Gate of God
chapter-532

Fang Zhengzhi's voice was not as loud compared to when he was defending the Ministry of Finance official Yue Hu, but its intensity was ten times as much.

"He has spoken! He has really spoken!"

"He actually blocked the Emperor!"

"Doesn't he fear offending the Emperor at all?"

Fang Zhengzhi's voice reverberated in the officials' ears, distressed their hearts and turned their stomachs. His fearlessness was unbelievable.

In any case, to these officials…

Fang Zhengzhi need not do all of this.

Initially, they could understand Fang Zhengzhi's gamble, because it was for the public to acknowledge the matter, for the Emperor to see the truth.

But now, with the truth revealed, why was there a need to shoulder such a risk?

Nobody could understand.

But deep in everyone's hearts, they knew that once the Emperor was angry, everything would have been as good as gone. Fang Zhengzhi's efforts would be in vain.

"Fang Zhengzhi, presently the Emperor is hosting the Princess of the Southern Region, how would he find the time to address your grievances! Stand down immediately!" Chi Hou was growing very impatient.

But he did not expect that Fang Zhengzhi would really stop the Emperor.

Emperor Lin Mubai halted momentarily and continued walking towards the Palace gate.

"Your Majesty, I have a grievance!" Fang Zhengzhi cried again.

"Ah!"

The officials and surrounding commoners were now seething. Emperor Lin Mubai's unwavering decision was obvious.

Yet, Fang Zhengzhi kept pleading.

How was this any different from protesting?

"Does he really have a death wish?"

"Since the Emperor ascended the throne, there has never been an incident like this!"

"Exactly. The Emperor's dignity cannot be infringed, doesn't he understand this simple logic?"

The officials muttered in their minds, but practically no one came forth to persuade Fang Zhengzhi otherwise, nor did any of them voiced their opinion.

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, who was originally spiteful at the matter, revealed a smirk when he saw Fang Zhengzhi's many futile attempts to stop Emperor.

No one shall stand in the mighty Emperor's way!

Even the Crown Prince did not dare disobey the Emperor, not to mention Fang Zhengzhi.

"Please, Your Majesty, address Fang Zhengzhi's injustice!" Yan Xiu, who had been following behind Fang Zhengzhi, finally spoke.

His words were cold and emotionless, yet unshakably firm.

"Even Yan Xiu has spoken?"

"How would he?"

"Although he is a friend of Fang Zhengzhi, surely he should persuade Fang Zhengzhi to stop now? Does he not know the consequences if they irritate the Emperor?"

A wave of terror was once again felt by the officials. Their expressions could only convey their utter astonishment.

Emperor Lin Mubai stopped in his tracks. Rooted at his position, he did not turn back.

Chi Hou was in disbelief.

With outstretched hands in the way of Fang Zhengzhi, he was prepared to discourage his pleas once again. At this moment, he saw Stabilization Constabulary Xing Yuanguo who had been standing beside him shook his head at him.

"Brother Yuanguo, this…"

"Wait!" Xing Yuanguo said only this word.

Chi Hou fretted slightly, but he had lost his resolve to speak and retreated into the crowd.

Wait?

What is there to wait for?

Chi Hou did not understand. But Xing Yuanguo, who never interfered with the Imperial Government, had spoken, and that was unbelievable.

A sad, still silence.

Even Eunuch Wei was wide-eyed at the spectacle.

He ventured an attempt to dissuade Fang Zhengzhi, but when he caught a figure in the corner of his eye, he withdrew the foot that stepped forward.

That figure reached beside Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu.

It was the Princess of the Southern Region, Shan Yu.

Her black eyes glistened into the distance, her long, beautiful hair cascaded upon her shoulders. Her lightly tanned skin radiated charm among the soft sunrays.

Her expression, too, showed adamantine resolve.

"Your Majesty, my brother Shan Ling vowed to defend the Southern Region, and in the war, loyally fended off our enemies. His bravery was witnessed by every Southern Region warrior and Great Xia soldier. The murder of my brother has brought us much grief, and now that we have a new lead, I plead for Your Majesty to ensure justice is served!"

Princess of the Southern Region Shan Yu ended with her tears welling in her eyes.

The surrounded onlookers were completely stunned.

"Even the Princess of the Southern Region has spoken!"

Although everybody would have predicted that Princess of the Southern Region might speak when she stood beside Fang Zhengzhi, it felt totally unusual.

Protest!

Indeed, this was a protest.

Starting with Fang Zhengzhi, then Yan Xiu, and now the Princess of the Southern Region Shan Yu. Together they strode towards Emperor Lin Mubai, without a shred of doubt.

The officials and commoners remained flabbergasted.

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong started having second thoughts. With the support of the Princess of the Southern Region, it could mean a completely different outcome for Fang Zhengzhi.

Only then did Emperor Lin Mubai begin to slowly turn towards them.

From his expression, there wasn't much anger. But as everyone noticed that when he turned, there was an effervescent aura.

The Emperor's aura.

And his fists were tightly clenched.

"The Emperor's dignity!"

This appeared in virtually everyone's mind. They knew that the Emperor was raging inside, although his expression may seem otherwise.

At this moment, few thousand Southern Region soldiers started to move.

"Your Majesty, please ensure justice is served for the Southern Region!" said their voices in unison. Thousands of soldiers then knelt in their plea.

The commoners were awestruck.

The officials, too. With the Southern Region protesting at the palace gates, in the presence of the public, this movement would indubitably strain diplomatic relations near their breaking point.

From this moment on, any decision Emperor Lin Mubai could make seemed inappropriate.

Because if Emperor Lin Mubai gave in, this would mean that the honor and dignity of the Great Xia Dynasty would be jeopardized. If other states had done so, what would become of the Emperor's rule?

But if Emperor Lin Mubai did not give in…

The relationship between the Great Xia Dynasty and Southern Region would be strained once again.

How should it be, then?

Everyone turned their attention to Lin Mubai, waiting for the mighty Emperor to make his decision.

Emperor Lin Mubai instead remained silent and stared ahead. Staring silently at Fang Zhengzhi, Yan Xiu, and Shan Yu. His nerves calm, his gaze fluid.

This seemed like a stalemate.

Then a figure emerged from behind the Emperor Lin Mubai. A youth who wore a white, luxurious gown. He displayed a marked calmness compared to those around him.

"Father!" The youth dropped to his knees and groveled.

Emperor Lin Mubai faced the youth, furrowing his brows. His face shone with a fierce, icy gleam.

"Who let you here? Get back." Emperor Li Mubai scowled.

"Father!" The youth once again kowtowed to his father, his body shivered in fear, but he did not back down, insistent in his pleas.

Emperor Lin Mubai looked at groveling youth a little surprised. Then he turned towards Fang Zhengzhi and finally sighed.

"Say it."

"Yes, I have no skills or talents, but I stand for fairness, and I plead Father to ensure Southern Region's justice is served!" The youth cried.

"Is that all you want to say?" Emperor Lin Mubai's knitted his brows once again.

Begging in front of him was Ninth Prince Lin Yun. In fact, he had not paid much attention to Lin Yun. If he weren't his child, he could have even forgotten his name.

The emperor of a dynasty.

A father of hundreds of children.

In a few decades of his reign, Emperor Lin Mubai already had over a hundred children.

And within them were many mediocre and unambitious ones. There were those of low intellect, or emotionally unstable, or physically weak, or even those, like Lin Yun, who could not hold a proper job.

Too many to supervise.

So…

All he could do was to not bother.

Actually, ruling for a generation without dispute nor discord may not be a bad thing either. If they loved merrymaking, then let them be.

Emperor Lin Mubai was never a stern nor old-fashioned father, but he only wished for his playful sons to not cause too much trouble.

If they could appear less frequently in his presence, that would be a plus.

And this was Emperor Lin Mubai's wish for Lin Yun.

Yet, Lin Yun appeared at this very moment, while all the other princes kept to their positions. This made him rather surprised.

Emperor Lin Mubai felt a pang of doubt… had he misunderstood Lin Yun?

But when Lin Yun finished his appeal, he felt that he had indeed not misunderstood Lin Yun. Because his words weren't what he wanted to hear.

Certainly, this was not about the meaning of Lin Yun's words.

As a matter of fact, when Lin Yun stood out, Emperor Lin Mubai had guessed that Lin Yun would plead for Southern Region's justice.

But what he did not expect was…

Lin Yun only said one sentence! To serve justice for Southern Region, that's all? Was that it?

What were the reasons? The facts? The references and citations?

He could have at least referenced a past example of an emperor's magnanimity, right? What did that mean to him?

Emperor Lin Mubai could tolerate those who may have unknowingly infringed imperial codes for lack of experience or knowledge, but as a prince, pleading to the Emperor in such a manner was utterly ridiculous.

"Yes! I wish for Father to ensure Southern Region's justice is served!" The Ninth Prince Lin Yun seemed unperturbed by his father's reaction.

"Go away!" Emperor Lin Mubai was finally fuming mad.