Chapter 292 - Blatant Rebellion!

Xiao Jingran opened his eyes, but his body could not move at all. He stared at Xiao Fengjue angrily, “Maintain the peace of the country? Who do you think you are? Without the Xiao Family, this country won’t even exist!”

Xiao Fengjue straightened his body, and there wasn’t any expression on his resolute face. “The ancestors of our Xiao Family helped the Emperor build up the country, so we must help the Emperor guard it well. Why should we destroy our foundation? Father, our family has never been involved in a party struggle. We are only loyal to the Emperor!”

Xiao Jingran sneered, “When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, we will be loyal to the Emperor!”

Without saying a word, Xiao Fengjue turned around and was about to leave. His father had already lost his mind and had no idea what he was doing.

Xiao Jingran’s eyes were filled with anger, “I did all this for your younger sister! Do you know how painful Huanxi was when she died? Shen Ninghua, the murderer, is now living a carefree life. They said she is a mascot for the country. Bullshit! She is a jinx! How can I not take revenge for Huanxi?”

Xiao Fengjue turned around and looked at Xiao Jingran coldly, “Father, have you ever thought about why Huanxi died? It wasn’t because she couldn’t be with Baili Junyi, nor was it because of Shen Ninghua. It was because of you. You spoiled her from a young age. She didn’t know when to give up. She only knew that she must get whatever she wanted. You pushed her to death step by step!”

Xiao Jingran widened his eyes and his face turned bright red. “Bullshit!”

“You know I’m not talking nonsense. No matter what crazy things Huanxi had done, you always cleaned the mess up for her.” Xiao Fengjue shook his head, “Forget it. You will never admit that. Our Xiao Family has been loyal to the Emperor for generations, and we will still be loyal to him. From today on, you will resign for illness.”

“You bastard! What did you say? You want me to resign? Do you know why our Xiao Family has been prosperous for so many years? It’s because of the military power I own. Without it, what else does our Xiao Family have?”

Xiao Fengjue suddenly retorted, “Father, you are wrong. Our Xiao Family is prosperous not because of military power, but because of loyalty, because our ancestors fought fearlessly on the battlefield, and they never seized power for their interest!”

Xiao Jingran was so angry that he gasped for breath, and his face almost turned purple. “You bastard, how dare you teach me a lesson! How dare you! Why didn’t I see through you back then?”

Without further ado, Xiao Fengjue stood up and strode towards the door, clenching his fists with a resolute face. He thought to himself, “Anyway, the reputation of the Xiao Family can’t be damaged! Father, I’m sorry to be unfilial to you!”

In the main hall, Zhao Huiying didn’t get any news from Xiao Jingran who had been away for a long time. She couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. Since she was moved to Bailu Palace the last time, the Emperor had never been to her palace, nor had he even planned to let her move back. He was even pickier about the Crown Prince. He even supported the Third Prince, who was born by Consort Li. If things went on like this, what would happen to her and the Crown Prince?

Zhao Huiying picked up the wine glass and took a sip. Her eyes fell on Baili Qingcang, who was talking happily with Prince An. She suppressed her emotions and put on a calm look. She couldn’t sit still and wait for death, so she had to take the initiative to attack…

At this moment, it suddenly became noisy outside, and screams and cries could be heard.

Baili Qingcang frowned and asked in an unhappy cold voice, “What’s wrong? Who is making so much noise?”

The Governor of Capital Guards ran in hurriedly with panic in his eyes and cold sweat on his forehead, “Your Majesty. Something has happened!”

Fortunately, he was still rational so that he did not shout to report the matter that Princess Wenhe was assassinated. After all, Prince An and the Great Yue Kingdom’s envoys were all here. No one knew what would happen after they heard the breaking news.

Seeing the Governor of Capital Guards appear to be at a loss, Baili Qingcang’s eyes became sharp and he waved his hand to stop him. He inadvertently glanced at Xiao Jingran’s empty seat in the hall and turned to Zhao Huiying and the Crown Prince, “Crown Prince, you accompany Prince An here, and the Empress accompany the ladies. I just drank a few glasses of wine and felt a little headache. I’m going to have a rest.”

Zhao Huiying’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t believe that the Emperor actually left her and the Crown Prince here!

“Your Majesty, it is enough to have the Crown Prince here. Moreover, Noble Consort Xian is also here. Let me accompany you.”

Bu Yunqing stood up and went forward to hold Baili Qingcang’s arm, “Sister, the guests here are all important. It is best for you to stay with them. I will accompany His Majesty.”

Baili Qingcang nodded and walked out with Bu Yunqing. The Governor of Capital Guards hurriedly followed them, leaving the group of people in the hall.

The Empress looked at the Crown Prince and took a deep breath, feeling a little flustered. She ordered the people of Biyun Pavilion and Qingtian Pavilion to kill Bu Tinghe and her servants. Then, she motioned the Crown Princess to take Shen Ninghua and the others there. At this time, the archers should have shot arrows all over their bodies.

In due course, the Emperor would be furious and order a thorough investigation. The Dragon Scale Army would therefore take action. She and Xiao Jingran would divide their army into two groups. One group would intercept and kill the Dragon Scale Army along the way, and the other would kill the Capital Guards. Even if the Emperor was indeed the descendant of the heaven, he wouldn’t be able to turn the tide.

Moreover, she had asked the Zhao Family to instigate people on the Second Prince’s side secretly. After the Crown Princess ascended the throne, if Second Prince wanted to take advantage of the chaos to rebel, she would have a reason to depose him. If he offered to surrender, she might spare his life because he was still useful.

This time, she mobilized almost all her forces. She even sent some of Biyun Pavilion and Qingtian Pavilion’s people into Xiao Jingran’s army in order to assassinate Xiao Jingran and eliminate the Xiao Family after the matter was done!

By then, Baili Qingcang would be like a whale trapped in a shallow pool. The Emperor would be at her disposal, let alone Bu Yunqing, Consort Li, and Baili Junyi. Who else could compete with her?

Baili Qingcang walked out of the hall and looked at the Governor of Capital Guards with sharp eyes. “What’s going on?”

The Governor of Capital Guards knelt on the ground with a thud and reported with a trembling voice, “Your Majesty, Princess Wenhe’s wedding room is covered in blood. All the maids and nannies have been brutally killed, and we can’t even find a complete body. The Crown Princess, Princess Zhaohua, and others were attacked by the assassins when they went to visit the bride, and they were almost scared out of their wits. Now the scene is in chaos.”

Baili Qingcang’s eyes were as sharp as lightning, “Did you say that Bu Tinghe was killed in her wedding room, and someone tried to assassinate Princess Zhaohua?”

“Your Majesty, the scene is so chaotic that we can’t tell whether Princess Wenhe is alive or not. But from what can I see, I fear something bad has happened to Princess Wenhe. Although the assassins tried to kill Princess Zhaohua and the others, fortunately, Prince Yi protected them with his strong martial arts skills. They aren’t seriously injured.”

Baili Qingcang was filled with anger, and the vein stood out on his forehead, “Send the Capital Guards to surround the Third Prince Mansion and don’t let anyone in or out. Long Yi, come out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a man in black whose face was covered with only a pair of eyes exposed suddenly flashed out from the nearby grass. He knelt directly on the ground, “Your Majesty, I’m here.”

Bu Yunqing’s pupils shrank and she couldn’t help but feel a chill inside. It was the first time she knew that Baili Qingcang had other forces by his side other than Dragon Scale Army. Judging from the appearance of Long Yi, he should be a man of sacrifice.

Baili Qingcang’s face twitched, and his voice was as cold as ice, “Ask all the men of sacrifice to come out and guard the main hall. Kill ANYONE who dares to make a move!”

He stressed the word “anyone”, which made Bu Yunqing and the Governor of Capital Guards tremble with fear.

By “anyone”, he referred to the Empress, the princes, the high-ranking officials, the envoys of the Great Yue Kingdom. The killing of any one of them was enough to cause a stir in the court, but from what Baili Qingcang said, they were like cabbages, which could be casually disposed of.

After Long Yi disappeared, Baili Qingcang strode to the wedding room in the backyard. As soon as he entered the backyard, he saw the Crown Princess, Zhao Ruyun, and the others sitting on the steps. There was a dense layer of arrows scattered on the ground. It was hard to imagine how these weak women survived.

Shen Ninghua was taking the Crown Princess’ pulse. She looked terrible. Hearing the footsteps beside her, Shen Ninghua quickly turned around and said, “Father Emperor.”

“What’s going on?” A strong smell of blood came out from the wedding room. Baili Qingcang went forward and pushed the half-opened door. When he saw the scene in the room, he could not help but frown.

Shen Ninghua looked frightened, and her face was very pale. “The Crown Princess asked us to come and talk to Princess Wenhe, in case she was upset while waiting alone in the wedding room. When we arrived, there was no one at the door. The Crown Princess asked the maid to knock on the door. Unexpectedly, the door had been tampered with. As soon as it was opened, arrows shot out. The maid died on the spot.”

Baili Qingcang glanced at the maid’s body on the ground and saw the bloody hole between her eyebrows and neck. He narrowed his eyes. “What about these arrows?”

“I felt that something was wrong, so I hurriedly asked the Crown Princess and the others to leave. But before we could walk out of the yard, the archers ambushed on the wall took action. Fortunately, Junyi and the Capital Guards arrived in time, so we were saved.”

“Well, well!” Baili Qingcang was suppressing his anger, but it could be told he was furious. “Here in the capital where I stay, there is actually someone who dares to rebel!”

Baili Qingcang thought deeper. The mastermind behind it couldn’t make such tremendous efforts just to kill a prince’s side concubine. The target was definitely him! Who did it? Was it the Empress? The Crown Prince? Or some prince or minister? At this moment, he felt that everyone was suspicious.

The Dragon Scale Army gathered quickly, and the Chief of the army came forward to beg for forgiveness, “Your Majesty, I’m late. Please forgive me.”

Baili Qingcang interrupted him. “Search this place! Search carefully and present all the evidence you found!”

Baili Qingcang looked calm and didn’t seem to be angry. But the officials who knew him well were aware that terrible things would happen once the Emperor acted like this!

The Dragon Scale Army entered the wedding room and searched everywhere carefully, not missing any detail. When they opened a small cabinet, they found Bu Tinghe who were dressed in red curling up in it.

It was a tiny cabinet, and her body was almost half-folded and twisted. The Dragon Scale Army quickly split the cabinet open and found that she was still breathing. They immediately reported to Baili Qingcang, “Your Majesty, Third Prince’s side concubine is still breathing.”

Shen Ninghua stepped forward and pressed hard on the small dent below Bu Tinghe’s nose. Bu Tinghe suddenly opened her eyes and screamed in horror, “Ah! Don’t come over! Let me go! Let me go!” She wanted to move, but her arms and legs were broken and she couldn’t move at all.

“Shut up!” Baili Qingcang growled impatiently.

Bu Tinghe immediately became quiet. After seeing who was standing in front of her, she immediately cried out, “Your Majesty, it was done by those maids who came to serve me. They killed my servants. They broke my hands and feet, rolled me up, and stuffed me into the cabinet…”