Ninth Imperial Glorious Phoenix Chapter 808

Chapter 808: Declaration

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Mingzhu curled her lips, handing her hand to Yuwen Chu. His hand was warm, dry, steady, and strong, while hers was cold, damp, and trembling. She wanted to apologize to him, but what came out was, "I found that thing and burned it."

Yuwen Chu just made a sound of agreement and led her outside. The gates of the Regent Mansion were wide open, with an incense table set up in the middle of the courtyard. Peng Liang held the imperial decree, standing solemnly there. When the two of them arrived, he said, "Since both His Highness and Wangfei are here, let's announce the decree."

Mingzhu couldn't help but feel that Peng Liang had subtly sized her up just now. She quickly adjusted her expression, trying hard to appear mysterious and unpredictable. Then she noticed another gaze, from Yuwen You. She lowered her head and followed Yuwen Chu, kneeling down to receive the decree.

The decree had nothing new, just the usual reports on recent cases and, based on the latest developments, implicated her. To prove her innocence, they needed to search the Regent Mansion, focusing on her room, of course.

Yuwen Chu accepted the decree expressionlessly, lowered his head to look at it for a while, then suddenly smiled, "Master Peng, do you know what a great crime it is to deceive the emperor with a false decree?"

Peng Liang had anticipated that Yuwen Chu wouldn't easily let them search, so he smiled ingratiatingly, "What joke is the Regent making? Who dares to say this decree is false?"

Yuwen Chu said lightly, "I say so. Perhaps Master Peng is unaware that the imperial jade seal fell and was damaged a little on the day of the palace chaos, but the jade seal on this decree is intact. So, I am very suspicious of the origin of this decree. How about you and I go to the palace together and see what His Majesty says?"

Peng Liang was taken aback and really went forward to see if the imperial seal on the decree was as intact as Yuwen Chu said. After all, this decree was handed over to him by the palace attendants around the Great Empress Dowager. Perhaps it was a blank decree that had been sealed long ago. If that was the case, then it was...

The bright red imperial seal was, of course, perfectly intact. Peng Liang couldn't find anything to say for a moment. After thinking it over, he argued, "It was dark, and the Regent might not have seen it clearly." As for entering the palace to see the young emperor, only a fool would go. Everyone knew the young emperor was controlled by the Regent, obeying his every command without question. 

"Presumptuous!" Yuwen Chu suddenly stopped smiling. He grabbed the imperial edict and slapped Peng Liang across the face with it. Caught off guard, Peng Liang stumbled. Qian Muyi kindly steadied him, but they could see his face swelling rapidly and blood trickling from both nostrils. 

Yuwen Chu threw the edict to the ground and stepped on it, his expression icy. "This is outrageous! No evidence, no proof, you think you can arrest people and conduct searches at will? Charging in here with a fake edict, do you take me for a corpse?" The crowd gasped when they saw him step on the edict. Peng Liang shouted furiously, "Regent, this is blatant disrespect! Are you planning to rebel?"

Yuwen Chu glanced at him sideways and adjusted his robe sleeves. "Who am I rebelling against? Secretary Peng, please speak more clearly. If we really want to talk about it, the one who dares to produce a false imperial decree, harm the ministers, and frame me is the true rebel!"

Yuwen Chu had always appeared with a gentle and courteous demeanor before, so this was the first time he looked so rebellious. Peng Liang couldn't accept it, tremblingly stroking his beard, "You, you..."

"I now suspect you are deeply involved in the recent series of murders." Yuwen Chu lifted his eyelids lightly. "Guards! Seize this rebellious scoundrel who forged a false decree and framed me!"

"Who dares?" They had come to search, how did they suddenly become the ones being apprehended? Peng Liang stepped back, signaling the Longlin Guards. "The Regent is disrespecting the decree! Protect me!"

Yuwen Chu smiled and looked at Yuwen You, his voice deep. "Ninth Brother, you told me before that you wanted to go to the northern regions to lead troops in battle, to protect the land and the people of the Yuwen clan from foreign invasions. After careful consideration, I think your ambition is commendable." He paused here, looking at Yuwen You with a smile but not speaking.

Yuwen You immediately understood. He was being asked to submit a pledge to completely sever ties with the Great Empress Dowager's faction. Regardless of how Yuwen Chu would treat him in the future, it seemed he had no way out. Yuwen You stepped forward, giving Yuwen Chu a bow. "Thank you, Sixth Brother. Even if it means facing tigers, I will do it for you. Let me take down this audacious rebel!"

Yuwen Chu smiled satisfactorily. "I'll be waiting."

"Linan Wang, do you dare to aid tyranny? Have you forgotten who interceded for you just now?" Peng Liang was surprised. The Longlin Guards had been expanded under Yuwen You's command, including many new soldiers. Although those who came this time were carefully selected, people's hearts were always the most complex.

Yuwen You said expressionlessly, "Master Peng, thank you for pleading for me in front of the Great Empress Dowager. However, I don't believe I'm at fault. On the contrary, you, fabricating and defaming, harming the ministers of the court, aren't you afraid of death?"

Yuwen Chu rubbed his forehead. "Why so much nonsense?"

Yuwen You looked at the men of the Longlin Guards. "Those willing to follow me to battle in the north, step forward!"

Only a few sparse individuals stepped forward, but they were all skilled. Yuwen You smiled. "That's enough." He was dressed in civilian clothes, not carrying a sword. He reached out to Ye Xiu. "May I borrow your sword?"

Ye Xiu received Yuwen Chu's signal and handed over his sword with both hands. Yuwen You gripped the sword with both hands, took a deep breath, and leaped up, slashing down at Peng Liang.

Peng Liang retreated in fright, using his sleeve to protect his face and head, shouting, "Protect me! Retreat, retreat... The Regent and Linan Wang are rebelling!" Before he finished speaking, the blade flashed, and his guards were chopped into two pieces by Yuwen You.

Yuwen You efficiently sheathed the sword, proclaiming loudly, "Seize Peng Liang, the traitor who deceives the emperor!"

There was chaos all around, with the sound of swords clashing. Peng Liang turned and fled outside, with Yuwen You and his men in pursuit. Outside, there was clamor and commotion, but the Regent Mansion became quiet.

Yuwen Chu said, "Prepare the carriage. I'll go to the palace immediately."

Mingzhu looked at Yuwen Chu. "So, Your Highness never intended to let them search inside." That's why he didn't care whether the prophecy was found or not and let her worry about it.

Yuwen Chu said, "Some things can be compromised, but some things cannot. If I let them search inside today, they will dare to intercept me in the palace tomorrow."

Mingzhu hesitated, then finally said, "Safe travels, Your Highness."

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