Section 74

The two words "Treason" were like a sharp blade, viciously stimulating the nerves of everyone present.

The expressions of the officials changed abruptly, and they looked at Ye Zhong in utter terror.

Li Chengping's army was currently the most sensitive issue; no one was willing to mention it, yet unexpectedly, it had been placed on the table. This was practically tearing off the mask of civility!

If one were not careful, Prince Ping, who was a pillar of the nation and standing high above yesterday, would be beheaded tomorrow!

Upon hearing this, Li Chengping's face instantly darkened, and cold light flickered in his eyes.

He raised his hand abruptly and slapped Ye Zhong viciously across the face.

Slap!

A crisp sound resonated throughout the entire Jinluan Hall.

Caught off guard, Ye Zhong was slapped so hard he spun in a circle on the spot. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his face instantly swelled up, and the five finger marks were clearly visible.

"Presumptuous!"

Crown Prince Li Chengqian roared, stood up abruptly, and pointed at Li Chengping, his voice stern, "Li Chengping, you dare to commit violence in the hall and beat a high-ranking imperial official? This is simply lawless!"

"Your Majesty, this son implores Your Majesty to make a decision and severely punish Prince Ping to serve as a warning to others!"

The Second Prince Li Chengze also immediately stood out and said with a pained expression, "Your Majesty, Fourth Brother has truly gone too far in this matter. If he is not severely punished, it will surely bring disaster to the country and the people!"

Although the First Prince Li Chengru did not speak, he also looked at Emperor Qing with a solemn expression.

The officials were so scared that they were in a state of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, kneeling on the ground one after another and shouting, "Your Majesty, please exercise your wise judgment."

Only Li Chengping remained calm, as if he had just done something insignificant.

He glanced contemptuously at Ye Zhong, who was clutching his cheek in a wretched state, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Ye Zhong, considering your old age and frailty, I held back. Otherwise, this slap would have been enough to take your old life."

"I remember now, your son... is Ye An, right? A few days ago, he blocked me from attending the morning court, so I broke his legs."

Li Chengping chuckled, his tone playful, "Truly, like father, like son."

"Have Ye An's legs healed yet?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong trembled with rage, pointed at Li Chengping, and roared, "Li Chengping, you... you..."

"Your Majesty! Did you see that? Prince Ping... he is simply insane!"

Ye Zhong knelt before Emperor Qing, tears and snot streaming down his face, acting like a madman, "You must make a decision for your subject!"

Emperor Qing's expression was calm, his eyes deep, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Just then, a white figure, like a ghost, suddenly appeared behind Ye Zhong.

A flash of sword light.

Puchi!

Fresh blood sprayed out.

Ye Zhong's voice stopped abruptly, his body fell stiffly to the ground, his eyes wide open, with a look of terror and disbelief still remaining on his face.

Ximen Chuixue slowly sheathed his sword, his white clothes whiter than snow, unblemished by a speck of dust, as if he had just done something insignificant.

"Ah!"

A scream pierced the silence of the Jinluan Hall.

The First Prince Li Chengru pointed at Ximen Chuixue in shock and anger, "You... you... you actually dare to kill someone in the hall!"

"Your Majesty! Prince Ping... he actually condoned his subordinate to kill a high-ranking imperial official, this is simply... simply..."

Li Chengqian was incoherent, scared so badly he could hardly speak.

Above the imperial court, there was dead silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned and in a state of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering by this sudden scene before them.

Killing someone in the hall!

This is simply... simply...

Just then, Hei Niao suddenly appeared in the hall like a ghost, his body filled with Killing Intent, coldly sweeping his gaze over the officials present, as if looking at a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

"Whoever dares to be disrespectful to His Highness, shall be killed without mercy!"

The cold voice, like a death warrant from the Ninth Nether Hell, made the officials present feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their entire bodies turning cold.

"Hmph!"

Immediately after, Sigu Jian stepped into the court calmly with his hands behind his back, standing behind Li Chengping.

He did not say a word, but that soaring Sword Intent had already indicated his stance!

The entire civil and military court was silent as cicadas in winter; they finally realized that Li Chengping really dared to kill someone in the Jinluan Hall!

This Prince Ping is simply a madman!

Three Great Grandmasters appearing together could simply overturn this capital!

This Fourth Prince, before his mission to Northern Qi, now actually had such a foundation!

In the Jinluan Hall, it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Emperor Qing's face was dark as he swept his gaze over the civil and military officials kneeling on the ground.

Ye Zhong's corpse lay there so abruptly, as if silently mocking the powerlessness of imperial authority.

"Are you all mute?" Emperor Qing's voice was not loud, but it carried a chill that could freeze a person to death.

"Or is it that, my dear officials, you also think that I am a very failed Emperor?"

The officials were so scared they dared not even breathe loudly, burying their heads even lower.

Who would dare to respond? Responding meant death!

Emperor Qing's intestines were green with regret in his heart.

He should not have so easily let Li Chengping go on the mission to Northern Qi!

Look, he just returned to the capital and already dared to play this "killing the chicken to warn the monkey" act in the Jinluan Hall!

Simply lawless!

"Li Chengping!" Emperor Qing spat out the three words through gritted teeth, each word sounding as if it were squeezed out from the gaps in his teeth.

"You have such great audacity!"

"Is my imperial court a place where you can run wild?"

Li Chengping slowly stood up, his expression calm, forming a sharp contrast with the furious Emperor Qing.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"This son just does not wish to see loyal officials and good generals die at the hands of treacherous villains."

Chapter 68: Great Grandmaster Ye Liuyun! Meeting Fan Xian!

"Ye Zhong slandered this son for treason, a crime deserving death. Ximen, the warrior, acted on behalf of heaven; what is inappropriate about that?"

"Or does Your Majesty think that this son should have just knelt there, allowing treacherous officials to slander me, and waited for death?"

The two were at loggerheads, their words filled with the smell of gunpowder.

It was as if two male lions were fighting over territory, neither willing to retreat even half a step.

Emperor Qing was so angry that his chest heaved violently, and the finger pointing at Li Chengping was trembling.

"You... you..."

"Good, very good!"

"Today, I will let you know who exactly is in charge of this Qing State!"

"The celebration banquet will be discussed another day!"

"Prince Ping's wedding will also be discussed later!"

Emperor Qing said these words almost through gritted teeth, each word sounding like a knife, viciously stabbing at Li Chengping.

"Dismiss the court!"

After saying this, Emperor Qing flicked his sleeves and left, his dragon robe whipping up a strong wind that left the officials terrified.

Emperor Qing left, carrying a heart full of rage and deep helplessness.

In the Jinluan Hall, only Li Chengping and the civil and military officials, who were silent as cicadas in winter, remained.

Li Chengping watched Emperor Qing's departing back, the corners of his mouth curling slightly, revealing a smile of relief.

Strength is the hard truth.

Who he, Li Chengping, wants to marry, or what he wants to do, is not for others to point fingers at.

Much less by a mere imperial edict?

Princess Royals Mansion.

Li Chengping stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the quiet and elegant mansion before him, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Prince Ping, your arrival truly makes my humble abode shine."

Li Yunrui walked over gracefully, a proper smile on her face, as if she had not been affected in the slightest by the turmoil in the imperial court.

"Princess Royal, you jest." Li Chengping smiled faintly, "I came here today to ask you, Princess Royal, what is your insight regarding the current situation?"

Li Yunrui's eyes flickered slightly, and she gave Li Chengping a meaningful look.

"Prince Ping's actions in the imperial court were truly earth-shattering and breathtaking."

"It seems that I truly underestimated Your Highness before."

Li Chengping raised his eyebrows, "Oh? What does Princess Royal mean by that?"

"Your Highness used thunderous methods to shock the imperial court; this kind of courage is not something an ordinary person possesses." Li Yunrui said slowly, "It seems that Your Highness has long had a plan in mind and is not someone content to be beneath others."

"Princess Royal, you overpraise me." Li Chengping said noncommittally, "I just do not want to be bullied by others."