Contest for the Heir

"Summon... the officials to court..."

At exactly eight in the morning, a long, drawn-out voice rang out from the Imperial Palace.

Lin Jin and the other two followed the officials into the Imperial Road with solemn expressions, then entered the grand hall of the Imperial Palace.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty, the Great Emperor!"

Lin Jin rose and looked up. Qian Renxue stood in an important position below Xue Ye.

Clearly, after they had left last night, Qian Renxue had not returned to her residence but had instead explained certain matters to Xue Ye.

"Commander Kosti, escort the three prisoners—Xue Xing, Xue Beng, and Odysseus—into the hall!" Xue Ye swept his gaze over the officials before speaking slowly.

His voice, heavy with suppressed fury and deep exhaustion, echoed through the solemn hall.

Though the poison had been purged from his body, the pain of betrayal by his dearest kin was far harder to heal than any physical wound.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Kosti, the Royal Knights Commander, accepted the order in a deep voice, then turned and strode away.

The officials lowered their heads, scarcely daring to breathe. The hall was so quiet that a pin could have been heard dropping, filled with the oppressive air of an Impending Storm.

After all, the troop movements last night had been no small matter. Which of those standing in the hall was not an Old Hand? Naturally, they all knew what had happened.

They simply could not speak of it. They could only wait for Xue Ye's judgment.

As for Lin Jin, he watched his nose, his nose watched his heart, and he calmly observed the ministers present.

Qian Renxue stood beneath the Imperial Steps with her head slightly lowered, perfectly playing the role of an Heir Apparent heartbroken by her Imperial Uncle's betrayal.

Soon, the heavy sound of Chains Dragging across the ground came from outside the hall, breaking the oppressive silence.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

Escorted by Royal Knights, Prince Xue Xing, Fourth Imperial Prince Xue Beng, and Odysseus, the former Deputy Commander of the Royal Knights, were led into the hall in prison uniforms. Their hands and feet were bound in specially made Soul Power Shackles, and they staggered with every step.

In just one night, Prince Xue Xing seemed to have aged twenty years. None of his former Grace and Luxury remained. His hair was disheveled, his eyes clouded, and he kept muttering, "I've been wronged..."

Fourth Imperial Prince Xue Beng was even more Deathly Pale. His body shook like a sieve, and the knights practically had to drag him along. There was not a trace left of his usual spoiled playboy demeanor.

Odysseus, meanwhile, looked utterly defeated. He struggled to raise his head, and when his gaze swept over Lin Jin, it was filled with Bone-Deep hatred and venom.

"Kneel!" Kosti barked coldly.

The three were forcibly pressed to the floor.

Xue Ye looked down at the brother and son he had once trusted most. Heartache, fury, disappointment... all of it finally condensed into one icy command. "Read out their crimes!"

The Eunuch at Xue Ye's side immediately took out the imperial decree and began reading each charge aloud.

"Prince Xue Xing: First, Colluding with Foreign Enemies of the Star Luo Empire and murdering loyal and talented officials of the Empire. Second, in order to help Fourth Imperial Prince Xue Beng ascend to the Position of Crown Prince, he secretly poisoned Second Imperial Prince and Third Imperial Prince to death. Third, he attempted to murder Your Majesty with Severe Poison, intending to assassinate the ruler and seize the throne. The evidence for all three crimes is conclusive. By law, he shall suffer Capital Punishment to uphold the National Law!"

"Fourth Imperial Prince Xue Beng: He joined Prince Xue Xing in poisoning the two imperial princes and secretly exchanged letters with court officials in an attempt to seize the Position of Crown Prince. To avoid detection, he disguised himself as a spoiled wastrel and persecuted the common people. By law, his title shall be stripped, he shall be reduced to a commoner, and exiled to the Southern Wasteland."

"Odysseus, Captain of the City Defense Force: He Colluded with Prince Xue Xing in rebellion, knowingly broke the law, and thus compounded his guilt. He shall suffer Capital Punishment to Serve as a Warning!"

After reading the final charge, the Eunuch closed the decree and stepped aside.

Each charge had been made public, striking every heart like a Heavy Hammer.

Suppressed gasps and cries of alarm rose among the officials. Though they had heard rumors before, hearing these confirmed crimes with their own ears still sent chills down their spines.

Prince Xue Xing suddenly raised his head and cried hoarsely, "Imperial Brother! Your Brother has been wronged! It was Xue Qinghe! He framed Your Brother! He isn't—"

"Impudence!" Xue Ye roared, unleashing unprecedented Imperial Pressure. "Even now, you dare slander the Crown Prince!"

Xue Xing was cowed by the pressure. The rest of his words caught in his throat, and he could only let out harsh, rasping breaths.

Fourth Imperial Prince Xue Beng had long since collapsed in terror, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Father Emperor, spare me! Father Emperor, spare me! Your Child knows nothing! Imperial Uncle forced Your Child to do it..."

Odysseus was Deathly Pale. He knew he was finished.

"Father Emperor, please calm your anger!" Qian Renxue spoke at the right moment. "Kosti, immediately take the three criminals away and carry out the decree!"

Just as the Royal Knights were about to drag the three away, Prince Xue Xing suddenly erupted with his last burst of strength. He broke free of the knights' hold, laughed madly at Qian Renxue, and charged toward her.

"Xue Qinghe! Do you think you've won? Even if I die, I won't let you have it easy! You're not—"

"Pfft—"

A flash of cold light swept past.

No one knew when Lin Jin had appeared before Prince Xue Xing. The Demon Blade pierced precisely through his throat, sealing the rest of his words there forever.

The entire hall fell into Dead Silence.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events. No one had expected this young general to dare draw his blade in the Imperial Court, Under the Public Gaze, before the Great Emperor and all the officials.

Lin Jin slowly withdrew the Demon Blade. His voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. "The guilty minister Xue Xing still sought to slander His Highness the Crown Prince On the verge of death. His intentions deserve condemnation."

He turned and bowed to Xue Ye. "This minister acted in haste. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

A complicated light flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes.

She understood very clearly that Lin Jin's strike had not merely been to protect her identity. It had also been to prevent Xue Xing from saying anything more that should not be said.

Xue Ye looked deeply at Lin Jin, then slowly nodded. "My loyal subject did well. Such a traitor Deserves to Die."

He waved his hand. "Take them away."

The Royal Knights hurriedly dragged Xue Xing's Corpse, the already unconscious Xue Beng, and the Deathly Pale Odysseus out of the hall.

A glaring Red Mark of blood streaked across the floor, reminding everyone of the brutality of this political struggle.

Xue Ye tiredly rubbed the space between his Eyebrows. His gaze swept over the silent, terrified officials before finally settling on Lin Jin.

"General Lin."

"Your subject is here."

"You played the greatest role in putting down this rebellion. I have decided to grant you the title of Marquis of Heavenly Wolf, place the entire City Defense Force of Heaven Dou City under your command, and appoint you Captain of the City Defense Force."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's reward!" Lin Jin replied politely.

Afterward, Xue Ye wished to reward Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi as well, but both declined for their own reasons and accepted only some money.

In the palace corridor.

"Thank you for acting just now, General Lin." Qian Renxue's expression was somewhat complicated.

"And congratulations on becoming Marquis of Heavenly Wolf."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is too polite. Wasn't all this done because you told me to?" Lin Jin said with a faint smile.

"Me?" Qian Renxue froze.

"Didn't Your Highness tell me to put Xue Xing and Xue Beng in their place, while also drawing Dugu Bo to our side?" Lin Jin glanced at the bewildered Qian Renxue. "Your Highness, are you satisfied with the answer I have given you now?"

"Answer!" Qian Renxue inhaled sharply. "So you did all this just because of what I said before about putting Xue Xing in his place."

"So this was your true goal!"

Lin Jin's words exploded in Qian Renxue's mind like thunder.

Not only had he completed his own mission, he had also brought down an Imperial Prince and gained a rise in status for himself.

It was a plan that killed three birds with one stone!

Even "terrifying" was not enough to describe the boy before her, who was only sixteen years old.

"Your Highness is too obsessed," Lin Jin said calmly. "What you called putting them in their place meant having a captain of the City Defense Force confront an Imperial Prince who stood high above all others. Did Your Highness think this was child's play? If they did not die, then it would be my head that fell!"

"Since ancient times, the Contest for the Heir has always been like this!"