Chapter 298: New Dynamic (1/2)
Chapter 298: New Dynamic
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
Emperor Lin Mubai frowned deeply. Fang Zhengzhi may be a villager, but he was a talent. What was his decision going to be?
Emperor Lin Mubai thought deeper and broader than everyone else.
His decisions would impact the future of the Great Xia Dynasty. He had to ensure that the empire would continue to flourish after his reign.
Just at this moment, a fiery red figure appeared in front of him. A pair of crystal clear eyes scanned the infuriated crowd of officials.
”Sixth brother has already said that he lost the Sun Shooting Bow to me. As such, whether it was snatched away or not shouldn’t have any relation to him?” Ping Yang’s voice was not loud, however, her tone sent chills down all the officials’ spines.
King Duan frowned when he heard this.
”Sister, what do you mean?”
”Would you all believe me if I said I sent someone to snatch the bow away? Fang Zhengzhi happened to run across my servant and bought the bow off him.” Ping Yang smirked. She was clearly protecting Fang Zhengzhi.
All of the officials felt like they had just swallowed a fly.
Should they believe it?
This was a problem.
King Duan felt his eyelids twitched.
He did not believe it. After all, he had sent someone to sell the Sun Shooting Bow to Fang Zhengzhi. However, could he reveal that fact?
Definitely not.
As such, all he could do was believe.
”Haha...” King Duan chuckled and did not object. He could see that Ping Yang was openly protecting Fang Zhengzhi. That was obvious for all to see.
However, now that things were at this stage...
The Emperor still had the final decision.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping had questioned Fang Zhengzhi’s moral and values after the incident at the Northern Mountain Village.
He was questioning Fang Zhengzhi’s loyalty and trustworthiness.
This was the real killing blow.
Whether that killing blow had attained its effectiveness was not dependent on whether Fang Zhengzhi was found guilty. Its effectiveness would be based on Emperor Lin Mubai’s decision on this matter.
Emperor Lin Mubai glanced at Ping Yang’s determined expression. He remembered that figure that he could not bring himself to forget.
His eyes were filled with pampering and love in an instant.
”Today is the horse race and hunting competition. As such, we shall only discuss matters pertaining to this. Everything else shall be delayed until the next imperial court meeting!” Emperor Lin Mubai felt a load off his shoulders.
All of the officials were stunned by Emperor Lin Mubai’s words.
Even though the Emperor had not given his opinion on this...
Their experience told them that the Emperor was taking Fang Zhengzhi’s side as well!
Furthermore...
His protection of Fang Zhengzhi was more blatant that Ping Yang’s!
Why? Why would the Emperor protect Fang Zhengzhi. What is the meaning of this?
Could the Emperor be thinking of...
In that instant, all of the officials thought of one thing. This did not bode well for them, so much so that none of them wanted to think about it.
King Duan was also stunned.
He had never expected that his ploy would be destroyed in this manner. More importantly, the Emperor had not returned the Sun Shooting Bow to him!
The important thing here was not convicting Fang Zhengzhi of a crime.
It was the Sun Shooting Bow.
That was his bottom line.
As long as the Emperor retrieved the Sun Shooting Bow, Fang Zhengzhi would have no chance at returning to the courts.
Whether Fang Zhengzhi topped the imperial examinations or not would be negligible.
It would be meaningless.
All the honors that he would get would just be honors. It would not allow him to change the dynamics of the courts. King Duan would have one less person to think about.
That was the reason behind King Duan’s actions this time.
He wanted to make Fang Zhengzhi the top of both the examinations. However, he could not do so whilst Fang Zhengzhi was still a threat. He had to neutralize the threat before the results were announced.
But now?
Not only had Emperor Lin Mubai protected him, the Emperor did not ask for the bow.
Making Fang Zhengzhi the number one rank for the imperial examinations meant something completely different now.
”What is the Emperor thinking?” King Duan felt for the first time that he could not understand what the Emperor was thinking.
All of the other spectators looked at Fang Zhengzhi in confusion and awe.
All of them could not wrap their heads around what had just happened.
Fang Zhengzhi was slightly shocked to see things unfold this way. All he wanted to do was find a reason to prevent himself from being convicted of a crime.
As for the Sun Shooting Bow.
He had never expected to be able to keep it.
”No mention of it? Is it mine then?” Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself naively. Then, he quickly dismissed that thought. I doubt it will be that easy.
Ping Yang jumped out.
Her feet landed squarely on the ground.
She wanted to get Fang Zhengzhi off the hook, however, she had no intention of giving Fang Zhengzhi the Sun Shooting Bow.
”Father!” Ping Yang said coquettishly.
”Haha... my Golden Eagle Bow has been sitting in the palace collecting dust. Why don’t you take it out for a spin?” Emperor Lin Mubai interrupted.
”Golden Eagle Bow? Sure, sure!” Ping Yang beamed when she heard that.
”Minister of Rites, announce the results!” Emperor Lin Mubai tapped Ping Yang’s nose when he saw her radiant smile.
Ping Yang immediately bounded to a place beside Fang Zhengzhi.
”What are you looking at, humph!”
”The Golden Eagle Bow is even better than the Sun Shooting Bow?” Fang Zhengzhi could not help but ask.