Chapter 393: First Volume, Chapter 393: Imperial Clan Cannon Fodder

First Volume, Chapter 393: Imperial Clan Cannon Fodder

Qin Feng nodded without expression, signaling the Zongzheng Temple Minister and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister that they need not worry.

He continued: "During this time, did the Eleventh Prince say anything?"

Shen Qingci recalled: from start to finish, the Eleventh Prince said not a word, only sat there drinking tea.

Just as she was about to answer, Qin Feng suddenly asked: "Or… did he do anything?"

Shen Qingci bit her thin lips; she already understood—Qin Feng clearly intended to team up with her to trap the Eleventh Prince.

Though reluctant, he was still her younger brother, so she complied: "He spoke nothing, and did nothing."

Qin Feng let out a soft "oh": "Then it follows that Liu Lan and Chen Teng were indeed coerced by the Eleventh Prince."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiuye could no longer sit still; he rose immediately to protest: "The Eleventh Prince said nothing and interfered not at all—how could he have coerced them?"

Qin Feng glanced at Zhang Xiuye: "Who's investigating this case—you or me? Want to take over?"

Zhang Xiuye shrank his neck and fell silent.

Qin Feng snorted softly and continued: "The Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister and the Imperial Academy Dean hold lower OfficialRanks than my father, and my father is the Supervisor of War. Even if both Young Masters were more cunning, how could they dare act so brazenly? The Eleventh Prince's presence alone constitutes coercion."

At this moment, a Dali Temple guard hurried forward: "Your Excellency, the Eleventh Prince has arrived and requests to enter the court for confrontation."

The Dali Temple Minister glanced at Qin Feng without expression, feigning impartiality: "This case is presided over by Qin Monitor; I serve as assistant judge. Whether the Eleventh Prince enters the court rests with Qin Monitor's decision."

The Dali Temple guard turned to Qin Feng, but Qin Feng ignored him entirely, continuing to escalate the charges against the Eleventh Prince.

Outside the Dali Temple, the Eleventh Prince paced anxiously in circles.

Seeing the Dali Temple guard emerge, he rushed forward: "How is it? May I enter the court?"

The Dali Temple guard's expression was complicated: "Your Highness… it seems not. This case is being tried by Qin Monitor; without his word, we cannot decide."

The Eleventh Prince stared, stunned: "Qin Monitor? When did a Qin Monitor appear in this Dali Temple?"

The Dali Temple guard sighed: "Your Highness, have you forgotten? The Son of Heaven personally issued an edict ordering Qin Feng to assume the official conduct in Jingdu, granting him supervisory authority. As long as the Son of Heaven does not revoke the edict, Qin Feng will remain Monitor."

Hearing this, the Eleventh Prince was utterly despairing.

To judge his own case? What's the point?

For the first time in his life, the Eleventh Prince felt utterly powerless, never imagining that as an Imperial Clan Member, he would be so thoroughly controlled by a mere Qin Feng.

The Eleventh Prince, unwilling to accept it, asked again: "What did Zhang Xiuye say? Did he speak up for me?"

At the mention of Zhang Xiuye, the Dali Temple guard's face twisted strangely, wanting to laugh but daring not: "The Chief Manager was… was scolded by Qin Monitor as a eunuch with a rotten backside… and he was told that if he dared speak again, he'd be thrown out. This Dali Temple does not permit Eunuch Faction interference!"

The Eleventh Prince was completely bewildered.

So… no one could save him today?

Just then…

A rapid clatter of footsteps approached.

The Eleventh Prince turned toward the sound and saw a disciplined squad of Imperial Guard escorting two nobles toward the Dali Temple.

The Eleventh Prince recognized them at once: the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince.

Overjoyed, he rushed forward: "Second Brother, Seventh Brother, you must stand up for me!"

Under the Eleventh Prince's gaze, the procession did not pause—it ignored him entirely, arriving at the Dali Temple gates. The Second Prince and Seventh Prince stepped down from their carriages and walked toward the inner court. The Second Prince walked quickly; the Eleventh Prince lunged and missed, but managed to grab the Seventh Prince's sleeve.

The Eleventh Prince was only a few months younger than the Seventh Prince; he had always treated him as insignificant. Now, he wept and sniveled: "Seventh Brother, please speak well of me when you go in."

The Seventh Prince sighed, shaking his head helplessly: "Little Eleventh, you've caused a great disaster. With the National War looming, you dared to speak of arbitrarily punishing meritorious officials and shaking Military Morale—this is a grave taboo. Though you're Imperial Clan Members and face no death penalty, still… sigh!"

The Seventh Prince subtly withdrew his arm and walked toward the inner court.

As the Eleventh Prince stood frozen, Xiao Zhuozi brushed past him—smirking.

Seeing Xiao Zhuozi's gleeful expression, the Eleventh Prince suddenly realized…

Since Gao Ming's fall, the Second Prince and Seventh Prince had kept a low profile, staying deep within the Imperial Palace, never showing their faces again.

Now, the moment he tangled with Qin Feng, the Second and Seventh Princes reappeared in full public view.

He… was nothing but a stepping stone for Second and Seventh!

Could it be… this was Father Emperor's true intent?

To sacrifice his own neglected son, to boost the prestige of Second and Seventh?

From the beginning, Father Emperor never believed he could defeat Qin Feng—so he used him as a Sacrifice, letting Second and Seventh return to balance Qin Feng…

"Father Emperor… we are both your sons—how could you…"

Before the Eleventh Prince finished, a black-clad guard suddenly appeared and warned sternly: "Your Highness, watch your words!"

The sudden appearance of the Second and Seventh Princes surprised Qin Feng as well.

Everyone in the hall rose to bow.

"Your Highnesses, Second and Seventh."

The Second Prince waved his hand, signaling the Officials to stand down, then turned to Qin Feng with a knowing smile: "Qin Feng, since you are presiding over today's case, my brother and I will merely observe. Proceed as you see fit."

The Seventh Prince nodded with a smile as well.

Qin Feng mentally slapped his thigh—Liang Emperor, you still have your depths. Your true trump card was never the Eleventh Prince—it was Second and Seventh.

Qin Feng gave a bitter laugh; he had thought he'd won a round against Liang Emperor, but now it seemed this covert struggle would end in a stalemate.

Still, it didn't matter. This time, Liang Emperor had tested Qin Feng's limits—he would now act more cautiously, and would never again target Qin Feng's family unless absolutely desperate.

And…

Qin Feng sensed vaguely that if he hadn't stood so firm today, Liang Emperor might have turned the performance into reality.

Serving a sovereign is like serving a tiger.

Acting is not terrifying—it's terrifying when the acting stops.

Qin Feng calmed himself and continued the trial. After reciting all the charges, he declared: "Equal Before the Law. According to the Great Liang Code, the Eleventh Prince coerced others to harass women and undermined public morale—he deserves the Death Penalty. But Imperial Clan Members may not be spilt blood; instead, sentence him to Soft Detention within the Imperial Palace, and order him to copy the Imperial Ancestral Precedent and reflect upon himself."

The punishment seemed light, but was in truth severe.

Copying the Imperial Ancestral Precedent did not specify how many times to copy it; from now on, the Eleventh Prince would quietly remain in Gong Zhong and never dare to rise again.

The Officials present made no comment on the verdict.

Since the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince had both arrived, they could now withdraw from the affair...