As soon as Wu Yi declared he was about to unleash his verbal barrage, the previously chaotic court fell deathly silent.
Such was the aura of deterrence Wu Yi now commanded.
After all, his ruthless takedown of Lin Zhengtang had already made him a legend overnight.
“Enough!” Long Qiyue’s expression darkened as she looked at Wu Yi. “Wu Yi, We ask you—was what Xu Yangshuo said true? Do you admit to it?”
Wu Yi straightened his neck. “This official does not. I was framed by Xu Yangshuo.”
“It was he who used some unknown method to control me. That’s why I did something as foolish as provoking the Ninth Princess.”
“No matter how foolish I might be, I would never commit a beheading-worthy crime in public.”
At last, a military officer standing behind Duke Wu An could no longer remain silent.
His name was Wu Qiao, a former subordinate of Duke of Dingguo, Wu Yuan. Though no longer at the general’s side, he never forgot the kindness he received.
“Your Majesty, this humble general has something to say.”
Long Qiyue took a deep breath, suppressing her fury, and replied coolly, “Speak.”
Wu Qiao’s solemn voice echoed through the hall. “Your Majesty, this general believes Young Master Wu must have been framed.”
“While it is widely known that he is unruly and undisciplined, anyone who truly knows him understands that he’s not stupid. In fact, he’s very clever.”
“He wouldn’t be foolish enough to provoke the Ninth Princess so blatantly.”
“Moreover, as far as this general knows, Young Master Wu has an excellent tolerance for alcohol. Even with the strongest wine in the imperial capital—‘Drunken Immortal’—he can drink three whole jars without faltering.”
“But according to my investigation after the incident, he had barely half a jar yesterday and was already completely drunk. That’s highly suspicious.”
“My deduction is that someone deliberately drugged him, pushing him to the brink of disaster.”
Lin Zhengtang’s expression turned grim. He flicked his sleeve and sneered, “General Wu, words require proof.”
“You claim Wu Yi was framed—do you have any evidence?”
In truth, he knew Wu Yi had indeed been framed by the Xu family.
But that didn’t matter!
His job today was to stir the pot as much as possible. As long as Wu Yi died today, he would be credited for a great achievement.
Wu Qiao drew in a long breath and answered firmly, “I don’t—because the evidence was destroyed.”
“However, I think the Prime Minister should know what the evidence was.”
All eyes turned to Prime Minister Xu. Xu Xian, however, remained calm with his eyes closed, replying smoothly, “Your Majesty, this old official knows nothing and has no comment.”
There was no need for him to comment, nor did he need to fan the flames.
Just Wu Yi’s act of insulting the Empress and provoking the Ninth Princess was enough to set the empire ablaze.
Without evidence, Wu Yi was undeniably doomed.
Or rather—the entire Wu family was doomed.
No one could stop it.
Seeing Prime Minister Xu’s confidence, many officials silently agreed that the Wu family’s fate was sealed.
The Wu family… was finished.
Lin Zhengtang seized the opportunity, bowing deeply and shouting, “This official bravely petitions Your Majesty to sentence Wu Yi to death, to defend imperial authority and preserve national dignity!”
Seeing the Wu family’s downfall, the officials joined in one after another.
“This official earnestly requests Your Majesty to sentence Wu Yi to death…”
“This official earnestly requests Your Majesty to sentence Wu Yi to death…”
“This official earnestly requests Your Majesty to sentence Wu Yi to death…”
As the officials surrounded her with pressure, Long Qiyue fell into hesitation and irritation.
Only Wu Qiao raised his voice against the tide.
“Your Majesty, you must not.”
“You cannot kill Young Master Wu!”
Lin Zhengtang turned furiously toward Wu Qiao. “General Wu, watch your words! Wu Yi committed a capital crime and defied imperial authority—how can you say he can’t be killed?”
“Do you place Wu Yi’s life above the authority of the empire?”
Wu Qiao snorted, “Shut your dog mouth. Don’t try to put words in mine.”
“You…”
Lin Zhengtang once again turned his green tea smile toward the Empress. “Your Majesty, look at how he—”
Wu Qiao ignored him and cupped his fists toward Long Qiyue. “Your Majesty, even setting aside the matter of whether Wu Yi was framed, which I cannot prove…”
“Wu Yi is the only surviving grandson of Duke of Dingguo, Wu Yuan.”
“Back then, Duke of Dingguo followed the late Martial Emperor across the land, earning countless military honors.”
“He helped suppress internal chaos and defend against foreign invaders.”
“Moreover, the Wu family has shed blood for the empire for generations—loyal and brave without fail.”
“Now, there is only Wu Yi left. Are we really to let the Wu bloodline die out?”
“Wouldn’t that chill the hearts of all those soldiers still guarding our borders?”
“This official earnestly asks Your Majesty to think twice!”
Hearing this, Wu Yi closed his eyes in frustration.
He truly wanted to summon the Hammer of Boundless Merit and send Wu Qiao flying into the sky right then and there.
Pig teammate!
Did you seriously walk straight into this death trap?
You trying to get me killed faster?
He turned to Wu Qiao and asked, “Brother, are you working for Prime Minister Xu?”
Wu Qiao, baffled, replied, “???”
As for Xu Xian, the corner of his lips curled into a smile.
He thought, “As expected, just a brainless brute who only knows how to fight.”
Sure enough—
Crack!
“Wu Qiao, you’re incredibly bold!”
At that moment, Long Qiyue slammed her hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, breaking it with a single blow as she rose and shouted coldly.
“You dare use the Wu family’s merits to threaten Us? Dare to use the loyalty of millions of soldiers to pressure Us?”
“So in your eyes, anyone with military achievements can trample on imperial authority?”
“Is the royal family of the Longhua Empire so worthless that anyone can step on it?”
In an instant, Wu Qiao broke into a cold sweat, realizing too late what he’d done.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! That wasn’t my intention!”
“I just… I just—”
Finally, Duke Wu An, who had remained silent all along, stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, General Wu had no intention of offending you.”
“He simply spoke rashly in his anxiety. Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger.”
Long Qiyue took a deep breath, sat back down, and looked at Wu Yi again.
“Wu Yi, We ask you now—”
“You say you were framed by Xu Yangshuo. Do you have any proof?”
Wu Yi glanced at Xu Yangshuo and the others, who were watching him with schadenfreude.
“Replying to Your Majesty, this official has no proof at the moment.”
Long Qiyue’s cold eyes narrowed slightly. “So, you’re admitting it?”
At the same time, a wave of oppressive force erupted from her, pressing down so heavily on the court that many could hardly breathe.
It wasn’t spiritual pressure—it was pure imperial majesty.
The innate presence of a sovereign.
Yet to her surprise, while all other officials lowered their heads in fear, only Wu Yi remained standing straight, meeting her gaze without flinching.
Hmm?
This brat… something’s different.
In truth, Wu Yi was already drenched in sweat, enduring the pressure through gritted teeth.
Long Qiyue stared deeply at him, then turned her icy gaze toward Duke Wu An.
“Duke Zhenbei, We trust you understand this.”
“Were it not for the merit your Wu family has rendered to this empire over generations, were it not for Duke of Dingguo’s efforts in helping Our father secure the nation, Wu Yi’s head would’ve rolled yesterday. He wouldn’t have lived to see this morning.”
“But no matter how meritorious one is, imperial authority must not be defied. Nor can Longhua’s fragile relationship with Great Yan be jeopardized because of one man.”
“This matter began with Wu Yi. Duke Zhenbei, can you give Us an explanation?”
Indeed, this matter was extremely delicate.
The Great Yan Empire had always been aggressive—and stronger than Longhua. Relations between the two nations were already strained.
Great Yan had long wanted to annex Longhua.
And now Wu Yi had harassed the future Crown Princess of Great Yan?
If mishandled, this could lead to open war between the two empires.
This was no longer just about whether the Empress wanted to execute Wu Yi.
Even if she didn’t, Great Yan would not let him live.
As Long Qiyue questioned him, Prime Minister Xu’s faction could barely hide their delight.
An explanation?
What kind of explanation would satisfy both imperial authority and Great Yan’s wrath?
Wasn’t that an impossible request?
Facing the Empress’s interrogation, Duke Wu An stepped forward and spoke loudly.
Whether to the Empress or to the entire court, his voice rang firm.
“My son Wu Yi, though unruly, is not wicked.”
“The Wu family has always been loyal. Even if our sons are foolish, they would never dare provoke imperial authority knowingly.”
“But this king has no evidence to prove my son was framed. So there’s nothing more to say.”
“This time—I accept it.”
“But!”
His tiger-like eyes sharpened.
He turned to Prime Minister Xu and, in a calm and steady voice, declared, “As long as I, Duke Zhenbei, still live—no one will touch my son.”
“If a son is unteachable, the father bears the blame.”
“Today, I will sever my own arm as atonement to the royal family of both empires!”
Clang—!
Before he finished speaking, Duke Wu An drew the sword at his waist.
Without hesitation, he swung it upward—
Toward his own left arm.
“Father! Are you crazy?!”
Wu Yi, just beginning to strategize, was shocked and horrified. His eyes widened in disbelief.