You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 445: Court Meeting (2 in 1 order)

Just when Zhong Wuye was at a loss, a deep male voice suddenly came from the side and said: "Forgive me for being frank, but this kind of formation restriction is really familiar to me."

As he spoke, the man emerged from the darkness. It was none other than Qin Huan. He was dressed in a long gray robe, a simple sword tucked into his waist, and a wary look on his face.

Seeing Zhong Wuye standing there in a daze, Qin Huan didn't bother to say anything more and walked straight forward to check on the maid. He frowned, and his cat-like eyes looked her up and down, then said in a deep voice:
"This technique was created by a wizard from the Northern Kingdom. It's so cruel and vicious that it's impossible to defend against it!"

Zhong Wuye was shocked when she heard this. Although she had known that the Northern Zhou emperor was ruthless, she had never imagined that he would resort to such despicable means! To be so cruel to a mere palace maid?
She calmed herself down and asked in a low voice: "In your opinion, how should we remove the restrictions on her? Otherwise, I'm afraid..." Qin Huan frowned, looking embarrassed.

He looked up and down at the girl who had become numb, and finally sighed helplessly, saying: "This restriction is indeed very strange. I am afraid that even a shallow person like me will find it difficult to understand the mystery. Unless we find the root cause of this restriction, there may be a turning point."

……

At the same time, the shocking news of the attack on the Northern Zhou delegation broke out in Chang'an City, and instantly caused a sensation in the entire Dayuan court.

This is a major event concerning the relationship between the two countries. How can we turn a blind eye to it?
Emperor Yongping, though still young and seemingly composed, was internally troubled. As a new ruler, he knew the court had not yet fully embraced him. Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding the attack on the diplomatic mission remained shrouded in mystery, leaving him unsure of what to do.

Finally, amid an uproar, Emperor Yongping ordered a meeting of all his ministers in the Kunning Palace in the Forbidden City to discuss countermeasures.

As soon as the bell rang, Kunning Palace was filled with people and noise.

Civil and military officials stood in awe on both sides of the passageway for a long time. A red carpet strewn with gilded brocade stretched from the square to the main hall entrance. Palace attendants, holding long-handled imperial umbrellas emblazoned with blue dragon patterns, waited for a long time. The courtiers, dressed in fine attire, filed into the hall, tense and alert. Some wore solemn expressions, some had flickering eyes, and some smirked faintly, all speculating on the details of this trial.

After everyone had taken their seats, the statue of Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl on the top of the Golden Palace suddenly emitted colorful clouds. On the semi-dome in the center of the palace, which was carved with thousands of flying dragons, wisps of dragon energy surged in from all directions and finally condensed into a dazzling golden light. A faint dragon-shaped shadow could be seen appearing and disappearing in it.

Immediately afterwards, a chorus of gongs and drums erupted, and the main hall door slowly opened. The Yongping Emperor's dragon throne slowly entered the main hall of Kunning Palace. The young emperor, clad in a yellow dragon robe, wore a solemn expression, his eyes narrowed, a sharp glint hidden within. He slowly approached from the central aisle with steady, powerful steps.

Emperor Yongping ascended the throne and slowly sat down. A deep silence fell throughout Kunning Palace. First, Prime Minister Sima Ru came forward and knelt in respect, then he angrily addressed Emperor Yongping:
"I and my companions were only on our way to meet with the imperial delegation, but we were met with such a brutal attack. They truly deserve the death penalty! I have sent people to track down the whereabouts of the perpetrators, but we are still searching for the true identity of the perpetrators."

Sima Ru had barely finished his words when Grand Tutor Ouyang Xing interrupted him from the other side of the hall. The old man, dressed in a deep purple brocade robe, had a sunken figure, eyes as bright as bells, a high, arched forehead, sword-like brows, and an expression of unquestionable majesty and arrogance.

He slowly stepped forward, glared coldly at Sima Ru, and said sternly, "Your Majesty, I now have irrefutable evidence! This conspiracy was orchestrated by Prime Minister Sima. Sima Ru harbored resentment and sought to sow discord between our court and the Northern Zhou. This is why he orchestrated this treacherous plot."

As he spoke, Ouyang Xing waved his sleeves, and two guards dressed in black brought up a large plate with some weapon debris and armor fragments on it.

"These are all relics left at the scene of the attack. I have secretly investigated them and found that they all came from gangs working for Sima Ru! This shows that Sima Ru is undoubtedly the murderer in this case."

Ouyang Xing stared at Sima Ru with a gleam of lightning in his eyes and spoke in an aggressive tone.

Sima Ru was furious when he heard this. His already dark face turned even darker. A hideous twist appeared at the corners of his lips. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides and it took him a long while to catch his breath.

When he finally calmed down, he retorted fiercely, "What? I come from a powerful family in the Central Plains, and I have many righteous men under my command. Why would I do such a despicable thing? It's clearly you, a treacherous villain, who are framing me!"

The two men engaged in a fierce verbal battle.

Ouyang Xing's solemn and stern demeanor changed, a sinister sneer appeared on his face, and he slowly retorted: "How shameless! I am dedicated to serving my country and my people. How could I do such a dirty thing? Moreover..."

As he spoke, he winked and several attendants led a woman out from the back hall.

The woman was dressed in a luxurious embroidered robe, her skin almost translucent, her eyes bright and her teeth white. Her dark hair was pinned back with an exquisite gold hairpin, letting loose strands drape softly across her shoulders. Her features were exquisitely refined, with a straight nose and a small mouth. Her eyes, especially, were captivating, her brows sharply drawn together in a straight line, a beauty of many kinds. Gazing at her charming face, one could tell it was the stunningly beautiful Princess Tana of the Northern Kingdom.

Ouyang Xuan led her to him, looked respectfully at Emperor Yongping, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, this is Princess Tana, whom I fortunately saved when the diplomatic mission was attacked. Thanks to her testimony, I would not know how to explain the whole story of the attack to Your Majesty otherwise."

After saying this, he looked at Emperor Yongping with an extremely sincere and pleading expression, obviously intending to seek credit from the emperor.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongping showed an embarrassment, with a look of confusion and helplessness in his eyes.

He was a diligent and studious emperor, who had been taught Confucian classics since childhood and had a gentle and humble temperament. Therefore, faced with such a complex power struggle, he could not help but fall into a dilemma:
Ouyang Xing was a trusted and important minister of the late emperor. Even if he did something wrong, he would not dare to really doubt him.

Sima Ru, on the other hand, was a close friend he had known since his youth, a former student. Though somewhat withdrawn, he was by no means as sinister and despicable as Ouyang Xing had claimed. Weighing the two options, Emperor Yongping's eyes were filled with hesitation, his brow furrowed in worry, unable to utter a single word for a long time. Just then, the old man coughed softly in the hall.

Everyone's eyes turned to see a kind-faced old minister with a pair of long, half-white beard swaying slowly. He was dressed in a dark blue gown, and his white hair was covered by a wide hat, with only two wisps of white hair hanging from the brim.

This old man was Wu Lao, the Minister of Rites, who had been with the Yongping Emperor during his reign. Although he was very old, his kind eyes shone with wisdom. Wu Lao smiled and spoke clearly, advising the Yongping Emperor:
"Your Majesty, a matter of such importance to the nation and its military, cannot be hastily concluded. How about," he considered his words and continued, "order Dean Cangli of the Cardinals to mediate this matter and thoroughly investigate the facts, so that everyone will be convinced?"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the civil and military officials in the court agreed.

The Cardinal Court is a long-hidden, secretive place within the Dayuan Dynasty. Though well-known to officials and the public, it maintains its independence and freedom from any interference from the imperial court. More importantly, the Cardinal Court oversees the mysteries of heaven and earth, the mysteries of yin and yang, and upholds a ruthless, impartial approach, prioritizing truth and pragmatism. Dean Cangli possesses exceptional skills, and while others may not be able to fully grasp the secrets, they are certain to deliver an impartial investigation.

Emperor Yongping listened to the old minister's advice and nodded in agreement.

Then a figure in a dragon robe walked in gracefully from the side door. It was Dean Cangli, who was known as the "one who knows the secrets of heaven."

This old man, with a sage-like demeanor and admired by all, stood over seven feet tall, slender and upright, exuding a calm and reserved demeanor. He came alone, his sleeves bare, holding only a bronze magic tool shaped like a cane. He walked in slowly, walked to the front of Emperor Yongping, bowed directly without hesitation, and said earnestly:
"I have heard that this matter is of great importance. I beg Your Majesty to grant me full authority. Although the Cardinal Council is small, I will do my utmost to thoroughly investigate the truth of this case."

After saying this, Dean Cangli turned around and scanned the hall with a gaze as sharp as a torch. His eyes, though not at all stagnant or agitated, radiated a calm yet intelligent aura. Emperor Yongping finally breathed a sigh of relief.

……

Afterwards, the emperor decided to follow the established procedure and parade Princess Tana through the streets of Chang'an for the people of Dayuan to admire.

The streets in the imperial city were bustling with people at this time, and the streets were filled with flowers and colorful flags, and a festive atmosphere was everywhere.

Princess Tana and her entourage rode in a resplendent white elephant-dragon chariot, inlaid with countless pearls and gems. Several sturdy war elephants slowly trudged along the streets, each step making a deafening sound. Atop the chariot rose a magnificent canopy, its roof inlaid with thousands of pieces of shattered glass, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

Several honor guards stood guard in front, behind, and to the sides of the convoy. The guards, clad in silver-white armor, formed a long line and marched forward with halberds in hand.

The dragon carriage team moved slowly, and every few dozen meters beside the carriage, there was a fully armed guard standing. They held their heads high and chests puffed out, their tall figures like sculptures, motionless as mountains.

From afar, the long line of chariots, like dragons and snakes, was truly awe-inspiring. More curious citizens were attracted by this shocking scene and stood along the street, shouting "Long live the emperor" and kowtowing frequently.

Even the vendors and small traders who were working at the stalls temporarily put down their work, overwhelmed by the grand scene. They all bowed and knelt to congratulate Princess Shuofang on her safe arrival.

In sharp contrast to this royal chariot formation was the maidservant beside Zhong Wuye, whose mouth was full of snacks but whose eyes were full of stubbornness.

"Miss Zhong," the girl whispered, her expression still serious. Zhong Wuye quickly came over and asked quietly, "What's the matter?"

Her eyes fell on the bloodstains on her body, and a sense of anxiety gradually arose. At this time, the girl shook her head, sighed, and said: "Miss Zhong, in fact, I am the real princess, Heinach Tana of the Northern Zhou royal family."

Zhong Wuye was stunned when he heard this, and then a sense of disharmony surged in his heart.

She looked at the girl's slightly childish face in confusion, wondering how could this be possible?
Seeing Zhong Wuye's puzzled expression, the young woman continued a little embarrassedly: "Back then, to escort me safely to my destination, my father sent a team of expert guards. Unfortunately, we were attacked along the way and surrounded by the enemy. My maid sacrificed herself in my place and exchanged identities with me."

When she said this, tears welled up in her eyes, as if she missed the sacrificed maid very much.

Zhong Wuye couldn't help but gently hold the girl's shoulders with his hands, and asked with concern:
"Then do you know who attacked the delegation?"

The girl nodded vigorously, her expression suddenly becoming solemn. She said, "Those people were dressed in black, with blood-red roses embroidered on their masks. Their martial arts were truly impressive, and our guards were no match for them. We could only let them run rampant."

Zhong Wuye couldn't help but fall into deep thought upon hearing this. The Blood Rose Mask clearly belonged to the group he had seen at the Jianjia Pass camp that year!
Recalling the scene, Zhong Wuye's mind involuntarily conjured up a gruesome scene: blood-red flames raging fiercely through the tents, thick smoke billowing into the sky, obscuring the sun. Everywhere were the cries of slaughter, and the bodies of men and horses toppled and scattered across the ground. And then there were those terrifying "nightmare" phenomena, with black mist drifting across the battlefield like a ghost. It seemed quite unusual then, but now it seemed inextricably linked to the fearsome Blood Rose people.

Thinking of this, Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel secretly shocked. If there really is an unknown dark force hidden in this world, then what is their purpose?
They seemed to be intentionally provoking disputes between Dayuan and Northern Zhou, but their specific purpose was not clear at all.

Moreover, if that is the case, then the princess in the parade must be a fake princess!

Ouyang Xing is so heavily involved in this, and I wonder if he is also using these dark forces. All kinds of doubts make Zhong Wuye feel more and more that the matter is serious.

Zhong Wuye looked at the princess's tears and felt an unprecedented sense of mission in his heart.

She secretly resolved to get to the bottom of this matter and redress this injustice. At that moment, the princess suddenly raised her head, looked into her determined eyes, and said softly, "Miss Zhong, thank you for your concern and appreciation. Actually, I have never confided this to anyone, not even to those close to me. But now I have made up my mind to tell you everything."

(End of this chapter)