Bai Yizhang was momentarily confused about what was going on. So many things had happened today. The eunuch who delivered the message had only hastily told him that Bai Di had been thrown into the dungeon and that the General's Mansion would be searched. There hadn't been time to tell him the rest.
Therefore, he only saw Qin Mu look at him fearfully. Before the ominous premonition welled up in his heart, Qin Mu spoke, "The second-in-command of the mountain bandit stronghold admitted that he made an agreement with the second young lady of the General's Mansion two months ago. She instigated him to persuade the leader to ambush the third young lady on the mountain path..."
Hearing this, Bai Zheng immediately staggered and took two steps back.
However, these words didn't surprise Feng Linche at all.
After all, the Bai family was capable of betraying him and the Great Zhou. Bullying a sister was nothing in comparison.
Feng Linche clenched his fists. If it weren't for the current situation of the Great Zhou, he would have wanted to execute Bai Yizhang and his daughter Bai Di on the spot!
On the other side, Bai Yizhang finally understood Qin Mu's purpose for coming. He didn't have time to worry about Bai Di now. In fact, Bai Di had always been a discarded piece to him.
He bit his lower lip so hard that blood almost oozed out. His throat trembled as he said, "Your Majesty! I never expected that my unworthy daughter would collude with bandits to harm her sister... It's all my fault for poor upbringing... I beg Your Majesty to throw her into the dungeon!"
Looking at Bai Yizhang's heart - broken face, a sarcastic glint flashed in Feng Linyuan's deep eyes. He interrupted, "General, have you ever heard the saying 'like father, like daughter'? If you hadn't embezzled silver and framed all the officials in Yongding, not even sparing your own younger brother, how could the second young lady have learned to harm her own sister?"
The usually gentle Fifth Prince, Feng Jingyi, rarely let out a cold snort. At this moment, he no longer had the admiration and respect he once had for Bai Yizhang. "The family style of the General's Mansion is truly eye - opening! Not to mention other families, even my second and third brothers and I would never do such cruel things as brother - killing like General Bai and his second daughter!"
The Crown Prince, Feng Jingye, nodded slightly and said meaningfully, "The fifth brother is right. We brothers must never learn from the General's Mansion. Especially the third brother. After you marry Princess Yunxi of Xiliang, you will be the pillar of the Great Zhou. You must remember this."
Hearing this, Feng Jingxuan frowned deeply.
Who said he was going to marry Princess Yunxi! Who wanted to be the pillar of the Great Zhou!
He wanted to be the emperor of the Great Zhou!
But these words were like a ray of light to Feng Linche, illuminating his tangled heart.
Right! The reason Bai Yizhang dared to be so bold in front of him was that the Great Zhou had just repelled the enemy from Nanshu. There was no telling when Nanshu would attack again, and Xiliang had always been coveting the territory.
In the past, Xiliang was resisted by the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the Gaochang Marquis Mansion, while the Bai family's troops were deployed on the Nanshu border.
But now, neither the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion nor the Gaochang Marquis Mansion would serve him anymore. The only general in the court who could truly lead troops into battle was from the Bai family.
That's why he had always been afraid to move against Bai Yizhang.
But now, he didn't have to worry about these things anymore!
As long as Feng Jingxuan married Princess Yunxi, with the Xiliang Emperor's love for Princess Yunxi, it would at least ensure the safety of the western border of the Great Zhou for ten years.
If Xiliang didn't send troops and formed a solid alliance with the Great Zhou, Nanshu would also calm down.
This meant that as long as he sacrificed Feng Jingxuan and let him marry Princess Yunxi, all his problems would be solved!
Thinking of this, a terrifying light suddenly burst out in Feng Linche's eyes.
"Bai Yizhang, you're really something!" Feng Linche suddenly roared. His eyes glared at Bai Yizhang like a man - eater. His voice was hoarse from too much anger.
Bai Yizhang was startled. "Your Majesty?"
He saw Feng Linche's eyes getting colder and colder, completely devoid of the usual gentleness and tolerance.
Bai Yizhang's heart trembled violently.
He saw Feng Linche slowly spit out each word, "Your good daughter has harmed her sister, lost her virtue, and even attempted to assassinate a princess of a foreign country, almost bringing an irreparable disaster to the Great Zhou! And you yourself are arrogant, boastful, disloyal to the country, and have embezzled a huge amount of silver. What crime do you deserve!"
"Your Majesty! I'm innocent, Your Majesty!" Bai Yizhang shouted desperately.
Madam Zhao was instantly terrified. She quickly knelt beside Bai Yizhang and kowtowed with him, pleading, "Your Majesty, the General's Mansion has always been loyal to the Great Zhou. This is a frame - up by someone with ill intentions!"
"Frame - up? Now that there are both witnesses and physical evidence, which one of these did I wrongfully accuse you of? It's you who are all telling lies with your eyes open, trying to deceive me. What's your intention!"
Feng Linche roared angrily. He stretched out his hand and pointed directly at Bai Yizhang. "You're right. You didn't teach your daughter well, and you didn't do your own job well. You really need to be taught a lesson. Didn't you ask for fifty cane strokes yourself? Fine, I'll grant your request! Guards, beat him hard!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Yizhang was completely stunned.
He could hardly believe his ears.
He stared blankly at Feng Linche in front of him. For a moment, he couldn't even say a word to plead.
At this moment, Feng Linche fully showed the ruthlessness and coldness of an emperor, which was completely different from the kind and tolerant emperor image he had shown in the past.
Even the queen, who had shared the same bed with him for many years, was secretly shocked. It was the first time she had seen Feng Linche get so angry at Bai Yizhang. The two were of similar age and had always had a close relationship. Moreover, Bai Yizhang held an important position. Feng Linche had always tolerated him as much as possible, but now he turned against him...
Feng Linyuan watched coldly from the side, with a sneer on his lips.
Cold - blooded, ruthless... This was the real Feng Linche!
This time, it was the Great General who was to be punished. None of the eunuchs dared to step forward without permission. It was the Right Thousand - Bull Guard beside the emperor who stepped forward and dragged Bai Yizhang away directly.
Bai Zheng saw the leading guard among the Thousand - Bull Guards and exchanged a smile with Feng Linyuan.
Wasn't that Wang Lin, the one she had arranged before?
With him there, after these fifty cane strokes, Bai Yizhang might very well spend the rest of his life in bed.
Only then did Madam Zhao react. She rushed forward desperately, holding onto Bai Yizhang who was being dragged away, and shouted hoarsely, "Your Majesty! You've known the General for so many years. You know him. How could he do anything to betray the Great Zhou and you? This is all a false accusation!"