amaotonovel Chapter 437 The Young Swordsman's Tale: Underworld Chapter 5
Chapter 437 The Young Swordsman's Tale: Underworld Chapter 5
Then, everyone was speechless as they watched Xiao Ruofeng, having failed at fishing, stand humiliated on the execution ground, bearing the charge of treason.
The incident began when several old eunuchs in the imperial mausoleum, unwilling to spend the rest of their lives there, plotted to use the imperial astronomer's dragon-sealed scroll to support Xiao Ruofeng's ascension to the throne, hoping to regain power and control of the court.
In the sixteenth year of the Mingde reign, these eunuchs finally couldn't hold back any longer.
However, they also knew that Xiao Ruofeng had no ambition to rise to power. Once their plan was exposed, not only would they fail to achieve their goal, but they would also face Xiao Ruofeng's retribution.
Therefore, in order to ensure the plan would go perfectly, Zhuoxin and the others decided to win over the Langya Army.
After all, Xiao Ruofeng was a man of great loyalty and righteousness. Once the Langya Army could join the plan, even if Xiao Ruofeng was unwilling, the die would be cast, and for the sake of his soldiers' well-being, he would have no choice but to accept it.
Just do it!
With the Dragon Seal Scroll in hand, the Langya Army fell into the trap meticulously designed by Zhuoxin and his men without any precautions.
Zhuoxin and the others' plan was progressing exceptionally smoothly, and everything seemed to be developing in the direction they had envisioned.
Unaware that the Langya Army had been incited by Zhuoxin and his group, Xiao Ruofeng was still preoccupied with figuring out how to find the real culprit behind the spread of rumors.
In fact, both Emperor Mingde and Xiao Ruofeng had already made a general guess about the mastermind behind this conspiracy.
After all, besides Xiao Ruofeng and the Imperial Preceptor Qi Tianchen, only a few people like Zhuo Xin knew the contents of the Dragon Seal Scroll.
Therefore, the mastermind behind this is most likely Zhuoxin and his group.
Unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, Emperor Mingde and Xiao Ruofeng suddenly found themselves in a tacit understanding.
They unanimously chose to ignore Zhuoxin and the others, instead wanting to take this opportunity to wipe out all the treacherous and wicked people in the court.
Therefore, Xiao Ruofeng decided to use himself as bait to lure out the enemies hiding in the shadows.
Unexpectedly, his fishing operation would eventually lure out his own Langya Army.
At this point, if he had been able to decisively abandon his subordinates who had been drawn into the conflict, he might have been able to salvage the situation.
But if he did that, he wouldn't be Xiao Ruofeng.
So, after safely sending Xiao Lingchen away, Xiao Ruofeng symbolically created some chaos in Tianqi City as "evidence" of his treason.
He then calmly accepted Emperor Mingde's death sentence.
To ensure the smooth progress of his plan, Xiao Ruofeng not only dismissed his subordinates, but also sent letters to the four guardians, including Sikong Changfeng, informing them of his decision.
At the same time, in order to prevent Ye Xiaoying from taking any extreme actions, he imprisoned him.
Finally, Xiao Ruofeng was successfully escorted to the execution ground, where he committed suicide in front of everyone.
……
Xiao Ruofeng died a tragic death, but the people in the hall watched with cold laughter.
Emperor Xiaokang hesitated for a long time before turning his gaze to Emperor Tai'an and scolding, "Why do you father and son have no sense of propriety when you do things? You could have handled things properly and clearly, but you insisted on making them so vague and unclear, making yourselves a laughingstock to the world."
"Ye Yu's actions back then were no different from treason. If it had been made public, he could have been dealt with legitimately. But you insisted on having the Prince of Qing frame him, and in the end, you created Ye Dingzhi."
Now that Emperor Mingde wants to kill Xiao Ruofeng, things have turned out the same way. So, out of all the thick laws of Beili, you only know one crime: treason? Is that it?
Emperor Tai'an was rendered speechless by the scolding and could not utter a word for a long time.
Just then, Xiao Ruofeng entered the main hall, looking at the ancestors in the hall with some surprise, and was about to bow in respect.
Xiao Yi glanced at him and said briefly and forcefully, "Do it the old way."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Tai'an instantly perked up and hurriedly stepped forward to grab Xiao Ruofeng, intending to drag him to the side hall.
He's been beaten for so many years, it's finally time for a change of personnel.
Seeing Emperor Tai'an's impatient appearance, Xiao Ruofeng asked, somewhat puzzled, "Father, what are you doing?"
Emperor Tai'an had been beaten for sixteen years. Whenever Xiao Ruojin and Xiao Ruofeng made the slightest mistake, he would be beaten. He had long been harboring a lot of anger.
Now that Xiao Ruofeng has appeared, Emperor Tai'an's pent-up anger has finally found an outlet.
So, surrounded by the crowd, Xiao Ruofeng was taken to a side hall and severely beaten by the ancestors.
When he returned to the main hall, the images on the large screen kept changing.
Xiao Chuhe, who was highly regarded and almost regarded as the hidden crown prince of Beili, was demoted to a commoner.
"Click"
Xiao Yi crushed the teacup in his hand into pieces, his face ashen as he stared at Emperor Mingde and Xiao Chuhe on the big screen.
The others in the hall also gasped, their faces filled with disbelief.
Although they have looked down on Emperor Mingde over the years because of Yi Wenjun's affair, they still have a high opinion of Xiao Chuhe.
She had been fantasizing that after Xiao Chuhe ascended the throne, he could lead Beili to glory again, but she never expected that he would be deposed like this.
Moments later, the hall erupted in excitement.
"No, has Xiao Chuhe lost his mind? If he really wants to overturn Xiao Ruofeng's case, he should at least use some strategy. How could he defy the Emperor in court and disregard his father's reputation? Isn't that just courting death?"
"And Xiao Ruojin, wasn't he the one who loved this son the most? How could he so easily demote him to a commoner?"
"Yes, has Xiao Ruojin lost his mind? Of his sons, only Xiao Chuhe is considered outstanding. Now that he has been demoted to a commoner, who should be chosen as the next crown prince of Beili? Should he choose that blind White King, or the Red King, the son of Yi Wenjun, the woman who almost caused the downfall of Beili?"
"If we don't choose the White King and the Red King, then the other princes are even less reliable!"
While everyone was anxiously wondering what to do with Bei Li, Xiao Ruofeng sighed softly, "Chu He is such a fool, he actually went to such lengths for me."
Xiao Ruofeng stared blankly at his nephew and apprentice on the big screen, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
At this moment, he felt both heartbroken for Xiao Chuhe's plight and, inevitably, a sense of relief.
Thankfully, he hadn't misjudged him; all those years of dedicated teaching had finally paid off.
In this court filled with intrigue and strife, it is truly rare for Chuhe to maintain a pure and righteous heart.
However, after feeling relieved, Xiao Ruofeng couldn't help but feel some regret. If he had told Chu He that he had deliberately committed suicide to frame himself, perhaps he wouldn't be in his current predicament.