Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 233 Xiao Ling defends himself, the emperor hesitates.

In the imperial court, Xiao Lingyi eloquently defended himself, stating that he was loyal and that his military achievements were hard-won.

Xiao Ling stood tall and straight, his gaze fixed firmly on the emperor, his voice loud and powerful. "Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to the court and have never wavered in my loyalty. Every victory I have won was earned with the blood and lives of my soldiers, all for the sake of protecting our country and ensuring the stability of Your Majesty's realm."

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face solemn, listening quietly to Xiao Ling's account.

The ministers who were impeaching him sneered from the sidelines. One of them stepped forward and said, "Xiao Ling, you keep talking about loyalty, but now your achievements are too great and your power is growing. How can His Majesty feel at ease?"

Xiao Ling glared at the minister and retorted, "I, Xiao Ling, have fought wholeheartedly for the court and have never had any selfish motives. If we are talking about merit, it is the result of the soldiers' bloody battles, how dare you slander me like this!"

Another minister said, "You claim to be loyal, so why are there rumors in the capital that you are colluding with foreign enemies?"

Xiao Ling shouted, "This is clearly a deliberate frame-up. If you want to find fault, you can always find a reason!"

At this time, there was much discussion in the court, with ministers who supported Xiao Ling and those who impeached him each holding their own opinions and arguing endlessly.

Xiao Ling continued, "Your Majesty, since joining the army, I have fought countless battles, large and small, and have never retreated. Now I have been falsely accused. If Your Majesty cannot investigate this matter clearly, I am willing to die to prove my innocence!"

The emperor was slightly moved, but still did not express his opinion.

Su Jinxiu waited anxiously for news outside the court, her heart pounding in her chest.

At this moment, a minister who was on good terms with Xiao Ling stepped forward and advised the emperor: "Your Majesty, General Xiao Ling's loyalty is evident to heaven and earth, and he has made outstanding contributions to the court. If he is easily convicted, it may discourage the soldiers."

The emperor fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons.

Seeing the emperor hesitate, the impeaching ministers became even more eager to put Xiao Ling to death, and they all listed some so-called "evidence".

Xiao Ling was fearless and refuted each point with sharp words and clear logic.

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, an urgent report came that enemy troops on the border had attacked again, and the situation was critical.

The emperor was greatly alarmed, and at this moment, no one in the court dared to step forward and lead the army into battle.

Taking the opportunity, Xiao Ling said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead another expedition to defeat the enemy and prove my loyalty!"

The emperor looked at Xiao Ling, his heart filled with hesitation.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the imperial court was extremely tense.

The emperor hesitated between the pressure from his ministers and Xiao Ling's defense, unsure of what to do.

The emperor sat on his dragon throne, his brow furrowed, his gaze shifting between Xiao Ling and the ministers who had impeached him. He knew well that Xiao Ling had rendered outstanding military service and made great contributions to the country, but the ministers' comments also made him uneasy, worrying that Xiao Ling's power was growing too great and threatening his throne.

Xiao Ling stood upright in the center of the court, his expression resolute, his eyes revealing his loyalty to the emperor and his resentment at the injustice he had suffered. Meanwhile, the ministers who had impeached him spoke vehemently, insisting that Xiao Ling harbored disloyal intentions and must be severely punished.

The emperor, troubled, waved for silence. He fell into deep thought, various ideas flashing through his mind. If he readily believed his ministers and punished Xiao Ling, and Xiao Ling turned out to be innocent, it would not only dishearten loyal officials but could also affect the border war; yet, if he did not punish him, he feared that, as his ministers said, Xiao Ling might indeed become a future threat.

At this moment, an old minister stepped forward. He was highly respected in the court and known for his impartiality. The old minister slowly said, "Your Majesty, General Xiao Ling's achievements are indelible, but the current situation is complex and cannot be decided lightly. Perhaps we should temporarily place General Xiao Ling under house arrest and make a decision after the truth is ascertained."

The emperor nodded slightly, finding it to be a compromise.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling's heart sank, but he understood that he could not disobey the emperor's decree. He could only cup his hands and say, "Your Majesty, I am willing to follow Your Majesty's arrangements. I believe Your Majesty will surely clear my name."

The ministers who impeached him were relentless, arguing that this was too lenient and might give Xiao Ling the opportunity to collude with outsiders.

The emperor was once again caught in a dilemma, and his face grew increasingly gloomy.

Su Jinxiu waited anxiously outside the palace gates for news. When she learned of the emperor's decision, she was extremely worried. She decided to seek an audience with some ministers who had a good relationship with the Marquis's family, hoping they could speak on Xiao Ling's behalf at this crucial moment.

However, most of the ministers at this time chose to protect themselves and were unwilling to get easily involved in this turmoil. Su Jinxiu encountered setbacks everywhere, but she did not give up.

Meanwhile, battle reports kept arriving from the border, the enemy's offensive grew increasingly fierce, and the situation became increasingly critical. The emperor was deeply worried, fearing the loss of the border on one hand, and troubled by Xiao Ling's situation on the other.

Amidst this chaotic situation, some people with ulterior motives began spreading various rumors in the capital, claiming that the emperor was incompetent and unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery. This put even more pressure on the emperor.

Xiao Ling, who was under house arrest, was not idle. He was thinking about how to prove his innocence and how to make the emperor believe in his loyalty.

Just then, an unexpected event occurred in the palace, making the entire situation even more unpredictable.