Chapter 280
Chapter 280
Having seen through the King's intentions, Consort Su felt a deep sense of unease. Though she had married into the royal family, she never forgot she was a woman of the Su Clan. The Su Clan was her true pillar of support; only if they were powerful could she enjoy a high status in the harem. Look at Consort Bian. She was not beautiful, had a poor figure, and hadn't even borne a child. Under normal circumstances, she would have been cast aside long ago, yet she remained the King's most favored consort. The King spent thirteen days a month in the Queen's chambers and ten in Consort Bian's, leaving only seven or eight days to rotate among the remaining consorts. And why was that? Was it not because of the immense power of Duke Bianwu?
***
Outside the royal palace.
The sky was just beginning to lighten. The old Marquis Su Nan was kneeling on the ground, not at all upright, his back completely bent. His white hair fluttered in the wind, and his body swayed, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. Beside him, his son Su Jianting knelt with his back ramrod straight.
Shen Lang and Ning Zheng were not kneeling. The Fifth Prince, Ning Zheng, had intended to kneel and wait. He was accustomed to it, often kneeling for a whole day and night. The last time, he had knelt for two or three days straight while pleading with the King on behalf of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. But seeing that Shen Lang wasn't kneeling, he couldn't bring himself to do so. Otherwise, it would make Shen Lang seem particularly rude.
Shen Lang stepped forward and bowed at the waist.
"Your grand-niece's husband, Shen Lang, pays his respects to Grand-Uncle."
Su Nan nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing. It wasn't that he was being impolite, but he had come to plead for forgiveness from the King, so he could not speak. The first words from his mouth had to be a plea to the King; otherwise, it would be a sign of disrespect. On any other occasion, Marquis Su Nan would have surely extended a warm invitation to Shen Lang as a guest of the Marquis Zhenyuan's Estate.
In contrast, Su Jianting had always been skilled at putting on airs. One only had to recall the pretentious manner he adopted when he went to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate to spar with Mulan to know how adept he was at posturing. But now, he seemed to find it beneath him to even feign civility with Shen Lang. He glared at him and spoke in a cold tone.
"Move aside."
Since there was no one else around, just Shen Lang and that fool Ning Zheng, he felt no need to act. Marquis Su Nan sighed inwardly.
‘This son of mine is not seasoned enough. If you're going to act, you must do it at every moment. Whether people are watching or not, you must always be acting for it to seem real. Only then will you show no weaknesses! I, Su Nan, have been acting my entire life. I've played the role of the King's hunting dog, an utterly loyal hound. After playing the part for so long, everyone believes it to be true, so the King has no choice but to believe it as well.’
Countless people had cursed Marquis Su Nan, saying, "You are a disgrace to the ancient nobility, a lowly dog." But Su Nan never grew angry; instead, he was pleased. Not only did he let others curse him, but he even paid censors to do so. In modern terms, one might say, "My character setup is a success." He stood under the King's protection and became one of the giants of the neutral faction.
"Get lost!"
Su Jianting spoke quietly, so only Shen Lang could hear, but Shen Lang still didn't move.
‘This is the square before the palace gates. Su Jianting wouldn't dare use force.’
Instead, Shen Lang moved closer and spoke in a voice only they could hear.
"Grand-Uncle Su Nan, you must have heard by now, right? Someone must have passed the word. About how I boasted in the palace yesterday, when I had an audience with His Majesty, that I would kill you."
‘Could he not have heard?’
Shen Lang shook his head.
"That's a rumor. A rumor. You must not believe it."
Su Jianting couldn't hold back and said coldly, "It's too late to change your tune now."
"I clearly told His Majesty the King… that I would kill the Su Clan, exterminate the entire clan. I don't know how the rumor changed to just killing Grand-Uncle Su Nan. The person who passed on the message must have been too careless. If you're going to relay a message, you should relay the whole thing."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Su Jianting's face turned ashen with anger, on the verge of exploding. He was filled with regret that he couldn't draw his sword and slice Shen Lang to pieces.
‘Shen Lang, you are this arrogant, this reckless? Did you eat a bear's gallbladder to get such nerve?’
But this was before the gates of the royal palace. If he drew his sword and killed someone here, it would be an act of rebellion. Marquis Su Nan finally turned his head to look at Shen Lang, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
‘Is this the Shen Lang who, according to rumors, possesses a demonic intellect? So crude? So flashy and direct in his taunts?’
Su Jianting's voice was hoarse with anger.
"Shen Lang, wasn't it you who burned down the Sacred Temple? If you have any semblance of a man in you, speak honestly."
As Su Jianting finished, his eyes flashed, as if to see through any lie Shen Lang might tell.
"I did it. It was my doing. I may not have a man's courage, but I can speak the truth."
Su Jianting's eyes widened, and he reached for the hilt of his sword.
‘Shen Lang actually admitted it. After causing such a massive incident, you dare to admit it was your doing.’
"It was a conspiracy I orchestrated. I burned down the Sacred Temple to create a world-shaking incident in order to rescue Jin Mucong and frame your Su Clan. Su Jianting, I am very honest in front of my enemies. But what can you do to me? What are you going to do?"
Prince Ning Zheng pursed his lips from the side. He had heard rumors about Shen Lang's character, but seeing this level of crudeness for the first time, he found it hard to adjust.
Su Jianting spoke in a cold tone, "Good. You've finally admitted it. Now that the truth is out, will you have the courage to face the King? Will you have the courage to admit before all the officials of the realm that you were behind this incident?"
"Of course not. How could I have such courage? I told you just now, I have no man's courage. If you've got the guts, why don't you go tell the King what I said to his face?"
‘Damn it! You scoundrel, I regret not being able to tear you to shreds.’
Despite all this, Marquis Su Nan showed no anger. Instead, he looked at Shen Lang with an expression of high regard and admiration. Shen Lang couldn't help but be impressed.
‘Damn it! This man is a wily old fox! Not only can he endure, but he sees through to the truth. He's as cold as a venomous snake, showing no emotional turmoil at all. If Zhang Chong is as sharp as a sword, Su Nan is like poisoned water, leaving no trace. Another grandmaster has appeared.’
Shen Lang, on the contrary, felt a thrill of excitement. Facing a formidable opponent would only make him, Shen Lang, look more impressive. Crushing an enemy was fun, but defeating a powerful foe was also enjoyable.
At that moment, officials began to arrive one after another for the morning court session. The first to come was a familiar face, Zhu Rong, the Governor-General of Tiannan Province. He was a staunch pillar of the Crown Prince's faction. Shen Lang quickly went forward to greet him.
"Governor-General Zhu Rong, it's been a long time. I trust you've been well?"
Zhu Rong was taken aback by Shen Lang's attitude.
‘When did you become so friendly? I don't think we were that close. Weren't we enemies before?’
Zhu Rong nodded at Shen Lang and headed into the palace.
"Governor-General Zhu Rong, the Su Clan is the culprit behind the burning of the Sacred Temple. When the court session begins shortly, you must impeach Marquis Su Nan. It would be even better if all the officials of the Crown Prince's faction impeach him together."
Hearing this, Governor-General Zhu Rong paused his steps and stared at Shen Lang in disbelief.
‘Did I hear him correctly? Shen Lang, do you think the royal palace is a marketplace? Or do you think this is the Hansu Academy? To so openly tell one minister to criticize another? Do you think this is a child's game?’
Just then, another official approached. It was Zhong E, the younger brother of the Marquis of Zhenxi, Grand General of the Champion Army, and Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He was a pillar of the Third Prince's faction. While the Grand Chancellery was the highest authority in the State of Yue's court, the Bureau of Military Affairs was its highest military body, holding command over all military administration. There was only one Commissioner of Military Affairs, Duke Weiwu Bianwu, but he had never assumed the post in his lifetime, so it was effectively vacant. There were only four Deputy Commissioners. Marquis Su Nan's true official title was Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The Marquis of Zhenbei, Nangong Ao, was also a Deputy Commissioner, ranking below Su Nan but above Zhong E.
Shen Lang stepped forward and offered a greeting.
"Count Zhong E, greetings. I am Shen Lang of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate."
Zhong E, the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, frowned slightly.
‘Shen Lang of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate? Do we know each other? How dare a mere live-in son-in-law approach me to build a connection? Do you know your place? Do you realize the difference between our statuses is as vast as heaven and earth? Besides, isn't your family an enemy of my clan?’
The Zhong Clan of the Marquis of Zhenxi's Estate and the Xue Clan of the Count of Wu'an's Estate were both direct vassals of the Third Prince and absolute allies. And since the Xue and Jin Clans had become mortal enemies, it naturally followed that the Zhong Clan was also an enemy of the Jin Clan.
Shen Lang seemed completely unfazed by his reaction and cupped his hands.
"Count Zhong E, the culprit behind the burning of the Sacred Temple this time is Marquis Su Nan. When the court session begins shortly, you must impeach him. You must lead all the direct officials of the Third Prince's faction to impeach him!"
Zhong E was dumbfounded by Shen Lang's words.
‘Is this man… truly a lunatic? Openly conspiring right in front of the royal palace? What is your status? What is your position? A mere live-in son-in-law, an insignificant figure like an ant, dares to do such a thing. Are you not afraid of death?’
Zhong E was about to cause a scene but decided to change locations and order his subordinates to slap Shen Lang until he was half-dead. But here, at the palace, it wouldn't even come to him having to act personally. If the King learned of Shen Lang's behavior, he would immediately send men to arrest this fellow and have him beaten with a rod. Even if he wasn't killed, he would be left half-dead. This man was courting death.
What followed was a scene that further shattered the officials' sense of reality. Every time an official arrived to enter the court, Shen Lang would go forward, act familiarly, and shout to them.
"The Su Clan is responsible for burning the Sacred Temple. Marquis Su Nan is the mastermind behind this affair. You must impeach him shortly. Everyone must impeach him together!"
Shen Lang's attitude was less like discussing matters of state and more like he was running a multi-level marketing scheme. He tried to pull in everyone he saw, telling them to bring their entire factions along.