Chapter 858: Dead Eunuch, Don't Block the Way!

Those words were far too blunt.

The expressions of all three Sect Leaders became somewhat unnatural.

They suspected the bastard might be deliberately causing trouble—deliberately using ugly words that left Shang Jianxiong no room to step down, hoping to stir the man's blood and force him into resistance.

At the end of the day, the three Sect Leaders believed Niu Youdao still had not accepted the compromise already reached.

He still wanted Shang Jianxiong dead.

They were indeed forcing an abdication.

But certain things truly should not be stated too nakedly.

Guan Fangyi and Wu Zhaoxing quietly exchanged a look.

Before coming here, neither had ever imagined they would one day participate in forcing the emperor of an entire state to submit.

Shang Jianxiong ground his teeth.

"Is this his meaning, or the meaning of the three great sects?"

Meng Xuan said, "If you dare do it, then dare accept responsibility."

"Your Majesty should make your decision quickly."

"We don't have the patience to wait forever."

"Do not force us to make the decision for you!"

Shang Jianxiong said in grief and fury, "I am innocent!"

Meng Xuan replied, "If Your Majesty is innocent, then Tong Mo must be guilty."

"In that case, issue the decree."

Tong Mo was a chief minister of the realm, a man at the level of Prime Minister.

Unless he were assassinated secretly, no one anywhere in Yan dared casually kill him.

Not even Niu Youdao dared openly act without justification.

The consequences of murdering such a man without formal charges would be too great.

A proper and legitimate name was still required.

Meng Xuan's words had made the attitude of the three great sects completely clear.

Shang Jianxiong no longer had a path of retreat.

If Tong Mo did not die, then he would.

The choice itself was not difficult.

Shang Jianxiong had someone summon Gao Jiancheng.

He did not tell Gao Jiancheng what to do.

He merely ordered him to follow the instructions of the three great sects.

Then he left Tian Yu behind to cooperate.

Shang Jianxiong himself turned away in desolation and walked slowly toward the depths of the rear palace.

Although he had made the choice, he truly could not bring himself to personally issue the order aloud.

"Regarding last night's affair, Tong Mo acted without law or restraint and behaved with reckless audacity..."

Gong Lince announced a long string of charges against Tong Mo and ordered Gao Jiancheng to investigate the matter thoroughly.

At first, Gao Jiancheng had not known why he had been summoned.

The moment he heard those words, he understood.

He turned his head and looked toward the direction where the Emperor had disappeared.

Then he discreetly glanced at Tian Yu's expression.

Tian Yu looked painfully conflicted.

But in the end, with a bitter face, he gave Gao Jiancheng a slight nod.

It was the same as confirming that this was the Emperor's intention.

Gao Jiancheng sighed.

"Then please have the Chief Steward summon the commander of the Imperial Guard."

Tian Yu nodded and waved for a eunuch to fetch him.

Before long, after Gao Jiancheng issued the arrangements, a squad of Imperial Guards rushed toward Tong Mo and Shang Yongzhong, who were standing beside the wall.

"What are you doing? What do you think you're doing?" Shang Yongzhong shouted in terror.

He pressed himself against the wall, his soul almost fleeing his body.

Only afterward did he realize he had frightened himself unnecessarily.

They were not there for him.

The guards seized Tong Mo on the spot.

"Your Majesty! I wish to see His Majesty! This old minister wishes to see His Majesty..."

Tong Mo shouted loudly.

He called out only a few times.

No one stopped him.

Then his own voice faded into grief and silence.

He was no fool.

He understood that he had lost last night's gamble of life and death.

Shouting any more would be useless.

Certain developments had already been within his expectations.

Outside the audience hall, a man wearing a golden crown saw what was happening and was shocked.

He started to rush over and ask what was going on.

Unexpectedly, an elderly minister beside him hurried forward first, caught hold of him, and said in a low, grave voice, "Crown Prince! Last night's affair became far too large."

"Prime Minister Tong lost."

"If he had won, he could still summon wind and rain."

"Since he lost, he has fallen beyond redemption!"

"What the Crown Prince must do now is immediately distance yourself from Prime Minister Tong and prove that last night's affair had nothing to do with you!"

The Crown Prince's face filled with grief and anger.

Tong Mo was his maternal grandfather.

He was also the key reason the Crown Prince had been able to hold his position steadily at court all these years.

Another man stepped forward to persuade him.

"Your Highness, think carefully. Do not act impulsively!"

"They are still handling matters according to the rules."

"If you force them into using hard methods, they will not spare even you."

"At a time like this, you absolutely cannot draw their attention."

"If they begin to think you and Prime Minister Tong are of one mind, there will be terrible trouble."

The Crown Prince jolted.

Cold sweat nearly broke across his entire body.

They managed to restrain him.

But from a side gate of the rear palace, a woman suddenly came running after receiving the news.

She wore a phoenix crown and splendid robes, lifting her skirts as she ran.

"Stop! Who allowed you to treat Prime Minister Tong with such disrespect?"

The Imperial Guards were preparing to escort Tong Mo away.

Niu Youdao and the others had also been about to turn and leave.

The woman's appearance made everyone stop and look.

"Who is that?" Niu Youdao asked.

Gong Lince replied mildly, "Empress Tong. Tong Mo's daughter."

Niu Youdao gave an acknowledging "Oh."

He truly had never paid much attention to this side of matters.

He knew Tong Mo's daughter was Empress of Yan, but without Gong Lince's reminder, he would never have thought of her at that moment.

"Crown Prince, hurry and stop the Empress! Quickly!" The old minister who had restrained the Crown Prince shoved him forward.

The Crown Prince panicked and rushed to intercept her.

Tong Mo turned and saw what was happening.

He immediately became anxious and tried to twist around.

The Imperial Guards, who had still been treating him with a measure of respect, had no choice but to restrain him firmly.

Tong Mo forced his head around and shouted in grief, "Go back! This has nothing to do with you! Go back!"

The Crown Prince hurried up and grabbed the woman's arm.

He lowered his voice urgently.

"Imperial Mother, go back! Quickly, go back!"

Her father was the pillar that allowed her to command respect as mother of the realm in Yan.

He was also the support that would help her own son ascend the throne securely in the future.

How could she allow anything to happen to him?

Empress Tong truly panicked.

Struggling against her son, she pointed toward the commander of the Imperial Guard and rebuked him.

"Guan Xiao, who gave you the courage to lay hands on Prime Minister Tong?"

"Release him immediately!"

"I will go see His Majesty myself!"

Guan Xiao immediately looked troubled.

The Empress herself had issued an order.

"Imperial Mother, Prime Minister Tong already said this has nothing to do with you." The Crown Prince pulled at her and reminded her desperately.

Tian Yu also hurried over with several eunuchs and bowed.

"Your Majesty, women of the rear palace must not interfere in government. Please return!"

As he spoke, he kept signaling to the Empress with his eyes.

Tian Yu still carried considerable authority inside the palace.

No one there dared ignore his face.

Earlier, a eunuch had rushed to report that her father was in trouble, which was why Empress Tong had hurried here.

Now, seeing Tian Yu's warning look, she finally calmed down somewhat.

She had spent many years in the deep palace.

Although Tong Mo's support had allowed her to behave with few reservations, there were still certain things she understood.

She began rapidly surveying the situation around her.

The moment she saw the Sect Leaders of the three great sects present, her pupils contracted.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Niu Youdao walked over slowly using his sword as a cane.

Wu Zhaoxing and Guan Fangyi followed closely on either side, never leaving him by more than a step.

Long Xiu, Meng Xuan, and Gong Lince watched him go.

Some frowned.

Some remained expressionless.

Gong Lince shook his head and sighed.

"Why come running out to seek death yourself?"

From beginning to end, once the negotiations between both sides had settled on Tong Mo, Niu Youdao—whether through oversight or intention—had not implicated the members of the Tong family inside the imperial palace.

"Go!" Tong Mo shouted anxiously.

His bloodshot eyes, already red from staying awake the entire night, became even redder.

Unease spread across Empress Tong's face.

Under the Crown Prince's tugging, she lowered her head and tried to avoid Niu Youdao by turning away along another path.

"Wait!" Niu Youdao called.

At the same time, he gave a small hand signal.

Guan Fangyi immediately flashed out and blocked the mother and son.

She extended one arm and smiled sweetly.

"Master Dao has something to say. Please wait, both of you."

Mother and son immediately began trembling with fear.

They looked at the woman before them as though she were a poisonous snake or scorpion.

Guan Fangyi did not know whether she should secretly enjoy the moment.

She had never imagined that the Empress of an entire state would one day be this afraid of her.

Back in the Qi capital, such a thing had been unimaginable.

The Empress of Qi would never have regarded Guan Fangyi as someone worth noticing.

Guan Fangyi vaguely remembered that years ago, the Qi Empress had disliked the way her presence supposedly sullied the capital's reputation and had nearly driven her out of the city.

Later, somehow, the matter had simply faded away.

Niu Youdao arrived.

Tian Yu immediately stepped in front of the mother and son and forced a smile.

"Master Dao, women of the palace are ignorant. This old slave failed to discipline them properly."

Niu Youdao raised an eyebrow.

"Move aside."

Tian Yu's smile became even more strained.

He found it difficult to step away.

Niu Youdao lifted the sword in his hand like a walking stick and lightly tapped Tian Yu's arm with it.

"Dead eunuch, don't block the way!"

In the end, Tian Yu forced a smile and stepped aside, exposing the mother and son behind him.

Niu Youdao smiled.

"Empress Tong?"

Empress Tong asked timidly, "Who are you?"

Niu Youdao cupped his hands.

"This humble one is Niu Youdao of Nanzhou in the State of Yan."

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

He bent slightly at the waist, every inch the courteous gentleman.

The moment she heard he was Niu Youdao, and connected it with her father's arrest, Empress Tong understood the situation even more clearly.

She had not been unaware of last night's disturbance.

Now she was badly frightened.

The hand gripping her son's tightened unconsciously.

The Crown Prince could feel the fear in his mother's heart.

Niu Youdao's gaze shifted to him next.

"And who is this?"

The Crown Prince immediately tensed.

Tian Yu hurriedly said, "An official of the court. He only came with good intentions."

"An official of the court?" Niu Youdao looked him up and down. "His clothing doesn't look like that of an ordinary court official."

"And what ordinary official would dare pull and tug at Her Majesty like this?"

"I presume this must be the Crown Prince?"

Tong Mo suddenly shouted, "Niu Youdao! A man should answer for his own actions!"

"This matter has nothing to do with them!"

"Nothing to do with them!"

"If you have any hatred, direct it at this old man alone!"

"This old man deserves ten thousand deaths."

"I admit it!"

Niu Youdao turned his head to look.

"How touching. A family bound by such deep affection!"

Seeing the Crown Prince stopped, some court officials immediately wanted to rush over and protect him.

The same elderly minister who had restrained the Crown Prince stopped them.

He pleaded urgently, "Don't go over. You cannot go over. We cannot let that thief think the Crown Prince's faction is too powerful!"

"Are we supposed to stand here and watch the Crown Prince be humiliated?"

"Everyone, don't worry. Even the Sect Leaders of the three great sects would not dare openly act recklessly against the Empress and the Crown Prince. Niu Youdao won't dare either."

The officials of the Crown Prince's faction were held back, but every one of them remained terribly nervous.

Many other officials watched with flickering eyes.

Some looked on coldly.

Others might even have been taking pleasure in the misfortune.

"So it really is the Crown Prince." Niu Youdao smiled and nodded toward him. "The Crown Prince of the present court... the future Emperor of Yan..."

Just then, the sound of horse hooves rolled in from outside.

Everyone turned.

Carriage after carriage entered the palace under escort by Imperial Guards and a group of cultivators.

Old Six Xu jumped down from one of the horses and came to Niu Youdao's side.

"Master Dao, we've brought them."

Niu Youdao gave a quiet acknowledgement.

Standing with both hands resting on his sword, he said, "Bring the assassins out and have them confront Prime Minister Tong!"

Old Six Xu acknowledged him and went to relay the order to the escorting Imperial Guards.

"They aren't assassins at all..."

A cultivator from Zijin Cave hurried to Gong Lince's side and whispered into his ear.

Gong Lince frowned.

The people inside the carriages began climbing down.

Men and women.

Young and old.

A large group.

Every one of them looked around in terror.

The instant they saw Tong Mo under arrest, some were so frightened they covered their mouths.

"Ah!"

The ministers outside the audience hall erupted in uproar.

They had discovered that the people brought here were all members of Tong Mo's family.

Some were his sons.

Some were his daughters.

In short, children, grandchildren, and household dependents had been gathered together, young and old alike.

There were seventy or eighty people in total.

These were people who ordinarily swaggered through the capital with no one daring to provoke them.

Now every one of them looked like a terrified quail.

Even those who normally bullied men, seized women, and acted with impunity were pale-faced.

None of their usual arrogance remained.

"Aunt! Aunt! Imperial Aunt..."

Someone suddenly cried loudly toward the Empress as though they had seen their savior.

They tried to rush forward but were stopped by the weapons of the Imperial Guards.

Empress Tong's face darkened.

She turned her head away and refused to look.

It was as though she had heard nothing at all.

[End of Chapter 858]