lcionline Chapter 416 Aloof
Chapter 416 Aloof
Furthermore, there are some reckless assassins in the martial arts world. If these people were involved, Zhang Xingchen would have had a hard time getting Zhao Tianming to the imperial court without bringing some members of the Imperial Guard.
Zhang Xingchen felt that this was a safer approach, and Chen Er also felt that Zhang Xingchen had done a good job. A short while later, Ma Dazhi and Liu Chengdong pulled Zhao Tianming out of the cage. At this moment, Zhao Tianming no longer possessed that arrogant demeanor.
Zhao Tianming's head of white hair hung down his back, making his face look even older. Who would have thought that in just one night, Zhao Tianming would turn out like this? However, Chen Er felt no sadness at all; in fact, he was secretly pleased.
This is Zhao Tianming's own fault. He has committed many evils in his life, and this is the result he has brought upon himself. After seeing Chen Er, Zhao Tianming was silent for a moment before speaking meaningfully.
"Chen Er, I must say you are the most resourceful among the young people, but you have too many paths to take in the future. You'd better watch yourself."
Chen Er felt a little helpless after Zhao Tianming said that Zhao Tianming would not know why he would say such a thing to him.
These words sounded like they came from two long-lost friends, and shouldn't have been spoken by people on opposite sides. However, Chen Er knew that this was probably just Zhao Tianming's enlightenment after a night of reflection. Chen Er gave a bitter smile.
"Lord Zhao Tianming, I have offended you today. If there is a next life, I hope you can be reborn into a good family and never get involved in court affairs again, because the waters there are too deep." Chen Er was speaking from the heart.
Soon, Ma Dazhi and Liu Chengdong forced Zhao Tianming out. Zhang Xingchen brought the Imperial Guards, who stood guard behind him. Any fools in the martial arts world who tried to seize Zhao Tianming would likely only face certain death.
Soon they brought Zhao Tianming to the imperial court. The emperor was truly astonished, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. How could the emperor have known that he had such a formidable man under his command?
Zhao Tianming secretly kept a small treasury, which contained more money than the treasury of the Ming Dynasty. How could this not surprise the emperor?
"Zhao Tianming, do you have anything else to say? Do you know your crime?" To Chen Er's surprise, before the Emperor could even reply, Wei Zhongxian, standing beside the Emperor, began to reprimand Zhao Tianming.
Zhao Tianming raised his head expressionlessly, looked at Wei Zhongxian, and immediately laughed: "Of course I know my crime. This has nothing to do with Lord Zhao Beixing. I beg Your Majesty to punish only me. Even if you sentence me to death, do it quickly. I don't want things to get complicated."
Zhao Tianming's words made the emperor's brows furrow involuntarily. The emperor was a little surprised and did not understand what Zhao Tianming meant by "the longer the night goes on, the more dreams may arise".
The emperor was a suspicious person by nature; otherwise, he would never have suppressed the Embroidered Uniform Guard so much, allowing Wei Zhongxian's power to grow stronger.
The Emperor's mind began to race, and he immediately thought of a possibility: Zhao Tianming had accomplices. After all, Zhao Tianming and Zhao Beixing were brothers, and the Emperor would not believe it if Zhao Beixing wasn't involved.
So the Emperor immediately sneered: "You audacious Zhao Tianming, tell me right now, who is the mastermind behind you? Is it Zhao Beixing? If you don't tell me, I'll lock you up and make you suffer all kinds of hardships in this world. I don't believe you won't tell me." The Emperor said with great amusement.
The Emperor's words startled Chen Er, who felt a bad premonition. He wondered if the Emperor had lost his mind. Tianming's words were deliberate; Chen Er's original plan was to report the matter to the Emperor.
Then, with the emperor's order, Chen Er could have killed Zhao Tianming. But now, things have completely reversed. The emperor doesn't want to kill Zhao Tianming. Instead, he wants to keep Zhao Tianming alive and dig out the mastermind from his mouth. This makes Chen Er a little nervous.
There's no mastermind behind this; it's all Zhao Tianming's doing, embezzling and breaking the law all by himself. That's why Chen Er immediately spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I advise you not to keep Zhao Tianming alive. Besides, there might be a mastermind behind this."
Chen Er's words surprised the emperor, but before the emperor could speak, Wei Zhongxian immediately became arrogant and domineering.
"Chen Er, how dare you speak to the Emperor like that? What the Emperor does is none of your business. Remember your status and position. You are merely a first-rank official. Besides, is the accomplice Zhao Tianming is talking about you? Otherwise, why are you so nervous?"
Wei Zhongxian seized upon a small pretext to convict Chen Er. Chen Er now understood Wei Zhongxian's methods. No wonder Wei Zhongxian could act so arrogantly and swagger around in the court; his methods were truly extraordinary.
Seeing Chen Er's humiliation, Zhao Beixing and Qin Zhongting felt a cold smile in their hearts. However, Qin Zhongting didn't know what to feel. He just felt that his daughter's life had been ruined by Chen Er.
Therefore, Qin Zhongting is making a huge decision in his heart: he must persuade Qin Luoshen to leave Chen Er as soon as possible when he has the chance. Someone like Chen Er, who is a first-rank official, will soon be stripped of his official position by Wei Zhongxian.
After all, Wei Zhongxian was the most powerful person in the court. Whoever Wei Zhongxian wanted to die would die. As for the emperor? He was just a paper tiger. When the emperor heard Wei Zhongxian's words, he nodded seriously.
The Emperor looked at Chen Er with great confusion: "Chen Er, there's something I still don't understand. How did you know that Zhao Tianming's family had a secret treasury? You know, Zhao Beixing just told me that you found the secret treasury in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Shouldn't you explain this to me?"
The Emperor spoke these words with such seriousness that Chen Er immediately clenched his fists. Chen Er felt that there was a reason why the Ming Dynasty had developed to this state and why it had always been in the hands of Wei Zhongxian. To put it bluntly, the Emperor in front of him was a good-for-nothing.