The ministers felt as though one wave had barely subsided before another began, and they all turned to look outside the hall.
A figure walked in, silhouetted against the light. It was none other than Wang Sui!
"Traitorous scoundrel! How dare you show your face here! So, you're in league with Fu Yecheng!" A minister immediately jumped out to accuse him.
Wang Sui merely glanced at the man, his eyes radiating an unspoken authority.
The man instantly dared not shout, shrinking back into the crowd.
Liang Shao frowned, watching Wang Sui.
Wang Sui had been imprisoned in the Fourth Prince's Estate. Since he could appear here now, it meant the Prince's Estate had also been taken.
"Even you betray this Prince?" Liang Shao glared at Wang Sui.
Wang Sui returned his cold gaze.
"Prince, this old man has followed you through life and death for many years, since you were a Prince without real power. Most of the forces in your hands were established by this old man. Although I knew you were ruthless and the late Emperor was weak, and you possessed ability and cunning, this old man believed that Southern Jiang, handed into your care, would surely prosper! So even when you poisoned the late Empress to death, this old man never once thought of betraying you."
Liang Shao coldly said, "You didn't betray me? Then why are you here?"
"That, you must ask yourself, Prince! This old man agreed to confess to treason, to take the blame for your son, and to atone for the thirty thousand soldiers. Because you promised this old man you wouldn't harm my family, but you broke your word!"
"In the past, this old man thought that although you were ruthless, you were also trustworthy and bold. Now, this old man finally understands. If Southern Jiang were truly handed to you, it wouldn't improve, it would only become a thorn in the eyes of all nations!"
At this moment, an old minister stepped forward and asked, "Old General Wang, was the late Empress truly poisoned by the Fourth Prince?"
Wang Sui loudly declared, "Indeed! Do you all still remember the late Emperor's personal attendant, Gao Jun? That man was Liang Shao's accomplice. After committing such a heinous crime, knowing he couldn't survive, he swallowed gold to commit suicide. This old man was the one who cleaned up the aftermath. I still have the letter he left behind at that time. I once showed him kindness, and he warned me then that if Liang Shao were to lay hands on me in the future, this would be the evidence!"
As Wang Sui spoke, he took out a piece of silk from his怀.
He handed the silk to the old minister and said, "Grand Tutor Zhou, you are a veteran of three dynasties, and both the late Emperor and the current Emperor were your students. Your character is trusted by us all. Please, venerable one, take a look at this."
Grand Tutor Zhou took the silk, slowly unfurled it, and examined it carefully.
Afterward, his gaze sharpened as he looked at Liang Shao.
"Fourth Prince, with both human testimony and material evidence present, what more do you have to say?!"
Liang Shao scoffed contemptuously, "A traitor, what kind of witness is he? And that 'material evidence' means nothing, anyone can write such a thing!"
Fu Yecheng sneered, "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin!"
He then turned to face the main hall and loudly declared, "Summon His Majesty, the Emperor!"
"The Emperor?"
"The Emperor has returned?"
"Heaven be praised! General Fu must have brought the Emperor back!"
Liang Shao, from above, stared intently at the outside of the hall, his expression finally changing.
Everyone watched the figure slowly entering from outside the hall and immediately knelt respectfully.
"Greetings to His Majesty, Long Live the Emperor, a myriad of years, a myriad of myriad years!"
Liang Chengnian, clad in dragon robes, slowly entered.
Fu Yecheng and Wang Sui, one on his left and one on his right, escorted him step by step up the high platform, where he met Liang Shao's gaze.
Although Liang Chengnian was not as tall as Liang Shao, his aura was in no way inferior.
Liang Shao was secretly startled. This nephew seemed to have grown up.
Fu Yecheng, worried that Liang Shao might act, shielded Liang Chengnian behind him, glaring coldly at Liang Shao.
"Liang Shao, the true dragon has returned to his position. Why aren't you getting down?"
Liang Shao's face turned dark as he descended the steps, one by one.
Liang Chengnian sat on the Dragon Throne, then spoke in a deep voice, "You may all rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Liang Shao, do you admit your guilt?" Liang Chengnian's voice was icy.
"Hahaha, what crime have I committed? What right do you have to sit on that throne? If not for me, Liang Shao, these past few years, wouldn't Southern Jiang be a land open to anyone's bullying? The throne should rightfully belong to the capable. Your imperial father was weak and incompetent. Moreover, this throne was always meant to be mine! I am merely reclaiming what is mine. What wrong have I done?!" Liang Shao laughed maniacally, showing no remorse whatsoever.
Liang Chengnian calmly said, "Liang Shao and his son's crimes are heinous. Take Liang Shao out and behead him on the spot as a public warning!"
Liang Shao sneered, "My good nephew, do you think it's that easy to take my life? You are still as naive!"
At this moment, the ministers in the hall suddenly collapsed, groaning in agony. Even Liang Chengnian, Wang Sui, and Fu Yecheng felt the strength slowly draining from their bodies.
Fu Yecheng shouted coldly, "Traitor, what have you done?"
"Hahaha, don't you know? Besides being clever, this Prince is also a master of poisons?" Liang Shao laughed loudly.
Just then, a small-statured guard emerged from behind the crowd and walked towards the high platform.
Liang Chengnian's eyes lit up, and he called out, "Sister!"
This person was Su Li in disguise.
Because this was the internal affair of another nation, she and Jun Mo had originally not intended to reveal themselves, but now they had no choice but to come out.
At the same time, a tall guard leaped out and entangled Liang Shao in combat. This person was Jun Mo.
Su Li examined Liang Chengnian, then took out a small porcelain bottle from her waist and held it for him to inhale, asking, "Feeling any better?"
Liang Chengnian nodded and said, "The strength isn't draining anymore, but I still can't exert myself."
Su Li said, "It's fine, that's normal. Just take this antidote pill, and you'll be well."
Liang Chengnian swallowed the antidote pill without hesitation. After a moment, he felt his strength gradually returning.
"Sister, I'm really better!"
Su Li smiled and patted his head, then handed the porcelain bottle to Wang Sui and Fu Yecheng, giving each of them an antidote pill.
The three quickly recovered.
Su Li said to Fu Yecheng, "Take this porcelain bottle and let them inhale from it, but there are no more antidote pills. However, as long as they retain some strength, they'll be fine after half a month of recovery."
"Good!" Fu Yecheng gratefully took the porcelain bottle and walked towards the lower part of the hall.
"Wait, some people don't need the antidote!" Liang Chengnian said coldly.
Fu Yecheng nodded and said, "Don't worry."
He had already obtained the list of officials aligned with Liang Shao. These people, he would let them perish from sheer exhaustion!
Although Liang Shao's martial arts were formidable, he was still defeated.
Jun Mo struck him on the chest with a palm, making him spit out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing that the few people above were completely unharmed, Liang Shao's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Who exactly are you people? How could anyone possibly undo my poison!?"
If such people had existed earlier, the late Emperor would never have died!
He had planned that if the situation became uncontrollable, he would use poison to control Fu Yecheng and the others.
He never expected that someone could actually undo his poison!
At first, when he heard someone could neutralize Southern Jiang's sleeping drug, he thought it was a coincidence, as that drug had been diluted by river water and boiled at high temperatures, its potency certainly greatly reduced, so he hadn't given it much thought.
Now, witnessing his painstakingly developed poison being countered in mere moments, the shock was immense.
This was his last resort!
No one answered him. After Jun Mo subdued him, guards came forward and bound him.
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