Chapter 862: Great Talent of the Emperor

Jiang Qun turned his head stiffly, his gaze locking onto Xu Xin.

"Lord Xu, what is the story with this Xia Tian?"

You certainly didn't mention anyone named Xia Tian to me before.

Xu Xin's primary focus had been on Lu Yang; in his eyes, Xia Tian was nothing more than an insignificant, petty character, hardly worth a mention, which was why he hadn't gone into detail previously. However, since the Emperor asked, he naturally had to explain thoroughly.

"Your Majesty, assisting Lu Yang in his rebellion is another accomplice named Xia Tian. According to Lu Yang's confession, this cultivator named Xia Tian possesses a sharp, agile mind and is highly proficient in government affairs. After the establishment of the Great Soybean Dynasty, Lu Yang promised to elevate Xia Tian to the position of Prime Minister, and only then did Xia Tian agree to join their ranks."

Jiang Qun pressed a hand to his forehead, attempting to untangle his thoughts. After listening to Xu Xin's words, his mind was an absolute chaotic mess, and he stared blankly for a long while before he could even begin to sort out the logical relationships.

In other words, his imperial father had joined a new dynasty, become its prime minister, and was therefore plotting to overthrow the Great Xia?

No, Imperial Father, you surely didn't need to push yourself to such extreme lengths just to let me become the Emperor, did you?

As the Prince Regent running the state, I have only just finished dealing with my two younger brothers, and now I am using my authority to handle the current Emperor—on charges of treason, no less. Even if this is written down in the history books, future generations will surely dismiss it as nothing but wild fiction.

Below him, the Xia Emperor, who was locked in a mutual gaze with his eldest son, also felt a wave of awkwardness. He had never expected that after a casual stroll outside, he would end up right back here, and under such circumstances.

Yesterday, when he was being detained by the Ministry of Justice, he had contacted the Tribulation Transcendence stage guards who secretly protected him, ordering them to rescue him from the cells, only to be flatly refused.

Their reason was that their sole duty was to protect the Emperor's safety; as long as the Emperor faced no mortal danger, they could not intervene. One could certainly call them thoroughly devoted and impeccably responsible.

The Xia Emperor felt these people were simply waiting to see him become a laughingstock.

If he were to expose his identity under the watchful eyes of the public and declare that he was the Xia Emperor, who had simply moved the throne to get some exercise because he had nothing better to do, he would lose all face.

The Xia Emperor wondered if that boy Jiang Qun had deceived him back then. How was it that when the boy went out on incognito tours, revealing his identity was an incredibly satisfying affair, whereas he, the sublime ruler of the nation, found himself restricted at every turn upon revealing his identity on his own territory?

Furthermore, he remembered Yun Zhi saying that this boy Lu Yang frequently ran into incidents, which didn't match what Yun Zhi had described at all.

Jiang Qun also realized that his imperial father's identity could not be exposed in public. He waved his sleeve, dismissing the onlookers. "Enough. All of you may withdraw. We shall personally interrogate these two criminals."

"Ah?" Xu Xin and the others found themselves in a difficult position. How could an emperor interrogate prisoners entirely alone? If something were to happen, what would they do?

"Your Majesty, this..."

"Withdraw!" Jiang Qun's tone sharpened with severity. Xu Xin and the others dared not disobey the Emperor's will and could only take their leave.

With the others dismissed, only Jiang Qun, Lu Yang, and the Xia Emperor remained within the vast Daming Palace. They were all on the same side now, so there was no longer any need to put on airs.

Dropping his imperial majesty, Jiang Qun revealed his original demeanor. He walked down from the throne with a sigh of helplessness, stepped before the Xia Emperor, and asked, "Father, why on earth did you steal the throne for no good reason? You even dragged Lu Yang along to steal it with you. How do you suggest we handle this matter?"

The Xia Emperor blew at his mustache and glared. Deciding to drop the act entirely, he reverted to his elderly appearance. "Bullshit! What do you mean Lu Yang accompanied me to steal it? It was clearly that brat Lu Yang who led me to steal it!"

Within the mental space, Lu Yang's pupils contracted sharply upon seeing the Xia Emperor's true form. So Xia Tian was actually the Xia Emperor all along, and the previous Xia Emperor had been the First Prince in disguise!

The Xia Emperor argued with righteous confidence, "Besides, what do you mean by 'stealing' the throne? The imperial throne is an artifact of our ancestors, and I inherently hold the duty of its safekeeping. What law have I broken by moving the throne from one place to another?"

Jiang Qun was left speechless; it truly seemed to be the case. Even if one argued until the heavens collapsed