AUBTN -Chapter 117 Identity Exposed

Su Hewan and Yu Qing exchanged a glance.

Sure enough, Zhao Shuo could no longer hold himself back. He intended to force the palace’s hand with this move.

With a grand sweep of his sleeve, Zhao Shuo signaled forward. Several men dressed as Daoist priests rushed out and pointed at Zhao Qi, shouting:

“Your Majesty is plagued by a demon at your side! If it is not eliminated, the fortune of Great Liang will soon come to an end!”

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

A triumphant sneer curled on Zhao Shuo’s lips. “For the sake of Great Liang’s realm, I have no choice today but to purge the court of treacherous influences! Guards, seize the demonesses beside His Majesty!”

And those “demonesses” were none other than Su Hewan and Yu Qing.

He had long known that the two women were Shen Jue and Lu Yan’s greatest weakness.

Once they were captured, what would he have to fear from those two?

“I’d like to see who dares!”

A furious shout rang out as the Empress Dowager slowly approached, surrounded by her attendants.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Step by step, the Empress Dowager walked to the emperor’s side and bent down to help the young emperor to his feet.

“Grandson, don’t be afraid.”

Then she turned toward Zhao Shuo.

“National Preceptor, what is the meaning of this? Today is the Grand Heaven-Sacrificing Ceremony. Why all this shouting about killing and fighting?” she said with a cold snort.

Seeing the Empress Dowager’s obvious affection for the young emperor, the darkness in Zhao Shuo’s eyes deepened.

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, strange celestial signs descended last night proving these two are demons. If they are not removed now, both Your Majesty and the Emperor may be harmed!” Zhao Shuo insisted, determined to control Yu Qing and Su Hewan.

The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened. Suddenly she raised her voice.

“Someone, bring it here!”

The imperial physician who had previously examined the poison for her stepped forward, holding a medicine bottle.

Taking the bottle, the Empress Dowager raised it toward Zhao Shuo and demanded sharply, “National Preceptor, have you ever tasted the Golden Elixir you presented to me?”

“Of course!” Zhao Shuo replied confidently.

A shadow passed through the Empress Dowager’s eyes. The next moment, she hurled the bottle straight at Zhao Shuo and rebuked him angrily.

“Zhao Shuo! Even now you refuse to repent. The one harming both me and the Emperor is clearly you!”

“How dare you! I only recommended you as National Preceptor because I believed you possessed some real talent. Who would have thought you would grow so bold as to plot against both me and the Emperor! Guards, seize this sinister and vicious villain!”

Seeing that his scheme had been exposed, Zhao Shuo stopped pretending.

He suddenly began to clap.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“As expected of the Empress Dowager—nothing can be hidden from you,” he said.

“What are you trying to do?” the Empress Dowager demanded sharply.

Yu Qing and Su Hewan exchanged another glance and immediately stepped forward to shield the Empress Dowager.

“Oh? Are you two planning to rebel as well?” Zhao Shuo sneered coldly.

“The one rebelling is you!” Lu Yan drew his blade and pointed it straight at Zhao Shuo.

The Jinyiwei and the Imperial Guards quickly formed a protective ring, surrounding the Empress Dowager and the young emperor in the center.

On the high platform, the atmosphere grew tense—like drawn bows ready to fire.

Yet Zhao Shuo paid no attention to the blade aimed at him.

Instead, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

His laughter carried years of suppressed resentment and madness.

“Rebel? Well said!”

His blazing gaze swept across the terrified civil and military officials present before finally settling on the Empress Dowager.

“Since I also carry imperial blood, why shouldn’t I fight for the throne?”

The Empress Dowager’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately shouted sternly: “What nonsense are you spouting! You’re nothing but a wandering sorcerer of unknown origin—how dare you claim imperial blood!”

“Unknown origins?” Zhao Shuo’s smile grew increasingly sinister.

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager truly forgets easily. Have you already forgotten Prince Ning so quickly?”

The moment the words “Prince Ning” were spoken, it was like a thunderclap exploding above everyone’s heads.

Many officials instantly turned pale, clearly remembering that day when they had been trapped in a scene of bloodshed and massacre—a living hell.

The Empress Dowager herself swayed, nearly unable to stand.

“W-what did you say…” Her voice trembled.

Zhao Shuo stepped forward. “What crime did my father commit? The Emperor was still young—government should have been assisted by a capable royal prince! My father possessed extraordinary strategy and brilliance in both civil governance and military command. In which way was he not superior among men? Yet all of you turned a blind eye and insisted on serving a mere child!”

He suddenly pointed at Shen Jue in the distance, hatred blazing in his eyes.

“My father died miserably at the hands of this eunuch dog, Shen Jue, and was even branded with the charge of treason! I swore that if I didn’t avenge him, I would not be worthy of being human!”

The information contained in these words was enormous, instantly plunging the entire Temple of Heaven into a deathly silence.

The Empress Dowager stared at him in shock, her lips trembling.

“Y-you… you are Prince Ning’s child? Impossible… Didn’t his heirs… die long ago in internal conflicts?”

“Hah!” Zhao Shuo let out a scornful laugh.

“If my mother hadn’t been farsighted enough to send me out of the prince’s residence early to be raised elsewhere—so I could escape those vicious struggles in the inner household—how could I have survived until today and stand here before you!”

“You… you foolish child!” The Empress Dowager could finally no longer bear the shock, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Your father’s rebellion was proven beyond doubt. Do you also intend to follow in his footsteps and walk down the same road of no return?”

“A road of no return?” Zhao Shuo sneered, his gaze becoming incomparably resolute.

“In my eyes, this is the only righteous path! Naturally, I will complete the unfinished ambition of my father! Today, I will make this Great Liang dynasty change its ruling family!”

Hearing this, Lu Yan snorted coldly. “A debt has its debtor. As for Prince Ning, he—”

“Clap. Clap. Clap.”

A crisp, slow round of applause suddenly rang out, interrupting Lu Yan’s words.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

They saw Shen Jue step forward leisurely, a strange, almost enchanting smile on his face.

Lu Yan looked at Shen Jue in confusion, only to see Shen Jue subtly signal him with his eyes.

Left with no choice, Lu Yan swallowed the words he had been about to say.

“What a touching performance of fatherly love and filial devotion—a revenge drama that moves heaven and earth,” Shen Jue said slowly as he walked out, his tone frivolous.

“I’ve listened to countless operas in the palace over the years, yet none were as exciting as this statement from the National Preceptor.”

Zhao Shuo’s expression darkened. “Shen Jue, you’re about to die, and you still dare act arrogant!”

But Shen Jue seemed not to hear him. Lazily raising his eyelids, he simply wagged a finger at him.

“There’s just one thing I need to correct.”

His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire Temple of Heaven.

“Prince Ning committed suicide in the Golden Throne Hall out of fear of punishment. All the officials present witnessed it with their own eyes.”

“That’s far too big a blame, and far too dark a smear. I can’t possibly carry that burden.”

The officials exchanged glances.

This lie was delivered without even blinking!

Didn’t they all remember that Commander Lu was the one who killed Prince Ning?

But no one dared speak out now.

Instead, their gazes collectively shifted toward Lu Zhixing.

Yet Lu Zhixing merely lowered his eyes, staring at the ground as if he were deaf and mute.

Meanwhile, Su Hewan stood beside the Empress Dowager, calmly observing the situation. She quietly whispered to Yu Qing beside her:

“Qingqing, get ready. The real show is about to begin.”

Lu Yan stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder, filled with righteous authority.

“Utter nonsense! Back then Prince Ning colluded with foreign enemies and attempted rebellion. There were both witnesses and physical evidence! As the descendant of a traitor, not only do you refuse to repent—you even spread lies to confuse the masses and attempt to overturn the court’s order. Your crime is even greater!”

After being repeatedly rebuked by them, Zhao Shuo finally lost his patience. His face twisted with ferocity as he waved his hand.

“Enough talk! Today this Temple of Heaven will be the burial ground for all of you! Attack—kill them!”