The First Marquis of Leisure

Zhao Tianhe's face was ashen, his eyes filled with murderous intent, but he still held back from lashing out.

Zhang Chunqiu's status and position are too high; he is the tutor of three emperors.

In this era, respecting teachers and valuing their teachings is of utmost importance.

Deceiving one's master and ancestors is a heinous crime, and even an emperor whose word is law must take it into consideration.

Of course, the most important factor is that the poetry competition between the states of Yan and Zhao is now hanging over the fate of the nation.

If the State of Zhao were to win, all their hopes would rest on Zhang Chunqiu.

"Old Zhang, I am the Emperor, and everything I said just now is true. Do I, as the Emperor, not even have the power to kill someone?"

"True my ass!" Zhang Chunqiu glared angrily.

He knew that under the current circumstances, no matter what, Zhao Tianhe would absolutely not dare to issue an order to behead him.

Otherwise, it would be digging its own grave, and countless people in the entire Zhao state would not agree to it.

"You tyrant, I have no more words to say. I will only ask one question: will you release Bai Xinghe or not?"

Faced with Zhang Chunqiu's relentless pressure, Zhao Tianhe's patience as an emperor reached its limit.

"Old Master Zhang, in consideration of your service as tutor to three emperors and a great Confucian scholar, I hereby pardon you for your disrespect."

"But I have already decreed that Bai Xinghe will be beheaded tomorrow and his head displayed to the public. A ruler's word is law!"

"You tyrant!" Zhang Chunqiu roared without restraint, "Let me tell you, if you really kill Bai Xinghe, you will be a ruler who brings about the downfall of the nation, and the entire foundation of the Zhao dynasty, built over three generations, will be destroyed in your hands!"

Zhao Tianhe was furious, but he suppressed his anger and believed that Zhang Chunqiu was old and frail and had gone completely mad.

How does killing a spoiled brat have anything to do with the fate of the Great Zhao Kingdom?

If Bai Tianque were still alive, it would be possible to make some contact with him.

Bai Tianque is already dead, and his close associates and cronies have been transferred or dealt with under some pretext.

Even if the entire Zhenguo Marquis's mansion were wiped out, it would not affect the fate of the nation in the slightest!

"They've arrived! Quickly take Old Zhang back to his residence to rest!"

Zhao Tianhe did not want to argue with Zhang Chunqiu any further, so he ordered his men to take him away first.

"Get out of my way! Who dares to touch me!"

Zhang Chunqiu was very forceful and pushed several eunuchs aside.

"You tyrant, everything I've said is true. If Bai Xinghe doesn't participate in this Yan-Zhao poetry competition, Zhao will undoubtedly lose; there's absolutely no chance of victory!"

"Old Zhang, are you crazy?" Zhao Tianhe laughed in exasperation.

Everyone in the capital knows Bai Xinghe's character; let alone participating in the poetry competition where talents from both countries emerge, he can't even recognize all the characters.

"What are you all standing there for? Immediately send Old Master Zhang back to be properly cared for. If anything happens to him, I will hold you all accountable!"

Several eunuchs rushed over to prevent Zhang Chunqiu from actually crashing his head into the Golden Palace and dying.

We had no choice but to separate our hands and pull him outside.

Zhang Chunqiu struggled frantically, but being an old man, he couldn't break free no matter what he did.

Seeing this, the Eighth Prince also stepped forward and advised, "Your Majesty, I can testify that everything Old Zhang said is true."

"In this grand poetry competition in Yan and Zhao, only Bai Xinghe can win; therefore, Bai Xinghe must not be killed!"

Zhao Tianhe glanced at the Eighth Prince, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.

He could only endure Zhang Chunqiu, but he was not so polite to his younger brother who had once competed with him for the throne.

"Eighth brother, what's wrong? Do you also want to return to the court? Why don't I give you a chance?"

The Eighth Prince immediately knelt down and explained, "Your Majesty, I had no such intention. Please calm your anger."

Zhao Tianhe snorted coldly, then turned and left.

Meanwhile, in the prison of the Nine Gates Admiral's Mansion.

Zhao Feishuang, Li Taibei, and their group are trying to humiliate Bai Xinghe in various ways.

In particular, Chen Ping and several other scions of prominent families, remembering how Bai Xinghe had forced them to drink urine in public, decided to retaliate in kind.

However, this time Chen Ping and the others were smarter and knew that Bai Xinghe was very skilled.

Even if these few weak young masters fought together, they wouldn't be a match for them, so they simply ordered the jailers to take action.

First, they subdued Bai Xinghe, and then forcibly forced him to drink a large bucket of filth.

Bai Xinghe cursed angrily, but even a fierce tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves.

Even if he were a top special forces soldier, there was nothing he could do once he was imprisoned.

He was held captive by more than a dozen jailers and couldn't move at all. Several of the marquis's personal guards were imprisoned in other cells and could only watch anxiously.

"Bai Xinghe, fuck you, this time I've got enough!"

Chen Ping carried a bucket of filth, his face full of smugness.

"Chen Ping, I swear, the first thing I'll do after we get out is kill you!"

Bai Xinghe glared angrily, and the pungent smell made his stomach churn.

"Heh, Bai Xinghe, do you think things are still the same as before? Your father is dead. His Majesty has ordered your execution. This time, no one can save you!"

Chen Ping and the others sneered repeatedly and began preparing to forcibly force-feed urine.

Zhao Feishuang, Li Taibei, and the others covered their noses and retreated far away, without doing anything to stop them.

Since Bai Xinghe is going to be beheaded anyway, let the young princes vent their anger and humiliate him as they please.

Just then, the Third Prince Zhao Feng finally arrived with several attendants.

At the Zhang residence, he displayed remarkable bravery and decisiveness.

He sent Zhang Chunqiu, the Eighth Prince, and Zhao Sisi to the palace to meet the Emperor, while he himself came to the Nine Gates Prison to oversee the operation.

This was to prevent Li Taibei and his cronies from using any means against Bai Xinghe while he was in prison.

As expected, as soon as he walked in, he saw Li Taibei, Zhao Feishuang and others standing aside, covering their noses and sneering.

Inside the prison cell, several jailers held Bai Xinghe down tightly, while Chen Ping and several other scions of prominent families laughed loudly, trying to force-feed the filthy criminals to Bai Xinghe.

"stop!"

Zhao Feng's shout interrupted Chen Ping and the others.

Upon seeing that it was Zhao Feng, Li Taibei and the others had no choice but to bow.

Zhao Feng didn't give him a friendly look, and said in a very firm tone, "Lord Li, Sister Feishuang, Lord Chen, don't you know that according to the laws of the Great Zhao Dynasty, it's a serious crime for you to enter the death row and execute a prisoner without authorization?"

Li Taibei and the others were taken aback; indeed, the Great Zhao Dynasty had such a law.

However, they didn't take it seriously, but now that Zhao Feng has brought it up, the nature of the matter has changed.

"Your Highness, Bai Xinghe assaulted the Yan Kingdom scholar, and His Majesty personally ordered his execution tomorrow. We are merely here to see the dying man and let the young man vent his anger."

"I implore Your Highness to do me a favor and not meddle in other people's business. After all, Bai Tianque is dead and the Marquis's mansion has lost power. With your status, there is absolutely no need for you to get involved."

Li Taibei also wanted to win over the Third Prince, believing that the Third Prince helped Bai Xinghe because of Bai Tianque, but now Bai Tianque was dead.

"Third Brother, what Lord Li said makes sense. This Bai Xinghe has committed many evils, and Father Emperor has personally ordered his execution. You'd better not get involved in this mess."

A hint of disdain flashed in Zhao Feng's eyes, if it weren't for Xiao Changqing's report.

He certainly wouldn't get involved, much less offend the powerful Li Taibei. It simply wasn't worth it for a spoiled brat.

However, there are not many people in the entire Zhao who know Bai Xinghe's true talent, and he happens to be one of them.

He failed to win the position of Crown Prince and was constantly suppressed by his elder brother Zhao Xing. Bai Xinghe can be said to be his biggest opportunity.

"Lord Li, Feishuang, if you leave now, I can pretend nothing happened!"

"Otherwise, no matter who it is, they shall be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the Great Zhao."

Zhao Feng's attitude was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Furthermore, I can tell you that His Majesty was merely misled for a moment before issuing the decree. Young Master Bai will definitely not die, and his fate will exceed your wildest imagination!"

Zhao Feng's words made everyone secretly chuckle.

Even with Zhang Chunqiu, the Eighth Prince, and Zhao Xing's own protection, so what?

"Third Brother, since you put it that way, then we'll wait and see. This time, who can protect this good-for-nothing!"

"Hehe!" Bai Xinghe, still in shackles, stood up and suddenly burst into laughter.

His eyes were filled with contempt as he looked at Li Taibei, Zhao Feishuang, and the others, and shouted, "Listen up, the day of the poetry competition is the day Zhao Tianhe will personally come to invite me out!"