Chapter 498: Unworthy
Xiao Chenglin looked up in shock. Then, as if in a flash of understanding, he slowly turned to look at Xiao Chengxuan, who was kneeling in the middle of the hall.
With the two of them kneeling there together and Emperor Muwu asking such a question, the implication was perfectly clear.
Huang Kun’s face and body were covered in injuries, and his clothes were spattered with blood, but he seemed to be clinging to a final shred of lucidity.
His body trembled as he prostrated himself on the floor. His voice was faint. "I... I... I don’t know anything! Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Emperor Muwu narrowed his eyes. "I merely asked a question. What are you so afraid of?"
Huang Kun trembled even more violently, stammering for a long time without managing to form a single complete sentence.
Emperor Muwu had little patience and demanded in a grim voice:
"I have received a report that you were acting under orders when you targeted Prince Jing. You startled his horse, causing him to fall and break his leg. Do you confess or not!?"
Huang Kun froze, his head snapping up in a panic. "I’ve been framed! I’ve been framed! Th-this... When Prince Jing had his accident, I couldn’t even get there in time to help! How could I have committed such a heinous act? This is slander! Slander!"
"Slander?" Emperor Muwu sneered. "Then tell me, what motive would anyone have to slander you?"
Huang Kun was struck dumb.
’He was just a powerless little eunuch. Why would anyone go to such lengths just to report him!’
Huang Kun instinctively glanced forward and to his left.
Xiao Chengxuan exploded as if he’d been shocked. "You dog! Where do you think you’re looking!?"
’Everyone was staring right now! That one look was all it would take to drag me down with him!’
Startled, Huang Kun quickly lowered his head.
But it was too late.
Emperor Muwu’s expression was terrifyingly grim.
"He’s your man. Who else would he look at?"
Panic seized Xiao Chengxuan. "Father?"
Consort Ru grew anxious as well. "Your Majesty! This Huang Kun has nothing to do with Cheng Xuan! Someone has deliberately set this up! They want to see him dead! He—"
"I wasn’t speaking to you!"
Emperor Muwu’s furious roar made Consort Ru’s face drain of all color, and she couldn’t utter another word.
She clutched her chest as tears streamed silently down her face.
She was both shocked and terrified.
In all her years of enjoying his unwavering favor, Emperor Muwu had never once spoken to her with such a tone.
Even when Xiao Chengxuan had been stripped of his title and made a commoner, the Emperor had not implicated her, always sparing her dignity.
But now—
What Consort Ru didn’t understand was that however lenient Emperor Muwu might be with her, he was, in the end, an emperor.
Fratricide and treason were lines he would never allow to be crossed.
Now that Xiao Chengxuan could no longer clear himself of these suspicions, how could Emperor Muwu possibly tolerate it any longer?
On the surface, it appeared that Emperor Muwu was conducting the interrogation himself, but in truth, he had already reached his own conclusion.
Huang Kun’s every action since being brought in had already spoken volumes.
A dead silence fell over the great hall. Everyone was too terrified to make a sound.
Xiao Chenglin finally seemed to snap out of his stupor, though his expression remained one of utter disbelief.
"Father, c-could there be some misunderstanding? Second... Second Brother has always been kind and gentle toward me. How could he do something like this?"
He opened and closed his mouth, at a complete loss.
"When Little Kunzi served me, I... I hadn’t even been made a prince yet. He saved me on multiple occasions..."
Emperor Muwu’s fury only intensified. He pointed a finger at Xiao Chengxuan.
"To think you are so devious and vile! I truly wish I had never had a son like you! You are not worthy of being my son!"