Chapter 22: The Emperor Comes to the Rescue

Outside, Mo Di and Qin Cang were still gnashing their teeth as they discussed their plan to storm the estate, while Xiao Zhan leaned casually against the doorframe, humming a little tune to himself.

"Young Prince, are you truly not worried at all?" a lead household guard couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Zhan smiled. "Worried about what? We are not the ones who should be worried right now."

As he spoke, the thunderous sound of hooves suddenly erupted in the distance. The sound grew closer and louder, causing the very ground to tremble slightly.

"What is that noise?" Qin Cang turned, his eyes narrowing in alarm.

At the end of the street, a massive contingent of cavalry came charging forward. A dark, dense mass of at least a thousand men! The rider at the very front held high a large, golden banner embroidered with a majestic, awe-inspiring golden dragon.

"The... the Emperor's dragon banner!" Mo Di’s face turned paper-white in an instant.

The leader was a middle-aged general clad in golden armor, his features stern and his eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. He pulled his horse to a halt, his resonant voice carrying across the entire battlefield: "By the Emperor's oral decree! Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Li Jing, has arrived to investigate the incident at the Prince of Yan’s estate!"

"Everyone, drop your weapons at once! Those who dare to resist shall be executed without mercy!"

No sooner had Li Jing finished speaking than the thousand-plus Imperial Guards behind him drew their sabers in unison. The blades flashed with a chilling, murderous intent.

Mo Di’s expression grew even grimmer. He forced himself to bow, saying, "General Li, I am Mo Di. I have come on the Empress Dowager’s secret decree to suppress rebels, and I am currently in the heat of battle with the remnants of the Prince of Yan’s faction. I ask that General Li wait a moment!"

"The Empress Dowager’s secret decree?" Li Jing sneered. "Mo Di, you have some nerve! Since when did the Empress Dowager have the authority to mobilize troops? Since when can she bypass His Majesty to issue military orders directly?"

He spurred his horse forward, his gaze like a blade. "Furthermore, I have just come from the palace. The Empress Dowager is currently offering incense at the Cining Palace. From where did this so-called secret decree come?"

Mo Di was struck dumb, cold sweat pouring down his face.

Seeing this, Qin Cang hurried forward. "General Li! I am Qin Cang, and I have come under the Emperor’s imperial decree to raid the Prince of Yan’s estate! This Mo Di is of suspicious origin; I beg General Li to investigate!"

"Qin Cang?" Li Jing frowned at him. "What decree are you acting under?"

Qin Cang hurriedly pulled an imperial edict from his robes. "This is a secret edict from His Majesty, ordering me to investigate the Prince of Yan’s estate in secret!"

Li Jing took it, glanced at it, and his expression shifted instantly. "Qin Cang, you have immense audacity! This imperial edict is a forgery!"

"What?!" Qin Cang looked as if he had been struck by lightning. "Impossible! This was given to me personally by Head Eunuch Wang!"

"Eunuch Wang?" Li Jing sneered. "Eunuch Wang was exiled to the frontier by His Majesty three days ago! Where on earth did you get this fake edict?"

Qin Cang’s mind roared; he was utterly stunned. A fake edict? Did that mean everything he had done over these past few days amounted to treason?

Xiao Zhan, listening clearly from inside the estate, felt a surge of satisfaction. It seemed the Emperor’s response was even faster than he had anticipated.

"General Li!" Xiao Zhan pushed open the gates and stepped out with a broad stride. "I, Xiao Zhan, son of the Prince of Yan, pay my respects to General Li!"

Seeing Xiao Zhan, Li Jing’s expression softened slightly. "Young Prince Xiao, it is good that you are unharmed. His Majesty has verified that the Prince of Yan has no intention of treason, and there are hidden circumstances behind this incident."

"I am grateful for His Majesty's wisdom!" Xiao Zhan feigned an excited expression. "I knew my father was innocent!"

Li Jing nodded, then turned a cold eye toward Mo Di and Qin Cang. "Now, the two of you—tell me honestly, who ordered you to do this? Who is the mastermind behind all of this?"

Mo Di and Qin Cang exchanged glances, both seeing the reflection of their own despair in the other’s eyes.

The situation was now clear. The Emperor had obviously sensed something and sent men to clean up the mess. And the two of them had become the perfect scapegoats.

"General Li," Mo Di said, forcing himself to remain calm. "I truly acted under the Empress Dowager’s verbal order. If there has been any offense, I ask General Li to investigate thoroughly!"

"Still refusing to admit it?" Li Jing scoffed. "Men! Seize these two traitors!"

"Wait!" Xiao Zhan suddenly interjected. "General Li, I have something to say!"

Li Jing looked at him, puzzled. "What does the Young Prince have to say?"

Xiao Zhan stepped forward, his expression solemn. "General Li, before the masked man died, he said something that everyone present heard. He said that the Empress Dowager had promised him the Prince of Yan’s estate and the Thunder Cannons!"

The moment these words were spoken, Li Jing’s expression changed drastically. "What?! Is this true?"

"Absolutely true!" Xiao Zhan replied firmly. "If you don’t believe me, General Li, you can ask everyone present!"

Li Jing turned to look at Mo Di’s subordinates and Qin Cang’s remnants, asking sharply, "Is what he said true?"

The soldiers looked at each other, until finally, one spoke up: "Reporting to the General... it is true! The masked man did indeed shout that before he died!"

Li Jing’s face grew increasingly dark. He looked deeply at Xiao Zhan, realizing that this young prince was by no means simple. The timing of that crucial shot had been far too perfect.

"Mo Di!" Li Jing barked. "What do you have to say for yourself now?"

Mo Di was now in a complete panic. He knew that if he didn't say something, he was truly a dead man. "General Li! I have been wronged! I did indeed receive an oral decree from the Empress Dowager, but I never colluded with any rebels!"

"An oral decree?" Li Jing sneered. "When did the Empress Dowager gain the power to bypass the Emperor and issue military orders? It seems some people’s ambition has grown far too large!"

He turned to his deputy. "Pass on my order: immediately seal off the Cining Palace. No one is to enter or leave!"

"Yes!" the deputy acknowledged and rode off.

Xiao Zhan watched all of this from the sidelines, thinking to himself: The good show has only just begun.

"General Li!" Realizing the situation was lost, Mo Di decided to throw caution to the wind. "Even if I am guilty, I was only following orders! The true mastermind is someone else!"

Li Jing looked at him coldly. "What are you trying to say?"

"The Empress Dowager did give me secret orders to coordinate with the masked man’s actions!" Mo Di gritted his teeth and confessed everything. "She said she wanted to use this opportunity to wipe out all dissenters in one fell swoop!"

When these words were out, everyone present gasped.

Li Jing’s expression was terrifyingly somber. "Are you saying the Empress Dowager intends to revolt?"

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" Mo Di waved his hands frantically. "I only acted according to orders; I know nothing of the specific details!"

Xiao Zhan watched coldly from the sidelines, feeling a dark satisfaction. Mo Di had indeed sold out the Empress Dowager to save his own skin.

Qin Cang realized the situation as well and hurriedly spoke up: "General Li! I was also deceived! That fake imperial edict came directly from the Empress Dowager’s palace!"

"Enough!" Li Jing shouted. "This matter is of great importance and must be reported to His Majesty immediately!"

He turned to Xiao Zhan. "Young Prince, you will accompany me to the palace. You must explain this to His Majesty yourself!"

"As you command!" Xiao Zhan replied respectfully.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the distance. An Imperial Guard rode up at full speed, leaped from his horse, and reported urgently: "Reporting to General Li! Something has happened at the Cining Palace!"