Chapter 605: Uprooting from the Roots

Zhao Lang's speech made the onlookers around him gasp; the iron nails of the Peace Drum are lethal, even if you don't die you must shed a layer of skin.

Now Zhao Lang not only wants to roll the iron nails, but also brazenly demands to add a few more, claiming it feels comfortable to roll.

Listen, does this even sound like human speech?

Xiao Yin's eyebrows twitched slightly; at this moment he also breathed a sigh of relief, for Zhao Lang stepping forward was safer than Jinzhi appearing.

Only the surrounding clamoring civil officials, like flies, were annoying; it seemed the methods used against them lately were still a bit lenient.

If it weren't to silence the endless chatter, I would have already dealt them a lethal blow.

Xiao Yin coughed and was about to speak a few words to defend Zhao Lang, after all he was Jinzhi's husband, truly deeply attached to Jinzhi.

Before his words could be spoken, Zhao Lang looked at him slowly and said, "Prince Rui need not say anything further; rules are rules, and today I, Zhao Lang, have struck the Peace Drum and accept it."

"Prince Rui, you need not plead for any favor on my behalf; removing the rule of rolling nails, our Southern Qi generals are not that unprincipled!"

"Earlier my lady came here to strike the Peace Drum, and you each demanded a rule; now I, the son of a horse, will follow your rules! No! Didn't you say our generals take shortcuts and constantly suppress you civil officials?"

"Fine! Today, when I, Zhao Lang, roll the iron nails, I'll roll two extra! This time I'll shut your mouths!"

Xiao Yin originally intended to speak for him, but the hot‑headed youth cut him off directly.

He let him go.

The surrounding civil officials were at a loss for words; Zhao Lang was indeed a general, but rolling iron nails was no joke.

Moreover, adding two more nails, no matter how nitpicky they were, gave them no reason to object.

Zhao Lang lifted his head and looked toward the nearby guards: "Place the iron nails; after I finish rolling, I'll still submit a petition to appeal!"

The royal guards, who had been staring blankly, saw the situation had reached this point and hurriedly brought a few guards to lay the iron nails on the ground.

Zhao Lang said nothing further, lay directly on the iron nails, forcibly rolled two extra, and blood instantly seeped out, yet he didn't even hum a note.

After rolling the nails, Zhao Lang became a walking corpse of blood.

Those who had previously rolled iron nails, after this performance, all fainted to death.

Zhao Lang slowly climbed up from the ground on his own; though badly wounded, he stumbled, nearly fell, but steadied his steps.

Zhao Lang raised his hand, his slender fingers wiping the blood at his mouth corner, his smile a mischievously unruly charm.

"Zhao Lang today will appeal for the unjustly slain Azure Dragon Army soldiers of Qi Sha Gu!"

He stood upright there, his blood‑stained hand gripping the drumstick tightly, striking the drumhead hard, each blow deafening.

While beating the drum, Zhao Lang recited word for word the grievance petition that spanned several pages.

The surrounding townsfolk gathered in greater numbers; upon hearing Zhao Lang's recitation of the petition, they immediately began murmuring.

"Heavens! When Qi Sha Gu was breached back then, could it really have hidden unspeakable secrets?"

"Could there really be traitors in the court colluding with Bei Di?"

"I told you, Bei Di cavalry have always been Prince Rui's defeated subordinates, so why did they suddenly stand firm that one time?"

"Not necessarily; perhaps Prince Rui now wields power, and it's uncertain whether he intends to exonerate himself."

"Shh! Silence! Are you courting death? Aren't you afraid the Killing God will hear?"

For a moment the scene descended into chaos; although opinions were varied, Zhao Lang's uproar over the Qi Sha Gu case sparked heated discussion throughout Shang Jing.

Xiao Yin knew it was impossible to make all the people of the world learn the truth of the Azure Dragon Army's framing in a short time, yet he desired exactly that effect.

As long as people harbored doubts about this matter, the days of his overturning the case would follow.

Emperor Longqing, though now ill and nearly half‑paralyzed, has not yet died.

If one truly wishes to overturn the Qi Sha Gu case, Emperor Longqing is the chief culprit.

There remains a long road ahead, and the further Xiao Yin proceeds, the more he treads on thin ice.

He will not miss any opportunity; he is no longer the idealistic, hot‑blooded youth of old.

After so many years of lurking, he has become a night owl in the darkness; having lain low for so long, he is very patient.

After Zhao Lang finished reading the petition and rose, the surrounding guards turned pale one by one; the Qi Sha Gu case entangled too many matters, and none of them dared speak.

Several people hurriedly took the petition, turned, and entered the palace city; Regent Prince Bai Xiaosheng took on the case.

However, for Bai Xiaosheng, whether he accepted it or not made no difference.

After all, he is a puppet installed by Xiao Yin; he had previously tried to overturn the situation but found those civil officials to be worthless, and now he acts even more cautiously before Xiao Yin.

Bai Xiaosheng, after taking the case, directly summoned officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Great Judicial Institute, and Prime Minister Gu Kang to the palace to discuss the matter.

The Qi Sha Gu case was originally adjudicated by Emperor Longqing himself; now a retrial means a complete overturn of Emperor Longqing's ruling.

This is undoubtedly a provocation against Emperor Longqing, and Bai Xiaosheng knows he holds no decisive authority.

After summoning a few people in the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, he ordered Xiao Yin also to be summoned.

Xiao Yin walked slowly into the Hall of Nurturing the Heart; Bai Xiaosheng quickly rose, did not wait for Xiao Yin's bow, hurried to his side, lifted his hand and steadied his arm, saying, "Imperial Uncle, no need for formalities! I have summoned you to discuss the Qi Sha Gu case, for it involves so many people; what shall we do with this case? Your nephew wishes to hear Imperial Uncle's opinion."

Bai Xiaosheng tossed the responsibility back to Xiao Yin, saying that since the Qi Sha Gu case has become such a uproar, you caused it, so figure out how to resolve it yourself.

Xiao Yin slowly nodded, "Your Highness, the Qi Sha Gu case is indeed unjust, but I was once the commander of the Azure Dragon Army; if I were to investigate this case, it would be hard to win public support, so I request the Three Departments to conduct a joint trial. I can provide a clue; you may follow that lead in your investigation."

Bai Xiaosheng thought to himself, indeed a sly old fox; with this, even if the case uncovers something, he can extricate himself and still preserve his and the Azure Dragon Army's reputation.

Only an outsider can investigate to completely clear the Azure Dragon Army's innocence, for if Xiao Yin investigated personally, any outcome would draw criticism upon him.

Bai Xiaosheng knew he was merely a tool; thus he had no autonomy and could only obey Xiao Yin.

"Imperial Uncle, please be explicit! After all, the case is so old; what clues does Imperial Uncle have? Please speak them out."

Xiao Yin steadied himself and said slowly, "Qingtian, Yanbei Pass, the Eight Great Families…"

Bai Xiaosheng's face changed instantly; the Eight Great Families? Could it be that he intends to uproot the Eight Great Families?