Lin Chenghuan, the patriarch of the Lin family, said with a gloomy face: "Your Highness, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. Even if you want to kick someone when they're down, you can't smear the Lin family's reputation."
"Innocence?" Baili Chen toyed with his wine cup, his face full of disdain. "May I ask what innocence the Lin family has to claim? I have evidence of Empress Lin's secret dealings with the Lin family over the years, including her scheming and framing of no fewer than fourteen pregnant concubines and five princes and princesses. The number of princes born is relatively small, which can be considered Empress Lin's mistake. She only killed one prince and one princess. Putting aside other matters, if she dared to commit the massacre of royal offspring, Empress Lin would undoubtedly be dead. What did the Lin family do in all of this?"
Baili Chen smiled and put down his wine cup, counting on his fingers with some doubt: "Let me think, does the Lin family collect poison? Does the Lin family send servants with strange skills to harm people? Does the Lin family collect intelligence and harm people for the benefit of Empress Lin and their clan? Does the Lin family secretly frame disobedient ministers? And it's probably not just Empress Lin who's involved in all of this."
Lin Chenghuan's expression changed drastically, and he angrily said, "Prince Chen, these are just conjectures. If you can really get evidence, then show us the evidence. My Lin family is innocent and has nothing to fear from you!"
Baili Chen sneered: "Evidence... Of course there is evidence, otherwise if I only accuse the Empress, you would turn around and bite me. I can't do such a stupid thing."
Baili Zhi slowly said, "Seventh Imperial Brother, if you have evidence, then present it. You are only making accusations now, and no one will believe you." Baili Zhi seemed to be making accusations, but in reality, he was just building momentum for Baili Chen.
Although Bai Ying was not yet three months pregnant, the situation was too serious today, so she went to the palace with Baili Chang to observe. At this moment, she was very anxious, and Baili Chang's hand trembled slightly as he held hers.
Why is Baili Chang sick? He was only pretending to be ill because he was framed. At first, the most suspected people in the palace were the Empress and Consort Sun. Consort Sun is dead, and now only the Empress is left. Naturally, he wants the Empress to die so that he can live in peace. Recently, the Empress's care has not made him and Bai Ying happy, but rather they are very afraid. They both know that the Empress's sudden kindness is definitely not simple, and they have even vaguely guessed that they will not allow anyone to spy on the child they have finally conceived.
Although Baili Chang and Bai Ying remembered how Baili Su had caused so much trouble for the Empress in the palace, they did not think he was wrong. If the poor child in Bai Ying's belly could not be as good as Baili Su, they would never allow it.
Amidst the constant collapse and shifting of power in the court, no one knows what the final outcome will be. Baili Chang has dreamed of becoming emperor one day, where all his previous worries would be resolved. However, he also knows that reality is harsh, and he won't have that opportunity. Firstly, his background is too low—he was merely a palace maid—and secondly, due to his frail health since childhood, no power would be willing to accept him. Even Baili Mao, who ultimately relied on Baili Jian's influence, couldn't achieve the same success. Although the Bai family produced a former empress, it has declined drastically and cannot be relied upon. Therefore, being a leisurely prince is the safest option for him. Because he has no power or influence, regardless of who ascends the throne, as long as he doesn't cause trouble beforehand, no one will use killing him to establish authority.
The child in Bai Ying's belly is their future and hope, and he absolutely cannot allow it to be lost.
Baili Chang's eyes were cold as he looked at the Empress and the Lin family. His face was gloomy. Killing was necessary!
Baili Chen sneered: "Evidence? Of course there is!" Baili Chen's eyes seemed to be looking at a dead man, which made Lin Chenghuan and the others feel cold. They had kept the things they did back then extremely secret, so how could they have been discovered? Judging from Baili Chen's appearance, it didn't seem fake. What should they do?
Lin Chenghuan hurriedly gave a signal with his eyes, and a small eunuch in the main hall quickly ran away. Ouyang Yue clearly saw it, but just smiled faintly and didn't care at all.
The young eunuch ran like a madman toward the Empress Dowager's Chengxiang Hall.
"Halt! Who goes there!" As soon as he got close, a guard stopped him.
"I need to see the Empress Dowager! I need to see the Empress Dowager urgently! It's extremely urgent!" the little eunuch shouted in a shrill voice. The guard at the gate was extremely annoyed by this kind of dog who was short of genitals but was obsequious to everyone. However, seeing that the little eunuch seemed to be dealing with something important, he did not dare to delay. After a while, he came out and beckoned the little eunuch to go inside.
The young eunuch initially entered only an outer hall, where he was greeted by Granny Zhan: "What happened? Why are you so flustered? You seem to be a young eunuch from Anle Palace."
"This servant greets Granny Zhan! Granny Zhan, something terrible has happened! The Empress and the Lin family have been sued by Prince Chen, and they are currently engaged in heated debate. Prince Chen even claims to have some evidence and wants to have the entire Lin family executed!" The little eunuch was sweating profusely with anxiety. He was sent to the palace by the Lin family, so naturally he was of one mind with them. If the Lin family fell, he would be finished too.
"What did you say!" Granny Zhan's face stiffened, and she exclaimed in disbelief.
"It's true, Granny Zhan. Prince Chen even said he has some evidence. Please ask the Empress Dowager to take a look, or it will be too late," the little eunuch said anxiously.
"You wait here." This time, Granny Zhan didn't dare to delay any longer. She turned around and rushed inside. A moment later, she helped the Empress Dowager out. The Empress Dowager was actually wearing a formal Empress Dowager's robe, and the majestic phoenix crown on her head exuded domineering power. However, her face was extremely ugly at this moment.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the young eunuch and said, "Is what you said true?"
"Your Majesty, this servant wouldn't dare to speak nonsense in the slightest! This is an extremely urgent matter!" The little eunuch roared in panic. Who would dare to lie about such a thing for no reason? Even if it was false, he would lose his head!
"How could this be!" The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, her face full of disbelief. The Empress Dowager was very different from the Empress. At this moment, she was still very calm. She would stop anything that could lead to the destruction of the Lin family. Even if it were to happen, she would secretly nip it in the bud: "It is hard to say that this is not Baili Chen's attempt to intimidate us, just to make us lose our composure. We cannot lose our composure now."
The little eunuch was dumbfounded, thinking to himself, "Does the Empress Dowager really not care? What Prince Chen said is true. If the Empress suffers, none of us from Anle Palace will escape." The little eunuch wanted to speak urgently, but he didn't dare to. The constantly changing expressions on his face were somewhat comical.
Granny Zhan said, "Your Majesty, I think we should go and see. Prince Chen's mention of this isn't just a bluff; it could really cause trouble." The Lin family is the Empress Dowager's own family. Even if she has some trump cards, losing her family is extremely disadvantageous. Moreover, if she can't even protect her own family, she has no right to negotiate. Granny Zhan knew the Empress Dowager was a cautious person, but no one could be absolutely certain that everything would be alright. The power struggles in the palace are ever-changing, and Granny Zhan was also somewhat worried.
The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly: "Alright, go and take a look. You go back first." The Empress Dowager said to the little eunuch, who immediately nodded and bowed and ran away. After all, the Empress Dowager had raised the Emperor, and Emperor Mingxian had never arguing with her in all these years. The Empress Dowager's presence naturally carried great weight.
As Zhan Mama helped the Empress Dowager walk out, a maid slowly approached carrying a basin of water. The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and made a slash on the back of Zhan Mama's hand. Zhan Mama understood and gave a look to the front. The two of them left the hall. A moment later, two strong young women suddenly walked in and headed straight for the palace maid.
The palace maid sensed something amiss behind her and suddenly came to her senses. She saw two fierce-looking old women staring at her with ill intent. She whispered, "I wonder what instructions you two old ladies have?"
"I'll take your life!" one of them said coldly. The palace maid was startled and hurriedly turned to run away, but the next moment, two hands reached out from her neck and dragged her backward. The palace maid was startled, and the basin in her hand immediately fell to the ground with a loud thud. Other palace servants from Chengxiang Palace heard the noise and were about to rush over, but two guards blocked them in front of the hall.
"You're all joining in to discipline the servants?!" The palace servants immediately retreated in fright, but their eyes kept glancing towards the hall, clearly showing disbelief, but they dared not say more.
In the hall, the palace maid struggled to grab at the old nanny's hands, leaving bloody marks. The person who attacked her didn't care, pressing her neck tightly with both hands, trying to strangle her to death.
Lan He felt her breath becoming increasingly unsteady and suffocating, and she felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow. Why? Even after coming to the Empress Dowager's palace, she had always worked diligently and never thought of anything else. Why did they have to kill her?
"Thud!" Lan He's hand fell to the ground, her eyes wide open, dying with her eyes still open.
One of the old women asked, "What should we do?"
"Burn it."
“This is a grown man, not a piece of paper. Burning him would cause problems, and there’s also the smell.”
“There are always places to burn things; if you throw it in a well, it will be easy to find out.”
"Throw it in first, then wait for the Empress Dowager and Granny Zhan's instructions."
The two men tidied up the hall, leaving no trace, and then dragged the person to the back.
On the way to the trial hall, the Empress Dowager's eyes were gloomy, while Granny Zhan was somewhat puzzled. They had already taken in Lan He, so was it not a good idea to kill her now? But she also knew that the Empress Dowager had initially thought Lan He had some skills and was quite good. However, the Empress's crime had now implicated the Lin family. If they kept Lan He alive, she might reveal more things that would be detrimental to the Lin family. Lan He was bound to die, and they had many excuses for her death that would not be discovered.
When they arrived at the hall, the argument had subsided. Everyone bowed to the Empress Dowager, but Emperor Mingxian only nodded and did not rise. He simply said, "Mother, you are not feeling well, why are you up now?"
The Empress Dowager, supported by Granny Zhan, walked over. The Empress, seemingly insane, sat motionless in her chair. A palace maid quickly helped her down and seated the Empress Dowager. Another chair was prepared for the Empress, placed below the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress, her eyes flashing, and said, "I heard the Emperor is hearing a case, so I came to listen. It's said to be a major case. Although I don't handle official matters, I should at least hear about such important matters. If there are truly any rebellious individuals, they should be severely punished." She chuckled lightly, glancing at Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, but a chilling murderous intent flickered in her dim eyes.
The Empress Dowager had never shown any sign of kindness in public, which was quite an achievement. However, her expression had changed drastically. Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue both sneered. They had indeed forced the Empress Dowager to reveal her true colors. Princess Shuangxia's body stiffened, her eyes narrowed, and her hands unconsciously clenched together. If what Chen'er and Yue'er said was true, then this woman...
Emperor Mingxian simply smiled, helped the Empress Dowager sit down, and then turned to look at Baili Chen: "Alright, we've talked for so long, so tell us what evidence you have. If it's just you making up lies to frame the Lin family, even if you are my son, I will never let you off easily."
Baili Chen bowed and said, "Father, everything I have said is true. I would never dare to make a presumptuous statement. Now, please provide the evidence."
Several slapping sounds rang out, and several guards walked in, pulling a man in black clothes in, accompanied by two rather old men.
"Kneel down!" The guard slapped the man in black down, and the other two old men immediately knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
Baili Chen raised his voice and said, "Father, this man in black is no ordinary person. He is an assassin and a bandit. He has committed countless crimes since he started his career. The most infuriating one of them is that he actually murdered the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"Murder the Crown Prince!" Emperor Mingxian's eyes narrowed. The Empress, who had been acting crazy, suddenly trembled and turned her head sharply to glare at the man in black. Her teeth were clenched, and her expression was ferocious. However, the next moment, she changed her expression again, her face blank, as if she had just changed her expression. Ouyang Yue sneered. The Empress was indeed pretending to be stupid. But whether she was pretending or not, it didn't matter anymore.
The man in black raised his head, a hint of frustration on his face, but said nothing.
"Oh my god, he's so ugly!" Ning Xishan was startled when she saw him.
The man's features were ugly, with a long, hideous scar running from his face to his forehead, making him even more terrifying and completely ruining the beauty of his face. It sent chills down one's spine. The Empress Dowager looked at the man and her eyebrows involuntarily rose. She stared at his face carefully, then narrowed her eyes and said nothing.
Emperor Mingxian slammed his fist on the table in anger: "You are the murderer who assassinated the Crown Prince! This is an outrage against Heaven! You deserve to die!" Emperor Mingxian was clearly enraged, and his angry shout made many people who heard it shrink their shoulders, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.
At this moment, the one who was furious the most was the Empress, who was still pretending to be stupid. The Empress hated Baili Chen and wished he were dead, but what really drove her to madness was the death of Baili Cheng. She felt that there was no hope left, so she carried out one scheme after another. Even the assassination of Baili Chen was because of the death of Baili Cheng. Now this person told her that Baili Cheng's death was not done by Baili Chen at all, but by someone else. How could the Empress accept this? She felt that her heart was being torn into pieces, and she was filled with regret.
If she had known the truth earlier, how could she have become like this, that damned person!
The man in black was none other than Gui Sha. Ouyang Yue had sent men to keep an eye on him. Although Gui Sha was extremely cautious, he was severely injured and alone. How could he compare to the people of Red Maple Village who took turns watching him every day? In the end, he still fell for their trap. Initially, when the people of Red Maple Village captured Gui Sha, he was a man who had lived on the edge of a knife and had long considered the possibility of death, so he wasn't afraid at all. However, he later learned that the most painful thing in the world wasn't death, but wanting to die but being unable to.
The seemingly simple villagers of Red Maple Village were all incredibly ruthless, torturing him in countless ways every day. Even though he was severely injured, they would change his bandages frequently, but they wouldn't let him die. He finally understood what it meant to suffer a hundred times more painful than death. Now, even he himself couldn't imagine how he survived it. How could someone as strong-willed as him eventually submit? But submission was submission; it had come to this point, and he no longer had any thought of resistance.
"Your Majesty, I, a criminal, had no choice. Since birth, I have only been exposed to killing and banditry, and I am not a righteous person. How can I, a criminal, be like a scholar or a great Confucian scholar?" Gui Sha's voice was very hoarse and unpleasant. It was from an accidental injury he sustained in his early years. That slash had struck his neck. Although he dodged desperately, and his arm was cut with a deep scar, his neck was still injured. It was not fatal, but his throat was injured.
"Hmph, to do something so heinous without reason, how can there be any such thing as 'without reason'?" the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review coldly retorted.
Gui Sha had no intention of arguing, but simply lowered his head and said, "The killing of the Crown Prince was indeed unintentional. At the time, the Emperor was about to send troops to suppress the rebellion. I, a criminal, heard the news and was dragged in by several bandit leaders. I only knew that he was an official sent by the court, never expecting that the Crown Prince would come in person. I have no way to deny this, but I feel that someone deliberately framed me. The person who spread the news was spreading false information and deliberately concealed the matter of the Crown Prince, which is why I..."
"This is utter nonsense! Assassinating the Crown Prince is a capital offense. You have no right to argue about it. Your Majesty, such criminals should be subjected to the most severe punishment. They must not be allowed to live any longer!" The Empress Dowager suddenly shouted angrily. The Empress Dowager, who had been peaceful and magnanimous for many years, suddenly became angry, which made the atmosphere in the hall freeze for a moment. Everyone looked surprised.
However, the Empress Dowager's angry shout caught Gui Sha's attention. Staring intently at the Empress Dowager, Gui Sha's face clearly showed doubt. Princess Shuangxia suddenly asked, "You sinful subjects, daring to stare at the Empress Dowager like this is already a crime of disrespect. Do you not know the Empress Dowager?"
The ghost was startled and turned to stare intently at the Empress Dowager. Baili Chen, Ouyang Yue, and the others observed the Empress Dowager closely and clearly saw a trace of panic in her eyes. The Empress Dowager said angrily, "I live in the inner palace and have never seen such a villain. Your Majesty, this person is actually the murderer of the Crown Prince. My heart aches whenever I think of him. Your Majesty, execute this person now."
Baili Chen stood up and said, "No rush. This person still has clues about the murder of General Xuanyuan Hu. If we arrest and execute him now, wouldn't the real murderer go unpunished? Gui Sha, tell us everything you know."
Ghost Killer felt a pang of resentment. At that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead. Overwhelmed with pain, he couldn't help but speak: "One of those who assassinated General Xuanyuan Hu was my father. My father was a bandit by origin, a local tyrant in that area. Many surrounding mountain strongholds had to pay tribute to him. Although my father was a thief, he had his principles. He wouldn't rob or kill soldiers and their orphans. But during that time, my father suddenly met a mysterious man. This mysterious man promised my father a huge fortune, and the target was Xuanyuan Hu. At first, my father disagreed, but the man, instead of agreeing to the deal, turned murderous. At that time, the stronghold..." More than a dozen people died in the village. Seeing that this man was ruthless, Father reluctantly agreed. This man offered Father a plan, detailing where the refugees would come from and how the uprising would escalate. Father followed his instructions completely. The man had initially said he only intended to stall General Xuanyuan Hu and had no intention of killing him. However, when Father acted, he discovered the refugees' uprising was unusual; they had all been drugged, leading to General Xuanyuan Hu's death. Although the court subsequently plundered the bandits in that area, Father had already received the news and left. However, this man was indeed ruthless; he then began hunting you down to silence you. Father was killed by Luan Hen while protecting me.”
“That person was there.”
Ghost Killer slowly said, "That was a woman, a very courageous woman, and she was ruthless and vicious. I only watched from afar at the time. So many years have passed, and this woman must be getting old by now."
The Empress Dowager's brow twitched, and her eye trembled slightly. Ouyang Yue coldly asked, "Who is that person, and what is their relationship with the Lin family?"
"The one who provided assistance back then was Lin Chenglu, the second son of the Lin family, and that woman is also here... Pfft..." Just as Gui Sha was about to reveal the name of that infuriatingly poisonous woman, he suddenly widened his eyes, opened his mouth wide, and then fell to the ground, never to utter another word.
"Lin Chenglu, how dare you!" Emperor Mingxian roared, only to see a short man behind Gui Sha plunge a sword into Gui Sha's chest. Given that Gui Sha's injuries were severe and had not fully healed, this sword strike immediately took his life.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue's expressions also changed. They never expected that Lin Chenglu would dare to make a move in front of the Emperor!
With a "bang," Lin Chenglu immediately knelt down and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I confess my sins. I once admired Princess Shuangxia, but such a beautiful and noble woman was forced to marry a hideous man like Xuanyuan Hu. I was confused for a moment and committed such a heinous crime. I confess my sins!"
Princess Shuangxia sneered. She had absolutely no connection with Lin Chenglu. Back then, countless men in the capital were infatuated with her, but aside from a few arguments, none of them went to such lengths. Murdering a high-ranking official of the Great Zhou was a crime punishable by slow slicing. Would Lin Chenglu commit such a heinous crime for a woman? Where did he get his confidence? Besides, the court was in its most turbulent period, and the Lin family was also affected. Lin Chenglu, instead of thinking of the Lin family, was plotting this for a woman. Who would believe that this was a cover-up?
"Swish, swish!" Suddenly, a figure rushed out of the hall. This person was holding a sword and stabbed Lin Chenglu in the shoulder with one sword and in the leg with the other.
"Ouyang Yue, how dare you!" Lin Chenghuan was furious and rushed out to attack Ouyang Yue.
Baili Chen arrived quickly, pulled Ouyang Yue aside, and kicked Lin Chenghuan in the face, sending him flying and crashing to the ground. He coldly looked at Lin Chenghuan as he got up and said, "Insubordination is a capital offense!" He then drew his sword and was about to stab Lin Chenghuan.
"Stop!" the Empress Dowager shouted angrily, and guards rushed over to stop her.
"Pfft!" However, the guards were a step too slow. Although they tried to block with their swords, they couldn't stop Baili Chen's sword. But because of their obstruction, Baili Chen's sword went astray and stabbed Lin Chenghuan in the waist. The blood that flowed out shocked everyone in the hall.
To dare to lay a hand on someone in front of the Emperor and Empress Dowager was incredibly audacious, and even Baili Zhi was so shocked that he stood up.
The Empress Dowager roared, "How dare you! Seventh Prince, you dare to harm someone right in front of me! You clearly have no respect for me or the Emperor. If this sword had been pointed at the Emperor, what would your punishment have been!"
Baili Chen's expression remained calm: "Father Emperor is high above, and also benevolent and kind. How could Chen'er possibly lay a hand on him? I would never dare. However, this wicked minister not only plotted to frame a loyal official, but also dared to disrespectfully kill Princess Chen. He deserves the death penalty. I am merely acting on behalf of Heaven and punishing him on behalf of Father Emperor. Even if he is guilty, it is only a crime that will not be questioned. What other crime could he be guilty of? Please tell me, Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with a cold light, like silver venomous snakes that would ensnare anyone who was caught in them. However, Baili Chen simply smiled, his eyes filled with a faint, mocking smile.
Back then, the Empress Dowager's position in the palace was also precarious. Everyone present knew that even if Lin Chenglu was truly foolish, he wouldn't have plotted against Xuanyuan Hu simply because he admired Princess Shuangxia and was jealous of him. First, did he have the ability? Second, was he really that hateful? Lin Chenglu had entered the court and held a second-rank official position—a very high rank, the highest-ranking official in the Lin family, and their hope. This showed that Lin Chenglu was capable. If someone like him were truly so impulsive, could he have reached such a position in the court? Third, regarding Lin Chenglu's murder of Gui Sha, he clearly killed him to silence him, because of the undisclosed true murderer mentioned by Gui Sha.
No matter how you look at it, this matter is definitely not something that Lin Chenglu could just say out of jealousy. It has to be believable. Everyone had a vague guess in their hearts, but the guess was too shocking, and no one dared to speak up.
Emperor Mingxian glanced at the Lin family and said calmly, "Seventh Brother, do you have any other evidence?"
Baili Chen held his breath and kicked Lin Chenghuan in the stomach again: "Father, my other evidence is not enough to prove that person, so there is no need to say more. However, the Lin family was definitely involved in the major case of assassinating General Xuanyuan Hu back then, framing loyal officials and putting the Great Zhou royal family and court in a precarious situation of injustice. They all deserve to die!"
The expressions of everyone in the Lin family changed drastically. Lin Chenglu knelt down and banged his head on the ground repeatedly, each bang causing a commotion in the hall, showing how much force he was using: "Your Majesty, this matter was entirely my doing and has nothing to do with the Lin family. They have no idea what I was doing at the time. They are all innocent. This matter is entirely my fault."
Lin Chenghuan's eyes flashed, and he said angrily, "Second brother, what nonsense are you talking about!"
"Brother, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so blinded by greed and committed such a heinous crime. I don't want to implicate the family. Please grant my request." Lin Chenglu trembled all over, tears streaming down his face, whether from fear or something else. It's said that a man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken. But what was he crying for?
Tears welled up in Lin Chenghuan's eyes: "Second brother, how could you be so foolish!" Lin Chenghuan clenched his fists, looking at Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue with endless hatred and killing intent in his eyes, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
Lin Chenglu was short and not particularly handsome, not nearly as outstanding as Lin Chenghuan. However, Lin Chenglu was extremely loyal and knew his limits. Years ago, when the two Lin brothers were thinking about their future, who would become the clan leader and who would enter officialdom, they had a conflict. Lin Chenghuan wanted to stay and become the clan leader, but Lin Chenglu also desperately wanted to stay in the family. However, it wasn't because either of them was jealous of the other. Compared to Lin Chenghuan, serving in the court was indeed a truly glamorous thing. Lin Chenglu was not as outstanding as Lin Chenghuan, so he naturally wanted to leave this opportunity to Lin Chenghuan. However, out of brotherly love, Lin Chenghuan made this choice.
Finally, Lin Chenglu entered the court as an official. With the help of the Lin family and his own efforts, he eventually rose to the rank of second-grade official, which was considered a high-ranking position in the court. It would not be easy for the Lin family to produce such a person again. However, since Gui Sha had just mentioned Lin Chenglu's name, Lin Chenglu had no choice but to acknowledge it. Moreover, even if the person Gui Sha mentioned at the end could not be completely believed, if he really said it, that would be the real destruction of the Lin family. They had to protect this person, as that was the capital for the Lin family's long-term prosperity, not even the Empress.
Lin Chenglu had no choice but to admit that even if Gui Sha's words were not enough to convict him, he had to confess in order to protect that person and end the matter here.
Lin Chenghuan and Lin Chenglu both knew this, so they had no choice but to watch their younger brother die. Lin Chenghuan felt both pain and hatred in his heart.
"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. I beg Your Majesty to grant me death so that I may appease the spirit of General Xuanyuan in heaven."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "I beg your grandfather's spirit in heaven, Lord Lin, you think too highly of yourself. Do you even deserve it?"
"Princess Consort Chen, don't go too far!" Lin Chenghuan said angrily.
Ouyang Yue pointed her slender finger at Lin Chenghuan: "Disrespectful to this princess, slap him!"