Chapter 268 A Shocking Turn of Events: Another Clash in the Capital Court

"Privately mobilizing local armed forces, plundering the imperial disaster relief supplies, and intending to frame the disaster victims to incite a mutiny... What else does he want to do? Does he want to come see Me while wearing the dragon robes!"

Emperor Zhao Tuo was trembling with rage.

He had always known that his imperial brother was ambitious, but he had not expected his audacity to reach such a degree!

This was no longer just forming cliques for personal gain; this was naked treason!

In the hall, Emperor Liu Sheng and Superintendent Wang Yue stood on either side, their expressions different.

Emperor Liu Sheng kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

Yet, a faint trace of a smile hung on the corners of his mouth.

In the chess game of the south, he had won.

And, he had won beautifully.

General Su Meng and General Li Chuang had not only resolved the crisis but had also followed the clues to unearth the big fish, the Prince of Chu.

This merit was enough to bring the reputation of the Western Depot to an unprecedented height.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Wang Yue's face was as ugly as it could possibly be.

He never imagined that the sniping he had meticulously planned against the southern expeditionary army would end up like this.

Not only had he failed to topple Emperor Liu Sheng, but he had also completely dragged his ally, the Prince of Chu, into the water.

Now, the evidence of the Prince of Chu's treason was ironclad, and he, the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot who was closely related to the Prince of Chu, would inevitably be implicated.

What made him feel even more terrified was that Emperor Liu Sheng had used this opportunity to undoubtedly increase his weight in the Emperor's heart.

With one rising and the other falling, his future situation would become even more difficult.

"Superintendent Wang Yue!" Emperor Zhao Tuo suddenly roared in anger.

Superintendent Wang Yue was startled and quickly knelt down.

"This servant is here."

"The Prince of Chu is acting so recklessly in the south, what are your Eastern Depot spies doing? Why do I know nothing about this!"

Emperor Zhao Tuo's questioning was like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely onto Superintendent Wang Yue's heart.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Superintendent Wang Yue.

What could he say? Say that he had known about it for a long time and was in collusion with the Prince of Chu?

Then he could be dragged out and beheaded right now.

"Your Majesty... this servant... this servant was negligent..."

He could only take all the blame upon himself.

"Negligent?" Emperor Zhao Tuo sneered.

"You think you can just dismiss it with a word of negligence? I don't think you were negligent; I think you lost your mind!"

He pointed at Superintendent Wang Yue and said sternly: "I entrusted you with the power to monitor the world, and this is how you repay Me?"

"Guards!" Emperor Zhao Tuo roared.

"Drag Superintendent Wang Yue away, strip him of his python robe, remove his Superintendent's seal, and throw him into the Imperial Prison of the Eastern Depot to await judgment!"

Upon hearing this, Superintendent Wang Yue was struck by lightning, his whole body collapsing.

He knew that the Emperor was using him as a scapegoat to give an explanation to all the civil and military officials and to the people of the world.

It was over. Everything was over.

Two guards stepped forward, intending to drag Superintendent Wang Yue away.

Just then, Emperor Liu Sheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Emperor Zhao Tuo looked at Emperor Liu Sheng, his brows furrowed tightly.

"What does my beloved subject have to say?"

Emperor Liu Sheng bowed and said slowly: "Your Majesty, although Superintendent Wang Yue was negligent and his crime cannot be forgiven, right now, the Prince of Chu's treason case has just been uncovered, the situation in the south is unstable, and within the capital, there are undercurrents surging."

"The Eastern Depot's influence is deeply rooted and complex. If Superintendent Wang Yue is rashly dealt with at this time, it might cause turmoil within the Eastern Depot, instead giving those with ulterior motives an opportunity."

"In my humble opinion, it would be better to temporarily retain Superintendent Wang Yue's position, order him to atone for his crimes by rendering meritorious service, and thoroughly investigate the Prince of Chu's accomplices in the capital. In this way, not only can the Eastern Depot be stabilized, but he can also share the burden for Your Majesty. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"

Emperor Liu Sheng's words stunned everyone.

No one expected him to plead for his arch-rival, Superintendent Wang Yue.

Even Superintendent Wang Yue, who was slumped on the ground, looked at Emperor Liu Sheng in disbelief.

"He... why would he help me?"

Emperor Zhao Tuo also felt surprised.

He looked deeply at Emperor Liu Sheng, trying to see something on his face.

But he only saw calmness and respect.

Emperor Zhao Tuo was silent.

He had to admit that Emperor Liu Sheng made sense.

The Prince of Chu had operated in the capital for many years; his accomplices must be numerous.

If he were pushed too hard now, in case he did something desperate, the capital would surely be in chaos.

And to deal with these people, no one was more suitable than Superintendent Wang Yue and his Eastern Depot.

Letting Superintendent Wang Yue bite the Prince of Chu's accomplices, letting them tear each other apart while he sat back and reaped the benefits, was indeed a good move.

Moreover, this move by Emperor Liu Sheng also showed him a magnanimity of "considering the big picture," which made Emperor Zhao Tuo appreciate him even more.

"Enough." Emperor Zhao Tuo sighed and waved his hand.

"We shall do as my beloved subject says."

He looked at Superintendent Wang Yue and said coldly: "Superintendent Wang Yue, I will give you one last chance."

"I order you, within one month, to round up all of the Prince of Chu's accomplices in the capital! Not a single one can be left!"

"If you fail to do so, bring your own head to see Me!"

Superintendent Wang Yue returned from hell to the human world, his whole body exhausted.

He hurriedly kowtowed to thank him.

"This servant... this servant obeys the decree! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace in not killing me! Thank you, Superintendent Liu... for your grace in pleading for me!"

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Superintendent Liu was full of complexity.

There was gratitude, but more than that, it was fear.

He knew that Emperor Liu Sheng was not saving him.

Emperor Liu Sheng just wanted to turn him into a more useful dog.

A mad dog specifically used to bite people.

Coming out of Yangxin Hall, Superintendent Wang Yue's back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

He looked up at the gray sky and felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet straight to his crown.

He knew that his good days were over.

Next, what he would face was a bloody purge that would not end until death.

And he was just the butcher responsible for wielding the knife.

As for the Prince of Chu—sighing, Superintendent Wang Yue felt very helpless.

Now that he was like a clay bodhisattva crossing the river and could barely protect himself, how could he still manage the affairs of the Prince of Chu?

Now he was certain that in the surrounding shadows, there were already people from Emperor Zhao Tuo and Superintendent Liu's Western Depot watching him. If he dared to tip off the Prince of Chu, those spies in the shadows would immediately report his tip-off to Emperor Zhao Tuo. If the Emperor found out, hehe, it would not just be a matter of atoning for his crimes by rendering meritorious service, but he would truly be thrown into the Imperial Prison by the Emperor to wait for execution after autumn.

As the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot, having been a lackey for his whole life, he knew clearly how prisoners were treated in the Imperial Prison of the Eastern Depot.

Once he was also thrown into the Imperial Prison, those tortures, honestly speaking, he really wasn't confident he could endure them.

Even if he could endure them, he didn't want to experience them personally.

Because those tortures, when inflicted on a person, were truly unbearable.

Prince of Chu, oh Prince of Chu, don't blame me; I have no choice.

For the sake of my own life, I can only betray you.

When you are captured and escorted to the capital's Imperial Prison in the future, for the sake of our past friendship, I will send you good wine and meat to treat you.

If necessary, I will even have someone give you a quick end, so you won't suffer too much!

That's all I can do, sigh!!!