The constables were all uneasy, unsure if they should obey Yuan Zun's orders. After all, these were Marquis Wen and his son, Liu Qingfeng, figures who held absolute sway in Tongcheng. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to disrespect the court.
Yuan Zun let out a heavy snort, "You openly used a counterfeit imperial pardon, which is deceiving the emperor and instigating rebellion. It is disrespect to the court and the law, and the greatest blasphemy against the Great Emperor. This is a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan!"
Liu Zhiyuan's eyes widened, and he trembled with anger. "What did you say? The imperial pardon is fake? Old man Yuan Zun, open your dog eyes and see clearly. This object was a reward from my Liu family's ancestor. How could it be fake?"
Liu Qingfeng also shouted indignantly, "Yuan Zun, you won't eliminate our Liu family by using this matter. This imperial pardon cannot be fake. Furthermore, it is you who are deceiving the emperor and instigating rebellion. You are spewing baseless accusations because you think people don't recognize an imperial pardon. You are the one deceiving the emperor!"
Yuan Zun asked, "Let me ask you, what material is the imperial pardon made of?"
Liu Zhiyuan replied, "Naturally, it is made of pure gold."
Yuan Zun looked at Tian Bo and said, "Get a magnet."
Tian Bo immediately got up, fetched a magnet, and placed it near the imperial pardon.
*Bang.*
Before the magnet even touched the imperial pardon, it was drawn to it.
Yuan Zun showed a playful expression. "What do you have to say now?"
*Boom!*
Liu Zhiyuan and Liu Qingfeng felt as if they had been struck by lightning. They had never expected things to turn out this way.
"Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible. This is the imperial pardon bestowed upon my Liu family by the Great Emperor. How could it have become an iron token?" Liu Zhiyuan's face turned ashen, as if he had lost his soul. He couldn't accept this. If the imperial pardon wasn't a real imperial pardon, not to mention the transgressions Liu Yu committed on the street, simply using a counterfeit imperial pardon was an act of deceiving the emperor and instigating rebellion, punishable by the extermination of the entire clan!
Yuan Zun coldly snorted, "Your Liu family rendered meritorious service to the state, and the Great Emperor therefore bestowed the title of Marquis Wen and an imperial pardon. Now you use a counterfeit imperial pardon to absolve your guilt, which is the greatest disrespect to the Great Emperor. Guards, seize these father and son! They will be executed in three days!"
"Yes!"
At this moment, the constables no longer held back. They knew the Liu family was finished.
Liu Qingfeng flew into a rage, drew a constable's saber, and glared at the constables. "Whoever dares to take a step forward, I will cut him down!"
Yuan Zun heavily struck the gavel. "Marquis Wen, at this point, do you still intend to rebel?"
"Lord Yuan, this is a misunderstanding." Liu Zhiyuan's face was full of panic. "This old man had no idea why the imperial pardon turned into an iron token. I hope you will give me a chance to investigate the truth." Liu Zhiyuan knew that once he was imprisoned, the Liu family would be completely finished. He needed a delaying tactic.
Yuan Zun laughed in exasperation. He was now being addressed as Lord Yuan? No longer the "old man Yuan Zun"? Yuan Zun sighed, "I don't want this either, but I am the City Lord of Tongcheng, the parent official of Tongcheng. I should lead by example, uphold the laws of the court, and not pervert justice."
Liu Zhiyuan's lungs nearly exploded with anger. "Old man Yuan Zun, do you want to force this old man to his death?" Look, just now he was begging for help, calling the other person Lord Yuan. Now, in his rage, he was back to calling him old man Yuan Zun.
"Father, it was Chen Nan, it was Chen Nan who swapped the imperial pardon!" Liu Qingfeng suddenly shrieked, remembering that Chen Nan had handled the Liu family's imperial pardon.
"Silence!" Liu Zhiyuan roared. "Constable Chen did handle the imperial pardon, but it was right under this old man's nose. I believe he did not replace our Liu family's imperial pardon." It wasn't that Liu Zhiyuan trusted Chen Nan, but he didn't believe Chen Nan had the ability to pull off such a deception right under his nose. After all, his gaze had been fixed on the imperial pardon the entire time. Although he had blinked twice, could Chen Nan have swapped the imperial pardon in an instant? Was that even possible? If he truly had such an ability, why would he be a mere constable?
Yuan Zun said, "Marquis Wen, I don't know why your Liu family's imperial pardon went missing, nor do I wish to know. But I only know one thing: you have deceived the emperor and instigated rebellion, a crime for which there is no pardon. Considering your Liu family's ancestors' service to the state, I will have someone prepare a spacious and clean cell for you father and son, and find a skilled executioner for the execution. I also guarantee that only your three lineages will be punished, provided you do not resist."
Liu Zhiyuan's fury burned. "Old man Yuan Zun, you are clearly using this opportunity to take revenge on my Liu family. My Liu family is the biggest victim in this case. You should investigate the loss of the imperial pardon and give us justice, not seize this opportunity to exterminate my Liu family. Aren't you afraid the Great Emperor will be enraged when he finds out?"
Yuan Zun replied, "This official will order an investigation into the case of the missing imperial pardon, but that does not conflict with the extermination of your Liu family's nine lineages."
Liu Zhiyuan coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yes, the loss of the imperial pardon itself was a capital offense. The two did not conflict.
"Chen Nan, it's all Chen Nan's fault, this bastard! Everything that happened today is because of him. Even if I die, I will kill him first!" Liu Qingfeng, as if driven mad, drew his sword and charged at Chen Nan.
"Well fought!" Chen Nan's eyes lit up. He drew the saber at his waist and slashed at his opponent. The blade flashed through the air like a fleeting glimpse of a swan. The next moment, Liu Qingfeng, who had been charging at Chen Nan, suddenly stopped. He looked down in disbelief. A shocking wound ran across his chest, revealing bone and ripped organs. A dizzying sensation washed over him. He fell to the ground, his blood instantly dyeing the ground red. Liu Qingfeng had completely ceased to breathe.
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone. No one had expected Chen Nan to kill Liu Qingfeng at the yamen. He could have easily defeated and captured him.
Seeing his son die before his eyes, Liu Zhiyuan, remembering his grandson who had died in the street and been beheaded by Chen Nan, became as if possessed. He raised his cane, trembling, and smashed it at Chen Nan. "This old man will fight you to the death!"
Chen Nan gripped the hilt of his saber with both hands. He brought the blade down. A spray of crimson mist erupted in front of Liu Zhiyuan. The blood stained Chen Nan's handsome face, making him look somewhat ferocious.
*Clang!*
The cane in Liu Zhiyuan's hand fell powerlessly to the ground with a dull thud. His aged body collapsed onto his son, Liu Qingfeng, his eyes filled with endless hatred and unwillingness! Just as his consciousness was about to fade, he terrifyingly noticed Chen Nan's lips curve into a subtle, enigmatic smile...