Unexpectedly, the other party was actually targeting Yang Yuxuan.
A month ago, someone accused Yang Yuxuan of treason and rebellion, and there was both witness testimony and physical evidence.
Therefore, he acted in accordance with the law and sentenced Yang Yuxuan and his entire family to be executed.
Later, Cao Zhengchun, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, intervened and spared Yang Yuxuan's two children, sentencing them only to exile to the frontier.
How did Yang Yuxuan's daughter end up here?
Of course, Zhengde did not know that Cao Zhengchun's plea to spare Yang Yuxuan's two children was not out of compassion, but rather an attempt to use the two children to lure out and eliminate Zhou Huai'an.
Li Yao looked at Yang Yuying with encouraging eyes and said, "Yuying, tell us about your father's grievances!"
Yang Yuying nodded heavily, then knelt down before Zhengde and recounted her father's injustice in detail.
Although she was young, she came from an official family, so she had a clear mind and spoke clearly.
Zhengde was naturally not going to believe Yang Yuying's one-sided story easily, but he also dared not anger Li Yao, so he said tactfully, "There is both witness testimony and physical evidence in this matter, and I am in a difficult position!"
Li Yao pointed at Lu Yichuan and said to Zhengde, "You should recognize this person!"
Zhengde looked at Lu Yichuan, frowned, and realized that Lu Yichuan did look somewhat familiar.
Lu Yichuan immediately knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "This servant Lu Yichuan pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Lu Yichuan?"
Zhengde thought for a moment and said, "You seem to be one of Cao Shaoqin's henchmen."
Lu Yichuan quickly replied, "That's right, sir."
Zhengde was puzzled as to why Lu Yichuan had gotten together with Yang Yuxuan's daughter.
Li Yao said to Lu Yichuan, "Lu Yichuan, tell the emperor about Cao Zhengchun and Cao Shaoqin's conspiracy."
Lu Yichuan nodded in agreement.
He then said to Zhengde, “Your Majesty, Cao Zhengchun has been trying to win over Lord Yang Yuxuan, but Lord Yang is unwilling to collude with Cao Zhengchun and has refused Cao Zhengchun’s attempts to win him over. Cao Zhengchun is dissatisfied and has therefore secretly ordered someone to falsely accuse Lord Yang of rebellion.”
Zhengde frowned and said, "If Cao Zhengchun framed Yang Yuxuan, why did he plead for Yang Yuxuan's children, requesting that I only exile them to the frontier?"
Lu Yichuan said, "That's because Cao Zhengchun wanted to use Lord Yang's children to lure out Zhou Huai'an, and then get rid of Zhou Huai'an."
"Zhou Huai'an?"
Zhengde grew increasingly puzzled and asked, "What does this have to do with Zhou Huai'an?"
Lu Yichuan said, "Zhou Huai'an was Lord Yang's subordinate. When Cao Zhengchun tried to win over Lord Yang, Zhou Huai'an tried his best to persuade him. Therefore, Cao Zhengchun harbored resentment towards Zhou Huai'an. When Lord Yang was arrested, Zhou Huai'an escaped. So Cao Zhengchun used Lord Yang's children to try to lure Zhou Huai'an out."
Zhengde asked, "How did he lure Zhou Huai'an out?"
Lu Yichuan said, "After Lord Yang's children were escorted out of the capital, Cao Zhengchun ordered his adopted son Cao Shaoqin to secretly follow them. As long as Zhou Huai'an appeared to rescue Lord Yang's children, Cao Shaoqin would take the opportunity to eliminate Zhou Huai'an."
Zhengde frowned, thinking to himself, "So Cao Shaoqin's trip out of the capital this time is not to inspect the border on my behalf, but to hunt down Zhou Huai'an!"
Immediately, he sensed something was amiss and hurriedly asked, "Aren't you a foreman under Cao Shaoqin? Since you've already returned to the capital, why hasn't Cao Shaoqin returned yet?"
Lu Yichuan looked somewhat embarrassed as he glanced at Li Yao.
Li Yao said, "He's not coming back."
"They're not coming back?"
Zhengde was greatly puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"
Li Yao said calmly, "Cao Shaoqin, along with his entire Eastern Depot army, all died in the desert."
"What? They all died in the desert?"
Zhengde jumped to his feet, his eyes wide, and demanded, "Who did this?"
Li Yao said, "Me."
Zhengde's body went limp, and he sat back down, his face pale. He couldn't help but ask, "Did you do this all by yourself?"
Li Yao nodded and said, "You could say that."
Zhengde's heart tightened. No wonder this person was able to enter the Imperial Study so quietly; this person's strength was terrifying.
Li Yao continued, "I just happened to be there and witnessed this injustice, so I killed Cao Shaoqin, rescued Lord Yang's children, and brought Lord Yang's daughter to you to demand justice. So I ask you, how do you plan to handle this matter?"
Zhengde hesitated.
Just then, a shrill voice suddenly came from outside:
"Quickly, surround the Imperial Study! Don't let a single assassin escape."
"Your Majesty, this servant is late in coming to your rescue, please forgive me!"
Chapter 136 Unlock the Gift Pack, Heavenly Boy Skill
"It's Supervisor Cao! Supervisor Cao has arrived!"
Upon hearing that shrill voice, Lu Xiaochuan immediately turned pale and trembled all over.
As one of the former heads of the Eastern Depot, he knew Cao Zhengchun's ruthless methods all too well.
Although he had already sided with Li Yao, he knew that Li Yao's ruthlessness was no less than Cao Zhengchun's, and perhaps even greater.
However, under Cao Zhengchun's long-standing influence, his fear of Cao Zhengchun had become ingrained in his very bones.
In contrast to Lu Xiaochuan's fear, Zhengde's face flashed with joy.
Although he knew Li Yao probably wouldn't hurt him, no one wants to be in danger. If Li Yao suddenly attacked and killed him, he wouldn't even have time to regret it.
Although he had witnessed firsthand how Li Yao could kill people with the slightest gesture.
Although he had heard that Li Yao had single-handedly killed Cao Shaoqin and the Eastern Depot army.
However, he did not think Li Yao was a match for Cao Zhengchun.
After all, he did not witness Li Yao kill Cao Shaoqin and the Eastern Depot army.
Perhaps Li Yao is just boasting.
He had personally witnessed Cao Zhengchun's kung fu skills.
That's truly amazing, no doubt about it!
Li Yao took in Zhengde's expression and immediately saw through Zhengde's thoughts.
He just looked at Zhengde with a half-smile.
It was that ambiguous, half-smiling look in his eyes that sent a chill down Zhengde's spine. He felt as if Li Yao had seen right through him, and he immediately lost his composure.
When he came to his senses, he was shocked to find that Li Yao had somehow gotten up from his chair and was standing at the door of the Imperial Study.
That was incredibly fast!
When Li Yao arrived at the entrance, he saw a large group of fully armed guards who had surrounded the Imperial Study.
Then, a heavy, deep footstep gradually approached.
An old eunuch, dressed in a purple brocade robe, with a youthful face and white hair, strode over with an imposing aura.
The old eunuch had a ruddy complexion and sinister eyes, giving him a treacherous and cunning air.
Presumably, this old eunuch is Cao Zhengchun.
Cao Zhengchun saw Li Yao standing at the door of the Imperial Study and was greatly puzzled.
His martial arts skills were extremely profound, so he could naturally judge the opponent's martial arts level by the aura emanating from them.
He discovered that the aura emanating from the other person was no different from that of an ordinary person.
However, the other party remained calm and composed in the face of such a majestic and grand scene, without showing any nervousness or fear.
That's strange!
Is the other party acting with impunity, or is it simply a case of ignorance leading to fearlessness?
Cao Zhengchun had no idea that Li Yao's cultivation of the "Great Dao True Scripture" allowed him to control his breath at will.
Normally, his aura is no different from that of an ordinary person, making it impossible for others to perceive the depth of his martial arts skills.
Cao Zhengchun's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the imperial study.
Seeing that the emperor was safe and sound, he felt a little relieved.
Immediately, his gaze swept over Lu Yichuan, his eyes shooting out two sharp beams of light, which frightened Lu Yichuan so much that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.
He was puzzled.
Wasn't Lu Yichuan and his adopted son Cao Shaoqin chasing after Zhou Huai'an?
How did she end up back in the capital alone, with this stranger, and appear in the Imperial Study?
Then, his gaze fell on Yang Yuying.
Although he killed Yang Yuxuan, he did not know Yang Yuying.
The matter of using Yang Yuying and her brother to lure out Zhou Huai'an was orchestrated by his adopted son.
Therefore, he never met Yang Yuying and her brother.
He was puzzled.
Why would a little girl be here?
In that brief instant, countless thoughts flashed through Cao Zhengchun's mind.
Because Cao Zhengchun couldn't immediately gauge Li Yao's abilities, he dared not act rashly.
He extended his delicate finger, pointed at Li Yao, and demanded, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Imperial Study?"
Li Yao said calmly:
"You must be Eunuch Cao. I've long heard that your Heavenly Gang Boy Skill is extremely powerful, reaching the level of invulnerability to swords and spears, with few rivals in the world."
"I am a martial arts fanatic and I love to spar with others. I came here tonight specifically to learn from your Heavenly Gang Boy Skill."
Cao Zhengchun was extremely surprised. The other party had entered the palace at night just to spar with him!
However, the emperor is currently trapped in the imperial study and is in danger at any moment.