Chapter 67: Scapegoat

  It's weekend, wish everyone a happy weekend, have a good mood, oh yeah!

  "How can the heavenly army move without the Qinghai order? Who is it? Who has taken away the Qinghai order?" Cao Pi roared like a mad lion.

  "Your Highness, it must be that Cao Zhi had previously handed over the Qinghai Order to someone else. Now that Cao Zhi is dead, it must be that person who has mobilized the heavenly army." Cao Qingyun said anxiously.

  "It's all over! The heavenly army has arrived, and none of us can escape."

  "How hateful! I was thinking of making further progress and soaring to great heights, but now it's all turned out for the worse, and I can hardly save my own life."

  "Alas, what can I do? I have an 80-year-old mother above me and a three-year-old child below me. I don't want to die."

  Inside the palace, the kings and ministers who were laughing and chatting just a moment ago, now looked like dying men who had swallowed poison, regretting their actions. That earth-shaking shout was like the sharp claws of a fierce beast, constantly scratching at their hearts.

  "Shut the hell up!" Cao Pi roared, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. At this moment, he had long anticipated what was to come, after all, plotting and usurping power wasn't a trivial matter, and one had to be fully prepared for any possible eventuality.

  "What if the heavenly army comes? Even if my father passes away, Cao Zhi will also die at this moment. In the entire Qinghai Kingdom, only I can inherit the throne. What can the 100,000 heavenly army do to me? Hahaha!"

  Cao Pi was laughing wildly, at this moment he was extremely fortunate that Mo Yu did not capture Cao Zhi alive but killed him instead. Otherwise, he would be in a dilemma whether to kill or spare his life. At the same time, however, a cruel and ruthless expression reappeared on Cao Pi's face, as if several ferocious beasts were about to pounce.

  "Gu Yun Junzhu, this time you have indeed achieved a great merit!" Cao Pi smiled as he looked at Mo Gu Yun, but that smile was so sinister that it made one's heart feel cold.

  "Your Highness, this is what a subordinate should do." Mo Gu Yun said calmly.

  "Gongyun Junzhu, the great army is pressing in, we must think of a foolproof plan. As for Cao Zhi's death, we must give an explanation to the heavenly army, otherwise, not one of us will survive." Cao Pi walked towards the palace gate, standing at the threshold, with his back facing everyone inside the palace.

  "Your Highness is right, I understand what you mean." Mo Gu Yun lowered his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone.

  "Miss Gu Yun, I'm sorry. I'll treat your daughter well." Cao Pi didn't look at Mo Gu Yun, perhaps he too couldn't face her.

  "Brother Mo, today you sacrificed yourself for the sake of all of us. Don't worry, from now on your daughter will be my daughter, and the people of your family will be the people of my family." Cao Qingyun took a step forward, placing one hand on Mo Gu Yun's shoulder, seemingly intimate but actually secretly guarding against any resistance from Mo Gu Yun.

  "Ah, I'll reserve Gu Yun County for you, and your daughter will be the next county lord." Cao Pi also made a promise to Mo Gu Yun.

  "Alright, killing Cao Zhi is something I, Mo Gu Yun, will do alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else." Mo Gu Yun's tone was devoid of any emotion, as if he were a machine.

  Cao Pi also stopped speaking, standing quietly in front of the door sill without turning back. Cao Qingli, Yiralaru and several other county masters stood beside Mo Gu Yun, surrounding him, fearing that he would make any move. But Mo Gu Yun was like a walking corpse, staring blankly at the ground, saying nothing, only burying his head deep in his chest, as if thinking, or sighing.

  At this moment, everyone in the palace understood that Cao Pi was going to abandon the car and protect the commander. He would hand over Mo Gu Yun to the heavenly army, because it was Mo Gu Yun who killed Cao Zhi, and Cao Pi could completely disavow his relationship with Mo Gu Yun. In this way, the only one who paid the price for this rebellion would be Mo Gu Yun alone. And Cao Pi could sit on the throne in a legitimate and justified manner, because he was the only royal heir of Qinghai State.

  Just a moment ago, Mo Gu Yun was still a great contributor, but now he has become a scapegoat. Everyone feels a deep sense of regret and sorrow for Mo Gu Yun. At the same time, they also feel a kind of fear towards Cao Pi's ruthlessness, and no one can predict whether their own future will be like Mo Gu Yun's at this moment.

  But no one can see it, under Mo's lonely cloud-like low-hanging head, that slightly upturned corner of his mouth.

  Time passed minute by minute, second by second. For the people inside the palace, however, it was like a year had gone by. They had never experienced such waiting and torment before. But they had no other choice. Facing an army of 100,000 heavenly soldiers, no one could resist them. All they could do was wait for the final outcome, which would also be their final judgment. Because they had participated in the rebellion, and now the heavenly army was advancing to punish these treacherous officials.

  Although Mo Gu Yun seemed to have been controlled, and was about to be used as a scapegoat to pay for this rebellion, after all, things had not reached the final moment, and no one could feel at ease in their hearts.

  At last, the rumbling sound of uniform footsteps came from afar. The 100,000 heavenly soldiers almost encountered no resistance and smoothly advanced into the imperial city. As soon as they entered the imperial city, the heavenly soldiers dispersed and took control of every road, every alley, and every exit in the imperial city.

  The entire 100,000-strong Imperial Army has surrounded the Wang City, making it impossible to get in or out. Even a fly trying to fly in would likely be shot dead by stray arrows.

  At last, the heavenly troops poured in, layer by layer, surrounding the entire palace. The Central Guard, which had been so powerful before, was now completely disarmed and under the control of the heavenly troops.

  Cao Pi finally stepped out of the palace gate, looking at the dense black armor in front of him. Cao Pi's heart was already in his throat, but on his face, there was no expression to be seen.

  At this time, the heavenly army dispersed from the middle, and a red-faced big man with a large knife on his back walked out of it. It was Li Fei, the commander-in-chief of the National Heavenly Army.

  "Li Fei is here, you treacherous officials and sons, come quickly to meet your death!" Li Fei's overbearing voice echoed towards the palace, causing everyone inside to tremble with fear, even Cao Qingyun and others changed their expressions. Because they knew that this Li Fei was the number one expert in the Heavenly Army, his strength had reached the small completion of the Hua Shen period, even if several of them joined forces, they would not be able to gain much advantage in front of Li Fei. Moreover, behind him, there were 100,000 heavenly soldiers, which was a power that could not be shaken, like an ant trying to shake a tree.

  Cao Pi was also shocked, but he made a long-awaited expression with all his might, taking small steps down from the stairs in front of the palace, and exclaimed in surprise.

  "Li Fei has finally arrived, Cao Pi had been waiting for a long time."

  Li Fei coldly stared at Cao Pi, but didn't say a word, as if he wanted to see what kind of tricks Cao Pi was going to play.

  Li Fei was speechless, and Cao Pi also swallowed a mouthful of saliva, turned sideways to point at the palace, and continued: "General Li Fei, the rebel has been captured by us and is now in the palace."

  "Huh?" Li Fei was stunned for a moment, this seemed to be somewhat inconsistent with what he had understood. Didn't that person say that the Second Prince Cao Pi had rebelled?

  "Bring out the traitor Mo Gu Yun!" Cao Pi shouted coldly, and with this cold shout, several cold shouts also came from within the palace.

  "Mo Gu Yun, you treacherous and disloyal subject, today I will definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

  "Hum, your actions will be condemned by people all over the world."

  Cao Qingyun and others escorted Mo Guyu out of the palace, but at this time, Mo Guyu had already been tied up with ropes without any resistance.

  "Is this the traitor?" Li Fei pointed at Mo Gu Yun and said.

  "Yes, Lord Li Fei, Mo Gu Yun's crime is heinous. After the king's passing, my brother wanted to gather all of you county masters to discuss the state funeral, but unexpectedly, Mo Gu Yun had the audacity to attempt to seize my brother and coerce the officials. Fortunately, all of you county masters joined forces and captured this traitor, but unfortunately, my brother suffered a tragic fate and was killed by this villain." Cao Pi's words became increasingly sorrowful, and his face streamed with tears as big as beans, as if he had reached the depths of despair.

  "Ah? I didn't expect that Mo Gu Yun could actually do something so heinous, it's really a crime deserving of death, should be executed along with his entire clan." A voice slowly spread out from the Heavenly Army, and a figure also walked out from within.

  Cao Pi looked at this unfamiliar face, racked his brains and couldn't figure out who this person was. He could only look at Li Fei, knowing that in this situation, not just anyone could speak up.

  As expected, Li Fei heard the voice and not only did he not show any blame, but instead showed extreme respect, making way for the person to walk forward.

  "Could this be the person who holds the Qinghai Command Token and commands the Tianjun? Who is he, and why have I never seen him before?" Cao Pi thought to himself. He was not the only one with such thoughts; everyone else was also racking their brains trying to recall, but they couldn't find a match for this face in their memories.

  But Mo Gu Yun heard this voice and slowly lifted his head, looking at the face, revealing an extremely relieved smile.

  This man was none other than Qin Lang.

  "Lord Qin, is this man really a traitor?" Li Fei looked at Qin Lang with doubt, although Cao Pi repeatedly said that Cao Zhi had been killed by Mo Gu Yun, but he knew that the real Cao Zhi was currently in his own army, safe and sound.

  "This question can only be asked of Your Highness." Qin Lang smiled and turned to ask Cao Pi, "Your Highness, is this man the traitor who plotted against the crown prince, killed him, and was later captured by the various princesses?"

  "It's true, this is absolutely certain. All the princesses and high-ranking officials in the palace can testify to it." Cao Pi said affirmatively.

  "In that case, this man's crime deserves death! Li Fei, commander, take him down!"