And yet Lang Qianqiu didn’t seem to think he was exaggerating at all. “I already said life and death don’t matter! I don’t need you to let me off easy!”
Xie Lian ignored him and reiterated his request to Jun Wu. “Please, My Lord, banish me to the lesser realm.”
Shi Qingxuan suddenly raised his hand. “Wait! I have more to say!”
“Speak, Wind Master,” Jun Wu said.
“Everyone here seems to think His Highness Xianle assumed the name Fangxin and spilled the blood of Yong’an royalty for revenge. But if it was revenge, then why did he let the Crown Prince of Yong’an, His Highness Tai Hua, go? Logically, someone carrying out an act of vengeance would want to cut down the crown prince most of all. Am I wrong?”
It wasn’t that no one had thought of this detail, but no one had thought it necessary to voice it. Now that the Wind Master had taken the lead in doing so, some nodded their heads in agreement.
Shi Qingxuan continued, “His Highness and I haven’t known each other for long, but I did see with my own eyes him fighting head-on against the scimitar Eming to protect His Highness Tai Hua. Qianqiu, if he felt hatred for the Yong’an monarchy, why would he be willing to risk his life and body to defend you against the blade?”
When Feng Xin and Mu Qing heard that Xie Lian had faced Eming head-on, they both stared at him. There was a hushed grumbling of “Maybe he just felt guilty,” but Shi Qingxuan immediately raised his voice to drown out the whispers.
“That was the Weapon of Misfortune, you know! The Cursed Blade itself! So I think this whole business is highly suspect!”
“I’m so envious that His Highness has gained Lord Wind Master’s protection and is being defended so earnestly,” Pei Ming said. “Too bad our Little Pei wasn’t so fortunate.”
“General Pei, don’t muddy the waters,” Shi Qingxuan said. “Can we even compare Little Pei’s case to this? I saw him commit crimes with my own eyes, and I heard with my own ears when he admitted to those crimes.”
“How is that different from what’s happening here?” Pei Ming argued. “His Highness Tai Hua saw Xie Lian commit crimes with his own eyes, and he heard him admit to those crimes with his own ears. How is that any different?”
Shi Qingxuan grew furious and was about to argue back when Xie Lian seized him.
“Lord Wind Master, thank you. I am in your debt. But there’s no need.”
Shi Qingxuan hadn’t thought of a good comeback for Pei Ming yet, so he only pointed at him, unable to get any further words out.
Finally, Jun Wu spoke, his tone tranquil. “Everyone, please calm yourselves.”
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, very serene actually, yet everyone within the Palace of Divine Might heard his words clearly, and they all moved back to their designated positions. Once the hall settled down, Jun Wu spoke again.
“Tai Hua, your actions have always been impulsive. When situations arise, one must not be rash. Listen with a cool head, assess, and then evaluate once you know the whole story.”
Lang Qianqiu lowered his head to heed the lesson.
Jun Wu continued, “Xianle refuses to give us that full story, so his request for banishment is denied. He will be detained in the Palace of Xianle, and I will personally interrogate him. The two of you shall not meet until I do so.”
It was a conclusion no one had expected: Jun Wu had actually shielded Xie Lian, the Laughingstock of the Three Realms who had neither temples, nor devotees, nor merits!
Lang Qianqiu was the martial god who ruled the east; if he was unhappy with the verdict, then what a losing business this would be! Even so, Jun Wu chose to shield Xie Lian… Didn’t that mean he was still very much in the Emperor’s favor?!
Many of the officials now saw which way the wind was blowing and decided that, going forward, they wouldn’t publicly say the words “Laughingstock of the Three Realms.” Shi Qingxuan let out a sigh of relief and loudly praised Jun Wu for his wisdom. Lang Qianqiu, on the other hand, only stared intently at Xie Lian.
“Whatever My Lord wishes to learn from his questioning, he is free to try. But whatever the conclusion, I will still duel him!”
With that, Lang Qianqiu bowed to Jun Wu, then turned and left the hall. At the wave of Jun Wu’s hand, a pair of martial officials came forward to escort Xie Lian away.
As they passed by Shi Qingxuan, Xie Lian spoke quietly to him, “Lord Wind Master, thanks for everything. But if you really do want to help me, don’t say any more on my behalf—instead, can I ask you to do two things for me?”