Started out getting scumbags, but then invested in the invincible Empress.

Chapter 177 Dynasty in Turmoil, Tyrant!

"What did you say? Say it again!"

With a deafening boom, Li Jing felt as if struck by lightning, his pupils shrinking sharply, as if he doubted that he had misheard.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Second Prince... was publicly beheaded by a young man in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion."

The servant looked anxious and stammered, not daring to look up at all.

"Sheng'er is dead? No, that can't be!"

Li Jing was momentarily stunned, then staggered and slumped onto the dragon throne, his body limp.

After a long while, he gradually accepted it all, then suddenly stood up and smashed the documents in front of him with a heavy slap.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the table, crafted from the finest nanmu wood, shattered into pieces, a testament to his fury.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings! Is this how you protect the Second Prince?"

Li Jing's eyes were bloodshot as he roared in a deep voice, "My second prince is dead, how come you damned slaves are still alive?"

With that, he waved his hand and said, "Guards, throw everyone in the Second Prince's residence into the death row and have them all be buried with my Sheng'er!"

"No, Your Majesty, please have mercy... I have a wife, children, and an elderly mother at home..."

The servant's face was completely pale; he was terrified, and his forehead was bleeding from banging on his head.

Even so, Li Jing showed no mercy. Standing in front of the dragon throne, he stood with his hands behind his back, ignoring the servant who had his legs broken and was dragged away.

"Your Majesty, it is understandable that the attendants who accompanied the Second Prince to the Imperial Treasure Pavilion were executed, after all, they failed to protect him properly. However, the other attendants were not involved in this matter, so their crimes do not warrant such punishment."

A minister with a long, flowing beard, feeling sorry for him, stepped forward to offer advice.

Unexpectedly, Li Jing gave him a cold look and ordered, "Since Minister Liu thinks I am wrong, then let him accompany those lowly slaves on their journey."

"Somebody come!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two soldiers with swords stepped forward and took the gentle-looking minister away.

"A tyrannical ruler! No wonder the Great Yu Dynasty has been gradually devoured by the Liang Dynasty to this extent. He cannot distinguish right from wrong and is stubbornly willful!"

Vice Minister Liu angrily rebuked him.

"and many more!"

Just as he was being dragged to the door, Li Jing suddenly sneered, "No need to take him to jail, just behead him right here at the door."

Then, under the horrified and panicked gazes of the assembled officials...

Vice Minister Liu was struck in the throat with a single sword stroke, his head falling to the ground, his crimson blood splattering everywhere.

With eyes wide open, he will die with his eyes open!

Many ministers turned pale, their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and their breath caught in their throats.

This Vice Minister Liu is a high-ranking official, holding the rank of third grade in the Ministry of Rites.

Who would have thought that after offering only a few kind words of advice, he would be cruelly murdered by Li Jing without any mercy, and in front of everyone.

"Now, who has any objections?"

A bloodthirsty smile crept across Li Jing's lips, as if he were quite pleased with the ministers' performance.

The officials remained silent, each hanging their heads, fearing they might become the next Vice Minister Liu.

Just then, a young man strode into the hall.

They were clearly disciples of the Wang family.

"Wang Bo of the Wang family pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The young man bowed, panting, his face showing urgency, clearly having arrived in a hurry.

"Why are you in such a hurry to see me? Is there something important you need to discuss?"

The Wang family is the second most powerful family in the capital, and Li Jing was very curious about their purpose.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince was murdered at the Imperial Treasure Pavilion, and his body is still on its way."

Wang Bo spoke in a deep voice.

"I am aware of this matter. Do you know the specific details, such as who did it and whether other forces were involved?"

Li Jing narrowed his eyes.

Within the imperial city, who doesn't know Li Sheng's status as a prince?

But he was killed, and in the very place where fighting was forbidden, which he found very strange.

Could it be that we were ambushed...?

Otherwise, who would dare to make a move in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion, let alone kill a prince?

After a while, Wang Bo gave an embellished explanation, and Li Jing's face immediately turned ashen.

"It was him..."

He never expected that the person who killed the Second Prince was the same useless person with no cultivation aptitude who had caused such a stir in the capital back then.

"What a treacherous Li Jing! Is he plotting a rebellion?!"

Li Jing had an impression of this idle prince.

However, as the legitimate heir of the royal family, he naturally wouldn't look down on a powerless prince from a collateral branch.

Who would have thought that one day, Li Jing's son would kill his own son in the imperial city, on his own turf?

What's the difference between this and shitting on his head?

"Effective immediately, strip Li Jing of his title and fiefdom, reduce him to the status of a lowly person, and bring him back to me!"

Li Jing roared in fury, "Where is the Marquis of Zhennan? Tell him to lead his troops immediately and, at any cost, kill that little bastard!"

The two pieces of bad news brought his pent-up anger to a near-peak.

"Your Majesty, the Marquis is currently in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion."

Wang Bo said weakly.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let him make his move immediately."

Li Jing was stunned.

Blinded by anger, he didn't think much and frowned, saying:

"Where is the Minister of War? I'm giving you ten thousand Imperial Guards. Surround the Imperial Treasure Pavilion and bring that little bastard Li Wudao back to me!"

There was no response for a long time.

"Um... Lord Miao is also in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion."

Wang Bo looked embarrassed and quickly explained, "Not only Lord Miao, but the Wang family head is also here..."

"You mean they were all there, watching the Second Prince get killed by the bandits?"

Li Jing frowned deeply, his face extremely grim.

"No, it's mainly because that kid is too monstrous. He severely injured the senior brother of the Li Huo Sect with one strike, and in a one-on-one fight, even the Marquis of Zhennan couldn't do anything to him."

Wang Bo quickly waved his hand and said bitterly, "Moreover, that person's relationship with the Imperial Treasure Pavilion is extraordinary. The other party has a high-level Martial King in charge, so the Marquis and Lord Miao do not dare to act rashly."

"This...how is this possible?"

Li Jing took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with surprise and doubt.

He had heard of the senior disciple of the Li Huo Sect, who was said to have already reached the Martial King realm and whose martial arts cultivation was unmatched among his peers.

How could such a powerful young man be defeated by Li Wudao, an unknown and useless boy?

Li Jing frowned, feeling a bit troubled.

Even with the Marquis of Zhennan and the head of the Wang family present, they were unable to capture Li Wudao, which shows that the opponent's current strength is extraordinary.

"Your Majesty, there are some things I'm unsure whether I should say or not?"

Suddenly, without making a sound, Wang Bo glanced at the old man in front of him, rolled his eyes, and pretended to hesitate.

"But it doesn't matter."

Li Jing seemed somewhat distracted.

"I saw that the eldest son of the Duke's mansion was also present."

The entire hall fell silent. The ministers' gazes shifted uncertainly, all turning to look at the elderly minister at the head of the hall.

"Are you sure you read that correctly?"

Li Jing snapped out of her daze and stared intently at him.

The fact that the eldest son of the Shen family was also involved surprised him.

"I can't be mistaken."

Wang Bo nodded solemnly, his voice hoarse, and said, "I saw it with my own eyes. Young Master Shen was standing not far from the Second Prince, watching helplessly as that villain bestowed a title upon His Highness the Second Prince with a single stroke."

He paused, then said in a heavy tone, "Moreover, that knife was lent to him by Young Master Shen!"