Xue Ye, You Are Confused

"My mind is made up. Issue the order. Marshal Ge Long is to return to the central army camp and await my instructions."

"Your Majesty!"

"Stand down!" Xue Ye shouted softly. No more complications could be allowed at a time like this.

The corner of Prince Xue Xing's lips curled upward, as if he were saying, Who do you think you are? I am a prince, while you are nothing more than a brute.

Marshal Ge Long glared angrily at Prince Xue Xing, but he did not lose his temper. He knew that Prince Xue Xing had always been targeting him, hoping to get rid of him.

His Majesty was foolish and incompetent, actually listening to this man's slander. If this continued, the Heaven Dou Empire would not even need the enemy to attack—it would be ruined by the nobles themselves.

The other ministers and soldiers all sighed, shaking their heads in disappointment.

"A foolish ruler, a foolish ruler indeed!" Unable to stand Xue Ye's actions any longer, one soldier voiced his thoughts.

Xue Ye's expression changed as he roared, "Huo Yan, are you trying to rebel?!"

Huo Yan said unwillingly, "Your Majesty, Marshal Ge Long has devoted most of his life to the empire, yet you listened to Prince Xue Xing's slander and stripped him of his position as marshal. Are you not raising a tiger only to invite disaster? In my opinion, Prince Xue Xing is the traitor who sold out the empire. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly before reaching a conclusion!"

"How dare you!" Xue Ye flicked his sleeve. "Huo Yan, who do you think you are?! Prince Xue Xing is a member of the royal family and my younger brother. Yet you dare sow discord between us and even seek to have the prince killed. What crime do you deserve? Guards, drag Huo Yan out and behead him as a warning to all!"

"Huo Yan, shut your mouth!" Marshal Ge Long hurriedly stopped Huo Yan from overstepping his bounds. Turning around, he knelt and pleaded, "Please forgive him, Your Majesty. Huo Yan acted on impulse. I beg Your Majesty to spare his life."

Prince Xue Xing arrogantly raised his head and snorted. "Marshal Ge Long, surely you know the crime of defying one's superior. General Huo Yan is one of the Heaven Dou Empire's military leaders, yet he actually seeks to murder me. I think you are plotting rebellion."

As he spoke, Prince Xue Xing turned around, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Your Majesty, though General Huo Yan's words were somewhat harsh, no one would dare do such a thing without instruction."

Prince Xue Xing's meaning was obvious: Huo Yan was not the mastermind. Someone else was.

Huo Yan clenched his fists and shouted, "Prince Xue Xing, stop spouting slander! Everything I said came from my own heart and has nothing to do with anyone else. If you want to kill me, then do it. Do not drag others into this."

Xue Ye narrowed his eyes and looked at Marshal Ge Long, who was kneeling on the ground. This matter could no longer be explained away with a few words.

"Issue my decree. Drag Huo Yan out and behead him as a warning. Strip Marshal Ge Long of his position as commander-in-chief and throw him into prison. Release him once everything has been clarified."

The sharp clang of armor sounded outside the hall. More than a dozen of Xue Ye's personal guards rushed in with spears in hand, taking positions behind Marshal Ge Long and General Huo Yan respectively.

Just as they were about to seize the two men, a voice rang out from outside the hall.

"Xue Ye, you are confused!"

Everyone turned their heads, clear shock appearing on their faces. To call His Majesty confused before so many people—throughout the Heaven Dou Empire, no one but this person would dare commit such an act of insubordination.

Two figures had somehow appeared within the imperial hall. The man in the lead was Lin Xiao, while the elegant young gentleman beside him was Zhou Yi.

The aura released by two Title Douluo at once turned the previously peaceful hall into an ice cellar in an instant. Even the air felt cold.

Lin Xiao stepped forward and pulled Marshal Ge Long to his feet. As the Heaven Dou Empire's strongest general, he should not kneel, much less kneel before someone like Prince Xue Xing.

Marshal Ge Long froze slightly, his eyes filled with gratitude. If Lin Xiao had not been here today, he would likely have been thrown into the imperial prison.

That was not a place for people to stay. He had once taken part in interrogations there, and the instruments of torture could tear prisoners' tendons and break their bones.

The pain was unbearable.

Prince Xue Xing frowned and rose from his chair. "Imperial Tutor, what are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?" Lin Xiao snorted coldly. "You fool who cannot distinguish right from wrong, when have you ever seen Marshal Ge Long betray the empire?"

"This..." Prince Xue Xing frowned. "Never. But the Star Luo Empire learned of the border defenses. Our empire's borders are confidential, and no one besides the upper ranks could possibly know about them. If he was not the one who leaked the information, then who was?"

Lin Xiao said blandly, "Why could it not have been you?"

"You! Imperial Tutor, you are actually framing me!"

"Whether I am framing you or not, I do not know. What I do know is that you are nothing but a useless wastrel."

Prince Xue Xing's face turned purple with rage, his chest heaving violently. As a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, he had never suffered such humiliation. Yet today, a mere brat had rendered him utterly unable to retort.

If Lin Xiao had not been the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Tutor, he would have sent people to kill him no matter what.

Xue Ye slowly rose to his feet and said in a deep voice, "Imperial Tutor, you also know that we are at a critical juncture. If we do not act this way, I fear..."

Before Xue Ye could finish, Lin Xiao cut him off.

"Marshal Ge Long has rendered outstanding service to the empire. Even if you will not acknowledge his merit, you should acknowledge his hardship. Yet you listened to another's slander and nearly killed one of the empire's great generals. Your Majesty, you are confused!"

Xue Ye did not grow angry, though his expression was clearly unpleasant.

To be called confused before so many ministers—where would an emperor's dignity remain?

"From this moment onward, military authority shall return to Marshal Ge Long. Cancel the investigation of the two generals and restore them to their former positions. I will lead the army to crush the Star Luo Empire and protect everything of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

Marshal Ge Long and General Huo Yan both knelt. "Thank you, Imperial Tutor."

Prince Xue Xing was the only one with an especially ugly expression. With Lin Xiao back, no one would listen to him anymore.

Xue Ye said, "Since the Imperial Tutor is protecting them, I have nothing more to say. The great battle at the Heaven Dou Empire's border is imminent. I ask the Imperial Tutor to provide support as soon as possible."

Lin Xiao nodded. "Rest assured. With me here, the Heaven Dou Empire will surely win."

The Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, stood up and strode toward Lin Xiao.

With a thud, Xue Beng dropped to his knees. "Imperial Tutor, please accept Xue Beng's bow."

Lin Xiao glanced at Xue Beng. "Why are you doing this?"

Xue Beng's face was tense as he said, "I beg the Imperial Tutor to accept me as his disciple. I am willing to become the Imperial Tutor's right-hand man."

Xue Ye nodded in satisfaction, while Prince Xue Xing covered his forehead and let out a long sigh. Clearly, he did not want Xue Beng to grow too close to Lin Xiao.

However, Lin Xiao refused. "My apologies, Fourth Prince. I already have a disciple, and I do not wish to take on another for the time being. Xue Beng, I can recommend a master for you. Would you be willing?"