Chapter 204: Insisting on Making Such a Scene!

City South Military Bureau.

After wrapping up the polite pretense with Wu Yong and the other man, Lu Xing walked toward his room with a cold face.

Shi Xiao followed behind him, muttering softly.

"General, this subordinate has long heard of those two men's reputations—they're simply Da Yin's notorious corrupt officials and treacherous ministers. They came looking for you, so they must be up to no good!"

Lu Xing stopped walking and glanced back at him.

"This is someone else's turf. Keep your mouth shut. Haven't you heard that walls have ears?"

Hearing this, Shi Xiao immediately scanned his surroundings warily and nodded heavily with a solemn face.

"Yes, General. This subordinate knows his fault."

As they spoke, the two continued walking into the courtyard, each heading toward his own room.

Lu Xing had just closed the door, his hand not yet off the latch, when he heard a knock.

The moment he opened it, he saw a familiar mask, and he couldn't help feeling a little puzzled.

"Why are you here?"

"Wu Yong and Wang Cai came to find you just now because they want to use you to flee to Muyuan Kingdom, right?"

Lu Xing looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

"I really didn't expect that even here in the City Guard Bureau, there's nothing that can escape your notice."

"That's right, they do want me to help arrange a route to Muyuan Kingdom. But what does that have to do with you?"

Cheng Chengxuan didn't answer his question directly.

"Corrupt officials and dirty bureaucrats—everyone has the right to punish them. I'm just doing what a righteous person should."

"It seems you don't have any sincerity."

Seeing him so dismissive, Lu Xing felt there was no need to continue the conversation and reached out to close the door.

"Wait a moment."

Cheng Chengxuan reached out and blocked it.

"Then say something sincere."

"One elixir that can cure a hundred poisons, in exchange for you tricking them out of the city."

Hearing this, Lu Xing's pupils jolted, and his breathing quickened a few beats.

Cure a hundred poisons?

He instinctively doubted the truth of those words—could such an elixir really exist in this world?

But if what he said was true, his brother could be saved.

Yet his daze lasted only a few breaths before he quickly steadied his emotions.

"If you want to kill them, why not just go yourself? You can come and go freely in the imperial palace—can you not sneak into a few officials' mansions?"

Thinking of those people, Cheng Chengxuan's lips curved into a mocking arc.

"Killing them is indeed easy, but if they die now, who's going to find a way to get you out of the Capital?"

"Besides, just letting them die would be too easy. Wait until they escape, when they think they're about to run toward a bright future—then strike them with a fatal blow and drag them into hell. That's far more satisfying!"

Lu Xing nodded in understanding.

Kill the body and break the heart, right?

"I can help you string them along, but I need to see the Antidote Pill's effects first!"

Cheng Chengxuan's eyes flickered, then he nodded, pretending not to catch his meaning.

"Fine. I trust the National Lord's eye for talent in your country, and I trust General Lu's character. The Antidote Pill can be given to you first."

Hearing this, Lu Xing clenched his fists tightly: "……"

What I meant was, find someone poisoned with a strange toxin and test it first!!!

Cheng Chengxuan acted as if he hadn't noticed his reaction.

Please!

One Antidote Pill to buy those men's dog lives, and he still thought it was too expensive!

How could he possibly give you two?

One more, and that would be a different price altogether!

……

Cheng Chengxuan arranged for someone to deliver the letter and medicine to Lu Xing's brother. Actually, Lu Xing was a little uneasy about it too, but he had no better option—after all, he was trapped in the Capital right now and could do nothing.

This was the only way to handle it.

While Lu Xing anxiously awaited his brother's reply, Wu Yong and the others were quietly making their own preparations.

This day at Early Court.

In the great hall, where the atmosphere was unusually quiet and heavy, an Old Minister suddenly stepped forward, his tone grave and his words earnest.

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that since we wish to Borrow Troops from Muyuan Kingdom, shouldn't we first let General Lu leave the Capital?"

This approach—called hospitality but really House Arrest—if it provokes him and he refuses to lend troops anymore, what then?

The moment he raised the point, quite a few Imperial Officials in the hall echoed their agreement one after another.

"Your ministers second the motion."

Wu Yong and Wang Cai exchanged a covert glance.

Then Wu Yong stepped forward to oppose him.

"Your Majesty!"

"This minister believes this approach is improper!"

He declared with great conviction.

"That Lu Xing is a disciple of Situ Kuo, the Muyuan National Lord's own maternal uncle, and he addresses the Muyuan National Lord as brothers."

"With him staying in the Capital as a Hostage, there's no fear Muyuan will refuse to Borrow Troops!"

"This is utterly absurd!"

The Old Minister who had first proposed the idea struck his walking stick heavily against the ground twice, deeply angered by his words, and pointed a trembling hand at him, denouncing him in a sharp voice.

"Utter nonsense!"

That Old Minister threw his walking stick straight onto the ground and dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Your Majesty!"

"This Old Minister implores Your Majesty to listen no longer to this villain's Words That Harm The State!"

Seeing him kneel, most of the officials in the hall also knelt one after another.

"We beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Wu Yong gave Wang Cai a look; the other understood and stepped forward as well.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes that what Lord Wu has said is reasonable. In ordinary times, displaying the Magnanimity Of A Great Nation would be no trouble at all."

"But now our Da Yin is at a disadvantage; we truly should grasp more Bargaining Chips in hand to ensure every precaution."

Hearing these words, several Old Ministers hurriedly raised their heads to look at the emperor.

The moment they saw the Shunhe Emperor hesitate, the several Old Ministers exchanged a look, a note of resolve appearing in each of their eyes.

The few men rose and rushed together toward the pillars of the great hall.

"If Your Majesty continues to heed Slanderous Words today, we ministers will dash our heads to death right here in this great hall!"

The other Old Ministers loudly echoed their agreement.

"Exactly!"

"Rather than watch Your Majesty heed a Treacherous Minister's words and bring ruin to the state and its people, we ministers would sooner go at once to beg the Late Emperor's forgiveness!"

Having said this, the several Old Ministers resolutely hurled themselves toward the pillars of the great hall.

"You mustn't!"

The Imperial Officials in the hall hurried over to hold them back.

The Shunhe Emperor was so anxious he gripped the Dragon Throne's armrests tightly and called out in a raised voice.

"Where is the Imperial Guard? Stop them at once!"

The court only has so few Highly Respected Old Ministers left; they absolutely cannot all stain Taiji Hall with blood on the same day.

"Fine! Issue My Imperial Decree: have the Muyuan soldiers leave the Capital in three days!"

At this, the several Old Ministers stopped crying and making a fuss, and the force of their struggling lessened.

The Imperial Officials coaxed and persuaded by every means, and with the Imperial Guard blocking them from the side, they finally managed to pull the Old Ministers down from the pillars.

Seeing this, the Shunhe Emperor secretly let out a breath of relief.

Looking at the several old men collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, their faces deathly pale, he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

I know what you say makes sense—I'm not so muddled as all that!

If you'd persuaded me a little more, offered me one more step down, wouldn't I have nodded?

You just had to make such a scene!

Well, how do you like it now!

Feeling terrible, are you?

He waved at Shi Gui, his face full of impatience.

"Quickly go summon the imperial physicians and have them examine my Beloved Ministers thoroughly!"

After court was dismissed.

Wu Yong and his companions walked out together, exchanging a knowing look without a word. Nothing showed on their faces, but in their hearts they were overjoyed.

Suddenly, several heavy snorts came from the side.

"Greetings, my lords."

Wu Yong and his companions bowed to the Old Ministers in greeting.

The several Old Ministers glared with bristling whiskers, their faces cold.

"No need at all! We couldn't possibly accept Lord Wu's courtesy!"

"Let us offer you gentlemen one piece of advice: there is a nation before there is a home. Now is a critical moment—if you dare play any more petty tricks that endanger Da Yin, we old fellows will perish together with you!"

Having said this, the several Old Ministers, each seventy-five years old, leaned on their walking sticks and strode away.

Wang Cai silently rolled his eyes.

"Won just one round, didn't they? Look at that smug air of theirs—aren't they afraid of throwing out their necks and old backs!"

Wu Yong revealed a meaningful smile.

"No matter. Our objective has been achieved regardless."