Crown Prince and Ghost King

Chapter 22

--There's a flashback in this chapter, once again marked by these <><><>.--

Closest to the two, Feng Xin looked at Xie Lian with unconcealed shock, his mind still processing what he just heard. Mu Qing, beside him had glowing eyes and his shock hidden a layer of excitement.

Shi QingXuan spoke before anyone else could take the floor: «QianQiu, did you misunderstand something? If His Highness was the Guoshi FangXin, how would you not recognize him until now?».

Aside from that fact that it was known FangXin was the Guoshi of Yong'An, it was also a fact that Lang QianQiu had been his disciple. Sure, he didn't see Xie Lian often, but to the point of not recognizing his own master?

«Legends say the Guoshi FangXin was proud, mysterious, and cold. He'd always worn a white-gold mask, having never shown his real face to anyone. His Highness Tai Hua probably never saw his real looks».

Pei Ming shot a look at Xie Lian, at the death grip Lang QianQiu had on his wrist, and at the mixture of expression on both their faces. He didn't want to make it sound like His Highness Xian Le was the Guoshi, but judging from the look he received from Shi QingXuan, he surely thought as much.

Whatever. He didn't speak against Xie Lian anyway.

A fight was threatening to start once again, so Jun Wu decided it was time for him to interfere. He stood up, a snow-white silhouette towering the hall, and everyone immediately calmed down. The chattering officials all stood in their place, silencing their gossip, and bowed.

Jun Wu accepted the respect, then raised his hand slightly and everyone straightened once more.

With his hands behind his back, he sat back down on the throne: «Please, tell me. Why is Tai Hua convinced of Xian Le's guilt?».

Lang QianQiu glanced at Xie Lian. Seeing that he was still stubbornly silent, he released his hand and turned to the Emperor in a bow: «My Lord, many hundred years ago this man altered his name to FangXin, slaughtered my clan, and brought ruin to my kingdom», he explained, voice trembling only slightly. «I request a duel, and pray the lord will be our judge».

Within the Great Martial Hall there were still many who had never heard of the name FangXin, despite the ruckus caused by the Crown Prince accusing Xie Lian of being that same Guoshi. Luckily for them, Ling Wen was present to answer everyone's query, even if she was a bit hesitant in doing so: «The Guoshi FangXin was the savior and teacher of the Crown Prince of Yong'An, Lang QianQiu. He was named one of the Two Wicked Masters because of the infamous bloodbath that washed the Gilded Banquet of the Yong'An monarchy», she said, telling a story that many already knew but few still needed.

«On the night of the seventeenth birthday of the Crown Prince, the palace threw a Gilded Banquet in celebration. That Guoshi FangXin...».

Ling Wen hesitated again, looking at Xie Lian out of the corner of her eyes. He still had his head bowed. For a flashing moments, the butterfly of his headpiece seemed to move. She stared at it, but nothing happened anymore.

Clearing her throat, the civil god continued: «In the feast the Guoshi, with one sword in hand, slaughtered every member of the royal family in attendance. Golden goblets toppled and blood spilled like wine. Only the Crown Prince escaped because of his late arrival to the feast, or he too would have been annihilated».

The bloodbath had been a huge blow to the foundation of Yong'An, and if it wasn't for Lang QianQiu's hard work and good heart, a riot would have surely exploded. The chaos was settled with great difficulty, and soon after the Guoshi was captured, following a bounty released to pursue him.