Marquis Yong'an's Estate's People Have Arrived

"Old Brother Du is joking."

Zhang Yu's voice was calm, with a hint of casualness.

"I, Zhang Yu, am not a bloodthirsty person, nor do I intend to be an enemy of the entire Wei Kingdom's Imperial Family. I am here serving my sentence, cultivating my path, and I had no intention of causing trouble."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yun, who was kneeling on the ground with a pale face, and his tone turned cold:

"As for why I controlled this grand formation... it's just that certain people, relying on their status, bullied me too much, wanting to cripple my limbs and hand me over to Old Brother Du to vent his anger.

I had no choice but to borrow the power of this grand formation to protect myself."

"Hand me over to vent your anger?"

Du Jun's eyebrows shot up; he hadn't expected to be involved.

He then asked, "Young friend, what do you mean by that?"

Zhang Yu didn't answer directly. Instead, his gaze shifted to Xiao Sheng, who was peeking out with a guilty and uneasy expression. The corners of his mouth curved into a meaningful smile:

"As for what exactly happened, Old Brother Du, and everyone from the Imperial Family. You might as well ask... the Heir of Prince Jing, Xiao Sheng. He saw everything from beginning to end."

"Xiao Sheng?"

As soon as Zhang Yu finished speaking, all eyes, like spotlights, instantly focused on the Heir of Prince Jing, Xiao Sheng!

"Swish!"

Xiao Sheng felt countless gazes pierce him like tangible sharp swords. His body stiffened, his scalp tingled, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

"I... I..."

Xiao Sheng opened his mouth, his tongue tied, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Before, to please Zhang Yu and protect himself, he had helped Zhang Yu conceal many things, even cooperating in a performance where Du Jun's visit was described as "collusion."

Now, he was being asked to reveal the truth in front of so many powerful figures from the Imperial Family, especially the Old Ancestor and the Emperor?

He was afraid he'd be skinned alive.

"Xiao Sheng."

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, his face darkened, and he sternly shouted, "What exactly happened?"

"Speak."

In the Hall of the Imperial Clan, Xiao Xuan's voice also came through the light screen, carrying unquestionable authority.

Xiao Sheng trembled at these two sharp shouts, nearly falling to his knees.

"It... it was the Heir of Prince Rui, Xiao Yun."

Xiao Sheng hardened his heart, deciding to clear himself first and push all the blame onto Xiao Yun. "He, he was the one who came looking for trouble first."

He pointed at Xiao Yun on the ground and, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, recounted the entire incident.

Although Xiao Sheng was scared, he spoke articulately, outlining the events and emphasizing Xiao Yun's arrogance and Zhang Yu's "forced self-defense."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, his face grew even more unsightly. He looked at Xiao Yun with a gaze full of disappointment and disgust.

This fool, it was bad enough he was arrogant usually, but he dared to provoke a malevolent star like Zhang Yu and even dragged the entire Imperial Family into such a passive and awkward situation.

In the Hall of the Imperial Clan, everyone was in an uproar after hearing Xiao Sheng's account.

"It was Xiao Yun who caused the trouble?"

"This scoundrel, useless and only good at causing trouble!"

Everyone's gaze instantly shifted from Zhang Yu to Xiao Yun, who was kneeling on the ground.

The anger and hostility originally directed at Zhang Yu now largely transformed into annoyance and reprimand towards Xiao Yun.

Even Xiao Yun's biological father, Prince Rui, wished he could personally kill this troublemaker.

Although Zhang Yu forcing the Imperial Grandson to kneel was a humiliation, there were reasons for it. Xiao Yun had provoked first, and attacked first!

This would be considered "self-defense" anywhere!

Even if the Imperial Family wanted to pursue the matter, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Furthermore, was it worth it to go all out against an unfathomable expert who controlled the Heavenly Prison's formation, all for this useless fop, Xiao Yun?

Although Xiao Yun was pinned to the ground by the formation's power and couldn't move, he could still hear.

He heard Xiao Sheng's accusation, the surrounding discussions, and especially felt the anger from the Imperial elders who should have been on his side.

His heart instantly sank to the bottom, and an unprecedented fear and chill swept through his entire body.

He had originally thought that if he was insulted, the Imperial Family would spare no expense to avenge him.

But now, he discovered with horror that the situation had completely exceeded his expectations.

Zhang Yu's power and mystery made the Imperial Family feel wary and fearful.

And he, Xiao Yun, the "victim," had actually become the culprit who "caused trouble" and "brought disaster to the Imperial Family"!

Especially when he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, seeing that Guild Leader Du Jun, whom even the Emperor treated with deference, was treating Zhang Yu like a brother.

Xiao Yun's heart sank completely.

He realized that he might have... kicked a steel plate, a steel plate that not even the entire Imperial Family would dare to kick lightly!

Zhang Yu, seeing everyone turn their attention to Xiao Yun and noticing the subtle shift in the attitude of the Imperial Family's high-ranking officials, said expressionlessly, "I have no intention of implicating others in this matter. Xiao Yun was arrogant and overbearing; I will punish him by making him kneel before my prison gate for three days."

Hearing that Zhang Yu was only punishing Xiao Yun with three days of kneeling and had not made any more excessive demands, Prince Rui and Xiao Yun, who was still on the ground, both involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief.

Although kneeling was humiliating, it was better than dying.

However, the Imperial Family's Old Ancestor, Xiao Xuan, did not fully relax his brow.