Capítulo 642: Chapter 641: Confronting the Crown Prince
Xin Pavilion Master Ding called out, “Crown Prince!”
The loud call was like a cry.
The elders of Xin Pavilion felt a weight lifted.
For when they faced the most extreme oppression, the most powerful support finally arrived.
The Crown Prince has arrived in person!
The Eastern Palace seal directly revealed, creating a golden bridge, extending from the Eastern Palace straight to West Mountain.
As soon as the golden bridge arrived, the imperial aura flocked to submit, transforming the entire world into the Crown Prince’s domain.
On the other side of the golden bridge, more than ten people arrived side by side.
Leading at the front was the Crown Prince Hong Ding, dressed in deep yellow princely attire.
Behind him followed ten officials of the Eastern Palace, along with two high-level guards.
As the golden bridge contracted, the party moved with the contraction towards West Mountain.
Once the golden bridge contracted fully, it transformed into a giant golden seal, suspended behind the Crown Prince’s head, as he stood on the edge of the cliff, staring at Huo Gang.
“Great Commander himself has come to West Mountain, for what purpose?” the Crown Prince said indifferently.
This occasion was perhaps the most disrespectful he has been to his father’s most trusted minister.
Ordinary princes wouldn’t dare to do this, but he dared, because his position was as stable as a mountain, destined to be emperor.
If this Great Commander were wise, he would pledge his loyalty to him now.
However, today, the Great Commander showed no leniency: “I have been ordered by His Majesty to escort Inspector Li to inspect Xin Pavilion, and I request the Crown Prince not to interfere with the inspection.”
“Inspector?” the Crown Prince glanced up, his gaze landing on Lin Xiaosu’s face: “Li Chengnian has actually become an Inspector? I was not aware.”
Everyone’s gaze gathered on Lin Xiaosu, who said calmly, “It’s natural that the Crown Prince wasn’t aware, His Majesty only just appointed me!”
The Crown Prince replied coldly: “Since you are the Inspector, you should carry out your duties carefully, not betraying the imperial grace, and refrain from maliciously disrupting the Jianghu sects, nor triggering disputes without cause!”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, grant us insight!” Elder Ding Pavilion Master said: “This Inspector was originally a steward of Xin Pavilion. Dissatisfied with the control exerted by Xin Pavilion, he has maliciously incited His Majesty, attempting to leverage imperial authority to oppress his former compatriots. This is an abuse of imperial power domestically and a petty man’s gain in Jianghu, hoping the Crown Prince will restrain him, to avoid one person’s actions damaging the law and imperial authority.”
“The Pavilion Master speaks truly!” one elder concurred: “Such a sinister, morally corrupt person cannot be an official!”
“Indeed, if everyone in the world harbors a heart for revenge and uses imperial power to vent personal grievances, where is imperial law and order?”
“Please make a decision for Xin Pavilion…”
For a moment, the crowd was agitated.
Huo Gang furrowed his brows secretly, the situation was troublesome.
If there were sufficient evidence to convict the Crown Prince at this moment, he wouldn’t be anxious, since he had already discerned His Majesty’s intention, that the Crown Prince must be taken down.
What’s needed is irrefutable evidence.
But now, the ironclad evidence was not in hand.
The interrogation couldn’t proceed.
Because the East Palace Treasure Seal can suppress all kinds of magic.
It can even suppress one’s own Demon God magic, let alone a Subdivine Skill?
Without the Sub-God Soul Suppressing Technique, who among this group below dares to speak ill of the Crown Prince?
The combined conclusion is that the interrogation, half done, will end abruptly.
No evidence, no reason to depose the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince has great power in hand, dominating both Jianghu and the court.
Let alone Lin Xiaosu, such a small fry, even he himself may not escape unscathed.
Lin Xiaosu slowly raised his gaze: “The Crown Prince disrupts my interrogation with the East Palace Treasure Seal, thinking this way I won’t be able to obtain the ironclad evidence of your collusion with the Outer Sect to harm the Great Wilderness Court?”
The Crown Prince’s face suddenly turned ashen!
Everyone present was also stunned…
Even the Seventh Prince was shocked.
As soon as the Crown Prince arrived, his heart was drum-beating, for this Crown Prince was too overbearing, forming great pressure over him for a long time.
With Lin Xiaosu’s words, it declared he couldn’t coexist with the Crown Prince under this sky.
For he accused the Crown Prince of colluding with the Outer Sect, harming the Great Wilderness Court.
This heavy accusation was as heavy as Mount Tai!
No matter what, the Crown Prince could never let him go!
In today’s situation, fish must die, and nets must be broken!
“Insolent, how dare you defy the Crown Prince!” The two officials behind the Crown Prince stepped forward, their momentum overwhelming.
“It is you who are presumptuous!” Lin Xiaosu also stepped forward, a finger pointed directly at the Crown Prince’s iron-blue face: “His Majesty strictly orders, no one may stop the inspection, the Crown Prince must remember, anyone!”
The Crown Prince took a deep breath and slowly exhaled: “Mr. Li, you have great authority!”
“Sorry! The authority isn’t great, can’t suppress the myriad demons!” Lin Xiaosu said coldly: “Great Commander! I wish to enter the Xin Pavilion Cangshu pavilion to inspect materials, anyone daring to obstruct, the Great Commander should know how to deal with it!”
“His Majesty has ordered, anyone obstructing, kill without mercy!” the Great Commander said.
The Great Commander raised the grand flag in his hand!
The killing intent was as tangible as substance.
Directly pointing to the highest place of Xin Pavilion.
A flying ship sped out!
Straight to the top of the pavilion.
Lin Xiaosu moved, leading a hundred Forbidden Army into the pavilion.
Ascending, no one dared to stop him.
All eyes were on the Crown Prince, his face ashen, yet without panic.
Simply because the Crown Prince knew well, finding incriminating evidence against him in the Cangshu pavilion was absolutely impossible.
Though I can’t forcibly prevent it, let’s see who rules the heavens and the earth once you can’t find evidence.
Li Chengnian, I’ve truly underestimated you.
You’ve endured for so many years, always being cautious, your family has been begging to serve me, from today on, if I don’t settle your family thoroughly, I’ll be unworthy as Crown Prince!
No one knew…
In Wenling Hall, there’s a group of people!
Your Majesty sits on the high dragon throne, and below him are over twenty people.
All six ministers are present.
The Prime Minister and the Doctor are all present.
Everyone sees everything before them through the official seal.
Everyone’s back is drenched in cold sweat.
Analyzing from Lin Xiaosu stubbornly confronting the Crown Prince, this unimaginable matter suggests that Your Majesty is plotting something monumental, something colossal.
Over the years, they have grown accustomed to Your Majesty being absent, with the Crown Prince managing the court affairs. Today, summoned to the palace late at night, they witnessed the newly appointed Inspection Envoy silencing the Crown Prince without a trace of anger.
What does this signify?
It signifies a change in direction!
These ministers are adept, and through this unusual inspection, they perceive the greatest shift in the court’s direction.
The situation in the Heart Pavilion’s Cangshu pavilion is transmitted to Wenling Hall through Lin Xiaosu’s official seal.
Both sides are filled with materials, endless materials.
However, Lin Xiaosu takes no notice!
Directly ascending to the second floor.
The materials on the second floor are much fewer, but evidently more advanced.
He still takes no notice, going straight to the third floor!
Upon reaching the third floor, the old Pavilion Master’s heart sped up…
The third floor is protected by an array, only accessible with the Pavilion Master Order in his hand and the Dark Pavilion Master He Fanglue, who recently died under Huo Gang’s hand.
Li Chengnian obviously cannot open it.
If he required himself, the Pavilion Master, to personally open the door, should he comply?
As he debated internally, Lin Xiaosu raised his hand lightly, drawing a graceful arc, and the third floor opened!
The old Pavilion Master collected himself sharply, turning completely stone-like.
How did he open this door?
What followed accelerated his heartbeat even more.
Lin Xiaosu found a secret door, and with a simple hook and pull with his hand, the secret door swung open!
“Crown Prince!” The old Pavilion Master soared into the air: “The Inspection Envoy maliciously disrupts the Cangshu pavilion, he must be stopped…”
The Crown Prince’s complexion had just eased a bit, but now darkened again, his teeth clenched tightly.
Stop it?
How do I stop it?
You let him investigate, he really can find out?
What a joke!
Could He Fanglue have possibly left those things outside?
With He Fanglue dead, there is even less evidence.
The old Pavilion Master’s face contorted; he desperately wanted to tell the Crown Prince that our secret door had already been opened, but it was unspeakable with Huo Gang nearby.
He wanted to use Godless Communication, but with Huo Gang beside him, the Primordial Spirit could not convey sound.
His heart was anxious like a cat scratching.
But the Crown Prince just couldn’t receive it…
The Cangshu pavilion, Lin Xiaosu has entered once before, the materials inside seemed vast as smoke, but to him, it was familiar territory.
He raised his hand, held a scroll, opened it, and the contents directly shocked the court.
“On January 3rd the 17th year of Hongwu, launch the court-cleansing plan, the Heart Pavilion fabricates seventeen charges to take down Prime Minister Du Ding and replace him with Chen Zhengdao in power, with specific strategies as follows: initiated by Imperial Censor Deng Kuan and coordinated by Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Li Yue…”
Once the content on the booklet appeared.
Inside the Wenling Hall, Prime Minister Chen Zhengdao was completely shocked.
Who could have imagined that the first piece of evidence witnessed at this high-level palace meeting summoned by Your Majesty would pertain to himself, Prime Minister Chen Zhengdao?
“Your Majesty, this… this is completely fabricated, this…” Chen Zhengdao knelt down with a thud.
Your Majesty’s face was hidden in the darkest night before dawn, and his voice softly came forth: “Prime Minister, no need to rush, take your time to see!”
This voice was calm as water, coldly detached.
Sweat poured off the Prime Minister’s back, soaking through his clothes.
He dared not utter another word, nor make any movement, for the hall was exceedingly quiet, and he knew all too well what such silence signified: Your Majesty’s most mysterious Hidden Dragon Guard had already surrounded this hall.
The second scroll unfolded in the Cangshu pavilion.
“The Crown Prince convened an Eastern Palace meeting, with Prime Minister Chen Zhengdao and the Left Grand Master Zhou He attending, devising the Honghu strategy to take down Minister of War Leng Hongyun, replacing him with the Crown Prince’s direct line Li Yide.”
Thud!
Among the kneeling figures now included Minister of War Li Yide.
But he did not speak, only knocked his forehead on the ground…
The third scroll unfolded: “On July 7th the 23rd year of Hongwu, formulate the ‘Heavenly Ladder Plan’, Heart Pavilion using secret medicine to render the Crown Prince critically ill, State Preceptor proposing a plan for Your Majesty to pray, with Master Xuan Kong from Tunyun Temple performing the art of cause and effect to seize Your Majesty’s fortune and establish the Crown Prince’s timeless achievements…”
With a booming sound, the entire hall trembled.
This indeed was the legendary “Tunyun prayer”!
This indeed was the true reason for Your Majesty’s ten years of Yin Yang disorder and depleted fortune.
Your Majesty stood abruptly: “My esteemed ministers, do you now understand?”
Over twenty people below collectively knelt.
Your Majesty’s body gently leaned forward: “Such a son lacking respect for monarchy and family, lawless and irresponsibly audacious, what virtue and ability warrants occupying the position in the Eastern Palace? Guards!”
“Present!” appeared a band of people simultaneously on both sides.
To the left, Grand Order.
To the right, Imperial Decree.
“Issue the command!” Your Majesty said solemnly: “Crown Prince Hong Ding, disrespectful to monarchy and family, lawless and irresponsibly audacious, unfit for the role of the Eastern Palace, strip him of the Crown Prince title, and imprison him in the Heavenly Prison Cold Cell!”