Chapter 221: Xue Lu, Deserved Death!
Translator: KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Lucas
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were bound to shock the entire Imperial City tonight.
It had only been a few days since his majesty the Emperor of the Crimson Sky Kingdom passed down the decree to establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already killed the City Guard Armyās Commander, Xue Lu.
The actions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard caused many people in the Imperial City to tremble with fear, and practically all these people had grudges with Duan Ling Tian.
Within the building at the center of the lake, the expression of Third Prince, whoād just received a report from his servant, went gloomy. He threw the wine cup in his hand to shatter on the ground, causing some of the young geniuses to be unable to restrain themselves from shaking with fright.
"Everyone, the gathering today is over. Weāll gather again another time." Third Prince took a deep breath and spoke to see off his guests.
After all the young geniuses present left, Third Princeās eyes flashed with an awe-inspiring coldness. "Since Iām already like fire and water with him, then I donāt have to hold back. I must destroy his arrogant airā¦Go make preparations, I want to enter the palace and see my Imperial Father first thing tomorrow!"
"Yes." The servant accepted the orders then left.
"Duan Ling Tian, do you really think that achieving a small meritorious service allows you to act in an unbridled manner? I really want to see how my Imperial Father will punish you!" Third Priceās incomparably cold voice seemed like it came from the depths of hell.
Within the pergola, the white-browed old man was respectfully reporting to the Fifth Prince about the matter that was spread and gave rise to much discussion in the Imperial City.
"What? Duan Ling Tian actually brought along his subordinate Embroidered Uniform Guards and killed Xue Lu?" Fifth Prince was startled by this news, then his face sank. "He really hesitates for nothing and is unscrupulous!"
"Your highness, I heard that the one who carried out the deed was one of his subordinate Embroidered Uniform Guards. That Embroidered Uniform Guard ought to be an existence at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Stage." Slight fear was contained within the white-browed old manās tone.
"Looks like the Divine Might Marquis is still concerned about the friendship he had with Duan Ru Feng all those years agoā¦and actually went to such great lengths to send a ninth level Nascent Soul Stage martial artist for Duan Ling Tian to order about." Fifth Princeās eyes flickered with coldness, and his tone was depressed and low.
"Your highness, what should we do now?" The white-browed old man asked.
The Fifth Prince flicked his sleeve and said, with cold and indifferent voice, "Hmph! Now we donāt have to do anything. Iāll go to the palace to see my Imperial Father tomorrow. This Duan Ling Tianās really too audacious, actually even daring to kill the City Guard Armyās Commanderā¦.Tomorrow, my Imperial Father will dismiss him from his post as the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
"Your Highness is wise." The white-browed old man nodded.
Prime Ministerās Estate.
Gu You Ting sat before the stone table in the front courtyard as he savoured the fragrant tea with a tranquil mind.
Before long, a hurried figure whistled in and said, in a respectful voice, "Lord Prime Minister, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Duan Ling Tian, took along his subordinate Embroidered Uniform Guards and killed the City Guard Army Commander, Xue Lu!"
"Xue Lu?" Gu You Tong brows raised. "Just a boorish fellowā¦.However, this Xue Luās father isnāt simple."
As he muttered, a trace of a gloomy brilliance flashed within Gu You Tingās eyes.
The next day, Duan Ling Tian had only just arrived at the Embroidered Uniform Guardās residence when he was summoned into the Imperial Palace.
It was still the same resplendent palace from before, and Duan Ling Tian walked in with large strides. He noticed that besides the Emperor, who sat on the imperial throne, and Prime Minister Gu You Ting, who stood beside him, there still stood two people nearby.
These two people werenāt unfamiliar to Duan Ling Tian.
Third Prince, Fifth Prince!
Although heād guessed that the Emperor summoning him was about the matter from yesterday, he never thought that the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince, who were usually in conflict, would actually tacitly unite for the sake of him.
Looks like his face was rather outstanding.
"Your Majesty." Duan Ling Tian looked at the Emperor and lightly nodded.
"Presumptuous!" Third Princeās and Fifth Princeās faces went gloomy as they berated.
"Presumptuous?" Duan Ling Tian looked at the two of them and smiled indifferently. "Princes, I wonder how I am presumptuous."
"Duan Ling Tian, you didnāt kneel when you saw his majesty the Emperor. Is this not presumptuous?" Third Prince asked, in a deep voice.
"Not kneeling when you see his majesty the Emperor is a crime of great disrespect! Duan Ling Tian, do you know your crime?" The Fifth Prince added insult to injury.
Duan Ling Tian didnāt even pay any attention to what the two said and instead looked at the Emperor.
"Alright, you two brothers, thatās enough." The Emperor spoke out.
"Imperial Father!" The Third Prince and Fifth Prince were both stupefied, and looked at the Emperor with a puzzled expression.
The Emperor said indifferently, "Iāve already promised Commander Duan that heās exempt from kneeling when he sees me in the futureā¦.You two donāt have to make a fuss about nothing."
Third Princeās and Fifth Princeās pupils constricted and they both had astounded expressions.
They never imagined that their Imperial Father would treat Duan Ling Tian so generouslyā¦.
However, when they thought about Duan Ling Tianās deeds yesterday, their hearts calmed.
As far as they were concerned, just the incident yesterday was sufficient to cause Duan Ling Tian to fall from heaven into hell and forever be unable to rise again!
"Alright, now that Commander Duan is here, what do you two have to say?" The Emperor looked at Third Prince and Fifth Prince and asked indifferently.
"Imperial Father, this Duan Ling Tian obtained your favour and was even conferred as the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard by you. He should make an example of himself and serve my Imperial Familyā¦.But unexpectedly, at dawn yesterday, he actually lost all judgment to the point that he forced entry into the City Guard Armyās campsite and killed Commander Xue Lu!" Third Prince had a face full of anger. "Imperial Father, Commander Xue Lu was a pillar of our kingdom; however, he died in the hands of this ignorant kid. I hope Imperial Father will uphold justice for Commander Xue Lu!"
"Yes, Imperial Father! Duan Ling Tian killing Commander Xue Lu is a heinous crime. I hope that Imperial Father will dismiss him from his post as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and heavily punish him as a warning against others." The Fifth Prince joined in and pleaded as well.
From beginning till the end, Duan Ling Tian had a carefree expression, as if he didnāt care about what was happening before him.
And in actuality, Duan Ling Tian indeed didnāt care about what was happening, as to him, this was all just a farce!
"Commander Duan, whatās this about?" The Emperorās gaze descended onto Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian understood the moment he saw the Emperorās calm gaze that the Emperor absolutely didnāt just find out about the matter and probably had found out last night. Now he was just putting on an act before the Third and Fifth Princes.
The Emperorās gaze seemed to have a trace of meaning mixed within.
Duan Ling Tian saw through what this trace of meaning meant, and it was that the Emperor hoped that Duan Ling Tian would give him a way to extricate himselfā¦.
Although for the sake of him being the only one capable of refining the poison removal pill, it would be impossible for the Emperor to punish him, but the Emperor was the Emperor after all, and he possessed supreme dignity. Now the Emperor required a way to extricate himself.
"Your majesty." Duan Ling Tian gave the Emperor a gaze that said he understood, then slowly said, "The differences between me and Xue Lu all arose because of his son, Xue Lang. I presume your majesty has heard of itā¦.However, your majesty doesnāt know that nearly five months ago, during the journey I followed the Crimson Wyrm Army to leave the Imperial City and head to the northwest border, someone wished to kill me!"
"You can imagine how if that person was successful, then Iād be unable to cooperate with the border army and the Crimson Wyrm Army to capture the Southern Barbaric City and spread the might of my Crimson Sky Kingdom!" Duan Ling Tian said, with a clear voice.
"There was still such an incident?" The Emperorās face sank. "Do you know who it was?"
Duan Ling Tian nodded. "This is exactly what I want to say nextā¦That person was a member of the City Guard Army, who was acting under the orders of the City Guard Army Commander, Xue Lu, to sneak into the Crimson Wyrm Army with a desire to kill me on the way, and take revenge for his son!"
Third Prince and Fifth Prince spoke at almost the same instant.
However, under the dignified gaze of the Emperor, they both shut their mouths.
"Continue." The Emperor looked at Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian nodded, "Your majesty, I know that the two princes suspect that what I speak of isnāt trueā¦But this matter is something Commander Xue Lu admitted himself yesterday at the City Guard Army campsite. I originally didnāt intend to do anything to him, and only wanted him to pay a small compensation. This isnāt too much, right?"
"However, that Xue Lu didnāt appreciate my kindness; he threatened to kill me and the Embroidered Uniform Guards under my commandā¦. All this is something the thousands of soldiers within the City Guard Army campsite heard with their own ears. If the two princes donāt believe it, feel free to investigate." As Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, he looked at the Third Prince and Fifth Prince.
Their faces instantly sank.
Duan Ling Tian continued. "In the end, for the sake of self-preservation, I could only order the Embroidered Uniform Guards under my command to kill Xue Lu before he killed meā¦otherwise, the one that died wouldāve been me and my Embroidered Uniform Guards. I hope your Majesty understands."
"Imperial Father!" Right at this moment, a clear and melodious voice that was pleasing to the ear sounded, then a drop dead gorgeous figure walked swiftly over under the escort of palace maids.
This was a young girl with a peerless appearance that caused one to be unable to restrain oneself from being lost within her beauty with just a glance.
"Princess Bi Yao." Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised, as heād never thought that he would meet Princess Bi Yao here.
"Bi Yao, you seem to be in such a hurryā¦.Do you have some urgent matter?" The Emperorās face revealed a trace of amiableness when he saw Bi Yao, this was something that wasnāt present when he faced Third Prince and Fifth Prince, and it was sufficient to show how much he doted upon this daughter of his.
"Imperial Father, I heard youāre going to punish Commander Duan, right? Imperial Father, can you not punish Commander Duan? He wouldnāt kill another without a reason." Princess Bi Yao was slightly short of breath as she spoke.
Instantly, everyone present was stunned.
As no one had expected that Princess Bi Yao coming over in such a hurry was actually to plead on behalf of Duan Ling Tian.
Third Prince and Fifth Princeās expression was incomparably gloomy.
As for the Emperor, he glanced at Duan Ling Tian deeply. As he was an experienced person, he was able to discern that his daughter ought to have secretly fallen for this youth of similar age. Otherwise, she wouldnāt have forcefully entered the throne room.
"Bi Yao, who said that Imperial Father is going to punish Commander Duan?" The Emperor shook his head with a smile. "Commander Duanās already explained earlier, he isnāt in the wrong in this matter, itās the fault of the City Guard Army Commander, Xue Luā¦.Xue Lu, deserved death!"
Third Prince and Fifth Prince knew that theyād wasted their time today when they heard what the Emperor said.
Princess Bi Yaoās beautiful face flushed bright red when she heard what the Emperor said, as she never thought that the outcome of her rushing over here would be like this.
So it turned out that even if she didnāt come, Duan Ling Tian wouldāve been fine.
For a moment, she was embarrassed to the point that she felt too ashamed to show her face.
"You two!" The Emperorās gaze quickly moved onto the Third Prince and Fifth Prince, and he said coldly, "Next time, donāt disturb me before youāve investigated the matter clearly!"