Chapter 3

With this, the Hou Mansion became lively.

Not only did the emperor Dongfang Lu personally arrive, but he also brought a group of people with him. However, the number of people was not large. It included several feudal lords and a few trusted ministers, totaling about seven or eight people. The most surprising thing was that Dongfang Lu's ailing daughter, Dongfang Zhiruo, also came.

It had to be said that these nobles were all top-notch actors. From the emperor to the feudal lords, each of their expressions was as sorrowful as could be.

It was as if the person lying in the coffin, Jiang Chen, was their own child.

Jiang Feng's face was expressionless, and he mechanically returned the greetings. Since it was a competition of acting, he would just have to compete.

When it was Dongfang Zhiruo's turn to offer incense, the sickly girl whispered, "Big Brother Jiang Chen, I'm sorry. It's all because of my weakness that you've been implicated. But don't worry, if there is another world after death, I will personally apologize to you. When we get there, you can hit me, scold me, do whatever you want. My father's sacrifices to the heavens are all for my well-being, so your death is also my sin. I hope the heavens can see this and let me bear all the sins alone. Don't punish my kingdom's people, don't punish my father..."

The little girl spoke sincerely, her voice intermittent, clearly lacking energy, but she was exceptionally serious. Her words made the hearts of these acting nobles feel a bit ashamed.

Even Xuan Fatzi, who had previously hated the Dongfang royal family to the point of gnashing his teeth, couldn't hate her after hearing her words.

"Princess Zhiruo, now that the person is dead, saying these things won't help. If you feel guilty, when you get down there, you can be my brother Chen's wife. He didn't have the qualifications to be a prince consort while alive, but after death... hehe! By the way, my brother Chen likes the type with big butts. In terms of positions, he..."

Once Xuan Fatzi's foul mouth opened, it couldn't be stopped. His words made Dongfang Lu's face turn green on the spot. You damn fatso, are you cursing my daughter to die soon?

The other nobles tried hard to control their facial muscles, fearing that they would be amused by Xuan Fatzi's antics and show inappropriate smiles.

Jiang Chen, who was lying in the coffin, was originally at ease. But when he heard Xuan Fatzi's words, he couldn't lie still anymore. He sat up and scolded, "Fatso, are you trying to make me restless even in death?"

When he sat up, everyone except Jiang Feng was petrified for several seconds.

It was the fatso closest to him who first reacted, overjoyed. "Brother Chen, are you faking death or pretending to be dead?"

"Fake your sister, pretending to be dead is exhausting. Why don't you try it?"

Dongfang Lu's face turned serious when he saw Jiang Chen sit up from the coffin. The person next to him immediately shouted, "Jiang Chen, you actually faked your death! This is an act of treason! You should be executed with your entire clan!"

Such a sycophant was never lacking around any emperor.

Jiang Chen ignored him and calmly climbed out of the coffin, his gaze calm as he looked at Dongfang Lu. "Your Majesty, I was fortunate enough to survive. I just want to ask, are you planning to have me beaten to death again, or will you pardon my unintentional crime?"

Dongfang Lu, as the emperor, felt a slight tremor in his heart when Jiang Chen's gaze swept over him. It was as if the youth who had just climbed out of the coffin suddenly exuded an indescribable, intangible aura that made him wary.

"Hmph! I, the emperor of a great nation, cannot stoop to the level of a mere child. Since you were fortunate enough to survive, consider yourself lucky."

Dongfang Lu really wanted to crush Jiang Chen, but his reason told him that an emperor must have the magnanimity of a ruler. If he were to take action against Jiang Chen now, not only would Jiang Han Hou surely rebel, but his subordinates would also think he lacked the capacity of a ruler, tarnishing the dignity of the state.

"Your Majesty, this boy is cunning, using faked death to escape his punishment. His heart is despicable! I request that Your Majesty deal with him severely to uphold the law."

It was the same sycophant again.

This time, Jiang Han Hou, Jiang Feng, couldn't stand it anymore and jumped up, shouting, "Tian Shui Hou, what do you mean? The emperor has already said he won't pursue it. What are you trying to do by jumping around?"

The 108 feudal lords of the Dongfang Kingdom were not all harmonious. Tian Shui Hou and Jiang Han Hou were notorious rivals.

Tian Shui Hou smiled sinisterly. "Jiang Feng, your son has come back to life, and you don't find it strange at all. I suspect you were also involved in this act of treason. I request that Your Majesty investigate the Jiang family thoroughly. If proven true, execute them with their entire clan."

Seeing his father on the verge of exploding, Jiang Chen chuckled and glanced interestingly between Dongfang Lu and Dongfang Zhiruo.

He then said slowly, "Your Majesty, it's easy to execute the Jiang family, but saving the life of the princess might not be so easy."

Dongfang Lu's expression turned cold. "Jiang Chen, what do you mean by that?"

"Nothing much. While being beaten to death in the imperial hall, I heard a divine voice in my daze. The words were related to the princess's illness. Thinking about the princess's condition, I didn't want to die, so I struggled to survive. If Your Majesty thinks I should die, then order me to be beaten to death again!"

Jiang Chen was a smart person. He knew how to speak to pique the other party's interest. These words naturally scratched Dongfang Lu's itch.

Dongfang Lu, as the emperor, was cruel and suspicious. But as a father, he cherished his daughter, Dongfang Zhiruo, like a precious gem.

Hearing that his daughter's illness might have divine guidance, he was immediately moved. Why did he sacrifice to the heavens? Wasn't it for his daughter's illness?

When conventional medicine was powerless, he could only hope for divine intervention.

"Jiang Chen, are you serious?" Even as the emperor, Dongfang Lu couldn't help but feel anxious. After all, he had just ordered Jiang Chen to be beaten to death.

"Facing the emperor, how could I dare to lie?"

"Good! Jiang Chen, speak your mind. Whatever glory and wealth the Dongfang Kingdom can offer, I will grant you, as long as you can cure the princess's illness."

Jiang Feng was now a bit nervous. He feared that his son, after being beaten, might act out of anger and mock the emperor, causing more trouble.

"Chen, you know little about medicine. The imperial physicians are at a loss with the princess's illness. How can you speak so lightly about it?"

"Father, I indeed know little about medicine. But the princess's illness was entrusted to me by a divine being, so it must be true."

Dongfang Lu also urged, "Yes, yes. Jiang Chen, speak freely. Even if you are wrong, you will be pardoned. But if you have a good solution, all rewards are possible."

Rewards? Jiang Chen didn't care about that. He couldn't really climb the ladder. Bargaining with the emperor and boasting about his achievements, making various demands, would be courting death.

Jiang Chen now understood the importance of the situation. The lower his stance, the better his protection. Bargaining might get him some rewards, but it would also continue to offend the Dongfang royal family and make other feudal lords envious, inviting jealousy and hatred.

Thinking about this, Jiang Chen said, "I am a sinner and dare not ask for any rewards. I only request that Your Majesty pardon my previous crimes. This way, I can speak and act without fear, always worrying about being caught."

These words made the feudal lords who were friendly with Jiang Feng smile inwardly. This boy was indeed eloquent and more tactful than his father.

Pardoning his crimes was just a word from Dongfang Lu.

"Good, I will pardon all your previous crimes in front of my ministers. From this moment on, you are still the young lord of the Jiang Han Hou Mansion, with all your titles and status intact. Anyone who brings up the past will be considered an enemy of the Dongfang royal family."

Dongfang Lu's words were quite dignified, not only pardoning the crimes but also forbidding anyone from bringing up the past. This was clearly to reassure the Jiang family and prevent any future retribution.

Jiang Chen cooperatively smiled brightly and then said shockingly, "Actually, the princess doesn't have any illness."

This statement stunned everyone.

Was Jiang Chen courting death? After all that talk, he said the princess wasn't sick? If she wasn't sick, why was she like this?

Dongfang Lu almost kicked Jiang Chen in the face. But the emperor's reason told him to stay calm. Even if the boy was lying, he had to let him finish speaking.

"What are those expressions for? Are you happy that the princess is sick?"

Tian Shui Hou couldn't hold back anymore. "Jiang Chen, you are mocking the emperor and courting death!"

Jiang Chen touched his nose. "Your Majesty, I have already said that I was entrusted by a divine being to speak about the princess's illness. Now, someone is jumping around, angering the divine being, who is unhappy."

In any other situation, Dongfang Lu would have thought Jiang Chen was just pretending. But now, he couldn't afford to disbelieve. First, it concerned his precious daughter's life. Second, surviving a beating that should have killed him suggested divine intervention. He knew the executioners' skills well. How could they fail to kill someone?

Based on these two points, Dongfang Lu had to believe and ordered, "Tian Shui Hou, step back."

"Your Majesty, this boy is spreading lies and misleading the people..." Tian Shui Hou was anxious.

"Step back!" The emperor was angry.

Tian Shui Hou obediently stepped back into the crowd. He wanted to suppress the Jiang family, but he didn't dare to defy the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the divine being is very angry. The person who spoke disrespectfully must slap themselves three times to appease the divine being. However, Tian Shui Hou is a feudal lord, and it would be difficult to make him do so."

"Moreover, with Your Majesty's benevolence, how could you order a feudal lord to slap himself? This will test whether Tian Shui Hou is truly loyal and patriotic. If I were in his place, I would do it without hesitation, even if it were thirty slaps."

When Jiang Chen said this, the ministers who came with Dongfang Lu began to whisper. Some thought Jiang Chen was pretending, while others believed it might be true.

Of course, they were just watching the show, so they felt no pressure. Their gazes all focused on Tian Shui Hou, who was now isolated in the crowd.

The people around Tian Shui Hou subtly moved away, leaving him alone.

Suddenly, Tian Shui Hou felt a chill. In that moment, he sadly realized that none of his colleagues or allies dared to speak up for him, and he felt utterly isolated.