Chapter 235: A Brawl at the Golden Court!
Chapter 235: A Brawl at the Golden Court!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
If it had not been for the healing sessions Yun Yang had performed recently, the emperor would not have been able to take this flurry of rage. His recovering health would entail him a long life, despite the frustration and anger he felt as long as he was not involved in brutal battles. After all, His Majesty’s cultivation base was no mean thing.
Before his mood could stay bright for even half a day, the case of Yang Botao possibly being one of the Four Seasons Tower's stooges cropped up. The sudden knowledge trampled the emperor’s emotions and the man was rendered breathless for a moment.
He was a pillar of the military, one of the four main marshals!
"Is the Grand Commandant here yet?" His Majesty sat on his throne with a dark expression clouding his face.
Qiu Jianhan coughed before replying, "The Grand Commandant has not been feeling well lately but he will still come today. The current weather is too chilly for the Grand Commandant’s health; he may have to take a longer time to prepare before arriving."
The emperor nodded in understanding. "Then we shall wait for him."
"Has the Grand Tutor arrived?"
"This insignificant official is here."
"Are the marshals from all the parties in attendance?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this lowly general is here."
His Majesty felt a burning desire to scoff aloud, but he kept quiet, shutting his eyes to rest.
It was only a while later when a gruff voice resounded, "This old official is ashamed to be late."
The emperor opened his eyes only to close them again. He had thought that it was the Grand Commandant but the individual that greeted his eyes was the old man Leng Daoyin.
This old thing is neither sick nor unwell and he has the temerity to be late. Do you think this is your own dining hall?
Leng Daoyin was greeted by Qiu Jianhan with a questioning glance, to which he replied with a roll of his eyes and a sigh that passed between pursed lips.
The corners of Qiu Jianhan’s lips twitched; he glanced at Yang Botao discreetly while Leng Daoyin stepped into the imperial court with wide strides.
Tie Zheng was the tallest among the officials in the imperial court. Standing upright, he was actually two heads taller than the second tallest person there. His height made him stand out from the rest as he overlooked the court as if from an eagle's eye view.
Nobody spoke but Tie Zheng’s eyes were glaring at Yang Botao without blinking as if he wanted to swallow the latter whole.
Yang Botao was annoyed being the attention of Tie Zheng’s ire and finally asked angrily, "What are you looking at?"
"What concern is it to you?" Tie Zheng growled as he grew increasingly enraged.
Yang Botao behaved in an equally boorish manner, erupting in anger as he hollered back, "Try looking at me again. I dare you."
"Try speaking another word." Tie Zheng cracked his neck and gave Yang Botao a side-eye.
Feeling rage simmer in himself, Yang Botao spat, "Are you crazy?"
Tie Zheng saved his words, opting to reply with his fist as he sent it flying towards Yang Botao’s face. He then swore out loud, "F*ck you, not only does your father want to look at you, I wish to beat you until you stand at Death's gate!"
Yang Botao’s cultivation base was not something to toy with, but he had not expected Tie Zheng to actually dare attack him in the imperial court. When the punch came into harsh contact with him, rage colored his eyes as he exploded in fury. "You, with the surname Tie!"
Before he even finished his words, Tie Zheng’s second punch came crashing onto one of his eyes while a kick landed on his stomach. Yang Botao, who was equally muscular, fell with a loud thud in the council court as dust was sent flying into the air, while a few civil officials behind him took hasty steps to avoid the altercation.
The civil officials were watching with twitching eyes that exchanged meaningful glances – "The military ones are fighting amongst each other today, how unusual, how rare! Such a farce is like gold dust!"
Tie Zheng was unrelenting, charging over to press Yang Botao down and continued to wallop him. The latter knew that Tie Zheng was already seeing red, the brawl could barely be stopped if he only used words. When the opportunity arose, his foot shot up to land a vicious kick on Tie Zheng’s stomach, resulting in a low grunt from Tie Zheng. The man then grabbed Yang Botao’s right leg in a sweep, spinning his body with the intention to twist and break Yang Botao’s leg.
Yang Botao roared, bending his body from the floor to grapple with Tie Zheng’s neck. Both the men fell to the floor simultaneously before a flurry of punches and thuds resounded in the court. These men were militants, their muscles hard and build solid; at once, dust swirled and concrete gave way in the council court.
Both old marshals Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin were exasperated, stepping forth to mediate the fight, yet they were holding Yang Botao back, seemingly unintentionally allowing Tie Zheng to land blow after blow. It took only a few punches before Yang Botao was bleeding profusely.
The emperor had only taken a brief shuteye yet when he opened his eyes upon hearing the commotion, the space below him had already turned into a raging battleground.
Blood dripped while the furniture was smashed into pieces.
Tie Zheng tackled Yang Botao to the floor, sitting on him and swinging punches like a local thug. Each blow was accompanied by expressive swearing.
"F*ck your grandmother!"
"Bastard!"
"Meet your death!"
"F*cker!"
"What a piece of trash!"
"I…"
His Majesty looked despondent for a moment, feeling slightly out of sorts; when he regained his bearings, he shouted, "Stop this at once!"
Tie Zheng backed away and spat, "You’re lucky, son of a b*tch. Why didn’t I just beat you little sh*t to death?"
Yang Botao scrambled free from his restraints and growled, launching himself up from the floor like a fearless tiger and barreling towards Tie Zheng. He had obviously lost his sanity.
Yang Botao’s military position was nothing under Tie Zheng. He had truly lost face today after being tackled to the floor and beaten up like this by Tie Zheng in front of the civil and military officials of the imperial court – where would his dignity stand?
"Stop it!" The emperor was furious. "Yang Botao! Did you not hear what I said?"
Yang Botao, whose rationality was clouded by rage, finally came back to his senses. Looking at Tie Zheng with blood staining his entire face, his trembling finger was stretched out to point at Tie Zheng. "Just you wait!"
Tie Zheng glared back with an equal rage. "F*ck your father, how dare you threaten me! Just you wait. Your father will kill you tomorrow if not today!"
"All of you shut your mouths! Are you planning to commit treason?" His Majesty berated the two furiously panting men.
Both the marshals glared at each other with hostility before turning to take a bow. "This official has sinned. Do simmer down, Your Majesty."
The emperor was huffing in anger, almost losing his breath as he chided, "Whatever next? Whatever next!"
Yang Botao looked incredibly maligned as he spoke, "Your Majesty, this official has been wronged. Tie Zheng has beaten this official up like a lunatic today. This official didn’t even offend him."
Tie Zheng snorted, the sound filled with disdain.
His Majesty bellowed, "Tie Zheng, what is the reason for your violence in the imperial court today?"
Tie Zheng answered loudly, "Could that bastard not know what he has done? F*cking hell… he dares to cry innocence! Innocent my *ss! You sick, ungrateful, contemptible bastard! Devoid of conscience!"
"Tie Zheng, explain yourself clearly!" Yang Botao fumed.
"You bastard, you still want to pretend foolishness, do you? Let me ask you, what was last night all about?" Tie Zheng’s large build took an abrupt step forward.
Yang Botao felt his heart sink but said, "Last night? This marshal was almost assassinated last night! We’re still after the killer!"
"After your mum’s *ss!"
Tie Zheng’s bared teeth were about to gnaw Yang Botao’s face as he continued, "Supreme Wind and Flame went to your residence and announced that you’re one of those involved in harming the Nine Supremes during their last battle. What else do you have to say about being innocent?"
"Nonsense! The lowly one that attempted the ambush last night was obviously from Thunderclap Hall. They resented me for killing their young master by rote of the execution of the military law. Tie Zheng, how can you believe what the assassin said? Are you stupid? Can’t you use your brain? Supreme Flame’s mystique method of fire and the blazing technique of Thunderclap Hall are different; one comes from within while the other one is external. Their very bases differ, anyone who knows could see that!" Yang Botao argued aloud.
Tie Zheng pursed his lips in contempt and said, "Killed the young master of Thunderclap Hall by execution of military law? What an impartial and stringent Marshal Yang! Come, come, tell me then; what was the name of the young master who served in your troops? What position did he take? In what way did he violate the law that made you execute him? Here, here, tell me all about it. Let me investigate if this young master of Thunderclap Hall is real and if his crime ever existed!"
"This matter has long passed, who would remember such a petty issue? If it weren’t for last night’s episode, the execution would’ve been just that; whose hands have never stained by blood from executing the military law?" Yang Botao replied.
Tie Zheng exploded in rage. "You think I’ve never led an army? Stop f*cking with me. Executing penalties in the military has always been recorded. Are you f*cking leading a troop of idiots? Yang Botao, a thousand deaths can’t even begin to atone for your crime!"
"Tie Zheng, your cutting words are just because of your jealousy towards my military achievement and my position above you. I know you have long been upset with me. As long as I remain, your title as the top militant of the younger generation would be difficult to be achieved…" Yang Botao jabbed where it hurt most.
His statements were faced with Tie Zheng’s jeer. "Top militant of the younger generation? Forget that your father doesn’t even care about this title, are you worthy to be compared to your father even if there’s such a claim? Why, tell me what merit did you achieve for the past two years? Your father is in charge of the east and you’re in charge of the north; what is there to be upset with you about? You aren’t my f*cking son! Am I unhappy with you? Maybe! You conscienceless thing! You’d just tarnish my name if you were my son!"
Tie Zheng was on a roll with his rebuke; although Yang Botao deflected each of his admonitions, the latter's stance was far weaker than the former’s.
His Majesty had wanted to stop them, but as he thought about it, he remained watching from the sideline.
Yang Botao suddenly turned to kneel down. "This official is at Your Majesty’s disposal. Tie Zheng’s jabs were callous and vile, humiliating and falsely accusing this official before the entire council. This official has been wronged! Your Majesty, this official asks for your justice!"
Tie Zheng growled, about to lash out to wallop the man again but was held back by Qiu Jianhan.
Tie Zheng struggled hard, his eyes were rimmed red and the heaving of his chest was audible. "This ungrateful sh*t! He was ambushed during the northern border war back in those years; if it weren’t for the Nine Supremes who came and saved his *ss, the weeds at Yang Botao’s grave would have been thirty feet tall! He actually participated in harming the Nine Supremes Lord… This abominable subject who has lost his mind… Your father shall forever stand irreconcilable with him!"