After Chang Fu finished reading, he looked at Gu Yifeng with a smile and said.
"Your subject receives the decree."
Gu Yifeng was not surprised at all. He accepted the decree, but before he could speak, he was grabbed by the eunuchs behind Chang Fu and escorted to Xuanwu Gate.
"What a clever tactic! It seems the old emperor is losing patience. He's forcing me to reveal my methods, or I'll really die."
Gu Yifeng chuckled inwardly, increasingly alarmed by the emperor's methods. This was the art of imperial rule. In ordinary households, even if someone rebelled, why would they personally take action?
Now that the stage has been set, there's no reason for him not to go up and perform. If he continues to play it safe, he'll really be facing certain death.
Gu Yifeng remained silent, lost in thought, his eyes growing even dimmer. Chang Fu, standing beside him, also kept quiet, simply acting as if it were business, as he escorted the man to the execution ground set up outside Xuanwu Gate.
At this time, all the civil and military officials had arrived. As for the three Grand Secretaries who had pleaded for the emperor, they were brought over in an imperial carriage. The three of them had knelt outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony all night, but they still could not move the emperor.
Seeing Gu Yifeng being led to the execution ground, they wept bitterly, their hearts filled with despair.
This is what it means to have the will but not the ability.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, everyone had arrived. All the civil and military officials, kings and generals were present. The old emperor had even changed into golden armor, held a dragon-headed longsword, walked onto the execution ground, and came before Gu Yifeng.
"My son, do you have anything else to say?"
With tears in his eyes, the old emperor asked, feigning sorrow.
The Second Prince's faction, listening to this from below the stage, almost burst out laughing. Their smiles were especially intense, clearly eagerly anticipating the scene of his body being dismembered.
"Yes! Why do you have nothing to say? Father, you have wronged your son! I have the testimony of Consort Su Qingwan to prove my innocence!"
Gu Yifeng made a startling statement.
These words shocked almost everyone present. Consort Naxian had committed suicide that day and was almost completely dead, but now, before the seventh day after her death had even passed, she had already been laid to rest.
What's the difference between Gu Yifeng's words and feigning madness?
"Foolish child, you are still talking nonsense! My virtuous consort has already passed away."
The emperor said coldly.
"Your Highness, if you don't show yourself now, when will you?"
Gu Yifeng spoke in a cold voice, and with a flick of his fingertip, he quietly injected spiritual power into the Soul Summoning Stone. In an instant, dark clouds gathered overhead, blocking out the blazing sun.
The next moment, a dark pebble rolled out, a blue light flashed, and then Su Qingwan's ethereal figure appeared and landed in front of the emperor.
"Your Majesty! This humble concubine greets Your Majesty!"
Su Qingwan's opening remarks were a bombshell; she directly admitted her guilt and appeared before the emperor.
"This...this...this is a bewitching spell, Your Majesty! It cannot be trusted!"
Almost simultaneously, the Censorate and a group of remonstrating officials stood up and shouted, expressing their extreme fear at the appearance of Su Qingwan.
"Whether it's bewitching magic or not, you all know perfectly well. But the reason you're all shouting so urgently is probably because you have something to hide!"
Gu Yifeng sneered, and, still in shackles, turned to look at the group of officials and said coldly.
On the other side, the emperor was too lazy to argue with everyone. With a glance, Changfu summoned a group of imperial guards to move forward and protect the scene. Only when the whole place was quiet did Consort Xian slowly begin to tell the truth.
“It was Commander Yan who instructed me to do this. He wanted me to deliver a message to the Crown Prince, then drug him with the intoxicating incense, and finally fake it in bed. As for the handprint, it was also Commander Yan who made it by pressing Your Highness’s hand.”
"As for the maids in my palace, they have already been bribed by Commander Yan. As for anything else, Your Majesty, I know nothing!"
Su Qingwan's voice was plaintive and heartfelt; she spoke so earnestly that she began to sob and lament as soon as she finished speaking.
Gu Yifeng listened from the side without saying anything more. After all, this Consort Xian had been in the palace for a long time and was truly capable. She didn't mention anything related to the Second Prince.
This way, they wouldn't offend the Second Prince, putting the Su family in jail, nor would they offend the Crown Prince.
Upon hearing this, the old emperor's face darkened. With a single glance, Chang Fu immediately understood and whispered something to a commander of the Imperial Guards. Several Imperial Guards then hurriedly left the area.
After another short while, the group brought over Commander Yan's body.
"Your Majesty, Commander Yan committed suicide out of fear of punishment. He ingested arsenic, which has penetrated to the bone marrow, and there is no hope of saving him. As for his soul, I'm afraid only His Highness the Crown Prince has the means to summon it."
Chang Fu spoke softly beside the old emperor.
Upon hearing this, the old emperor turned his gaze back to Gu Yifeng, his meaning quite clear.
"System warmly reminds you that this person's soul has already been scattered, and the host does not need to waste energy activating the soul-summoning stone."
Before Gu Yifeng could speak, the system's voice rang in his mind again. It was clear that it had been paying attention to the host's situation and spoke at the right time to save trouble.
After all, we are under the scorching sun, and the power of the soul-summoning stone is not much left. To use it blindly would be a waste.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yifeng obediently took the Soul-Summoning Stone, and his spiritual power surged forth. After about three breaths, he put the stone down.
"Your Majesty, I have done my best. Finding Consort Xian's soul was already difficult enough. As for Commander Yan's soul, there is no trace of him in the palace. He must have been scattered to the winds."
Gu Yifeng spoke honestly to the old emperor.
"Fine, since you are innocent, your crime can be forgiven. Go back to your Eastern Palace."
The old emperor, upon hearing this, grew impatient and waved his hand, intending to dismiss the matter and leave with only the spirit of the virtuous concubine.
"Father, wait! Your son... has something else to discuss!"
Seeing that the old emperor had spoken, it seemed that the matter would be over. Both the second prince and his entourage, as well as the other opportunistic ministers, breathed a sigh of relief and wished they could leave immediately.
But Gu Yifeng's shout made everyone's hearts jump again.
"Is there anything else? What is it?"
The old emperor frowned, then turned to look at him and asked.
"There are enemy assassins inside the palace!"
Gu Yifeng said solemnly.
"What?!"
These words shocked everyone present. This was the imperial palace of the Great Gan Kingdom. How could an assassin from an enemy country possibly break through layers of screening and be patrolled by the Imperial Guards every day?
"If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may send Steward Laifu to the Second Prince's residence to investigate."
Gu Yifeng, never one to be outrageous, continued speaking, turning his attention to the Second Prince.
The old emperor was not a biased person to begin with, so upon hearing this, he naturally nodded in agreement. Chang Fu immediately led a group of imperial guards to attack the second prince's residence.
Sure enough, within the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, sounds of fighting came from the Second Prince's residence, and everyone rushed over.
"roar!"
With a dragon's roar, a blinding spear light flashed, instantly sending Chang Fu and his group flying.
"It's at the Kaifu Realm!"
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