Chapter 538

Li Qingluo almost couldn't help laughing out loud.

She covered her stomach, with great difficulty raising her hand to cover her face.

Duan Rongshi narrowed his eyes: "Go ahead, try laughing."

Li Qingluo quickly pinched her palm hard.

Pitifully she lifted her head, earnest: "My lord, no matter how others try to drive us apart, I trust you!"

Duan Rongshi: "My lady, are you itching? Shall I find a chance later to scratch you?"

He said, reaching to grab her arm, about to pull her into his embrace to show his affection publicly, when a shout came from outside the hall: "His Majesty arrives——"

"The Empress arrives——"

Everyone rose, shouting "Long live!"

When they sat down again, Li Qingluo's gaze easily found Jin Yun and A Duo in the crowd.

Beside her, Zong Zheng Wuheng also stared at her with a deep gaze.

She lowered her eyes, before she could collect herself, she heard the Chu Emperor suddenly explode in anger.

"Nonsense!"

"Look at what you've done!"

The Chu Emperor is an extreme egotist; whoever touches his reverse scale, he won't spare anyone's face.

He slapped the Fourth Prince across the face on the spot.

The hall fell silent instantly.

No one dared to breathe heavily.

Li Qingluo raised her eyebrows slightly.

Duan Rongshi, as a Valiant Cavalry General of the Imperial Forest Army, had already left swiftly when the Chu Emperor and Empress entered the hall.

He was responsible for the safety of the entire palace inside and out tonight.

Thus he could not sit with Li Qingluo to watch the festivities.

However Li Qingluo knew that the reason the Fourth Prince Zong Zheng Wuxie was rebuked by the Chu Emperor before everyone tonight was due to Duan Rongshi's merit.

All prisoners in the Ministry of Justice jail were killed by poison overnight.

Although this case was eventually suppressed and not known throughout the city, some rumors still leaked out.

At this juncture, the Empress's birthday banquet was still held on a grand scale.

However, the head of the Minister of Justice, Shangguan Zhong, was actually chopped off by someone!

This matter, the Shangguan family took it to the palace gates, still seeking justice.

After the Chu Emperor hid for a few days and returned, he arrested those from the Shangguan family who caused trouble.

Before the Shangguan family could react, the Chu Emperor had already raided their residence.

All the male members of the family were beheaded.

All the women were made into official prostitutes.

Duan Rongshi, a man with no background, was again personally appointed by the Chu Emperor as a Valiant Cavalry General at this juncture.

The Chu Emperor, citing his personal slaying of the traitor Shangguan Zhong and his merit in guarding the emperor, piled up these achievements to push him into the Imperial Forest Army.

This matter caused an uproar throughout the city.

Everyone was speculating who this new noble "Li Wu" really was.

However Duan Rongshi understood in his heart that the Chu Emperor likely knew clearly that the incident in the Ministry of Justice jail was related to his son, yet he insisted on pushing the whole case onto Shangguan Zhong's head.

The Chu Emperor wanted to protect the true mastermind behind this—Fourth Prince Zong Zheng Wuxie.

He also wanted to thoroughly push this new blade of his onto the forefront.

Having no power or influence, to establish himself he must wholeheartedly rely on this emperor.

Besides needing ruthless tactics, he also had to show genuine ability, otherwise he would be fiercely attacked by the Fourth Prince's faction.

Shangguan Zhong was certainly no good, but the son the Chu Emperor wanted to protect was even worse.

Moreover, according to Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi's speculation, he might not even be the Chu Emperor's bloodline.

Duan Rongshi had been a blade in DaLiang for many years.

He knew how to make a blade supremely sharp for the emperor's hand.

Only the Fourth Prince Shangguan Wuxie, now, is also the most important piece on Duan Rongshi's chessboard.

"What is this? I give you a chance to explain!"

With the angry shout, the Chu Emperor fiercely smashed the stack in his hand onto Zong Zheng Wuxie's face.

Zong Zheng Wuxie's face turned deathly pale.

"Father, I have not done this. These are all frame-ups! Someone is framing your subject..."

Chu Emperor: "Frame-up? Why don't you say it was I who framed you?"

"I ordered you to raid the Shangguan family, to personally oversee this matter, and to finish everything within five days."

"You, on the other hand, pretend to be merciful?"

"You left two Shangguan young masters, and hid the Shangguan legitimate unmarried daughter in a temple."

"Where have you placed my authority?"

"And where have you placed the imperial power!!"

"Old Four, don't pretend you don't know—Shangguan Zhong is your man."

Upon his words, a flicker of uncontrollable panic flashed in Shangguan Wuxie's eyes.

"Father, Father Emperor, your subject is truly wronged..."

The Prince of Qin suddenly rose, stepped forward, knelt, and spoke on behalf of Zong Zheng Wuxie: "Older brother, this matter must have hidden circumstances; please, older brother, discern."

The Chu Emperor was very displeased; whenever Zongzheng Wuxie made a mistake, the Qin Prince would come out acting all protective of him.

His display of support for the Fourth Prince shouldn't be too obvious.

The Chu Emperor narrowed his eyes, as if suddenly calming: 'Oh? Then tell me, what's the inside story?'

"Is the Dali Temple prison affair to be investigated thoroughly?"

Zongzheng Wuxie said, 'Father Emperor, this must be a mistake by my subordinates; I will certainly go down to investigate thoroughly and assign responsibility. Please, Father Emperor, do not be angry!'

The Chu Emperor coldly snorted, 'Good, I'll first give you a chance.'

'Come, bring the person up—'

The Imperial Forest Army personally escorted the Shangguan family's two adolescent sons and a beautiful maiden into the banquet hall.

The Chu Emperor didn't even care that the Empress was still at his side, nor did he notice that today was the Empress's birthday.

Obviously, he also didn't care that today many aristocratic families and even dozens of officials' families were still seated downstairs.

He simply coldly threw the sword to Zongzheng Wuxie's hand and said harshly, 'Kill them, and I will believe you.'

Zongzheng Wuxie is indeed ruthless.

With a cold, ruthless expression, he rose, picked up the sword, and pierced through the three Shangguan orphans standing in a line.

Only when killing that Shangguan legitimate daughter did a flash of pain cross his face.

'Shangguan legitimate daughter: "Your Highness…"'

Her face filled with endless unwillingness, yet she could only stare wide-eyed as she lay on the ground.

Que'er, following behind Li Qingluo, whispered, 'I heard from Sha San that this young lady was originally supposed to enter the Fourth Prince's residence next month as a concubine.'

Li Qingluo said, 'He's telling you all this now?'

He hasn't even told himself—tsk, Sha San is keeping secrets.

Seeing the young lady's focus actually being here, Que'er couldn't help but blush.

'"Miss, look at those people."'

Li Qingluo also saw that many officials' faces at the banquet were showing anger they could barely contain.

Surely these people are all part of the Fourth Prince's faction.

Are they angry at the Chu Emperor's brutality, or at Zongzheng Wuxie's ruthlessness?

Zongzheng Wuxie had originally wanted to secretly establish an image of benevolence, but instead, trying to steal a chicken and ending up losing the rice, he ended up losing all face in front of everyone today.

The Chu Emperor saw his son kill people cleanly, but he didn't feel particularly pleased.

'Get out!'

'Without my summons, you are not to leave the manor privately in the near future!'