Chapter 1142: Pretext
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Yuwen Yong laughed, his eyes sharp, “With no one around, you have no proof. For all I know, you could be making it up to save your hide. While your heavy crime of killing the prince is undoubtedly clear. We all heard you admit it.”
“You’re guilty and deserve to die!” Yuwen Yong snickered as he turned to Luo Yunhai, “Alliance Leader, is there something you wish to say?”
Luo Yunhai had a dark look on his face, “I just want to know what Prince of Harvest was doing in the brothel.”
“Yeah, how? With such a tight guard around…” Yuwen Yong had an answer ready, turning to the two guards.
Catching on, they cupped his hands, “Deputy sir, the prince’s character is known to all our people. Having come here as an envoy and unable to bring company, the prince had been feeling down these long days of travel. Now that we got to a big city, he disguised himself with normal clothes and slipped out. None here knew of the lord’s true identity, with only us following him. He was quite free, but then…”
“I see, you didn’t let the prince out today, just so he could go bed someone tonight.” Luo Yunhai fumed at Yuwen Yong.
He knew then that with such a big welcome they held, the prince had just to show his face and everyone would know him for who he was. Their scouts would tail him from the shadows and make sure to keep him safe…
Yuwen Yong grinned cruelly, mocking, “Alliance Leader, you shouldn’t accuse someone without proof. I won’t hear it. Everyone here knows our prince had been bottling up his needs for so long and just wanted to let loose. But at the brothel, these brats killed him without reason. It was my duty to dole out punishment to the lax guards. The prince had no restraint over his lower head and got himself killed. What’s left is to punish the killers.
“Then, Alliance Leader, I’ll be taking the brats, if you wouldn’t mind.” Yuwen Yong flicked his hand and guards went for the kids.
Luo Yunhai shouted while defending them, “Let’s see you try!”
Whoosh!
In moments, many experts had Yuwen Yong and his men surrounded instead, this being Luo Alliance’s turf.
Yuwen Yong cared not, for his aim was achieved.
“Alliance Leader, and what is this?”
Yuwen Yong waved, “I’m a central area envoy, a guest to western lands that came here brokering peace. Our prince might’ve died without reason in your home, but we still have to be fair and not let this harm our talks. We only wish to give the Prince of Harvest justice. The same for anyone, regardless of status, a life for a life. Everyone in the world agrees to this logic, and yet the Luo clan, hailed as righteous and loyal, can’t? Or maybe you’d like the central area to drill it into you.”
Luo Yunhai’s face twitched in anger, a vein popping from strain, “No matter what, no one will lay a finger on them, or they’ll have to deal with me!”
“My, Alliance Leader, that’s some fire in you. In broad daylight, uh, clearly shielding criminals and ruining the peace between our lands.”
Looking at him, then at the sky, Yuwen Yong chuckled, “I thought Double Dragon Manor answered for western lands, but now I see the times have changed, with the Luo Alliance taking over.”
Hearts sank in panic, knowing he was throwing blame around just so the two would be at each other’s throat.
Yuwen Cong waved, “Brother, please don’t say nonsense. The Luo Alliance handling this area and western lands’ defenses were agreed upon by everyone. Double Dragon Manor entrusted them with this duty. With such a serious situation, it’s only proper for the Alliance Leader to make a thorough investigation. It’s all within his right.”
“Right? Humph…”
Yuwen Yong mocked, “What right would that be, when the three culprits are related to him yet he gets to investigate? Not to mention, the truth is clear as day. Investigate what then? Alliance Leader’s reaction is clearly that of harboring them.”
Yuwen Yong’s accusation only grew wilder and wilder. Luo Yunhai was silent, stewing in rage.
“Fine, this is Luo Alliance’s turf and we’re just a group of delegates, unable to take the criminals from Luo Alliance. Let’s go!”
Being at odds for a while, Yuwen Yong smiled in the end, calling his men back, “I’ll be sure to report this to the empire and the Double Dragon Manor. Let’s see what they have to say. I only wanted to handle this quietly, on account of Tianyu being my homeland, but you just keep fighting me on this. Now you’ll suffer for it, humph.”
Yuwen Yong glared at Luo Yunhai one last time, laughing as he walked out.
Yuwen Cong panicked at the thought of making this matter bigger, rushing after Yuwen Yong, “Brother, wait, please don’t…”
Yuwen Yong got what he wanted and saw no reason to waste words on the other. He rushed back, eager to send his report.
[Prime Minister, the first step is complete, humph…]
…
Two jade slips streaked the sky with their green light, reaching Baili Jingwei and Double Dragon Manor in three days.
That was the moment all the lands’ leaders came to know of Alliance Leader Luo’s daughter’s crimes, to which Baili Jingwei had his response ready from the start.
Zither Sword King led five million soldiers of the empire to ramp up the pressure on the border between the two lands; readying for war.
“Bastard, this is just a pretext of Baili Jingwei to take it out on western lands!”
Bam!
In the Double Dragon Manor, Exalted Hei Ran slapped the table, holding two jade slips in the other, one reporting the events, the other being Yuwen Yong’s accusations, “It just happened yet they already have men at the border? It was premeditated without question!”
Exalted Bai Mei sighed with a frown, “Yes, I did say there was something off about the four lands envoys. It was all a ruse. But why must it be us? The other lands are doing well, as if to state we’re the ones at fault. We shouldn’t have agreed to letting the envoy in in the first place.”
“What’s the point of saying that now? Send the other three lands messages that we need to work together!” Exalted Hei Ran rolled his eyes.
Exalted Bai Mei nodded, “That’s all we can do. At least five million isn’t a lot. It doesn’t look like Baili Jingwei is ready for war…”
Double Dragon Manor’s plea for help reached the other lands, alas, relations weren’t as good as before.
Did they think Baili Jingwei sent some pushovers to the other three lands? No renowned official he sent was weak in his book, that was for sure.
A month passed, finding Zhuo Fan on his throne in a gloomy hall. Murong Xue was by his side, overlooking him laying out his meticulous plan. Below was the second young master of Serene Shores Trading, the envoy of Devil Palace, Wu Randong.
“This is what I want you to do? You got all that? You’ll have to endure for a bit.” Zhuo Fan spoke.
Wu Randong’s brow moved as he bowed, looking excited, “Palace Lord, I’ve been waiting for this day for too long. Sir could even cast me aside and I’d still be at peace with it!”
“It’s not casting you out, but the winning move!”
Zhuo Fan grinned, “What about the Luo clan, how are they faring? They should be ready to give.”
Wu Randong bowed, “Palace Lord is correct. The Luo clan is stuck, assaulted from all sides. Double Dragon Manor asked for help from the other lands but were quickly rejected.”
“Why would the four lands, united against the central area, sit back in western lands’ time of need?” Murong Xue frowned, “Even interdependent, they shouldn’t just let western lands go to war!”
Zhuo Fan shook his head, saying to Wu Randong, “Share the details with her.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
Wu Randong bowed, speaking gravely, “Miss Murong, the three lands are in opposition in this matter and not a whole. All because the central area holds the moral high ground.”
Murong Xue asked, “Moral?”
“To an empire, the envoy represents a nation’s ruler. To sects, he represents a Sect Leader’s authority. To the lands’ powers, he is a proxy to the highest power. By killing him, it’s like killing the ruler he represents. No one could accept this, unless you’re out for war. Killing an enemy’s envoy is like killing their leader.”
Wu Randong continued, “That’s why this matter is taken as being the Luo clan’s fault by any and all in the three lands while the central area is in the right. Adding to this, the central area’s envoys are in their lands, all the reason why the three lands are finding it hard to step in.”