Chapter 11

Song Xinghai and Yun Lin quickly exchanged a glance. He was very curious about what had happened, but from the information Yun Lin conveyed, she wasn't very clear either. So both of their gazes focused on their son.

This matter was too bizarre, and at this moment, Song Xinghai finally understood why Cheng Guangde and Levi were so agitated!

"Countess Yun Lin, I pay my respects to the Holy Emperor, may the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand and ten thousand years more!"

"Son of the Count, Song Li, I pay my respects to Uncle Holy Emperor, may Uncle Holy Emperor enjoy eternal blessings, live as long as the heavens, and rule the land for a thousand years, unifying the world!" In his previous life, when Song Li read "The Deer and the Cauldron," whether it was the Dragon King or Emperor Kangxi, as long as Wei Xiaobao flattered them, they would be "overjoyed." So he gave Song Xingtian a highly skilled flattery as he knelt down.

Song Li's casual flattery actually hit the spot for Song Xingtian. The Holy Emperor's two greatest wishes in his life were to cultivate into an immortal and live as long as the heavens, and to unify the Star Cloud Continent under the Holy Lion Empire. Although the child's words were a bit exaggerated, they hit the mark. His heart bloomed with joy, and his gaze softened as he looked at Song Li, who had a clear and handsome face. He couldn't help but like him.

He was secretly pleased; indeed, someone with the Song family's bloodline was different.

"Rise, rise, no need for excessive formalities." Song Xingtian was happy, and he smiled, gesturing for them to stand.

Song Li quickly got up and helped his mother to her feet.

"Your Majesty, the Count has been saying that his son, Song Li, was beaten to the point of disability and his life was in danger, which is why he caused a disturbance at our residences. But Song Li is unharmed, and the facts speak louder than words. The Count, Song Xinghai, is clearly lying. Since Song Li is not injured, the Count's forced entry into the residences of ministers is a blatant violation of imperial law and a disregard for the Emperor's authority. Such outrageous and insane actions should be severely punished!" Seeing Song Li alive and well in the imperial hall, while his own son lay on a stretcher with his life in danger, Cheng Guangde was the first to speak up, not letting up even when he had the upper hand.

Song Xinghai, who had been confident, now felt extremely awkward. His actions in the capital were based on the belief that his son had been beaten to the point of disability. Now that his son was alive and well, his previous actions were clearly a farce.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say." At this moment, the silent Seventh Prince, Song Xingguang, stepped forward. Cheng Guangde was his top confidant, and if he didn't step forward now, it would make those who followed him feel disheartened. After all, no matter how bad Song Xinghai was, he was still a brother of the same lineage as the Holy Emperor. To bring down a Count, he, the Prince, had to take the lead. These ministers alone would find it difficult to do so.

Moreover, the Holy Emperor seemed to have a good impression of this usually timid and obscure Sixth Prince. At this moment, he had to step in.

Song Xingtian, who held a powerful army, still gave the Seventh Prince enough face. He smiled and said, "Since Prince Jing has something to say, I will allow it."

Song Xingguang said calmly, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Count's actions are extremely malicious. For the sake of the Holy Lion Empire's thousand-year foundation, Your Majesty must handle this fairly and not show any leniency. The Holy Ancestor once said that the royal family must uphold the law. If the royal family does not follow the law, the law loses its meaning. To prevent the people from feeling disheartened and to uphold the law and warn future generations, I ask Your Majesty to make a fair judgment."

Song Xingguang had never taken his sixth brother, who shared the same lineage, seriously. For him, the Song Xinghai family could be wiped out at any time. To win the hearts of the people, sacrificing his sixth brother was no burden to him.

Among the Holy Emperor's brothers, the Loyal Prince, Song Xingchen, had followers throughout the court and the country, with immense power and influence. He was known for his benevolent appearance and his reputation for being generous and helpful, earning him the title "Loyal Prince who always helps." His virtuous name spread throughout the land, and his reputation was on par with the Holy Emperor, making him the undisputed first prince.

The Seventh Prince, known as Prince Jing, was the bravest in the world. He had once served as a Grand General and achieved great military feats, with a fearsome reputation. He was also close to the Loyal Prince and commanded the ten thousand troops of the capital's defense force, making even the Holy Emperor wary of him.

The ministers, led by the Nine Gates Inspector, felt much more confident with Prince Jing's support. Although Song Xinghai was a Count, his influence compared to the Seventh Prince was clearly much lighter. Even a three-year-old in the capital could tell the difference.

Song Xingtian pondered for a moment and said solemnly, "If we are to handle this fairly, we must get to the bottom of it. I cannot wrong a good person, nor will I let a bad person go unpunished."

Song Xinghai's previous bold actions had changed the Holy Emperor's perception of him, making him realize that the Sixth Prince was not truly incompetent but rather had a peaceful nature and did not like to compete. In simpler terms, he had the ability but was timid and unwilling to engage in conflict.

His lack of interest in power and benefits made people think he was incompetent. In reality, he just needed the right stimulus. This bold move in the capital, unprecedented in the history of the Holy Lion Empire, was a shocking display of power. Once a mild-mannered person shows their strength, the impact is tremendous. The fact that even Prince Jing had to step in made the Holy Emperor think differently. At this moment, if the Sixth Prince could step forward, it might not be a bad thing.

The Loyal Prince, Song Xingchen, had followers throughout the court and the country, and his reputation among the people was growing. Ministers like the Seventh Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Nine Gates Inspector were all close to him, gradually giving him a dominant position. Sitting on the throne, the Holy Emperor felt a chilling threat every day. He felt that his imperial seat was no longer as stable as before.

For an emperor, balance was crucial. If any force in the court showed signs of breaking free from control and disrupting the balance, it was extremely dangerous. Therefore, Song Xingtian had been looking for a suitable candidate. This person had to be of high status and independent, capable of standing up to the princes. They also had to be strong and fearless, or they would be defeated or bought off by the opposition.

However, most of the powerful ministers in the court had ties to the Loyal Prince. Even the few neutral or opposing old ministers were either too old or too weak to challenge the Loyal Prince's foundation. After searching the entire court, the Holy Emperor found no suitable candidate, which had been a source of great frustration. Until today, Song Xinghai's sudden appearance made Song Xingtian see a glimmer of hope.

The Count, driven by love for his son, single-handedly attacked the residences of twelve powerful ministers, severely injuring hundreds of guards, causing chaos in the capital, and shocking the entire court and country. After this incident, no one would dare underestimate this Count. In the future, if he were given a higher title and gradually given control of important departments, a part of the ministers would naturally gather around him, forming a significant force. This would help counterbalance the Loyal Prince's dominance and maintain the balance of power in the court.

Therefore, Song Xingtian had already made up his mind to help the Sixth Prince.

"Song Li, today's events are all because of you, so your testimony is crucial. I will ask you questions, and you must answer seriously without any lies. Otherwise, even I cannot help you." Song Xingtian's words were already a hint, especially the last sentence, which implied that if Song Li cooperated, he might help him.

Although Song Li was only sixteen, he had lived two lives, making him much wiser than the average person. He clearly understood the implications of Song Xingtian's words, realizing that the Holy Emperor was inclined to support his family.

He looked calm and sincere, and said straightforwardly, "Uncle Holy Emperor, please ask your questions. Song Li will answer truthfully and completely."

Song Xingtian nodded and asked, "I ask you, did you injure Cheng Zhengxiang, the son of the Nine Gates Inspector, and Little Levi, the son of the Duke of Wei?"

"Yes, I did injure them." Song Li's voice was loud and clear, echoing through the hall.

"You little brat... how could you be so ruthless... don't hold me back, I'll fight him to the death..." Seeing Song Li admit to the assault, Cheng Guangde immediately lost control. The Duke of Wei and the Minister of Personnel barely managed to hold him back.

"Ridiculous! Cheng Guangde, this is the Golden Hall, not a place for you to act wildly!" Song Xingtian roared, wanting to intimidate these powerful ministers and support his sixth brother. This old man had come to him on his own.

"I am terrified, my crime is worthy of death! Your Majesty, please calm down!" The emperor's anger made the ministers, led by Cheng Guangde, kneel in fear.

Song Xingtian ignored them, letting them kneel, and continued, "Song Li, everything has a cause and effect. What reason led you to be so ruthless and severely injure them?"

"Uncle Holy Emperor, it happened like this..." Song Li began to recount his conflicts with the capital's young rascals, describing how they used their fathers' power to act arrogantly, bullying men and women, fighting, and engaging in all sorts of despicable behavior. Even if some of these actions were fabricated, he was determined to tarnish their reputations. What could they do about it?

After listing the crimes of Cheng Zhengxiang and his gang, Song Li changed his tone, saying that he and Pang Da found their behavior intolerable, so they formed the "Justice Alliance" to fight against these villains. In this story, he and Pang Da were like Batman and Robin, the angels of justice, protecting the peace of the capital. Cheng Zhengxiang and his gang were the scum that everyone wanted to eliminate. There had been countless conflicts between the two groups.

Yesterday was a particularly serious incident. Song Li said he was attacked by over a dozen rascals and severely injured. Fortunately, he took a miraculous pill given by his mother, or he would have died. After recovering, he challenged Cheng Zhengxiang and his gang to a duel at the Guiyan Tower to settle the score. Unexpectedly, Cheng Zhengxiang and Little Levi were so weak that a few dozen kicks and slaps left them in this state.

Cheng Guangde and Levi, lying on the ground, were so angry that their beards almost flew off. "What do you mean they were weak? If I kick you a few dozen times and slap you a few dozen times, let's see if you can handle it!"