Chapter 359: Liu Chengyun Has Come Too

Wang Jingchong prostrated himself in full obeisance, then presented his secret intelligence. Liu Chengyou's reaction seemed somewhat strange—he merely furrowed his brow slightly before returning to his usual composure.

Wang Jingchong's shocking words failed to startle Liu Chengyou, which caught him somewhat off guard. Beyond the surprise, he couldn't help but feel uneasy—his carefully deliberated action seemed to have hit a wall.

"Wang Jingchong, oh Wang Jingchong, I must say, I've underestimated you!" Liu Chengyou said with a cold gaze, fixing his eyes on Wang Jingchong kneeling in the hall. "Do you know who the Commandery Prince of Julu is?"

The chill in Liu Chengyou's tone was even colder than the winter moon's frost. Wang Jingchong made no move, only keeping his head lowered, and answered in a suppressed yet resolute tone: "Your servant knows!"

"Since you know, how dare you utter such vicious slander to damage the bond between brothers?" Liu Chengyou's expression suddenly turned severe as he demanded sternly: "What exactly is your intention!"

Facing the Emperor's wrathful condemnation, Wang Jingchong instead stopped panicking—his heart was not alarmed but pleased. Liu Chengyou had only rebuked him regarding Liu Chengyun, but said nothing about Yang Bin. Though subtle, to Wang Jingchong it was an unmistakably clear signal.

Quietly marshaling his emotions, Wang Jingchong wept as he reported: "Your Majesty made a northern tour, far from the capital, with few attendants. Treacherous hearts have conceived evil designs. The rebellion is imminent, the situation perilous. Your servant, resolved to die, comes to warn Your Majesty. If Your Majesty makes preparations early, nipping the calamity in its bud to eliminate the great peril, then even if your servant's bones are ground to dust, I would have no regrets—let alone this mere admonition. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"

Having spoken, Wang Jingchong again pressed his head to the ground, awaiting Liu Chengyou's reaction in a most humble and submissive posture.

Silently watching Wang Jingchong's performance, Liu Chengyou remained wordless for a long while. The expression on his stern countenance was as unruffled as his heart, though tinged with a few traces of reflection.

A thread of chill seeped from his forehead and surged toward his heart. Under Liu Chengyou's prolonged scrutinizing gaze, Wang Jingchong could barely contain his tension. He wished to open his mouth and say something more, yet could no longer muster the same fullness of emotion as before.

After a long while, as if Liu Chengyou had pondered enough, the slight flick of his sleeve was especially conspicuous in the silent hall. In an extraordinarily flat tone, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "Go on, then—how does Yang Bin plan to commit treason, how does he intend to rebel?"

From Liu Chengyou's tone, not the slightest emotional fluctuation could be detected, as if a dignified chancellor, a founding minister of the Great Han, colluding with a clan prince to usurp the throne were a trivial matter.

Yet as those words reached his ears, Wang Jingchong gradually relaxed, the stone in his heart finally settling. He knew that this time, he had bet correctly.

Under the Son of Heaven's gaze, Wang Jingchong roused his spirits and finally spilled out Yang Bin's treasonous plan. He described it in great detail—how it was prepared, how contacts were made, what timing, how many rebels...

The detail was almost excessive, as if he knew it all by heart, recounting it like a treasured inventory—as though he had participated in the entire plan from beginning to end.

But could the current Wang Jingchong truly be called Yang Bin's confidant? And would Yang Bin dare entrust such a weighty secret to him? Listening, Liu Chengyou's gaze at Wang Jingchong gradually took on a hint of amusement.

"... I beg Your Majesty to make preparations early and take swift measures, lest the rebels erupt at once and bring about chaos!"

When Wang Jingchong finished his report, a trace of indignation finally appeared on Liu Chengyou's face. He slapped the table and said angrily: "I had thought him a founding meritorious minister, a trusted subject of Gaozu, a chancellor of two reigns—I have already shown him much forbearance. Never did I expect he would harbor such treacherous intentions. Hmph, hmph..."

The low, icy sneer made Wang Jingchong's heart secretly rejoice.

"Rise and speak!" Shifting his gaze, Liu Chengyou granted this "favor" to Wang Jingchong, who was still kneeling.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

With a grim face, Liu Chengyou pondered for a good while, then directly ordered: "Summon Li Shaoyou, Gao Huaide, and Zhao Kuangyin!"

"Yes!" Zhang Dejun, who had been attending at the side and overheard the secret intelligence, dared not hesitate in the slightest. He answered nervously and hurried out to convey the summons.

Only two men remained in the hall. Liu Chengyou once again turned his attention to Wang Jingchong, who stood with a constrained posture and a submissive expression, allowing the Emperor to scrutinize him without any sign of unease...

He said nothing further, but Liu Chengyou could not help feeling something unusual in his heart.

This man had once again refreshed Liu Chengyou's understanding of him—the weight of his scheming was astonishing. But a man like this, when put to use, ought to prove quite handy, Liu Chengyou thought to himself.

"Your Majesty, the Commandery Prince of Julu requests an audience, saying he has urgent matters to report!" Zhang Dejun, returning to the hall, glanced cautiously at Liu Chengyou and announced.

"Oh? Urgent matters tonight seem to be arriving one after another!" Liu Chengyou was somewhat surprised.

Below him, Wang Jingchong's brow also couldn't help but twitch. Sensing Liu Chengyou's gaze flicking over, he quickly restored his composure.

"Minister Wang, what urgent matter do you suppose the Commandery Prince of Julu has come to report?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Upon the question, Wang Jingchong's eyelids drooped slightly, his expression concealed, his body standing still as if paused for a moment, before he said: "Forgive your servant's dullness."

The corner of his mouth curling up slightly, Liu Chengyou straightened his back a little: "Admit him!"

Seeing this, Wang Jingchong again asked in a low, hesitant tone: "Should your servant withdraw?"

"No need!" Liu Chengyou said flatly. "Your account of Yang Bin's collusion with the Commandery Prince of Julu was rather unclear just now. Now that the man himself has come, I can question him directly. What do you think?"

"Excellent... excellent..." Hearing this, Wang Jingchong instinctively echoed in agreement, though on his lowered face there was a trace of barely perceptible unease.

"Brother Yun, what brings you here?" Liu Chengyou asked, looking at Liu Chengyun as he entered to pay his respects.

Compared to before, Liu Chengyou's tone was somewhat cold, lacking its former warmth. Liu Chengyun sensed it and was slightly surprised, but he indeed seemed to be in a matter of utmost urgency, with no time for other concerns. He hastily pulled a secret letter from his bosom: "Your Majesty, a great event has occurred at Longgang—I beg Your Majesty to make imperial preparations at once."

As the Emperor took the proffered secret letter and read it, the urgency on Liu Chengyun's face finally eased, and he let out a long breath. He couldn't help glancing at Wang Jingchong standing in the hall, sizing him up with a few looks—curious, but not recognizing him.

The letter Liu Chengyun presented had few words, but it was chilling enough. Its content was blunt: Chancellor Yang Bin was inviting Liu Chengyun to raise the troops of Xingzhou and rise together with him, to depose Liu Chengyou...

It was quite casual in manner, somewhat absurd.

Picking up the secret letter, Liu Chengyou waved it in his hand, a small smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he asked Liu Chengyun: "Where did this letter come from?"

Liu Chengyun immediately recounted the circumstances of how he had received the message.

"Brother Yun, Chancellor Yang invited you—why did you come tonight?" A calm smile appearing on his face, Liu Chengyou delivered his heart-piercing question.

Startled with a jolt, Liu Chengyun immediately spoke with agitation, cursing: "That old villain harbors treacherous designs, plotting rebellion, and even tries to beguile your servant—sheer wishful thinking! Your Majesty, the situation is urgent. Your servant requests permission to personally lead men to arrest Yang Bin. If we delay and he strikes first, disaster may ensue!"

Amid Liu Chengyun's urgent speech, there was clearly a pressing eagerness to prove his innocence, and Liu Chengyou sensed it.

"If the plot was not kept secret, how could it succeed?" Raising his hand at the request, Liu Chengyou appeared very composed.

Having Liu and Wang wait, until Li Shaoyou and the two men Gao and Zhao arrived upon orders, Liu Chengyou lightly raised his index finger and, without hesitation, directly instructed the three who still looked puzzled: "Li Shaoyou, Zhao Kuangyin—the two of you, take the imperial guards and, together with Vice Minister Wang, go to Yang Bin's residence!"

Pausing, Liu Chengyou turned to ask Liu Chengyun: "How many men are in the Longgang garrison?"

His hand beneath his sleeve involuntarily clenched, Liu Chengyun answered: "Five battalions, over two thousand men in total."

"Gao Huaide!" Liu Chengyou's tone turned stern, and in a manner brooking no dissent, he ordered: "Transmit the order—place the prefectural city under martial law. You personally lead one thousand armored soldiers to take over the Xingzhou garrison!"