Jun Mo sent people to evade Liang Shao's surveillance outside the Fu Residence and delivered a letter to Fu Yecheng.
At night, Jun Mo met with Fu Yecheng outside the Prince's Estate.
Jun Mo took out a human skin mask and handed it to Fu Yecheng, saying, "Wear this. Even if you're discovered, your identity won't be exposed."
Fu Yecheng took it, put on the mask, and the two of them infiltrated the Prince's Estate together.
Led by Jun Mo, the two easily reached Wang Sui's room.
"You're here?" Wang Sui was sitting at the table, fully dressed.
He turned to see another person behind Jun Mo and was immediately stunned.
Jun Mo looked at Fu Yecheng, who stepped forward and removed the human skin mask.
"General Wang, it's me."
Wang Sui's eyes widened. "Fu Yecheng?!"
Though both were generals, Wang Sui was several decades older than Fu Yecheng, so Wang Sui always addressed him by his given name.
"It is I, General Wang."
Jun Mo stepped forward and said, "You two, speak quickly. Don't waste time."
Fu Yecheng looked at Wang Sui and asked, "General Wang, I heard from Xiaonian that the late Empress's death was orchestrated by Liang Shao. Is that true?"
Wang Sui lowered his head, silent for a moment.
He then looked up, his gaze firm. "Yes! The young eunuch by the late Emperor's side was Liang Shao's man. The late Empress did not die of illness, but of poison!"
Fu Yecheng was about to strike the table with his fist, but Jun Mo stopped him. "Do you want to be discovered?"
Fu Yecheng withdrew his hand, almost choking on an internal injury.
"Liang Shao!!" Fu Yecheng growled.
No wonder when he rushed back, his sister's coffin had already been sealed.
They had said it was to spare Xiaonian from grief, and that it was better to bury her early.
Jun Mo stepped forward and said, "You've heard it directly from General Wang. If you have any doubts, you can verify it yourself."
"No need to verify! I came back specifically for Liang Shao! He controls the court, making Xiaonian a puppet for so many years. He deserves to die! Not to mention, he's the murderer of my sister and brother-in-law!"
Fu Yecheng took a few deep breaths, calming himself.
"Speak, how do you want me to cooperate?"
Jun Mo stepped closer and slowly whispered his plan.
...
The Southern Jiang Emperor had been missing for so long, yet the daily morning court continued.
Liang Shao was acting regent, the Dragon Throne above remained empty. Beside the Dragon Throne, there was a resplendent golden chair, even more imposing than the Dragon Throne itself.
Liang Shao slowly ascended to the high position and sat in his own seat.
"Greetings to Fourth Prince!"
Liang Shao's eyes showed satisfaction. He spread his arms and loudly declared, "Dispense with the formalities."
"Thank you, Fourth Prince!"
The eunuch standing by the side loudly announced, "Present your matters, or retire from court!"
At this moment, Liang Wei stepped forward and said, "Fourth Imperial Brother, a nation cannot be without a monarch for a single day. The Emperor has been missing for many days now, I fear he has already... I think, Fourth Imperial Brother should choose an auspicious day to ascend the throne."
As soon as these words were uttered, some agreed and echoed them, while others naturally opposed.
"Fifth Prince's words are inappropriate. If the Emperor is missing, then we should dispatch more men to search for him."
"Precisely. The Emperor has no fault and is still alive. To suddenly establish a new monarch without reason is highly improper."
"How is he without fault? In his years on the throne, he has achieved nothing. If not for the Fourth Prince, how could he have reigned as Emperor so peacefully for so many years? Now that he is missing, let the Fourth Prince govern the nation. It will not affect us or the common people in the slightest!"
"That's right! I believe under the Fourth Prince's leadership, our Southern Jiang will surely prosper even more!"
"Nonsense! Although the Fourth Prince also bears the surname Liang, the Emperor is the legitimate ruler! Without seeing the Emperor's corpse, the Fourth Prince is far too eager!"
Everyone was greatly alarmed. This brute, he was effectively wishing death upon the Emperor!
Liang Shao, from above, scanned the crowd below and coldly said, "Enough."
The Great Hall immediately fell silent.
"This matter, we shall discuss later." His gaze swept over the few who had just opposed him.
Liang Shao continued, "After the rebel Wang Sui is executed tomorrow, this Prince will personally go search for the Emperor!"
These words sent shivers down the spines of the ministers. It seemed the young Emperor's days were numbered!
"No need!" At this moment, a dissenting voice came from outside the hall.
Everyone turned to see Fu Yecheng enter from outside the hall.
Liang Shao's face remained impassive as he watched him slowly walk to the front of the high steps.
Liang Wei frowned and reprimanded, "General Fu, who permitted you to enter with weapons? And you don't even bow to the Fourth Prince? Are you trying to rebel?"
Fu Yecheng sneered, "Rebel? Who is truly rebelling? If I were to rebel, it wouldn't be against Liang Shao! This realm belongs to the Emperor! What is Liang Shao compared to him! Just a mere Prince! He is the true treacherous official, someone everyone should punish!"
Everyone looked at Fu Yecheng, who was cursing the figure above, thinking he had gone mad.
Liang Shao coldly said, "Presumptuous!"
"Presumptuous? You're already annoyed? Liang Shao, if you want no one to know, you shouldn't have done it in the first place! I know all the things you've done! With me, Fu Yecheng, here, your plans are doomed to fail!"
Liang Shao's eyes gleamed with cold malice as he watched him. After a long moment, he coldly said, "Guards!"
Fu Yecheng defiantly lifted his chin, showing no regard for Liang Shao.
Everyone waited for a while, but no guards entered from outside the hall.
Liang Shao frowned, then loudly called out again, "Guards!"
Fu Yecheng burst out laughing. "Stop shouting! Outside are all my general's men!"
Liang Wei was greatly alarmed, the smile vanishing from his face.
Liang Shao, however, appeared quite calm.
"Fu Yecheng, do you think with military power in your hands, you can disregard everyone?" Liang Shao leaned back in his chair, slowly speaking.
Fu Yecheng chuckled, "So what if I do?"
"You wouldn't dare. If you make any move, the spit of Southern Jiang's common people alone could drown you!" Liang Wei said coldly.
Fu Yecheng sneered, "I think the one who should be scorned by all is not this General, but your Fourth Brother! Your Fourth Brother poisoned the late Empress, and taking advantage of the Emperor's young age, he cultivated his power and controlled the court, intending to usurp the throne! When the Emperor discovered the truth, he even tried to lay hands on the Emperor, but thankfully Heaven protected him, and the Emperor narrowly escaped his clutches! Now he wants to sit on that position? You dream!"
As these words were uttered, the ministers looked up at Liang Shao in shock.
So this was the truth behind the late Empress's death?!
Though Liang Shao remained outwardly composed and calm, a flicker of panic showed in his eyes.
"Nonsense! Clearly, you want to seize our Liang family's empire, and you dare to slander my Fourth Brother!" Liang Wei cursed furiously.
Fu Yecheng laughed, "Liang Wei, you pretend to be amicable, and appear to protect your Fourth Brother devotedly, but this General knows you are a rotten person, secretly carrying on with your sister-in-law and even producing that bastard Liang Xuanting, hahaha! Liang Shao, you are the biggest cuckold in the world! You've been made a fool of and don't even know it, and you still want to put a bastard on the throne? Pah! Is he worthy?"
As soon as these words came out, the assembled officials began to murmur, their gazes at Liang Wei and Liang Shao filled with scrutiny.
Liang Shao frowned, looking down at Liang Wei.
"Fourth Brother! Don't listen to his nonsense! He's slandering me! Fourth Brother, you must believe me, Xiaoting is your child!" Liang Wei explained urgently.
"Fu Yecheng! You slander this Prince with baseless words, I will have you die!" With that, he lunged forward.
Although Fu Yecheng could sometimes be unreliable, he had a sharp tongue and high martial arts skills.
While exchanging blows with Liang Wei, he replied, "Whether it's slander, you know yourself. Look at that boy Liang Xuanting, how much he looked like you when he was little. Only Liang Shao is blind not to see it!"
Liang Wei was quickly defeated, pinned under Fu Yecheng's foot.
"After this General deals with Liang Shao, I'll deal with you!" He said, kicking him towards his vice-general, then looked at Liang Shao above with a sinister expression.
Liang Shao slowly rose, looking down at Fu Yecheng from his elevated position.
"Fu Yecheng, if you kneel and confess now, this Prince can let bygones be bygones."
"Pah! You may not hold grudges, but this General certainly will! The late Empress treated you well, didn't she? Yet you dared to cruelly strike them down! Today, this General will take your dog's life and avenge the late Empress!"
Liang Shao sneered contemptuously, "You wish to convict this Prince based on your one-sided account alone?"
"What if you add this old man's testimony?" At this moment, a strong, powerful voice came from outside the hall.
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