Count Zhongyong

After Li Wanqing left, Li Chen Zhou lay on the table and began drawing his reward.

"Ding... Beginning random technique draw."

"Ding... Congratulations, Host, for drawing the heavenly-tier demonic blade technique, Three Abyssal Slashes."

"Begin fusion?"

"Fusion."

In an instant, a violent force ran rampant through Li Chen Zhou's body.

The blade intent of the Three Abyssal Slashes surged like towering waves, churning and intertwining within his consciousness like a storm. An ocean of information flooded into his mind.

The essence of the blade technique, its circulation routes, and its methods of exerting force... all appeared with perfect clarity.

Beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his forehead, soaking the bedsheet beneath him. He clenched his teeth, his body trembling slightly as he endured the impact and fusion of that power with all his might.

Li Chen Zhou slowly opened his eyes, a razor-sharp killing intent flashing through them and sending chills down one's spine.

The fifth-watch clapper tore through the night.

The east had begun to pale; blade intent awakened alongside the morning light.

In the imperial court, sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice and fell across the golden-brick floor, forming patches of light.

The Emperor spoke with majesty, "Bring Prince Jin up."

Prince Jin was escorted in, disheveled and filthy, long stripped of his former kingly bearing.

The Emperor's gaze was like blazing torches as he asked coldly, "Prince Jin, do you know your crimes?"

Prince Jin looked disdainful and snorted. "The victor becomes king, the loser becomes a bandit. There is nothing to say. But I did not lose to you. If it had not been for the Li Family, the one sitting in your position now would have been me."

Displeasure appeared on the Emperor's face as he roared, "Take Prince Jin away. Drag him to the Meridian Gate and behead him before the public. Execute him immediately!"

Two guards entered and dragged Prince Jin outside.

As he was being taken away, Prince Jin threw back his head and laughed. "Hahahaha! Well done, Li Family. You hid yourselves deeply indeed."

The Emperor sneered. "At a time like this, you still want to sow discord."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dignified and magnificently dressed elder stepped forward. "Wait."

The Emperor looked at the elder. "What is it, Prince Rong?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Jin bears imperial blood. How can blades and swords be laid upon him? As one of imperial blood, even if he is guilty, he should be handed over to the Imperial Clan Court for disposal," Prince Rong said with a slight bow.

At that moment, Duke Zhen Guo, Li Qing Shan, stepped forward. "Prince Rong, Prince Jin has not committed some minor offense. He has committed the grave crime of rebellion and treason."

Prince Rong gave no face at all. "Prince Jin is the late Emperor's son and His Majesty's blood brother. He bears imperial blood. Any member of the imperial clan who commits an offense should be dealt with by the Imperial Clan Court according to the ancestral codes."

Li Qing Shan abruptly changed tack. "Hand him over to the Imperial Clan Court? Hahaha, what a joke. The Imperial Clan Court is responsible for managing and supervising the imperial relatives, yet Prince Jin's rebellion was such a major matter, and the Imperial Clan Court did not receive the slightest word of it."

"Should I say you neglected your duty, or should I say you mingled with the light and blended into the dust?"

Li Qing Shan's words directly shattered Prince Rong's composure. "Duke Zhen Guo, mind your words. Great Qian governs the realm by law. What is wrong with this prince acting according to the law?"

Li Qing Shan raised a brow. "Oh? Acting according to the law? Then what punishment should be given for dereliction of duty?"

Standing at the very end, Li Chen Zhou watched the two sides argue. He had little interest in when Prince Jin would die.

All he hoped for now was that the system would issue the next stage of its mission.

The Emperor watched the two men quarrel before him with great interest. He did not care, but the ministers standing below could no longer bear it.

At this point, Prince Rong was nearly beside himself with fury.

In the end, Censor Lai of the Censorate could no longer stand it and stepped forward.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial to present."

Seeing that Censor Lai was about to join the quarrel, the Emperor quickly said, "Beloved subject, speak."

"This subject believes that Prince Jin's rebellion involves many parties. It would be better to postpone the execution and first place him in the custody of the Imperial Clan Court. Once all those involved have been identified, Your Majesty may deal with them together."

After all, Prince Jin was his blood brother. If he were killed outright, the Emperor's reputation would not look good.

Thus, the Emperor immediately made his decision. "Very well. We shall proceed as Censor Lai has said. Royal Uncle and Lord Li, stop arguing."

"This subject obeys the decree."

"This old subject accepts the order."

The Emperor nodded slightly, showing his satisfaction, then continued in a commanding voice, "Prince Jin colluded with important civil and military officials in court, rebelled against his sovereign, and threw the court into chaos. Yesterday, all of you beloved subjects fought to the death. I am greatly pleased."

"Now, rewards shall be bestowed according to merit."

"Where is Duke Zhen Guo?"

Li Qing Shan stepped forward. "This subject is here."

The Emperor nodded slightly.

The eunuch beside him stepped forward with the imperial edict. "Lord Li rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion. He is awarded one Tranquil Heart Jade Ruyi, one Tianshan Snow Lotus, one Greater Revitalization Pill, ten thousand taels of gold, and a thousand mu of fertile land. His court attire is elevated to a three-clawed python robe. By imperial decree."

The assembled ministers cried out in surprise. This reward was no small matter. Gold, silver, and treasures were one thing, but a three-clawed python robe meant he stood alone among all those holding the rank of duke.

Li Qing Shan cupped his hands. "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

The eunuch continued reading, "Where are Li Chen Zhou and Liu Xian?"

"This commoner is here."

"This servant is here."

Li Chen Zhou and Liu Xian stepped out from the very back.

This time, the decree read, "Li Chen Zhou and Liu Xian rendered meritorious service in capturing the traitor."

"Liu Xian is awarded one thousand taels of gold, one hundred bolts of silk, and the profound-tier treasured sword Heart Severing Sword. He is promoted to Thousand-Household Commander of the Eastern Depot."

"Li Chen Zhou is awarded one thousand taels of gold, one hundred bolts of silk, and one Lesser Revitalization Pill. He is granted the title of Count Zhongyong. By imperial decree."

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace."

Hearing the rewards, the ministers were stunned. A noble title? Two noble titles in one household—the Li Family was about to soar into the heavens!

"Wait."

The Emperor glanced at the speaker. It was Prince Rong again.

Prince Rong said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is true that Li Chen Zhou rendered meritorious service by rescuing Your Majesty. However, Li Chen Zhou broke out of the Ministry of Justice Prison and released every prisoner within, including many heinous and hardened major criminals of the court."

"This caused the Black Armor Army to suffer grievous losses."

"Breaking out of prison and privately releasing major criminals of the court are both grave crimes. To reward him without punishing him would be inappropriate."

The Emperor looked at Li Chen Zhou. "Li Chen Zhou, you have heard it all. What do you have to say?"

"Ding... The system has issued a mission: evade punishment. Reward: twenty years of internal cultivation."

Li Chen Zhou said, "This subject agrees with Prince Rong's statement."

Li Chen Zhou's answer stunned the Emperor.

"Rewarding merit and punishing faults is only natural. However, this subject respectfully requests that Your Majesty punish the Minister of Justice, the censors of the Censorate, the general of the Left Military Guard, the general of the Right Military Guard... together with this subject."

Li Chen Zhou's words made the ministers' eyes widen.

This brat had dragged half the officials in court into the water, and they were all important ministers.

Even Li Qing Shan beside him could not help admiring the boy's audacity.

Even the Emperor was somewhat astonished, inwardly thinking, Has this boy gone mad?

"Do you know what you are saying? Do you know what punishment you will face if your accusations prove false?"

Li Chen Zhou said, "Naturally, this subject knows. This subject asks only one question: did my lords know that Prince Jin intended to rebel?"

The crowd was instantly dumbfounded. Who would dare say they knew? One after another, they all declared that they did not.

Li Chen Zhou solemnly cupped his hands toward the Emperor. "Your Majesty, look—they have admitted it."

Censor Lai, with his fiery temper, snapped, "How dare you spout such nonsense, you little brat! When did we admit anything?"