"The Emperor seems quite energetic," Bai Ran teased.
"Bai Ran!" Murong De gritted his teeth, furious.
He abruptly stood up and pointed at Bai Ran. "Guards, the Bai family plots against the imperial family! Arrest all members of the Bai family and throw them into the dungeon!"
A throng of guards flooded in from outside, surrounding Bai Ran and the Bai family.
Bai Zhantian's expression was now darker than words could describe; he was utterly dejected.
"Your Majesty, my Bai family has served the royal house. Even without merit, we have toiled hard. Why...?" he clenched his fists tightly.
"Why? Hmph! You should ask your good granddaughter," Murong De said as he resumed his seat on the imperial throne.
"What are you doing! I am not a member of the Bai family, why are you arresting me!"
Bai Luohan was also surrounded.
"Arrest them! What does it have to do with me!"
The atmosphere in the great hall was tense. Those on the ground understood perfectly that this was a setup by the Emperor to eliminate the Bai family. They hadn't expected Bai Ran to expose it, forcing him to resort to force.
At this point, although it was clear the Bai family was being framed, no one dared to step forward, lest they become the next Bai family.
"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! The Bai family has been loyal for generations! You cannot act so rashly!"
Qin Mu actually stepped forward?
Bai Ran looked at him with surprise.
Qin Mu, who had fallen, also wished to voice his protest. However, the poison, though not fatal, was extremely potent. All he could do was glare at Murong De with indignant grief.
Murong De, however, turned a deaf ear. He was determined to eliminate the Bai family today, to remove Bai Ran, this thorn in his side!
To be a companion to the ruler was like being beside a tiger.
Bai Zhantian's face was ashen. He was about to be arrested.
Bai Ran met Murong Chen's gaze, and Murong Chen nodded.
"Father, your son believes the Bai family is innocent."
He stood up and walked before Murong De, looking down at him.
"What right do you have to speak! Get down at once!" He always felt Murong Chen had changed since his leg had healed.
"Since Father insists, then Chen'er has no choice but to resort to this."
Murong Chen waved his hand, and all the guards immediately stopped, turning their weapons towards Murong De.
Everyone in the hall stared, dumbfounded!
The Third Prince dared to rebel!
Bai Zhantian had not anticipated this turn of events either. The Third Prince dared to rebel for the sake of the Bai family!
"Chen...er..." Consort Xian, her body weak, tried to stop him, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.
"Consort Xian, do not worry," Bai Ran stepped forward and helped her up, giving her an antidote pill.
Emperor Murong De's eyes were about to split with rage. "Good, good, good! Your wings have grown strong enough to defy me! Guards!"
Dozens of secret guards at the Golden Core stage emerged from the shadows, positioning themselves before Murong De.
"You little brat, daring to force your way into the palace! Today, I'll show you what it means to never return!" Murong De said to Murong Chen with a sneering smile.
Were the foundations of his imperial family, built over hundreds of years, something a mere stripling could overturn!
Murong Chen looked at the dozens of secret guards before him, feeling a pang of uncertainty.
These guards were loyal only to the reigning emperor. No matter how he tried to bribe them, they remained steadfast in their loyalty.
This was an unforeseen variable. Murong Chen hadn't expected there to be dozens of Golden Core realm experts; this was not something he could deal with currently.
Suddenly, a dazzling ball of fire erupted into the sky, soaring upwards. A cry echoed through the land. It stopped in the air, spreading its wings, its long tail feathers wreathed in raging flames. A vermilion and golden radiance instantly enveloped the land.
"It's, it's the Vermillion Bird!"
"It's the guardian divine beast, the Vermillion Bird!"
Everyone, inside and outside the palace, who witnessed this was overcome with emotion. They prostrated themselves before the Vermillion Bird, offering their respects. Those in the great hall also bowed down, and the secret guards were no exception.
A guardian beast! This signified the appearance of the protector of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom!
They never imagined they would witness the legendary guardian with their own eyes!
The people in the great hall found it difficult enough to remain kneeling. Their eyes were filled with excited joy, but as they bowed to the Vermillion Bird, no one noticed Bai Ran's calm demeanor. Murong Chen, however, secretly offered a bow in the direction of the Vermillion Bird.
The Vermillion Bird circled in the sky once. Its vermilion and golden form swooped down from the heavens, landing beside Murong Chen, who had just stood up.
The Vermillion Bird landed beside Murong Chen!
Murong Chen was the guardian of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom!
Upon realizing this, everyone in the great hall painfully turned their bodies with great effort and knelt before Murong Chen.
The secret guards also offered a respectful salute and moved to stand behind Murong Chen. They knew that the guardian possessed the right to replace the reigning imperial family. As for them, they were loyal only to the emperor.
"You! You!" Murong De's face had turned deathly pale the moment he saw the Vermillion Bird. Furthermore, he never expected that the guardian, whom he had guarded against with all his might, would be his most detested son!
"Father, no, Murong De, you should abdicate," Murong Chen said, his hand behind his back, his gaze towards Murong De filled with disdain and coldness.
At this moment, Murong Chen truly resembled an emperor worshipped by thousands! His aura was killing, indifferent, and ruthless.
"No, no, impossible. My son would not do this to me! You are not my son!"
Murong De was on the verge of collapse, his mind in disarray.
"Take him away," Murong Chen commanded.
"No... don't..."
The Eldest Princess, dragging her body that was in immense pain, crawled to Murong Chen's feet.
Her brother had rebelled, overthrowing the father who doted on her the most with his own hands. Her heart ached, as if it were tearing apart.
How could this have happened...
The Eldest Princess bit her lip tightly, large tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She couldn't understand why her third brother had rebelled.
Murong De was dragged away by the secret guards, his wails echoing throughout the entire palace.
The Eldest Princess was also dragged away by the secret guards to a distant location.
Murong Chen slowly walked to the imperial throne and sat down, looking down at everyone in the great hall.
Consort Xian, her body recovered, looked at Murong Chen, who had ascended the throne, her eyes welling up with tears. She slowly walked to his side. "Chen'er, you've suffered."
She didn't know what Murong Chen had endured. He was like a completely different person from before. But she knew that Murong Chen must have suffered greatly.
As the saying goes, those who love you don't care how high you fly, only whether you are tired.
Murong Chen glanced at his mother and gave her a look of comfort.
"Soon, I will hold my coronation ceremony. For today, take these antidote pills, and you may all disperse," Murong Chen said with a wave of his hand. The guards then brought out many bottles of antidote pills.
This sight filled everyone with renewed excitement.
The people in the great hall gradually dispersed. Murong Chen kept Bai Ran, Murong Jin, and Bai Luohan behind. Dragon Jin Han remained seated like a large Buddha; Murong Chen didn't dare to chase him away.
Bai Ran instructed Bai Zhantian to return first.
As for Murong Jin, he had been in disbelief since Murong Chen's rebellion began. His brother, whom he had always bullied, dared to force his way into the palace! And he was the guardian of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom!
It's over, he was finished!
Murong Chen's head was hung low, his face as pale as paper.
Bai Luohan, on the other hand, was as bold as a newborn calf, unafraid of anything. She was unaware of the enmity between Murong Chen and Murong Jin. She even gleefully believed that she was about to become the Crown Princess.
"Your Majesty, Bai Ran incited the head of the Bai family to kill his own son! Such a scheming and deep-minded person cannot be allowed to live."
She knelt before Murong Chen and said indignantly.
"Oh? Tell me, how should I be punished?" Bai Ran asked, looking at Bai Luohan with amusement.
Murong Chen held his forehead, utterly speechless.
He had seen foolishness before, but never such extreme foolishness. Had she left her brain in her mother's womb at birth?