Gu Kexing's cold and emotionless voice resounded throughout the Golden Hall.
Shocked disbelief immediately filled Xiao Qi's eyes.
Had he become a pawn to be discarded?
Xiao Wang sneered and whispered in Xiao Qi's ear, "See? This is retribution!"
Xiao Qi's body went limp.
Yes, this was retribution!
Just now, he had been as cold and heartless as Gu Kexing when he abandoned his own mother.
Yet Xiao Qi still clung to the last glimmer of hope.
He shouted at Gu Kexing, "Uncle! Only I can ascend the throne now. Once I'm on the throne, you'll be the emperor's uncle!"
At present, among all the princes in the palace, only he and Xiao Wang were of the right age.
Gu Kexing sneered coldly. "Qi'er, doesn't Concubine Feng have a prince under her care?"
"But he's only one year old! How can he shoulder the responsibility of ruling a country?!"
"So what? If I support him to ascend the throne, I'll be the regent, second only to the emperor. Why would I care about the title of the emperor's uncle?"
"Gu Kexing! You're despicable!" Xiao Qi shouted hysterically. "Aren't you afraid of being despised by everyone for doing this?"
"Hahaha!" Gu Kexing laughed loudly. "Despised? Now, both inside and outside the palace are under my control. I also have the whole Beirong behind me. Who would dare to point a finger at me?"
Hearing Gu Kexing's words, the last glimmer of hope in Xiao Qi's heart was shattered.
He had been so stupid!
He had trusted Gu Kexing's words so easily that he had replaced all the imperial guards in the palace with Gu Kexing's men.
Seeing the desperate look on Xiao Qi's face, Xiao Wang sneered, "How does it feel to bargain with a tiger?"
Hearing Xiao Wang's mockery, Xiao Qi's eyes turned bloodshot. "Xiao Wang, do you think you've won? You're just like me. Now we're both fish on the chopping board, waiting to be slaughtered!
You don't know this, but two months ago, many elite soldiers of Beirong sneaked into the city. Even if I can't get out of this palace, you won't be able to leave alive either!"
"Xiao Qi, do you really think those few lackeys of Beirong can help you ascend the throne?"
After saying that, Xiao Wang curled his lips, put away the dagger in his hand, and then pushed Xiao Qi towards Gu Kexing.
He said coldly, "Go on. Stay with your uncle. Let me see what you're capable of."
Xiao Qi and Gu Kexing were both confused by Xiao Wang's sudden action.
Wasn't he just using Xiao Qi's life as a bargaining chip?
Xiao Qi tightly covered his neck, looking panicked as if he had survived a disaster.
He hid behind Gu Kexing and flattered him, "Uncle, kill him quickly! Once I ascend the throne, you'll be the regent!"
Just now, Xiao Qi had been scolding Gu Kexing, but now he was begging Gu Kexing to help him ascend the throne.
This made Xiao Wang feel ridiculous.
Gu Kexing didn't have time to ponder over Xiao Wang's expression. He shouted at the imperial guards, "The crown prince has violated the imperial order and brought a dagger into the Golden Hall. Quickly arrest him!"
However, long after Gu Kexing's voice faded away, the imperial guards who had just obeyed his every order stood still on the spot.
Xiao Wang mocked, "Are these your men? Why don't they follow your orders?"
Gu Kexing frowned tightly and continued to shout, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up!"
The imperial guards in the Golden Hall still remained motionless.
At this moment, a sense of uneasiness welled up in Gu Kexing's heart.
Xiao Wang's mocking voice rang out again. "Why don't I give it a try?"
Suddenly, Xiao Wang收起 the smile on his face and said coldly, "Arrest Gu Kexing and the second prince!"
As soon as his voice fell, all the imperial guards pointed their sharp swords at Gu Kexing and Xiao Qi.
No one had expected that the two men who had just been so arrogant would now be kneeling on the ground, escorted by the imperial guards.
The ministers who had forced the emperor to abdicate were also arrested by the imperial guards.
Xiao Wang slowly walked up to Gu Kexing and sneered, "Now you know whose men they really are."
Gu Kexing's head buzzed as if it was about to explode.
His whole body trembled involuntarily, and big drops of sweat slid down his temples.
When had his plan been discovered?
No wonder the emperor had shown no sign of fear on his face since he launched the palace coup.
It turned out that they had already made their plans!
Gu Kexing had no choice but to cast a pleading look at Chai Ronglie.
But Chai Ronglie was also stunned by this sudden change.
They had agreed to cooperate inside and outside the palace. Now that the "inside cooperation" was gone, what about the "outside cooperation"?
Thinking of this, Chai Ronglie's expression became solemn.
He said, "Since you still have things to deal with, we won't stay here to disturb you. We'll discuss the peace negotiation another day!"
It was not a good place to stay for long!
But just as Chai Ronglie led the Beirong people out of the hall, his hasty steps suddenly stopped.
He saw Ruan Jiu leading Lan Yu and the imperial guards walking towards them, blocking their way.
Ruan Jiu smiled and said, "General Huwei, the death of the third prince of Beirong hasn't been investigated yet. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Chai Ronglie took a few steps back and returned to the Golden Hall.
His face was ashen. He knew that Ruan Jiu had come with ill intentions, but he could only force a smile and say, "The third prince was assassinated and died in the post station. It must have been the work of thieves. The emperor is right. This matter shouldn't affect the peace negotiation between the two countries. I was impulsive just now."
In his tone, Chai Ronglie couldn't help but lower his stance.
After all, the situation was unclear at the moment. He just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
"General Huwei, you're wrong. Even if the third prince was killed by a thief, we should know whether the thief is an outsider or an insider."
Chai Ronglie's breath caught in his throat, and his eyebrows twitched slightly. "What do you mean by that?"
Ruan Jiu walked up to Wanyan Tuo's body and took a look at the body lying on the ground.
Suddenly, she pretended to be panicked and said, "General Huwei, look at the wound on the third prince's neck. Doesn't it look like it was caused by a Split Edge Blade?"
As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes fell on Wanyan Tuo's neck.
Everyone knew that the Split Edge Blade was Chai Ronglie's weapon, and it was unique in the world.
The Split Edge Blade was inlaid with dense barbs. If someone was injured by it, their skin would be torn.
And the wound on Wanyan Tuo's neck was exactly torn and bloody.
Ruan Jiu then continued, "General Huwei, did you kill the third prince of Beirong?"
"You're talking nonsense!" Chai Ronglie shouted in panic. "How could I kill the third prince!"
Ruan Jiu touched her chin. "Framing someone. Isn't it obvious?"
After saying that, Ruan Jiu pointed at the wound on Wanyan Tuo's neck.
Chai Ronglie's whole body tensed up, and his lips trembled involuntarily, revealing his inner panic.
"No! I didn't!" Chai Ronglie shook his head repeatedly. "Maybe someone stole my Split Edge Blade when I wasn't paying attention and then killed the third prince to frame me!"
After hearing this, Ruan Jiu nodded.
"General Huwei makes a good point. Just based on the wound, we really can't prove that the third prince was killed by you."
Chai Ronglie secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Wanyan Tuo was not valued by the king of Beirong, he was still the third prince of Beirong after all.
If the news that he had killed Wanyan Tuo spread back to Beirong, he would surely be punished by the king of Beirong!
"But..."
Hearing that Ruan Jiu hadn't finished speaking, the heart that Chai Ronglie had just let go hung up again.
He stared intently at Ruan Jiu, waiting for her to finish speaking.
"What if I have a witness?"