Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 333 The Imperial Assembly Launches an Attack!

The Great Qian Imperial Palace!

The morning light pierced through the nine-layered palace, illuminating the gilded pillars with a dazzling brilliance.

Inside the Imperial Palace, civil and military officials stood on both sides like clay or wooden sculptures, even the folds of their robes frozen in place.

Outside the hall, the incense sticks in the bronze crane incense burner emitted wisps of ambergris, yet they could not dispel the heavy atmosphere inside.

At the head of the civil official ranks, Prime Minister Zhao Xian, dressed in a purple robe and wearing a jade belt, unconsciously rubbed the dragon pattern on his jade belt with his knuckles.

At the forefront of the military officers' formation, Sun Lingyuan, the commander of the Dragon Guard, was clad in golden armor, his red tassels swaying gently in the wind. His gaze was sharp as a blade, radiating a chilling aura.

But who could have imagined that this Commander Sun, who held the power of the imperial palace guards, was actually...

In the past, it turned out that he was one of the original owner's personal disciples in this body of Lu Xuan.

But now Commander Sun stands on the opposite side of the Lu family.

Below the dragon steps, a complete white tiger skin chair stands out prominently; this is the exclusive seat of honor belonging to the Grand Tutor of the Lu family.

Since the founding of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, no one has ever received this honor.

He was allowed to wear a sword when attending court and was granted a seat when entering the palace; he truly deserved to be called a minister of the highest rank!

Under one person, above ten thousand people!

"Your Majesty has arrived——"

The eunuch's shrill shouts shattered the silence of the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Qianxi ascended the dragon steps with steady steps. When his peripheral vision caught sight of the empty tiger-skin chair, his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

The entire court dared not utter a sound, knowing full well that today's morning court session would inevitably stir up a storm.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even breathing seemed to freeze in your throat.

Beneath the bowed heads of the assembled officials were faces displaying a variety of expressions—some horrified, some suspicious, and some secretly pleased.

Yesterday's earth-shattering event has already spread like wildfire throughout the entire Qianning City!

Lu Jinyun, the son of the Grand Tutor of the Lu family, actually led 10,000 Tiger Roar Guards and broke through the nine layers of Xuan Iron Gate of the Heavenly Prison!

Lu Haowu, who should have been executed, was thus rescued from the death row in full view of everyone.

Even now, the earth-shattering shouts of battle still echo in my ears, and the shattered glazed tiles on the eaves of the prison still gleam blindingly on the palace road.

Several elderly Hanlin scholars were pale-faced, their legs trembling slightly beneath their official robes.

They knew better than anyone else that the imperial prison was a symbol of imperial power, and that breaking into the imperial prison was no different from violating the palace rules.

This is clearly throwing the dignity of the supreme Emperor Qianxi into the mud, allowing it to be trampled underfoot!
Among the civil officials, several venomous gazes were particularly glaring.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan gripped his official tablet tightly, his knuckles turning blue.

His only son had his leg broken by the old steward Li Mingzhen yesterday when he tried to stop the Lu family.

Liu Fu, the Minister of Rites, had bloodshot eyes that looked like they were about to spit fire—his son was still unconscious.

The most tragic case involved Zhang Zhaoran, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

The warden, who had been in charge of the prison for many years, was now ashen-faced as a dead man, and his body trembled uncontrollably beneath his official robes.

His son was in prison yesterday when Li Ming crippled both his legs and shattered his bones.

According to the imperial physician, the condition is incurable for life.

The mournful cries still echo in the Zhang residence, each one like a knife piercing the old father's heart.

The breach of the imperial prison was already a great disgrace.

The fact that her beloved son is disabled is an irreconcilable enmity.

Zhang Zhaoran stared intently at the empty tiger-skin chair in the center of the hall, as if he could see it stained with his son's blood.

His fingernails dug deeply into his palms, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

This humiliation, this hatred, had burned him to the core.

Several officials in the hall who were on good terms with him could not bear to see him in such a state.

The once imposing warden of the prison is now hunched over, his eyes filled with deep-seated resentment.

Everyone knew that Zhang Zhaoran had only one thought in his mind at that moment.

That means making the Lu family pay for their blood debts!
Emperor Qianxi glanced at the empty white tiger-skin chair in the hall, his body beneath his dragon robe trembling slightly with rage.

The armrests of the gilded dragon throne creaked under his weight.

The five fingers almost embedded in the intricately carved dragon scales.

Where is the Grand Tutor?

Emperor Qianxi's angry shout was like a thunderclap, causing dust to fall from the ceiling of the palace.

Emperor Qianxi suddenly grabbed the Hetian jade paperweight from the table and slammed it hard at the chief eunuch standing beside him.

"Cao Quan!"

"You bastard!"

Emperor Qianxi's furious shouts echoed continuously in the Imperial Palace!
"Yesterday I gave a clear order that you personally deliver the imperial edict to the Grand Tutor!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Quan was struck dumb, exclaiming that something was wrong, and froze on the spot.

Immediately, Cao Quan knelt down heavily, his forehead pressed firmly against the cold gold brick, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

At that moment, Cao Quan felt dizzy and disoriented.

This fabricated charge is clearly an undeserved disaster!
All the officials in the court knew that His Majesty had many grievances against Grand Tutor Lu.

Now, this anger has inexplicably spread to himself.

A chill crept up from the soles of my feet, climbing up my spine to the back of my neck.

Cao Quan felt a chill run through his body, and his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He inwardly groaned in despair—

Yesterday, I had solemnly handed the imperial edict to Lu Jinyun and repeatedly emphasized that it was an order personally given by His Majesty.

It was clearly Grand Tutor Lu who deliberately arrived late!
A few breaths later, beads of sweat appeared on Cao Quan's wrinkled face, and a resolute look flashed in his cloudy eyes.

Faced with Emperor Qianxi's wrath, he not only couldn't tell the truth, but also had to swallow this bitter pill.

He couldn't very well reveal to all the civil and military officials that he had already delivered the imperial decree to Grand Tutor Lu.

A shrewd calculation flashed in Cao Quan's cloudy old eyes.

His wrinkled forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles, yet his mind remained as clear as a mirror.

If the truth were revealed now, not only would his own life be in danger, but the emperor would also lose face.

"It was this old servant who was confused!"

Cao Quan suddenly kowtowed heavily, his white hair falling loose.

"This old servant failed to clearly explain His Majesty's edict, thus delaying the Grand Tutor's arrival at court!"

"This old servant deserves to die!"

He spoke these words with tears streaming down his face.

This gave the emperor a way out while implying that the fault lay with his own poor communication, which led to the Grand Tutor's late arrival at court.

Upon hearing this, some of the court officials in the hall visibly relaxed their tense shoulders.

Cao Quan, this old eunuch, risked his life to preserve everyone's dignity.

"Go to the Censorate to receive your punishment!"

Emperor Qianxi roared and swung his dragon sleeve fiercely, "One hundred Dragon Staffs, not a single one less!"

"Yes, this old servant obeys!"

Cao Quan trembled as he kowtowed and retreated, a hint of relief flashing across his lowered face.

For him, a martial arts master, the hundred blows of the Dragon Staff were nothing more than a matter of physical pain.

Compared to angering the emperor and risking one's life, this price is insignificant.

The air inside the hall seemed to freeze, and even breathing became cautious.

The officials lowered their heads, but they all unconsciously glanced towards the palace gate out of the corner of their eyes.

Waiting for the figure who could disrupt the balance of power in the court to appear.

"The Grand Tutor has arrived!"

As the old eunuch's shrill voice pierced the silence, its trailing tone lingering as if deliberately emphasizing the man's special status, Lu Xuan, clad in a purple robe against the light, entered through the palace gates. The jade belt at his waist gleamed coldly in the morning light.

He took each step with extreme steadiness, the soles of his boots striking the gold bricks with a dull thud, as if stepping on the very heart of every person.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to the Grand Tutor!"

The voices of the officials bowing were uneven, yet loud enough.

Prime Minister Zhao Xian's fingers, clenched white beneath his purple robe, had no choice but to bow.

Commander Sun Lingyuan's body trembled slightly beneath his golden armor, but he could only lower his head.

Lu Xuan ignored the gazes on both sides, which were filled with either resentment or awe.

Three generals followed closely behind him, the clanging of their armor particularly jarring in the silent hall.

Lu Jinhua was dressed in the Mighty Tiger Army uniform, the nine gold stripes on his chest shining brightly in the morning light.

Lu Jinwu's Vermilion Bird battle robe was as bright as fire, and the sword at his waist swayed slightly with his steps.

Lu Jinchang's Xuanwu Iron Armor gleamed with a ghostly light, and the sound of clashing metal could be faintly heard as he moved.

The three of them walked into the ranks of military officers without looking to the side, with Lu Jinhua taking the second seat, just behind Sun Lingyuan.

The veterans behind him looked ashen-faced, but none of them dared to utter a word.

Liu Fu, the Minister of Rites, had bloodshot eyes, and the anger in them was almost tangible.

He stared intently at Lu Xuan, his teeth clenched so tightly they were grinding together.

He beat his only son so badly that he remains in a coma!
However, when Lu Xuan's indifferent gaze swept over him, this dignified Minister of Rites felt like a quail with its throat being choked.

He lowered his head involuntarily, and even his legs under his official robes were trembling slightly.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan stood in the ranks, his knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white.

The most despicable was Zhang Zhaoran, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

The prison warden was hunched over, his face as pale as paper.

He vividly remembered the horrific scene of his son having his legs broken in the street, yet now, facing his father, the culprit, he didn't even dare to raise his head.

When Lu Xuan's gaze swept over him, the old minister's knees involuntarily went weak, and he almost knelt down.

The hem of his official robe was already soaked—this cruel official, who had been in charge of the imperial prison for many years, was so frightened by a single glance that he lost control of his bladder!

There was no other way; the situation forced us to act.

Who can blame them when this old guy's strength is just too formidable?

Lu Xuan took in the behavior of the three ministers. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Ahead, the white tiger-skin chair gleamed in the morning light, as if waiting for its owner.

Lu Xuan calmly took his seat. The gold threads on his purple robe shimmered in the light, echoing the gold threads on the dragon throne and creating a subtle standoff.

He was originally unwilling to attend this damned court assembly, but he heard that the imperial treasury had acquired many good things.

This piqued Lu Xuan's interest.

Lu Xuan casually glanced around before finally fixing his gaze on the dragon throne, and gave a perfunctory bow.

"I have met your Majesty."

Emperor Qianxi's face instantly lit up with a smile, and he even leaned forward slightly: "Master Lu, you may dispense with the formalities."

However, Emperor Qianxi's smile seemed kind, but there was a hidden undercurrent in his eyes.

His hands under the dragon desk were already clenched so tightly they turned white, and his knuckles were faintly blue.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

The white tiger-skin chair and the gilded dragon chair faced each other from afar, like two ferocious beasts poised to pounce.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the morning assembly to truly begin.

After the morning assembly began, some trivial matters were mentioned at the beginning.

Not long after, a clear and melodious sound of a jade tablet being struck suddenly rang out in the hall.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant Zhou Zhen, the commander of the patrol guards of Qianning City, has a memorial to present!"

A middle-aged official dressed in a sky-blue robe stepped forward steadily, the jade tablet in his hand gleaming coldly in the morning light.

His square face carried a deliberate solemnity, and his voice was so loud it seemed to awaken the entire court.

Upon seeing this man, Emperor Qianxi's eyes flashed, and he nodded slightly: "Granted!"

"At three quarters past noon yesterday, the Tiger Guards stationed outside the city broke into Qianning City without prior notice."

Zhou Zhen's voice was loud and clear, but he stopped abruptly at the crucial point, "They sped all the way to... the Heavenly Prison!"

He abruptly stopped speaking, bowed, and returned to the ranks.

The pause was perfectly timed, like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Zhaoran, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, staggered out of the ranks, his official robe still stained with damp dirt: "Your Majesty, this old minister submits this memorial with tears in his eyes!"

He knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead hitting the gold brick with a dull thud. "The Tiger Roar Guards stormed the prison yesterday and rescued the death row inmate Lu Haowu!"

"When the old minister's son tried to stop him, Li Ming from the Lu family broke both of his legs in public!"

As he spoke, Zhang Zhaoran actually pulled out a blood-stained handkerchief from his sleeve.

Before anyone could react, Liu Fu, the Minister of Rites, rushed out without waiting to be summoned: "I second that proposal!"

"Your humble servant's son remains unconscious. The imperial physician says... he fears..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Fu choked up and could no longer speak.

Minister of War Chen Jiequan even removed his official hat and knelt down: "Your Majesty!"

"My only son has a broken leg and is now a cripple!"

"This isn't a prison break; it's an attempt to destroy the pillars of our Great Qian Dynasty!"

The three ministers' tearful pleas acted as a fuse, instantly igniting the entire court.

One after another, civil officials stepped forward to protest, while the military officials remained deathly silent.

Everyone's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the white tiger-skin chair—

Lu Xuan was casually stroking the tiger stripes on the armrest, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

At this moment, Emperor Qianxi slammed his hand on the dragon desk, causing the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on it to jump: "Absurd!"

"The Tiger Guard is the elite force of the Great Qian Dynasty, personally trained by my mentor."

"With military discipline as strict as iron, how could they commit such a heinous act!"

Emperor Qianxi glared angrily at the kneeling ministers, "Did you all see it clearly?"

"If there is even the slightest falsehood—I will not let him off lightly!"

Before he finished speaking, Prime Minister Zhao Xian had already stepped out of the ranks.

The old minister, dressed in purple robes and jade belt, walked with faltering steps, yet every step resonated deeply with everyone: "This old minister... is willing to stake his life on it."

His voice was hoarse, as if he had aged ten years overnight, "My poor daughter is still weeping in the mansion..."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

All the court officials' eyes were focused on the white tiger-skin chair.

Lu Xuan continued to calmly stroke the armrest, but his fingers paused slightly.

He slowly raised his eyes and met the gaze of Emperor Qianxi on the dragon throne.

“Master Lu…” Emperor Qianxi’s voice suddenly softened, but a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

"Do you... have anything to say?"

This question was like a sharp sword being drawn from its sheath, aimed directly at the throat.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, and even breathing could be clearly heard.

"Yes."

"This matter was indeed instructed by the old minister."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, causing the faces of all the civil and military officials to change drastically.

Even Emperor Qianxi on the dragon throne had his pupils shrink.

(End of this chapter)