In the warm spring of March, with grass growing and orioles flying, the day was exceptionally fine and clear in the capital. However, for the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate, this day marked the beginning of a nightmare.
Leng Muran was still waiting at the estate. Instead of Huo Sizhun, she received a contingent of over two hundred imperial guards. The guards presented an imperial decree, stating that someone had accused the Prince of Bing Jian before the emperor of treason.
Emperor Rui did not believe the prince would do such a thing. However, in order to ascertain the truth and to clear the prince's name, he had specifically sent people to search the estate.
The Prince of Bing Jian committing treason? This news not only stunned Leng Muran, the Princess of Bing Jian, but also the common people who had been drawn by the grand spectacle.
After all, he was the Prince of Bing Jian, the pillar of their Great Yu Dynasty. In his youth, he had followed the late emperor through countless battles, and for decades thereafter, his name and the army he trained had struck terror into the hearts of neighboring countries like Xichu and Dongyao.
His contributions to the Great Yu Dynasty were known to all. If the emperor was the heart of a nation, then the Prince of Bing Jian was its brain. If the Prince of Bing Jian had truly harbored rebellious intentions, the Great Yu Dynasty would have long since changed hands, and it would not have waited until today to revolt.
After her initial shock, Leng Muran found the matter utterly preposterous and absurdly laughable! How could Huo Sizhun, a man so loyal to the country and devoted to the people, be associated with treason?
He had fought for the Great Yu Dynasty his entire life, only choosing to marry and have children in his forties. Not only had he secured vast territories for the country, but he had also saved the late emperor from peril on numerous occasions.
To even suspect such a man of treason felt like blasphemy, let alone for someone to lodge a formal accusation before the emperor!
After careful consideration, Leng Muran ultimately did not obstruct the search by the imperial soldiers. In fact, with the imperial decree issued, she could not have stopped them even if she wanted to.
She firmly believed in the principle that the pure would remain pure, and she trusted Huo Sizhun’s character. If she were to interfere now, people might actually suspect that the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate harbored some hidden secrets. She could not afford to cause trouble for the prince at this moment.
However, Leng Muran did not realize that the person she understood was only her husband, Huo Sizhun.
She understood his loyalty to the emperor, his devotion to the people, and his tireless efforts for the country. But she had forgotten that envy and false accusations existed in the world!
Leng Muran waved for the estate guards to withdraw and then sat in the main hall, calmly sipping her tea. The imperial troops first meticulously sealed all entrances and exits to the estate, and then the remaining soldiers began to search every corner of the residence.
After about half an hour, the estate's butler rushed into the main hall. In his panic, he ran to Leng Muran, even forgetting the estate's etiquette, and cried out in distress.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, something terrible has happened! They found a tunnel behind the rockery, and in the tunnel, there was… there was…” The butler wailed, unable to utter the rest of his words.
Seeing the butler’s state, Leng Muran’s heart sank. The teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a sharp shattering sound. She stood up, holding the armrest of her chair, and asked the butler in disbelief.
“Tell me clearly, what did they find? A tunnel? What was in the tunnel?”
“They found a tunnel in the rockery, and in the tunnel there were dragon robes and a counterfeit imperial seal, in short, in short, things that would lead to our estate’s execution and annihilation!” The butler sobbed as he spoke, falling to the ground in fear.
Having served as the butler for decades, he had met countless dignitaries and was well-versed in the laws of the Great Yu Dynasty. He naturally knew the devastating consequences such discoveries would bring to the people of the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate!
“No, that’s impossible! How could these things be in the estate? The Prince would never commit treason! Someone must have framed us!” Leng Muran truly did not expect such a result.
She had married into the estate after Huo Sizhun was enfeoffed as Prince of Bing Jian, so apart from the cellars used for storage near the kitchen, she had no knowledge of any tunnels within the estate, let alone what was found inside them.
Leng Muran began to worry about the future of the estate’s inhabitants and, more importantly, about Huo Sizhun, who was being held in the palace. If the prince knew that these items were found in his estate, would it cause his qi and blood to surge?
He was already over sixty years old. What if his health could not withstand such a shock? Leng Muran stood up, intending to go to the palace to see Huo Sizhun, but the imperial guards did not give her the opportunity.
Once all the items were collected, more guards arrived, completely surrounding the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate so tightly that not even a fly could escape.
The leader of the guards then kept everyone in the estate under control. They then, carrying the "evidence" they had found, swaggered back to the imperial palace through the main street, their demeanor suggesting they were about to announce it to the world with gongs and drums!
Of course, doing so would have been too obvious. As the guards returned to the palace, people along the way were discussing loudly that these were the proofs of the Prince of Bing Jian's treason and rebellion, found in his estate.
With these people constantly spreading rumors, the uninformed commoners in the vicinity now all knew. They never expected the Prince of Bing Jian to truly betray the country; otherwise, how could these things have been found in his estate?
The Imperial Palace.
Emperor Rui sat on the dragon throne at the head of the court. Huo Sizhun sat in the Grand Tutor’s chair below. Civil and military officials, along with the Three Dukes and Grand Ministers, were arranged on both sides. In the center, kneeling, was a man dressed in the uniform of a fourth-rank military official. This was the accuser, Huo Sizhun’s half-brother, Huo Siming.
After Huo Siming finished his statement, an absolute silence fell over the entire hall. Huo Sizhun, who had initially been shocked and disbelieving, was now as calm as still water.
He did not know what he had done wrong to be falsely accused by his own brother before the emperor. The Huo family had originated from humble farming stock. Their current status was entirely due to his own fearless participation in battles.
Emperor Rui, seated at the head of the court, felt very uneasy and conflicted. On one hand, he was relieved to have eliminated a great potential threat. On the other hand, he still remembered Huo Sizhun’s support in helping him ascend the throne.
Regarding the other civil and military officials, after Huo Siming’s accusation, whether they were allies or adversaries of Huo Sizhun, they had all stated their positions. Now, more of them were simply watching the unfolding drama.
At this moment, the person in the entire hall with the most complex emotions, a mixture of fear and guilt, was likely Huo Siming, who was kneeling on the ground, his forehead touching the floor, not daring to even lift his head.
For decades, Huo Sizhun had been the great pillar of the Huo family, so his heart was filled with trepidation. Including his current status, it was all thanks to his elder brother, the prince.
From the moment he learned he had to report Huo Sizhun, Huo Siming had not slept for days. Could he do this? He could not. After days of torment, Huo Siming finally made up his mind.
Because the thought of achieving great success and becoming a true person of status after this endeavor finally drowned out his fear. Huo Siming's remaining guilt towards Huo Sizhun, which was already scarce, was silently devoured in the face of immense profit. After all, given his elder brother's status and past achievements, the emperor would at most impose a minor punishment on the Prince’s estate and would not truly kill him.
While everyone in the hall had their own thoughts, their expressions only changed when the leader of the guards arrived on the throne, carrying several boxes of items.
Dragon robes, imperial crowns, counterfeit imperial seals, letters exchanged with the Xichu Kingdom, and the locations of hidden weapons outside the city…
As the evidence was presented one by one, Huo Sizhun closed his eyes powerlessly. Suddenly, he seemed to understand everything and see through these people.
Emperor Rui, upon seeing the evidence, became enraged. The civil and military officials all knelt down to pledge their allegiance. Those who truly believed Huo Sizhun was innocent of treason requested the emperor to investigate thoroughly and not to wrong him.
The other group hoped that the emperor would show leniency and a lighter punishment, considering the Prince of Bing Jian’s past contributions to the country. These pleas were not a genuine attempt to help Huo Sizhun but, rather, indirectly confirmed his alleged treason.
From the presentation of the evidence until everyone began to argue incessantly, Huo Sizhun remained seated in the Grand Tutor’s chair and did not offer any further defense.
Finally, when Emperor Rui asked him if he had anything to say in his defense, Huo Sizhun looked up, gazed intently into his eyes, and said calmly.
“My loyalty to Great Yu is known to heaven and earth. If I harbor even the slightest thought of rebellion, I shall be forsaken by heaven and earth, and condemned by gods and men. Other than this, I have nothing more to say.”
The firmness in Huo Sizhun’s expression and the aura emanating from his voice astonished everyone present. Emperor Rui, seated at the head of the court, was also intimidated by his demeanor.
They stared at each other for a long time, until their eyes began to ache. Emperor Rui finally averted his gaze. It was clear that his resolve was weakening, perhaps due to inner guilt, as he dared not continue to entangle himself with Huo Sizhun.
Ultimately, Emperor Rui did not pass a direct judgment on Huo Sizhun. Instead, he ordered him to be taken away and confined to the imperial prison. He also issued a decree for strict surveillance, forbidding anyone from visiting without the emperor’s permission.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the affairs of the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate were being discussed in every street and alley of the capital.
Unlike in the past, when commoners were not allowed to discuss the matters of royalty and nobility, the court had turned a blind eye to the commoners discussing the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate, not interfering excessively.
To this day, even though all the evidence had been presented by the court, and Emperor Rui had even issued a decree to publicize the matter, the commoners of the capital still refused to believe it was true.
A few days later, an urgent report arrived from beyond the borders, stating that the frontier was in crisis. The message reported that Huo Qiyuan had been seriously wounded on the battlefield and his whereabouts were unknown. However, before people could recover from this news, another urgent message arrived.
The message stated that Huo Qiyuan’s injury was due to his plan to collude with a general from the Dongyao Kingdom, intending to deliberately lose the battle and then regain victory to win popular support. After helping Huo Qiyuan seize the throne of the Great Yu Dynasty, he would cede four prefectures of the border to the Dongyao Kingdom as compensation.
However, when they reached the battlefield, Huo Qiyuan was outmaneuvered. Not only did it result in the heavy casualties of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, but he himself was also poisoned and his fate remained uncertain.
Upon hearing this, and considering the evidence found in the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate, the commoners’ perception of the estate drastically changed. The father’s plot to rebel and betray the country to overthrow the imperial power, and now the son colluding with the enemy and causing the deaths of so many innocent people.
It truly was a case of like father, like son. It turned out that everyone in the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate was treacherous and cunning.
When the news of Huo Qiyuan being poisoned and missing reached the capital, Emperor Rui initially did not want Huo Sizhun to know. He was worried that if the shock was too much for his old age, he might die, especially since Huo Qiyuan’s death was not yet confirmed.
However, Huo Qixiao, who seemed to be the architect of the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate's downfall, did not have Emperor Rui’s reservations. He adhered to his previous life's mindset, firmly believing that Huo Qiyuan had already died from the Ice Silk Grass poison.
If Huo Sizhun were to remain alive in this life, there was no guarantee that he would not be harmed by him again, just like in his previous life! Therefore, no matter what, the Prince of Bing Jian had to die, and it would be best if he died in the palace, at the hands of Emperor Rui!
With this in mind, Huo Qixiao did not consult Emperor Rui. Instead, he signaled the guards in the imperial prison to inform Huo Sizhun of Huo Qiyuan’s death.
As expected, upon hearing the news of his son’s death, Huo Sizhun could not withstand the shock and immediately suffered a surge of qi and blood, his eyes and mouth contorting. He was not only unable to speak but also unable to move his body.
Seeing his condition, the messenger sent someone to notify Emperor Rui and another to notify Huo Qixiao, so that he could prepare for the next steps.
Emperor Rui, upon hearing of the Prince of Bing Jian’s sudden illness, hastily brought imperial physicians and rushed from the Imperial Study to the imperial prison outside the palace to visit Huo Sizhun. He was traveling in disguise, but on the way, he encountered people from the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate attempting a jailbreak.
It turned out that Huo Qixiao’s other arrangement was to send the news of the Prince of Bing Jian’s sudden illness into the besieged Prince of Bing Jian’s estate, and then lure Leng Muran to the imperial prison.
Huo Qixiao sat in a teahouse on Jinque Street, which was on the route from the imperial palace to the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate and then to the imperial prison, drinking tea and observing the quiet street below.
He had timed the imperial family’s departure from the palace, and then notified the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate. He calculated whether Leng Muran would encounter the emperor’s men before or after the jailbreak.
If, during the ensuing fight between both parties, the people from the Prince of Bing Jian’s estate could capture the emperor, then this matter would become even more interesting.