Everyone looked toward the city gate.
Mo Yunhan, dressed in a long blue robe, rode in on horseback.
Graceful as a startled swan, with unparalleled elegance, like a goddess or an immortal.
Those dark, deep eyes held no trace of the mad, scarlet rage.
The scene was deathly silent.
The soldiers at the city gate were dumbfounded, and their weapons fell to the ground.
With a soft thud, it sounded like a pebble falling into a calm lake.
Ripples spread, completely shattering the surrounding stillness.
"Who said His Highness the Ninth Prince is crazy? He's not crazy at all."
"We can't just look at the surface; he might go crazy in a minute."
As the crowd discussed, Mo Yunhan had already spurred his horse slightly, the falcon's large nostrils puffing out hot air, and strode into the city gate with overwhelming momentum, heading towards Mo Yunzhao.
Mo Shaojun shouted, "Protect the Emperor!"
Sun Ke immediately led his men to block their way, drawing their swords.
Zheng Qing raised his hand to signal his men not to move, and he did not step forward either. After years of getting along, he guessed that Mo Yunhan must have a plan for his return.
Soldiers and Imperial Guards surrounded Mo Yunhan in layers.
He sat on horseback, looking at Mo Yunzhao and speaking leisurely.
“Your Majesty, I have seen the imperial edict you issued. I was only a little late because I was trying to get medicine for Father. Your Majesty, there is no need to send the Imperial Guards to surround and kill me. People who don’t know the situation might think that I have committed some serious crime, which makes Your Majesty so eager to get rid of me.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Qin Minglang suddenly shouted.
"Ninth Prince, I have already informed the Emperor about your bloodshot eyes and indiscriminate killing of innocent people. You cannot escape now, so surrender!"
"Smack!"
Before he could finish speaking, Mo Yunhan slapped him across the face.
Qin Minglang's already swollen face instantly developed blood blisters, and he screamed as he fell to the ground, spitting out blood mixed with two teeth.
It was incredibly tragic.
Everyone was startled.
Qin Minglang pointed at him and shouted, "Your Majesty, look at him, he's really gone mad!"
Mo Yunhan tapped the reins with one hand and looked down at him condescendingly.
"Even the Emperor hasn't spoken, who do you think you are to criticize me? Don't you deserve to be beaten?"
Qin Minglang choked half to death.
He knelt on the ground, unwilling to accept his fate.
"Your Majesty, please issue the order quickly, lest he go mad and become uncontrollable."
Mo Shaojun also bowed and said, "Father, the military report I received is absolutely correct. It is true that Wang Shi went mad and killed more than a dozen people."
Sun Ke quickly echoed this.
"Yes, Your Majesty, those people's bodies are all mutilated. We beg Your Majesty to seek justice for those soldiers who died unjustly."
Mo Yunhan's gaze swept over everyone and landed on Mo Yunzhao's face.
"Is it because of their words that Your Majesty is launching such a large-scale attack on me? You won't even give me an explanation?"
Mo Yunzhao's expression darkened slightly.
"Xiao Jiu, things have come to this, you..."
Before he could finish speaking, Mo Yunhan interrupted him in a cold voice.
"Is the military report the one the Third Prince mentioned referring to the eleven people who died tragically in Shimo Village?"
Mo Shaojun's heart tightened, and he immediately raised his voice, "Ninth Prince, you've admitted it?"
Mo Yunhan nodded.
"Those people were indeed killed by me."
Sun Ke was overjoyed upon hearing this and bowed again to request permission.
"Your Majesty, the truth has come to light. Please give the order!"
Mo Yunhan sneered, "General Sun, those eleven men are your soldiers, aren't they?"
Sun Ke stiffened his neck.
"Yes, His Highness the Ninth Prince has disregarded human life. I will definitely seek justice for my brothers."
Mo Yunhan took out a piece of silk paper from his bosom and unfolded it with a swish.
On it are the official seals of the county government and the handprints and signatures of hundreds and thousands of ordinary people.
"Your Majesty, Sun Ke was lax in his military discipline and allowed his soldiers to rape four women from Shimo Village, resulting in the immediate deaths of two of them. This is the county government's receipt, as well as a petition signed by all the villagers of Shimo Village. Although I killed those eleven people to protect the royal family's reputation, the nature of this matter is heinous. I beg Your Majesty to give the villagers of Shimo Village justice."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
Sun Ke was so anxious that his face turned red and his neck bulged.
"That's impossible. You must have threatened them. Don't slander the Sun family army based solely on your own words."
Mo Yunhan raised his hand, and the petition flew past the crowd, landing steadily on the chief eunuch.
"Based on your one-sided account, didn't my imperial brother also lead the Imperial Guards to besiege me at the city gate? Based on my one-sided account, I believe my imperial brother will not show favoritism and will definitely go to Shimo Village to investigate thoroughly and give these hardworking and diligent people an explanation."
These words drew nods of agreement from the onlookers in the street.
"Even soldiers can't act so recklessly, actually insulting women. It's utterly shameless."
"No wonder General Sun was so eager for the Emperor to execute the Ninth Prince; it turns out he had ulterior motives."
"Wouldn't this be considered framing the prince?"
"But the Third Prince also said, does the Third Prince not want His Highness the Ninth Prince to live either?"
"I think the Third Prince is gentle and refined, and must have been deceived by General Sun."
Sun Ke and Mo Shaojun both looked extremely grim.
Mo Yunzhao was also somewhat embarrassed.
Now that things have escalated to this point, even if he wanted to cover it up, or if Sun Ke wanted to manipulate things, it wouldn't work.
So many eyes are watching.
The slightest mistake could cost us the hearts and minds of the people.
"I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. Sun Ke, if what Xiao Jiu said is true, see how I deal with you."
Sun Ke was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Your Majesty... even if... even if what His Highness the Ninth Prince said is true, it cannot cover up the fact that he went mad and killed people."
Zheng Qing, who had been silent until now, let out a cold snort.
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