Chapter 590: Twisting Right and Wrong, Chilling the Heart
"Don’t touch her with your filthy hands. You’re not worthy," Zhan Chi snarled, seemingly venting all his discontent toward the Beili Emperor onto him.
’In his eyes, all members of the imperial family were the same!’
Gu Shuo’s gaze was cold.
Sang Zhi trembled, not daring to step forward again. "I... It’s all my fault... I’m the one who should be dead, it’s me... It’s all my fault..."
The Beili Emperor, who was right behind him, flew into a rage at the sight. "Zhan Chi, you have some nerve! How dare you be so rude to the Eighth Prince."
Sang Zhi swayed and collapsed to the ground, as if his very soul had been torn out. "It’s all my fault. I want to go with her. Kill me... I want to go with her..."
"Eighth Son, what are you saying?"
"Kill me! I want to go with her! Kill me..." Sang Zhi shrieked.
The Beili Emperor was stunned.
"Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince has likely suffered a great shock. He doesn’t seem to be in his right mind," Mr. Li observed.
"Guards! Escort the Eighth Prince back to the palace. Summon the best Imperial Physicians to treat him."
"Yes."
Members of the Imperial Army stepped forward and restrained the delirious Sang Zhi.
A squad of the Imperial Army escorted the Eighth Prince into his carriage.
"Back to the palace," the Beili Emperor said, turning to leave.
"Your Majesty, did my daughter die for nothing?" Zhan Chi blocked the Beili Emperor’s path.
"Insolent—"
"Your Majesty, Zhan Chi does not intend to be disrespectful. He is only aggrieved because he has suffered a terrible injustice," Zhan Yi cut in loudly, interrupting the rebuke the Beili Emperor was about to deliver.
"An injustice? What injustice have you suffered?"
"My Zhan family’s granddaughter died at the hands of Yuan Yintang. We ask that Your Majesty give the Zhan family justice."
The Beili Emperor’s gaze fell upon the body of Ye Qianning. "Justice? What justice do you want? Ye Qianning secretly lured the Eighth Prince out of the palace and led him into danger. That crime is worthy of executing her entire clan. However, in light of Xiang Minghou’s merits and status, her death alone will suffice. I will not pursue the matter further."
At these words, the Zhan, Qian, and Gu families were all stunned.
’Execution of her entire clan?’
’He won’t pursue it?’
"Your Majesty, it wasn’t my granddaughter who took the Eighth Prince out of the palace! My granddaughter died saving the Eighth Prince, yet Your Majesty still lays the blame on her?" Zhan Yi was the first to react, his anger irrepressible.
"The Eighth Prince never leaves the palace without permission. That day, they left the palace one after the other and then left the city at the same time. I ask you, who other than her could have convinced the Eighth Prince to leave the city?"
"To conclude that my granddaughter lured the Eighth Prince away without any investigation is nothing short of slander. I watched with my own eyes as my granddaughter took an arrow for the Eighth Prince and died. She saved his life, only to be framed for a crime! The Zhan family will not accept this," Zhan Yi said, his heart aching as a chill washed over him.
"Even if she had a mind to save him, had she not lured the Eighth Prince to Four-direction Mountain, he would never have been in danger. Since the Eighth Prince is unharmed, I do not wish to delve into this matter." The Beili Emperor paused, his gaze sweeping over Qian Fanji, Gu Shuo, and the others. "Forty to fifty Grand Council soldiers died. If I were to pursue this, how many of you have heads to spare for the executioner?"
"The Grand Council soldiers were the ones who attacked first! If they hadn’t resisted, they would be the ones lying dead right now! How can Your Majesty be so incapable of distinguishing right from wrong?" Zhan Yi was appalled.
"Insolent! It is an act of utmost mercy that I am not pursuing this matter. Zhan Yi, if you dare to utter another wild accusation, I will charge the Zhan family with insubordination, even if the Imperial Consort herself pleads on your behalf."
"Your Majesty, this is a grave injustice. Has Your Majesty investigated? Have you investigated the events on Four-direction Mountain? Have you investigated why the Eighth Prince left the palace? Does Your Majesty know who set fire to the mountain?" Gu Shuo abruptly raised his head, enunciating each word with clear, forceful deliberation.
The Beili Emperor’s eyes turned sharp. "Insolence."