Chapter 617: Rumors Spread, the Crowd Besieges (Part 2)
"Regarding the original treason charge against the Qian family, Your Majesty should have received a booklet some days ago. It detailed which court officials were involved and proved that the Qian family was framed. And yet, Your Majesty seems to have taken no action, choosing instead to continue persecuting our family. How could we not feel utterly disheartened? Furthermore, Consort Yuan was caught red-handed colluding with the Princess of East Shu, and still, Your Majesty has done nothing. What reason does the Qian family have to remain in Beili?" Qian Fu, as if anticipating what the Beili Emperor would say, cut him off before he could speak.
The Beili Emperor’s face turned livid, and he laughed in fury. "Fine. Fine! So be it! You wish to renounce your citizenship? Then We grant your wish! From this day forward, if anyone from the Qian family dares to set foot in Beili, they will be killed on sight."
Qian Fu’s expression remained impassive.
Consort Yuan was secretly delighted. ’Dean Chen, Ye Qianning, and the entire Qian family, all leaving Beili... This is absolutely wonderful news for me.’
Sang Qi watched in a daze, not yet understanding the gravity of renouncing one’s citizenship. All he knew was that his Imperial Father was furious.
Zhan Yi watched them, wishing he could do the same. ’But I can’t,’ he thought. ’My daughter is a consort, my grandson a prince, and my granddaughter a princess. It’s impossible for me to ever make a clean break.’
The biggest mistake he had ever made in his life was allowing his second daughter to enter the palace.
"Your Majesty, Lord Song, the Prefect, requests an audience," another young eunuch announced, hurrying inside.
The young eunuch already kneeling on the floor sighed in despair. ’The Emperor is in a rage,’ he thought. ’Anyone who comes in now is just walking into the line of fire.’
"Get out!" The Beili Emperor snatched a cup and hurled it at the eunuch who had just entered.
The young eunuch didn’t dare dodge. The cup struck him squarely on the left cheek, which immediately swelled and turned red. Not daring to linger, he quickly retreated from the room.
"Teacher," the Beili Emperor said coldly, "this is the last time We will call you that. From now on, the bond between us as student and teacher is severed. As for that child’s body, even if it rots and stinks, it will not be buried on Beili soil. We will have men escort you, Dean, out of Beili."
Qian Fu’s eyes darkened as he stared coldly at the Beili Emperor. ’To be so cruel to a child... He’s truly unfit to be a ruler.’
Xiang Minghou was still out there purging rebellious factions for Beili, yet this was how the Emperor treated his loyal general’s child.
Zhan Yi’s fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing fresh blood that dripped unseen into his sleeves. He seethed with hatred, loathing the position he was in.
’I can’t even protect my own granddaughter’s body. Beili... This is my country. The very nation my forefathers died to protect.’
Sang Qi was also shocked, a bitter sting rising in his chest and pricking at his nose.
"Your Majesty can rest assured. She will not touch a single speck of Beili’s soil," Dean Chen said, his voice several degrees colder and deeper than the Beili Emperor’s.
"In that case, you are dismissed."
"Your Majesty, this matter is not yet resolved," Dean Chen declared, clearly not intending to let it end there. "Her body may not be buried within Beili’s borders, but this old man will absolutely not let her murderer go free."
"And what do you propose to do?" the Beili Emperor asked, his eyes narrowing.
"A life for a life. It is an immutable principle."
"How audacious of you!"
"The world has its own laws. If Your Majesty will not punish the murderer, then this old man will resolve it in his own way."
The Beili Emperor stared at him intently. ’His own way?’
He believed Dean Chen had the capability to do just that. After a moment’s thought, he said, "We will handle this anew. We are tired. You may leave."
"Time is short. Your Majesty must deliberate carefully."
The Beili Emperor waved his hand in irritation, not wanting to look at any of them for a second longer.
Consort Yuan gritted her teeth in frustration, her beautiful eyes glaring at Dean Chen.
Without bowing, Dean Chen turned and walked toward the entrance.
Qian Fu and Zhan Yi also turned to leave. They feared that if they stayed in this place a moment longer, they wouldn’t be able to contain their rage.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..." Lord Song shouted anxiously as he rushed in, dropping to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, this humble servant has an urgent matter to report!"
Dean Chen’s steps faltered, and he stopped where he stood.
"Barging into the hall without being announced? The audacity!" Having been defied one time after another, the Beili Emperor unleashed all his fury on Lord Song, lifting a teapot and throwing it at him.
A teapot had more force than a teacup.
It struck Lord Song on the head, and blood immediately gushed out. Dizzy, Lord Song collapsed to the floor.
"Guards! Drag him out!"
Guards entered from outside and were just about to drag Lord Song away when he finally caught his breath.
"Your... Your Majesty," Lord Song gasped, his eyes drifting toward Consort Yuan. "The Eighth Prince has brought everyone from the General’s manor to the gates of the prefect’s office with a formal complaint! He’s demanding severe punishment for the murderer and... for the one who colluded with the enemy..."
It was clear to everyone present who he was referring to.
"The Eighth Prince took people to the prefect’s office?" The Beili Emperor was utterly furious.
"Yes, and copies of the complaint have been posted all over the Capital City. The Eighth Prince is leading the charge. This subordinate didn’t dare act rashly. Your Majesty, this is an extremely serious matter! I implore Your Majesty to make a decision..." Lord Song had been an official for decades but had never encountered anything like this.
’A prince suing a high consort,’ he thought. ’Instead of filing a direct imperial petition, they come to my humble prefect’s office and make it a public spectacle for all to see. This is a political hot potato if I’ve ever seen one.’
Hearing this, a flicker of light entered Dean Chen’s eyes. He then turned and strode out of Dragon and Qilin Hall.
’The Eighth Prince does have a conscience after all.’
Qian Fu, however, hadn’t expected the Eighth Prince to have such courage and quick thinking. ’Blowing this matter wide open is the best way to put maximum pressure on the Beili Emperor.’
’A single woman versus the trust of the nation... An emperor should know which carries more weight.’
Zhan Yi felt an immense sense of satisfaction. ’There are many things I don’t dare to do,’ he thought, ’but I will not rest until justice is served for Consort Yuan’s treason and the death of my granddaughter. This fire the Eighth Prince has started... it’s not nearly big enough.’
’When I return to my manor, I must add more fuel to it. Like the fire on Four-direction Mountain, it needs to burn much, much more fiercely.’
’I ordered this news suppressed the moment I returned to the palace,’ the Beili Emperor thought. ’Sang Zhi, banking on his connection to Penglai, not only dares to attempt regicide but is now publicizing this matter so widely. Is he truly getting out of My control?’
"How dare the Eighth Prince slander me like this! Your Majesty, you must stand up for me!" Consort Yuan cried, wishing she could kill Sang Zhi on the spot.
"Slander?" the Beili Emperor said grimly. "Your actions were riddled with holes. Even if Old Eighth hadn’t done this, did you think Dean Chen, the Zhan family, and the Qian family would have done nothing? You can’t hide your collusion with East Shu from anyone."
"So now Your Majesty is blaming me," Consort Yuan retorted angrily. "If that’s the case, I’ll go with Lord Song to the prefect’s office right now. It’s just imprisonment or beheading. I’m not afraid."
’The Emperor is already taking the Eighth Prince’s side. If this continues, what will become of me in the future?’
Sang Qi was finally starting to understand. His mother consort had truly colluded with East Shu. He looked at Consort Yuan with a newfound sense of unfamiliarity.
The Beili Emperor, both furious and nursing a headache, said, "We will find a way to deal with this, but you can forget about keeping your position as High Consort."
"Does Your Majesty intend to cast me into the Cold Palace?" Consort Yuan sneered.
"We haven’t even said anything, and look at you! This situation is getting more and more serious. We must wait until We can get things under control before deciding what to do."
Consort Yuan’s beautiful face was a mask of cold indifference.
’The High Consort really did collude with East Shu,’ Lord Song thought, observing them secretly, his heart pounding. ’And from the Emperor’s hesitation, it seems he has no intention of punishing her. Tsk, this is going to be a difficult job.’
"My dear Minister Song," the Beili Emperor ordered, "return to the prefect’s office and invite the Eighth Prince inside. Have your men take down all the public complaints. After that, you will await Our decree."