259: Put the pressure on Eunuch Cao!

As the voice fell, a figure had already walked in through the main gate.

The newcomer had a pale, beardless face, was dressed in a crimson python robe, was slightly corpulent, had eyes that were both gentle and sharp, and always wore a smile at the corner of his mouth. It was none other than the Director Cao of the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun!

He held high a roll of imperial yellow silk in his hand, which shimmered in the sunlight—it was an Imperial Edict!

Behind Cao Zhengchun, dozens of Eastern Depot agents surged into the courtyard like a tide, quickly forming two lines.

These agents were clearly elites, exuding a formidable aura, and their movements were perfectly synchronized.

"Imperial Uncle Lu!"

Cao Zhengchun first nodded gently at Lu Yuan:

"Your Majesty has decreed! The Marquis of Shouning and the Marquis of Jianchang, for allowing their servants to commit violence and disturb the peace, are hereby ordered to reflect behind closed doors and have their stipends withheld for three years!

All servants involved in the incident shall be handed over to the authorities for severe punishment!

Imperial Uncle Lu, for acting righteously and intervening, is excusable. However, for trespassing into the Marquis Estate and causing death and injury, it is also improper!

Considering his past achievements, he is to immediately enter the palace to be reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, ordered to reflect on his mistakes, and forbidden from causing further trouble! By Imperial Order—!"

As the contents of the Imperial Edict were announced, the expressions of those present varied.

This Imperial Edict was biased to the extreme!

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, even more so, turned ashen: "I refuse to accept! I was the one who was scared, my servants were killed, my gate was smashed, and in the end, I'm the one being punished!

Isn't this bullying an honest person!

I refuse to accept! I'm going to find the Empress Dowager!"

After reading the Imperial Edict, Cao Zhengchun said to Lu Jiuyuan with a smile:

"Imperial Uncle Lu, have you understood His Majesty's intention? Prepare yourself; you will go to the palace shortly to receive your reprimand!"

Then he turned his gaze to the two Imperial Uncles of the Zhang family: "Two Imperial Uncles, receive the edict!"

Zhang Yanling, accustomed to arrogance, immediately stomped his foot and cursed: "Cao Zhengchun! You eunuch dog!

It must be you who slandered us before the Emperor!

I will not accept this bullshit Imperial Edict! I want to see my sister! I want my sister to uphold justice for us!"

The gentle smile on Cao Zhengchun's face instantly vanished, his eyes sharpened like blades, and his voice turned cold:

"Two Imperial Uncles, mind your words! The Imperial Edict has been issued, the Emperor's word is law, how can you two question it! Disobeying an Imperial Edict is a grave crime!"

"We won't accept it, we won't accept it! We want to see the Emperor, we want to see the Empress Dowager!"

"Eunuch Cao," Lu Jiuyuan suddenly spoke, "The Imperial Edict clearly states that they are to reflect behind closed doors and not cause further trouble, correct?"

Cao Zhengchun paused slightly, not understanding his meaning, but still nodded: "That is indeed correct."

"Since they defy the edict, then... die!"

Before his words finished, his Sword Qi was already unleashed!

Two Sword Qi, condensed to the extreme and swift to the extreme, instantly streaked across the Void Realm!

The shouts and curses of Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling abruptly ceased.

The anger, unwillingness, and madness on their faces instantly froze, replaced by an extreme bewilderment and disbelief.

At the center of each of their foreheads, a tiny red dot appeared, from which a trace of blood slowly seeped.

Immediately after, the light in their eyes receded like a tide, becoming hollow and lifeless.

"Thud!" "Thud!"

Two heavy bodies fell stiffly to the ground, kicking up a bit of dust.

The Marquis of Shouning, Zhang Heling, and the Marquis of Jianchang, Zhang Yanling, met their demise then and there!

To their deaths, they perhaps never understood why Lu Jiuyuan dared, and why he could, unhesitatingly deliver a fatal blow at the very moment the Imperial Edict was issued and the Director Cao of the Eastern Depot was personally present.

The entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

One could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden slaughter.

The Four Great Constables looked on in horror; though they knew Lu Jiuyuan was decisive in his actions, they never expected him to be so resolute!

At the same time, a feeling of gratitude arose within them. Fortunately, he didn't kill them when they were trying to stop him, but only after Cao Zhengchun arrived.

Now all the pressure was on Eunuch Cao.

Director Cao was broad and robust; he could bear and carry such a heavy burden. Congratulations! Congratulations!

"Disobeying an Imperial Edict, a capital offense!"

The muscles on Cao Zhengchun's face twitched slightly. He looked at The Two Zhangs, whose breath had already ceased, lying on the ground. The Empress Dowager's two brothers, killed so brazenly?

"Lu... Imperial Uncle Lu... you... you this..."

Lu Jiuyuan slowly retracted his finger, his gaze calmly fixed on Cao Zhengchun: "Eunuch Cao, you saw it all.

It is not that I, Lu, disobey the Imperial Will, but rather that these two were arrogant and rebellious, openly defying the Imperial Edict and disrespecting the Heavenly Might. How is their conduct different from treason?

As an Imperial Relative, seeing such an incident, how could I, Lu, stand idly by? I could only act on behalf of His Majesty, employing the method of thunder, to rectify the laws and discipline!"

Cao Zhengchun opened his mouth, momentarily speechless. Was he right? Right, my foot!

But now that the people were dead, what could he say?

What a headache!

After a long while, Cao Zhengchun finally let out a long, turbid breath, forcing a smile on his face that was uglier than a cry: "Imperial Uncle... loyal to the country, decisive and swift, this servant... admires you."

He waved his hand and instructed the agents behind him: "Carefully collect the... remains of the two Imperial Uncles. As for the matters here, this servant must immediately enter the palace to report to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

He gazed deeply at Lu Jiuyuan, his eyes incredibly complex: "Imperial Uncle, please also accompany this servant into the palace.

His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, I presume... are very eager to see you."

Lu Jiuyuan nodded slightly, his expression still indifferent: "As it should be. However, these clothes are not formal enough; I need to change."

With that, he actually turned, ignoring the corpses and bloodstains in the courtyard, and ignoring the complex and indescribable gazes of Cao Zhengchun and the Four Great Constables, and gracefully walked towards the inner hall of the Marquis Estate.

Cao Zhengchun's mouth twitched, but in the end, he waved his hand, signaling the Eastern Depot agents not to obstruct him, allowing this harbinger of death to do as he pleased.

His mind was in turmoil at this moment; he only wanted to quickly report this colossal mess and couldn't bother with these trivial details.

Lu Jiuyuan walked directly into an extremely luxurious bedchamber, opened a zitan wood wardrobe, which was filled with various splendid garments made of silk and satin.

Lu Jiuyuan's gaze swept over them, and he casually took out a dark-patterned brocade robe of profound black. The material was exquisite, the embroidery superb. Though slightly large, it was Barely fit.

He took off his blood-stained and dusty green robe, put on the brocade robe, and then adjusted his attire in front of a large crystal mirror.

The man in the mirror had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with a composed demeanor. The profound black brocade robe added a touch of nobility and sternness, making him seem like a completely different person from the disheveled Jianghu wanderer he was moments ago.

After changing, he did not leave immediately. His gaze lingered in the room for a moment, falling upon an open multi-treasure box next to the dressing table.

Besides gold, silver, pearls, and jade, the box also contained a neatly stacked pile of high-quality silk handkerchiefs of various colors,

embroidered with exquisite bird and flower patterns, clearly items Zhang Heling used to display his wealth and feign elegance.

Lu Jiuyuan walked over, casually picked up a stack, about ten pieces, and without even looking, nonchalantly stuffed them into his embrace.

Having completed all this, he then slowly walked out of the room and returned to the courtyard.

Cao Zhengchun saw him in a profound black brocade robe, his aura even more imposing, and his heart trembled again. He forced a smile and said, "Imperial Uncle, shall we go?"

"Thank you, Eunuch Cao, for leading the way," Lu Jiuyuan calmly replied.

The two, escorted by a retinue of Eastern Depot agents, left the Shouning Marquis Estate, which resembled a purgatory, and headed towards the Forbidden City.

The Four Great Constables watched their receding figures. Iron Hand couldn't help but whisper, "Senior Brother, going to the Imperial Palace is one thing, but he... why did he stuff handkerchiefs into his embrace?"

Emotionless sat in his wheelchair, his delicate brows slightly furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, a hint of alarm suddenly flashed in his eyes, and he softly said, "That fiend seems to have a bad habit..."

Life Chaser, Iron Hand, Cold Blood, and Emotionless exchanged glances, simultaneously gasped, shivered in unison, and rushed towards Six Doors:

"Quick, quick, quick, quickly invite Uncle into the Imperial Palace! Protect His Majesty!!!"

Lu Jiuyuan, along with Cao Zhengchun's entourage, passed through layers of palace restrictions, heading straight for the inner court.

Just past the Jinshui Bridge, as they entered the square in front of Qianqing Gate, they saw a figure in imperial yellow, standing with his hands behind his back by the white marble railing, seemingly having been waiting there for a long time.

Who else could it be but the current Son of Heaven, Zhu Houzhao?