Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 740 - 611: Whose child is this? (Climax, seeking monthly tickets)_1

Chapter 740: Chapter 611: Whose child is this? (Climax, seeking monthly tickets)_1

Just as the heavy rain had ceased, and the sky was showing the pale hue of a fish’s belly, the hefty gates of Chengtian Gate were flung open with a thunderous boom. A large number of heavily armored royal camp soldiers and Xiuyiwei guards surged out from within.

Their darkly-clad mass was akin to a tide of iron, submerging over a thousand kneeling students and all of them were forcibly arrested and suppressed.

Some competitive scholars and Jiansheng who considered themselves powerful attempted to resist but the Forbidden Army Soldiers did not hesitate to use their weapons, even crossbows.

Those ambitious students were either forcibly knocked unconscious on the ground or directly pinned to the ground by crossbow arrows.

Wei Bailong, the head of Xiuyiwei, rode back and forth on a tall horse, proclaiming loudly with an imperial decree in hand, "By His Majesty’s decree, you scholars are unable to distinguish right from wrong, ignorant, and siding with Prince Xiang!

Demand Xiuyiwei to immediately identify and investigate the instigators, and treat them as traitors! After identifying the rest, they need to be given twenty beatings with a cane, and they are not allowed to participate in this year’s spring examination—"

As Wei Bailong’s voice ebbed, the captured students all turned pale, and murmurs began to spread in every direction.

The onlookers around, all were dumbstruck, and the scene was filled with whispers.

These people were either students of the Guozi Bureau and candidates who rushed here upon hearing the news, or officials and nobles of Shiyong Lane area, both large and small.

When Wei Bailong uttered the words ’treason’, more than half of them lost their color.

According to the information they had received, Prince Xiang’s upward momentum had been unstoppable in recent days.

Some people even believed that Prince Xiang’s appointment as ’Regent Prince’ was essentially a foregone conclusion, how could he be suddenly accused of ’treason’?

Many of them thought of the explosive sound from the direction of Prince Xiang’s mansion just now, guessing that the incident at the Chengtian Gate was probably related.

Among the arrested students, some immediately protested loudly, "You are slandering! Prince Xiang is virtuous, he has declined the throne three times, how could he possibly rebel? It must be you Xiuyiwei who are framing the loyal and deceiving the Emperor!"

Others roared angrily, "Prince Xiang is kindhearted, as everyone knows! You say Prince Xiang is rebelling, what evidence do you have? This is clearly a villain in the court who doesn’t want Prince Xiang to inherit the throne! You fabricate charges, support evil and trap the upright, but you can’t keep all the people silent!"

"I don’t believe it! I don’t accept it! Prince Xiang is virtuous and upright, kind to people, and we students ask the court to install Prince Xiang as the successor, what is wrong with it?"

After hearing these words, Wei Bailong responded with a cold snicker, "Truly reckless, still trying to deceive people’s hearts at a time like this. Guards! Smash these people’s teeth out."

He subsequently gazed at the crowd with a slightly concentrated expression, "Today, Marquis Guanjun has uncovered the truth of scholar Fei Yuan’s poisoning incident, and the sudden illness of the Crown Prince! Both cases were plotted by Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshi, and with irrefutable evidence, all the ministers of the court have no objections!"

However, the credibility of Xiuyiwei was clearly unable to convince the crowd.

The faces of many people reflected skepticism, and some even displayed disdain.

It was at this moment that several figures galloped from a distance on their Earth Dragons, dressed in crimson robes, and rushing hastily.

The leader, as soon as he crossed the Jinshui Bridge, shouted loudly, "I am the Zhangyuan scholar of the Hanlin Academy, Huang Shang. Everyone, listen carefully, Prince Xiang is indeed a traitor! This filial man is hypocritical on the outside but treacherous on the inside, plotting against two Crown Princes, his crimes are severe and wicked! You students should not be deceived by this malicious man with hidden intentions!"

The last man had a somewhat anxious look, "I am the Jijiu of the Guozi Bureau, Zhen Yue! The evidence of Prince Xiang’s rebellion is incontrovertible, and I have seen it with my own eyes! All Jianshengs of the Guozi Bureau should return there immediately, and no one is allowed to go out!"

Another man wearing a 3rd-rank official’s robe rushed to the front of the Chengtian Gate on his Earth Dragon, but he did not rush inside. Instead, he stopped at the gate and bowed to the outside.

"Gentlemen, I am the current Shuntian Government, Yin Wangguan. Just now the three of us, along with the subordinates of Marquis Guanjun, searched Prince Xiang’s mansion and have obtained dozens of pieces of evidence proving Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshi not only was the mastermind behind the poisoning of the two Crown Princes, but also colluded with many military ministers of Jingying!

I will later ask to seal the city immediately, and arrest the partisans of Prince Xiang. You should go home as soon as possible, you are not allowed to go out, and you must not believe or spread rumors!"

At this point, ’Zhang Dan’, a Guozi Bureau student who had been dissuaded by Li Xuan before, was in the crowd of onlookers.

He looked at this scene with a pale face, his mind filled with uncertainty and confusion.

Zhang Dan still found it hard to believe. He wondered how Prince Xiang could have committed treason? How could he be the mastermind behind the poisoning of the two Crown Princes?

But the Zhangyuan scholar of the Hanlin Academy, the Shuntian Government, and the Jijiu of the Guozi Bureau were all highly respected and esteemed sages known for their integrity and honesty.

They would never have made such claims if they had not seen indisputable evidence.

"Zichen!" A voice rang out from behind Zhang Dan, "I heard that you also participated in the kneeling protest today?"

Upon hearing his name being called, Zhang Dan immediately turned around. He found that the newcomers were his classmates from the Guozi Bureau, Wang Jing, and his inseparable companion Long Rui.

Both of them were from south Zhili, and they were cherished friends of Zhang Dan.

This was not only because of their character, but also because of their profound and profound academic knowledge.

If nothing unexpected happened, both of them will surely pass the test this year, maybe even place in the first round, and they have talents to be prime ministers in the future.

Seeing the two, Zhang Dan let out a bitter smile and bowed slightly, "I feel ashamed. I also attended the literary meeting yesterday. At the spur of the moment, I followed the crowd to kneel and pray. Fortunately, the teacher persuaded me and many classmates to withdraw when he entered the palace. Otherwise, my current situation would really be unthinkable."

At this time, not only him, but also the students of the Guozi Bureau gathered around Zhang Dan, all showing a lucky expression.

This was a big crime of treason! Even a minor involvement is not a trivial matter, perhaps all the results of their ten years of hard study could be ruined in a moment.

"——It’s a pity that despite my strong persuasion, many of my classmates still refused to leave," said Zhang Dan, his eyes filled with a complex expression. "However, I truly never imagined Prince Xiang would conspire to usurp the throne by assassinating two Crown Princes. Such news is simply shocking."

"It should probably be true!" Long Rui looked towards the palace gate, "Considering the personalities of these three old men, they would never make such accusations unless they had solid proof of Prince Xiang’s rebellion."

Zhang Dan nodded slightly. He had thought the same a moment before.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the crowd again.

News from the palace spread amongst the people: "It’s true! Prince Xiang’s conspiracy to assassinate two Crown Princes is backed by solid evidence and is by no means a set-up. Prince Xiang has been sent to the Zhao Prison of Xiuyiwei and the carriage just left the palace.

Many court officials who were part of the attempted coup are now being forced to kneel at the inner Jinshui Bridge; Shangshu Yu of the Ministry of Punishments is overseeing the investigation. All those aligned with Prince Xiang are to be arrested and possibly sentenced to collective punishment."

Another person said: "Apparently the Marquis of Guanjun had identified Prince Xiang several months ago, but the key witnesses and evidence were held by the Fusou people. He quietly endured for several months, implicating Prince Xiang with the Golden Knife Case, as well as rallying dozens of upright officials to impeach the Ministry of Revenue’s Guangji Granary and Neiguan Bureau. This was done to block the merger and force the Fusou people to release the evidence.

Unfortunately, at the time, the court officials misconstrued it as personal vengeance, and criticized him harshly. Only today has the truth emerged. The Marquis of Guanjun remains as virtuous as ever, he is truly the mainstay of the Jin Dynasty——"

Hearing the discussions from the crowd, Zhang Dan wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, "It’s embarrassing! When my teacher tried to persuade me, I questioned whether his actions against Prince Xiang were driven by personal grievances."

"From start to finish, I had no doubt about Mr. Hufa. Just observing Prince Xiang’s behavior, I knew there was something wrong with him. Although he seems respectable and virtuous, in reality, he is dark, cunning, and malicious."

Long Rui half-smiled, comforting Zhang Dan: "Don’t worry, Mr. Hufa won’t hold it against a simple person like you."

Zhang Dan’s lips twitched slightly, but he had no words to refute. This time, he indeed acted impulsively and failed to make a careful judgment.

Wang Jing shook his head: "Let’s hurry back and not give our mentor any trouble. We also need to inform our classmates about Prince Xiang’s conspiracy as soon as possible. This news must be widely spread in the Guozi Bureau."

He feared that Prince Xiang’s accomplices would still stir up trouble with rumors. If other students get involved, the situation will worsen.

This would not be a good thing for everyone in the Guozi Bureau. The Emperor should not think that all the students of the Bureau are rebels and troublemakers."

※※※※

At the same time, within the Yizheng Hall of the Taihe Gate.

As Yu Hongchang entered, Li Xuan’s first glance fell on her stomach.

Lately, Yu Hongchang had been acting suspiciously, leading Li Xuan to suspect she was pregnant.

Although Li Xuan had previously taken Yu Hongchang’s pulse, in a world where extraordinary abilities exist, it would be extremely easy for Yu Hongchang—as someone at the heavenly level— to hide her pulse.

However, to Li Xuan’s mild disappointment, her stomach was flat, showing no signs of protrusion.

Li Xuan then turned his suspicious gaze towards the child in Yu Hongchang’s arms.

But immediately he shook his head, thinking he was overthinking.

The timing didn’t add up; it was in July that he had relations with Yu Hongchang, but only six months had passed since then.

So, Li Xuan excitingly opened his Tao-protecting eyes to look into Yu Hongchang’s arms, wondering what this child looked like?

The Prince Duanhe that he had heard about was the great-grandson of Zheng Wang Yu Zhanshan, the second son of the Emperor Ren. This child is presumably the closest in blood relation to the royal family outside of Prince Xiang Yu Zhanshi’s lineage.

The man had passed away due to illness three months ago, but he had left behind an unborn child.

However, this was good news for the Emperor Jingtai, for Yu Hongchang, and even for Li Xuan himself.

Although he didn’t know what this child would be like when grown up, it would certainly be better than having Emperor Zhengtong restoring his rule.

Li Xuan did not notice that while he was concentrating, Yu Hongchang slightly turned her body to avoid his gaze.

At that moment, Gao Gu, his brows furrowed, walked out from the crowd of ministers: "Your Majesty! May I ask if this young prince has the crown jewel jade certificate? Could it possibly be shown to us?"

Li Xuan’s eyes immediately focused on him, with a faint glow in them.

The crown jewel jade certificate was a proof of royal lineage, a kind of family tree of the royal family.

Once a royal child was born, someone would prepare a crown jewel jade certificate, record their name on it, and store it in the Clan House.

In this world, the crown jewel jade certificate also served as proof of royal blood.

Only a true member of the royal family could leave their name on this certificate.

So what Gao Gu was actually asking was whether the child was a legitimate member of the royal family?