boyutpedia Chapter 230 The situation in the court
Chapter 230 The situation in the court
The atmosphere within the magnificent palace was so solemn it seemed as if water could drip from it. The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his face gloomy, his eyes filled with majesty and suspicion. When Ling Xuan presented the secret scroll, and a close eunuch took it and slowly passed it among the ministers, the entire court erupted in excitement.
General Zhao was the first to step forward. Clad in battle armor, he stood tall and straight, his voice resonating like a bell. "Your Majesty, I have known Prince Ling for many years and know him to be a loyal and courageous man. The things revealed in this secret scroll are certainly not groundless. How could Prince Ling fabricate such a major matter? This must be a vain attempt by the rebels to make excuses. Your Majesty, please understand!"
However, Lord Li twirled his beard and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the arrival of this secret scroll is strange, and there is no other evidence. I am afraid that someone has ulterior motives and deliberately framed loyal officials in order to disrupt the court order." After saying this, he glanced at Ling Xuan intentionally or unintentionally.
Ling Xuan held his head high and chest out, took a step forward, saluted, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, my beloved concubine and I have experienced many hardships in the valley on the outskirts of the city. The valley is remote and difficult to find, and is full of thorns and traps. We found many suspicious signs in a hidden cave, and finally found this secret scroll in a secret room deep in the cave. The secret scroll records the rebellion plan in detail, including the secret codes for the rebels to contact and the route map for marching into the palace. Every word I said is true, and there is absolutely no falsehood." He looked at the ministers one by one with a firm gaze. When he looked at the questioners, there was no fear in his eyes. His eyes seemed to say that the truth is in the hearts of the people and cannot be doubted.
At this moment, the exposed leader of the conspiracy, Grand Tutor Wang, stepped forward. His face was thick with flesh, yet he feigned composure. He declared, "Your Majesty, I believe that Prince Ling's actions are the true prelude to rebellion. He has long colluded with underworld forces, harboring ulterior motives. This secret scroll must have been forged, intended to bring down loyal and patriotic figures like me and others, thus clearing the way for his rebellion." He then presented a letter, "Your Majesty, this is the evidence! This correspondence between Prince Ling and underworld gangsters reveals his ruthless ambitions."
Yun Mengting, who was outside the palace, was extremely anxious when she heard the news. Although she was outside the palace, she was concerned about Ling Xuan's safety and the direction of the court. She quickly called Xiaomei over, whispered a few instructions, and Xiaomei left like a gust of wind. Not long after, Zhang, a highly respected old minister in the court, received the news. He nodded slightly, found the right time in the court, and slowly said: "Your Majesty, this old minister also has some evidence here, and I would like to present it to Your Majesty." After that, he took out a thick stack of files, "Your Majesty, this is what this old minister has obtained from secretly investigating Grand Tutor Wang for a long time. Grand Tutor Wang is corrupt and has accepted countless bribes. He also formed a clique in the court to exclude dissidents. His evil deeds are too numerous to list. For such a person, it is his usual method to frame Prince Ling in order to protect his own interests. I hope Your Majesty will not be deceived by him."
Meanwhile, Yun Mengting's friends in the Jianghu were also busy, quietly spreading the news of Grand Tutor Wang's conspiracy throughout the capital. For a time, the people of the capital were abuzz with discussion, accusing Grand Tutor Wang and his group of cruelty and treacherous behavior while praising Ling Xuan. Public opinion gradually shifted to Ling Xuan's side.
During the court debate, Ling Xuan and Yun Mengting took advantage of a break to meet briefly in a side hall. Ling Xuan looked at Yun Mengting, his eyes filled with affection and trust. He gently held her hand and whispered, "Ting'er, don't be afraid. I can handle it." Yun Mengting nodded slightly, raised her hand to straighten Ling Xuan's clothes, and said softly, "Your Highness, no matter what happens, I will stand by your side."
But at that moment, a guard hurried over and whispered, "Your Highness, Princess, according to reliable information, the enemy has sent assassins to infiltrate the palace, targeting you, Your Highness and Princess." The two were startled, but quickly regained their composure. Ling Xuan said solemnly, "Ting'er, do not panic. I will arrange for guards to secretly protect you. You should proceed with caution. I need to return to the main hall to deal with the situation." He then gave Yun Mengting a deep look, turned, and strode away. His back exuded a sense of determination and commitment. Yun Mengting gazed in the direction Ling Xuan had left, her eyes filled with worry and determination.