Chapter 233 - A Big Secret (1/2)

After hearing the emperor’s edict, Shi Junhe didn’t even say a word to retort but just knelt down and expressed his thanks to the emperor’s kindness.

Mo Xiangbin didn’t plan to say more seemingly and waved his hand, telling all the officials to leave.

After most of them left, he suddenly said, “Junyang, stay.”

It was not the first time for Mo Xiangbin to tell Mo Junyang to stay and discuss with him alone, and all the officials were not surprised. At most, they just looked at Mo Junyang several times before leaving.

As something so serious had happened, the high officials hurried to return after walking out and wanted to discuss with the ones in the same faction, and even the minor officials planned to make comments. They left in threes and fives and whispered to each other.

“Gee, the Shi family has been powerful in the officialdom for so many years and attracted much attention. Many people must be jealous of them.”

“Right! The Shi Army’s fame and capability are famous in the whole Qin Continent, let alone in our country, and nobody is not convinced. They have such a horrible army. Don’t you think that His Majesty fears them?”

It was horrible that the army had the military capability, and they won the people’s respect. If such an army rebelled, perhaps the common people would clap and praise them.

They looked at one another speechlessly and didn’t dare to say more.

After a while, one of the officials changed the subject and asked in a low voice, “Why do you think His Majesty told His Excellency to stay alone this time?”

“Who knows? They must have something important to discuss. His Excellency is favored by His Majesty recently.”

Another one stated coldly with jealousy, “Right. Even the serious crime of killing a prince can be ignored easily. I don’t know what nice words His Excellency said to His Majesty.”

“I heard that the empress knelt in the Qianqing Palace several times and asked His Majesty to seek justice for the third prince, but His Majesty even refused to see her. He obviously doesn’t plan to punish His Excellency…” Somebody revealed the news in a low voice.

But then a weak voice retorted, “But why did I hear that the third prince died in an accident and it has nothing to do with His Excellency?”

“Gee, who can explain the relationship in the royal family clearly? Anyway it has nothing to do with us. Let’s just watch a play.”

All the gossips ended up with an indifferent tone.

At the same time, the imperial study was silent and depressing, with an atmosphere that was low and made people almost unable to breathe.

Mo Xiangbin wanted to wait for Mo Junyang to ask him, but after a long time, the young man didn’t speak.

He was helpless and had to start a conversation. “Do you know how many people have sent memorials to me to impeach you these days?”

Mo Junyang shook his head and kept silent.

“You! Alas…” Mo Xiangbin could do nothing to Mo Junyang who was quiet. He sighed and stopped keeping Mo Junyang in suspense. “More than ten! They all asked me to punish you as you killed a prince. The empress has pestered me several times recently and declared that she wouldn’t give up easily until she avenges Junjiu.

“I stopped them temporarily. I can stop them for now but can’t stop them forever.

“Junyang, you are in danger this time!”

Mo Xiangbin pointed out this fact sadly, and his dignified square face was full of helplessness.

Mo Junyang raised his head and glanced at Mo Xiangbin. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but he thought of something and then lowered his head again in silence.

“Kid!”

Mo Xiangbin strode to Mo Junyang and stared at him. After a long time, he asked seriously, “I want to ask you now and you should answer me honestly. Did Junjiu’s death have anything to do with you?”

Mo Junyang pursed his lips and shook his head slowly after quite a while. “No.”

“No?” Mo Xiangbin repeated it and sighed with relief, murmuring, “Great, great…”

When he calmed down and looked at Mo Junyang again, his square face was not as depressed as before. He just frowned and asked, “But now the gossips against you cause a great clamor and all people think that you are the murderer.

“What do you plan to do?”

Mo Junyang still shook his head and looked indifferent. “Let it be.”

Perhaps only Mo Junyang could keep calm when all people denounced him.

But Mo Xiangbin was anxious.

He couldn’t help but glare at Mo Junyang with warning. Then he sighed helplessly. “You don’t care about this and that. What on earth do you want?”

He said “this” and “that” vaguely, and only Mo Junyang understood what he wanted to express.

Mo Junyang looked at Mo Xiangbin deeply and suddenly stood straight before bowing to the emperor officially. He expressed casually but firmly, “Your Majesty, you have many children and have a successor, so you don’t need to bother about what happened in the past.”

Mo Xiangbin’s face stiffened, and he looked embarrassed as he was seen through.

“Ahem!” He coughed twice and started to temporize. “I merely think that a man should have lofty aims and need to be ambitious. Otherwise, how would you have a foothold in the world?”

“Ambitious? Like the third prince?” Mo Junyang replied with no emotion.

Mo Xiangbin was rendered speechless and cursed in his heart, “Good boy, you look quiet at ordinary times, but when you speak, you are not afraid of making others speechless. Fortunately, I have recovered from Junjiu’s death. Otherwise, I would die because I am too angry.”

All people in the country including the officials and noblemen were obedient to him like quails. Only Mo Junyang was not afraid of him and would say something occasionally to make him furious.

Even so, Mo Xiangbin admired this child who was unhurried while facing anything difficult. Wasn’t Mo Junyang like him when he was young?

The emperor laughed as he felt he was lucky, so he didn’t want to bother about Mo Junyang.

He just looked at Mo Junyang seriously and confirmed again. “Junyang, what the power and glory will bring you is beyond your imagination. But you don’t want it?”

Mo Junyang just stayed silent, but his clear and determined eyes expressed his thoughts.

Mo Xiangbin shook his head and kept quiet for a while. In the end, he still didn’t give up and asked, “You don’t want anything?”