Chapter 75
At this moment, the atmosphere in the Imperial Library of the palace was extremely heavy. Several officials stood on either side, and the emperor behind the desk, all unanimously watched with concern as Shangguan Ye frowned over a memorial. Anxiety and anticipation were etched on their faces.
After a long while, Shangguan Ye finally closed the memorial slowly and glanced at the others.
Although his face was expressionless, his gaze made their hearts tighten with unease.
Unable to hold back, the emperor was the first to speak. “Shangguan Ye, what do you think of this matter? How credible is it?”
Shangguan Ye took a slow sip of tea before responding, “Half.”
“Half?” Everyone’s eyes widened in unison, exclaiming in surprise. They exchanged glances before speaking again in unison, “So it’s true then?”
“That doesn’t seem right,” murmured Murong Xing, the first to voice his doubts. His thick brows furrowed in confusion. “Lu Kingdom has been trying to form an alliance with us for years. Why would they provoke discord between our two nations now? And as for Zhao Kingdom, they just participated in the Plum Blossom Festival and left not long ago without showing any sign of hostility. Moreover, their little princess is still here. Would they not fear us taking her hostage?”
“Hmph, just a mere princess,” scoffed General Dugu Xian dismissively. “Isn’t the timing of all this too coincidental? Zhao Kingdom might have deliberately left the princess behind as bait, only to later accuse us of detaining her. And if something truly happens to Zhao Xiru on our soil, wouldn’t that give them an excuse to go to war? As for Lu Kingdom, well, they’re as unreliable as a blade of grass swaying in the wind. There are no eternal allies between nations, only interests.”
Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow and glanced at Dugu Xian, easily discerning the subtle excitement in his eyes.
Dugu Xian had once been a renowned general of Yan Kingdom, and it was under his command that Shangguan Ye first set foot on the battlefield. But over time, Shangguan Ye rose in prominence and eventually replaced him. Jealousy had led Dugu Xian to a drunken mistake that nearly cost the lives of many soldiers. As a result, the emperor stripped him of his military command and reassigned him to court.
Though Dugu Xian’s rank continued to rise, a general without troops was like a tiger without claws. What he longed for most was a chance to reclaim his command. With Shangguan Ye’s growing fame, Dugu Xian saw little hope—until now.
The emperor cast a subtle glance at Dugu Xian, then exchanged a meaningful look with Shangguan Ye.
Shangguan Ye gave a faint nod in acknowledgment.
As the officials began a heated debate, none noticed the silent exchange between the emperor and his brother.
Amid the commotion, a light knock came at the door. The voice of Chief Steward Yu followed, reporting that one of Shangguan Ye’s guards had urgent news to deliver.
The officials looked at Shangguan Ye in puzzlement, wondering if it was related to the current matter. They allowed the guard to enter.
The shadow guard saluted the emperor before leaning in to whisper a few words to Shangguan Ye.
Several officials frowned, thinking the secrecy in the emperor’s presence was disrespectful. But to their surprise, the emperor seemed unperturbed, as if accustomed to it. This further reinforced their impression of the emperor’s trust in Shangguan Ye.
However, Shangguan Ye’s expression darkened instantly, his eyes flashing with a murderous glint. Rising abruptly like a demon from hell, he exuded an aura of death.
“Your Majesty, I have urgent business. I must take my leave,” he said, his tone icy.
“Wait! What happened?” The emperor, startled by Shangguan Ye’s sudden demeanor, blurted out.
Though he had heard tales of Shangguan Ye’s fearsome reputation on the battlefield, he had only experienced his calm, cold presence in person. Yet now, the suffocating atmosphere made it feel as though a blade was pressed against his neck.
Shangguan Ye narrowed his eyes slightly and uttered two words: “Private matter.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out swiftly.
The officials, despite their experience with countless storms, felt their legs weaken. Shangguan Ye’s gaze had been terrifying, as if they had glimpsed a blood-red hell and the devil’s twisted grin in his eyes.
It took a while for the oppressive chill in the room to dissipate.
Shortly after, another report arrived—this time concerning Murong Xing’s household. His steward brought shocking news: a crowd had gathered at the gates of the Murong residence, accusing Murong Qiufeng, the prime minister’s son, of being a flower thief and a swindler. The crowd demanded an explanation from the prime minister.
Murong Xing was stunned. Though he had not been closely involved in his son’s upbringing, he was confident in Murong Qiufeng’s character. Recently, Qiufeng had been following Shangguan Ye, even assisting him. Murong Xing had been pleased by this development, so how could such a scandal arise?
Suspecting a connection to Shangguan Ye’s abrupt departure, Murong Xing grew increasingly uneasy. Worried that his son might have caused trouble or fallen victim to a scheme, he hastily took his leave and returned home.
The emperor, sensing the gravity of the situation, decided to suspend their discussions and ordered an investigation.
He had met Murong Qiufeng days ago and found it hard to believe that such a poised and refined young man could be involved in such an incident. If anything, it seemed more likely that others would take advantage of him. Something was clearly amiss.
However, as the saying goes, bad news travels fast. Within hours, the scandal involving Murong Qiufeng had spread far and wide, fueled by malicious embellishments.
By the time it reached the public, the story had transformed, tarnishing Murong Qiufeng’s reputation. Many who had never met him assumed he was a libertine, just like his notorious sister, Murong Qiujun, whose arrogance was well-known in Lu City. They readily accepted the accusations as truth.
Outside the Murong residence, an angry mob had gathered. Among them were individuals seeking revenge for injuries sustained at the tavern, others supporting Song Lige, and even a few instigated by rival families. The most damning accusations stemmed from the claim that Murong Qiufeng had used his music to harm others in an attempt to coerce Song Lige into submission.
The chaos at the gates seemed to escalate, signaling that this was no ordinary scandal but a carefully orchestrated storm.
