555 The Plan Begins (1/2)
There was silence.
The courtiers, the royal guards and the servants all looked at the spot where the golden light landed, despite the fact that dust was still obstructing their vision.
”His Majesty is truly enraged!”
”It is the Emperor's rage, the Emperor's rage…”
”There is definitely a problem with that letter!”
Thoughts flashed through the courtier's mind. However, all of them were simple baseless conjectures. No one knew the true content o the letter.
The Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was trembling.
He was the prestigious Crown Prince. However, under the immense pressure from the Emperor's rage, he would also feel a shiver down his spine. This was the power of the Majesty.
Perhaps, one day, he could attain such power too.
However…
It was still too early for him!
King Duan Lin Xinjue knelt down on the floor. On the surface, he seemed to be pleading for mercy for Lin Tianrong. However, anyone could see that he had a cold-blooded smile on the side of his lips.
”Father is enraged! It has been years since he was so angry. Fang Zhengzhi, you are truly something! To be able to let father feel so indignant with just a few letters. Even I am starting to get curious, what exactly did you use to frame my Third Brother?”
Lin Xinjue sniggered as he cast his glance onto the place where the golden light landed. Slowly, his eyes widened as the smile on his face became more obvious.
So that was why!
”It is a secret chamber!”
”There is a secret chamber underneath the study room!”
”How can it be?”
As the dust settled, the courtiers had also discovered the secret chamber underneath the study room. This was supposed to be a well0hidden room. However, all the disguise were no match for the beam of golden light that shone through the horizon.
Lin Tianrong also slowly moved his gaze towards the secret chamber. He stared straight into the entrance to the secret chamber which was blasted open and the black secret passage that was illuminated by the moonlight.
In an instant, his body shivered and he became extremely pale. Even his legs became wobbly.
It was the secret chamber!
Did father know about the secret chamber?
How could that be? Wasn't it about the Southern Region Noblelite? What has that got to do with the secret chamber? What was happening?
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong could not connect the relationship between the two. How would a letter regarding the Southern Region Noblelite lead to the discovery of his secret chamber underneath his study room?
They were two completely different issues altogether…
But now, they were so coincidentally connected together.
”Might it be…” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's mind whirled at a high speed and when he once again cast his gaze onto Fang Zhengzhi, he finally understood.
It was deliberate!
It was a deliberate act to say that the letter was from the Southern Region Noblelite!
The aim was to make the Crown Prince deny the accusations so as to give him the authority to tear open the letter in front of everyone else. He could then expose this to the public.
At that moment, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong finally understood the entire ploy.
Fang Zhengzhi was not looking for any letters to begin with when he circled the study room. He was merely checking the validity of the secret chamber he had heard about. He then used ”childish” methods to lower his opponent's guard.
”Damn it!” Li Tianrong felt bitter. As the prestigious Crown Prince, he was played in the Fang Zhengzhi's palms again and again. It felt extremely terrible.
”Do you have anything else to say?” Lin Mubai's voice interrupted Lin Tianrong's thought and pulled him back into reality.
”I have committed a sin and I should not have lied to father. You son… indeed constructed a smaller study underneath my main study. But… your humble son do not know that father was referring to this issue!” Lin Tianrong kept his head firmly to the ground. He was very clear with the information the secret chamber contained.
It contained all the conversations he had with the courtiers and the ploys he had so prided himself on accomplishing. However, it was now all exposed by the Emperor, Lin Mubai.
The moment these things were made known to public…
He would die!
So would the courtiers who had joined him in his hideous acts!
”Your Majesty, please calm down. Although the Crown Prince had hidden some things from you, there must be a reason for it. Perhaps the Crown Prince really did not know what your Majesty was referring to!
”Yes, your Majesty! It can be thought of as a type of protection as well, creating a secret chamber underneath the main study. After all, certain ancient books cannot be placed so flippantly in the main study. They have to be treated with care! Please forgive the Crown Prince for his ignorance!”
”Please forgive the Crown Prince for his ignorance!”
The courtiers looked at the exposed secret chamber and all knelt down simultaneously. Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads even though they had no idea what the Crown Prince was hiding in the secret chamber.
However…
They knew that somewhere in that stash of secret documents, their names would appear.
At this moment, saving the Crown Prince,
Was akin to saving themselves.
The Majesty Lin Mubai then stared at the kneeling courtiers and frowned while keeping silent. He then moved closer to the secret chamber a step at a time.
”Father, your son will repent! I beg for your forgiveness!” As Lin Tianrong saw Lin Mubai walking closer to the secret chamber, he shuffled forward a few steps and hit his head hard on the ground. A blood stain could be seen on the ground where he continuously begged for forgiveness.
”We beg for your forgiveness, your Majesty!”
”The Crown Prince is indeed guilty. However, he is still the Crown Prince. May the Majesty believe in his will to repent and give him one last chance!”
”Yes, may the Majesty forgive the Crown Prince!”
When they saw Lin Mubai waling towards the secret chamber, all the courtiers exchanged glances and once again knelt down simultaneously to beg for forgiveness.
”Father, I am truly repentant. Please give me one last chance. I will stay in the residence to reflect on my wrongdoings. Please forgive me!”
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had already guessed the content of the letter. He also knew that the moment Lin Mubai entered the secret chamber, he would be finished.
He was now making a risky bet.
He was betting on Lin Mubai's last shred of kindness and benevolence.
”I have already given you a chance. However, you did not seem willing to take it that time. How can I then, give you another chance?” Lin Mubai said as he stared coldly at Lin Tianrong. The raging presence surrounding him did not seem to be diminishing.
”Father!” Lin Tianrong was desperate and could care less about his reputation. He immediately knelt down right at Lin Mubai's feet as stared at him with a tear-stricken face.
”Hmph!” Lin Mubai kicked him away and quickly walked towards the secret chamber. Lin Tianrong's pleading did not budge him at all.
As King Duan Lin Xinjue observed this scene, an expectant look appeared on his face.
Secret Chamber?