Who put the yellow robe on me?

Chapter 162 Civil Unrest in the Western Regions

Dianzhang asked hesitantly, "Your Highness, what should we do next?"

Jiang Chen's eyes were deep, and his voice was low and murderous. "Continue to spread rumors and intensify the fighting between the Northern Qiang and the Western Regions in Gaochang. Xianyu's return will only hasten his demise. When the Tiger Guards are leaderless, that will be the best time for us to strike."

Dianzhang nodded. He understood that every step Jiang Chen took was well-planned. It was not just about winning on the battlefield, but also about taking advantage of the enemy's internal contradictions to disintegrate the power of the entire Western Region.

Jiang Chen stood on the city wall, letting the wind and sand blow in his face, but he had already understood the next plan in his mind.

The sky of Kucha City was covered with dark clouds, and the cold wind blew dust over the city walls, and the air was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

Xianyu Linyuan galloped all the way and finally arrived at the Western Region Palace before nightfall.

He was in a complicated mood, his face was calm, but he felt vaguely uneasy in his heart.

"I don't know whether coming back this time is a blessing or a curse. I hope Brother Mammon can hold on until I return."

Xianyu Linyuan thought to himself that he knew that every decision he made would affect the fate of the Western Regions.

But at this moment, what he faced was not the swords and guns of external enemies, but the suspicion and pressure from within.

After entering the palace, Xianyu Linyuan walked steadily towards the main hall, and the heavy feeling of depression in his heart became stronger and stronger.

He had met with the King of the Western Regions countless times in this hall to discuss war and plan defenses, but this time, he knew the situation was no longer as simple as before. Rumors were spreading, and the King's suspicions were growing deeper.

The moment he stepped into the hall, the King of the Western Regions was sitting on the throne with a stern expression, his eyes like a knife falling on Xianyu Linyuan.

There was an invisible pressure in the air, and the hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Xianyu Linyuan walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and bowed respectfully, trying to remain calm. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you, Xianyu Linyuan."

The King of the Western Regions had a cold expression on his face. He glanced at Xianyu Linyuan and did not speak for a long time.

The silence in the hall was like an invisible rope, tightly strangling everyone's throat. Xianyu Linyuan felt the heavy pressure, and his heart tightened slightly, but he remained calm.

At this moment, Lord Ji, who was standing aside, saw that the King of the Western Regions did not speak, so he coughed lightly, breaking the silence.

His voice was filled with sarcasm and questioning. "General Xianyu, you returned alone without the Tiger Guards. What exactly does this mean? Could it be that the Tiger Guards are now named Xianyu?"

These words were like a bolt of thunder, exploding in the hall in an instant.

Xianyu Linyuan frowned slightly, anger welling up in his heart, but he forced himself to suppress his emotions and glanced coldly at Lord Ji: "Lord Ji, what exactly do you mean? If the Huben Army easily returns to defend now, with the elite troops of Daliang, not only will the Huben Army be annihilated, but Gaochang will also fall completely.

If the enemy invades the Western Regions from Gaochang, our land will be completely destroyed. What countermeasures do you have?"

Lord Ji sneered and retorted bluntly, "General, it's precisely because the Tiger Guards are so important that you took them with you and haven't returned yet. Could it be that you have ulterior motives? The front line is certainly important, but if the enemy advances without the Tiger Guards, wouldn't the Western Regions be in imminent danger?"

Xianyu Linyuan's heart surged with rage. He stepped forward, his eyes sharp as a knife. "Master Ji, if I had the intention of rebellion, why would I have returned? If I truly had the intention of rebellion, I should have led the Tiger Guards and declared myself king right now. Why would I risk returning here?"

These words startled Lord Ji slightly, but he didn't back down. Instead, he sneered, "Although General, you haven't plotted rebellion yet, if Gaochang is captured, the defenses of the Western Regions will be useless. If you then command your own troops, wouldn't it be easy to control the overall situation in the Western Regions?"

Xianyu Linyuan glared at him, his rage barely suppressed. He knew that Lord Ji was deliberately trying to sow discord and spread rumors to undermine the King of the Western Regions' trust in him.

Despite this, he suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Master Ji, according to what you said, I haven't done anything to commit treason yet, but I've been convicted because of the possibility. Are you going to make me bear the blame for a future hypothesis?"

"General," Lord Ji pressed on, his tone sharp and demanding, "Can you honestly say you have no rebellious intentions in your heart? The Tiger Guards are in your hands. Can you guarantee you won't sway the emperor's will?"

Xian Yu Linyuan's eyes were cold, and his whole body was like a volcano about to erupt, his emotions already suppressed to the limit.

He stepped forward, looking directly into Lord Ji's eyes. His voice was low but carried an undeniable authority: "Lord Ji, are you trying to kill me? Can a loyal minister be put to death just because of a rumor without committing any acts of rebellion?!"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense to the extreme. Every word Xian Yu Linyuan said seemed to strike the stone wall of the hall, and the echo lasted for a long time.

The King of the Western Regions remained silent, his face terribly gloomy. His eyes glanced back and forth between Xianyu and Lord Ji, and the doubts in his heart grew deeper.

"Enough!" The King of the Western Regions finally spoke. His voice was deep and full of irresistible majesty. Everyone in the hall was shaken by this voice.

The King of the Western Regions slowly stood up and looked at Xian Yu Lin Yuan coldly, with complicated emotions in his eyes.

"Xianyu Linyuan," the King of the Western Regions said in a low and stern voice, "I have treated you well, but when Gaochang was in need of help, you refused to return and defend it.

You say you have no intention of rebellion, so why are the Tiger Guards still stationed in their main camp? Are you trying to protect Gaochang, or are you trying to leave behind a force that can control the Western Regions at any time?"

Xianyu Linyuan's heart tightened. He felt the coldness and suspicion of the King of the Western Regions. He knew that the rumors were deeply rooted in the king's mind, and Lord Ji's words invisibly deepened the king's doubts.

At this time, any explanation may seem pale and powerless, and only action can restore trust.

"Your Majesty!" Xianyu Linyuan said in a deep, unwavering voice, "If I truly had second thoughts, why would I risk returning to see Your Majesty? The Tiger Guards' duty is to protect the Western Regions, not just for a short-term gain. With a formidable enemy at hand, I dare not talk of withdrawing lightly. To do so would simply give the enemy an opportunity to exploit."

The King of the Western Regions remained silent for a moment, his gaze still cold, as if he could see through his every thought. After a long pause, he said coldly, "Since that's the case, I'll give you one more chance. Lead the Tiger Guards back to defend Gaochang immediately. If Gaochang is lost, you can come to me with your head on your shoulders."

Xianyu Linyuan bowed his head and said, "I obey your command."

He knew in his heart that this order had pushed him into a situation from which there was no escape.