In terms of background, there were some similarities between Wu Dayong and Chen Chu.
That was probably the real reason Chen Chu was still willing to be patient and talk to Wu Dayong.
Chen Chu asked, “What can you gain by staying in my residence, or what is it that you want?”
At first, Chen Chu did not care about Wu Dayong’s background. Since he was a butler arranged by His Majesty, he did not bother asking.
After all, to Chen Chu, this residence was merely a place to stay; he had no feelings for it.
But things were different now. Wu Dayong had made a mistake. If Chen Chu forgave him, it would mean he had accepted this man.
“I want dignity here, Your Highness! I want everyone in the imperial city to see that even though I come from a despicable background, I can still defy heaven and change my fate, so that everyone looks at me properly, and even fears me!”
Wu Dayong did not know much about Chen Chu, but he was very clear about one thing: the Ninth Prince would not like lies.
“That is all?”
“Of course not!”
Wu Dayong did not know whether he was answering the Ninth Prince’s question or venting the deepest unwillingness buried in his heart. “I also want to one day walk back into the Chancellor’s Residence with my head held high, while everyone bows and scrapes before me! Your Highness, this is what I want from Your Highness!”
Chen Chu laughed. What Wu Dayong wanted came down to two words: a reversal of fortune.
Then he said, “It’s not impossible to keep you. Since His Majesty was able to notice you, you must have some redeeming qualities. How about this: I’ll give you a test. Answer me this: last night, I killed Du Heng in the Heavenly Palace. If you can think of a way to keep me from being punished, I will keep you. And I will give you everything you want.”
Half an incense stick later, Yu Chenghua came in person to invite him, informing Chen Chu that today’s morning court had blown up. More than half of the court officials had petitioned His Majesty to punish Chen Chu for wanton slaughter!
He had come specifically to invite Chen Chu to the morning court.
“Your Highness, you were being foolish! When it comes to killing people, how can you do it so openly and aboveboard?”
In other words, it wasn’t that Du Heng could not be killed; it was that the method had to be chosen carefully.
Chen Chu brushed it off with a smile and followed Yu Chenghua to Taiji Hall.
Chen Chu entered the great hall with brisk steps. The hall fell silent for a moment, and then a storm of impeachment accusations crashed down.
“Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince killed in public, and he killed the Empress’s own nephew at that. If he is not punished, how can the gossip of the world be silenced?”
“When the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner!”
“We humbly request that Your Majesty severely punish the Ninth Prince to serve as a warning to others!”
“Please, Your Majesty, severely punish the Ninth Prince…”
“Please, Your Majesty, severely punish him…”
The entire court was filled with voices of accusation.
It was an enormous display.
Chen Qing had a headache.
In fact, he had already received news last night that Chen Chu had killed Du Heng with one finger. His first thought was that it was a job well done.
Ever since Du Heng came to the imperial city, he had fallen in love with its luxury and decadence and refused to return to his Overlord Sword Sect. That in itself was not a big deal; the vast dynasty could hardly lack the means to support a pleasure-seeking young master. But Du Heng was an extremely arrogant man. Relying on his status as the Empress’s nephew, he strutted about and bullied people in the imperial city, committing all manner of evil deeds, and the common people had plenty of complaints.
Du Heng was like a fly buzzing around the imperial city. Every time Chen Qing saw him, he felt disgusted.
But although Chen Qing was the emperor, holding life and death in his hands, many matters still had to be weighed carefully.
When he ascended the throne, the Overlord Sword Sect had contributed greatly. Marrying Du Lin’er as empress had also been part of the transaction between Chen Qing and the Overlord Sword Sect back then.
For that reason, even though Du Heng disgusted him, he still indulged him.
If he, the Tianchen Emperor, could not even tolerate a spoiled young master like that, what would the various forces loyal to Tianchen think?
That said, although Chen Qing felt satisfied inwardly, the fact remained that Chen Chu had killed Du Heng, and he could not simply ignore it.
The one who tied the bell must untie it. There was no way around summoning Chen Chu to confront the ministers.
“Chen Chu, defend yourself.”
Sitting on the dragon throne, Chen Qing was afraid that Chen Chu would say something like, “Why doesn’t His Majesty explain for me?” This time was different from last time; he could not help him explain.
Chen Chu turned around with an upright posture, his gaze calm as he looked at the ministers.
The method Wu Dayong gave Chen Chu was to invoke Article 15 of the Tianchen legal code: insulting a prince is punishable by death.
As long as Chen Chu insisted that Du Heng had insulted a prince, then killing him would be without guilt, and Chen Chu would stand in court in an unassailable position.
However, Chen Chu had no intention of wasting words on that.
“I killed Du Heng for only one reason…”
Chen Chu’s voice carried an overwhelming force, like a tidal wave crashing down on every official present.
“I want to erase the words ‘Cursed Blood’ from Tianchen forever!”
“Let all of you remember this: never speak the words ‘Cursed Blood.’ It is not that heaven does not allow it, but that I, Chen Chu, do not allow it.”
“That is the explanation.”
The court fell silent.
Only then did the court ministers truly come to understand the Ninth Prince’s arrogance and forcefulness.
Mention my taboo, and you die.
“Your Majesty, gentlemen, are you satisfied?”
Chen Chu turned around. Although not a trace of spiritual power leaked out, an invisible and dense killing aura enveloped everyone in court.
Many court ministers thought to themselves: the Ninth Prince is not Cursed Blood. He is a heavenly calamity.
Chen Qing rubbed his forehead. At first, he had thought Chen Chu would at least explain a little, and then he, as His Majesty, could play along, hand down a token punishment, and let the matter pass in a haze.
Only now did he realize: if Chen Chu were the sort to follow the rules and explain properly, would he still be Chen Chu?
But Chen Qing also had to admit that this son, whom he had once been least willing to acknowledge, was in fact the son most to his liking.
“I am the most exalted in all the mortal world; even immortals bow their heads when they see me!”
“Du Heng insulted the Ninth Prince by calling him Cursed Blood. The Ninth Prince’s reputation was insulted, and he killed in anger, which is understandable. However, he was not without fault. I hereby dock the Ninth Prince one year’s stipend. This matter ends here; no further discussion is permitted.”
Chen Qing hurried to smooth things over and bring it to a close. Otherwise, if two more blind officials jumped out in court and Chen Chu killed someone on the spot, it would be even harder to clean up.
“His Majesty is wise.”
The Duke, Grand Chancellor, Imperial Censor, Grand Tutor, and the others standing in the front rank all bowed in turn.
The rest of the ministers followed.
The dust settled.
“The court is adjourned!”
Yu Chenghua called out loudly.
“May His Majesty live ten thousand years, with the sun and moon shining together!”
“May His Majesty live ten thousand years, with the sun and moon shining together!!”
All the ministers left Taiji Hall one after another. Yu Chenghua came to Chen Chu and said, “Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence.”
Chen Chu nodded.
When he reached outside the hall, he saw a robust middle-aged man in official robes with regular features and a dignified air waiting there. Seeing Chen Chu, the man greeted him on his own initiative. “Hello, Ninth Brother. I am your third brother, Chen Bai.”
King Xuan.
Chen Chu’s expression remained natural. “And what advice do you have?”
Chen Bai laughed. “The Ninth Brother’s personality really is cold. Nothing much, I just wanted to get to know you.”
“Since you have gotten to know me, then please don’t block the way.”
Chen Bai stepped aside and smiled. “Ninth Brother, hurry and go see Father Emperor.”
Then Chen Bai watched Chen Chu’s back, a look of interest on his face. “This Ninth Brother of mine is really interesting! If he can be used by me, he will be a sharp blade. But first, he has to get past the Overlord Sword Sect.”
After arriving at the Imperial Garden, Chen Chu sat down naturally.
Chen Qing did not mind. “I do not blame you for killing Du Heng to establish authority. But you never call yourself ‘this prince,’ nor do you call me Father Emperor. Deep down, you do not see yourself as a prince. I am not very satisfied.”
After thinking it over, Chen Qing also knew Chen Chu would not give him face, so he went straight to the point. “The current sect master of the Overlord Sword Sect, Du Hanhai, the Fifteenth Grade expert known as the Overlord Sword of the World, is coming to the imperial city soon. He is coming to kill you. He set out before you killed his son Du Heng. I am giving you a warning.”
“Mm.”
Chen Chu’s expression remained calm.
Chen Qing stared. “A Fifteenth Grade Land Immortal is coming to the imperial city to kill you, and you can’t even react a little?”
“Is that being too disrespectful to Du Hanhai?”
At last, Chen Chu spoke, but what he said was: “If you want me to spare his life, then I understand.”
Chen Qing stood there, mouth agape, utterly speechless.
Having cultivated the Immortal’s Tome, can he really be this arrogant?