novelA Slap In The Face!
| ← Ch.0555 | Ch.0557 → |
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
"Your Highness, my men really saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but I do not understand how the package was swapped into a bunch of beef jerky. I hope this comes to your attention, Your Highness!" Up until this stage, Elder Wu knew he had no place to retreat anymore, so he might as well put the blame on Baili Jia Jue, "Your Highness! The army is still fighting outside. Despite the desperate situation, the Third Prince is here in the hall and he does not seem to have the slightest intention to stop the rebellion! The evidence that I've searched out of the difficulty is even swapped into snacks by some intentional party! Your Highness, you must have an idea about what is really going on since all the matters are laid out before your eyes!"
The Emperor pressed onto the arm of the dragon throne with his left hand as he remained silent. The doubts in his eyes when he looked at Baili Jia Jue did not subside at all.
Baili Jia Jue said slowly, "Elder Wu, your ability to blame others for your own crimes is really something. You claimed that your men saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but Elder Wu, do I need to remind you that the Elder Compound is on the west side of the palace while Jiuchong Hall is at another corner? How did your men see through all the courts and halls in the palace and noticed what was in Jiuchong Hall?
After hearing what he said, the crowd turned and looked at Elder Wu.
"I..." Elder Wu turned pale, still intending to defend himself.
Baili Jia Jue's cold voice interrupted him, "Planting your man in the prince's chamber? How dare you plant your man at my side, Elder Wu! Don't you forget what place this is! This is the palace! Elder Wu, do you even respect the imperial family's dignity and the law of the kingdom? Planting your men to spy at whosoever's side that you like? What about the Emperor and the Retired Emperor? Did you plant your men beside them too?"
The Emperor squinted his eyes at Elder Wu, letting out an extremely gloomy aura.
Elder Wu shouted, "This is slander! I have been accused, Your Highness! I am an elder of three generations, I know what I should do and what I shouldn't. As for the golden robe appearing in Jiuchong Hall, I heard of it purely out of coincidence, I did not probe with intentions! Even if I am given the courage, I dare not interfere with the imperial family's matter. Since the Third Prince is so concerned about this, it must be due to the fact that the news is real, Your Highness!"
"Ah Jue, I am giving you one last chance." The Emperor walked over and landed his gaze on the black package, he then said with a heavy tone, "Tell me, what was originally inside this package?"
Baili Jia Jue's face was icy-cold when he raised a brow."Father, rather than asking irrelevant questions, why not ask Elder Wu what is the punishment for accusing a prince of treason and how should he be punished for his crimes?"
"Third Prince!" Elder Wu bellowed, looking exasperated, "His Highness is kind enough to give you another chance, why are you not cherishing it? What reasons do I have to accuse you? I only spoke facts! Otherwise, why did you not send in reinforcements to fight off the rebellion outside the palace?"
Baili Jia Jue lowered his head, his calm gaze was locked at Elder Wu before his thin lips curled into a unique smile. His smile was fluttering with elegance yet there was an endless coldness from it, "Who said that I did not do anything about the rebellion army?"
What does he mean?!
Elder Wu was petrified, his heart sank and his legs started to turn to jelly.
Impossible!
This is impossible!
He was here at Chaoyang Palace all this time, how did he manage to call in reinforcements?
But... why was he having a strong unsettling feeling?
A loud bang went off outside right when Elder Wu blinked!
It was as if something had exploded!
The fire and smoke rising to the sky were even visible from the hall!
Elder Wu looked over immediately but another bang went off before he could say anything!
A second loud explosion echoed across the sky!
Baili Jia Jue stood in the smoke with a smile on his face. The lights reflected in his eyes were like shattered diamonds, so sharp that they could penetrate through one's heart!
"Report!" The leader of the imperial army outside the hall rushed in and knelt on one knee as he gave the fist in palm salute."Your Highness, reinforcements are here right outside the hall. The reinforcement army had surrounded the rebellion and they are forced to a dead end. It is only a matter of time before they are completely wiped out!"
There are really reinforcements?!
Elder Wu widened his eyes, his body quivered and his lips were pale as paper.
No, he could not afford to get panicked!
Besides, there was nothing for him to be panicked!
Since the Third Prince had sent out reinforcements, he would have to resolve to his second plan!
Although it might not be as smooth as the first plan, it could still doom Baili Jia Jue!
The coup was suppressed.
The Emperor heaved a breath of relief, but a reluctant emotion rose in him at the same time. He raised his brow and asked, "Where did the reinforcements come from?"
"Well... Your Highness, I don't know either." The leader of the imperial army hesitated, he looked at Baili Jia Jue beside him before he said, "But by the looks of it, they are mostly here because of the Third Prince."
The Emperor furrowed his brows tightly."What do you mean that they are here because of the Third Prince by the looks of it? Didn't you find out what flag the reinforcement army was carrying?"
"I... I..." The leader of the imperial army did not know what he should tell the Emperor. The group of reinforcement army moved quick and clean just like the wind, fights followed wherever they went. There were not many of them but every single one of them carried a weird weapon and one of them could easily rival a dozen of the imperial army. More importantly, they did not carry any army flag. Therefore, the imperial army did not know where the reinforcement army was from.
Elder Wu seized the timing and said, "Your Highness, I'm afraid that you won't get any answers from Leader Zhang here. The only army closest to the palace is the city watch guards that Your Highness commands. However, Leader Zhang here said that the reinforcement army showed up because of the Third Prince. Well... This is the first time that I've heard that a prince ascending to the throne has the power to command the city watch guards. The more I think about the Third Prince, the colder I feel. He can even influence the city watch guards! I suppose Your Highness can see through the real situation here without any more words from me. Should I say that the Third Prince exposed himself because he tried to save his skin?" Elder Wu turned around and locked gaze with Baili Jia Jue."Your Highness, how did you command the city watch guards to do at your bidding? Shouldn't you explain yourself?"
Nangong Lie finally understood what Elder Wu was scheming. That elder named Wu would have things to say about this coup regardless of whether Ah Jue sent in reinforcements!
The palace defense army was the reserved army commanded by only the Emperor himself.
Even the Retired Emperor could not do anything, let alone the prince with a sensitive identity.
If the prince really commanded the city watch guards, he would certainly be doomed!
| ← Ch. 0555 | Ch. 0557 → |