'Oh!' The officials present immediately looked at him in a new light. They realized that he was quite good at putting the blame on others. It was as if he had sent the 'unreasonable pestering' back.
The Ying Clan's troops were even more excited. They couldn't do anything to this brat.
The Imperial Court was different from other places. This was a place where one could kill without spilling blood. Niu Youde couldn't make a move in the phantom market for some reason, but since he was already here, they had no intention of letting him leave alive.
Both sides were tied! Qing Zhu, the referee, immediately changed the topic. Arguing over such a small matter was simply a joke to the group of noble ladies in the hall. "Why were you two arguing outside just now?"
Miao Yi immediately pointed at Ying Wuque and said, "Your Majesty, it wasn't that I wanted to make a scene. Ying Wuque was the one who came over to humiliate me. That's why I lost my composure."
Before Ying Wuque could explain, one of the officials from the Ying Clan's faction shot him a look, hinting for him to keep quiet for now. Then, one of the officials stood up and said, "What did Ying Wuque humiliate you?"
It seemed like a normal question, but Miao Yi instantly realized that the other party was starting to pick a fight with him. It was impossible that the other party was helping him, so he quickly turned around and launched an attack. "Just now, someone was teaching me about etiquette. I wonder if I should reply to His Majesty first, or to you first?"
The officials present were once again energized. Even Lady Mei was staring at Miao Yi with a glint in her eyes. Even she could hear the hidden meaning behind Miao Yi's words.
Xiahou Tuo was still sipping his wine with his head tilted, watching with interest.
The other party calmly said, "Etiquette is a rule that must be followed. The Imperial Court naturally has its own rules. During a meeting, we can discuss matters as they stand. Anyone can raise any doubts. Only then can we uphold the fairness of the Heavenly Might!"
Miao Yi immediately cupped his fists at Qing Zhu and asked, "I do not understand the rules of the Imperial Court. May I ask Your Majesty, can I also discuss matters as they stand and speak my mind?"
Qing Zhu was ready to watch a good show. He grunted and said, "As long as it's not nonsense, feel free to speak your mind."
To him, Miao Yi's life was no longer important. If it weren't for the Four Heavenly Kings' intervention, he would have killed Miao Yi on the spot. Those who betrayed him would have to pay the price for their betrayal!
"Understood!" Miao Yi answered. He was afraid that he wouldn't be given a chance to speak. With this promise, he heaved a sigh of relief and turned to face the other party. "Ying Wuque came over to my side and humiliated me by saying that I was sitting in the wrong seat."
"So I'm insulting you just because I said you're sitting in the wrong place?" The official who rebuked Miao Yi was called Qi Linghuan. He was a Patrol Inspector of the Celestial Court with the rank of a general in red armor. He had a secondary position, unlike the Star Lord and the Marquis who occupied the main position and held military power. He was from the Eastern Army and naturally belonged to the Ying Family. Otherwise, he wouldn't have jumped out to blame them. "Even if you think that he was humiliating you, do you have any witnesses to prove that Ying Wuque said such humiliating words to you?"
Miao Yi immediately looked around the hall. It was completely silent. No one seemed to have any intention of speaking up for him. He swept his gaze across the crowd. In the end, his gaze fell on Kou Zheng, who was sitting at the back with his eyes downcast. He quickly turned his head back. He did not intend to ask anyone from the Kou family to testify. He pointed at Ying Wuque and said, "Why do you need a witness? You can ask Ying Wuque if he said anything."
As expected, Qi Linghuan asked Ying Wuque, "Ying Wuque, did you say something like that?"
Ying Wuque was taken aback. He had indeed said something like that in front of the Kou family. What did Qi Linghuan mean by that? However, he understood the hint from Qi Linghuan's eyes. Niu Youde and the Kou family were in-laws. If the Kou family could testify, then they could refute him as helping a relative. Furthermore, no one else could hear him if he spoke normally. Even if they did, the people from the other factions wouldn't jump out to testify for Niu Youde. He immediately shouted, "Slander! Niu Youde is slandering me. I have never said anything like that. "
In truth, he really wanted to stand up. However, Miao Yi had used the opportunity given by His Majesty to testify against him to stand up. He could only endure it for now.
Qi Linghuan said, "Niu Youde, Ying Wuque said he never said anything like that. Do you have any other witnesses?"
Miao Yi gave him a long look, then lowered his head to look at Ying Wuque, who was blatantly lying. He cursed in his heart. 'Damn it! He's bullying everyone in the royal court because no one can testify for me. He's trying to pin the crime of stirring up trouble on me!'
Quite a few people in the hall looked at Miao Yi with pitiful gazes. If the rebels didn't make a move, this brat would be in grave danger. Even if the rebels did make a move, they probably wouldn't be able to do much. It was likely that the Imperial Court would immediately turn into a situation where several clans would join forces to attack the rebels. Since Niu Youde had come knocking on their door, it was only a matter of a few words.
Even Lady Mei and her daughter could tell that Qi Linghuan was trying to pin the crime of stirring up trouble on Miao Yi. He was trying to kill Miao Yi!
Many of the noblewomen present finally understood how dangerous the royal court could be. One wrong word could put them in danger. Today, they had finally seen it for themselves.
However, Miao Yi didn't reply to Qi Linghuan. Instead, he suddenly cupped his fists towards Qing Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, not only did Ying Wuque say that I sat in the wrong seat, I would have tolerated it if it was just that. However, he even secretly sent me a voice transmission to scold me, saying that no one in this world would dare to offend the Ying family. He even said that he would kill me sooner or later if I left the Imperial Garden. He was also very disrespectful towards the Heavenly Empress. I am directly under the Celestial Valley Palace, so how could I ignore his words? That's why I was so angry. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to make such a ruckus in the Li Palace!"
As soon as Miao Yi said this, the entire royal court was shocked. Although most of them didn't know if Ying Wuque had said that Niu Youde had sat in the wrong seat when he went to the Kou Clan's side to propose a toast, the experienced Daoists in the royal court could tell that Qi Linghuan and Ying Wuque were colluding. Qi Linghuan was purposely trying to deny the accusation, so they didn't know whether to believe Miao Yi's words or not. In fact, most of them even believed that it was possible for Ying Wuque to say something like that.
However, everyone also understood that if they couldn't find any witnesses for Miao Yi's words, it would be even more impossible for them to find any if Miao Yi had sent a voice transmission. However, even if there were no witnesses for his insulting words to the Heavenly Empress, it was still impressive enough!
"You're lying! You're spouting nonsense!" Kneeling on the ground, Ying Wuque immediately panicked. He pointed at Miao Yi and rebuked him, then cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I really didn't say anything like that. Niu Youde is slandering me. Your Majesty, please investigate this!"
Seated at the back, Kou Zheng had already secretly taken out his Star Bell to contact the outside world. He asked Ying Wuque if he had sent any voice transmissions to Miao Yi at the time, but the answer he got was no. Kou Qin confirmed that he hadn't either. Kou Qin said that he was right beside Ying Wuque, and that Ying Wuque's cultivation was about the same as his own. There was no way he wouldn't be able to detect even the slightest fluctuation of transcendence energy. Kou Qin then asked Kou Zheng, "What's wrong?"
Suppressing the Star Bell, Kou Zheng looked at Miao Yi and was instantly speechless. No matter how much the Kou Clan wanted to sever ties with Miao Yi, they still had their status. It was already embarrassing enough that they didn't step out to testify for Miao Yi. How could they possibly step out to testify for Miao Yi's opponent?
"Your Majesty …" A woman's voice suddenly rang out, and everyone in the hall immediately turned to look at her.
Xiahou Chengyu had one hand on her round belly, a forced smile on her face. She actually spoke up. As soon as she spoke, Ying Wuque's roar came to a halt. Qi Linghuan had no choice but to swallow the words he was about to say for now.
Miao Yi lifted his head and looked at the Heavenly Empress, Xiahou Chengyu. His face was expressionless as he ignored Ying Wuque, who was kneeling beside him, looking as though he wanted to devour him alive. His heart was unprecedentedly calm. This was the result of many life and death experiences. He knew that the more dangerous the situation, the more calm he had to be.
It wasn't like he hadn't been to the Imperial Garden before. After guarding it for so many years, it wasn't like he hadn't seen Xiahou Chengyu before. In fact, he had even been taught a lesson by her. If it weren't for the Imperial Guards protecting him, he would have lost his life under the Dragon Taming Whip. That was why he knew very well how magnanimous this woman was.
Lord Qing frowned slightly. He didn't like the idea of the Imperial Harem interfering in the affairs of the Imperial Court. He calmly asked, "Is something the matter, Heavenly Empress?"
Even Xiahou Ta, who was seated below, frowned slightly as he looked at Xiahou Chengyu. Xiahou Ling, who was kneeling behind him, tensed up a little. He lowered his head to hide the hint of displeasure that flashed through his eyes.
Xiahou Chengyu laughed dryly, "Your Majesty, logically speaking, I shouldn't say anything on such an occasion. But after thinking about it, this is my grandfather's birthday banquet. Furthermore, Niu Youde is a direct subordinate of the Heavenly Valley Palace. From what Niu Youde just said, it seems that this matter also involves me. If I continue to ignore it, it would be a little unreasonable. So I would like to ask Niu Youde if Your Majesty would agree to this?"
Her words made sense. After all, the Imperial Court was a place for 'reasoning'. Lord Qing nodded slightly, "As long as it doesn't interfere with justice, the Heavenly Empress may ask."
"Yes!" Xiahou Chengyu acknowledged. She turned to look at Miao Yi and asked in a dignified manner, "Niu Youde, let me ask you. You said that Ying Wuque secretly spread a rumor that involves me. Is that true?"
Miao Yi cupped his fists and said, "In reply to Your Highness, of course it's true. It's just that Ying Wuque refuses to admit it. I can't do anything about it."
"Nonsense!" Ying Wuque roared angrily. He had the urge to pounce on Miao Yi and bite him to death.
"Ying Wuque, can you allow me to finish asking my questions?" Xiahou Chengyu said with a faint smile. However, anyone could sense the hint of coldness in her voice.
"..." Ying Wuque suppressed his anger and shut his mouth. He couldn't possibly shout 'no' to the Heavenly Empress, could he? If he really dared to say such a thing, he would really be dragged out and beaten to death by the master of ceremonies.
After he shut his mouth, Xiahou Chengyu continued to ask, "Niu Youde, what did he say about me?"
"This …" Miao Yi seemed to be a little hesitant at this moment.
Ying Wuque was taken aback by the situation. His anger subsided a little, and a sinister smile slowly rose up in his heart. 'You dare to spout nonsense? I'll see how you're going to continue with your lies. Don't embarrass yourself with your lies.'
Xiahou Chengyu's voice deepened, "What? You keep saying this and that about Ying Wuque, but when I ask you, you can't say anything. Could it be that you're hiding something? "
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