Chapter 1450 - 1383: Emperor Hong's Web of Lies

"Young Master..."

The State Preceptor murmured, shouting, "He's just a young brat, what virtues or abilities does he possess to make you pseudo gods serve him?"

His expression was hysterical.

The person replied indifferently, "Don't underestimate the Young Master, because sooner or later, he'll make you taste true despair."

"I want a taste now, if you dare, let him come back and challenge me one-on-one!"

The State Preceptor roared repeatedly.

The meat in his mouth was gone just like that, this feeling of frustration drove him almost mad.

"One-on-one?"

"Don't you feel ashamed saying that?"

The person mocked with a grin.

The other nine also displayed disdain towards the State Preceptor.

A dignified pseudo god challenging a four-star War Emperor one-on-one? Isn't that a joke?

Whoosh!!!

The ten said no more and soared into the sky, landing beside Elder Qin.

The two blocking Elder Qin suddenly grew tense.

The ten glanced at the two, said nothing, and took Elder Qin, turning to leave.

"Stop!"

The State Preceptor bellowed in fury, "Do you think the Imperial City is a place you can come and go at will?"

But the ten completely ignored him.

The State Preceptor was about to give chase, but Emperor Hong stopped him with a gesture, shaking his head, "Let it be!"

The State Preceptor raised his brow and said, "Emperor Hong, they are openly challenging the imperial power..."

Before the State Preceptor could finish, Emperor Hong said, "Of course I know they are deliberately provoking, but what else can be done by keeping them?"

The State Preceptor fell silent.

There are ten pseudo gods on the other side, plus Elder Qin, making eleven.

While he and Emperor Hong were both pseudo gods at the peak, with three more pseudo gods below, if they truly engaged, the result would likely be a mutually destructive scenario.

However.

To give up like this, he was truly unwilling.

Emperor Hong patted the State Preceptor's shoulder, comforting, "There's a long time ahead, there will always be an opportunity, let's go down and handle the aftermath first!"

"Alas!"

The State Preceptor sighed deeply, followed Emperor Hong, and landed in the center of the plaza.

The three elders also immediately landed behind Emperor Hong, standing respectfully.

Throughout the entire process, the young prince sitting on the dragon throne did not utter a single word.

He just sat there, expressionless, watching everything.

In a trance.

Everyone had an illusion, feeling as if the young prince had aged decades all of a sudden, conveying deep wisdom.

Emperor Hong glanced at the young prince, then turned to face the civil and military officials, saying, "I'm sure everyone has many questions in their hearts now, feel free to ask them, and I will answer each one."

Martial Marquis Shao was the first to step forward, cupping his hands, "Emperor Hong, earlier Qin Feiyang already confirmed the State Preceptor's forgery of the Imperial Jade Seal, so why did you, Emperor Hong, not punish the State Preceptor by law but instead targeted Qin Feiyang?"

Emperor Hong pondered briefly and said, "This matter is a great humiliation to our Great Qin, and I truly don't want to speak of it."

"Please, Emperor Hong, speak the truth."

"Indeed!"

"If Emperor Hong does not explain, we cannot help but suspect that you might harbor some personal motives."

Several veteran courtiers with considerable prestige stepped forward.

"How dare you!"

"Emperor Hong, as the son of the former emperor, could not possibly harbor personal motives!"

The State Preceptor exclaimed in anger.

"State Preceptor, don't blame them. They say this out of concern for the safety of our Great Qin."

Emperor Hong waved his hand.

"As you wish."

The State Preceptor nodded respectfully.

Then.

Emperor Hong looked around at the civil and military officials and asked, "Do you really want to know?"

Everyone nodded.

The citizens outside the plaza were also filled with curiosity.

"Alas!"

Emperor Hong sighed deeply, saying, "Very well then, I will tell you frankly. The previous emperor wasn't dethroned because he broke through to pseudo god."

The previous emperor obviously referred to the young prince's father.

"Hmm?"

The people were puzzled.

Martial Marquis Shao asked, "Then what was the reason?"

"He died."

Emperor Hong said.

"What?"

"His Majesty is dead?"

"How could that be? Who dares to kill the emperor?"

The place erupted instantly, each person's face filled with disbelief.

"Everyone, be quiet."

Emperor Hong said.

The crowd instantly quieted down.

Emperor Hong sighed, "The person who killed the emperor is none other than the emperor's own son, Qin Feiyang."

"This..."

The people once again fell into shock.

"Back then."

"The State Preceptor needed to report to the emperor, but the emperor remained unresponsive in the Imperial Study."

"The State Preceptor immediately sensed something wrong, rushed to push open the door, and discovered the emperor's body on the floor."

"And the Imperial Jade Seal also went missing."

"Witnessing this scene, the State Preceptor immediately informed me. When I rushed over, the emperor was already dead."

"I was extremely angry at the time. Someone dared to plot against the emperor of our Great Qin?"

"I quickly instructed the State Preceptor to send people to find the murderer, but this person concealed his tracks too well; we couldn't find any clues."

"Later, after discussing with the State Preceptor, we decided to set a trap to lure this person into exposing himself."

Emperor Hong said.

Martial Marquis Shao said, "So, you announced externally that the emperor had reached pseudo god and would abdicate in favor of the young prince?"

"Correct."

"This person killed the emperor and took the Imperial Jade Seal. He's definitely aiming to seize control of our Great Qin's empire."

"Thinking of this, I immediately had the State Preceptor forge a fake Imperial Jade Seal and announced the news of the young Prince's ascension."

"If this person really covets our Great Qin's empire, he will certainly reveal himself on the day the young Prince ascends."

"As expected, this person appeared."

"But to my great surprise, he turned out to be Qin Feiyang!"

Emperor Hong spoke with heartache and anger.

"Bastard!"

"For the sake of the throne, to even kill his own father, Qin Feiyang is utterly mad!"

The people roared in anger.

"Indeed."

"But we also know that Qin Feiyang has the protection of a Pseudo God, so when Qin Feiyang brought out the Imperial Jade Seal, Emperor Hong did not expose him immediately, instead attacking me along with Elder Qin."

"This was done to draw out the Pseudo God by Qin Feiyang's side."

The State Preceptor said.

"So that's how it was."

The crowd nodded in realization.

Martial Marquis Qian asked, "So you're saying Elder Qin and the Commander of the Kylin Army were also involved in the murder of His Majesty?"

"Yes."

"They have long been bribed by Qin Feiyang."

Emperor Hong nodded.

"Outrageous!"

"His Majesty treated them with great kindness, yet they conspired with Qin Feiyang, plotted against His Majesty, and usurped the throne. Their crimes are unforgivable!"

A voice roared out from the crowd.

It was Martial Marquis Zhuge who was shouting.

He was adding fuel to the fire, because by doing so, the hatred towards Qin Feiyang and the others would escalate.

Indeed.

Upon hearing his words, everyone present was filled with rage.

"Wait."

Suddenly.

A voice emerged.

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw that it was Martial Marquis Shao who spoke.

"Does Martial Marquis Shao have any questions?"

The State Preceptor asked patiently.

Martial Marquis Shao said, "I do not dare doubt the words of His Majesty, but after listening, a few puzzling questions have arisen in my heart."

"Speak."

Emperor Hong said.

"As far as I know, when the late Emperor was creating the Imperial Jade Seal, he incorporated Purple-Gold Dragon Blood."

"And the Imperial Jade Seal forged by the State Preceptor, which even you, Your Majesty, couldn't distinguish, must also have incorporated Purple-Gold Dragon Blood."

"But in the world today, only Qin Feiyang possesses Purple-Gold Dragon Blood."

"Earlier, Qin Feiyang also claimed that the State Preceptor had asked him for Purple-Gold Dragon Blood, and Qin Feiyang even left a mark on the bottom."

"I want to ask, if Qin Feiyang truly intended to usurp the throne, why would he give the State Preceptor Purple-Gold Dragon Blood?"

"That's the first question."

"The second."

"Qin Feiyang is not a fool."

"On the contrary, he is very clever."

"With the emperor's death and the Imperial Jade Seal missing, he couldn't have been unaware that revealing the Imperial Jade Seal would be an admission that he had plotted against the emperor."

"So this seems very illogical to me."

"Frankly speaking."

"Even if I, a person of lesser wit, were in his place, I wouldn't reveal the Imperial Jade Seal during the young Prince's ascension."

Martial Marquis Shao said.

If Qin Feiyang were here, he would certainly regard Martial Marquis Shao with new eyes.

Among the civil and military officials and the various marquises, there's at least one person who maintains some reason.

"I have pondered these two questions thoroughly."

"From my analysis, Qin Feiyang probably has complete confidence in himself and doesn't care if things are exposed."

"After all, everyone saw earlier that he has ten Pseudo Gods by his side. If exposed, he could easily suppress it with force."

"But what he didn't anticipate was that the State Preceptor's cultivation had recently advanced, and a Pseudo God at peak level can easily restrain three or four ordinary Pseudo Gods."

"With the State Preceptor, me, and my three friends behind me, he was intimidated and dared not continue competing with the young Prince."

"So, he chose to retreat."

"But I believe he will inevitably make a comeback someday, so I hope that from now on, whoever sees Qin Feiyang should report to the State Preceptor immediately."

Emperor Hong said.

"We obey!"

The ministers bowed and said.

Martial Marquis Shao pondered carefully for a while, then said, "What His Majesty the Emperor said does make sense, but not long ago, Qin Feiyang also declared publicly that he would not compete with the young Prince for the throne."

"That's just his one-sided statement. Once he eliminates the State Preceptor, he might do more than just kill the young Prince; he could kill anyone who stands in his way, even including me, his great-grandfather."

Emperor Hong said.

"Phew!"

Martial Marquis Shao took a deep breath and bowed, "If it's truly as His Majesty the Emperor says, then Qin Feiyang is indeed utterly mad."

Emperor Hong glanced at him indifferently, surveying the crowd, and asked, "Does anyone else have questions?"

The group of ministers shook their heads.

Martial Marquis Zhuge glanced at the ministers beside him, his eyes flickered slightly, then stepped forward and said, "I have a question."

"Speak."

Emperor Hong said.

Martial Marquis Zhuge said, "I would like to ask, does the young Prince's ascension still stand?"

"Of course it stands."

"Now, the young Prince is the emperor of our Great Qin. The State Preceptor will personally assist him, and you all must devote yourselves wholeheartedly to serving him."

Emperor Hong said.

"We humbly obey Emperor Hong's decree."

The ministers bowed.

"Long live His Majesty Yaotian!"

The people in the first district also knelt down, whether on the ground or in mid-air, respectfully saluting with an unprecedentedly grand momentum.