novelraw Chapter 400 What did he see? Dragon pattern?! 1
Chapter 400 What did he see? Dragon pattern?! 1
Before Mo Yinhe seized power, Ye Xinguang, as the Queen, had no actual authority. She served only as the spiritual leader of Atlantis, similar to the Queen of England.
The actual power of Atlantis was held by six great families.
Each of these six families sent an elder to form a federal interim government that temporarily managed all affairs of the empire.
These six great families were the Geshu Family, Bai Family, Ying Family, Gui Family, Quan Family, and Yao Family.
Among them, the Quan and Gui families focused on military authority, with Quan Yong being the most promising and capable of the younger generation in the Quan Family.
Unfortunately, after Mo Yinhe took power, he weakened the military authority of the Quan and Gui families, consolidating all military power in his own hands. This action violated the interests of the Quan Family. Could they really submit willingly and let bygones be bygones?
With just a casual remark, Si Lisao hinted that the Quan Family still harbored ambitions to retake military authority. This was a serious problem. Which ruler could tolerate such a thing?
Even Mo Yinhe felt Si Lisao was quite venomous.
And yet, knowing full well that Si Lisao was deliberately stirring up trouble, Mo Yinhe still had to make an example of someone.
Of course, if Quan Yong dared to harm Mo Yinhe’s sister, Mo Yinhe would never let him off.
"Quan Yong, you have quite the nerve!"
Mo Yinhe stood with his hands behind his back, the authoritative gaze of a superior landing coldly on Quan Yong, delivering the final verdict on his actions. "To plot for military authority, you dared to use my sister as a sacrifice. How could I tolerate such defiance? Guards, take him away!"
Quan Yong’s complexion changed instantly, and he said furiously, "Crown Prince, Si Lisao is spouting nonsense! He’s deliberately trying to undermine the relationship between the Quan Family and the Empire!
If my Quan Family coveted military authority, we wouldn’t have been the first to surrender our military power to you!
There is an old saying: When the birds are gone, the bow is hidden; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. Don’t let an outsider’s words chill the Quan Family’s heart by letting this proverb play out on us!"
Quan Yong wasn’t a pushover.
With just one sentence, he turned the situation around.
Originally, all six great families had surrendered their power to Mo Yinhe. Even if reluctant, they did indeed support Mo Yinhe becoming the de facto Crown Prince.
The six great families of the Empire were still families of meritorious officials, deeply entrenched in Atlantis, their century-old networks spanning the entire nation. To touch one was to affect all.
If Mo Yinhe were to act rashly against Quan Yong after he invoked the proverb, wouldn’t the six great families start having second thoughts?
That would lead to disharmony between the sovereign and his ministers, and instability in the regime.
Si Lisao and Quan Yong—each was more venomous than the other.
"Crown Prince, this is most certainly a conspiracy by Si Lisao! He bribed the waiter to set up and frame me and Geshu Chen. He wants to stir up trouble and sabotage the relationship between the Geshu Family, the Quan Family, and the Empire, sowing discord between the ruler and his subjects, destabilizing the court. His intentions are truly malicious!"
Even then, Quan Yong vehemently denied everything.
It wouldn’t be easy to convict him without concrete proof.
The Quan Family remained one of the six most powerful families in Atlantis.
Si Lisao accused Quan Yong of plotting for military authority. Quan Yong accused Si Lisao of sowing discord. Now it all depended on whose side Mo Yinhe would take.
Furthermore, Quan Yong was trying to drag the Geshu Family into the mess.
One of Geshu Chen’s elders immediately stood up to defend Quan Yong. "Crown Prince, I think what Quan Yong said makes a lot of sense!
Our Chen’er must have fallen into Si Lisao’s trap. Crown Prince Lisao traveled a great distance to Atlantis to attend the Second Princess’s birthday banquet. He must have ulterior motives!
I hope you won’t rush to convict someone just on the word of a waitress. What if the waitress was bought off to frame Quan Yong?"
Mo Yinhe narrowed his dark eyes, glancing at Quan Yong. So, Quan Yong is eager to die?Very well, I won’t stop you then!I dare say, if I don’t deal with him now, the moment Quan Yong steps out of the Royal Palace, he’ll be minced by Si Lisao’s men!Since Quan Yong insists on giving me this chance to kill with a borrowed knife, how could I, Mo Yinhe, not grant his wish?
Mo Yinhe looked at Quan Yong with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. "Major Quan’s words do make some sense. In that case, let’s wait for the investigation results. Guards, please escort Major Quan back home and, before the investigation concludes, revoke his privilege to leave his residence. Do you have anything further to say?"
Quan Yong, arrogant as ever, bowed and said, "Thank you, Crown Prince, for your discerning insight. I am willing to await the investigation results at home. Facts speak louder than words, and I trust you will restore my innocence! The Quan Family’s loyalty to you, Crown Prince, is witnessed by heaven and earth!"
Having said that, he turned and strode out of the changing room.
Ye Shen was so angry he nearly spat blood. He walked up to Mo Yinhe. "Bro, you’re just letting him go? The waitress said it was him!"
Mo Yinhe deliberately scolded Ye Shen, "Idiot! How could Major Quan be convicted solely on a waitress’s testimony? What if Quan Yong is wrongly accused, delighting our enemies and grieving our allies? Wouldn’t that chill the hearts of the elders?"
"Brother!" Ye Siyuan, who was lying on the sofa, gradually came to. With tears streaming down her face, she pointed at Geshu Chen on the ground. "It really was him who assaulted me first! Crown Prince Lisao and Sister-in-law saved me later. Would I shield Crown Prince Lisao and deliberately frame Quan Yong and Geshu Chen?"
Ye Siyuan was fiercely protective and would not allow anyone to slander Si Lisao.
"Si Yuan, trust that Big Brother will ensure justice for you. I will neither let a good person be wronged nor let a bad person escape," Mo Yinhe said reassuringly.
Mo Yinhe signaled Ye Siyuan to be silent.
Ye Siyuan bit her lip, unwilling to concede, and looked up at Si Lisao with apologetic eyes.
Mo Yinhe coldly ordered, "Guards! Take Geshu Chen and the waitress away for strict interrogation. I want the investigation results before morning."
After the still unconscious Geshu Chen was dragged away, Mo Yinhe approached Si Lisao. "Crown Prince Lisao, I must trouble you to remain in Atlantis as our guest until the facts are clear."
Si Lisao squinted his eyes, smiling without a word.
Most of the guests present supported Mo Yinhe’s handling of the situation.
In private, however, Mo Yinhe issued a secret order to Fengjue: "Send a small squad, disguised as Si Lisao’s subordinates, to intercept Quan Yong on his way home and eliminate him!"
And Si Lisao also sent a message to his subordinates: "Take down Quan Yong!"
His purpose in coming to Atlantis was to investigate his attempted assassin. Now that he had found the culprit, he didn’t care whether Mo Yinhe would deal with Quan Yong or not.
After all, whether Mo Yinhe chose to act or not, Si Lisao would not let Quan Yong see the sunrise over the sea tomorrow morning.
So, Quan Yong left the Royal Palace, still full of arrogance and pride. However, before he could reach home, the submarine he was on exploded with a BOOM!
By then, the poison in Ye Siyuan had been neutralized.
She was cutting her birthday cake. Furious, she didn’t even offer Mo Yinhe a piece.
After cutting the cake, she pulled Si Lisao away with her.
At the Royal Palace gate, she hurriedly took off the suit jacket she had been wearing over her shoulders and returned it to Si Lisao. "Crown Prince Lisao, leave quickly! With me here, let’s see who dares to put you under house arrest and prevent you from leaving!"