Chapter 1539: Too Naive

Yi Chun had always doted on his son. Learning that most of the men he had sent were now dead or injured, he was naturally anxious.

The attendant, startled by Yi Chun's movement, looked inquiringly at the Emperor. The Emperor gave a slight nod, and the attendant then began, "According to those who escaped, Chief Constable Wang, who was leading the group, and Young Master Yi were..."

"Were what?" Yi Chun exclaimed, growing impatient at the attendant's hesitation. "Were they injured? Is it serious? Where are they now? Take me to them at once!"

He had heard rumors of his son's misdeeds over the years, but he considered them harmless. Ordinary commoners could not cause any real trouble, and Yi Zhibing was also quite shrewd, knowing whom he could afford to offend and whom he could not. Even if he inadvertently provoked someone, the other party would usually show leniency for his sake, and a stern talking-to would be the extent of it. He therefore assumed his son had merely received an unexpected lesson this time.

The attendant, looking troubled, gently withdrew his hand and took a step back before finally saying, "Young Master Yi was... was killed."

"Killed? Alright, I'll find some medicine..." Yi Chun began, before the words suddenly registered. "What!" he cried.

The imperial court instantly erupted into a cacophony of whispers and exclamations, resembling a noisy marketplace. Yi Chun's official rank was not among the highest, but it was certainly not low. Ordinarily, out of respect for him, everyone had turned a blind eye to Yi Zhibing's actions. Now, however, no one knew who had dared to act against him. Even the Emperor was somewhat surprised that someone dared to openly commit murder in the capital, and a government official at that. Could it be that members of the Demonic Cult had infiltrated once more to cause chaos?

Yi Chun was thunderstruck, his entire body collapsing to the ground. Nearby officials quickly rushed to help him up, some patting his chest to help him regain his breath. After a considerable time, he finally recovered. Pushing aside the officials who had gathered around him, he fixed the attendant with a furious, almost man-eating gaze: "Who is the murderer? How dare they be so utterly depraved!"

The attendant hesitated for a moment, then looked towards the Emperor again.

The Emperor was momentarily taken aback. "Is there something else that cannot be disclosed?" he wondered. However, considering Yi Chun's intense fury, he didn't want to dishearten a loyal minister. He waved his hand and said, "Speak freely."

Only then did the attendant stammer, "According to the information we've received, the perpetrator appears to be... Lord Zu An."

"Zu An?" In the great hall, all eyes immediately turned to Zu An. No one had expected him to be the one.

"I'll strike you dead!" Yi Chun roared, lunging at Zu An like an enraged lion.

Anger value from Yi Chun: +999, +999, +999...

Before, Zu An's glib tongue had left Yi Chun frustrated and speechless, but now, upon learning that Zu An had killed his son, Yi Chun could no longer contain himself. Disregarding the fact that he was still in the imperial court, he lunged directly at Zu An, a powerful aura locking onto his target. In his furious rage, he held nothing back, intending to strike Zu An dead and leave no opportunity for anyone to intercede.

"Ah?" Bi Linglong exclaimed, standing up agitatedly. She wanted to intervene, but they were too far apart. Even if she had been closer, her cultivation level was vastly inferior to Yi Chun's, rendering her helpless to save him. She could only watch helplessly as Zu An, like a small boat in a raging storm, was about to be crushed into fragments by a colossal tsunami.

What was surprising, however, was that Zu An neither dodged nor retreated. He simply stood calmly in place, his face remarkably serene. Just then, two figures suddenly appeared beside him. Each launched a palm strike, directly intercepting Yi Chun.

Yi Chun's body swayed. After regaining his balance, he glared at the two figures before him: "Lord Jiang, Lord Murong, what is the meaning of this?"

Jiang Boyang also cast a surprised glance at the grim-faced elder beside him, having not expected Murong Tong to intervene and save Zu An. A series of events following Zu An's arrival in the capital had previously led to Murong Tong's transfer from a crucial position, such as Sili Xiaowei, to his current semi-honorary role as Guangluxun. Moreover, the two had clashed on multiple occasions. If anyone in the capital wished Zu An dead, Murong Tong would surely be among the first. Yet, why was he saving Zu An now?

Murong Tong, his face grim, stated, "There are many suspicious points regarding this matter. It's not too late to discuss it after a thorough investigation." He naturally had no liking for Zu An, but he couldn't disregard the fact that his beloved granddaughter, Murong Qinghe, had been mentioning Zu An every time she returned home lately. It was no secret that Murong Qinghe was fond of Chu Youzhao, the heir of the Chu family. Furthermore, Zu An was the Chu family's son-in-law, which meant they would be distantly related in the future. Therefore, even if he didn't particularly care for Zu An, he couldn't simply stand by and watch him die.

Jiang Boyang chimed in, "Indeed. Resorting to private vendettas in the imperial court would make us a laughingstock if word got out." As Minister of Justice, upholding the dignity of the law was indeed his primary duty.

Yi Chun erupted in fury. In his current state, he could not listen to anyone's counsel. "This brat killed my beloved son! Whoever stands in my way today will be my sworn enemy!" With that, he was about to lunge forward once more.

At that moment, Eunuch Wen's sharp voice cut through the air: "Silence!"

Yi Chun's body barely halted. Everyone in the capital knew that Eunuch Wen was the Emperor's confidant, and his words often reflected the Emperor's will. As expected, Emperor Zhao Hao's face was grim. "The entire imperial court has devolved into a marketplace! What decorum is this?"

The officials immediately bowed and begged for forgiveness, "Your subjects are greatly alarmed!" At the same time, they each inwardly scoffed. *Hadn't Yi Chun just declared he would fight to the death with anyone who dared to stop him? Where was his resolve now?*

Yi Chun dared not act presumptuously again. Instead, he dropped to his knees with a thud, tearfully pleading with the Emperor: "Your Majesty, my son was on official duty by your command, but now he has been cruelly murdered by this villain Zu An! I implore Your Majesty to grant me justice!"

The Emperor frowned. However, he could not simply ignore the death of a minister's son. He then turned to the other party involved: "Zu An, have you been to the Sang family's residence? Did you kill Yi Chun's son?"

King Qi frowned slightly. Logically, Zu An was part of the Emperor's faction, and the Emperor should protect him. However, as a rival for so many years, King Qi knew his cold-hearted brother better than anyone. He knew the Emperor already loathed Zu An, which was evident from the previous allowance of various parties to attack him. But now, it seemed the Emperor had changed his mind? The question was clearly laden with a hidden implication: if Zu An were to flatly deny the accusation, then Yi Chun's quest for revenge would be baseless, and with various parties then delaying the matter, Zu An would successfully navigate this predicament.

Bi Linglong also looked at Zu An with eager anticipation, confident that he, being inherently clever, would have understood the subtle hint. To everyone's utter astonishment, however, Zu An simply nodded. "I did indeed go to the Sang family's residence before entering the palace," he stated, "and I was the one who killed Yi Zhibing."

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire court erupted in an uproar. Jiang Boyang and Murong Tong shook their heads slightly, retreating back into their ranks. Now, even those from the Crown Prince's faction could offer no assistance.

Yi Chun, his hair bristling, cursed loudly in a fit of rage. Had it not been for his deference to the Emperor, he would have already struck.

Anger value from Yi Chun: +444, +444, +444...

The Emperor: "..."Bi Linglong: "..."

King Qi cast a surprised glance at Zu An. Why was this young man still so composed now? Unauthorized killing of a government official was tantamount to rebellion, especially with the aggrieved party standing right there.

Bi Linglong was consumed by extreme anxiety. Disregarding all propriety, she directly interjected, "Lord Zu, what exactly transpired at the Sang family's residence that compelled you to commit such a drastic act?"

Many ministers in the court felt a surge of admiration, realizing the Crown Princess's shrewdness in so easily identifying a potential line of defense. As expected, Zu An seized the opportunity, stating, "Upon learning of Lord Sang's predicament, I became exceedingly anxious. After returning to the capital, I immediately went to the Sang family's residence to assess the situation. There, I discovered Yi Zhibing's outrageous audacity: he was attempting to take advantage of the Sang family's misfortune to commit heinous acts against Miss Sang and the Sang family's daughter-in-law. It was out of righteous indignation that I intervened."

The expressions of the gathered officials were subtly nuanced. As residents of the capital, they had all long been aware of Yi Zhibing's character, so few actually doubted Zu An's words. However, being seasoned political strategists, none of them would readily champion justice, especially when it meant incurring the displeasure of a high-ranking court official.

King Qi, on the other hand, secretly sneered. He had thought this young man possessed some hidden trump card. *So this is all he has?* Young people were still too naive, too simplistic.