Chapter 673: Totally Lose Face!

The air in the main hall seemed to have solidified into a transparent block of ice, weighing heavily on everyone's heart.

Mao Dequan lay paralyzed on the ground, his deep‑purple python robe crumpled, sweat stains spreading on his back shimmering in the candlelight, and his legs still trembled uncontrollably…

Du Jianchuan stood beside the main seat, looking at Mao Dequan's useless state, feeling both angry and impatient, muttering under his breath, "Useless thing."

He took a deep breath, smoothed the collar of his official robe, and spoke loudly in a deliberately maintained authoritative tone.

"Commander Qiao, are you planning a rebellion? In front of the Emperor, you still dare to mobilize troops?"

When he said this, his voice rose a few pitches above normal, as if trying to compensate for a lack of confidence with volume.

His gaze fixed rigidly on Qiao Zhenyu, trying to find a hint of hesitation in the figure clad in dark‑red general's attire.

But Qiao Zhenyu showed neither fear nor hesitation.

He stood there, looking down at the paralyzed Mao Dequan, then raising his head to stare at Du Jianchuan's face strained to uphold official authority, a hint of mockery curling his mouth.

He had worked with Du Jianchuan for many years, having met since the day Qiao was transferred to Tianzhou as governor, roughly seven or eight years ago.

He previously thought Du Jianchuan was a scheming politician, flawless in his actions, possessing his own bureaucratic philosophy.

He didn't exactly like him, but he wasn't hostile either.

But today he finally saw the truth. From start to finish, Du Jianchuan had been the mastermind behind the scenes, sowing discord, using others as knives, treating Prince Fu and Mao Dequan as mere pawns.

Now the plot is exposed, and he thinks he's completely cleared himself?

Qiao Zhenyu shook his head, too lazy to beat around the bush.

"Governor Du, we speak plainly; tell me directly, what do you want? This Hongmen Banquet you've already staged today must have an explanation."

Du Jianchuan's eyebrows twitched slightly.

He could feel Qiao Zhenyu's attitude had changed.

Previously, this commander of the Military Office could be hard‑spirited at times, but overall he knew his limits and the proper distance from the governor.

But now, when Qiao Zhenyu stands before him, it's as if he stands on level ground; that unassuming yet unyielding posture hides a composure unfamiliar to him.

He had originally thought today's scheme was a sure win.

When Prince Fu's two Heavenly Person Peak guards intervened, even Qiao Zhenyu, no matter how powerful, would have to bow his head and admit defeat.

But he didn't expect Qiao Zhenyu's strength to far exceed the reports; a Heavenly Person Mid-stage confronting two Heavenly Person Peaks could trade blows and even gain a slight edge.

This ability surpassed his expectations, rendering his original preparations insufficient.

Having come this far, he could not turn back now.

He readjusted his stance, straightening his back a bit more.

"Very simple. Commander Qiao, you already have a Four‑Star General in your hands; my office can petition the Emperor to transfer you out of Tianzhou. In the Empire's thirty‑one provinces, with your achievements, where could you not obtain a governor's seat? Why must you fight a life‑or‑death struggle with me on Tianzhou's soil?"

After speaking, a feigned magnanimous smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, as if offering an extremely generous proposal.

Qiao Zhenyu looked at him, paused a few breaths, then laughed.

He laughed several times, then stopped; his gaze remained calm, but that calm carried something that made Du Jianchuan's skin crawl.

"Du Jianchuan…"

Qiao Zhenyu called him by his full name.

"In your whole life, do you only see this tiny patch of Tianzhou?"

Du Jianchuan's smile froze on his face.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Qiao Zhenyu gave him no chance.

"I have worked with you for so many years and never coveted anything from you. You handle your civil affairs; I handle my military duties—each to our own role, the well water never invades the river. Do you think I eye your governor's seat? Do you think I fought this battle with Tianzhou Martial Arts just to settle scores with you in Tianzhou?"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet every word landed clearly in each person's ears in the main hall.

"I fought Chi Tian Yi Lang because the Ying Kingdom people trampled on Tianzhou's head, because Tianzhou Martial Arts had been suppressed for decades, because the Tianzhou heroes who died in the arena demand accountability. It wasn't for your governor's seat in Tianzhou."

He stepped half a pace forward, standing less than two steps from Du Jianchuan, his gaze level at the opponent's eyes that flickered slightly from being exposed.

"Du Jianchuan, you overestimate yourself."

The main hall was so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard.

Du Jianchuan stood there, facial muscles twitching slightly, lips trembling as if to retort, yet he could find no suitable words to block back.

His bureaucratic rhetoric, faced with such blunt words, appeared especially pale and ridiculous.

Mao Dequan still lay paralyzed on the ground, his face pallid, body shaking, as if he wished to hide within the floor's cracks. Prince Fu's two black‑clad men had vanished into the rear hall's shadows, never to appear again.

Qiao Zhenyu looked at Du Jianchuan's face flushed with anger and shame, and said nothing further.

He turned, walked two steps toward the doorway, paused beside the paralyzed Mao Dequan, and glanced down at him.

Mao Dequan flinched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, curling into a ball.

Qiao Zhenyu did nothing to him, merely said lightly,

"Lord Mao, return and tell the Emperor that Tianzhou's matter is settled; the reward he offers, my fate is too frail to bear…"

Those words sent an immense shock through the assembled crowd.

What does that mean?

Is Commander Qiao refusing the Emperor's reward?

Having spoken, he stepped forward, continuing toward the doorway.

"Hold! Qiao Zhenyu, you stay right there!"

This time, Du Jianchuan was truly furious!

What does that mean?

If this spreads, how will he ever govern Tianzhou again?

All that painstaking effort, just to create so much trouble!

In the end, no one ever intended to contend with him, not even refusing the Emperor's reward!

Qiao Zhenyu didn't strike him, but his words landed like a resounding slap, striking Du Jianchuan's face hard.

"You, give me Standing!"

No matter how Du Jianchuan roared, Qiao Zhenyu still directly walked away.

Moreover, after Qiao Zhenyu left, Wu Tong and Lu Zhanlian did not hesitate, not even bothering to greet Du Jianchuan, and turned around and left together.

Swish!

The Crowd suddenly scattered completely.

Du Jianchuan slumped onto the Ground, both eyes None Divine…

He knows clearly that after tonight, he, the Governor of Tianzhou, will have None half a shred of face!