It was not just Chi Hou. Even Wen Dabao, Yan Xiu, Ping Yang, and Shan Yu were stunned.
At a time like this...
Wasn't he fighting for leniency?
Severe punishment!
What was the difference between that and suicide?
Chi Hou looked at Fang Zhengzhi. He could not understand why Fang Zhengzhi would say such a thing. Did he really want to die?
Was he in despair because he could not reverse the verdict?
When the crowd heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, they looked at each other in confusion and shock.
"Is he crazy?"
"I heard that when people are under too much pressure, they will temporarily become stupid!"
"Mm, I've heard of that too!"
The crowd looked at the smiling Fang Zhengzhi. The only thing they could think of was that Fang Zhengzhi's brain had taken a turn for the worse.
All of the officials chuckled when they heard Fang Zhengzhi's words.
Even though they did not know what Fang Zhengzhi meant, they knew the law and knew that Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to live if he was severely punished.
As for Emperor Lin Mubai's attitude...
Even though the officials could not figure it out, they had some guesses. Judging from Emperor Lin Mubai's reaction just now, it was obvious that Lin Mubai was the culprit.
Actually, they wanted to let Fang Zhengzhi go.
However, once the evidence was proven, Emperor Lin Mubai would not be able to save Fang Zhengzhi even if he wanted to.
"Very good, Fang Zhengzhi. You are a man of your words. If you surrender now, I will consider pleading for mercy on your behalf. I will let you die in one piece!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong chuckled.
How could he not be happy that the problem that had plagued him for more than a year had finally been resolved? Once Fang Zhengzhi died, his position would be unshakable.
"Surrender without a fight? Why should I surrender? "Fang Zhengzhi retorted.
"Could it be that you still want to resist? Haha... even if you were at the same level as a year ago, you would not be able to fly out of the capital today! "Crown Prince Lin Tianrong chuckled icily.
"Your Highness is right. Since he has become a cripple, how can he kill anyone?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled when he heard this.
"What are you trying to say?" Lin Tianrong narrowed his eyes.
"I do have sufficient reasons to kill, but what if I don't have the ability to kill? Your Highness, I would like to ask all of you, how can a person without the ability to kill kill kill? "Fang Zhengzhi continued.
"Hmph, this prince already knew that you would quibble about this matter!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong smirked, "Anyone who participated in the battle would know that you caught Princess Pingyang's spear with one hand after your battle with Canyang. Do you dare to deny it?"
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's eyes were cold.
The officials smiled when they heard this. Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had given them sufficient evidence and reason for the case years ago.
How could they not know that Fang Zhengzhi wanted to use the excuse of not being able to kill to reverse the verdict?
Ping Yang's expression changed at this moment.
She had personally participated in that battle. Fang Zhengzhi had indeed caught her spear with one hand while fighting Canyang.
"This princess didn't actually use any strength in that spear …"
"Your Highness, you are right." Fang Zhengzhi knew what Ping Yang wanted to say, but he didn't wait for Ping Yang to finish her sentence. He nodded.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong chuckled when he heard this. Ping Yang wanted to argue on Fang Zhengzhi's behalf, but that was impossible. After all, there were too many people present.
"As such, you had the ability to kill the Southern Region Noblelite. At the very least, you had the ability to do so temporarily. However, your pocket dimension was destroyed and you lost your Dao Fruit. That is why you are now a cripple!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong said confidently.
"That's right, Your Highness is right!"
"We are not fools if you want to argue on the basis of your cultivation."
"Fang Zhengzhi, no matter how glib your tongue is, you will not be able to escape today! The law is merciless! You said it yourself!"
The civil and military officials immediately responded.
"Did I say that I couldn't kill because I was not powerful enough?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the officials with disdain.
"What do you mean?"
"Could it be that there's another reason other than cultivation?"
"What is this guy trying to say?"
All of the officials were stunned. They did not understand what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to say.
"What I mean is that I didn't have the strength or ability to kill the Southern Region Noblelite." At this point, Fang Zhengzhi's gaze swept past the officials and landed on Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.
"No strength? What do you mean? "All of the officials were stunned.
All of them looked at each other, unsure of what Fangzheng meant. After all, not many of the officials had participated in the war in the Southern Region.
Xing Yuanguo of the Stabilization Constabulary was one of them.
The others were Princess Ping Yang, Chi Guyan, and the former Minister of Rites.
Among them, the former Minister of Rites had already "died" in the battle of the Southern Region. As for Xing Yuanguo, Ping Yang and Chi Guyan, they had already returned to the capital after the battle.
In other words …
Only Crown Prince Lin Tianrong, Fang Zhengzhi, and a few other candidates had remained in the Southern Region. Even Nangong Hao was not there.
While the officials were lost, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression changed. He could guess what Fang Zhengzhi was referring to.
However, he quickly regained his composure.
That was because it wasn't that easy to prove it.
"Fang Zhengzhi, you might have drunk a lot that day and suffered from a hangover. However, do you think that is enough to absolve you of your crimes?" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong clenched his fists.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was well prepared when he poisoned Fang Zhengzhi all those years ago. He purposely praised Fang Zhengzhi during the banquet and secretly ordered Su Qing to instigate the other candidates and generals to toast Fang Zhengzhi.
Under such circumstances, Fang Zhengzhi had done a great job and naturally, there were many people who toasted him. Coupled with the deliberate instigation, it was normal for Fang Zhengzhi to get drunk that day.
Getting drunk, entering Shan Yu's room by mistake and climbing onto Shan Yu's bed, all these things happened naturally as well.
And towards the end …
Shan Ling of the Southern Region had caught Fang Zhengzhi and revealed him.
That night, all of the Southern Region generals and candidates had seen how much Fang Zhengzhi had drunk. As such, it was normal for him to suffer from a hangover.
As for the next morning …
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had made ample preparations. He had made use of the opportunity to lead the way while he escorted Fang Zhengzhi.
This way, no one would know if Fang Zhengzhi was' drunk 'or' sober '.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong calmed down when he thought about this.
After all, not many people knew about the poisoning. Shan Ling was long dead, and Su Qing was far away in the Northern Lands. How could he find out?
"Your Highness, are you saying that I have a hangover?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled.
"That's right!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong nodded.
"I remember that the Crown Prince said that he wanted to try the Queen of the Southern Region's roasted lamb. Did I remember wrongly?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded and continued.
"So what if you did?" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's tone was icy. He had said this in front of everyone. There was no point in defending himself.
Furthermore, he did not think that defending himself would help the case.
"Your Highness, would you like to try it now?" Fang Zhengzhi looked into Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's eyes.
"What do you mean?" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression changed.
"The same slaughter, the same ingredients, the same technique. Your Highness, do you dare to try it?" As Fang Zhengzhi spoke, he turned to look at Shan Yu.
"You …" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had a bad feeling about this. Just as he was about to say something, he swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Because, the Southern Region soldiers had suddenly parted ways.
At the same time, four Southern Region soldiers in heavy rattan armor carried a Bullet-up Green-horned Antelope and brought it over.
When he saw this …
Lin Tianrong's heart finally began to panic.
He seemed to understand Fang Zhengzhi's intentions. Fang Zhengzhi actually wanted to repeat what had happened in the Southern Region over a year ago? But how was that possible?
Shan Ling was the one who poisoned the lamb.
However, that was more than a year ago. How could the ingredients that had been mixed with the "Ten Elements Bone-Softening Powder" still be preserved?
Just as he was thinking about this, his eyes suddenly widened.
That was because Shan Yu had already reached behind her. She quickly took out a tightly wrapped leather bag.
"This Prince still remembers Your Highness's request from back then, so the ingredients used back then have been properly preserved. If Your Highness doesn't mind, this Prince can personally roast one for Your Highness today!" Shan Yu of the Southern Region opened the pouch as she spoke, revealing the colorful condiments inside.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong paled.
In fact, when the four Southern Region soldiers carried the Green-horned Antelope over, he had already guessed what was going on.
However, he had never expected that the seasoning from back then had been preserved.
"You have traveled all the way here. I can't afford to trouble you just to satisfy my cravings!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong looked at Shan Yu with a cold glint in his eyes.
"Don't worry, this is a gift from me to the Crown Prince!" Shan Yu looked at Lin Tianrong, her black eyes burning with passion.
"The Queen of the Southern Region is no longer the Crown Prince of the Southern Region. I don't deserve such an honor!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong gritted his teeth.
"No matter how different my status is, I am still a citizen of the Great Xia. You don't have to be so courteous with me!" Shan Yu insisted.
"You really want to do this?!"
"Of course!"
"What if I don't want to eat it?" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's eyes were cold.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is looking down on me and the unique customs of the Southern Region. I will bring the warriors of the Southern Region back to the Southern Region and sincerely apologize!" Shan Yu's tone was equally cold.
"Hahaha … What are you talking about, Queen of the Southern Region? Why would I look down on your cooking skills? Please … bake it!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Then I shall embarrass myself!" When Shan Yu heard this, she stretched out her arms slightly. Instantly, her large beast skin robe flew up and fell to the ground.
At the same time, two daggers appeared in Shan Yu's hands.
The exquisite leather bag wrapped around Shan Yu's petite figure. Red cloud patterns rose from her body and spread across her entire body.
This scene was wild and full of shock.
Countless people stared at this scene with their eyes wide open.
"Is this how the Queen of the Southern Region cultivates?"
"I heard that the Southern Region cultivates their bloodline. Is that the Queen of the Southern Region's bloodline?"
"No, it's not just her bloodline!"
The crowd discussed among themselves as they stared at the cloud patterns on Shan Yu's body. All of them were shocked and curious.
The civil and military officials were also stunned by the scene in front of them.
They were discussing Fang Zhengzhi's case. How did the Queen of the Southern Region suddenly turn into a 'gift' for the Crown Prince?
Was the roast lamb related to the case?
The officials were confused. Then, some of them turned to look at the new officials who had been promoted in the Southern Region Court Examinations.
Those who had participated in the court examinations and were now officials of the imperial court also shook their heads.
After all, none of them had eaten Shan Yu's roast lamb.
…
The flames rose slowly as Shan Yu waved the daggers in her hands quickly. In just a few moments, she had finished tying up the lamb.
Then, a huge bonfire was lit.
It was noon and the sun was rising in front of the palace.
The officials and the crowd did not understand how things had turned out this way. However, they continued to watch the dancing figure in the middle of the bonfire.
Shan Yu, on the other hand, danced around the bonfire with a calm expression. With every step she took, the flames on her body would rise. She looked like a sprite shuttling through the flames.
Elegant, and filled with a special kind of wild temptation.
As for the Crown Prince, Lin Tianrong, he was naturally looking at Shan Yu as well. He squinted his feminine eyes and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Fang Zhengzhi was watching as well. However, he looked extremely relaxed. He even introduced the flavor of the roast lamb to Yan Xiu.
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