Chapter 377 - Court Debacle

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

In the expansive palace, the emperor sat on his throne with a hard stare cast below.

Zhuo Fan, Huangpu Tianyuan and the house lords were on the left side, while Dugu Zhantian, Zhuge Changfeng and other officials were on the right. In the middle of the court lay the body of High Priest Yun Xuanji.

Next to the body was his charming and sobbing granddaughter, Yun Shuang.

The eight houses sighed at this loss, along with every official. The emperor eyed every single one of them before snapping, “To lay a hand on Tianyu’s High Priest is to think of oneself above the law, a taunt to the empire! Every one of you here is a person of renown in your respective field, all vying for power. What do all of you make of the High Priest’s death?”

“Your Majesty, High Priest seldom left his home and lived a dull life. Parish has few guards as well, being a peak Profound Heaven expert himself. The suspect could only be someone extraordinary, since it required power to kill him. And to move in and out without a sound, that would make the suspect someone with great sway within the empire!”

Dugu Zhantian bowed before the emperor and concluded his analysis, making sure to flick a cold gaze towards the left side at the end of his speech.

Leng Wuchang caught it and snorted, “Marshal Dugu’s vague explanation clearly projects the blame on the eight houses. But have you forgotten? Besides the eight houses, Tianyu has another strong power, the Four Pillars. Especially the first two…”

“What did you say?”

Dugu Zhantian flared, “Leng Wuchang, are you accusing me of something? Humph, I’ve always been above board, upright and honest. I would never repay the High Priest’s kindness with such a vile act!”

Leng Wuchang flapped his fan open, “Old Marshal, take it easy. I wasn’t talking about you. It was a mere reminder to expand the list of suspects, to include everyone, lest the suspect slips away.”

“Humph, in any case, I had nothing to do with the High Priest’s demise. I vow on my army’s name! Only the culprit knows who he is, but I will be damn sure to wring him out!” Dugu Zhantian roared at the heavens.

Leng Wuchang merely shook his head in disdain.

[The old guy is good at fighting but he’s dumb as a post when it comes to politics. He’ll never find the killer in his life!]

[Though this affair has gathered many big players, and has a high potential of breaking the stalemate. It’s as if an unseen hand moved everyone here from the shadows. The feeling is most unsettling.]

Leng Wuchang frowned in Zhuo Fan’s direction.

But what he saw was a tranquil and omniscient face.

The emperor looked at their reaction and said, “Only an extraordinary person could’ve done this, that much is true. However, that does not give enough credence to make everyone here a suspect. Then… Holy Maiden, may I ask, who was the last person to see the High Priest alive?”

“Uh…”

Yun Shuang’s eyes drifted to Zhuo Fan and she continued after his nod, “Your Majesty, it was the Luo clan’s steward, Zhuo Fan.”

Sss~

The hall was filled with gasps and all eyes turned to him.

The emperor had just named him to be the Best Steward Beneath Heavens and now he was involved in High Priest’s murder. What validated him more as a suspect, was Dugu Zhantian’s analysis!

[This brash kid has run amok even in the imperial capital?]

Who hadn’t heard of Zhuo Fan’s handiwork? Wherever he went, he left chaos in his wake. He feared nothing and killed anyone that even looked at him funny; a Demon Archon.

[Did he kill the High Priest after a dispute?]

Funnily enough, everyone believed it. [But to go as far as to kill the High Priest, painted a target on his back, making him the public enemy number one.]

All their gazes turned morose…

The emperor demanded, “Was it you, Zhuo Fan?”

“Was what me?”

Zhuo Fan furrowed an eyebrow and smiled, “If Your Majesty is referring to the last person to visit High Priest, then yes, that would be me, mostly. But if we were to jump to conclusions and state that the High Priest’s killer and his last visitor were the same, that would be ill-advised.”

“And how are you going to prove your innocence?” The emperor stared at him.

With a smirk, Zhuo Fan shrugged, “Easy, I have a rock-solid alibi. Me and the High Priest got along so well together that he saw me out and even gave me miss Shuang’er. Ever since I left the Parish, I was always with miss Shuang’er. She is my first witness. Next would be the second prince, since he kidnapped us. And then he asked miss Shuang’er if he had the right…”

“Fine, I get it. You’re absolved.”

With a wave, Zhuo Fan’s voice drifted off and the emperor clenched his jaw in hatred.

Zhuo Fan was clearly hanging the second prince’s matter over his head. If the emperor let that matter come out, he’d be in even more of a mess.

Then his thoughts drifted to his second son asking Holy Maiden to ascertain his right to rule and his claim on the throne. But how could he let Zhuo Fan say that? With Zhuo Fan’s cunning nature, he was sure Zhuo Fan would drag his son down with him, dragging the entire imperial family in these muddy waters. They would not only lose initiative but it would be a miracle if they could wash this shame.

The emperor wished he could snap his second son’s neck, [You just had to do that now?]

Glaring at Zhuo Fan, the emperor nodded, “Steward Zhuo, wise and brave, honest and upright. It is highly unlikely for you to have done this savage act.”

Zhuo Fan beamed back a calm smile. Zhuge Changfeng and Leng Wuchang snickered inside.

The two were aware of the second prince’s fiasco alright, although not entirely. But Zhuo Fan, who was involved as a victim, had no qualms in pushing the emperor’s buttons.

[The emperor is losing what little grip he has on the Luo clan…]

“However, Zhuo Fan, was there anyone else in the Parish before you left?” Since Luo clan gave him the slip, the emperor moved to the next best thing, Regent Estate.

Zhuo Fan nodded. He was quite blunt about it too, “Estate Lord Huangpu Tianyuan and Sir Leng were guests there. And let me tell you, they weren’t very friendly either.”

Huangpu Tianyuan and Leng Wuchang’s faces sank.

They were clear of their innocence, but feared Zhuo Fan and the emperor would join hands in dragging them in. The emperor lit up, [The scamp finally got on point for once.]

He didn’t get to enjoy barking at them though, not while Zhuo Fan said, “But after only raising their voices a bit, they left. At the door, they bumped into me, where they raised their voices at me for a time…”

“Irrelevant!” The emperor dissed him.

But Zhuge Changfeng had a faint smile, raising his hand, “No, Your Majesty, it is very crucial. Regent Estate is cleared of charges as well.”

“How….” The emperor shuddered.

Zhuge Changfeng continued, “Your Majesty, consider this. The two were furious yet didn’t strike the High Priest even when oblivious to the fact that there was someone outside. To not attack at that time, thinking they’re alone, it goes on to show that they never wanted him dead. They are ruled out! “

“That’s a fairly good point.” Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, putting on the most innocent look he could muster.

Zhuge Changfeng chuckled at his reaction.

The emperor’s eyebrows jumped in rage. He was livid.

Try as he might, he couldn’t find anything in his investigation to tie the rest of the people there to the case. He finished with telling them not to leave town.

Zhuo Fan was walking outside when Leng Wuchang left Huangpu Tianyuan behind and approached with cupped hands, “Steward Zhuo, we may be enemies, but thank you for that.”

Zhuo Fan grinned at his meaning and deadpanned, “We are enemies, yes, but we also need to coexist. Besides, I didn’t do it for you.”

“I know that, but one needs to give thanks when it’s due, Steward Zhuo.”

“Ha-ha-ha, since when have you two been so close?”

As Leng Wuchang bowed, a cheerful laughter announced the coming of Zhuge Changfeng.

“Oh, Prime Minister Zhuge, thank you as well.”

“It’s nothing. Steward Zhuo guided me.” Zhuge Changfeng smiled, “I picked up on Steward Zhuo’s intention of helping the Regent Estate when he recounted what happened at Parish and thought of lending Luo clan a hand. His Majesty’s plan would’ve worked otherwise.”

“Indeed, the emperor is using the High Priest’s death to summon the clans, an excuse to deal with the Luo clan and Regent Estate. Our houses may be strong, but the emperor took this chance to use the power of the court and to eradicate us both. This sudden development could’ve been the end of us.”

Zhuo Fan squinted, “Even with Luo Clan in the clear and the Regent Estate becoming the patsy for murder, the emperor would’ve charged us to annihilate you, pitting us against each other. It drew every bit of power from the Best Steward Beneath Heavens title the emperor bestowed upon me. I can’t just bear the title and shirk responsibility now, can I?”

“Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo is sharp as a tack, able to analyze the bigger picture with a glance. I approve.” Zhuge Changfeng cupped his hands.

Leng Wuchang sighed with a nod, “If we three pool our minds, no one could touch us, not even the emperor. What a shame…”

“There’s nothing to feel sorry about. With how lonely it is at the top, it’d be boring.” Zhuo Fan grinned.

Zhuge Changfeng and Leng Wuchang laughed, lamenting about the ill circumstances they met in.

Interest made them enemies, but that didn’t stop respect from forming. And now that they had worked together like clockwork to fight off the court, they felt like old friends.

How often did one find a person after his own heart?

“What do you guys think? Who killed the High Priest in the end?” Zhuge Changfeng asked.

Zhuo Fan and Leng Wuchang exchanged a smile.

“Do you need to ask? It all became clear the instant the emperor asked me who else had been at Parish. When everything is said and done, the imperial capital is still in the hands of the imperial family…”

The others saw the wisdom in his words and nodded, their hearts clear of all doubts.