Chapter 47

It happened too fast! Everything happened too fast!

Two figures darted towards the dragon carriage like two black lightning bolts! The vast majority of people didn't even have time to react!

Of course, not everyone was caught off guard.

Prince Song Xinghai was standing right next to the dragon carriage. He had anticipated this... actually, it wasn't he who anticipated it, but his son Song Li, who had long predicted that Prince Kang and his ilk would not give up easily. Therefore, he had instructed his father to remain vigilant, especially to protect the brocade box from being snatched, and to ensure the safety of the evidence.

So when the Golden Feather Knights emerged from the Huang residence with the brocade box, Song Xinghai didn't do anything else; all his attention was on Prince Kang. Any slight movement from Prince Kang would not escape his eyes. When Song Xingyun made a gesture, Song Xinghai saw it clearly. Although he didn't understand what the gesture meant, he knew his son was right, and Prince Kang was definitely going to make a move. So he prepared in advance, crouching and readying himself. When the two black-robed guards leaped up, Song Xinghai also sprang into the air at the right moment!

"Someone is attempting to assassinate the Holy Emperor! Golden Feather Knights, protect the Emperor!" Song Xinghai shouted loudly while in the air.

This was also what Song Li had instructed him. The primary target of the other party would definitely be the evidence in the brocade box. They wouldn't dare to assassinate the Holy Emperor in broad daylight. But no matter what, Song Xinghai had to shout this. In fact, the Golden Feather Knight holding the brocade box was already very close to the dragon carriage, and the two black-robed guards were heading straight for it. In this critical moment, who could tell whether they were trying to snatch the evidence or assassinate the Holy Emperor?

Song Li had told his father that if someone really tried to snatch the brocade box, he should shout this. On one hand, it would escalate the situation, putting Prince Kang and his ilk in greater trouble. On the other hand, and most importantly, by shouting this, Song Xinghai would show his loyalty to the Holy Emperor. As the saying goes, it's better to be clever than to work hard. You could work yourself to death, but if your leader doesn't see it, it's all for nothing. If you can make a strong impression in front of your leader, the effect would be very different.

The sudden attack by the two black-robed guards caught even the most elite Golden Feather Knights off guard, but Song Xinghai reacted. What did this mean? It meant that Prince Song Xinghai had been fully focused on protecting the Holy Emperor's safety! Such a performance would surely win the Holy Emperor's favor.

Alerted by Song Xinghai, the Golden Feather Knights around the dragon carriage immediately regained their senses. The captain of the guards roared, "Protect the Emperor!" Then the Golden Feather Knights surrounding the dragon carriage formed an impenetrable barrier, their swords gleaming, ready for battle. Not even a fly could get through!

In the blink of an eye, Song Xinghai met the two black-robed guards in mid-air. He drew his sword, and the sword light, like a bolt of silk, clashed with the long swords in the guards' hands!

The two guards were at the peak of the fifth level of the Qi Induction stage, considered top-notch among Prince Kang's guards! Unfortunately, Song Xinghai's cultivation had already reached the peak of the Qi Induction stage! Unlike the other princes who were obsessed with power and had no time for cultivation, Song Xinghai had ample time to practice. With the time and the elixirs provided by his wife Yun Lin, even though Song Xinghai was not a genius in cultivation, his cultivation was far superior to that of his peers!

A peak fifth-level Qi Induction stage against a peak Qi Induction stage, a difference of five levels, made it too easy for Song Xinghai, even if the two guards worked together!

The two black-robed guards couldn't even see Song Xinghai's moves. All they saw was blinding sword light, followed by a sudden chill in their wrists and ankles. Their strength drained away, and with two dull thuds, they fell to the ground like dead dogs, blood flowing from their wrists and ankles, instantly staining the ground red!

Only now did the two black-robed guards feel the intense pain in their limbs. They knew their tendons had been severed! They knew the great calamity had come. As loyal retainers, they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves to protect their master! With their limbs paralyzed, they could still move their mouths. They opened their mouths to bite the hidden poison teeth and commit suicide! But Song Xinghai had already anticipated this. When the two guards opened their mouths, he promptly stuffed two stones into their mouths. Now, they couldn't even bite the poison teeth, let alone close their mouths! The two black-robed guards lay on the ground, convulsing, making "huh" sounds, their eyes bulging with the desire to live but unable to die!

"Filthy scoundrels, daring to assassinate the Holy Emperor, you must be tired of living!" With a roar, Prince Jing, Song Xingguang, leaped from his warhorse, his long sword swinging, rushing towards the two black-robed guards!

After subduing the two black-robed guards, Song Xinghai was walking back to report to the Holy Emperor. He never expected Prince Jing to be so brazen, daring to kill two important witnesses in front of the Holy Emperor. By the time he noticed Prince Jing's sudden attack and tried to stop him, it was too late!

"Prince Jing, leave them alive!" Before Song Xinghai could finish his sentence, he saw Prince Jing, Song Xingguang, already at the two black-robed guards, his long sword slicing off their heads with a single swing!

With two "pu" sounds, blood spurted out like a fountain, splashing Song Xingguang's face and head. The fierce prince didn't even blink, and he even licked the blood from his lips.

"Damn!" Song Xinghai stomped his foot, regretting deeply.

Song Li had already calculated every step and repeatedly instructed him that if someone really tried to snatch the evidence, he must ensure the witnesses' safety. As long as they were alive, even if they didn't speak, it would be a deterrent to the mastermind, possibly causing them to panic.

He had anticipated that the witnesses would try to commit suicide after their tendons were severed, so he had promptly stuffed stones into their mouths. But he never expected Prince Jing to have the audacity to kill in front of the Holy Emperor. The Holy Emperor hadn't even questioned them, and he dared to kill the witnesses? Wasn't this clearly showing disrespect to the Holy Emperor? But Prince Jing was too fierce and had long shown no respect for the Holy Emperor.

It seemed that Prince Song Xinghai, having been idle for too long, lacked experience in such matters. In front of the cunning foxes like Prince Kang and Prince Jing, he had miscalculated.

However, what comforted Prince Song Xinghai was that his son Song Li was truly remarkable! The events unfolding before him were all within Song Li's predictions. He had even anticipated that Prince Kang would send people to snatch the evidence and even kill to cover up. He had instructed his father to be cautious! Song Xinghai had misjudged the situation, underestimating Prince Jing's ferocity, leading to the death of the witnesses. If he had followed his son's advice and protected the witnesses, Prince Jing would have had no chance.

He suddenly realized that his political wisdom was inferior to his son's. He didn't know whether to feel happy or sad.

What Prince Song Xinghai didn't know was that Song Li's soul came from another time and space. The 21st-century Earth was an era of information explosion. Although Song Li himself had no experience in such matters, he had seen enough. In that time and space, whether in novels, movies, TV shows, or games, stories about such matters were abundant. Especially in recent years, palace intrigue dramas were popular, and the lords would do anything for power, including framing, counter-framing, false accusations, and killing to cover up. Although the environment was different in this time and space, human nature remained the same. The methods of such matters were the same, and Song Li's knowledge in this area far exceeded anyone in this time and space. With an additional lifetime of experience, he naturally had an advantage.

This was why he could predict the various reactions of Prince Kang and his group.

Song Xinghai angrily said, "Prince Jing, what do you mean? These scoundrels might just be pawns. We need to find the mastermind behind them. By killing the witnesses, you've let the mastermind off the hook. You've inadvertently helped them!"

Prince Jing, Song Xingguang, glared and snorted disdainfully. Song Xinghai had been weak for too long, and despite showing some sharpness, he still didn't get enough attention from Prince Jing. He completely ignored Song Xinghai and strode to the dragon carriage, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, these scoundrels attempted to assassinate the Holy Emperor, a heinous crime. I have executed them on the spot to set an example. Let's see who dares to challenge the Holy Emperor and think we are easy to bully!"

Although Prince Jing didn't have as many schemes as Prince Kang, he wasn't stupid. He was not only not stupid but also very cunning. His words had two layers of meaning. First, as the commander of the ten-thousand-strong city defense army, responsible for the capital's safety, the Holy Emperor's safety was the top priority. By killing the assassins, he was protecting the Holy Emperor, and others couldn't say anything even if they had doubts. The second layer of meaning was in the last sentence, "Think we are easy to bully?" This could be interpreted as him killing in a fit of rage to protect his brother. What could you say to that?

Hearing Prince Jing's words, the Holy Emperor, Song Xingtian, sighed. It seemed he had underestimated Prince Jing's depth. This seemingly rough and tough man had deep and cunning thoughts, and his rough exterior often concealed his true intentions. It seemed his enemies were all not simple. The Holy Emperor was naturally furious at Prince Jing's brazen act of killing to cover up. He wanted to order the Golden Feather Knights to arrest Prince Jing and execute him.

But he knew this was only a thought. He had just ascended the throne, and his power was not yet solid. Prince Jing commanded the ten-thousand-strong city defense army. If he arrested him, it could cause significant chaos. So he could only endure for now, waiting for the right opportunity to strip him of his military power, and then he could act without any obstacles.

Song Xingtian suppressed his anger, maintaining a calm exterior, and said coolly, "Prince Jing was concerned for My safety. Although his actions were rash, they were understandable. I will not hold you accountable."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Prince Jing bowed, but everyone could see that his bow was perfunctory.

"However," Song Xingtian suddenly turned to Song Xingyun and said coldly, "Prince Kang, from My observation, these two assassins came from your guard. Do you have anything to explain to Me?"