Chu Xuan was truly fed up today. He never expected Lu Xueqing to be not only blindly arrogant but also this brain-dead. He had been truly blind in the past to have ever taken a fancy to such a vapid, insufferable woman.
But right now, Chu Xuan didn't even need to speak. The emotions of the common people had been completely ignited by that little boy. If even a child dared to stand up and denounce Lu Xueqing without fear of those in power, then as adults, if they still dithered and hesitated, it would be a disservice to the hero’s memory.
"You dare to act but not to admit it, and now you’re even turning the tables! Lu Xueqing, you are shameless! You are absolutely unworthy of being a general of our Dayuan State!"
"Everyone in the Lu Family is shameless! Lu Youwei is even less qualified to be the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture! Their whole family are parasites on our Dayuan State; we don't need such parasites here!"
"Take off your general’s armor, get out of the Imperial Capital, get out of our Dayuan State!"
*Splat!*
Another egg was thrown, but this time, it didn't hit the leading bailiff—it hit Lu Xueqing square in the face.
Lu Xueqing could never have imagined that the people who had previously adored her, who had spontaneously gathered outside the city to welcome her triumphant return, would now call her a parasite and demand that her entire family get out of the Imperial Capital and the Dayuan State.
Caught off guard by such a dramatic reversal, even with her cultivation at the mid-Fifth Grade, she failed to react in time and took an egg straight to the face.
"Everyone, you’ve misunderstood me! I am not that kind of person, and there is no way our Lu Family would ever do such a thing! All of this is a scheme by Chu Xuan to frame me and the Lu Family. Don't be fooled by him!"
Although Lu Xueqing was seething with rage, longing to kill Chu Xuan and every single person who was cursing her and throwing eggs, she knew very well that one person represents an individual, but ten thousand people represent the will of the public. If she were to retaliate against such public sentiment, the consequences would be more than she could bear.
"Still making excuses and trying to flip the narrative at a time like this? Lu Xueqing, you are truly disgusting beyond words. Go to hell!"
More eggs were hurled toward her. Just as Lu Xueqing dodged them, the crowd’s fury erupted completely. Soon, it wasn't just eggs; vegetables were flying, and eventually, even stones and bricks were being thrown.
"Prince, is this what you meant by 'striking at the heart'?" Heiyun asked as he returned to the carriage.
Chu Xuan sighed softly. He hadn't expected even an underage child to have such a clear sense of right and wrong. Yet, the Lu family, who held such high positions, didn't even understand the most basic form of respect. The human heart, it seemed, knew no class divide.
Facing the impassioned crowd, Lu Xueqing’s previous resolve began to waver. *Could it be that what the people are saying is true? Did my Lu Family really replace the gifts for the beggar with the betrothal gifts and return them to the Langya Prince’s Estate?*
Lu Xueqing wanted to interrogate Lu Youwei, but she saw that he and his wife were already wearing expressions of guilty conscience, instinctively retreating a few steps. In the end, Lu Xueqing held back from asking. Her mindset had become identical to Lu Youwei’s—even if it were true, she absolutely could not admit it. Once they admitted to humiliating the Langya Prince’s Estate—and by extension, a great hero who had sacrificed his life for the country—her political career would be over. The Chancellor's Estate, mindful of public opinion, would also shut its doors to her. If that happened, she would truly be left with nothing but a basket to draw water—trapped by her own machinations.
*No, I must find a way to calm the people's anger immediately. Only then will I have a chance to strike back.*
But faced with such a situation, what method could there possibly be? Just as Lu Xueqing was wracking her brains, a sharp, eunuch-like voice rang out.
"The Imperial Edict has arrived..."
Hearing this, Lu Xueqing’s brow relaxed, and her expression turned triumphant once more. She had been too flustered just now and had actually forgotten about the imperial court. When they first learned of Chu Xuan’s actions, the entire court and the Sovereign had been present; they all knew about Chu Xuan’s supposed forging of an imperial edict. Now that a real edict had finally arrived, it surely meant Chu Xuan would be summoned to face the Sovereign, and in front of all the civil and military officials, he would be sentenced to death for deceiving the monarch. Once Chu Xuan was convicted, the entire Langya Prince’s Estate would cease to exist. At that point, the matter of her Lu family humiliating the estate would simply fade away.
In an instant, an elderly figure arrived, covering the distance in a single step. Judging by this movement technique, his cultivation had certainly reached the Fifth Grade.
"Chu Xuan, why don't you receive the edict at once?"
When the man arrived before Chu Xuan’s carriage, Chu Xuan recognized him. It was Ge Hong, the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace and a favorite of the current Sovereign. Ge Hong wore green robes and had a head of white hair. Though his body was aged, his inner energy was incredibly vast. Just standing there, he exuded an invisible aura that made people tremble with awe.
Faced with an edict from the Sovereign himself, everyone present knelt on both knees. Yet, Chu Xuan remained unmoved, standing with his hands behind his back on the carriage, looking down at Ge Hong.
Seeing Chu Xuan’s attitude, Ge Hong’s face darkened. "Chu Xuan, the Sovereign's edict has arrived. Why do you not kneel?"
Chu Xuan remained expressionless, retorting, "Grand Eunuch Ge, is this your first day serving in the palace? Do you not know that this Prince has the privilege of meeting the Sovereign without kneeling?"
"This..."
Although Ge Hong had spent half his life in the palace and knew the affairs of the court like the back of his hand, the Langya Prince’s Estate had been dormant for five years, and during that time, it had been suppressed and pushed aside. Ge Hong had truly forgotten about Chu Xuan’s special privilege. Now, hearing Chu Xuan say this, even though Ge Hong recalled it, he was the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace; being questioned by Chu Xuan in public made him lose face, and his expression darkened further.
"Grand Eunuch Ge, you’ve come at the right time! Not only did Chu Xuan forge an imperial edict and self-appoint himself as the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya, but he is now inciting the people and slandering my Lu family. I beg you, Grand Eunuch, seize him and take him into the palace to await the Sovereign’s judgment!"
Ge Hong had indeed come to arrest Chu Xuan, but because of Chu Xuan’s privilege, it was difficult to take direct action. However, Lu Xueqing’s accusation gave him a focal point. He shrieked, "What a bold Chu Xuan! You dare to incite the people and slander the Nation-Guarding General just appointed by the Sovereign at the very feet of the Son of Heaven? You have no regard for His Majesty at all! Men, seize him for me!"
As soon as Ge Hong finished speaking, a dozen figures leaped from the surroundings. Each wore a koi-patterned black robe and carried a curved blade, surrounding Chu Xuan’s carriage.
"The Black-Clad Guard."
Chu Xuan recognized the koi-patterned black robes; they belonged to the Black-Clad Guard, a force that struck fear into the entire court. The Black-Clad Guard answered only to the Sovereign; they were not only the eyes and ears of the monarch but also held the power to supervise all officials and execute them before reporting. He hadn't expected the Sovereign to send out the Black-Clad Guard—it showed how much importance he placed on this matter.
"Haha! Chu Xuan, the Black-Clad Guard is here. Let's see what tricks you have left now!" Lu Xueqing laughed loudly.
Chu Xuan stepped down from the carriage and swept his gaze over the Black-Clad Guard. He spread his arms and said, "Do you lot dare to make a move against the Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya?"
That single sentence made the Black-Clad Guard members freeze mid-motion. They certainly didn't fear Chu Xuan, and they knew his title was self-proclaimed. However, they recognized the five-clawed python robe he wore—it was a genuine, authentic robe of a Nation-Guarding Prince of Langya, not a fake in the slightest.
"Grand Eunuch Ge, what should we do?" one of the guards asked.