Ge Yunshu was knocked unconscious and collapsed to the ground.
After Cang Hai finished fighting, he respectfully stepped aside, not bothering to reach out and take the weapon.
His master disliked his women having contact with other men, and he, as a subordinate, always kept this in mind.
Shang Rui, dressed in his court robes, had just returned from court when he received this bad news from Gejiazhuang.
He had two maids help Ge Yunshu back to her room, gave her a few instructions, and then led Canghai back to the palace.
Inside the carriage,
Shang Rui's charming and amorous eyes were filled with anger, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists under the wide sleeves of his court robe.
The incident at Gejiazhuang must have been Shang Changze's doing, it definitely was!
Xiao Ji, yes, it was most likely Xiao Ji who did it.
He had witnessed the martial arts and poison skills of Master Ge and Yun Shu's other two uncles, and they had brought so many people with them.
How could a few martial arts sects possibly wipe them out by joining forces? It's utterly laughable!
The only person capable of doing this is Xiao Ji, that ruthless monster who kills without hesitation!
Recalling her previous life, she remembered how she listened to her confidant and tricked Xiao Ji into entering the palace with the intention of getting rid of him.
Xiao Ji, however, managed to break through a hundred or so Imperial Guards single-handedly without any troops, nearly killing himself.
Shang Ruichao's body trembled uncontrollably as he put his hands on his forehead, afraid to close his eyes.
He still clearly remembers Xiao Ji's bloodshot eyes and violent demeanor.
Fortunately, Xiao Ji was eventually killed by the combined efforts of his ten Emperor Shadows and the three Emperor Shadows sent by his father!
How hateful, how hateful!
In his previous life, Xiao Ji didn't take sides, so why did he choose his second brother in this life? Was it just because of the two words his eldest sister said on his behalf and for his army?!
And then there are the majority of officials in the court, those blind and ignorant fools...
Whether in the previous life or this life, I will choose to stand on my second brother's side.
They deserved to be killed or dismissed one after another by their father's schemes!
The carriage was moving very fast, with a slight bump in the road.
Shang Rui dared not close his eyelids or even blink; his eyes were wide open, and blood vessels slowly crept into them.
He was filled with hatred—hatred for everyone who was against him, hatred for God, and hatred for himself.
Why didn't he ask his father how he brought down his second brother in his previous life? He could have asked even once, but he never did!
So much so that now, even trying to walk the same path as before is as difficult as climbing to heaven.
After a while.
Shang Rui's carriage stopped at the palace gate, along with a carriage from the Crown Prince's residence.
The brothers met, and both were equally handsome men in the capital.
But now one looks calm and composed, while the other's face is so dark it could drip ink.
Shang Rui: "The matter at Gejiazhuang was done by the Emperor's men, wasn't it?!"
Shang Changze's expression remained unchanged, but he thought to himself that his third brother truly deserved to have been an emperor and sat on the dragon throne.
Reborn, he possessed an air of superiority, and calmly replied:
"Third brother, you must provide evidence before you speak. This is clearly a dispute between martial arts practitioners. How can you smear me like this?"
These sarcastic remarks provoked Shang Rui, especially the phrase "strife in the martial arts world."
A few days ago at Dali Temple, his beloved elder sister also said these four words in a similar tone.
He had thought she was genuinely standing up for Man Niang, but it turns out she was just waiting for him!
"Shang Changze!"
Enraged, Shang Rui called out Shang Changze's name and swung his fist at Shang Changze's usually expressionless face.
Shang Changze slightly tilted his head to dodge the punch, and with a raised hand, he grabbed Shang Rui's wrist. With a little force, Shang Rui's face turned from black to blue.
"Your Highness!"
Cang Hai wanted to step forward, but was stopped by the cold-faced, knife-wielding guard who had come with Shang Changze.
With just one glance at the confrontation, Cang Hai knew he was no match for this man. He gripped his sword tighter and became increasingly worried about his master's future.
Shang Rui: "Shang Changze!"
Shang Changze: "I'm not deaf, Third Brother, there's no need to shout so loudly."
His tone was calm and even, yet the more Shang Changze acted this way, the more it enraged Shang Rui, even though his hand was still being held.
Shang Rui struggled in vain, and just as he was about to do something, Shang Changze let go.
Shang Changze not only let go, but he also took out a clean white handkerchief from his sleeve and slowly wiped his hands.
As if he had just touched something dirty he shouldn't have, he adopted the air of an older brother and gently lectured him:
"There is a distinction between the noble and the lowly, and an order of seniority. Even if I am not the Crown Prince, I am still your elder brother."
Third brother shouldn't have called me by my name, much less have he made a scene at the palace gates or even fought with me; it was truly unseemly.
After he finished speaking and wiping his hands, the guard with a sword who was confronting Canghai came over at the right time to take the dirty handkerchief that his master had used.
Shang Rui gritted his teeth. What did Shang Changze mean? Did he think his hands were dirty?!
Shang Changze had no intention of lingering at the palace gate to confront Shang Rui any longer, but before leaving, he couldn't help but say something to provoke Shang Rui:
"Although I have a good temper, I am not without one. Third brother, I will fight back next time. And you, you can't beat me."
"Then, I will go first."
After saying that, he left without paying any attention to how unpleasant Shang Rui's expression was, feeling quite pleased with himself.
As expected, learning from my older sister's sarcastic and cryptic approach was the right thing to do; a few words were enough to make my third brother expose his flaws and become desperate.
Both men were summoned to the palace by Emperor Mingde, and their purpose was naturally to question the Ge Family Village matter.
Inside the council hall,
Emperor Mingde and his son Shang Rui worked together to direct their criticism at Shang Changze and Xiao Ji.
Shang Changze remained calm and composed, having already prepared a response to Emperor Mingde's questioning and Shang Rui's accusations:
"Father, please forgive me."
"The reason I disagreed with my third brother's proposal to offer amnesty in court was because the Ge family was ruthless in their methods."
Since establishing his own sect, he has frequently persecuted other sects, ranging from killing to wiping out entire families. However, Father Emperor insists on offering amnesty, and I have nothing to say.
"Once the news of the amnesty is released, the martial arts sects that have grudges against Ge Family Village will inevitably feel worried."
Worried that the Ge Family Village had the imperial court as its backer, they became even more unscrupulous and domineering.
Therefore, it is only natural and reasonable for martial arts sects to unite and kill the Ge Family Manor group.
"Now, my third brother is accusing me of instigating the General without any evidence."
The excuse that the General is currently at his military camp outside the city and has missed the morning court session is utterly absurd!
Before Emperor Mingde could speak, Shang Rui jumped up in anger.
Shang Rui: "How is it absurd? What's absurd about it?"
"Your Majesty says I have no evidence, but what proof do you have that this wasn't done by your orders to the General?!"
Shang Changze glanced at Shang Rui, a fleeting and indifferent look, then bowed respectfully to Emperor Mingde on his high throne.
"Your subject has no evidence to prove his innocence, but the General is in the military camp,"
"Father could easily send someone to the military camp to inquire where the General was at the time of the incident."
Fifteen minutes later.
Shang Changze sat inside the carriage, heading back towards the Crown Prince's residence.
The carriage had traveled quite a distance before the sword-wielding guard inside finally spoke up and asked:
"Your Highness, will His Majesty believe it?"
Shang Changze opened his eyes, which had been closed for rest, and chuckled, his tone relaxed:
"Of course not, my third brother is foolish, but Father is not."
The guard with the sword was puzzled, wanting to ask but hesitant to do so: "Then why..."
Shang Changze's smile deepened, his noble bearing and the magnanimity and politeness that pleased both the people and his subjects as the crown prince of a nation.
Vanished in that instant, leaving only the supreme and unchallengeable authority of the ruler:
"This time, I want to make it clear to my father that I will not hand over the position of Crown Prince to someone else."
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