Chapter 558: Framing His Highness
Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Little Seven reached out his hand and scratched his little ear, “It’s too noisy outside. If I eat now, I still have to stand up and fight later, I’ll eat later after the fight is finished.” As he spoke, he tilted his head and thought about it for a moment, his pet.i.te face was very serious when he said, “Why not you help me to pack them up, Third Aunt? Otherwise when the fight happens later, the pastries will fall off.”
When the little one’s voice subsided, a noisy commotion came from outside!
The Emperor was already upset by Baili Jia Jue’s att.i.tude earlier, his thick brows were furrowed tighter than before, “Go and have a look at what happened outside. Why is it so noisy!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eunuch Gao retreated with the order.
The two elders who sat in the hall moved the teacups away and exchanged a glance before nodding at each other.
Helian Wei Wei chuckled when she saw their little action. She stood up, found an excuse and brought Little Seven out of the palace.
Consorts were allowed to leave even earlier before this and the Emperor did not stop them.
So when Helian Wei Wei walked out, it did not attract too much attention.
Elder Wu saw it too but after the failure of the Soul Drawing Incantation, it did not matter if Helian Wei Wei was around or not.
It was good that she left as she will not be able to say anything to exculpate Baili Jia Jue then.
As long as the Third Prince was still in the Great Hall, everything else could work!
Elder Wu took a big gulp of tea. Just you wait and see! He ought to skin Baili Jia Jue ferociously!
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something bad has happened! Something bad has happened!” Eunuch Gao who left earlier ran back and when he came in, he was panting heavily
The Emperor glared at him angrily, “What is it? Why are you so anxious?”
“Y-Your Majesty, t-there is a group of rebel troops outside and they are engaged in a fight with the imperial army!” Eunuch Gao’s forehead was covered in sweat when he said that, “They will be here at Chaoyang Hall in a while!”
The moment Eunuch Gao’s words subsided, it felt like the pause b.u.t.ton was pressed.
The hall’s atmosphere plunged into dead silence.
The munching noise were all silent; consorts and concubines were all petrified.
Even the Emperor suffered quite a shock, he was so surprised that he thought he heard it wrongly, “What did you say?!”
“There is a group of rebel troops rus.h.i.+ng in from outside the palace…”
“Hus.h.!.+” The Emperor stopped him before Eunuch Gao could finish. The Emperor’s voice was cold, his tone sounded fierce, “Impossible! How can the palace of my War Dragon Empire be invaded this easily?!”
“But…” That was what Eunuch Gao heard!
Elder Wu realized that everything was proceeding as planned, he took a step forward and said, “Your Majesty, since Eunuch Gao said as such, it must have happened. The noise outside are indeed the clunks of weapons.”
“Mm, mm, mm!” Eunuch Gao nodded repeatedly as he did not know how to react.
The Emperor dangerously squinted his eyes, he swung his hand and swept all the teacups to the ground!
“Who?! Who would be so daring!”
Elder Wu looked down, “I don’t know who might it be but like what Your Majesty said, the palace’s security is tight, there are countless halls and courts all over. Moreover, the strongest imperial army of the War Dragon Empire are standing guard in front of Chaoyang Hall, those mere rebel troops will not be able to fight their way in under normal circ.u.mstances. They would be eliminated before they even step through the gate, but since they had, it only proves one thing, which is that there is someone in this Chaoyang Hall working with the rebellion!”
“Elder Wu, you are saying…” The Emperor stood up, his lips were pale and his face looked gloomy. His gaze glanced over everyone in the hall and ultimately landed on Baili Jia Jue. He squinted his eyes a little, “Someone is trying to conspire against me?”
Elderly Wu replied respectfully, “I am just speculating since it is a heavy crime for saying this out loud. I don’t dare to simply accuse others but I really want to make sure of something.”
Up until here, Elder Wu paused, he did not continue but instead glanced over at Baili Jia Jue’s direction.
Baili Jia Jue’s long legs were half crossed, his elegant and cold look still remaining in his face. The handsome side view of his face was as beautiful as a painting, as though he was not affected by what was happening outside.
The Emperor was also looking at him. He retracted his gaze and looked at Elder Wu, “Elder Wu, just be frank with is on your mind.”
“I’ve heard rumours saying that someone saw the Third Prince rus.h.i.+ng to make a robe. The material used is golden silk and it had dragon claws sewn on it.” As Elder Wu spoke, he looked up at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, according to the ancestor’s rules, only Your Majesty can wear real golden silk. I am just curious as to why would the Third Prince rush his men to sew a robe of that particular color?”
Golden silk with dragon claws sewn on it, it was an obvious sign of a rebellion! The Emperor’s expression turned colder as he listened. His eyes were looking at Baili Jia Jue, and the black goo that oozed out from the bottom of his eyes made one feel extremely uncomfortable, “Ah Jue, how do you explain yourself?”
“It is merely fict.i.tious.” 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!
A day ago, he had sent someone to hide a set of dragon robes in Jiuchong Hall. The hiding spot might be inconspicuous but a little search would easily reveal it!
He really wanted to see how would Baili Jia Jue react when the dragon robe is brought over!