Chapter 51 The Beginning of Trouble [VIP]
Chapter Summary: From Madness to Demonic Fury.
After Liu Shiyu used all her strength to pull her hand away from Wei Jingshan's tight grip, she completely fainted.
Liu Zhizhou instantly forgot his earlier displeasure and urgently called out to the person beside him, "Physician, quickly summon the physician!"
After he finished speaking, chaos erupted in the hall.
Supporters flocked to the front lines, while opponents watched coldly from the sidelines.
Xu Luchuan rushed through the crowd, his eyes revealing his true feelings, no longer concealing anything. But before he reached the hall, someone grabbed his arm from behind.
Xu Luchuan hurriedly turned around and exclaimed in surprise when he saw the man, "Elder brother!"
"Go back," Xu Luwei rebuked him in a deep voice, revealing an unusual sternness. Xu Luchuan, however, tried to break free from his grasp and continued forward, "I want to see her."
Xu Luwei had a premonition that the person Xu Luchuan had mentioned in the ancestral hall that night was Liu Shiyu, but he refused to believe it. Like Xu Qinguo, he also believed Liu Shiyu to be a witch. As the eldest son of the Xu family, Xu Luwei couldn't stand by and watch Xu Luchuan fall into ruin.
He must stop all of this.
"Are you a physician? Can you cure her with just one glance? With so many eyes watching in the hall, are you trying to bring the Xu family into this mess?" Xu Luwei leaned close to Xu Luchuan, lowering his voice and warily observing their surroundings. "My elder brother has never asked you for anything before, but today is the first time he has. Erlang, step back."
Xu Luchuan clenched his fists, standing there in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward.
In the hall, Wei Jingshan picked up Liu Shiyu and carried her away from the seat.
He stood still on the steps, looked at He Qianzhang, the remonstrating official who had just spoken rudely in the hall, and said coldly, "The guards command that the remonstrating official's insubordination caused His Highness to be so angry that he killed him."
Upon hearing Wei Jingshan's words, the guard, carrying a long sword, strode into the main hall and walked towards He Qianzhang.
"etc..."
Just as Liu Zhizhou was about to speak up to stop him, He Qianzhang was killed by the guard's blade. Seeing bloodshed at the birthday banquet, Tang Shengan, who had been silent for a long time, finally got up, stepped over He Qianzhang's corpse, and walked towards the front of the hall.
Standing at the head of the officials, he still spoke with an air of superiority: "Lord Shangming, what are you trying to do? His Majesty is above, how dare you be so presumptuous?"
Wei Jingshan carried Liu Shiyu and slowly walked down the steps, passing by Tang Shengan.
What am I supposed to do?
Wei Jingshan laughed, his laughter filled with disdain.
He was no longer afraid of the Tang family; he knew perfectly well that the Tang family was currently preoccupied with their own troubles in Yongzhou. He now had plenty of time to stir up trouble in Jinling. If anything, Wu Xingguo's sudden military intervention was partly due to his efforts.
"Young General, if you have the skill, it's best not to show off here. Go home quickly and see if your beloved wife is still safe and sound."
"Since her sacrifice is nothing, then let the young general taste the bitterness of sacrifice..."
Tang Shengan looked stunned upon hearing this.
Wei Jingshan was an extremely contradictory person. He could allow himself to hurt Liu Shiyu, but he would not tolerate anyone else hurting her. After saying these words, he walked through the gazes of everyone, carrying Liu Shiyu, and walked out of the hall without looking back.
Xu Luchuan stood in the crowd, still bound by Xu Luwei.
Unable to suppress his anger and worry any longer, he broke free from Xu Luwei and tried to rush forward. Fortunately, Bai Tao reacted quickly, striking Xu Luchuan on the back and knocking him unconscious.
Upon seeing this, Xu Luwei quickly stepped forward, took Xu Luchuan from Bai Tao's arms, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, Lord Tingwei."
"It's alright." Bai Tao waved his hand. "I just didn't want to see him go to his death. It seems this birthday banquet is about to end. Let's take him back."
Although Bai Tao was personally selected by Tang Wuzheng as the Minister of Justice, he had grown increasingly inclined towards Liu Shiyu over the past two years of working with him. He had sensed this ever since Liu Shiyu personally sent Xu Luchuan to Yongzhou. But he remained silent.
Wei Jingshan is gone.
Chang'an, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally spoke up: "Attendant Hu, His Majesty has been frightened. Quickly take His Majesty away to rest."
Upon hearing this, the attendant immediately stepped forward to help Liu Zhizhou up.
Liu Zhizhou, however, flung his sleeve away, angrily rose from the dragon throne, and followed in Wei Jingshan's footsteps to find Liu Shiyu.
Chang Andao looked at the chaotic birthday banquet before him and suddenly sneered.
"Guards, take Lord He's body away." After saying this, he swept his hands and sleeves over the people in the hall. "Alright, everyone, disperse and go home as soon as possible."
As Chang Andao spoke, he lifted his foot and walked out of the hall.
Fu Zheng waved his sleeve behind him, and those who followed the Prime Minister also left the main hall one after another.
Seeing this unexpected turn of events at the birthday banquet, aside from the Prime Minister and Liu Shiyu's followers, the remaining unremarkable individuals became completely disoriented. Consequently, they all swarmed towards the highly respected head of the Nine Ministers.
Xu Qinguo has always been moderate, so why would he offer any opinions?
He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Things have come to this point. Apart from protecting His Majesty's safety, you should all observe the situation and wait. Disperse."
After speaking, Xu Qinguo glanced at Xu Luchuan in Xu Luwei's arms and then turned and left. He paid no heed to the earnest cries of "Grand Master of Ceremonies, Grand Master of Ceremonies!" behind him.
...
Outside Shiguang Hall, Wei Jingshan, carrying Liu Shiyu, kicked open the hall door.
The physician followed in a panic, and accidentally tumbled and crawled into the main hall. Liu Zhizhou followed closely behind, but was stopped by Wei Jingshan, who got up from the bedside.
"Get out of the way," Liu Zhizhou commanded with the majesty of an emperor. But Wei Jingshan showed no fear. He glared fiercely at Liu Zhizhou and refused to back down. "Leave this to the physician. Your Majesty, rest a while. Guards, take Your Majesty to rest."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhizhou dodged the guards' restraints and angrily shouted, "Grand Master of Ceremonies!"
At Liu Zhizhou's command, his personal guards drew their swords and rushed into the main hall.
But Wei Jingshan was no pushover either. Almost simultaneously, the Northern Army he brought into the palace also drew their swords in response.
Confronted by the opposing forces, Liu Zhizhou and his personal guards were ultimately outnumbered and quickly surrounded by the Northern army. However, Lu Cheng, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, did not back down and held Liu Zhizhou firmly behind him, angrily rebuking him: "Lord Shangming, how dare you! You dare to rebel and draw your sword against the Emperor!"
Wei Jingshan walked over alone, raised his hand to press down on Lu Cheng's sword hilt, and turned his head to look at the young emperor behind him.
"Your Majesty knows that I am loyal to only Your Highness. No one who stands in your way can or is worthy of being an obstacle to Your Highness." Wei Jingshan's eyes flashed with a strange light, and his words were loaded with meaning, as if he were deliberately speaking to Liu Zhizhou.
Seeing that Liu Zhizhou remained silent, he continued, "Since Your Majesty is worried, then let him stay. Just don't let any bloodshed occur here."
As soon as Wei Jingshan finished speaking, the Northern Army sheathed their swords and ceased their confrontation.
Then, with a glance from Wei Jingshan, the physician timidly stepped forward and finally began to take Liu Shiyu's pulse.
The main hall was silent, the winter wind blowing in through the windows that were never fully closed. Liu Zhizhou gazed at Liu Shiyu, who lay unconscious on the bed, and fell into deep thought. His worries had not diminished in the slightest, only his suspicions had grown stronger.
But the emperor's suspicion, once it leads to disaster, will extinguish years of affection.
He didn't believe his sister would rebel, but the path to becoming emperor allowed no room for error.
He needs to calm himself down.
After taking his pulse, the physician instinctively glanced back at Wei Jingshan. Wei Jingshan's fierce gaze left him bewildered, and he could only repeat what Wei Jingshan had instructed him to say.
He rose shakily, then walked shakily to Liu Zhizhou and reported, "Your Majesty, I have examined Your Highness's pulse. It is caused by sudden internal heat affecting the heart, resulting in blood not returning to its proper channels. Your Highness is not seriously injured and should wake up in about three or four hours."
"As long as you avoid overexertion, you should recover in about two weeks."
Liu Zhizhou's worries gradually subsided, but he remained puzzled. Why was his usually composed elder sister so agitated? Was it someone's doing this on purpose? Or... was his sister truly troubled by the unfulfilled call to the Emperor...?
Elder sister, imperial power is a self-imposed constraint. Do you intend to follow the same path as your elder brother?
The shadows of the past years still lingered, and Liu Zhizhou was troubled and distraught. He found it difficult to think any further. He lowered his eyes and replied, "I understand. Then let my sister rest well. Lu Cheng, return to the palace."
"Your Majesty." Lu Cheng still harbored reservations and refused to back down.
But seeing the outcome, Liu Zhizhou wouldn't confront Wei Jingshan head-on at this moment. He needed to sort out the tangled mess in his mind first.
"I said, return to the palace."
Liu Zhizhou spoke angrily and stormed off.
Lu Cheng then abandoned his stubbornness, turned around, and escorted Liu Zhizhou away from Shiguang Palace. Seeing this, the physician dared not linger and quickly bowed, fleeing with the others.
Everyone's gone.
Wei Jingshan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the dimly lit palace gate. Upon seeing this, Wei Shiling stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "My lord, the city gate and the defenses of Wanshe Palace are ready. One guard every five steps. I guarantee that no one will be able to escape. We await your command."
Wei Jingshan silently glanced down at the departing emperor, knowing that Liu Zhizhou had already begun to have his own ideas.
But this was exactly the result Wei Jingshan wanted.
He wanted Liu Shiyu to be abandoned by everyone, to be despised by the world. He wanted Liu Shiyu to look around and see only devastation, yet only he himself could keep him company.
Looking back, Wei Jingshan walked to the bedside and sat down. After gently tucking the blanket around Liu Shiyu, he said, "From this moment on, the winds of change are blowing in Jinling. When you wake up again, it will be too late to turn the tide. Liu Shiyu, you have no other choice."
"Youhu, go and do it."
You Hu was about to obey and retreat when Wei Jingshan turned and said, "Find some time to send more men to deal with her. Make sure to do it cleanly."
Upon hearing this, Shang Youhu turned his head and followed Wei Jingshan's gaze. After seeing Lian Yue standing guard outside the door, he replied, "Yes."
Shang Youhu is gone.
As he brushed past Lian Yue, he glanced at her subconsciously.
Lian Yue seemed to sense something and looked back, watching him walk away. When she looked back again, Wei Jingshan had already gotten up from the bedside and was heading out of the hall.
Wei Jingshan arrived outside the hall, turned around and gazed at Liu Shiyu, who was gradually disappearing from sight through the crack in the door, and said in a deep voice: "From today onwards, Your Highness shall rest and recuperate, and the Shiguang Hall shall be sealed off. Except for the female officials who attend to the sick in the hall, no one else shall be allowed to enter."
"Whoever disobeys will be killed without mercy..."
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