Upon seeing Xuanyuan Zhan point at Tuoba Xiong at this moment, Grand Tutor Liang was immediately alarmed and subconsciously clenched his fists.
Xuan Yuanzhi was so anxious that he roared at Xuan Yuanzhan: "Xuan Yuanzhan, stop spouting nonsense and slandering me! I've already said that the letter was written by someone imitating my handwriting. It wasn't written by me at all. You and this barbarian from the Northern Rong are slandering me together. I think it's you, Xuan Yuanzhan, who is the one who is colluding with the enemy and betraying the country!"
He absolutely could not allow Xuanyuan Zhan to blame his maternal grandfather for this.
If his maternal grandfather hadn't been implicated, he might still have a sliver of hope. But if even his grandfather's actions were exposed, then no one could save him.
Xuan Yuanzhan understood Xuan Yuanzhi's thoughts perfectly well, and sneered disdainfully: "The best copyist in all of Eastern Chu is your great maternal grandfather, so who else can imitate your handwriting!"
Xuan Yuanzhan's words silenced Xuan Yuanzhi.
He only dared to shout it out; he didn't dare let anyone examine the handwriting on the letter, since it was indeed written by him!
Xuanyuan Peng, who was above, saw the expressions on Xuanyuan Zhi's and Liang Taifu's faces and understood what was going on.
However, there is still a lack of evidence.
Xuanyuan Peng frowned and looked at Tuoba Xiong: "Tuoba Xiong, if you are willing to explain what happened back then, I can spare your life. As long as the conditions are agreed upon, I can even let you return to Beirong!"
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Xiong's eyes lit up: "Are you serious?"
Xuanyuan Peng snorted: "I am the Emperor of Eastern Chu, and my words are law. Even if I don't live for many more days, my sons will still obey my decrees!"
Tuoba Xiong is the leader of the Tianqiong tribe. Even though Tianqiong has not yet truly unified the Northern Rong, he still cannot be killed easily.
Besides, killing a leader wouldn't benefit Eastern Chu at all; it would be more practical to exchange him for some cattle, sheep, and warhorses from the Heavenly Vault.
Tuoba Xiong believed Xuanyuan Peng. He originally did not intend to betray Grand Tutor Liang, and the internal strife in Eastern Chu had nothing to do with him.
If Xuan Yuanzhi hadn't sent assassins to silence him, he wouldn't have wanted to betray Xuan Yuanzhi at all. In any case, he had already given Xuan Yuanzhi's letter to Xuan Yuanzhan, and whether Xuan Yuanzhan could bring down Xuan Yuanzhi was up to him.
However, now that Xuanyuan Peng has spoken, he must compromise if he wants to return to Beirong alive.
Tuoba Xiong seemed to have made up his mind and turned to look at Grand Tutor Liang: "Grand Tutor Liang, I'm sorry."
Upon hearing Tuoba Xiong's words, all the officials turned to look at Grand Tutor Liang.
Grand Tutor Liang was also quite taken aback by Tuoba Xiong's words, and immediately said angrily, "Tuoba Xiong, you'd better think carefully about what you're saying?"
Tuoba Xiong could easily tell that Grand Tutor Liang was threatening him, but in his current state, what was there to fear? Nothing was more important than saving his life.
Tuoba Xiong raised his eyes and looked at Xuanyuan Peng, saying, "It wasn't me who corresponded with Grand Tutor Liang back then, but my father. As early as twenty years ago, my father had been corresponding with Grand Tutor Liang. Grand Tutor Liang was also involved in the great war between Eastern Chu and Northern Rong three years ago. My father took Grand Tutor Liang's advice and invaded the northern lands, which led to that battle three years ago!"
Upon hearing this, all the officials looked at Grand Tutor Liang in disbelief.
"Good heavens, it really is Grand Tutor Liang who has been colluding with the Northern Rong!"
"So the one who truly betrayed the country back then was not General Mu, but Grand Tutor Liang."
"General Mu was truly wronged. It was Grand Tutor Liang who orchestrated the Northern Rong campaign three years ago, causing the death of General Su and also unjustly killing General Mu."
"Why is Grand Tutor Liang doing this? Why would a civil official like him put on such a grand show?"
Xuanyuan Peng was shocked to learn that it was Grand Tutor Liang who orchestrated the Northern Rong campaign three years ago. He looked at Grand Tutor Liang in astonishment and asked, "Why did you do this? What benefit would you gain from letting the Northern Rong invade Eastern Chu?"
Has he gone mad? Why did he plan that battle three years ago? Does he even know how many soldiers died in that battle, including Su Renzhong?
Did he ever consider what would happen to the people of Eastern Chu if the Northern Rong had actually won that battle and occupied the land and rivers of Eastern Chu?
Faced with Xuanyuan Peng's questioning, Grand Tutor Liang immediately cried out in protest: "Your Majesty, how can you believe the words of this Northern Rong barbarian? He has clearly been bribed by the Holy King. They are conspiring to deceive Your Majesty and the officials in order to capture all the princes in one fell swoop. Your Majesty, please don't fall for their tricks!"
Xuanyuan Peng's face darkened, and he frowned as he glanced at Xuanyuan Zhi.
Now he finally understood where Xuan Yuanzhi got his stupidity from, which made him think he was smart but was actually quite stupid.
Tuoba Xiong had not expected that Grand Tutor Liang, like Xuanyuan Zhi, would be so good at sophistry: "I am not speaking empty words. I also have with me the letters that Grand Tutor Liang exchanged with my father back then."
As Tuoba Xiong spoke, he plopped down on the ground, took off his shoes, tore open the entire sole, and took out the letter from the seam between the sole and the upper.
He originally didn't intend to take out this letter; he kept it on his person just in case. If he failed in this battle, he might be able to use this letter to ask Grand Tutor Liang to find a way to rescue him.
However, no one expected that it would eventually be used to bring down Grand Tutor Liang.
Tuoba Xiong handed over the letter.
The moment Liang Taifu saw Tuoba Xiong take out the letter, he knew it was genuine, because it was a letter he had written himself, and he recognized it at a glance.
Grand Tutor Liang's face turned ashen, his heart pounding in his chest, and his mind racing as he tried to come up with a way to defend himself.
Zong Jiu received the letter and delivered it to Xuan Yuanpeng.
Xuanyuan Peng opened the letter and immediately recognized Liang Taifu's handwriting.
Liang Taifu was his teacher, and he even learned most of Liang Taifu's calligraphy, so he didn't need anyone else to authenticate Liang Taifu's calligraphy.
"Thump!" Xuan Yuanpeng slammed the letter down in front of Grand Tutor Liang: "Grand Tutor Liang, what else do you have to say?"
Grand Tutor Liang stared at the letter and gritted his teeth as he spoke: "This was not written by this old minister. This old minister has never written any letter to the Northern Rong. Someone must have imitated this old minister's handwriting."
...The assembled officials stared speechlessly at Grand Tutor Liang and Xuanyuan Zhi.
These two are truly a grandfather and grandson; they even came up with the same excuse.
Xuanyuan Peng roared in fury, "As a great Confucian scholar of Eastern Chu, you have always boasted about your calligraphy skills. Can you find anyone in the entire Eastern Chu who can imitate your handwriting?"
Xuanyuan Peng's powerful punch finally caused Grand Tutor Liang to close his eyes in despair.
He could not refute this statement, nor was he able to refute it.
Who could have imagined that Liang Yuanshan would ultimately be defeated by his calligraphy, which he had always been so proud of?
Xuanyuan Peng looked at Grand Tutor Liang with utter disappointment: "Why did you do this?"
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