NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 430
Cornell knew that hope was slim.
Even if they could catch up and convince Lin Guli, those people would definitely try to obstruct them and not let them find any evidence.
What was desperate was that given the current situation, even if they obtained evidence, they probably still wouldn't be able to overthrow the Howard clan.
But Cornell still said, "Contact Prince Lin immediately."
He knew it wouldn't go smoothly, but they had to try anyway.
It could also buy some time, who knows if things might still take a turn.
Then he ordered his son and the little prince, "You two go to the airport right away and go to Hua Country to find Prince Lin."
"Yes—"
The two immediately walked out of the hall, but didn't know what terrible scene they had seen, stopping dead in their tracks at the doorway.
The people in the hall soon noticed the two who had stopped, and also heard the gradually loud sound outside.
"What's going on?"
"What's that sound outside?"
Everyone saw the two retreat a step back at the doorway.
Just as Cornell was about to send someone to check out the situation, suddenly a large group of fully armed soldiers wielding weapons rushed into the hall.
The people in the hall were shocked and gathered in panic towards the middle.
By the time they reacted, they realized they were surrounded.
The guards in the hall were just decorations in front of these soldiers.
"It's the eastern imperial guards!" Cornell angrily shouted, "Lafeier!"
Shouted loudly, "You actually mobilized the eastern imperial guards without authorization, and even mobilized them into the palace, are you rebelling!?"
"Rebel? The Howard family is rebelling?"
"He's crazy!"
Lafeier slightly tilted his head, but did not look at the two at the door, only said to them, "You two can go to Hua Country to find Prince Lin, please go ahead."
This attitude was extremely arrogant.
Then he no longer paid attention to those two, stepped forward a few steps,
and said, "Except for those two, the others can't leave here for the time being. Lai En, go get the chief of police."
Lai En: "Yes."
Lafeier: "Chadan Karolin is suspected of conspiring to murder Duke Lin, the heir to the throne, which concerns the reputation of my entire C Country and the royal family. We must get to the bottom of this—come, take the suspect away. Before the chief of police arrives, he can't go anywhere."
So Chadan was detained by the soldiers under public gaze, and no one could stop them, Chadan himself did not resist at all either.
Lafeier looked at Cornell with a smile and asked, "The old duke just said I was rebelling? That's a serious accusation, be careful what you say."
Then he shouted to everyone, "My Howard clan has served the royal family for generations. Now the royal family has lost two heirs in a row, and the king can no longer hold court. Duke Cornell, you are getting on in years and I'm afraid you don't have the ability to manage things. As the head of the Howard clan and the Duke of C Country, it is only natural that I should take on this responsibility at such a time. I'm doing what I should be doing, for my country and people. How can you say that I'm rebelling?"
Lafeier: "A country cannot go a single day without a leader, especially at such a critical juncture, we need someone capable to come out and stabilize the situation, to reassure people."
"Although the second prince is excellent, he has never been the chosen heir. Not to mention that the king had a stroke, the adult prince is suspected of assassinating the heir, while also losing his brother-in-law Duke Lin at the same time. Princess Karina is also injured. I imagine the second prince must be exhausted physically and mentally right now, willing but unable."
Lafeier: "The situation is grim, the issue of a new king brooks no delay, but I guess everyone needs rest right now. Let's do this - everyone, please go to the annex hall to rest for the time being After you've rested up, let's discuss the issue of the new king together."
In the evening, the sky gradually darkened.
The lights came on little by little, and soon the entire palace was brightly lit. Although there were many people in the palace, only fully armed soldiers could be seen walking around, not even the servants.
Those members of the royal family were taken to two different places.
The king's party was all taken to the conference room.
Supposedly to rest for a while, but it was essentially house arrest.
Not only were their cell phones confiscated, they didn't even turn on the heating for them. From morning until now they hadn't even given them any water or food, simply locking them there.
There were heavy guards stationed at the door, they couldn't even get out, now they were cold and hungry, taking quite a psychological and mental blow.
The older ones were already having trouble enduring.
"He's trying to force us to make Lai En the new king."
"Duke Lin is dead, the adult prince has become a murderer, who other than Lai En is more suitable to sit in that position now? Who can stop them? Whether we agree or not, the Howard family is just doing it for appearance's sake anyway."
"Ha, do we dare not agree? He even dared to poison the future king, dared to surround the palace with troops and put us under house arrest. What else doesn't he dare to do? He can casually put a knife to our wives and children's necks. How dare we not agree?"
"It looks like no more miracles will happen."
The atmosphere quieted down. After a while, a sigh sounded: "When Duke Lin was little, I even gave him a cat. If not for us forcing him... He wouldn't have lost his life so young either."
On the other hand,
Lai En's group was a completely different light and joyful scene. They had complete freedom, and were currently sitting at a luxurious long crystal dining table, enjoying exquisite food and mellow fine wine.
Celebrating their great victory, promising future.
The old king had suffered repeated stimulations, his illness rapidly worsening. After being in a coma for a few hours, he woke now, unable even to speak, lying in bed having become completely useless.
Lafeier brought food to the bedside, waving his hand to dismiss the servants attending the old king from the room.
The old king watched Lafeier at his bedside, hatred and anger in his eyes, yet only able to glare at him, not even able to curse.
Lafeier picked up the food, spooning a mouthful to feed the old king. The old king wanted to dodge but couldn't, forced to swallow a spoonful.
Lafeier: "Why don't you eat? Not tasty?"
"This food smells so good. Oh right, you were born an arrogant child of heaven, the future king. So many people have protected you all the way to the throne. You never would have lacked delicacies to eat."
As Lafeier spoke, he spooned mouthful after mouthful into the old king's mouth.
"Naturally you also don't know what hunger feels like."
"That kind of feeling really isn't good. Although the body's suffering can still be endured by gritting your teeth, but mental suffering, how can you endure that? Do you know what betrayal by loved ones feels like?" Lafeier laughed. "Almost forgot, you just experienced that today."
"Your eldest son who you had high hopes for and doted on since young, collaborated with this rebel traitor to kill your most valued brother-in-law, the future king, and handed the throne over to me. This kind of betrayal by loved ones doesn't feel good right?"
"But compared to what I've suffered, you've still got a ways to go. At least, your eldest son still loves you, he's just too naive, wanted to reclaim what he felt was his, wanted to prove himself to everyone, didn't want the throne to fall into an outsider's hands. He did it for the royal family, for all of you, rashly listening to my deceit and agreeing to cooperate with me."
"But he truly wanted me dead for his own sake."