I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 162: The Clouds Are Cleared, and the World Is Bright

Inside the imperial study, the air seemed frozen, a pin drop audible. The emperor clutched the letter tightly in his hand, veins bulging on the back of his hand, revealing the turbulent currents within him. Every word in the letter was a piercing blow, exposing the Left Prime Minister's actions over the years: collusion with enemy nations, leaking military secrets, corruption and bribery, and even attempts to usurp the throne!

"How ridiculous!" The emperor slammed the letter onto the dragon table and stood up angrily. "This old bastard, whom I trusted so much, dared to betray me and the court!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin said in unison.

"Calm down? How can I calm down?" The emperor pointed at the letter in Ren Xiaoyao's hand, furious. "It's written clearly, the evidence is irrefutable. What else can he say?"

Ren Xiaoyao raised his head, a gleam in his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister is a powerful figure with many followers. Please think twice before acting, and do not alert the enemy."

Xia Lin also stepped forward and echoed, "General, you're right. We must devise a foolproof plan to capture the Left Prime Minister and his accomplices in one fell swoop and put an end to this trouble forever!"

The emperor took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger. He knew that Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin were right; this matter must be handled with caution. He slowly sat back on the throne, closed his eyes, and after a moment of contemplation, opened them, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"Pass on my decree. The palace gates are sealed. No one is allowed to enter or leave! Summon the Left Prime Minister to the palace to see you immediately!"

When Eunuch Qian heard this, he was shocked. He knew that a storm was about to come, so he quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!" After that, he hurriedly left the imperial study.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes. They knew that the real battle had just begun...

Eunuch Qian, leading several imperial guards, trotted all the way to the Left Prime Minister's residence. At that moment, the Left Prime Minister was leisurely sipping tea and listening to opera, unaware of the approaching danger. "Master, someone from the palace has arrived, saying they have an important matter to discuss with you," the housekeeper hurried into the courtyard, interrupting the troupe's performance.

The Left Prime Minister frowned unhappily and asked impatiently, "Why are you so flustered?"

The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered, "It's... the emperor has urgently summoned you to the palace to see him immediately."

The Left Prime Minister's heart trembled, and a sense of foreboding came over him. He put down his teacup and asked calmly, "Do you know what this is?"

The butler shook his head and said, "The emperor didn't say it explicitly, he just asked you to come to the palace quickly."

The Left Prime Minister took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. He wondered if the Emperor had discovered something. He suppressed his uneasiness and said in a deep voice, "Change your clothes, prepare the sedan chair, and enter the palace!"

Meanwhile, Ren Xiaoyao had already led his trusted followers to surround the Left Prime Minister's residence. Inside the residence, just as the Left Prime Minister was about to leave, he heard a commotion outside. "What's going on?" the Left Prime Minister asked sharply.

"Master, it's bad. There are soldiers outside and they have surrounded us!" A servant ran in hurriedly to report.

The left prime minister's face turned pale. He forced himself to remain calm and said to the butler, "Quick, take me to the secret passage!"

However, it was too late. Ren Xiaoyao kicked open the door and rushed into the palace with his men, surrounding the Left Prime Minister's residence. "Left Prime Minister, you colluded with the enemy and plotted rebellion. Now that you've been caught red-handed, why don't you surrender?" Ren Xiaoyao shouted, his voice filled with majesty and anger.

When the Left Prime Minister saw that his plan had been exposed and that he had no way out, his face turned pale. "Come here, take down the traitor!"

At Ren Xiaoyao's command, the soldiers behind him surged forward, apprehending the Left Prime Minister and his accomplices. As the news spread, the people of the capital applauded and took to the streets to celebrate their victory. Their chants, "The Protector General is wise! The treacherous minister has been brought to justice. How joyful!" resounded through the air, echoing across the capital for a long time.

The next morning, the atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn and dignified. The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his expression grim as he surveyed the civil and military officials below. Ren Xiaoyao, clad in armor and with a sword at his waist, stood in the center of the hall, head held high and chest puffed out, awaiting the emperor's orders.

"Ren Xiaoyao!" The emperor's voice was loud and majestic, echoing in the Golden Palace.

"I'm here!" Ren Xiaoyao stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and responded with a fist clasped.

"Do you know your crime?!" The emperor's voice suddenly became sharp, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

Ren Xiaoyao was startled, but not in the least flustered. He raised his head, met the emperor's gaze firmly, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I do not know what crime I have committed!"

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was so solemn and suffocating. The Emperor's sharp gaze bore down on Ren Xiaoyao, as if he were trying to see through him. Yet, Ren Xiaoyao remained calm, showing no fear at all.

"Your Majesty," Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, his voice echoing in the empty hall, "I have fought for the empire, risking my life on the battlefield. My loyalty to the country and Your Majesty is evident to all. What crime have I committed?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a murmur broke out in the hall. The ministers whispered to each other, speculating about the emperor's intentions.

The emperor was silent for a moment, as if weighing something. He spoke slowly, his tone less sharp and more majestic: "Ren Xiaoyao, you have made invaluable contributions to suppressing the rebellion and quelling the civil unrest. However," he changed his tone, "you led troops to surround the Left Prime Minister's residence without my permission. Do you understand that this is a capital crime?"

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister is colluding with the enemy and intending to rebel. The evidence is both there and in evidence. For the safety of the country and for the sake of Your Majesty's rule, I must act decisively and bring him to justice. If I am convicted for this, I have no complaints!"

His voice was sonorous, powerful, and full of awe-inspiring righteousness. The ministers in the hall couldn't help but be moved, and looked at Ren Xiaoyao with eyes full of admiration.

"For the safety of the country, for my kingdom!" The emperor stood up suddenly, and the golden dragon on his robe seemed to come alive, shining brightly in the candlelight. "Let me ask you, what is a country? What is a kingdom?"

Ren Xiaoyao straightened his back, looked at the emperor with a firm gaze, and answered loudly: "Your Majesty, the country belongs to the people. The country and the people depend on them! The true strength of a country does not lie in the vastness of its territory or the strength of its military, but in the support of its people! He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world, and he who loses the hearts of the people loses the world!"

His voice echoed in the Golden Palace for a long time. Every word struck the hearts of the ministers, shocking them and moving them.

"Well said!" Eunuch Qian stepped out from behind the emperor and praised loudly, "General Ren is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and his heart is with the world. He is truly a pillar of our dynasty!" He turned to the emperor and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, General Ren is devoted to the country, disregarding personal gain and loss. Such a loyal minister and capable general is truly rare. Your Majesty, I hope you will observe this!"

The emperor said nothing, but just looked at Ren Xiaoyao quietly, with a complex light in his eyes. He knew that what Eunuch Qian said was right. Talents like Ren Xiaoyao are rare in a century.

After a long while, the emperor sighed and said slowly, "Ren Xiaoyao, I have taken note of everything you said..."

The emperor slowly paced and stood before the dragon throne. His majestic gaze swept across the hall, finally landing on Ren Xiaoyao. He said in a deep voice, "Ren Xiaoyao, you exposed the conspiracy of treacherous ministers, crushed the rebellion, and protected the stability of our country. Your achievements are truly unparalleled!" He paused, his voice even louder, "Today, I appoint you as the 'Grand Marshal of the Nation', commanding all the troops across the country to protect the foundation of our dynasty!"

Ren Xiaoyao knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and loudly accepted the order: "Your Majesty, I accept the order and thank you! Your Majesty, I will devote my life to the prosperity of the empire, even if it means death!"

In the Golden Palace, all the civil and military officials were impressed by Ren Xiaoyao's loyalty and courage, and they shouted in unison: "Grand Marshal of the Nation! Grand Marshal of the Nation! Grand Marshal of the Nation!"

After the court session, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin walked side by side. Xia Lin's eyes twinkled as she whispered, "Congratulations, Brother Xiaoyao! You are now second only to the emperor in the empire."

Ren Xiaoyao smiled faintly, but his eyes grew deeper. "This is just the beginning. The empire's borders are long, and we're surrounded by powerful enemies. The burden on my shoulders is still heavy." He looked up into the distance, a hint of worry in his eyes. "I have a feeling that things won't be this simple..."

"You mean..." Xia Lin seemed to have thought of something, and her expression became serious.

"Tomorrow morning, I'm going to patrol the border," Ren Xiaoyao said with a gleam in his eyes. "General Sun has been through many battles and is very experienced. Let him go with me this time."

"General Sun is an upright and loyal person. He is indeed a good helper to you." Xia Lin nodded in agreement.

The next morning, at daybreak, Ren Xiaoyao was already dressed and ready to go. Dressed in military uniform, he stood tall and straight, appearing even more heroic and extraordinary. General Sun had been waiting at the city gates, and upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao, he quickly stepped forward to salute.

"General Sun, no need to be so polite," Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice as he mounted his horse. "The battle at the border is urgent. Let's set off now."

After galloping all the way, the two soon arrived at the first border fortress. However, the scene before them made Ren Xiaoyao's heart sink...