He cleared his throat and tried to say a few good words for Qin Xuan, pretending that Qin Xuan was coerced by Lin Guo.

Gu Jue glanced around calmly, taking in everyone's thoughts. He did not give General Cheng a chance to speak, and only asked, "What is the crime of collaborating with the enemy, and what is the crime of patricide?"

Each of these two charges carries the death penalty.

His voice was neither light nor heavy, but it was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of Mu Lin, General Cheng and others.

Their hearts all plummeted into the bottomless abyss.

Not to mention the crime of patricide, if the crime of treason were to be carried out, the consequences would be disastrous.

When the memorial reaches the emperor, all officials and generals in Nanyang will probably be cleansed. Those present are all the confidants of the King of Nanyang, and in the eyes of the emperor, they are all guilty of the same crime. Even if they are not beheaded, the emperor will most likely remove them from their positions, demote their official titles, or exile them to a remote place...

Their careers and their families are all ruined!

Mu Lin, General Cheng and others looked at each other.

They are all generals of the Nanyang Army and can be said to be people in the same boat. Originally, this matter was Nanyang’s family affair and perhaps it could be kept secret, but Prince Chen Gu Jue happened to be here.

This is a giant Buddha that even the emperor would be afraid of!

Mu Lin looked at Qin Yao with a questioning look. Since Qin Yao was able to ask Prince Chen to come forward, it seemed that they had a personal relationship.

Qin Yao's fingers gently stroked the pattern on the Qilin jade pendant on his waist. After pondering for a moment, he said to Gu Jue: "Ninth brother, this is Nanyang's family affair, just let me handle it."

Seeing that Qin Yao and Gu Jue were talking very casually, Mu Lin and others couldn't help but exchange glances with each other.

Their eyes followed Qin Yao's gaze and looked at Gu Jue, including Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan stared at the young man who was sitting side by side with Qin Yao in dismay.

He looked to be in his early twenties at most, and did not look like a scholar, nor a soldier. He had the temperament of the famous scholars of the Wei and Jin dynasties. He was elegant, yet frivolous, unruly and willful. This contradictory temperament appeared in one person without any sense of incongruity, as if nothing in the world could catch his eye.

He and Qin Yao sat together. Their temperaments were very different, yet they were so harmonious, like the sun and the moon shining together, emitting equal light.

Mu Lin hurriedly said: "That's great! That's great!"

The others also nodded, looking united.

Only Qin Xuan felt cold all over. Suddenly, the cold mud and water in the swamp seemed to spread under his nose, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Gu Jue casually sheathed the dagger in his hand, his eyes flashed, and he nodded, "Okay, then you can handle it yourself."

The two of them talked and laughed, revealing a tacit understanding between them that did not require words.

If Gu Jue had said from the beginning that Qin Xuan should be handed over to Qin Yao for disposal, some of these people would definitely have complained out of their own selfish motives.

However, now, they first expose Qin Xuan's treason to the enemy, let Mu Lin and others realize the consequences of treason, and then Qin Yao proposes to deal with it, and everyone will agree without hesitation.

Mu Lin and the others all breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this. On the one hand, they were grateful for Gu Jue's magnanimity, and on the other hand, they were glad that Qin Yao and Gu Jue were good friends.

Qin Xuan suddenly jumped up from the ground and looked at Gu Jue and Qin Yao with his eyes wide open and bloodshot.

These two people actually decided his fate in just a few words.

Qin Xuan pointed at Gu Jue and Qin Yao's noses and said, "You...you are not qualified to decide my life or death! You are not qualified to judge me!"

He described himself as crazy, and said to Mu Lin and others: "General Mu, haven't you figured it out? I was wronged, and I was forced to confess just now. In fact, all this was a conspiracy between my eldest brother and this person!"

"You have all been fooled by them. They are the ones who are collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country. They are the ones!"

Qin Xuan became more and more excited, almost insane, and his mind was so confused that he lost his mind.

There was only one thought left in his mind: he could not plead guilty, he could not fall into Qin Yao's hands, Qin Yao would never let him go easily!

It was quiet all around.

Mu Lin and the others looked at Qin Xuan with a look that was almost pitying, as if to say, "Are you crazy? ! He actually said that the Prince of Chen was a traitor!"

Qin Xuan also felt like he was going crazy. He didn't understand why he was being convicted of treason and patricide when Qin Yao and the others hadn't produced any substantial evidence yet.

Gu Jue smiled.

His laughter was barely audible, yet so contradictory and clear that it made everyone present's heart tremble.

Gu Jue seemed to have heard a joke and whispered, "You said that I am a traitor?!"

This king?! Qin Xuan’s heart also trembled.

The other party calls himself the king, which means he has the title of king.

Does their Da Qi have such a young prince?

The emperor's several princes have not yet been crowned kings. No, it should be said that the second prince is only fifteen years old. He is definitely not the young man in front of him. So, is he the emperor's brother...

Wait, Brother Nine?!

"Nine..." Qin Xuan said it unconsciously, and felt like a bolt of thunder passing through his heart, and suddenly his mind became clear.

Prince Gu Jue is the ninth child.

Only Prince Chen could easily capture Mu Lin and the others. Those unfamiliar soldiers he saw when he entered the camp just now were also under Prince Chen's command.

Only Prince Chen could convict himself without clear evidence.

"You are the King of Chen..." Qin Xuan knelt down softly, as if his energy was drained away, and everything in front of his eyes was dark.

Therefore, it was Prince Chen who rescued Qin Yao, which was why Qin Yao was able to escape from his pursuit.

Qin Xuan clenched his fists so tightly that his joints crackled and turned white.

He looked at Gu Jue in disbelief. He still couldn't accept this reality, and murmured, "It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be like this..."

Prince Chen shouldn't have saved Qin Yao, and shouldn't have appeared here.

Shouldn't the Prince be trapped in the capital? !

Qin Yao looked at Qin Xuan, whose face was ferocious, and he was surprisingly calm.

When the incident just happened, when he found out that the murderer of his father was his own brother, he was also confused. He asked himself again and again, why did Qin Xuan do this, why did he go to this point?

During the time he was recuperating in the capital, he watched Gu Jue's cautious moves and realized that there are not so many "whys" in life.

Some people are not born to be human.

Qin Yao rubbed the Qilin jade pendant on his waist twice.

Seven years ago, before he left Nanyang, his father gave each of them a jade pendant, one was a Qilin and the other was a Lin.

Qilin is a benevolent animal.

The father hopes that they can become people with outstanding talents and both moral integrity like Qilin.

At that time, Qin Xuan, who was not even eight years old at the time, asked innocently, "Father, my elder brother is the crown prince, so I will be his deputy. Can you appoint me as a general?"

Qin Xuan probably has long forgotten what he said now.

Qin Yao released the jade pendant with the Qi inscribed on it and said, "Those who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country shall be killed."

Mu Lin and the others were startled at first, but soon calmed down, looked at each other, and agreed that this was the best approach.

No matter what, as the second son of the royal family, Qin Xuan is a collaborator with the enemy, which is always a handle. Even if it is concealed now, what if it is exposed in the future?

Now Nanyang has dealt with Qin Xuan himself. There is no evidence to prove his wrongdoing. Even if the emperor knew about it, there would be no one to try him, let alone investigate further. The matter would end in nothing.

General Cheng struggled for a while and felt that this was a good opportunity to distance himself from Qin Xuan.

He was the first to speak: "Your Highness is absolutely right. Anyone who collaborates with the enemy and betrays the country will be put to death."

Then, the other two veterans also responded.

Qin Xuan, who was kneeling on the ground, watched this scene with a hideous and distorted face, thinking: Qin Yao really wants to kill him! Moreover, these people all wish him dead.

Amidst the voices echoing, Qin Yao calmly announced: "Then this prince will sentence Qin Xuan to be executed immediately in front of the camp."

"Then let's call it patricide." Gu Jue said indifferently, "As for the rest... it's enough for me and everyone present to know."

All the generals burst into tears of gratitude when they heard this, and they expressed their gratitude to Gu Jue one after another, praising him for his deep understanding of the big picture and his keen insight.

Qin Xuan's eyes were filled with spider-web-like bloodshot, and his heart was completely cold.

Before today, he thought his life was about to reach its peak and he was only one step away from the title of King of Nanyang.

However, in just a short period of time, he fell from the peak to the bottom.

It is now June, the height of summer, but Qin Xuan feels as if the surroundings have lost their warmth, as if it were a freezing cold winter.

The air seemed to be frozen.

Qin Xuan was really scared this time.

He shouted excitedly: "No!"

"I am the second son of the Nanyang Palace. I am not someone you can deal with privately."

"I want to see the emperor. I am innocent!"

Qin Xuan's voice became higher and higher, and sharper and sharper, like the roar from the throat of a wild beast.

It would have been better if he didn't say this. As soon as he said it, Mu Lin's hesitation disappeared.

How could this matter of treason be brought to the attention of the Emperor? !

Finally, Prince Chen became friends with Qin Yao and was willing to settle the matter privately. Qin Xuan was too ignorant of the seriousness of the matter.

Yes, he could do such unacceptable things as collaborating with the enemy and killing his father, so how could he know the seriousness of the matter!

If he lives, he will only bring trouble to them, and who knows what else he can do!

Qin Xuan can't stay.

Mu Lin gritted his teeth and said to himself that the Nanyang Army must cut off its tail to survive and dig out the pus and blood to be reborn.

He also nodded and said, "My Lord, you are right! This matter must be decided immediately."

As he spoke, he stood up, bowed and clasped his fists towards Qin Yao to show his respect and submission.

General Cheng and two other veterans also stood up and bowed with their fists clasped.

"I want to see the emperor! I want to go to Beijing!" Qin Xuan screamed hysterically, his chest heaving violently, his whole expression was crazy, like a madman.

Qin Yao could no longer see Qin Xuan in his eyes. To him, Qin Xuan was already a dead man.

He clapped his hands twice, and the next moment, two tall, mighty and capable soldiers entered the tent.

The two men clamped the crazy Qin Xuan on the left and right, and dragged him out roughly and forcefully.

Qin Xuan was still roaring and struggling, asking them to let him go, but his strength was so weak under the hold of these two burly soldiers.

After a while, Qin Xuan was escorted to the square in front of the central tent. Above them, the flag representing the Nanyang Army was fluttering in the wind, making rustling sounds.

One of the soldiers kicked Qin Xuan hard on the calf.

Qin Xuan groaned, staggered to his knees, facing the flag of the Nanyang Army.

The commotion here also alarmed other people in the camp.

The other soldiers in the camp also heard the sound and came over like waves.

Seeing Qin Xuan being forced to kneel on the ground, the soldiers were all confused. They didn't know what was going on.

Mu Lin and others came out with Qin Yao, immediately attracting the attention of all the soldiers.

They also saw Qin Yao sitting in a wheelchair. Suddenly, there was an uproar in the crowd, even more lively than before.

Some people were whispering in groups of three or four; some were pointing at Qin Yao and Qin Xuan; some couldn't help but walk towards Mu Lin.

Mu Lin did not answer immediately, but said: "I will explain later."

Under the gaze of the generals, Mu Lin strode to the flag of the Nanyang Army and announced loudly: "Fellow soldiers of Nanyang County, please listen to me."

"Today we have found out the truth about the prince's death. The real murderer who killed the prince was not the prince, but the second son Qin Xuan."

"Qin Xuan was unfilial and killed his father. The evidence is irrefutable. His crime is unforgivable. He shall be sentenced to immediate execution according to the law!"

Mu Lin's voice was loud, clear and passionate, spreading to every corner of the square and reaching the ears of the soldiers present.

The soldiers were all stunned, and the square fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, the soldiers in the square began to boil again, like boiling water.

Mu Lin had been in Nanyang for decades and had great prestige in the army. Everyone knew that he was loyal to the King of Nanyang and had followed him through life and death. When he said this, the soldiers naturally believed it.

Three or four young generals under 20 years old walked out of the crowd with complicated expressions. One of them with narrow eyes couldn't help but confirm with Mu Lin: "General Mu, what you said is true, right?"

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

These young generals grew up playing with Qin Yao until Qin Yao went to the capital as a hostage at the age of eleven.

When they heard that Qin Yao had killed his father, they also found it unbelievable.

The Qin Yao they knew was not this kind of person!

Before Mu Lin could answer, another square-faced general said excitedly: "I told you, it's definitely not the prince. How could the prince kill the prince!"

“That’s right!”

"The prince has always been upright!"

The other two young generals also echoed, looking very excited.

"My Lord, is your leg okay?"

"The Second Young Master actually framed the Crown Prince. How despicable!"

These young generals all surrounded Qin Yao. Some asked about Qin Yao's injured leg, and some asked how Qin Yao escaped from danger. Their voices were soon drowned out by the voices of other soldiers in the rear.

When the soldiers around looked at Qin Xuan who was kneeling on the ground, they were all excited and indignant.

Once upon a time, many of them thought that Qin Xuan had the demeanor of a young prince, that he was better than the Crown Prince Qin Yao, and that he was more suitable to be the Crown Prince, but reality slapped them hard in the face.

Some of the soldiers recalled their previous accusations against Qin Yao and couldn't help feeling ashamed, not daring to look Qin Yao in the eye.

At this moment, when they looked at Qin Xuan again, they felt that this second young master was even more hateful.

Soon, an executioner came with a long knife. He was tall, with a grim face, and exuded a bloody murderous aura.

Qin Xuan watched the executioner approaching, and his limbs felt cold and slightly numb.

The cold light from the long sword was reflected in his pupils.

Qin Xuan panicked even more, his mind in a mess, and he shouted, "It wasn't me! It wasn't me who killed my father!"

"It was Qin Yao who colluded with King Chen to harm me!"

“…”

The soldiers present were completely confused.

The Crown Prince colluded with Prince Chen? !

The other soldiers looked at each other, not knowing what Qin Xuan was talking about.

"Xuan brother! Xuan brother!"

At this moment, a sharp and anxious female voice came from the direction of the entrance of the tent, and the voice was getting closer and closer.

The soldiers who had gathered together automatically made way for each other, and saw a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties, wearing a crimson jacket, trotting towards them.

The woman's forehead was covered with sweat, she looked hurried and pale.

"princess!"

"The princess is here!"

The other soldiers started to stir again, shouting one after another.

Princess Nanyang quickly walked up to Qin Xuan who was kneeling on the ground, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her son was safe and sound.

When Qin Xuan saw Princess Nanyang, he seemed to have seen a savior and shouted, "Mother, please save me! They want to kill me!"

"Xuan'er, don't be afraid," Princess Nanyang looked at her second son with heartache and comforted him softly, "With mother here, no one can attack you."

She quickly looked around, her eyes shot towards Qin Yao like arrows, and raised her head and shouted angrily: "Qin Yao, what are you going to do? Killing your father is not enough, are you going to kill your brother too?"

"You are totally inhuman and heartless! Xuan Ge'er is your blood brother!"

"If you dare to kill your brother, you can kill me as your mother as well."

Princess Nanyang glared fiercely at Qin Yao, who was two or three feet away, her eyes as deep as ink.

As the eldest son, he was not close to her. When he was a child in Nanyang, he was raised by his grandfather. Later, after his grandfather passed away, he went to the capital and had not come back for so many years. It seemed as if there was always a layer of separation between him and her.

Princess Nanyang protected Qin Xuan behind her like a mother animal protecting her cub.

Qin Xuan grabbed her left hand and murmured, "Mother, save me, it wasn't me...it wasn't me who killed my father."

Qin Xuan's eyes flickered, and he hid half of his face behind Princess Nanyang, staring at Qin Yao in the wheelchair, his heart surging.

Qin Yao gazed deeply at the mother and son in front of him. They had such a deep affection for each other that it seemed as if he was just an outsider.

"Mother, it was Qin Xuan who killed father." Qin Yao said calmly.

His mother has favored his second brother since he was young, and Qin Yao has long been accustomed to this.

People have different levels of closeness and distance between them, and the same is true for mothers and children.

Mu Lin also took two steps forward and said, "Princess, it was indeed the Second Young Master who killed the Prince."

General Cheng and others also echoed.

Princess Nanyang frowned even more tightly, expressing her excitement.

She didn't believe it at all and said hysterically: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"How could Brother Xuan possibly kill his father!"

"It's you. You deliberately put the blame on your second brother."

Princess Nanyang's voice became increasingly sharp and high-pitched. She felt that Mu Lin and the others had all been subjugated by Qin Yao, which was why they were confusing right and wrong.

As she spoke, she took another step forward, protecting Qin Xuan behind her like a solid shield.

The prince is already dead, she can't lose Xuan'er again.

Qin Xuan felt relieved when he heard this: With my mother here, Qin Yao can't do anything to him! My mother will definitely protect him.

"Mother, are you really sure that Qin Xuan is innocent?" Qin Yao asked with a smile.

His sharp eyes seemed to be able to see through all the secrets in her heart.

Qin Xuan was raised by his mother since he was a child. No one knows a son better than his mother. Even if his mother did not suspect that Qin Xuan killed his father before, but things have developed to this point. Could it be that his mother really did not realize that there was something wrong with Qin Xuan? !

She just didn't want to look directly at it.

Qin Yao's gaze was like adding fuel to the fire. Princess Nanyang felt a burning fire suddenly rise up in her heart, causing her to lose her mind.

"Of course your brother is innocent!"

"You killed your father, so you should be the one to die!"

Because of Qin Yao, the prince died, and Qin Xuan is also going to die...

The originally beautiful face of Princess Nanyang looked a little hideous because of hatred. Her eyes were bloodshot and gleaming with hatred. She wished she could pounce on Qin Yao and tear him to pieces.

At this moment, in her eyes, Qin Yao was not her son, but an enemy, an enemy who wanted to kill her son.

Qin Xuan held Princess Nanyang's hand even tighter, thinking: That's right, Qin Yao should be the one to die!

His eyes were as sinister as an owl's, and a hint of murderous intent flashed across them.

Qin Yao: “…”

Facing this murderous mother and son, Qin Yao remained calm. His dark pupils shrank violently in an instant and his gaze was fixed on the face of Princess Nanyang.

After a moment, his eyes returned to calm.

Killing someone means paying with your life, it is only natural.

He did not say any more words and directly ordered: "Women are not allowed to enter the military camp without permission. Come, ask the princess to leave."

At Qin Yao's command, the restless soldiers around him calmed down, like a mirror-like lake.

Two cold-looking Northern Army soldiers took a few steps forward, walked in front of Princess Nanyang, and said indifferently: "Princess, please!"

"How dare you!" Princess Nanyang held her chin high, "I want to see... how outrageous you are!"

Before she could finish her words, she heard a scream like a pig being slaughtered accompanied by a strange "click" sound. The joint of Qin Xuan's right wrist, which was holding the princess' hand, was dislocated, and his right palm drooped at a strange angle.

The two soldiers mercilessly clamped Princess Nanyang and dragged her out.

The maids and servants accompanying the princess shouted excitedly:

"How dare you attack the princess!"

"stop!"

"Let go of the princess!"

“…”

The female voices gradually faded away, and finally nothing could be heard.

The square was silent except for the sound of the military flag fluttering in the air.

Qin Xuan's heart sank to the bottom again in an instant. His whole body felt cold and he held his dislocated right hand with his left hand.

His bun was half loose, with some hair hanging down randomly, covering half of his face.

He shouted at Qin Yao excitedly: "Qin Yao, you despicable villain, if you have the guts, fight me with real swords and guns!"

"You are just a fox relying on the power of the tiger, relying on the King of Chen!"

His eyes turned blood red like a wild beast, his face was ferocious, and he stared at Qin Yao fiercely, wishing he could eat his flesh and drink his blood.

In contrast, Qin Yao was calm and composed.

Qin Xuan was kneeling and Qin Yao was sitting. When he lowered his head and looked down at Qin Xuan who was two meters away, he couldn't help but look down on him.

"Competition?" Qin Yao smiled sarcastically, "You are not qualified!"

"..." Qin Xuan's eyes widened and his expression looked extremely ugly.

Qin Xuan announced calmly: "Qin Xuan murdered his father, he should be executed!"

"Execution."

As he finished speaking, the bearded executioner raised the butcher knife in his hand high up, and the cold blade gleamed in the sun.

(End of this chapter)