Chapter 626: Widespread Rumors, Public Siege
"You are dismissed."
"Yes."
The Beili Emperor stared coldly at Sang Yan, who was kneeling on the ground. "Did you already know that Prince Helian and the Changyang Prince Mansion would intervene? Are you just like them, trying to seek some kind of justice for Ye Qianning?"
"Your son would not dare."
"You wouldn’t dare? I think you’re plenty daring. Did the Eighth Brother have any message for me?"
"He did not."
"Hmph. He did not? Third Brother, do you think the Eighth Brother is the same man he used to be? He dared to raise a sword to me, to try and kill his own sovereign. How could he possibly have no message for you to deliver?" The Beili Emperor saw through it all.
Sang Yan, still kneeling, looked utterly horrified. ’Eighth Brother actually dared... to attempt regicide?’
"If you won’t talk, someone else will. You can’t suppress the rumors in the Capital City, but someone else can. Yuan Yintang is dead, which should serve as an answer for the General’s Mansion," the Beili Emperor said grimly.
Sang Yan understood the implication. His father was determined to protect Consort Yuan, and no one could change his mind.
"Father Emperor, your son saw Dean Chen and Qian Fu at the capital prefecture. Are you truly going to have them banished from the country?"
"For a child of unknown origin who died, they openly defy me. What use does Beili have for people who have no respect for their sovereign?"
"Father Emperor, Dean Chen has cultivated so much talent for Beili. I implore you to reconsider."
The Beili Emperor was unconcerned. "He is a talented man, but he’s also getting old. Who knows, he might just drop dead one of these days."
’A lifetime of glory, only to end in ruin and disgrace in his old age. Only that would be satisfying!’
Sang Yan’s heart pounded in fear. He knew exactly what his father intended to do.
"Relay my decree. Prince Helian and Prince Changyang have committed a heinous crime by obstructing the Royal Hidden Guards. In light of their past merits, they shall each receive thirty strokes from the military staff as punishment."
"Father Emperor, Ye Qianning had shown great kindness to both of my royal uncles. Their obstruction was just..."
"I don’t care what the reason is. Obstructing the Royal Hidden Guards is an act of gross disrespect. If it weren’t for the fact that they are imperial relatives, I would have had their heads." The Beili Emperor’s words were utterly ruthless.
Sang Yan dared not say another word. "Yes."
"Your Majesty."
Another figure suddenly appeared in the room. It was one of the Beili Emperor’s personal Hidden Guards.
"How did it go?"
"Your Majesty, I’m afraid this matter can no longer be suppressed." The Hidden Guard’s breathing was unsteady.
"What do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, please look at this." The Hidden Guard handed over several secret letters.
The Beili Emperor took them and spread them out. His expression grew more and more twisted as he read, until he finally crumpled the letters into a ball. "Who leaked this information?"
"To spread the news this quickly... only the Crimson Flame of the hermit families could be responsible."
’Hermit families?’
The Beili Emperor suddenly recalled a message he had received several months ago: a hermit family would enter the Beili Imperial Palace to retrieve something. ’Could it be they’ve already arrived in Beili?’
"Third Brother, did you see any unfamiliar faces on Four-direction Mountain?"
Sang Yan was also startled to hear about the hermit families. Hearing the question, he thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I did not."
"Your Majesty, when this subordinate was returning to the Imperial Palace just now, a youth in red appeared. It’s highly likely he’s connected to the hermit families."
The Beili Emperor thought about what the Hidden Guard had just said. Putting the two together, it was almost certain.
"He said that this drama in Beili is more exciting than any storybook, and that the whole world will get to see Your Majesty’s ’style’." The Hidden Guard paused before continuing, "This subordinate suspects the news has already spread to the other three kingdoms. Your Majesty, please consider your next steps carefully."
The Beili Emperor’s fingers tightened. He hadn’t expected a hermit family to emerge from seclusion, let alone get involved in the matter on Four-direction Mountain. This made things much more difficult to handle.
’A storybook?’
’Does he mean he’s going to write this into a storybook for the world to read, to humiliate the Beili Imperial Family?’