Evil of all ages

Chapter 259 Assassination of the Emperor
Xu Ming knew that many things were out of their control, and now the Xu family was practically isolated and helpless; they had to make sacrifices.

Otherwise, pulling out the radish would bring out the mud along with it, dragging the entire Xu family down with it.

Xu Yunxue hesitated, unable to bear seeing her second brother make a sacrifice, but he was right. Xiliang needed an explanation, and the public anger needed to be quelled.

Xu Yushu sighed, because he really couldn't think of any better way, and looked up slightly at his sister.

Has He completely abandoned us?

Xu Yushu asked.

"He hasn't come to see Queen Ben for a long time."

Xu Yunxue's tone was somewhat dejected, much like a pet being abandoned by its owner.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yushu knew that their Xu family's biggest trump card was gone.

"At the morning court tomorrow, the ministers will launch an attack. Don't help me, and you should distance yourselves from me."

"It would be best to push all the problems onto me and let me bear the burden."

"Finally, they took the opportunity to throw me into the imperial prison."

"Remember, it's the Southern City Prison."

Xu Ming suddenly spoke up.

Upon hearing the words "Southern City Prison," both Xu Yushu and Xu Ming looked at Xu Ming with surprise and suspicion, wondering what he was up to.

"We have never been able to confirm His identity."

"I wonder if He is a ghost king or a demon from beyond the realm?"

“We are even afraid of offending Him, so we dare not seek confirmation.”

"But two tigers cannot share one mountain. In the capital, I think it's more likely that he is the Ghost King."

“Let me try and ask Him to help our Xu family again.”

"Since I've already made a sacrifice, I might as well make my sacrifice worthwhile."

"If we can get His help, that would be best."

“If we offend Him, or if my guess is wrong, it was not the demon king who helped us.”

"I'd rather die!"

Xu Ming had nothing left to fear; he was willing to sacrifice himself to gain even greater benefits.

Xu Yushu and Xu Ming remained silent for a long time, knowing that Xu Ming was doing this for the sake of the Xu family.

Seeing that his older brother and younger sister had taken his words to heart, Xu Ming got up to say goodbye and leave, intending to enjoy himself before tomorrow arrived.

“Shen Zhonghe has problems; we need to send someone to investigate him.”

Xu Yushu suspected that Shen Zhonghe had a problem because Shen Zhonghe had been unusually quiet lately.

Moreover, it's wrong that others cause trouble for his younger brother but not for Shen Zhonghe.

“We investigated it long ago. He does have problems. On the surface, he is obedient to me, but in secret he has sided with a new master.”

Xu Yunxue said.

"A new master? Who is his new master?"

Xu Yushu frowned and asked.

"Luo Sanxiao, the Controller of the Ghost Market"

"It is precisely because his new master is the Ghost Emperor that I have not taken any action against him, so as to avoid having another enemy."

Xu Yunxue replied.

"Ghost Emperor Luo Sanxiao"

Xu Yushu muttered to himself.

"A saying has been passed down from the Ghost Market: as long as you can afford the price, the Ghost Market will grant your every request."

Xu Yushu looked at his younger sister and said.

"Brother, you're looking to partner with the Ghost Market?"

Xu Yunxue asked.

“There are too many people in the capital who want to overthrow our Xu family.”

"Even the fiercest tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves. We need collaborators."

Xu Yushu said.

"But the ghost market is insatiable, and there are some prices we can't afford to pay."

Since the Ghost Market prioritizes profit, Xu Yunxue doesn't think it's a good partner.

“Now the voices against us are growing louder and louder. If we want to hold on to everything we have, we have to pay the corresponding price.”

Hearing her elder brother say this, Xu Yunxue stopped arguing and let him give it a try.

Leaving the Palace
Xu Yushu headed straight for the Ghost Market.

Then he returned home disappointed.

Because someone predicted that he would go to the ghost market for help, they arrived at the ghost market before him.

They paid a hefty price to have the Ghost Market blacklist the Xu family. Being blacklisted, the Xu family was naturally unable to negotiate cooperation or conduct transactions with the Ghost Market.

The next day

early morning
When the court officials launched their attack, they thought the Xu siblings would put up a fight.

To exonerate Xu Ming, or to speak up for him.

Who would want that?

Even Xu Ming remained silent, showing no intention of refuting.

Although this seemed strange to them, they still dragged Di Qingtian out and made him produce witnesses and physical evidence.

Through observation, Di Qingtian determined that Xu Ming was prepared to sacrifice himself to quell the situation.

Seeing that the parties involved had resigned themselves to their fate, and that the ministers had voiced their support for him, he ordered that all the witnesses and physical evidence be brought up.

Faced with overwhelming evidence, Xu Yunxue granted the court officials' request and ordered Xu Ming to be imprisoned in the South City Prison to await his fate.

Upon hearing the words "City South Prison," some officials frowned slightly, while others turned to look at Di Qingtian.

Everyone knows that the son of the Ghost King is Di Qingtian's brother-in-law.

Why imprison him in the South City Prison when there are so many other places to do it?

It always makes you feel like there's something fishy going on here.

Di Qingtian noticed the stares directed at him by many officials, but chose to ignore them.

As for why the Empress Dowager imprisoned Xu Ming in the Southern City Prison, he could probably guess a thing or two.

But he didn't want to get involved.

He didn't want to touch anything related to Huang Taichu.

After the court session ended

The Imperial Guards sent Xu Ming to the Southern City Prison.

Upon entering the South City Prison, Xu Ming, like the other prisoners, became sickly and listless.

This made Xu Ming realize that things were going badly.

Regardless of whether the Ghost King was the one who had helped the Xu family in the past, his actions indicated a refusal to help them.

He tried to struggle and beg to see the Ghost King, but he didn't even have the strength to speak before the jailer who took over locked him in a cell.

In the cells next to his were either princes or the late Emperor Li Xingji, who had been tortured.

With an additional collectible, Huang Taichu naturally stepped forward to take a look.

"Mmm... mmm..."

Upon seeing the son of the Ghost King, Xu Ming struggled to say something, but he was too weak to utter a sound.

"Don't worry, you won't be alone."

“Aside from your son not being qualified to become one of my collections, I believe your brother and sister will soon be able to join you.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ming's pupils contracted. He realized that there was no son of the Ghost King at all, and that the person in front of him was the Ghost King.

"Mmm... mmm..."

Xu Ming was still struggling, looking at Huang Taichu with pleading eyes, longing for something.

Huang Taichu ignored him and turned to leave.

When Xu Yushu and Xu Yunxue learned that Xu Ming had not received any preferential treatment.

Once he entered the South City Prison, he became just like the other prisoners, sickly and listless.

They were greatly disappointed; they knew their expectations had been dashed.

To make Xu Ming's time in the South City Prison easier, they prepared some valuable gifts and had them delivered to the Huang residence.

Why not transfer Xu Ming to another prison?

Because they all knew that prisoners who entered the South City Prison were already labeled as belonging to the South City Prison, and that transferring them to other places without authorization would lead to bad things happening.

a few days passed
Di Qingtian was reviewing case files at the Dali Temple.

Yin Tianying rushed in as if she had received some terrible news.

"My lord, news has come from the palace that an assassin attempted to assassinate His Majesty, but the Eastern Depot detected it in advance and the assassin has been captured."

Di Qingtian raised his head. The Eastern Depot was the only power His Majesty had. It was only after the civil and military officials put pressure on the Empress Dowager that His Majesty was able to create the Eastern Depot.

Seeing that Yin Tianying hadn't finished speaking, Di Qingtian didn't interrupt and continued listening.

"The assassin's identity has been identified; he is a disciple of Qingyun Palace."

"The assassin also confessed that he was instructed by Minister Xu to assassinate His Majesty."

Yin Tianying said.

"It only got quiet for a few days, and now it's happening again."

Di Qingtian shook his head slightly and said calmly.

(End of this chapter)