"Your subject is here."
"Tonight, place a phoenix crown among the birthday gifts for Old Madam Xiao. Tomorrow, take men to raid the Xiao residence and convict the Xiao family on charges of treason using the phoenix crown as evidence."
Without concrete evidence, then create evidence.
"Outside the capital, in all regions, arrest anyone suspected of conspiring with the Xiao family."
After speaking, Emperor Yuanyou lowered his head wearily.
Cheng Guang's eyes grew brighter. Truly worthy of a founding emperor; crushing a person was simpler than crushing an ant.
Song Yu curled the corner of his mouth. Indeed, both times, the old man dealt with the Xiao family swiftly and decisively.
After leaving the Hall of Purple Splendor, Cheng Guang trotted happily after him.
"Your Highness, how was my performance today?"
"Not bad."
Cheng Guang immediately felt comfortable, utterly satisfied.
"If Your Highness requires assistance with the subsequent interrogation of the Xiao family, you may summon me at any time."
His words could bring more despair than the ten great tortures.
"Don't worry, you'll have your part."
Song Yu hummed a cheerful tune, calculating. The old man was about to depose the Crown Prince.
Tsk.
The Eastern Palace was too weak; it was nearly dead after just a little play.
...
When the Xiao residence was surrounded, Xiao Bingsheng was still pondering which part of his plan had gone wrong.
Upon seeing the phoenix crown that was searched out, Xiao Bingsheng began to doubt his very existence.
He had checked all of his mother's birthday gifts; there absolutely could not have been a phoenix crown.
But who would have the audacity to plant a phoenix crown in the Xiao residence and then use it to imprison the family?
Suddenly, Xiao Bingsheng realized something, his legs giving way as he collapsed to the ground.
Shen Xiao, seeing this, slowly walked to Xiao Bingsheng's side, a bloodthirsty smile in his eyes. "Lord Xiao, you could have done anything, but you had to engage in treason."
"Now it's fine; all the Xiao family members will keep you company on the road to the Yellow Springs."
"You're framing me!"
"Whether it's a frame or not, you know best in your heart."
The downfall of the Xiao family came suddenly, but with Emperor Yuanyou's wrath, no one in the court dared utter half a word in their defense.
Under Cheng Guang's mental torment, Xiao Zhang could bear it no longer and began to talk.
Following the clues, Song Yu dug out many more accomplices of the Xiao family.
Half a month later, the Xiao family affair came to a temporary conclusion.
Emperor Yuanyou specially held a palace banquet to dispel the impact the Xiao family incident had on the court.
At the palace banquet.
Emperor Yuanyou drank several extra cups of wine. Recent events flashed through his mind one by one, and his gaze towards Song Yu softened considerably.
It had only been two months since recognizing Ah Huan until now.
Yet many things had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Emperor Yuanyou slowly rose to his feet.
His movement was somewhat unsteady due to the intoxication.
Yet he walked straight to Song Yu and, looking at him, said:
"Good child, I am very pleased."
"I believe I have truly found a perfect heir to the throne."
