282 Seize Him! (1/2)

The emperor was in better shape after Yun Yang’s care and ministrations; otherwise, such a contrast of joy and grief, such turbulence of emotions, would be enough to trigger the worst attack of what was in his body and cause death instantly!

In spite of this, His Majesty was not exempted from staggering and having the color drain from his face!

This… was it…

The younger ones among the Nine Supremes were not much older. Those who could have a family would be the few ranked in front.

Was she my son’s… family?

The emperor's thoughts instinctively headed in that direction.

In the air, the wind rustled with a voice that was terribly resentful.

”Someone must pay the price for this! Jiang Zhong shall be the first among those! Jiang Zhong, a remnant of the Four Seasons Tower’s vices!”

Once the words were uttered, the emperor was shaken to the core once more. He raised his head abruptly, iciness frosted his eyes that were staring at Jiang Zhong.

”Your Majesty… Don’t believe him… This old servant is wrongly accused…” Jiang Zhong cried out anxiously.

The emperor spoke softly, ”Jiang Zhong, if you give up defending yourself at once and allow yourself to be arrested without a fight, I promise you justice! How about that?”

It seemed that there was a turning point with the emperor’s words but truthfully, it was akin to another impasse being added onto Jiang Zhong.

How dare Jiang Zhong give up defending himself now?

Others might not know Yun Yang’s thoughts but how could he not know? If he lowered his defenses, he would be doomed.

”Your Majesty!” Jiang Zhong was holding onto his life with all his might as he sounded absolutely aggrieved, ”This old servant has been wrongly accused!”

The emperor remained stoic in his expression but an icy glint flashed across his eyes. ”If you’re truly wronged, I guarantee your safety as long as you stop putting up a fight. Supreme Wind won’t kill the innocent recklessly.”

”Justice prevails; there’s no arguing over black and white. Everything will be cleared once it has been explained well. Why put up such a fight?”

His Majesty said unhurriedly, ”I’ve spoken and have given you a chance. If you’re innocent, no one can harm you. You’re still my Minister of Imperial Household! On the other hand, if you’re guilty as charged, no one shall safeguard you!”

He lifted his head to watch the whizzing silhouette of wind in the air. ”Supreme Wind, can my guarantee be considered?”

Supreme Wind’s voice could be heard amidst the hurling wind, ”Your Majesty is the leader of a nation. Your Majesty’s promise is naturally words of faith, a promise that weighs heftily indeed!”

The emperor felt his heart sink deeper. Supreme Wind’s words showed complete trust towards him.

If so, did that not mean that Jiang Zhong was truly controversial – that there was no doubt he was a Four Seasons Tower’s spy?

Jiang Zhong was still racing about, silhouette after silhouette emerging and dissipating as he avoided Yun Yang’s consecutive thrusts of saber energy. He hissed, ”Your Majesty, it’s not that this old servant doesn’t trust you… Supreme Wind has truly been brutal in his attack, this old servant cannot stop shielding himself… I really can’t…”

His Majesty’s face turned utterly cold. His chilling gaze stared at Jiang Zhong who was still twirling and moving in the air as he hollered, ”Guards, seize Jiang Zhong!”

Jiang Zhong cried, ”Your Majesty, this old servant has served you loyally for dozens of years; there should at least be an appreciation for hard work if there aren’t merits? Don’t you consider our past at all? Are you putting aside this old servant’s lifetime of hard work just for somebody’s words?”

His Majesty replied coldly, ”I’ve given you a chance, I’ve given you a promise. What did you do though? What you’ve done is in the eyes of others, are you still going to argue?”

Jiang Zhong suddenly laughed in misery, facing the sky, ”So this is how it is. A person who’s served Your Majesty for his lifetime can’t obtain even the slightest sympathy from Your Majesty. If so, what hope is there for us? Forget it, we have followed such a master blindly; death is justifiable indeed. Then, why does it matter if I die?”

Before the last of his words echoed, Jiang Zong’s rapidly moving physique halted suddenly and landed. He stretched both his arms out, looking like he was ready to be arrested and prepared to submit to whatever that would come his way.

He looked thoroughly aggrieved, the disappointment and will to die apparent.

Everyone there was surprised – was… was he surrendering himself?

Jiang Zhong’s arms were extended while he glanced towards His Majesty in despair, speaking with a raspy voice, ”Your Majesty, master for a day, master for life. This old servant is going now, you must take care in the future!”

As his words tumbled out, the sound of whizzing wind and lightning emanated from his hand. Jiang Zhong gritted his teeth and pounded his head harshly into his open palm.

It was at this moment that His Majesty, who witnessed Jiang Zhong committing suicide, jolted in violence. The specter of having wrongly accused an innocent man rose within his mind.

Jiang Zhong’s palm struck his own head; there was a soft cracking sound before his five sensory organs and seven orifices spurted blood. Stumbling, he slowly fell to the ground.

The jolt within His Majesty grew even more violent. He could not help taking two steps forward. Even the guards under orders to seize Jiang Zhong halted their steps in unison.

Everyone’s gaze fell onto Jiang Zhong’s dead body who laid within the pool of blood; all of them were indescribably muddled.

Proving his innocence with death?

Could it be that His Majesty has really accused him wrongly?

Perhaps it was Lord Supreme Wind who was wrong in his accusations?

Like Jiang Zhong had said, he had served the emperor so loyally all these years; how could he acquire such an end to his aged life?

It was truly distressing.

Suddenly, a shout came from the sky, ”Careful!”

Accompanying the warning, a sharp howl arose. Jiang Zhong, who had collapsed onto the ground, suddenly turned into a stream of light as he charged through the barricade of eight guards at a lightning towards where the emperor stood.

His palms extended furiously, like an enormous rock that was about to split the mountain!