335: Trouble at the court meeting!

Chapter 333: Difficulty in the Morning Assembly!

Great Qian Royal Palace!

The morning light pierced through the nine-layered palace gates, illuminating the gilded hall pillars and making them shine brightly.

Inside the Imperial Hall, civil and military officials stood like clay and wooden statues on either side, even the folds of their robes frozen in place.

In the bronze crane incense burner outside the hall, ambergris smoke curled upwards, but could not dispel the heavy atmosphere within the hall.

At the head of the civil official queue, Prime Minister Zhao Xian wore a purple robe and jade belt, his knuckles unconsciously rubbing the coiled dragon pattern on the jade belt.

At the front of the military official queue, Commander Sun Lingyuan of the Dragon Cavalry Guard wore golden armor, his red tassel swaying gently in the wind, his gaze like a sharp blade, radiating coldness.

But who could have imagined that this Commander Sun, who held the power over the Royal Palace guards...

In the past, was actually one of the Personal Disciples of Lu Xuan's original body.

But now, Commander Sun stood on the opposite side of the Lu Family.

Below the dragon steps, a complete white tiger skin chair was particularly eye-catching; this was the honored seat exclusively belonging to the Lu Family Grand Tutor.

Since the founding of Great Qian, no one had ever received such an honor.

One could wear a sword in court, and be granted a seat in the hall; truly, this could be called reaching the pinnacle of officialdom!

Below one person, above ten thousand!

"His Majesty arrives—"

Following the eunuch's sharp call, the silence of the Imperial Hall was broken.

Qianxi Emperor's steps were steady as he slowly ascended the dragon steps, his peripheral vision catching the empty tiger skin chair, and the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

The entire court of civil and military officials dared not even breathe, knowing clearly—today's morning assembly would surely stir up monstrous waves.

Inside the hall, a dropped needle could be heard; even breathing sounds were frozen in their throats.

Beneath the lowered heads of the officials were faces with varied expressions—some horrified, some suspicious, some secretly rejoicing.

The earth-shattering upheaval of yesterday had already spread like wildfire throughout the entire Qianning City!

Lu Jinyun, the son of the Lu Family Grand Tutor, actually led ten thousand Tiger's Roar Guard and broke through the nine-layered Xuan Iron gate of the Heavenly Prison!

Lu Haowu, who was supposed to be executed, was thus rescued from death row in plain sight.

Thinking back now, the earth-shaking sounds of shouting and killing were still in their ears, and the broken glazed tiles on the eaves of the Heavenly Prison still shone with dazzling light on the palace path.

Several elderly Hanlin Academicians had pale faces, their legs trembling slightly beneath their official robes.

They knew better than anyone else—the Heavenly Prison was a symbol of imperial power; breaking into the Heavenly Prison was no different from violating the imperial palace!

This was clearly throwing the face of the supreme Qianxi Emperor into the mud, letting iron hooves trample upon it!

And in the civil official queue, there were several malevolent gazes that were particularly glaring.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan tightly clutched his ceremonial tablet, his knuckles turning blue.

His only son had his leg broken by that old steward Old Steward Li while trying to stop the Lu Family yesterday.

Minister of Rites Liu Fu's eyes were bloodshot, almost spitting fire—his son was still unconscious to this day.

The most miserable was none other than Zhang Zhaoran, the Right Vice Minister of Justice.

This warden who had been in charge of the Heavenly Prison for many years now had a face ashen as a dead person, his body beneath his official robe trembling uncontrollably.

His son's legs were crippled by Old Steward Li in the Heavenly Prison yesterday, his bones completely shattered.

After diagnosis by the imperial physician, it was deemed permanently incurable.

The mournful wails still echoed in the Zhang Residence to this day, each sound like a knife gouging the heart of this old father.

The breaking of the Heavenly Prison was already a great humiliation.

His beloved son being crippled was an even deeper, irreconcilable hatred.

Zhang Zhaoran stared fixedly at the empty tiger skin chair in the center of the hall, as if seeing it stained with his son's blood.

His fingernails dug deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain—

This humiliation, this hatred, had already burned his internal organs to ashes.

Several officials in the hall who were close to him could not bear to look at him in this state.

The once imposing warden of the Heavenly Prison now had a hunched back, his eyes filled only with bone-deep malevolence.

Everyone knew that Zhang Zhaoran had only one thought in his mind at this moment.

That was to make the Lu Family pay for the blood debt!

Qianxi Emperor scanned the empty white tiger skin chair in the hall, his body beneath the dragon robe trembling slightly with rage.

The armrest of the gilded dragon chair creaked under his palm, unable to bear the strain.

His five fingers were almost embedded in the intricately carved dragon scales.

"Where is the Grand Tutor?"

Qianxi Emperor's angry roar was like a clap of thunder, shaking dust from the ceiling caisson of the hall.

Qianxi Emperor suddenly grabbed the Hetian jade paperweight on the desk and fiercely smashed it towards the Chief Eunuch standing beside him.

"Cao Quan!"

"You dog!"

Qianxi Emperor's furious roars echoed continuously in the Imperial Hall!

"Yesterday, I clearly ordered you to personally deliver the imperial decree into the Grand Tutor's hands!"

Hearing this, Cao Quan felt as if struck by lightning, immediately crying out that something was wrong; his entire body froze in place.

Immediately after, Cao Quan knelt heavily, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold golden bricks, even his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

At this moment, Cao Quan only felt the world spinning.

This baseless accusation was clearly an unwarranted disaster!

All civil and military officials knew of His Majesty's many dissatisfactions with Grand Tutor Lu.

Now, this anger had inexplicably burned onto him.

A chill shot up from the soles of his feet, climbing all the way up his spine to the back of his neck.

Cao Quan felt cold all over, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

He kept crying out in his heart—

Yesterday, he had clearly solemnly handed the imperial decree to Lu Jinyun, and repeatedly emphasized that it was an order personally given by His Majesty.

It was clearly Grand Tutor Lu who deliberately came late!

After a few breaths, large beads of sweat seeped from Cao Quan's wrinkled face, and a trace of determination flashed in his cloudy eyes.

Facing Qianxi Emperor's anger, not only could he not speak the truth, but he also had to force himself to swallow this silent loss.

He couldn't possibly say, in front of all the civil and military officials, that he had already delivered the decree into Grand Tutor Lu's hands.

A hint of shrewd calculation flashed in Cao Quan's cloudy old eyes.

His wrinkled forehead was pressed tightly against the cold floor tiles, but his heart was as clear as a mirror—

If he spoke the truth now, not only would his own life be in danger, but he would also cause the Son of Heaven to lose face completely.

"This old servant was foolish!"

Cao Quan suddenly kowtowed heavily, his graying hairbun coming undone.

"This old servant failed to explain His Majesty's oral decree clearly, delaying Grand Tutor's time for the morning assembly!"

"This old servant deserves death for his crime!"

These words were spoken with tears and a choked voice.

It both gave the Emperor a way out and implied that the fault lay in his own poor communication, which caused Grand Tutor to be late for the morning assembly.

Hearing this, the tense shoulders of some court officials in the hall visibly relaxed a little—

This old eunuch, Cao Quan, was using his own old life to preserve everyone's dignity.

"Go to the Department of Punishments and receive your punishment!"

Qianxi Emperor roared angrily, flicking his dragon sleeve fiercely, "One hundred Wei Long rods, not a single one less!"

"Yes, this old servant accepts the decree!"

Cao Quan kowtowed tremblingly and retreated, but a trace of relief flashed across his lowered face.

As a Martial Dao Grandmaster, these one hundred Wei Long rods were merely flesh wounds.

Compared to incurring imperial wrath and endangering his life, this price was simply insignificant.

The air in the hall seemed to have solidified, and even breathing sounds became cautious.

The officials lowered their heads, but all unconsciously glanced towards the direction of the hall entrance with their peripheral vision.

Waiting for the appearance of the figure who could break the balance of the court.

"Grand—Tu—tor—Ar—rives—!"

As the old eunuch's sharp voice pierced the silence, the final syllable was drawn out extremely long, as if deliberately emphasizing this person's special status.

At the hall entrance, Lu Xuan came against the light in a purple robe, the jade belt at his waist gleaming coldly in the morning light.

Each step he took was extremely steady, the soles of his boots making a dull sound as they touched the golden bricks, as if stepping on everyone's heart.

"This humble official and others greet Grand Tutor!"

The sound of the hundred officials bowing was uneven, but loud enough.

Prime Minister Zhao Xian's fingers beneath his purple robe were clenched white, yet he had to bow.

Commander Sun Lingyuan's body beneath his golden armor trembled slightly, yet he could only lower his head.

Lu Xuan paid no heed to the resentful or awe-filled gazes from either side.

The three generals behind him followed like shadows, the sound of their armor colliding particularly grating in the silent great hall.

Lu Jinhua wore the uniform of the Mighty Tiger Army, the nine golden patterns on his chest shining brightly in the morning light.

Lu Jinwu's Vermilion Bird battle robe was as vibrant as fire, the sword at his waist swaying gently with his steps.

Lu Chang's Black Tortoise iron armor gleamed faintly, the sound of clashing metal faintly heard as he walked.

The three entered the military official queue without glancing sideways, and Lu Jinhua even stood directly in the second position, only inferior to Sun Lingyuan.

The faces of the several old generals behind them were ashen, yet no one dared to speak up.

Minister of Rites Liu Fu's eyes were bloodshot, the anger in his eyes almost turning into substance.

He stared fixedly at Lu Xuan, his teeth grinding audibly.

His only son was beaten and remained unconscious to this day!

However, when Lu Xuan's indifferent gaze swept over, this dignified Minister of Rites was like a quail whose throat had been squeezed.

He involuntarily lowered his head, even his legs beneath his official robe trembling slightly.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan stood in the queue, his knuckles already clenched white.

The most pathetic was the Right Vice Minister of Justice, Zhang Zhaoran.

This warden of the Heavenly Prison was even more hunched over, his face as pale as paper.

The tragic sight of his son's legs being broken in the street was vivid in his mind, yet at this moment, facing the father of the culprit, he didn't even dare to look up.

When Lu Xuan's gaze swept over, this old official's knees unexpectedly went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.

The hem of his official robe was already soaked—this cruel official who had been in charge of the Heavenly Prison for many years was actually scared into incontinence by a single glance!

There was nothing he could do; circumstances forced his hand.

Who made this old fellow's strength too fierce.

The performance of the three ministers was fully seen by Lu Xuan. A mocking curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

In front, the white tiger skin chair gleamed with an oily luster in the morning light, as if waiting for its master.

Lu Xuan sat down calmly, the golden threads on his purple robe flowing in the light, reflecting the golden threads on the dragon chair from a distance, forming a subtle stance of confrontation.

He originally didn't want to attend this bothersome morning assembly, but he heard that the Royal Palace treasury had acquired many good things recently.

This, however, piqued Lu Xuan's interest somewhat.

Lu Xuan scanned the surroundings casually, finally casting his gaze towards the direction of the dragon chair, and casually cupped his hands.

"This old subject greets Your Majesty."

Qianxi Emperor's smile instantly bloomed on his face, and he even leaned forward slightly: "Master Lu, you may dispense with the formalities."

However, while Qianxi Emperor's smile seemed cordial, there were undercurrents surging in his eyes.

His hands beneath the imperial desk were already clenched white, his knuckles faintly turning blue.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

The white tiger skin chair and the gilded dragon chair faced each other from a distance, like two fierce beasts poised to strike.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the real beginning of this morning assembly.

After the morning assembly began, some insignificant minor matters were brought up at the beginning.

Not long after, a clear tapping sound of a jade tablet suddenly echoed in the hall.

"Your Majesty, your humble subject Zhou Zhen, Commander of the Qianning City Patrol Guard, has a memorial to present!"

A middle-aged official wearing a sky-blue official robe stepped out steadily, the jade tablet in his hand gleaming coldly in the morning light.

His square face carried a hint of deliberate solemnity, and his voice was so loud it seemed it would shake the entire court awake.

After seeing this person, Qianxi Emperor's eyes flashed, and he nodded slightly: "Granted!"

"Yesterday at three quarters past the hour of Wei, the Tiger Guard Army stationed outside the city trespassed into Qianning City without notification."

Zhou Zhen's voice was loud, but stopped abruptly at the crucial point, "They galloped all the way, directly to... the Heavenly Prison!"

Having spoken to this point, he suddenly stopped, and Zhou Zhen bowed and retreated back into the queue.

This pause was just right, like throwing a huge stone into a calm lake.

Immediately after, Vice Minister of Justice Zhang Zhaoran staggered out, the hem of his official robe still stained with undried dirt: "Your Majesty, this old subject presents a memorial with tears of blood!"

He knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead hitting the golden bricks with a dull thud, "The Tiger's Roar Guard forcibly entered the Heavenly Prison yesterday and rescued the death row prisoner Lu Haowu!"

"When this old subject's son tried to stop them, he was actually beaten and had his legs broken by that Lu Family Old Steward Li in public!"

As he spoke, Zhang Zhaoran actually pulled out a blood-stained handkerchief from his sleeve.

Before everyone could react, Minister of Rites Liu Fu rushed out without waiting to be summoned: "This subject seconds the motion!"

"This humble subject's son is still unconscious to this day, the imperial physician said... said he fears it might be..."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Fu choked and could not continue.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan even took off his official hat and knelt directly on the ground: "Your Majesty!"

"This old subject's only son has one leg broken and has become a cripple!"

"This is not just breaking into prison; it is clearly trying to sever the pillars of our Great Qian!"

The weeping accusations of the three ministers were like a fuse, instantly igniting the entire court.

In the civil official queue, people came out one after another to denounce, but the military official side was dead silent.

Everyone's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the white tiger skin chair—

Lu Xuan was casually rubbing the tiger pattern on the armrest, a faint, almost imperceptible cold smile playing on his lips.

At this moment, Qianxi Emperor suddenly slapped the imperial desk, making the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on it jump: "Absurd!"

"The Tiger Guard Army is an elite force of Great Qian personally trained by my esteemed teacher."

"Their military discipline is as strict as iron; how could they possibly do such treasonous things!"

Qianxi Emperor's eyes were wide with anger, pointing at the kneeling ministers, "Did you all see clearly?"

"If there is even half a false word—I will definitely not spare you!"

Before his voice fell, Prime Minister Zhao Xian had already slowly stepped out.

This old official in a purple robe and jade belt walked with difficulty, yet each step landed on everyone's heart: "This old subject... is willing to stake his head as guarantee."

His voice was hoarse, as if he had aged ten years overnight, "My poor daughter is still washing her face with tears in the residence..."

The hall instantly fell silent.

The gazes of the court officials were all focused on the white tiger skin chair.

Lu Xuan still calmly rubbed the armrest, only his fingers paused slightly.

He slowly raised his eyes, meeting Qianxi Emperor's gaze from the dragon chair.

"Master Lu..." Qianxi Emperor's voice suddenly softened, but his eyes flickered with dangerous light.

"Do you... have anything to say?"

This question was like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, pointing directly at the throat.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, like swords drawn and bows bent; even breathing sounds were clearly audible.

"That's right."

"This matter was indeed instigated by this old subject."

These few words were like a clap of thunder, causing the faces of all civil and military officials in the court to change drastically.

Even Qianxi Emperor on the dragon chair had his pupils suddenly contract.