Chapter 857: You're Forcing the Emperor to Abdicate!

His tone was still respectful, but there were thorns beneath the softness. It was utterly different from the careful flattery of the past.

He had changed.

Some people could not accept that attitude. Meng Xuan's face darkened as anger surged.

Long Xiu immediately raised a hand and stopped him before he could say anything final. If the words became too absolute, both sides would be trapped with no way to step down and would have no choice but to fight it out to the end. This was not yet the time to push matters that far.

Meng Xuan understood. He swallowed the words already at his lips.

Guan Fangyi was secretly alarmed.

She discovered that Niu Youdao truly was becoming more and more forceful.

Long Xiu changed the subject. "Niu Youdao, explain your dealings with Xiaoyue Pavilion first. What exactly is your relationship with them?"

Niu Youdao said, "I had no choice but to cooperate with Xiaoyue Pavilion. Everyone knows perfectly well who launched that massive attack on Maolu Villa back then. If I hadn't worked with Xiaoyue Pavilion, I wouldn't have lived this long. Who would have thought that after I came to the capital, that man would try to kill me yet again?"

Seeing him constantly drag the subject back toward Shang Jianxiong, Long Xiu refused to engage and continued asking about Xiaoyue Pavilion.

"They protected your safety, and in return you used Nanzhou's troops to suppress Zhao and help them raise their banner?"

Whatever the truth might have been, Niu Youdao admitted it directly.

"Correct."

Long Xiu asked, "What do they intend by raising troops?"

Niu Youdao replied, "Most likely, they intend to replace the State of Zhao."

Meng Xuan gave a cold laugh. "What a joke. Do they think Zhao will obediently hand over its state-protecting divine artifact to them?"

Niu Youdao casually tossed out one sentence.

"The Shang Mirror is in their hands."

The Shang Mirror?

The Shang Mirror that had disappeared for so long was in Xiaoyue Pavilion's hands?

Everyone was startled.

The Sect Leaders of the three great sects exchanged looks.

It seemed Xiaoyue Pavilion's ambitions truly had been cultivated for many years.

Before this, they had always worried whether Niu Youdao himself might secretly belong to Xiaoyue Pavilion.

Long Xiu said, "You mobilized more than Nanzhou's forces. You moved the troops of the entire State of Yan. This is no longer merely a matter of repaying a favor. Is Yan supposed to help Xiaoyue Pavilion for nothing?"

"Naturally not," Niu Youdao said. "And naturally I must give the three great sects an accounting as well. Xiaoyue Pavilion already promised that once matters are settled, three prefectures will be carved from Zhao's territory and given to Yan's three great sects as thanks."

"Only three prefectures?" Gong Lince said, plainly dissatisfied.

Meng Xuan said, "Yan is paying such an enormous price to help them. Zhao has thirty-three prefectures, and they offer only three? Absolutely not!"

Niu Youdao replied, "Once they rise in rebellion, their strength will not be enough to replace Zhao across the entire state. I'm sure they understand that themselves."

"There is plenty of room for negotiation, so there is no need to rush."

"In short, cooperation is mutually beneficial. I will not let Yan suffer a loss. I will give the three Sect Leaders an explanation that satisfies you."

"Otherwise, the three of you wouldn't let me off either!"

Meng Xuan gave a cold snort inwardly.

Even after the matter was settled, they still had no intention of letting him off.

...

At the Tong residence, household steward Tong Ming stepped outside and looked around.

In the past, the entrance would already have been crowded at this hour, with callers arriving so early they nearly wore down the threshold.

This morning, however, not a single visitor could be seen.

The gate stood cold and empty.

It seemed last night's upheaval had jolted quite a few people awake.

Everyone in the capital was an old hand. They all knew how to chase profit and avoid danger. There were no fools here.

The affair had become too large.

Before the outcome was known, there probably would not be any more visitors.

If the Prime Minister won, those who stayed away today would naturally swarm back again. They would even have excuses ready: they had heard the Prime Minister entered the palace in the middle of the night and therefore knew he was not at home, and so on.

Tong Ming gave a self-mocking smile and turned back inside.

...

In the rear palace, a group of eunuchs were directing Imperial Guard soldiers as they cleared the ruins.

Outside the audience hall, ministers had gathered in groups and whispered among themselves.

Morning court still had not begun.

Everyone knew something had happened the previous night. No one dared send eunuchs to hurry things along. They simply waited for news, while countless people stood there in unease.

Shang Jianxiong truly had no mind for court at the moment.

He was discussing how to handle the aftermath with three senior ministers.

Tian Yu hurried in from outside and reported urgently, "Your Majesty, Niu Youdao isn't dead!"

"What?"

All four sovereign and ministers spun around in shock.

Worry covered Tian Yu's face.

"According to the report from below, Niu Youdao escaped the disaster. He had been hiding underground at the site of the encirclement."

"After the three Sect Leaders arrived, he suddenly emerged from the ground. At present, he is still there discussing something face-to-face with the three Sect Leaders."

Shang Jianxiong turned furiously toward Tong Mo and exploded.

"What the hell were you doing? You mobilized that much force, and he still hid underground and escaped with ease?"

"Don't you know what it means to see the man alive or the corpse dead?"

It was easy to criticize when one was not the person responsible.

The target compound had been smashed into that condition, flames climbing into the sky.

Even if corpses remained, who could possibly distinguish whose was whose?

And afterward, people from the three great sects had arrived and taken control of the site. No one else had been allowed to continue disturbing the area.

How were they supposed to search?

Of course, there was no point explaining that to the Emperor.

At a moment like this, the Emperor cared nothing for the process.

He cared only about the result.

Tong Mo stood numbly in place, pain written across his old face.

This was not truly a matter of Niu Youdao having survived simply by hiding underground.

The moment the six states' envoys appeared at the target residence, Tong Mo had already realized the situation had gone bad.

Niu Youdao had plainly prepared in advance.

Killing him might not be possible.

And now the worst possibility had indeed come true.

Gao Jiancheng and Shang Yongzhong quietly exchanged a glance.

The instant the disturbance began last night, the instincts they had cultivated over many years in the capital had already told them that the people before them were trying to kill Niu Youdao.

Before now, that had only been their own judgment.

But in his rage, the Emperor had just admitted it with his own mouth.

"Watch them closely! I want to know everything they do!" Shang Jianxiong turned and roared at Tian Yu.

Afterward, he paced anxiously back and forth.

Forget the six diplomatic missions.

So many disciples of the three great sects had died because of this affair.

How could he possibly feel no fear?

If the three great sects truly wanted him dead, killing him would be as easy as pinching an ant.

His life had always been held in their hands.

He understood the situation perfectly.

At present, the momentum was on Niu Youdao's side.

So long as Niu Youdao lived, Shang Jianxiong stood at a disadvantage.

If Niu Youdao had died, Shang Jianxiong would have held the advantage.

When two sides struggled, either the east wind overwhelmed the west wind, or the west wind overwhelmed the east wind.

And Niu Youdao was still alive.

Most of Yan's military power was currently controlled by the Nanzhou faction.

Every power around Yan was being restrained in one way or another.

If the three great sects truly decided to act against him, they would have no reason to hesitate.

"Your Majesty!"

Tian Yu, who had only just run out, hurried back again and reported urgently, "The Sect Leaders of the three great sects are coming toward the imperial palace with Niu Youdao!"

At those words, a bleak expression spread across Tong Mo's old face.

He had already sensed what it meant.

The fact that the three Sect Leaders and Niu Youdao were coming to the imperial palace together was itself a signal.

"Go welcome them!" Shang Jianxiong waved a hand, visibly flustered.

Before he knew the situation clearly, he no longer dared put on the same lofty posture as before.

The group quickly left the rear palace.

The officials gathered outside the audience hall all turned their heads.

They too had noticed it.

A group of cultivators flew over from outside the palace, crossed straight into the grounds, then proceeded at an unhurried pace toward the rear palace.

Before long, Shang Jianxiong emerged leading his own group.

The two sides met before the gate leading into the inner palace.

Shang Jianxiong and the others saluted the Sect Leaders of the three great sects.

The three men stared at him coldly.

The atmosphere was tense.

Niu Youdao lowered the sword in his hand and planted it on the ground before him.

Smiling, he broke the silence.

"Your Majesty refused to see me earlier. I'm rather thick-skinned, so I had no choice but to come see Your Majesty on my own initiative. I hope Your Majesty won't take offense."

Shang Jianxiong's cheek twitched violently.

He said nothing, ignored Niu Youdao, and did not even look at him.

He knew perfectly well that his own life was held by the three great sects.

So long as the three sects did not want to kill him, Niu Youdao could do nothing to him.

There was no need for him to give Niu Youdao any face.

Niu Youdao glanced toward Tong Mo's dark expression, then smiled again.

"Three Sect Leaders, I nearly forgot something. Among the assassins who tried to kill me last night, one group secretly fled the city. My people have already captured them."

"They're currently outside the city. Since we feared that people inside might collude with the assassins and cause trouble, we didn't dare bring them in casually."

"I hope the three Sect Leaders can send people to meet them and bring them here."

"Then we can confront the assassins face-to-face!"

The three Sect Leaders were all somewhat taken aback.

This bastard had actually captured a group of assassins?

And he still dared claim this had not been a trap prepared in advance?

Gong Lince waved toward the disciples below him.

"Go bring them back."

Niu Youdao said, "Old Six, go guide them."

"All right!" Old Six Xu answered and left with the Zijin Cave disciples.

When Niu Youdao looked at Tong Mo again, he saw fear emerging in the old man's eyes.

Tong Mo's cheeks were clenched tight as he stared at him.

He seemed to have guessed what these so-called "assassins" really were.

Niu Youdao smiled back with an ambiguous expression.

To Tong Mo, that smile looked incomparably vicious.

Gong Lince spoke again.

"I have something to ask His Majesty. Aside from the Emperor, everyone else withdraw!"

Yet instead of withdrawing, Tian Yu and the palace eunuchs gripped their sword hilts and moved closer to Shang Jianxiong, looking as though they were prepared to perish together with him.

Shing! Shing!

The Zijin Cave disciples immediately drew their swords.

Their Sect Leader had spoken, yet these people actually dared disobey?

Were they rebelling?

They advanced with swords in hand.

"Everyone withdraw!" Shang Jianxiong turned and barked at the people around him.

He understood.

If the three great sects wanted to kill him, these people could not save him anyway.

The eunuchs and guards could only retreat slowly.

Tong Mo and the others, now standing farther away, kept their eyes fixed on the scene.

Gong Lince said, "Your Majesty, many disciples of our three great sects died last night while protecting you. Personnel from all six diplomatic missions were also killed."

"You must give us an accounting for this affair!"

Shang Jianxiong replied, "Villains caused this disaster. The three great sects should severely punish the villain responsible!"

When he said "villain," he looked directly at Niu Youdao.

The meaning was obvious.

He was calling Niu Youdao the villain.

Niu Youdao merely smiled as though none of it mattered.

Gong Lince said, "Everyone knows perfectly well what is true and what is false. There is no meaning in talking in circles."

"We will not deliberately make things difficult for Your Majesty either. We have no wish to embarrass you publicly."

"So we will give Your Majesty a choice."

"Either abdicate in apology and pass the throne to the Crown Prince, or give us another explanation that satisfies us!"

Shang Jianxiong's face filled with grief and fury.

"I am innocent! Why should I apologize?"

"You're forcing the Emperor to abdicate!"

Was that not exactly what this was?

Niu Youdao watched with an amused expression.

Long Xiu said coldly, "If you dare do something, then dare accept responsibility for it."

"When you acted so recklessly, you should have been prepared to bear the consequences."

"The disciples of our three great sects protected you. Even if they had no great merit, they still endured hardship on your behalf."

"Yet you dared turn your blades against them."

"If this can be tolerated, what cannot?"

"We too must give everyone in our sects an accounting!"

Niu Youdao suddenly interjected from the side.

"The three Sect Leaders are far too refined. The way you're speaking, he may not understand."

"Emperor, let's make it plain."

"Between you and Tong Mo, one of you must die."

"Either you die, or Tong Mo dies."

"Choose for yourself!"

[End of Chapter 857]