Chapter 42#

The wine glass slipped from Jun Dingyuan’s hand, tumbling sideways. With a sharp clink, it struck the table, and droplets of wine scattered like shattered jade, rolling onto the gold-and-silver embossed carpet of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.#

Emperor Shunyuan cast a sidelong glance but ignored Jun Dingyuan’s shock. Expressionlessly, he said to Luo Mingpu, “Continue.”

Luo Mingpu hurriedly pressed his forehead to the ground. When he looked up, his gaze sliced fiercely toward Jun Dingyuan, his voice laced with venom: “Just now, I urgently interrogated the guilty official Cao Youwei and his cohort. Unable to withstand the torture, Cao Youwei wailed and begged to be allowed to atone for his crimes, thus reporting this matter to us. I am fully aware that Jun Dingyuan has rendered great service to our Great Qian, so I proceeded with utmost caution, fearing that Cao Youwei might be making reckless accusations on the verge of death. Therefore, I sternly questioned him repeatedly.”

“Yet Cao Youwei refused to recant, biting down on his confession. Recognizing the gravity of the matter and fearing we might miss the opportune moment, I immediately dispatched men to the Divine Timber Yard he had named, and there they apprehended the rebel!”

“The Divine Timber Yard?” Shen Ting was utterly baffled by the day’s events. Only upon hearing this term did he cast a sensitive glance toward Prince Xian, Shen Bi.

Prince Xian frowned slightly, completely at a loss. In his view, the Crown Prince’s faction was already spent—what new tricks could they possibly pull now?

Fourth Prince Shen He muttered under his breath: “How did the Divine Timber Yard get dragged into this? Isn’t that under the Ministry of Works, overseen by the Office of Construction and Repairs?”

Gong Zhiyuan watched Prince Xian’s confusion with growing confidence. He suspected that soon enough, Prince Xian would be unseated without even understanding where he had lost.

Liu Quan, standing beside Emperor Shunyuan, heard the words “Divine Timber Yard.” He lowered his eyelids slightly and, without changing expression, raised the jade pot to refill the Emperor’s cup halfway with mung bean milk tea, meant to soothe the throat and calm the temper.

On the day Jun Dingyuan had entered the Cool Breeze Hall to confess his fault, he had said that Mo Shu, in order to present the divine artifact to the Emperor, had searched far and wide for the finest grade of aromatic rosewood to use as a supporting material.

Liu Quan had found this curious and casually remarked: “The best timber in the world is all stored in the Divine Timber Yard.”

At the time, Emperor Shunyuan had been skeptical about the divine artifact and had neither inquired further nor forbidden Mo Shu from continuing his work. Little did he expect it would become today’s calamity.

“You caught him?” Emperor Shunyuan’s expression betrayed no joy or anger.

Luo Mingpu bowed his head: “Indeed. At the time, the rebel was selecting timber in the Divine Timber Yard. Thanks to General Jun’s care, the officials on duty at the guard post had assigned him no menial labor. When we seized him, he was clutching two pieces of top-grade aromatic rosewood to his chest, refusing to let go. It took five officers working together to pry his hands free and escort him back to the Ministry of Justice. In the courtroom, he confessed to being a member of the Mo family, named Mo Shu, but falsely claimed he had no acquaintance with General Jun. Seeing his cunning, I ordered ten strokes of the rod.”

Upon hearing this, Jun Dingyuan shot up from his seat as if spring-loaded. Pointing at Luo Mingpu, bloodshot veins crawling into his eyes, he roared in fury: “You tortured him?”

Luo Mingpu saw Jun Dingyuan’s extreme loss of composure and rejoiced inwardly. He met Jun Dingyuan’s gaze directly, letting out a cold laugh: “I intended to, but Lord Xue stopped me, insisting that it might lead to a confession extracted under torture.”

As he spoke, Luo Mingpu cast a vicious glare at Xue Chongnian.

He knew exactly what Xue Chongnian was thinking. Since this courtroom interrogation had already offended the Cao faction, there could be no chance for Cao’s group to turn the tables, lest fortune reverse its course.

Xue Chongnian hastily shuffled forward on his knees to defend himself: “Your servant has acted strictly in accordance with the laws and regulations of our Great Qian. However, Lord Luo, before even completing his questioning, insisted on applying torture without due cause—truly perplexing. I believe the man’s identity has yet to be verified. If Cao Youwei hired a counterfeiter to pose as a rebel in order to atone for his crimes, or deliberately implicated General Jun on his deathbed to destabilize our Great Qian’s foundations, a single erroneous judgment could lead to irreparable consequences.”

Luo Mingpu angrily gestured at Jun Dingyuan and retorted: “Look at Jun Dingyuan’s reaction—does that not prove this man is no fabrication of Cao Youwei’s? The General is so agitated, he must be aware of the rebel’s identity and intends to shield him!”

Jun Dingyuan remained silent, appearing indeed guilty and speechless.

Gong Zhiyuan observed this and gave a cold, derisive smile. Jun Dingyuan was, after all, a crude military man who only understood brotherly loyalty. At this critical moment, he was so impatient—unwilling to cut his losses.

Jun Dingyuan’s demeanor was such that anyone could sense something amiss. However, Prince Xian hadn’t expected him to be so audacious as to harbor a rebel. Now, it seemed his hard-earned military merits and the centuries-old honor of the Jun family would be destroyed in an instant.

Given the Emperor’s suspicious nature, Consort Liang and Shen Zheng might even be implicated.

This was truly like stepping off a ten-thousand-foot cliff—such a dramatic rise and fall in the blink of an eye.

Shen Chen smiled and turned his head, hoping to savor Shen Zheng’s stunned and flustered expression, only to see Shen Zheng still casually eating grapes, occasionally sipping his mung bean milk tea, as if the events unfolding had nothing to do with him.

Could it be that, having been away in Nanping for so long, he had misjudged his father’s temperament and thought this wouldn’t affect him?

He then looked at Wen Zhuo. Wen Zhuo, in contrast, was not idly eating or drinking—he held something in his hand, staring down at it, paying no attention to Luo Mingpu’s performance below.

An inexplicable sense of foreboding struck Shen Chen.

He hurriedly turned to Xie Langyang, seeking an eye-to-eye confirmation that their plan was watertight. But Xie Langyang was standing upright, eyes closed, his face etched with anguish, as if mourning the fate of the Jun family and Mo Shu.

Shen Chen: “…”

Then Emperor Shunyuan spoke: “Did Mo Shu say why he was taking those two pieces of aromatic rosewood?”

“Er… no, he did not.” Luo Mingpu paused, then added, “I suspect he intended to steal them for sale, or perhaps to secretly manufacture some object of rebellion.”

Emperor Shunyuan took a sip of the mung bean milk tea Liu Quan had poured, which did indeed settle his temper. Then he slapped the imperial desk hard and demanded: “How did Cao Youwei learn that General Jun had hidden Mo Shu in the Divine Timber Yard?”

For a moment, Luo Mingpu was stunned.

He had never imagined that the Emperor would not immediately question Jun Dingyuan’s agitated outburst but instead interrogate him. Was it truly because of Jun’s deep military achievements?

But Luo Mingpu, caught up in his fervent zeal, had never considered how to answer this question.

How had Cao Youwei found out?

Naturally, Gong Zhiyuan had informed him at the last moment.

But how had Gong Zhiyuan known?

He had no idea!

Involuntarily, Luo Mingpu’s gaze slid toward Gong Zhiyuan, a thin layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Seeing Luo Mingpu falter, Gong Zhiyuan quickly rose and bowed, replying: “Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works has always been quite close to His Highness Prince Xian, and has repeatedly obstructed the Crown Prince’s actions. As the Crown Prince’s maternal grandfather, Cao Youwei likely kept a close watch on those around Prince Xian, thus uncovering this grave case. Yet one wonders whether His Highness Prince Xian was already aware of it?”

Prince Xian thought to himself, You old beast, so this is where you were aiming!

He rose immediately, his expression heavy with sorrow: “Father, your son has only occasionally exchanged calligraphy insights with Minister Shang Zhiqin. I had no idea Cao Youwei considered me an eyesore. Had your son known earlier that General Jun was committing such folly, I would have earnestly advised him, to preserve for our Great Qian a loyal and valiant general, and spare Father the embarrassment and disappointment at today’s feast. I do not understand why the Grand Secretary drags me into this. In principle, the Ministry of Works is Father’s ministry—should not Father have been informed earlier?”

Gong Zhiyuan countered: “His Majesty is overwhelmed with state affairs—how could he possibly know everything? Thus it falls to us ministers to report the truth and root out long-standing ills!”

Prince Xian sneered: “According to the Grand Secretary, I should know even more than His Majesty? That a minister knows more than the sovereign—what are you implying, Grand Secretary?”

Gong Zhiyuan’s face darkened: “I mean that General Jun chose no other place to hide the rebel but the Ministry of Works. That must indicate a close personal friendship with Minister Shang Zhiqin. Given his closeness to Your Highness, he may well have informed you!”

Shang Zhiqin also stood up, his drunkenness largely banished by fear: “Grand Secretary, do not spout nonsense! The Ministry of Works handles a multitude of affairs with many sub-departments. The Divine Timber Yard is merely a small branch under the Office of Construction and Repairs. How can I possibly know everything that goes on there?”

Emperor Shunyuan closed his eyes, the imperial crown’s tassels swaying gently before his face, casting dappled shadows in the lamplight.

“Jun Dingyuan, when was that man brought into the Divine Timber Yard? Answer truthfully.”

Jun Dingyuan snapped back to himself, knelt, and clasped his fists in salute, his demeanor humble and eyes downcast: “Mo Shu arrived in the capital with your servant yesterday. As the Marquis’s residence was under renovation, he wished to see if there was any usable timber. Finding nothing suitable, I sent him to the Divine Timber Yard just after nightfall, little knowing we were being watched.”

Gong Zhiyuan was taken aback—Jun Dingyuan was being so forthright, not even offering resistance?

Emperor Shunyuan nodded slowly, his face growing darker.

So, Jun Dingyuan had been under surveillance by the Cao faction, even while stationed at the southern border.

The Cao faction had uncovered this secret but, instead of reporting it to the court, they had traded interests with Nanping, betraying a border general.

When their plot to seize the secret treasure failed, the Cao faction still chose not to report it but continued to monitor Jun Dingyuan’s every move.

How many officials had Cao Youwei been watching in secret? How many people’s secrets did he hold?

Had he used these secrets to control the court and secretly collude with Nanping, eliminating those who opposed the Crown Prince and co-opting those who submitted to his faction?

Factional strife among ministers had been inevitable since ancient times, but to sink to such depths was truly terrifying!

The Cao faction—and their master—could not be allowed to live!

Emperor Shunyuan asked coldly: “If he was taken there after dark yesterday, why was it not reported at this morning’s court session, but only brought up during the Three Judicial Departments’ interrogation? Did he receive word of this on his way to the Grand Court of Justice?”

Luo Mingpu’s cold sweat soaked his back in an instant.

Not good!

The matter was too urgent; he hadn’t had time to thoroughly review all possible pitfalls.

Cao Youwei had been arrested during the morning court. If he could have exposed this at the Three Judicial Departments, he could have done so during the court session—unless—

Emperor Shunyuan shifted in his seat: “Unless he originally had no intention of telling me. He was holding this secret for some other purpose.”

“No, it’s not that… Perhaps Cao Youwei was too frightened and forgot to mention it!” Luo Mingpu stammered.

This explanation was far too flimsy. Cao Youwei hadn’t been arrested the moment he entered court—he only became terrified when he was impeached.

Gong Zhiyuan quickly interjected: “Your Majesty, perhaps Cao Youwei felt some reluctance at the time and wanted to give General Jun a chance. Only when he realized death was imminent did he blurt it out to atone for his crimes.”

“Ha.” Emperor Shunyuan let out a cold laugh. “I think I know where those three million taels went. Cao Youwei’s intelligence is even more impressive than mine—no wonder he needed so much money.”

“Your Majesty!” Gong Zhiyuan hadn’t expected the Emperor to turn the spearhead back on the Cao faction!

Wasn’t Jun Dingyuan’s concealment of a rebel, and Prince Xian’s suspected involvement with military power, far more serious than mere Cao Youwei’s offenses?

Emperor Shunyuan’s fury blazed, his expression growing more ferocious by the moment: “The Cao traitors have no respect for the sovereign, have overstepped their bounds, committed treason, embezzled military funds, harmed the nation, planted spies, monitored court officials, formed factions for private gain, and plunged the court into chaos. By imperial decree: execute the entire clan—three generations of the Cao family; flog their leader’s corpse for three days; dig up their ancestral graves; grind their bones to ashes; scatter the remains in the wilderness; forbid any burial!”

Gong Zhiyuan’s face turned deathly pale. He had not expected the Emperor to be so merciless.

The Crown Prince went limp, toppling backward, trembling violently on the spot, unable to string together a plea for mercy.

“F-fa-ther… Father…”

Prince Xian, too, was stupefied.

So that was it? And here he had been panicking just moments ago.

Seeing the situation take such a drastic turn, Liu Changbai could no longer sit still.

He staggered to his feet, wobbling as he knelt. His aged frame swayed in the lamplight of the hall, as if buffeted by the flickering candles.

He prostrated himself, voice filled with grief and indignation: “Your Majesty, flogging corpses and digging graves, grinding bones to ashes—these are the brutal methods of the Qin dynasty, not to be emulated! Moreover, Jun Dingyuan’s offenses are far graver than Cao Youwei’s; he harbors treacherous intentions. I beg Your Majesty to immediately arrest the Jun family and conduct a strict investigation, so that the peace of Great Qian may be preserved!”

Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes, gazing at this venerable imperial tutor who had grown old in his service. This was not the first time Liu Changbai had used his status to pressure the sovereign.

“Does the Grand Tutor also wish to impeach General Jun?”

Liu Changbai knocked his head heavily on the ground, his white hair disheveled: “Your Majesty, in the Battle of Hong River, Duke Xiang of Song, clinging to the virtue of a gentleman and a compassionate heart, failed to attack the Chu army while they were crossing the river, and failed to order a sudden assault while they were forming ranks—thus missing the opportune moment and suffering a crushing defeat that cost him his life. Later, Emperor Xian of Han indulged the traitor Cao and, failing to awaken in time, became a puppet and reaped what he sowed. I accepted the late Emperor’s entreaty to guide Your Majesty—how can I stand by and watch Your Majesty show leniency to traitors?”

Marquis Yongning rose in astonishment, unable to believe his ears: “My Jun family has been loyal for generations. Grand Tutor, even you—”

He was so furious his beard trembled, and he could not continue.

Consort Liang’s eyes were red-rimmed as she, too, knelt, restraining herself: “I have been married to Your Majesty for nineteen years. One of my sons spent ten years as a hostage; another died in the womb. Yet I have never resented Your Majesty. My father never sought favors or begged for mercy to put Your Majesty in a difficult position. My younger brother has guarded the border for ten years, covered in scars, exhausting himself in service to Great Qian. Does this not prove the loyalty of the Jun family?”

Shen Zheng flicked his fingertip, sending a grape peel flying to the side. Then, with a thump, he knelt on his cushion, his voice resounding, each word bleeding sincerity.

“Father, when I was trapped in Nanping years ago, it was my uncle who donned armor and charged into battle, crushing the enemy and ensuring I did not die in a foreign land. I owe my uncle a debt I can never repay. I am willing to stake my own future, to share in my uncle’s guilt and punishment!”

As he spoke, a single hot tear rolled down his lashes and splashed onto the blue brick floor.

Shen Chen, who had just been struck by the grape peel: “…”

Emperor Shunyuan shook his head inwardly. The Jun family was good at many things, but utterly inept with words, far inferior to these civil officials. If not for Jun Dingyuan’s open and honest character—never deceiving his sovereign—he would surely have met with disaster today.

It was Shen Zheng who had reminded him.

“Jun Dingyuan, let me ask you this: how did you come to know Mo Shu, and why did you keep him by your side?” Emperor Shunyuan narrowed his eyes at Jun Dingyuan, though his gaze was less severe than before.

Xie Langyang’s eyes flew open. Something was wrong!

In the previous life, Emperor Shunyuan had not even had the patience to ask for an explanation—he had immediately ordered Jun Dingyuan’s arrest and thrown Mo Shu into the Ministry of Justice for grueling interrogation.

Jun Dingyuan had endured a year of torment without ever being given a chance to defend himself, not even learning that Mo Shu had committed suicide after ten days of torture.

What was happening in this life? Could the Cao faction case have influenced the Emperor’s judgment?

Jun Dingyuan’s face was solemn, showing no sign of evasiveness: “While I was stationed at the southern border, the Nanping barbarians repeatedly violated our frontiers, burning, killing, and looting, causing untold suffering among the people. At that time, Mo Shu volunteered to enlist, under the alias Li Ping, and served in my camp. I discovered that he possessed extraordinary talent—the crossbows he crafted had an extremely long range without sacrificing power. Thanks to this weapon, Nanping no longer dared to provoke us so easily.”

“Later, the Nanping Ghost General once again took command, leading a great army to raid our camp. Fortunately, Mo Shu had prepared in advance—the ‘ground jars’ he created could detect the hoofbeats of galloping horses from several li away, giving our army ample warning and sparing us from annihilation. I led five thousand elite troops in a lightning strike on the enemy camp, and relied on the ‘long-sound drums’ he developed. Their thunderous roar mimicked the sound of an overwhelming charge, shattering the enemy’s morale, allowing us to win a great victory.”

“I cherished his talent, and longed for the soldiers of Great Qian to shed less blood. So I willingly concealed his identity and failed to report it in time—that is my fault. But I forgot that Your Majesty has always cherished talent, and your breadth of vision far surpasses mine.”

Liu Changbai clutched his official tablet tightly, breathing heavily with agitation: “General Jun has a silver tongue. Does this mean all rebellious factions can be sent to the border as soldiers? Your Majesty, rebels are rebels—we cannot open the door to leniency!”

Emperor Shunyuan knew he was old, sick, and likely had not long to live. That was why these old ministers who had once guided him were now stirring up trouble among his sons.

Under the pretext of safeguarding the state, they schemed to seize the throne, undermining his authority and persecuting his loyal ministers.

Their hearts deserved death.

Emperor Shunyuan’s gaze swept toward Wen Zhuo. He found Wen Zhuo idly playing with his fingers, as uninterested in court faction struggles as ever.

But now, he needed him.

Emperor Shunyuan coughed lightly.

Wen Zhuo looked up, bewildered, his lips slightly parted as if he had just emerged from a daze.

Emperor Shunyuan twitched his eyebrows at him.

Wen Zhuo met the Emperor’s gaze, first in confusion, then slowly widening his eyes as if understanding the Emperor’s intent.

This scene happened to catch Xie Langyang’s eye, sending a jolt of shock through him that nearly made him slip from his cushion.

How could this be? How could this be!

Why had Emperor Shunyuan suddenly taken Jun Dingyuan’s side, forgiven Mo Shu, and even actively hinted for Wen Zhuo to plead on their behalf?!

What had happened in the meantime? What had Wen Zhuo secretly done?

This was supposed to be a death trap with no way out—in the previous life, even Wen Zhuo had been helpless!

Then Wen Zhuo patted his robe, stood up, and bowed: “Your Majesty, I believe the Grand Tutor is mistaken. When Nanping invaded our borders, nine out of ten voices in the court favored surrender. Pressured by them, Your Majesty had no choice but to issue a peace decree. Yet General Jun, fully aware of the risk of defying orders, still led five thousand elite troops in a nighttime raid, achieving a great victory. Afterwards, instead of reprimanding him for ‘acting without imperial permission on the frontier,’ Your Majesty praised him lavishly—showing that Your Majesty is no pedantic Duke Xiang of Song.”

“Furthermore, at a critical moment on the battlefield, General Jun allowed Mo Shu to atone for his crimes. Knowing full well this might invite censure, he was willing to bear the infamy for the sake of relieving his soldiers’ hardships and pacifying the border people. This proves that General Jun is no Cao Cao who declares ‘I would rather betray the world than have the world betray me.’”

At this point, Wen Zhuo paused, then suddenly raised his sleeve to cover his face, leaving only a pair of shrewd eyes visible. He winked quickly at Emperor Shunyuan, silently asking if he was pleased.

A flicker of barely perceptible amusement passed through Emperor Shunyuan’s eyes. He lowered his gaze, fingering his robe belt, and said solemnly: “Continue.”

Thus Wen Zhuo resumed in a serious tone: “I once read in history that when Imperial Censor Quan Wanji impeached the Grand Magistrate Zhang Yungu, Emperor Taizong of Tang, in a fit of rage, wrongly executed a good minister. This led to the iron law that capital cases in the capital required five reviews, and those in the provinces required three—a practice still in use today.”

“In my days as an official in Bozhou, I heard that the Mo clan’s Lingyin sect had a conflict with the Qianzhou military. Cao Fangzheng, without conducting a thorough investigation, branded them a heretical sect and ordered their execution, failing to strictly follow the three-review procedure. Presumably, his memorial to Your Majesty concealed this fact. Therefore, the charge of ‘rebel’ against Mo Shu was already against legal precedent and cannot withstand scrutiny. Now, to speak of ‘leniency’ is misguided. I believe we should call it ‘correcting the wrong.’”

Xie Langyang felt his heart sink like a thousand-pound stone. Even if Emperor Shunyuan had not already been leaning toward Jun Dingyuan, hearing these words from Wen Zhuo, it would have been hard not to be moved.

In such a short time, Wen Zhuo had crafted this flawless argument—stopping the mouths of the officials, giving Emperor Shunyuan a graceful way out, and establishing on legal grounds that Jun Dingyuan and Mo Shu were innocent.

If, in the previous life, Wen Zhuo had had the chance to speak even half a sentence of defense, perhaps Mo Shu could have been saved.

So, there had never been any inescapable death trap. As long as he could speak, as long as he was given room, he could dissolve the crisis like a gentle breeze sweeping over a ridge, like moonlight piercing through the clouds.

Among all these officials, who was not a favored son of heaven, self-proclaimed extraordinary? But only he was like the bright moon in the clouds—visible yet untouchable.

Liu Changbai sneered: “President Wen, you have a silver tongue, and I cannot out-argue you! But I remember clearly that our laws clearly stipulate that private manufacture of weapons is treated as treason, and the law cannot be set aside. That is precisely why the Mo family was deemed rebels!”

“Well said, Grand Tutor!” Wen Zhuo spun around, his smile unchanged, but his gaze grew sharp as a blade: “Whether Mo Shu participated in the old Qianzhou case is not yet proven by solid evidence. But General Jun has testified that the weapons Mo Shu manufactured on the southern border—the defensive crossbows, the long-sound drums, the ground jars—were all pointed at Nanping, protecting our Great Qian territory. Since the Grand Tutor insists the law cannot be set aside, then let us convict Mo Shu based on these three weapons and give him the appropriate sentence!”

At these words, more than a dozen generals behind Jun Dingyuan rose abruptly to their feet, their angry breathing echoing through the hall.

Those who had bled on the battlefield knew how many soldiers’ lives Mo Shu’s creations had saved. To convict him for these very things was something the border troops could not tolerate!

Liu Changbai was momentarily intimidated by this show of force, trembling slightly. He pointed at Wen Zhuo: “You—”

“Wanshan is right.” Emperor Shunyuan’s voice cut in abruptly, interrupting Liu Changbai. “Mo Shu rendered great service on the southern border. His merits and faults are enough to offset each other. Jun Dingyuan’s actions on the frontier—acting without imperial orders—brought about this great victory. I am not so muddled as to mistake right and wrong. Does the Grand Tutor insist I execute a genius and a good general, meaning to cool the hearts of the border soldiers?”

Liu Changbai’s fingers turned white, his voice breaking into sobs: “All of this is for the sake of Great Qian! If Your Majesty will not heed my counsel today, I would rather dash my head against these golden steps, to atone before the late Emperor and awaken Your Majesty!”

“Grand Tutor, you must not!” Gong Zhiyuan rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Liu Changbai’s waist.

Liu Chanming chimed in, his voice full of alarm: “The Grand Tutor is a pillar of the state—please take care of your health!”

“I beg Your Majesty to listen to the Grand Tutor’s wise counsel!” The officials of the Crown Prince’s faction knelt as one, attempting to pressure the Emperor into backing down, unwilling to bear the stigma of killing his own teacher.

In truth, Liu Changbai had neither truly intended to die. He had simply found himself losing the argument and was resorting to playing the old man card, threatening to dash himself against the steps to frighten the Emperor.

But this time, Emperor Shunyuan did not waver as he had in the case of the Spring Terrace Chess Assembly, nearly compromising.

He only stared coldly at Liu Changbai and said flatly: “If the Grand Tutor wishes to dash himself now, it might be a bit premature. I am about to depose and replace the Crown Prince. If the Grand Tutor goes now, would you have to return as a ghost and dash yourself again?”

Like a thunderbolt striking the hall, utter silence fell. Even the Crown Prince, who had earlier collapsed in terror and was trembling on the floor, straightened up as if lashed, staring blankly at Emperor Shunyuan on his dragon throne.

Liu Changbai recovered his senses, his entire frame trembling, eyes filled with sorrow and desperation: “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince cannot be deposed! If he is, the court and the people will be thrown into turmoil!”

Emperor Shunyuan said mercilessly: “The Crown Prince connived with the Cao traitors, persisted in evil, ran rampant through the court, deceived his sovereign—his crimes are evident! I hereby decree: strip him of his title of Crown Prince, reduce him to commoner status, imprison him at Phoenix Terrace, confine him for life, and forbid him from taking a single step outside!”

“Your Majesty, though the Crown Prince has failed in virtue, he was deceived by wicked men!” Liu Changbai suddenly tore off his black official cap, his voice hoarse: “In the past, I taught the Crown Prince. He was diligent in study and showed filial respect to his teachers. How can Your Majesty forget? I am willing to atone for the Crown Prince with my broken body. I beg Your Majesty to grant him a chance at life!”

With that, the aged Grand Tutor abruptly rose, ready to hurl himself at the golden steps.

Gong Zhiyuan loosened his grip slightly, subtly withdrawing his strength.

Startled, Liu Changbai hurried forward, but as the saying goes, “the arrow must leave the bow.” With eyes shut tight, he stumbled headlong. Unexpectedly, his foot slipped on a piece of grape skin, sending him lurching off balance, shooting forward like an arrow from the string. With a heavy thud, he crashed onto the blue bricks of the hall, blood spurting from his temple.

Gong Zhiyuan immediately prostrated himself, wailing in grief: “The Grand Tutor has dashed himself to death!”