"It is merely fictitious." Baili Jia Jue calmly replied the Emperor with four words, his long fingers twisting the teacup. He was very calm and casual yet one could feel the coldness in him.
Before the Emperor could say anything, Elder Wu cut in and started to make concessions in order to gain advantage, "Maybe that someone saw it wrongly, but the servants are really talking about it, so I thought I might as well ask and get to the bottom of it. If the Third Prince doesn't mind, I would suggest that we search the Third Prince's chambers. Not only will it suppress the bad rumours out there, it can even clear the Third Prince's name!"
"Elder Wu, do you know how heavy of a crime it is to simply search around a prince's chambers?" Baili Jia Jue retorted coldly.
Elder Wu's was thick faced as he yelled aloud, "I am just worried about your reputation, Your Highness. If Your Highness doesn't have it, you can simply let us search your chambers to be clear of it."
"Do as Elder Wu says." The Emperor glanced over at Baili Jia Jue, his tone was so deep that it was almost merciless, "Men, go to Jiuchong Hall and search for the golden robe that Elder Wu mentioned!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The men received their orders and went out.
As the fighting noise outside the hall was relentless, the Emperor's eyes were at its gloomiest.
Elder Wu was very delighted though. He was thinking that no matter how smart Baili Jia Jue was, he could not have expected that all this were set up beforehand!
He really wanted to see how would Baili Jia Jue react when the dragon robe is brought over!
Chapter 559 - Hiding The Dragon Robe?
The atmosphere in Chaoyang Hall was getting heavier.
The fighting noise outside the hall was also getting closer.
If it was in the past, the Emperor would have sent the Third Prince to engage the enemies.
But today...
Everyone felt the heavy distrust from the Emperor toward the Third Prince.
All the imperial officials and consorts dared not speak. They could only look down while all sorts of thoughts ran through their minds.
Strictly speaking, judging on the Third Prince's forces, if he really wanted to start a rebellion, he could have done it a long time ago.
How could he left traces behind and let it fall into Elder Wu's hands?
The Emperor must have known this too and because he knew it, hence his actions.
No Emperor would want to keep a prince with a higher reputation than himself.
Therefore for this particular 'act', although Elder Wu was the one who suggested it, the one who truly wanted to seize the chance to take down the Third Prince might be the Emperor himself...
"Elder Wu!" The man who went over for the search returned quickly and there was delight on his face, it seemed like the trip to Jiuchong Hall was worth it!
Elder Wu glanced over Baili Jia Jue, his brows showing delight, "How is it? Did you find anything?"
The man nodded, "When we entered His Highness' study room, the shadow guards were blocking our way at first but we suspected something as they were acting weird, so we barged in. As expected, inside a hidden drawer of the study room, we found a black package that was intentionally hidden!"
Elder Wu indeed ordered his men to wrap the fake dragon robe with black cloth, so that it could stay hidden from Baili Jia Jue's sight. Since the black package was found, it would mean that Baili Jia Jue has met his doom, there was no way for him to make a comeback this time!
"Your Highness, shouldn't you explain what is inside the black package?" Elder Wu's smile was bright, "Your Highness, please don't tell me that you don't know what it is as well."
Baili Jia Jue glanced blankly at the elder while the edge of his mouth seemed to have curled into a sneering smile.
Nangong Lie was a smart person, although he did not know what was the truth behind this whole incident, he knew at first glance that Elder Wu must have did something. As Nangong Lie looked toward Baili Jia Jue, his eyes could not help but show a trace of worry.
He never believed Ah Jue would hide the dragon robe.
He knew better than anyone that with Ah Jue's forces, if he really was impatient, he would have a myriad of ways to seize the throne for himself, why would he hide a dragon robe?
Yet it could not stop others from setting it up against him.
If Ah Jue is deemed guilty of hiding the dragon robe, then...
The Emperor sat on his dragon throne and coughed vehemently. His eyes glanced over the package that the guards brought over and his c.h.e.s.t was boiling, "Good! Ah Jue, you are really my good son!"
Bang!
Another teacup was smashed!
But this time, the teacup grazed Baili Jia Jue's hair and smashed toward the wooden beam behind him.
The faint smile on Baili Jia Jue's elegant, cold and handsome face remained, he did not move, even his posture was the same, but the pressure that came out from his long narrow eyes shocked even the Emperor!
The Emperor seemed to have noticed that his action was a little over the top, so he took a deep breath before getting up from his dragon throne as his body quivered, "The kingdom will yours one day, why are you so anxious! Hiding the dragon robe! I have always loved you the most, what about you! Are you responsible for the rebel army causing trouble outside?! What are you trying to do! Force me to abdicate!?"
Before Baili Jia Jue could speak.
Elder Wu knelt on the ground all of a sudden, "Your Majesty! It is my responsibility to protect the kingdom and the people in it for I am from the Elder Compound. Since the matter has come afloat, then I have to step up and say something. Everyone here knows about the attainments that the Third Prince achieved in the martial arts. He was in charge of the security of the palace for all these years and now the rebel army is right at our door and will probably come in here at any moment, yet none of the Third Prince's shadow guards did anything? Even he himself is here at the Chaoyang Hall, and it seems like he does not have the slightest intention to offer help. I've said it very early once that the palace is easy to defend and difficult to attack, there are dozens of courts and halls throughout the palace. If the rebel army really wants to siege the palace, they must have a detailed plan, otherwise it is impossible to take us down! However, today, the rebel army quietly made it through layers of palace walls and are coming straight toward Chaoyang Hall. It can only mean one thing, and that is that someone in the palace is working with them from the inside! Judging from the situation, the person who truly commands the rebel army must be the one who is familiar with the palace and all the inner courts so it must be the Third Prince!"
"Nonsense!" Governor Chen could not bear it anymore and stood up, "How can Elder Wu be so sure that the Third Prince is the one who plotted the rebellion based on your own opinion? There is no evidence at all and you accused him so heavily, if the retired emperor knows about this, do you think he will simply spare you, Elder Wu!"
Elder Wu laughed with his chin slightly lifted, "Lord Chen, don't scare me with the retired emperor. His Majesty's health is not great, he had just left for Lingyin Temple and I am afraid that His Majesty won't be back for a while. Even if the retired emperor were to return, he would only see how treacherous the Third Prince is, surely His Majesty wouldn't cover for him and will only handle it even more decisively!"
"Elder Wu is right." Elder Zhan also stood up with a righteous look on his face, "The crime that the Third Prince has committed this time is not something petty. It has come to this and yet you are still defending him, Lord Chen. Are you perhaps one of the treacherous ones?"
Governor Chen turned around all of a sudden with rage on his face, "You! You are accusing me!" He put his hands together in front of him and said, "Your Majesty, you must examine this carefully!"
"Your Majesty, please examine this carefully!" Starting from Governor Chen, many other imperial officials knelt on the ground as well, trying to persuade the Emperor to carefully examine it and not wrongly accused the good.
He squinted his eyes slightly, his hand which was clenching the medicinal pill grew tighter.
Since when did the imperial court become like this?
Half of the imperial officials are pleading on behalf of the Third Prince!
Do they know who is the one who is truly sitting on the dragon throne!
Nangong Lie knew things had gone south after seeing the situation!
The Emperor always had scruples about Ah Jue, intentional or not, he was worried that Ah Jue's reputation would surpass him.
That was why when that incident happened back then, he did not overly punish the Elder Compound.
Showing the bearing of a ruler too early in his life was not a good thing for a prince.
Ah Jue's traits of being an Emperor was too pronounced, hence he was given the cold shoulder since he was young.
Now, many knelt down and pleaded for Ah Jue and according to the Emperor's character, not only will he not spare Ah Jue, he might even punish Ah Jue more severely!
Chapter 560 - The Two-Faced Prince, The Shocked Elder
With this thought in mind, Nangong Lie turned around suddenly and looked at Baili Jia Jue who stood at the center of the hall.
He believed that Ah Jue would surely understand this!
"Third Prince, all these officials are pleading on behalf of you, begging me to spare you." The Emperor chuckled, "This is treason, it's not just any petty crime. Tell me, can I spare you for treason?"
Eunuch Gao was scared out of his mind, he trembled badly as he served beside the Emperor.
The Emperor could not vent his anger at Baili Jia Jue, so he kicked Eunuch Gao aside and scolded him, but it was actually meant for Baili Jia Jue, "You are so imm.a.t.u.r.e!"
"Your Majesty." Elder Wu's gaze gleamed, "Why not you tolerate the Third Prince for one last time, considering that he is still young…"
"He? Young?" The Emperor was further enraged, "He is m.a.t.u.r.ed enough to hide the dragon robe!"
Elder Wu knew his plan had succeeded, so he kept quiet and took a step back. The edges of his mouth showed an unconcealable delight. The more someone pleaded for the Third Prince, the more horrible he would die.
Everything was proceeding according to his plan, plus the noise from the soldiers and horses out there, the Emperor could no longer suppress his true thoughts anymore!
He believed that even up until now, the Third Prince did not know what dealt him the fatal blow!
That is why you do not place yourself so high up in the ranks. Who knows when you will fall down from the top and how badly will you fall!
Elder Wu shook his head and feigned a few sighs.
But to his surprise.
It was at this moment when Baili Jia Jue spoke without any sense of hurry, his tone was still cold and carried his unique sneer, "Are you people done? Is it my turn to speak?"
Although it was a question, it sounded like Baili Jia Jue was making a statement.
"Elder Wu, am I a little too merciful to you and the Elder Compound? That's why you have the courage to accuse me?"
Elder Wu looked up, he looked exceptionally distressed, "Your Highness, it has come to this and it is fine that you don't admit it, but why would you slander me? I am one of the four elders and is responsible to protect the kingdom. Maybe Your Highness feels that I am a despicable person for trying to expose you in the hall, but it is what my conscience drove me to do. If I find out that someone is trying to plot a rebellion and did not report it to His Majesty, I am not performing my duty! Your Highness, I don't want to believe that you are such a person either, but the witnesses and evidence are solid! Who can share my heart-wrenched feeling?"
"It seems like I am really too soft." Baili Jia Jue was unconcerned as he twisted the silver ring on his finger, "Acting in front of me? Hmph."
His chuckle was charming, it could even be considered as heavily attractive.
But the cold that seeped out was enough to make everyone shiver.
Elder Wu braced himself and looked away. He did not speak with Baili Jia Jue anymore, instead he looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, you should know better than anyone what my thoughts are. The men from the Elder Compound had been through many tough years and we served you wholeheartedly, yet we were always misunderstood. Now, even His Highness is viewing me as such, I am worried that if Your Majesty doesn't punish His Highness, he would surely hold my entire family responsible!"
"Third Prince!" The Emperor's face turned gloomy completely, "This is Chaoyang Hall, how dare you act like this here? Do you even take me, your father, seriously!"
Baili Jia Jue dusted his long robe slowly. He was as cold and elegant as usual but that tone of his had an indescribable sneer mixed into it, "Father, you are holding me responsible for such a crime so quickly? Aren't you a little too anxious?"
After hearing what he said, the Emperor's eyes dangerously squinted!
Elder Wu immediately reacted to his words, "Your Highness, the dragon robe is found, what else do you have to say?"
"Dragon robe?" Baili Jia Jue looked down with a domineering bearing at the black package on the floor, "With just this?"
Elder Wu calmed down, "It seems like Your Highness will not giving up without seeing it with your own eyes. Men, open the black package!"
"Yes, Sir!" one of the two guards answered and bent over.
Elder Wu raised his chin in delight, he was waiting for Baili Jia Jue to be rendered speechless!
However, what he heard was clamour in his ears!
"What is that?"
"It seems like dried beef jerky?"
"There's also candied dates inside, right?"
Beef jerky?! Dates?!
"T-This is impossible! How could it be! Impossible!"
He put the thing inside the black package himself!
How could the dragon robe become a bunch of beef jerky?!
The black package was indeed the one he ordered his men to hide in Jiuchong Hall.
Could it be!
Elder Wu suddenly looked up, his face was pale when he looked at Baili Jia Jue.
It's him!
It must be him!
The man who went to hide the package was exposed!
But why did he not claim that the black package was holding snacks from the start?
And he did not even do anything to the man who planted the black package.
He let the man return to me to inform me of the successful set up...
Unknowingly, fierce anxiety rose in Elder Wu, the delight that he had in him crumbled into nothing at this exact moment.
He looked at the man standing before him. The handsome man still had on his usual expression. When he looked at him, it felt as if he was looking at an unpresentable clown.
It made Elder Wu feel a never before felt coldness, he could not help but to take a few steps back and his expression was numb.
The Emperor was stunned too before he furrowed his thick brows.
Baili Jia Jue smiled faintly as he picked up a piece of beef jerky, his slender fingers with the black glove slowly crushed the jerky. He looked very elegant and beautiful, "What happened, Elder Wu? You seem a little disappointed? I was just thinking about asking you why would you claim that the black package that I used to prepare snacks for Little Seven is carrying the dragon robe without even checking?
The question shook Elder Wu slightly off his feet.
Elder Wu clenched his teeth and tried to keep his mind clear.
He still has a chance!
He had not lost it all yet!
As long as the commotion continued outside the hall, he still had a chance to win!
Since he had decided not to send in the soldiers, even if hiding the dragon robe was a bust, Baili Jia Jue could not escape from being related to the rebellion either!
Look carefully at what I have to say next!
; Chapter 561 - A Slap In The Face!
"Your Highness, my men really saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but I do not understand how the package was swapped into a bunch of beef jerky. I hope this comes to your attention, Your Highness!" Up until this stage, Elder Wu knew he had no place to retreat anymore, so he might as well put the blame on Baili Jia Jue, "Your Highness! The army is still fighting outside. Despite the desperate situation, the Third Prince is here in the hall and he does not seem to have the slightest intention to stop the rebellion! The evidence that I've searched out of the difficulty is even swapped into snacks by some intentional party! Your Highness, you must have an idea about what is really going on since all the matters are laid out before your eyes!"
The Emperor pressed onto the arm of the dragon throne with his left hand as he remained silent. The doubts in his eyes when he looked at Baili Jia Jue did not subside at all.
Baili Jia Jue said slowly, "Elder Wu, your ability to blame others for your own crimes is really something. You claimed that your men saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but Elder Wu, do I need to remind you that the Elder Compound is on the west side of the palace while Jiuchong Hall is at another corner? How did your men see through all the courts and halls in the palace and noticed what was in Jiuchong Hall?
After hearing what he said, the crowd turned and looked at Elder Wu.
"I …" Elder Wu turned pale, still intending to defend himself.
Baili Jia Jue's cold voice interrupted him, "Planting your man in the prince's chamber? How dare you plant your man at my side, Elder Wu! Don't you forget what place this is! This is the palace! Elder Wu, do you even respect the imperial family's dignity and the law of the kingdom? Planting your men to spy at whosoever's side that you like? What about the Emperor and the Retired Emperor? Did you plant your men beside them too?"
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