Wenchuzhu was startled, scrambling backward in a panic as he tried to escape Xie Huai’s iron-vise-like grip.
At that moment, a senior official of two reigns who could no longer bear to watch Xie Huai’s barbarism rushed forward to intervene, saying, “Prince Regent, you mustn’t! No matter what, you are a subject, and the Emperor is of noble flesh and blood… Ah.”
Without a trace of emotion, Xie Huai struck the senior official squarely in the chest with a single palm strike, sending him flying backward to crash against a pillar. A stream of blood erupted from his mouth as he hit the ground and stopped moving entirely.
With a deep, heavy tone laden with thick murderous intent, Xie Huai declared, “Anyone who dares to speak on the Emperor’s behalf like him shall die.”
The cavernous hall fell instantly dead silent, the drop of a pin audible.
Wenchuzhu stared at the senior official who had been beaten into critical condition by Xie Huai: “Xie Huai, you truly are a bastard.”
Simultaneously, realizing that a crisis had broken out within the hall, Murong Jue led a throng of troops charging in.
Gu Qingfang followed closely behind them and hurriedly rushed forward to check the senior official’s injuries.
Wielding a long spear, Murong Jue stood guard beside Wenchuzhu, glaring at Xie Huai with eyes like blazing torches. “Today shall be your day of reckoning.”
With that, he brandished his long sword and lunged forward to stab Xie Huai, only to be stopped by Wenchuzhu. A look of stunned perplexity crossed Murong Jue’s face as he glanced at Wenchuzhu.
Wenchuzhu closed his eyes, speaking to him in agonizing torment, “I am incompetent, allowing Yu’er to fall into his hands.”
Yu’er was Wenchuzhu’s life; how could Murong Jue not know?
The long spear in his hands slowly lowered, as he realized clearly that Wenchuzhu had been thoroughly and utterly controlled by Xie Huai.
Xie Huai’s long brows drew down darkly as he cast a sidelong glance at Murong Jue. “This time, I will chalk it up to your youth and ignorance, being instigated by the Emperor. I won’t hold it against you, take your men and leave the imperial palace immediately.”
Because Murong Jue had achievements to his name, belonged to a prestigious family of military generals, and held military power in his hands, Xie Huai could not afford to move against him lightly, especially when the Great Zhou Kingdom still had need of him. However, such a person’s death was only a matter of time.
Hearing Xie Huai’s words, Murong Jue showed no intention of leaving whatsoever, staring coldly and resolutely at him. “Listen well, Xie Huai: with me, the Marquis of Anding, here, you can banish any pipedream of harming the Emperor.”
Refusing to engage with him further, Xie Huai turned to Wenchuzhu: “You should know what you need to do right now.”
Wenchuzhu said, “I can order the Marquis of Anding to withdraw his troops and leave the imperial palace, but he will not leave the imperial capital, so don’t even think about touching me either.”
A master of stratagems and schemes, Xie Huai knew he could not push things to absolute extremes without leaving a way out. After all, Wenchuzhu was Wenchuzhu, and Murong Jue was Murong Jue. He could keep Wenchuzhu under control, but he had no such certainty regarding Murong Jue.
Seeing that Xie Huai offered no objection, Wenchuzhu turned back to look at Murong Jue. “I am fine; go back first.” He lowered his voice, adding in a whisper audible only to the two of them: “With you in the imperial capital, he won’t dare do anything to me.”
From Xie Huai’s earlier silence, Wenchuzhu had perceived that Xie Huai枭 still harbored a wariness toward Murong Jue.
Although Xie Huai held military power, his forces were deployed elsewhere, and centralizing military command into his hands required time.
As long as Xie Huai remained alive, Murong Jue would worry for Wenchuzhu, yet the current deadlock forced him to obey Wenchuzhu and respect his wishes.
Withdrawing his long spear, Murong Jue cupped his fists in a salute to Wenchuzhu, then led his troops in a retreat out of the imperial palace.
Xie Huai枭 glanced coldly at Gu Qingfang, his gaze then falling upon the senior official beaten into critical condition. “Someone drag this rebellious traitor out of the Meridian Gate and beat him to death with clubs.”
Using a chicken to frighten the monkeys, Xie Huai’s ruthless and fierce methods completely shattered the notions of any ministers who still harbored lingering, unyielding loyalty and thoughts of assisting Wenchuzhu.
Wenchuzhu wanted to stop Xie Huai from executing the senior official, but his body was far too frail, and he fainted away.
When he finally regained consciousness, it was already noon of the following day.
“Yu’er?” Wenchuzhu scrambled up hastily from the bed, intending to go find Xie Huai.
At that moment, Eunuch Chang by the bedside hurriedly soothed Wenchuzhu, saying, “Your Majesty, Yu’er is fine! While Your Highness was unconscious, the Prince Regent even brought Yu’er over to check on you!”
Wenchuzhu’s mind settled slightly as he asked, “Then where is Yu’er?”
Eunuch Chang replied, “He was taken away by the Prince Regent.” He added, “The Prince Regent said that once Your Majesty wakes up, you should go to the Mid-Lake Pavilion to attend a banquet.”
“A banquet?” Wenchuzhu repeated those two words. “Who is there, that requires me to go attend a banquet?”