Chapter 407 The truth is that it’s here now
Lan Shenye's eyes were red and his fists were clenched. "Grandmother was not in good health to begin with, and she knelt in such a heavy snow for so long." His voice was low and full of pain.
Mo Yifan's gaze passed through the heavy guards of the Imperial Guards. His fists were clenched and his teeth were chattering.
"Tianyi, the young uncle probably won't be able to make it back in time. It's still a crime to rob the execution ground early or late. Rubbing the execution ground early can save them some suffering."
Upon hearing this, Tianyi quickly took out a flare from his arms and fired it into the sky without hesitation.
The signal flare burst into a dazzling light in the air. Almost at the same time, the secret guards in the dark rushed out like ghosts and headed straight for the execution ground.
The people were frightened by this sudden change and fled in all directions. Screams and shouts were heard one after another, and the atmosphere on the execution ground instantly became tense and depressing.
Bai Xianzhe was sitting on a high platform. His originally calm face turned ferocious the moment he saw the man in black.
He stood up suddenly, his eyes narrowed dangerously: "Third Prince, don't think that I can't recognize you just because you are wearing a mask." His voice was as cold as ice, piercing through the noise and chaos.
Mo Yifan was stunned and subconsciously looked at Tianyi. His eyes were full of doubt and confusion, as if asking, "Even though I'm dressed like this, how did that old fox Bai Xianzhe recognize me?"
Tianyi also looked confused, but soon felt relieved.
Who in the capital would dare to rob the execution ground? Besides someone from the Prince Regent's Palace, who else could it be? And since the Third Prince and the Prince Regent were always close, such an action was understandable.
Bai Xianzhe looked at Mo Yifan's reaction, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: "Come here, if you dare to rob the execution ground, no one will be spared."
Following his order, groups of royal guards came out from the city walls on both sides, holding bows and arrows, and stood ready facing the execution ground.
Mo Yifan looked at this scene and his face instantly became as gloomy as water.
Bai Xianzhe looked at Mo Yifan and laughed heartily: "The Emperor has long expected that people from the Regent's Palace would come to rob the execution ground. Today, you will never return. Third Prince, if you surrender obediently, you can still spare your life because you are a prince."
Mo Yifan sneered when he heard this.
He yanked off his veil. "Hey, Prime Minister, how did you recognize me so easily?"
Bai Xianzhe's lips curled up into a cold smile. "I have already arranged spies in the Third Prince's residence." Bai Xianzhe's voice was low. "The Third Prince left the residence early this morning and did not return, nor did he enter the palace. Apart from trying to rob the execution ground with the secret guards of the Regent's Palace, where else would he go?"
Mo Yifan remained expressionless upon hearing this, only muttering to himself, "Old fox, it turns out you didn't recognize me and were just trying to trick this prince."
Then, he smiled faintly, looked up at the Royal Guards holding bows and arrows on the city wall, and smiled, "Put them down, what are you doing? Prime Minister, what are you talking about robbing the execution ground? This prince is just thinking of the Duke of Huguo Mansion's past in defending our country, so I came to see the old Duke and his men off. I see you misunderstood."
On the side, Lan Shenye frowned and asked in a low voice, "Third Prince?"
Mo Yifan shook his head slightly, "Don't act rashly. Don't you see that there are many archers on the city wall? If a fight breaks out, it would be bad if the archers hurt the Duke of Protector and his men."
Tianyi looked anxious, "What should we do then, Third Prince?"
Mo Yifan took a deep breath. "Didn't I send a pigeon to the little prince? Maybe he's on his way back. It's not even three quarters past noon yet. Maybe he can make it back in time."
"What if the master can't come back?"
Mo Yifan raised his eyebrows, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes, "Then there is no choice, we can only fight hard. When the fight breaks out, try your best to protect them from getting hurt."
Bai Xianzhe watched this scene, a deeper sneer on his face. "Third Prince, have you discussed this?"
Mo Yifan waved his hand, "What are you discussing? Didn't this prince say that he was here to see the old Duke off?"
Bai Xianzhe obviously wasn't buying it. He picked up the imperial edict beside him and slowly unfolded it, "Third Prince, the Emperor has long anticipated your actions and issued this decree specifically for you. Accept it!"
Mo Yifan looked puzzled, his eyes fixed on Bai Xianzhe, "What is the decree given to me by my father?"
Bai Xianzhe's eyes were filled with contempt, "Third Prince, kneel down and listen to my order and you will know."
Mo Yifan spread his hands when he heard this, "Oh, it's so cold. My legs are frozen stiff and I can't kneel down."
Bai Xianzhe's face suddenly turned gloomy. He stopped talking and directly opened the imperial edict in his hand.
"The Third Prince Mo Yifan, as a prince, dared to disobey me and appeared at the execution ground with the intention of kidnapping people. Your status as a prince will be revoked and you will be demoted to a commoner. This is my decree!" Bai Xianzhe's voice echoed in the execution ground. Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Mo Yifan's heart hard.
A flash of surprise crossed Mo Yifan's face, then turned into a smile. "Father wants to demote me to a commoner?" His tone was filled with a hint of self-mockery and relief.
Bai Xianzhe looked at him coldly, "If the Third Prince hadn't appeared here today, then this imperial edict wouldn't have appeared."
The old Duke looked at Mo Yifan with a complicated look, "Third Prince, I don't want you to see me off, please leave quickly..."
Bai Xianzhe snorted coldly, interrupting the old Duke. "Old man, it's too late now. The moment he showed up, he was doomed to be deposed and demoted to a commoner."
Upon hearing this, the old Duke looked at Mo Yifan with a look of apology in his eyes. "Third Prince, it's us who have implicated you."
Mo Yifan smiled indifferently and said, "Just a commoner, as if you care about the identity of a prince? Anyway, I was no different from a transparent person before." There was a bit of casualness and self-deprecation in his words.
Bai Xianzhe didn't believe his carefree attitude, "Third Prince, no, Mo Yifan, you are a commoner now. You seem to be open-minded about it. I don't know whether you are really open-minded or just pretending. But it doesn't matter. What matters now is the execution." His tone was full of sarcasm and disdain.
Mo Yifan's expression changed. He looked at Bai Xianzhe and asked, "Isn't it still three quarters past noon?"
Bai Xianzhe just smiled disdainfully and said, "I said we're here now, so we're here now."
"you......."
Mo Yifan glared at him, the sword in his hand already drawn.
Bai Xianzhe just looked at him coldly and said sarcastically, "What? You still want to rob people?"
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