Chapter 560: He ran away

The atmosphere in Yongtai Hall instantly grew tense, and the civil officials who were on good terms with the Li and Lin families could no longer hold back.

Slowly someone stood up, each pointing their spears at Xiao Yin.

"Please, Prince Rui, explain clearly where Li Da Ren and Lin Da Ren have gone?"

"Right, where have Li Da Ren and Lin Da Ren gone? Now that a new Crown Prince has been established, Li Hechen and Lin Jingyuan, the two officials, surely would not fail to come?"

"Yeah, I haven't heard that they've taken any time off recently either."

Again several people stepped forward, cupping their fists and said to Xiao Yin: "Your Highness, why did you order the Five City Military Command to detain us in our homes last night, not allowing us to go out?"

"Your Highness, please explain—this can't be so vague and baseless."

For a moment the imperial court fell into chaos.

Bai Xiao Sheng, standing beside Emperor Longqing, curled the corner of his mouth into a bitter smile.

He stared fixedly at Xiao Yin, whose face had slightly darkened, and secretly gave a bitter smile.

I have already been very cooperative with you; now this situation is not something I, a mere puppet, can resolve.

These officials are all sharp-tongued and sharp-spoken, none of them are easy to deal with—Your Highness Prince Rui, you handle it yourself.

Bai Xiao Sheng tucked his sleeves and stood there quietly.

Originally he was the protagonist of this play, but now he has become a spectator; for a moment everyone's gaze in Yongtai Hall fell upon Xiao Yin, dressed in splendid purple robes.

Xiao Yin remained standing there, saying nothing.

These people grew ever more aggressive, assuming Xiao Yin was guilty and panicky, and their words became increasingly impolite.

Finally Xiao Yin slowly turned, lifted his gaze to the civil officials crowding before him, feeling as if they wanted to tear him apart.

Xiao Yin coldly regarded those people before him, his heart inevitably feeling a bit bitter.

A few years ago he fought desperately to protect those so-called officials' integrity, but he never expected that now these people would swarm at him like wild dogs, snapping and biting.

It turns out they are so righteous; since they feel so justified, why did none of them step forward to say a word for him during the great tragedy of Qi Sha Gu years ago?

Back then why did no one step forward to ask them, the soldiers who died horribly in Qi Sha Gu while fighting for the country, their souls unable to rest, their bones trampled into mud?

At that time who asked Emperor Longqing where those soldiers of Qi Sha Gu had gone?

No! Not a single person asked!

Now he merely killed a foolish crown prince who tried to attack him, and this lot can't keep their composure.

One by one they spout benevolence and morality, yet behind the scenes they are male thieves and female prostitutes.

Truly, only a few are fit to be seen in public.

Xiao Yin couldn't help but give a faint smile, his emotionless gaze slowly sweeping over the officials before him.

Just that glance, and they all fell silent in unison, none daring to speak further.

Xiao Yin's face showed a disdainful smile as he slowly said, "You all probably haven't grasped the situation, have you?"

"Last night it was the present His Majesty who ordered Eunuch Wang Gonggong to summon the deposed crown prince into the palace."

"The edict punishing the crown prince bears the seal of the present His Majesty's Imperial Seal."

"The Five City Military Command belongs to the imperial clan, most favored by His Majesty; why did they confine you to your homes, not letting you come or go—this too should be asked of His Majesty."

Xiao Yin raised his hand and flicked the corner of his robe, as if trying to brush off the dust on it.

He gave a soft laugh, and this laugh made his already peerlessly handsome face appear even more extraordinarily elegant.

"You ask me, but how would I, your prince, know?"

"I, your prince, would actually like to ask His Majesty why he suddenly ordered the execution of the crown prince."

"But matters of His Majesty are decided by His Majesty himself; His Majesty is so wise and martial, his decisions—do you still doubt them? Then what are you?"

"You… you…" Chen Da Ren's face flushed red with anger as he glared at Xiao Yin, unable to keep his composure.

"It's clear you instigated a palace coup inside the palace, killing the Crown Prince!"

"And yet you still keep His Majesty under house arrest, welcoming some unknown imperial prince as the Regent Prince—you are clearly plotting to seize power; do you dare not admit it?"

Xiao Yin laughed, his long fingers tapping his own head: "Getting old, my mind isn't what it was—I, your prince, forgive you."

"But to spout nonsense and randomly splash dirty water on me, your prince—well, I, your prince, am not pleased."

"You say I, your prince, have placed His Majesty under house arrest? His Majesty is sitting properly right there!"

"I, your prince, still say the same thing: everything is His Majesty's decision, and Prince Yun is certainly no wild bastard from the countryside—Official Chen, watch your words; are you doubting that my imperial brother is a scoundrel?"

The two words "scoundrel" had just left Xiao Yin's lips when Emperor Longqing, seated in the throne, twitched the corner of his eye, wanting to seize the inkstone before him and smash it hard into Xiao Yin, but this time he could not move at all, only able to watch helplessly as Xiao Yin smeared him.

Xiao Yin looked at Chen Da Ren and said: "Your question, Official Chen, really makes no sense. Now the Crown Prince presides over the state, and I have long refrained from meddling in court affairs."

"Although His Majesty values me and has appointed me as the Prince of Politics, I am also too lazy to manage the affairs of state and family."

"Enough; if you have any business, go see the Regent Prince. I, your prince, am tired—farewell!"

Xiao Yin flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked out of the gate of Yongtai Hall.

Now the officials erupted in an uproar; everyone thought Xiao Yin would use every means, even possibly force to compel them, but no one expected that this bastard would just walk away like that—what kind of thing is this?

Bai Xiao Sheng almost cursed aloud, "Damn it," this Xiao Yin really has screwed him over.

Back then they promised him boundless wealth, to have him avenge his mother, and sent him into the imperial palace to torment Emperor Longqing.

Now they again lured and threatened him to become whatever the Regent Prince, and facing these fierce and terrifying officials, Xiao Yin actually threw the weak, pitiable, helpless him right before this crowd, alive and kicking.

He actually ran off—what kind of situation is this?

You go ahead and suppress, you go ahead and slaughter—worst case, drag these scoundrels out and make a meal of them to warn others.

Now they throw this problem at him—what for? Bai Xiao Sheng wishes he could just grab Xiao Yin and beat him up right now, but who in the world could stop the Regent King's departing steps?

The atmosphere in Yongtai Hall grew even more eerie.

For a moment Bai Xiao Sheng and the lower officials Chen Da Ren et al. stared at each other, all driven mad by Xiao Yin's buffoonery.

Bai Xiao Sheng collected his thoughts, turned sideways and made a gesture to Qiao Songyue, smiling lightly: "Thank you, Qiao Da Ren; Qiao Da Ren, please place the Imperial Seal here for now, we'll talk later."

Qiao Da Ren's forehead beaded with sweat; if the new Crown Prince does not accept the Imperial Seal, stepping out of the palace gate he could be beaten to death, and if this new Crown Prince were killed, he, seen by all as a treacherous villain, would fare no better.

Qiao Songyue's hand holding the jade seal trembled slightly, almost dropping the jade seal to the ground; he hurriedly placed the jade seal back properly onto the Dragon Desk before Emperor Longqing.

Bai Xiaosheng this time wore a dark-gold prince's regular attire, with plum pattern embroidered on the cuffs, and on his head he wore a seven-beam crown carved from white jade, truly extraordinarily handsome.

He lifted his gaze to look at Sir Chen before him and laughed, saying: "Since you all have many doubts, I will dispel them and answer questions; I must give everyone an explanation."