Grinding to Martial Emperor from the Border Army

Chapter 159: Chapter 132: Substitution

Yet, large tears still couldn’t help but fall from her eyes.

Lu Yuan said nothing more. He turned and walked out the door.

Jiang He, however, secretly gave him a thumbs-up.

Once they were outside the mansion, a carriage was already waiting. It was drawn by a Scale Horse, known for its powerful legs. The carriage itself was made of metal that gleamed under the moonlight, its luster almost blinding.

It had only a few windows, each about the size of an adult’s fist.

"Heh, isn’t a ride of this caliber a bit of a waste on me?" Lu Yuan said with a faint smile.

Jiang He glanced at Lu Yuan. "Marshal Xiao said your strength can’t be judged by ordinary standards. You may seem to only be at the Innate realm for now, but no one knows your true combat prowess."

"Besides, after being forged on the battlefield for so many years, walking the line between life and death every day, you might even be able to fight those in higher realms. It’s only right to be cautious."

"Marshal Xiao really does know me," Lu Yuan said, then boarded the carriage.

It was pitch-black inside, but very spacious and not at all cramped.

Jiang He added, "Yes, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Let this be a lesson for you: the better someone knows you, the more cornered you’ll be when they turn against you."

With that, he signaled for the procession to move forward.

Sitting in the quiet carriage, Lu Yuan voiced his confusion. "They say you Brocade Robe Envoys are the most vicious of all, that you treat prisoners horribly and no one ever walks out of your cells alive."

"But I’m finding that you’re not like that at all."

Jiang He’s lip twitched, and a faint smile cracked his stern face. "Marshal Xiao only asked me to escort you to the Imperial City. He never said you were a prisoner."

"Besides, I’ve heard about your situation."

"You did something I’ve always wanted to do but never dared."

"Rest easy. I can’t make any other promises, but as long as I’m here on this journey, those lurking in the shadows won’t be able to touch you."

Lu Yuan said no more, simply sitting in silence.

’This carriage forged from refined iron wouldn’t be too hard for me to break out of,’ he thought. ’The only real problem is Jiang He.’

’Now, I’m actually hoping someone will try to assassinate me.’

’I could use the chaos to escape.’

However, the reputation of the Brocade Robe Envoys was quite effective.

An entire night passed, and no one dared to make a move. Lu Yuan could only bide his time and wait for an opportunity.

「Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace.」

The morning court session had already begun. The Yong Emperor sat upon his throne, his form shrouded in a golden mist, and his majestic voice echoed through the hall.

"My dear ministers, is there anything to report?"

The words had barely faded when someone stepped forward. It was the Marquis of Yundu, a City Marquis of the Imperial Court. Though not a member of the high aristocracy, his status was far above that of any Border Marquis.

He spoke as soon as he stepped forward, "Your Majesty, in the past six months, the General of the Northern Patrol, Lu Yuan, has slaughtered the innocent, acted with impunity, and framed his colleagues. This man must be executed!"

"This minister seconds the motion!"

"I second!"

...

There were no tedious proceedings. It was just the execution of a Border Army General. If he was no longer useful to the emperor, there was no need for the major figures to even speak.

The officials standing at the back of the hall were more than enough to see it done.

Now, all they needed was a catalyst.

News that Lu Yuan had been taken into custody by Jiang He had already reached their ears.

Xiao Heng frowned and took a step forward, about to speak.

The Yong Emperor’s gaze fell upon him. "Xiao Aiqing," he said lightly, "you rushed back from the border and must be weary from the journey. This afternoon, We shall host a banquet for you in the inner palace. Come and dine after the court session. We can discuss whatever you wish to say at that time."

"There is no need to discuss other matters here in the Imperial Court."

With a single sentence, the Yong Emperor had not only shown the court his favorable attitude toward Xiao Heng, thereby protecting him, but also implicitly warned him not to get involved in Lu Yuan’s affairs.

Xiao Heng, who had been about to step forward, froze in his tracks.

Just then, the Seventh Prince’s brow twitched. He stepped forward and said, "Your son and servant also believes Lu Yuan should be executed. The man is arrogant and insubordinate."

"He even severed ties with his own family. He is truly a man who respects neither his sovereign nor his own father."

A man already broken is a target for all.

When a wall begins to fall, everyone gives it a push.

Now that Lu Yuan had served his purpose, he was nothing more than a disposable tool to the Yong Emperor.

Therefore, he said nonchalantly, "Then so be it. The Seventh Prince shall oversee this matter."

At this juncture, killing Lu Yuan was a way to win the favor of the aristocracy.

The Yong Emperor would naturally not pass up this chance to bolster his son’s reputation.

It was a way of wringing every last drop of value out of a person.

However, just as his words faded, Prime Minister Lv Ze stepped forward from below. He frowned and announced, "Your Majesty, a message just arrived from the Northern Barbarians. They are willing to trade ten million Spirit Stones for Lu Yuan."

"WHOOSH!"

The announcement sent the court into an uproar.

Ten million Spirit Stones was by no means a small sum, no matter where you were.

Even the Yong Emperor was tempted.

But at that moment, Prince Lie stepped forward. The entry of such a major figure immediately drew everyone’s attention.

"Your Majesty, if the Northern Barbarians are willing to pay ten million Spirit Stones for Lu Yuan, that is all the more reason he cannot be allowed to live! It proves he has deep ties with them."

Prince Lie’s tone was unyielding.

He hated Lu Yuan to his very core.

The other aristocrats, shocked that someone had taken the lead, couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

In their minds, it wasn’t as if they would see any of that ten million Spirit Stones anyway, but their hatred for Lu Yuan was very, very real.

"Ahem... Then let us proceed as previously decided," the Yong Emperor said, though his voice had lost its earlier decisiveness.

"This minister will inform the Northern Barbarians at once." Lv Ze took out a Sound Transmission Stone and sent the message.

But a moment later, a response came back.

His pupils contracted as he read it.

Then he turned to the Yong Emperor. "Your Majesty, the Northern Barbarians say... they will trade the Unparalleled Marquis for him."

HISS!

At this, the assembled ministers all gasped.

They couldn’t imagine who this Lu Yuan was to make the Northern Barbarians willing to pay such an enormous price.

It was simply unbelievable.

The Unparalleled Marquis wasn’t just a member of the Dayong imperial clan; his talent was extraordinary.

Unfortunately, he had been captured by the Northern Barbarians over a decade ago.

For years, Dayong had exhausted every possible means to trade for the Unparalleled Marquis’s return.

But the Northern Barbarians had always refused.

They never imagined that the Barbarians would finally agree to an exchange, all for a mere Lu Yuan.

All the aristocrats knew they could no longer prevent it.

The main reason was that the deal was simply too good to pass up. On one hand, a mere General of the Northern Patrol; on the other, Dayong’s Unparalleled Marquis, a talent seen once in a millennium.

The difference between the two was immense.

There was no way Dayong could lose on this deal.

After all, back in the day, the Unparalleled Marquis had been prophesied to become a Renowned General.

Who could possibly compare to such a figure?

The aristocrats all felt that the Northern Barbarians had gone mad.

As for the Yong Emperor, he didn’t hesitate for a second. Seemingly forgetting his previous words, he asked Lv Ze, "Where is Lu Yuan?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Lv Ze said slowly, "this humble minister has heard that Marshal Xiao entrusted the Brocade Robe Envoys to bring Lu Yuan to the Imperial City."

The Yong Emperor immediately ordered, "Inform the Brocade Robe Envoys they no longer need to bring Lu Yuan back to the Imperial City. Immediately dispatch the Imperial Guard to escort Lu Yuan beyond the border and bring back the Unparalleled Marquis."

Then, without giving anyone a chance to interject, he simply declared, "Court is dismissed!"

And with that, he vanished from the throne.