novelThe blade falls
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Chapter 474: The blade falls
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Fang Zhengzhi heard what Crown Prince Lin Tianrong said.
Rank three official? Acting Minister of Rites? Isn't that a little underwhelming? I thought I was going to be a rank two official?
Perhaps Ping Yang's words were exaggerated.
Would I still be given land?
Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to ask someone to give him an antidote! He didn't want to stay silent on this matter.
However...
No one could hear him.
Shan Ling would never offer up the antidote because that would implicate him.
He would never admit to his actions!
Even though he had come clean back in Princess Shan Yu's room, he would never confess to them here.
Most importantly, he did not want to let Fang Zhengzhi speak.
When the settlement chiefs and generals heard Lin Tianrong, they finally understood how thorny this issue promised to be.
Fang Zhengzhi's actions were known to everyone.
If they executed Fang Zhengzhi now, they would be hard-pressed to explain it to the Great Xia and their citizens.
Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had just been promoted.
This was a man who was highly valued by the Emperor. They could not sentence him to death so easily.
As such...
The only way was to let the Emperor handle it.
But how would the Emperor handle it?
The King of the Southern Region frowned. He had to balance his options. Ordinarily, Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to escape the death sentence.
However, to be honest, he didn't want to kill Fang Zhengzhi...
After all, Fang Zhengzhi was a key factor in their victory. If he killed him just to preserve the royal family's reputation
It would be slightly too vicious.
But if he didn't kill Fang Zhengzhi...
How could the Shan Family hold their head up high?
If Fang Zhengzhi was a dead man walking, then it wouldn't matter. But what if he wasn't? How was Princess Shan Yu going to find a mate in the future?
Anyone who married her would have to live with this fact.
As Fang Zhengzhi progressed up the ranks in the Great Xia, this would only become more and more embarrassing.
To kill or not to kill?
The King of the Southern Region frowned.
"Father!" Princess Shan Yu's voice interrupted his train of thought.
"Shan Yu... speak your mind." The King shuddered as he looked at Princess Shan Yu, his eyes filled with guilt.
As a father...
As a King, he could not possibly let his daughter be humiliated in this manner and do nothing about it.
"Sister, just let father..." Shan Ling wanted to interrupt.
"Father, according to Southern Region traditions, you held this banquet to find me a partner. Fang Zhengzhi had eaten the meat I prepared. Normally, that would mean that I can now make a choice, right?" Princess Shan Yu interrupted.
"Erm..." The King's expression changed.
He could tell where Princess Shan Yu was going with this. To be completely honest, having Fang Zhengzhi marry Shan Yu...
Was the best solution to all these...
But...
When he recalled that Fang Zhengzhi could die at any moment, he became extremely conflicted. He didn't want his daughter to be a widow.
The King of the Southern Region hesitated.
Shan Ling noticed the hesitation.
"Father, since this issue concerns a rank three official of the Great Xia, the Great Xia court would have jurisdiction. Why don't we have the Crown Prince bring Fang Zhengzhi back and have the Emperor himself decide!" Shan Ling suggested.
"Mm, what you say is reasonable, but..." The King of the Southern Region nodded. He still did not like this idea. He valued peace above all else.
As such...
Even if Fang Zhengzhi was about to die, he could still accept Princess Shan Yu's suggestion. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi's lifespan was still up in the air.
Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi could very well give him a grandchild before he passed on. That would not be a bad thing.
"Father, rest assured. I will accompany the Crown Prince to the Great Xia and I will ensure that your opinions are heard!" Shan Ling added.
"You want to go to Yan Capital?" The King of the Southern Region was tempted.
Shan Ling, the Crown Prince of the Southern Region, knew his influence and position well. The King also knew what Shan Ling meant.
Since Fang Zhengzhi was a key factor in this victory...
Without this incident, he would be fast-tracked through the courts of the Great Xia.
If he were to be forced to stay in the Southern Region, his heart may not be in the right place.
However, if the Great Xia had given him a grave punishment...
Then...
They could come in and provide a better offer. They could offer Fang Zhengzhi Shan Yu's hand in marriage. Fang Zhengzhi would be grateful for such an offer.
"Yes, this concerns the reputation of the Shan Family. Now that we are in the midst of rebuilding after the war, you will be busy with domestic affairs. I think it is appropriate that I tag along." Shan Ling added.
Princess Shan Yu pursed her lips. She wanted to speak, but she saw her father shake her head at her.
"Okay then, it is great that you are willing to go to the Great Xia for this. Crown Prince, what do you think?" The King of the Southern Region nodded. He didn't know what Shan Yu was thinking, but he knew that he couldn't send her.
Shan Ling was his best option.
"No problem at all!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong nodded.
"Since that is the case, I will have to trouble you to take care of my son!" The King of the Southern Region replied.
"You are too kind. The Crown Prince's abilities are clear for all to see. He would be the one taking care of me." Crown Prince Lin Tianrong smiled.
The atmosphere in the throne room relaxed.
Yet, it was also slightly awkward.
The settlement chiefs and generals didn't speak. After the battle they had just been through, they were not willing to start another one anytime soon.
The candidates of the Great Xia wanted to say something as well. However, when they felt the atmosphere in the room, they swallowed the words at the tip of their tongue.
However...
When they looked at the'comatose' Fang Zhengzhi, their eyes were filled with envy and jealousy.
How could he possibly be sleeping so soundly after climbing into Princess Shan Yu's bed?!
...
Before dawn...
The convoy heading to the Great Xia set out. After something like that happened, there was no point in carrying on the celebrations.
The candidates of the Great Xia were in the vanguard. They rode their horses and cleared a path with their Southern Region soldier guides.
Crown Princes Lin Tianrong and Shan Ling were in the back.
As Crown Princes of their respective regions, they had a squad of guards protecting them. The squad was eight strong.
These were not soldiers, they were hangers-on.
Hangers-on.
This was a common thing amongst the noble households of the Great Xia. Every family would have a few hangers-on.
Each of these people had special abilities. They had no official position, but they could do many things for the family.
The courts had rules governing the hangers-on.
Different families could have different numbers of hangers-on. However, even the most influential families did not have many hangers-on.
Furthermore, each one had to be registered with the courts.
The reason...
Was security...
The eight of them were in their fifties. These were the guards for the two Crown Princes. Furthermore, Shan Ling was already in the advanced Rebirth State.
Su Qing followed behind Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.
So long as they did not go up against the lord of the beasts, there should be nothing that could stand in their way.
As such...
Bringing along a'comatose' Fang Zhengzhi was no problem at all.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong closed his eyes throughout the entire journey, completely relaxed.
Shan Ling seemed to be thinking about something.
They traveled for hours before stopping for lunch. By sunset, they were already some distance from the Sagely Mountain City.
The setting sun was a beautiful sight to behold.
It went through the flaps of the carriage and stained Fang Zhengzhi's face red.
At that moment, the convoy stopped. Shan Ling reined in his horse and Lin Tianrong followed suit.
"Your Highness, do you still remember our deal?" Shan Ling asked.
"Of course I do." Lin Tianrong nodded as he looked at the figure inside the carriage.
"Okay then, we will hold to our agreement and maintain peace for 10 years. However, I have one condition!" Shan Ling continued.
"How do you want to deal with Fang Zhengzhi?" Lin Tianrong smirked.
"Kill him. I will not let my sister marry someone like that!" Shan Ling's voice was icy.
"If so... please go ahead." Crown Prince Lin Tianrong smiled. He had expected this to happen.
"If I kill Fang Zhengzhi, how will you report to the Emperor?"
"Fang Zhengzhi was unwilling to return to the capital because he knew he couldn't escape the death sentence. He kidnapped you so I had no choice but to agree to let him stay. Then, he took the chance to escape. However, because his cultivation was ruined, he was killed by beasts. By the time I got there, it was too late... what do you think?" Lin Tianrong replied.
"That's great!" Shan Ling nodded.
"If that is so, then it should occur in the bushes, not on the road, am I right?" Lin Tianrong looked at the forests by the side of the road.
"That's right!" Shan Ling nodded.
"Please." Lin Tianrong pointed to the forest.
"Okay, let me clear a path for you." Shan Ling walked into the forest.
Lin Tianrong and his eight hangers-on followed behind. Su Qing led the carriage carrying Fang Zhengzhi into the forest as well.
The sun was setting.
Darkness fell...
The candidates were already some distance away. Seeing that night was approaching, they stopped and set up a camp, waiting for Lin Tianrong to join them.
Safety...
Was already taken care of.
What they didn't know was that there were more than 10 figures and a carriage in the woods around them.
The flaps were opened.
Fang Zhengzhi could be seen...
He was dressed, his expression calm. However, his body was still paralyzed.
"What a great move." Lin Tianrong commended.
"You too!" Shan Ling nodded.
"Are you not going to let him die a more honorable death?" Lin Tianrong smiled as he looked at the comatose Fang Zhengzhi.
"I never drag my feet when I work. Furthermore, the medicine that I gave him allows him to remain conscious despite his paralysis. He heard everything from the beginning." Shan Ling shook his head.
"I see." Lin Tianrong stiffened.
Shan Ling didn't say anything else.
He walked forward and stepped onto the carriage. He unsheathed his sword.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you can only blame yourself for being too greedy. When you asked for 10 gold mines, you should have seen this coming!" Shan Ling pursed his lips.
His voice was not loud and his arms were stable. His blade radiated an icy aura as he glared at Fang Zhengzhi like a ravenous predator.
He raised his sword...
Blood...
Blood splattered all over the carriage in that instant...
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