Chapter 13

When Yun Lin said this, everyone couldn't help but believe her. Song Li was a well-known waste in the capital, and everyone knew this. If it weren't for a holy-grade medicinal pill, it would be impossible to have such a heaven-defying effect, transforming a waste into an expert... Could it be that Yun Lin was telling the truth? Did this kid really consume nine supreme holy pills? Everyone's gaze focused on Song Li.

"You don't need to look at me. I took a large handful of medicinal pills. As for how many, I was unconscious at the time and didn't have the mind to count. Anyway, it was a lot. After taking them, not only did my injuries heal, but I also felt boundless strength. My realm kept exploding upwards. If my mother hadn't said that improving too much at once was bad, I might have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage... You all, these high-ranking officials of the court, live in large mansions with hundreds of servants. You look very wealthy. You wouldn't refuse to pay for a few medicinal pills, right? Quickly compensate me, and then you can deal with my father as you please!"

Song Li's gaze swept over the few ministers, and he said naively, "Who should pay for this? I think it should be the one who made the loudest noise and insisted on dealing with my father. Let them pay."

Song Xing Tian was almost bursting with laughter inside, thinking that this mother and son were really "shameless," almost on par with himself. However, he still maintained a serious expression and said, "Song Li's words are reasonable. Minister Cheng, you were the loudest just now. I think you should pay."

"Your Majesty, I was unaware of the circumstances earlier. Since my son, Xiang, injured Song Li first, and now he has been injured in return, it cancels out. As for the Prince of the County injuring my guards... it was all a misunderstanding. Once it's explained, it will be fine!" Cheng Guangde bowed solemnly several times, then got up and clasped his hands. "Your Majesty, I still have official documents at home that need to be reviewed. I must return home to handle them. Please grant me permission!"

Cheng Guangde was a cunning old fox who had already seen through the situation. He knew that if he continued to insist today, he would be the one to suffer.

Although he was a loyal prince, he didn't want to be the cannon fodder. Now that the Holy Emperor was clearly protecting Song Li, and logically, his side had at most a 50% advantage, and if considering the sequence of events, he could only claim 40%. After all, cause and effect, there must be a cause for an effect. If he didn't retreat now, he knew he would lose his position as the Commander of the Nine Gates.

"Indeed, Minister Cheng is concerned about the state affairs and is truly a loyal minister of the court. I grant you permission." Song Xing Tian smiled and waved his hand, indicating that Cheng Guangde could leave. Cheng Guangde ordered his attendants to carry his son and fled as if a rocket had been inserted into his buttocks.

"Marquis of Wei, Minister Cheng is not pursuing the matter. Will you take responsibility for the compensation?" Song Xing Tian turned to look at Duke Li Wei Si.

"This little brat, always causing trouble for me!" Duke Li Wei Si actually kicked his severely injured son, then smiled awkwardly and said, "My son injured someone first, and I was truly unaware of it. Now that I understand the circumstances, I can no longer pursue the matter. The arena is a place of fate, and this is the rule in the capital. We don't blame Song Li at all! The wall at my house hasn't been repaired yet, and I need to go back to check on it to make sure the workers aren't slacking off... Your Majesty, you don't know, these guys are no good. They don't work properly if no one is watching them..."

After bidding farewell to the Holy Emperor, Duke Li Wei Si also quickly fled.

"Your Majesty, since the Commander of the Nine Gates and the Marquis of Wei are not pursuing the matter, why don't we turn swords into plowshares and maintain harmony? After all, we are all ministers of the same court. It's not good to be too rigid. I think the Prince of the County doesn't need to be punished, and the cost of the medicinal pills doesn't need to be compensated. Both sides have suffered, so it's a draw. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Prince Zhong, Song Xing Chen, finally stepped forward, smiling. Whenever there was a verbal battle, he always remained silent, letting his subordinates do the fighting. When it came to playing the good guy, he would always step forward first.

"Prince Zhong is indeed the first virtuous prince of our dynasty. Since you say so, I agree. This matter ends here, and we will never mention it again." Song Xing Tian waved his hand and said loudly, "Dismissed."

Before the court was dismissed, Song Xing Tian winked at Song Li and then exchanged glances with Song Xing Hai and his wife, nodding in approval.

After the court was dismissed, the Holy Emperor returned to the inner palace to rest. He kept recalling the performance of the sixth family in the Golden Hall and the embarrassed and defeated looks of the powerful ministers, the helplessness of the princes, and the more he thought about it, the happier he became, with a smile always on his lips. The eunuch who had been serving him noticed the Holy Emperor's smile, which was a stark contrast to his recent frowning and worried state. His heart felt a great relief. As the saying goes, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Being with an irritable emperor is extremely dangerous. One day, he might get angry, and the heads of those around him might be lost. With the Holy Emperor "pleased," they were much safer.

What a relief, it's really a great relief! The Holy Emperor couldn't help but curse in his heart. Prince Zhong's influence was growing, and his prestige was rising. He could feel the undercurrents in the court, and even rumors were spreading in the streets that the Holy Emperor was preparing to abdicate the throne to Prince Zhong. Such rumors made the Holy Emperor feel like sitting on pins and needles.

When they were still princes, Prince Zhong was his main rival for the throne. Prince Zhong originally thought he would surely ascend to the throne, but Song Xing Tian was more steady and experienced, and at the last moment, he staged a comeback and successfully ascended to the throne. Now, he had just ascended, and the power of the princes was largely intact. The faction led by Prince Zhong was clearly not convinced of his rule, so his position on the throne was far from secure. For a long time, Prince Zhong's supporters were widespread in the court and the country. Whenever there was a major decision to be made, they always won in the debates in the court. The Holy Emperor felt that he needed to clear out these threats to his throne, even if they were his own brothers, he could not be lenient.

In the imperial court, there is no second place, the winner takes all, and the loser dies.

Today was the first time in nearly a year that Prince Zhong's faction had suffered a defeat, and they lost face completely. The Commander of the Nine Gates and the Marquis of Wei, who were always the main supporters of the Seventh Prince, had their sons severely injured and their homes ransacked by the sixth family, but in the end, they didn't get any benefit and had to flee in embarrassment. The other powerful ministers were no better, being thoroughly beaten by the sixth family. The Seventh and Ninth Princes, with Prince Zhong's support, still couldn't win against the sixth family. This made the Holy Emperor feel as if the clouds had parted and a new situation had emerged.

He had always been looking for someone who could check Prince Zhong's power. Now he had found them, and the sixth family was the perfect choice. Previously, because the sixth family seemed too weak, he hadn't paid much attention to them, so he didn't know about Yun Lin and Song Li.

This time, he finally saw the "cruelty" and "shamelessness" of this mother and son. The Holy Emperor knew that the supreme holy pills were fake. Prince Zhong's group probably didn't fully believe it either, but the brilliance of Yun Lin's plan was that even if they suspected, they couldn't prove it. If you said Song Li didn't take the supreme holy pills, could you produce a pill that could not only heal injuries but also completely transform a cultivation waste's body? You couldn't, so you had to believe her.

Why hadn't he noticed how capable the sixth brother's wife was before? Not using the daughter of a Holy Pill Master was a waste. And Song Li was also very good, quick to repay kindness and ruthless in action, with the style of the Holy Emperor in his youth. Hehe... He remembered that Song Li used to accompany the Fourth Prince in the palace, but why was he sent back later? The Holy Emperor couldn't quite remember. Now, it seemed that the decision at the time was a bit hasty. Song Li was clearly a promising talent.

The Holy Emperor was thinking about finding an appropriate reason to elevate the sixth family's status, first to a prince, then to a prince, and gradually cultivate loyalists around him to form a force that could counter Prince Zhong. This would have to wait for the right time. Now, it was definitely not possible. The Prince of the County had just caused a big disturbance in the capital and "ransacked" the homes of important ministers. Not punishing him was already an act of grace. If he were to be rewarded, it would certainly provoke a backlash from Prince Zhong's faction, which would be counterproductive. He would wait for the right time.

However, today's gains were already significant. Not only did he vent his anger, but he also found someone who could check Prince Zhong's power and obtained twelve "Mystic Ice Qi Gathering Pills." This was equivalent to adding twelve Qi Induction stage experts. Yes, he would distribute them to the leaders of the Golden Feather Knights and have them find peak Body Tempering stage candidates to advance them. No matter when, strength is the ultimate rule.