Chapter 167 There's an assassin! Run!

Thinking this, Su Xuanmao slapped his thighs and quickened his pace toward the place of the farewell banquet.

Emperor Anqing was still on the streets of Yangzhou, receiving the gaze of the city's residents.

He was incredibly proud, but little did he know that his current glory would be followed by a humiliating defeat.

When Shen Pingjin and Yan Jue arrived at the farewell banquet, they both looked somewhat surprised.

However, it soon became clear that Su Xuanmao had invited wealthy families from all sides on the orders of Emperor Anqing, so how could he not hold such a grand banquet?

Shen Pingjin wondered, even if Emperor Anqing would give Su Xuanmao money for the farewell banquet, would it be enough?

Yan Jue had already considered this issue. Seeing Shen Pingjin's furrowed brows, he said, "It's obvious that Su Xuanmao used the profits from buying and selling smuggled salt to subsidize the farewell banquet."

Chen Pingjin suddenly realized.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

As the two were pondering, Eunuch Shun's shrill voice came from afar, so sharp it seemed to tear the sky apart.

The audience was already seated in a large, dark-skinned crowd. Upon hearing the voice, they all turned around to look.

Emperor Anqing, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, was over forty years old but still had a tall and handsome figure, like a pine tree, and exuded an aura of majesty, with enough imperial pressure.

"Is this the Emperor? I thought he was an old man, but he doesn't look that old."

"What are you thinking? The Emperor is not even fifty years old yet. We must speak in hushed tones. Defaming the Emperor behind his back is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

"I understand, I understand! But why do you think the Emperor suddenly came to Yangzhou?!"

"Well... I don't know either, but I heard this is a farewell banquet. The Emperor must have been in Yangzhou for some time now."

The woman's expression turned slightly shocked upon hearing this. "If that's the case, then it means that the Emperor came to Yangzhou City secretly. He must have something important to attend to!"

"That's possible!"

The crowd below was abuzz with discussion. Eunuch Shun, his narrow eyes cold, swept his gaze across the crowd. "Silence! His Majesty is here! How dare you make such a ruckus?!"

In an instant, the noisy crowd fell silent. Eunuch Shun snorted and thought to himself, "These bastards, their Emperor is just holding a farewell banquet, and they're making such a racket."

Emperor Anqing looked at the crowd below the stage and said loudly, "Today I am holding this farewell banquet here to announce something."

Upon hearing this, the audience instantly became restless again.

The royal guards, lurking in the shadows, were watching with predatory eyes.

Shen Pingjin and Yan Jue were seated in the seats reserved for members of the royal family, and they already knew what Emperor Anqing was going to say.

Guan Anhe, playing along with the Emperor, asked, "Your Majesty, is there some reason for this sudden farewell banquet?"

Emperor Anqing didn't mince words: "That's naturally because my beloved minister, Minister Chen, has committed a heinous crime!"

Those present were taken aback.

In recent years, Yangzhou in Jiangnan has been under Chen Jian's jurisdiction. Everyone here is a local from Yangzhou, so how could they not know who Chen Jian is?

Instantly, several people came forward and asked, "Your Majesty, are you saying that your trip to Jiangnan this time is because Lord Chen has committed a serious offense?"

Before Emperor Anqing could speak, Eunuch Shun glanced at the person who had spoken and asked, "Do you have any objections?"

Emperor Anqing waved his hand and said, "Eunuch Shun, let him continue."

The man's expression was serious. "Your Majesty, this commoner has no other intention than to ask, since for so many years our Yangzhou in Jiangnan has been under the jurisdiction of Lord Chen. We want to know what mistake he has made."

"Don't you know he's involved in the smuggling of salt?"

Everyone present was stunned by these words.

The man, who had just been serious, now showed a crack in his expression. "Your Majesty, Lord Chen, is he involved in the smuggling of salt?"

They had heard a little about this, but they never believed it.

But now that the Emperor was right in front of everyone, and they heard him say this in person, their hearts began to waver.

Emperor Anqing snorted coldly, "I am the Son of Heaven, how could my words be false?"

Seeing that the time was right, Su Xuanmao stood up and personally brought the evidence to the stage.

"Father would never lie to everyone. As the Crown Prince, I have already found evidence of Minister Chen's crimes in Yangzhou. Come and see for yourselves."

Those who could attend the farewell banquet were all influential families in Yangzhou, Jiangnan. But ultimately, their power and influence were limited to Yangzhou; they were fundamentally inferior to some of the powerful families in the capital.

However, they were not the lower classes; they were all able to afford government-issued salt and were educated. They were well aware of the consequences of buying and selling smuggled salt.

They don't understand the suffering of the lower classes; they are the ones who have been nurtured by Chen Jian, so naturally they don't understand why Chen Jian would take the risk of buying and selling smuggled salt.

Su Xuanmao laid out all the evidence in front of everyone. The people who were still wavering had completely tipped their scales in favor of Emperor Anqing after seeing the evidence!

"So Minister Chen really is this kind of person. We all misjudged him!"

"That's right, and we trusted Minister Chen so much!"

"However, why would Minister Chen engage in the trade of smuggled salt? It doesn't benefit him at all."

"I don't understand it either, but since the evidence is already conclusive, the rest is not our concern."

"You're right!"

People were talking about it, but some clever people were thinking that Minister Chen was in a high position, not short of money, and was the emperor's right-hand man. He knew that buying and selling private salt was illegal, but he still did it.

Seeing that everyone believed him, Emperor Anqing gave a look to Eunuch Shun beside him.

Eunuch Shun immediately understood and gave a wink to the royal guards hiding in the shadows.

While everyone was still discussing it, people in the back of the crowded group made way for two men dressed in black and wearing veils.

They have someone in their grasp.

The man was wearing a death row uniform, his face was deathly pale, his clothes were stained with traces of blood, his hair was disheveled, and he was covered in dirt.

Just as everyone was wondering who this person was, the person raised his head and revealed a face that everyone present recognized.

Someone exclaimed in surprise: "Chen, Minister Chen!"

At this moment, more people recognized him: "Minister Chen, you, you're outrageous! Why are you buying and selling smuggled salt!"

Emperor Anqing placed the evidence of crimes handed over by Su Xuanmao on the stage for display. Chen Jian remained expressionless, as if he were a prisoner awaiting death.

Seeing that Chen Jian offered no explanation, the others felt only heartache.

“My dear minister, as my right-hand man, why would you do such a foolish thing? You know perfectly well that if I find out, you will surely die.”

Chen Jian remained silent.

Just then, someone in the crowd who had just made way for the two bodyguards shouted:

"Assassin! Run!"