Chapter 323
Chapter 323
Half an hour later, all the envoys from the Great Yan Dynasty stationed in the State of Yue had arrived. There were five officials of the fourth rank or higher. Led by the Imperial Ambassador Yun Mengze, the other four were already in their forties and fifties, old enough to be considered a council of elders.
“We, the subjects of the Great Yan Dynasty, greet the Great King of Yue!”
Yun Mengze knelt on both knees. The Great Yan Dynasty and the State of Yue recognized each other's legitimacy. The King of Yue was considered among the highest echelon of royalty in the Great Yan Dynasty, on par with the current King of Jin and the newly established Kings of Qian and Chu. The Great Yan Dynasty stood at the apex, with the Five Great Kingdoms beneath it. These were the Great Kingdom of Jin, the new Great Kingdom of Qian, the Great Kingdom of Chu, the Great Kingdom of Yue, and the Great Kingdom of Wu. Of course, these kingdoms had only been newly enfeoffed twenty years ago.
Previously, there had been only one kingdom under the Great Yan Dynasty: the Great Kingdom of Qian. Jiang Li had not only called himself a king but had elevated his title to 'Imperial Lord,' placing him just half a step below the Emperor. After a world-shaking war in which the Great Yan Dynasty won a decisive victory, the Great Kingdom of Qian was shattered and divided. The Yan Emperor then enfeoffed the nations of the world as vassal states, establishing five kingdoms at once.
Nevertheless, most of Yue's court officials referred to their ruler as 'King,' not 'Great King.' This was to signify that Ning Yuanxian would never forget his roots and that the foundation of the State of Yue was built by his ancestors, not bestowed by the Yan Emperor.
King Ning Yuanxian spoke.
“Ambassador Yun, please rise. I have summoned you all today because there is something I need you to confirm. Is this woman before us the Great Yan Dynasty’s wanted fugitive and Lord Jiang Li’s sworn sister, Xue Yin?”
*Is there even a need to confirm? Anyone can see that the person standing before us is Xue Yin.*
However, despite his dissatisfaction, Zhu Wenhua knew this procedure was necessary. It was like in later generations when a murderer, caught red-handed with irrefutable evidence, must still undergo a thorough trial before being officially declared the culprit. Yun Mengze glanced at Shen Lang’s backside, his mouth agape in feigned shock, before shaking his head.
*Brother, I think you’re overacting.*
*Brother Yun, everyone in the royal court is an actor. If you’re going to act, you have to be theatrical.*
Of course, the two exchanged these thoughts not with words, but with a simple look. Then, Yun Mengze led the four other envoys from the Great Yan Dynasty to stand before Xue Yin and observe her closely. Yun Mengze even clasped his hands and bowed to her in greeting. Xue Yin nodded. The two had met before and could be considered acquaintances, so there was truly no need for confirmation. She was the fifth most wanted fugitive of the Great Yan Dynasty, Xue Yin.
Yun Mengze approached the King, bowed deeply at the waist, and spoke.
“Your Majesty, this woman certainly bears a resemblance to Xue Yin. However, she is not the wanted fugitive Xue Yin.”
Upon hearing his words, everyone was stunned, and Zhu Wenhua could not believe what he had just heard.
*Are you all blind? This woman is clearly Jiang Li’s sworn sister, Xue Yin, yet you say she isn't.*
Everyone was aghast. Zhu Wenhua dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
“Your Majesty, this subject has long heard rumors. The imperial ambassador, Yun Mengze, has an inseparable relationship with Shen Lang; they call each other brothers. He must be saying this to protect Shen Lang. I implore Your Majesty to send an envoy to the Great Yan Dynasty and request that they send senior ministers or a prince to identify her!”
*She is clearly the fugitive Xue Yin. Shen Lang, you scheming rat, trying to use your connection with Yun Mengze to escape punishment? In your dreams! The imperial family of the Great Yan Dynasty would never tolerate a wanted criminal. If even one prince comes, not only you, Shen Lang, but your entire clan for nine generations will be exterminated. And you, Yun Mengze, daring to protect Shen Lang—you’ve just signed your own death warrant.*
The imperial ambassador, Yun Mengze, turned to the other imperial envoys.
“Seniors, I met the fugitive Xue Yin in my youth, but as I was young, my memory is not clear. You are all my elders and surely have better recollections. Please confirm if this woman is our empire’s wanted fugitive, Xue Yin.”
The other imperial envoys were all over forty or fifty years old. They studied Xue Yin closely, then shook their heads in unison.
“No. This woman is not the fugitive Xue Yin at all. How could that woman be this young?”
Everyone was even more astounded.
*Yun Mengze spouting nonsense is one thing, but are you all blind too? Are you all going to spout the same lies?*
Zhu Wenhua was about to go mad with frustration.
*Is everyone blind? That is clearly Xue Yin! She’s a Grandmaster; she can maintain her youthful appearance. Shen Lang, you audacious bastard! How dare you make the entire imperial delegation lie for you? This crime warrants not just the extermination of your nine clans, but ten if you include all those involved!*
At that moment, Zhu Wenhua kowtowed again.
“Your Majesty, Yun Mengze is Shen Lang’s close friend, which is why he is protecting him so brazenly. He has even bribed the other envoys! I implore Your Majesty to send an envoy to the Great Yan Dynasty and ask the Yan Emperor to send someone to confirm her identity!”
King Ning Yuanxian let out a long sigh before speaking.
“I, too, could see the resemblance was not exact, so I was uncertain. But now that four imperial envoys have confirmed she is not the one, I can finally be at ease. The truth of this matter is now clear. This woman is not the fugitive Xue Yin.”
Hearing this, Zhu Wenhua and all the other ministers present were dumbfounded.
*W-what is happening? That is clearly Xue Yin. Not only are the imperial envoys twisting black into white, but now even the King is calling a deer a horse?*
Only a handful of the most powerful figures, such as Zhu Rong, Su Nan, and Royal Uncle Ning Ji, remained silent. In that moment, Zhu Wenhua felt that the royal court was a truly dark and hopeless place.
*Everyone is calling a deer a horse with their eyes wide open. Even the King is helping Shen Lang twist black into white. W-what is going on? Am I the one who’s mad? Or has everyone else gone mad? I must report this to the Great Yan Dynasty myself. Surely there is still some justice left in this world.*
Just then, Shen Lang struggled to his feet, pretending to limp as he spoke.
“See? I told you. This is my aunt, Xue Ren, not Xue Yin. Now that the truth has finally come to light, Aunt, please head home first. I will return shortly.”
Xue Yin nodded and swiftly departed. Zhu Wenhua suddenly cried out in a hoarse voice.
“Your Majesty, that woman is the fugitive Xue Yin! She is the fugitive Xue Yin!”
Shen Lang strode forward and once again began to punch and kick Zhu Wenhua.
“You dare to keep slandering my aunt? You still want to harm me? I’ll beat you to death myself...”
Everyone was shocked.
*Shen Lang, weren’t you just beaten until your backside blossomed with wounds? Weren’t you covered in blood? How have you recovered so completely?*
Watching from the side, Eunuch Lü Jun’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
*Shen Lang, you can’t overdo it. If your movements get any bigger, that soft armor filled with blood you have strapped to your backside is going to fall off. Then everyone will be in an awkward position, and I’ll have to beat you for real.*
Unlike the painless beating from moments ago, this time, when Shen Lang struck, Zhu Wenhua felt the pain. The moment Shen Lang's foot connected with his teeth, fresh red blood began to flow.
“You idiot. How could a mere seventh-rank censor like you, Zhu Wenhua, possibly learn a secret like the Great Yan Dynasty’s fugitive Xue Yin being by my side? Of course, I was the one who leaked the rumor to you. Otherwise, do you think you could have ever obtained such damning information? Even if this were the court of the Great Yan Dynasty, in the presence of the Yan Emperor himself, they would still call a deer a horse and declare that she is not Xue Yin. Today, certain people were looking for any opportunity to send me to my doom, to send me as an envoy to the Savage Lands, but you stepped forward and saved me. Thank you, Brother Zhu, you’re a good man. The entire Zhu Clan is full of good people.”
Hearing those words, Zhu Wenhua was utterly dumbfounded.
*What is happening? What in the world is going on?!*
But just then, the King became genuinely enraged.
*Shen Lang, aren't you getting too carried away? Beating Zhu Wenhua a moment ago could be excused as an act to get yourself out of a dangerous situation, but beating him again now is a complete mockery of this court, is it not?*
The King angrily rebuked Shen Lang.
“Insolence! Lü Jun, Shen Lang has committed a grave offense before the throne. Drag him out and administer the club!”
And so, Shen Lang was dragged out again.
*Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.*
Shen Lang let out fake, pitiful screams, but on the final strike,
“Aaargh!”
he let out an ear-splitting shriek. Because that one really hurt.
*Damn you, Lü Jun, you actually hit me?*
Eunuch Lü Jun was holding the wooden club in his hand.
*You little brat, I’ve tolerated you for long enough. That last strike was with less than thirty percent of my strength. Don’t be so brazen in the future. I agree to join your little play, and how do you behave? A man who was supposedly beaten half to death suddenly springs back to life and starts punching someone else? Do you really think people don’t know I’m acting with you? If a young pup like you acts so recklessly, who will ever agree to join your plays in the future?*
* * *
Shen Lang returned to the court, his mouth still agape from the pain.
*Lü Jun, you old eunuch. I’ll remember this. You actually dared to strike me for real at the end. I will have my revenge for this. I’ll make sure some minor misfortune befalls you.*
King Ning Yuanxian spoke.
“The truth of the fugitive Xue Yin case has been revealed. It was a complete fabrication. Censor Zhu Wenhua fabricated facts, twisted black into white, and created a disturbance to curry favor. Strip him of all his official titles, arrest him, and throw him in prison. I order the Grand Court of Revision to investigate this matter thoroughly.”
As soon as the King’s order was given, four warriors in black clothes stepped forward and stripped Zhu Wenhua of his official hat and robes. They were about to drag him directly to the prison of the Grand Court of Revision.
“Your Majesty, I have been wronged! This subject has been truly wronged... Shen Lang, why is this happening? Why?”
His end was truly miserable.
* * *
Why did it turn out this way? The reason was quite simple. Xue Yin always spoke of atoning for her sins, constantly saying she was guilty whether in front of Shen Lang or Zhong Chuke. Her identity was Jiang Li’s sworn sister, but she had another identity: she was a Commandery Princess of the Great Yan Dynasty. Years ago, under the orders of the Great Yan Emperor, she had infiltrated Jiang Li’s side. However, she later fell for Jiang Li’s personal charisma, betrayed her mission, and formally pledged her loyalty to him.
After being defeated in the world-shaking war, Jiang Li died suddenly. The circumstances were so complex that the truth was nearly impossible to ascertain. Not only did Jiang Li possess the greatest martial arts in the world, but his queen was also the third strongest. Who on earth could have killed such a couple? Why did they die so suddenly? To this day, no one knew the truth of the matter. In any case, Lord Jiang Li was defeated, and Xue Yin was considered a meritorious official sent by the Great Yan Dynasty.
However, she did not return to the Great Yan Dynasty. She severed all ties with her family and declared that she would forever be Jiang Li’s sworn sister. Furthermore, she constantly claimed that the Great Yan Dynasty had used unjust schemes and conspiracies to murder Lord Jiang Li. The Great Yan Dynasty could not publicize the secret she was proclaiming to the world, so they turned her into a wanted fugitive.
But she was the Yan Emperor’s cousin, a daughter of an imperial prince, and a meritorious official who had infiltrated Jiang Li’s side under orders. How could they ever truly arrest her? Therefore, the upper echelons of the Great Yan Dynasty and the most powerful figures in the vassal kingdoms all knew this secret. Whenever they saw Xue Yin, they had no choice but to pretend they hadn’t. Shen Lang had used this secret as his trump card to thwart his enemies’ plot to send him to the Savage Lands.