Section 77

However, at this very moment, two even more terrifying auras of Sword Intent descended instantly, like divine soldiers dropped from the heavens!

The Sword Intent soared into the clouds, tearing through the night sky like two peerless divine swords spanning the space between heaven and earth.

Ximen Chuixue, dressed in white that outshone the snow, looked like an immortal descended to the mortal world; his Sword Qi was chilling, making one afraid to look directly at him.

Sigu Jian, with his green robes fluttering and a long sword strapped to his back, had a cold and stern gaze like ten-thousand-year-old ice; his Sword Intent was overbearing, suppressing everything.

Two Great Grandmasters of the Sword Dao appeared simultaneously!

Ye Liuyun froze instantly, the anger on his face solidifying into terror.

He looked at the suddenly appearing Ximen Chuixue and Sigu Jian in disbelief, his mind going completely blank.

"Three... three Great Grandmasters?"

"How is that possible?"

"Beside Li Chengping, there are actually three Great Grandmasters?"

"This... this is simply..."

Ye Liuyun was completely dumbfounded, his heart turning icy cold.

He finally understood what kind of existence he had provoked.

Ye Liuyun's face turned pale, cold sweat trickling down, his throat rolling dryly as he asked with a trembling voice, "I... if I leave now... is it still too late?"

Hei Niao scoffed, his tone icy, "What do you think?"

The bloody case at the Crown Princes Mansion swept through the entire capital like a hurricane.

The dignified Crown Prince had actually been assassinated in his own mansion, his life or death unknown!

This was simply a massive scandal!

Emperor Qing was furious, the Imperial countenance was enraged!

Inside the Jinluan Hall, the atmosphere was suppressed to the extreme, like the calm before a storm, suffocating everyone.

Emperor Qing sat high upon the Dragon throne, his expression so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water, his eyes cold as knives as he scanned the trembling civil and military officials below.

"The Crown Prince... has gone missing?" Emperor Qing's voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling pressure.

The officials remained silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to even breathe loudly.

No one dared to court disaster at this time.

"Where is Prince Ping? Why has he not arrived yet?!" Emperor Qing roared, his voice exploding like thunder, shaking the entire Jinluan Hall until it hummed.

Li Chengping walked into the Jinluan Hall, his expression calm and unruffled, as if nothing had happened at all.

"Your son, Li Chengping, pays respects to the Imperial Father." Li Chengping knelt and bowed, his voice resonant, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Li Chengping, do you know your crime?" Emperor Qing glared at Li Chengping, his tone chilling.

Li Chengping raised his head, his face full of confusion, "Why does the Imperial Father say this? Your son does not know what crime he has committed."

"You do not know what crime you have committed?" Emperor Qing laughed out of extreme anger, "Good! Good! A very good 'I do not know what crime I have committed'!"

"The Crown Prince was assassinated at his mansion, his life or death unknown; do you dare say this has nothing to do with you?" Emperor Qing demanded sharply.

Li Chengping looked innocent, "Imperial Father, please examine the facts clearly; your son has been staying in his mansion these past few days and has never stepped out of his gate even once, so how could he be involved in the Crown Prince's assassination?"

"Furthermore, the capital's defenses are strict and heavily guarded; how could an assassin easily infiltrate the Crown Princes Mansion? I fear there is something suspicious about this matter," Li Chengping defended himself unhurriedly, his logic watertight.

Emperor Qing was burning with rage, but was momentarily speechless.

Li Chengping was right; the capital's defenses were as solid as a fortress, and for an assassin to infiltrate the Crown Princes Mansion was no easy task.

Moreover, Li Chengping had been staying at Prince Pings Mansion, and it seemed he had an alibi.

"Hmph! Even if this matter has nothing to do with you, you cannot escape culpability!" Emperor Qing snorted coldly, "Your subordinates are numerous and highly skilled; who knows if they acted on their own initiative and caused this monstrous disaster?"

Li Chengping's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, "Imperial Father, your words are incorrect. Your son's subordinates are all loyal and devoted, and they would never act on their own initiative, let alone do anything to harm the Imperial Court."

"Furthermore, if the Imperial Father suspects your son, you may send men to search Prince Pings Mansion. If you can find any clues, your son is willing to accept punishment."

"Besides... if we are truly talking about experts, rumor has it that Eunuch Hong Siyang in the palace is the rumored fifth Great Grandmaster of Great Qing, tsk tsk!"

Li Chengping's attitude was playful, showing not the slightest fear.

Emperor Qing's face grew even gloomier; he knew, of course, that searching Prince Pings Mansion would yield absolutely nothing.

Chapter 70: Princess Royal Aunt! How could it come to this?

Since Li Chengping dared to say this, it meant he had long since made full preparations.

"Prince Ping!" Emperor Qing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, "The matter of the Crown Prince concerns the foundation of the nation; you should know that this matter cannot be treated as a child's game!"

"I will give you three days to find the Crown Prince, and I will act as if this matter never happened!"

It was evident that Emperor Qing did not want to tear down the facade with Li Chengping just yet.

But what surprised everyone was that upon hearing Emperor Qing's words, Li Chengping suddenly stepped forward and said loudly:

"The Imperial Father speaks reasonably! The matter of the Crown Prince! Concerns the foundation of the nation! How can our Great Qing... be without a Crown Prince for even a day?"

"Today, this Prince dares to be bold, for the sake of Great Qing, to appoint a new Crown Prince!"

Appointing a successor concerns the foundation of the nation; moving one hair affects the whole body.

At this sensitive moment, Li Chengping's sudden proposal to appoint a successor was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire!

"You... want Me to appoint another Crown Prince?"

Emperor Qing slowly stood up, his gaze like a knife, staring fixedly at Li Chengping, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

"Prince Ping! Do you mean that?"

Emperor Qing's voice was like ice shards in the depths of winter, scraping painfully against people's faces.

The officials in the hall were even more terrified, not daring to draw a full breath.

Each and every one of them wished they could bury their heads into the cracks in the ground.

Fearing they would be caught in the crossfire between this father and son.

Yet Li Chengping acted as if nothing was wrong, with a faint, imperceptible smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth.

"Imperial Father, your son believes that since the Crown Prince was assassinated, his life or death is unknown, and the foundation of the nation is shaken."

"The only plan now is to confirm the new successor to the throne as soon as possible, so as to pacify the court and stabilize the hearts of the people."

"Your son is untalented, but is willing to share the Imperial Father's burdens and recommend a new Crown Prince!"

Li Chengping repeated this again, every word like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at Emperor Qing's heart.

"Presumptuous!"

Emperor Qing could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and slammed his hand onto the Dragon throne.

The officials knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads, fearing they would enrage the Imperial countenance.

At this moment, outside the hall, black clouds pressed down on the city, and faint thunder rumbled, as if the heavens themselves were enraged by this confrontation between father and son.

"Imperial Father, calm your anger!"

Li Chengping remained unhurried, cupping his hands in a salute, that faint, imperceptible smile still hanging on his face, "Everything your son has said is for the great plan of the nation, not mere empty talk."

"A fine 'great plan of the nation'! The Crown Prince's whereabouts are unknown, yet you are in such a rush to appoint a new successor; is Prince Ping unable to wait any longer?"

"I am not dead yet! How can you be allowed to interfere in the matter of the successor!"

"Do you still have Me, your Imperial Father, in your eyes!"

Emperor Qing was truly enraged.

His tiger-like whiskers bristled, and his dragon-like eyes spat fire.

He wished he could rush down immediately and tear this rebellious son, Li Chengping, into ten thousand pieces.

Yet Li Chengping remained calm, as if Emperor Qing's rage was merely a gentle breeze blowing across his face.

"Every word your son has spoken comes from the bottom of his heart; there is not the slightest bit of disrespect."

"I ask the Imperial Father to make a decision soon, to avoid complications from long delays."

"Complications from long delays?"

Emperor Qing seemed to have heard some massive joke, laughing out of extreme anger.

"In My view, the one who truly fears complications from long delays is you!"

"Do you think that a mere few words can sway My decision?"

"Can force Me to appoint a new Crown Prince?"

Emperor Qing's voice echoed like thunder inside the Jinluan Hall.

Pressing down until people could not catch their breath.

Li Chengping finally put away his smile, his eyes becoming sharp.

"Imperial Father, your son would not dare."

"If the Imperial Father feels that your son is meddling in affairs that do not concern him, then your son... will simply hold his tongue."

As Li Chengping said this, he truly closed his mouth.

But his gaze remained calm and firm.

As if saying, I have said what needed to be said, and done what needed to be done.

The rest depends on how you, Emperor Qing, choose.

Emperor Qing stared fixedly at Li Chengping, his chest heaving violently.

He knew very well that Li Chengping's words, while seemingly for his own good, were in reality forcing the throne.

A naked attempt to force the throne!

This rebellious son, what immense audacity!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Emperor Qing said the word "good" three times in a row, his tone chilling.