Otaku Translation: [BL] Rebirth: Back to Zero

Rebirth: Back to Zero
Author: 祎庭沫瞳 (Yi Ting Mo Tong)

Chapter 17 Abnormality (Part 3/3)
Silence fell across the hall. After some time, the Minister of Defence stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I think that this matter has a mastermind instigating. Otherwise, how can the originally sane people suddenly sleepwalk and hurt people? The soldiers should be interrogated, and we must get an answer out from them."
"I agree." The Minister of Internal Affairs stepped forward and added his views, "This happened very suddenly. If it weren't instigated by someone, it would be too strange. I'm sure that this person has malicious intentions. He must be trying to distract the army and weaken our army's momentum. If the court is unstable, the soldiers fighting the Tamar tribe ahead will definitely be affected."
As it happened in the army under Prince Yi's jurisdiction, the officials did not dare to say too much.
"Imperial Doctor Zheng." Emperor Yanxi called.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Imperial Doctor Zheng came forward.
"You went to the army to check the condition of the disease these past two days. What are the results?" Emperor Yanxi asked.
"Your Majesty, I'm incompetent. Several of you went to check their pulses. The soldier who went mad was indeed mad. The soldier who wounded and was imprisoned before that remain clear-headed, but their physical conditions are declining. We checked on them all night, and could not diagnose the condition. Your Majesty, please forgive our inability." Imperial Doctor Zheng bowed his head and knelt to the ground.
"Get up." Emperor Yanxi waved his hand, "You are the best of the Imperial Doctors. If someone did it deliberately, and even you can't stop it, it can only mean that that person came prepared."
"Emperor Father." Fifth Prince Jun Chengxi said with a small smirk, "This incident happened in Third Brother's army. This incident is rather suspicious, and the entire situation is unclear. Could it be a result of his lax management of the army? Otherwise, how could it only appear in this one army and the other units are perfectly fine?"
Emperor Yanxi threw a deep, profound gaze at Jun Chengxi, but said nothing.
"It is my mistake, and I am willing to take any punishment for it." Jun Liyuan knelt down without any rebuttals.
Emperor Yanxi scanned the ministers around, raised his voice and asked, "Lixuan, what do you think?"
Jun Chengxi's words were an open attack on Jun Liyuan. Those nasty words had brought a dark expression onto Jun Lixuan. He walked forward and knelt with hostility dripping from his gaze. He said, "Emperor Father, it only happened in Third Brother’s army. Very obviously, someone is targeting Third Brother. Even if Third Brother is brilliant, he is no match deliberate sneak attacks. Now, the matter is still inconclusive. Punishing Third Brother without solid evidence will hurt the spirits of the soldiers."
His Royal Highness Ling, Jun Lixuan's hostility was infamous amongst civil and military officials. No one dared to go against his words, and everyone bowed their heads in silence after Jun Lixuan's open defence of his brother.
"Fifth Brother, since you seem to blame Third Brother, let me ask you a question. Are you implying that Third Brother ordered soldiers to kill their own comrades?" Jun Lixuan looked at Jun Chengxi.
"I didn't say that." The harrowing aggression laced in Jun Lixuan's gaze shocked Jun Chengxi. But the latter smiled and held his best attempt at a confident smile.
"People are unpredictable. It doesn't matter what others think, but you, Third Brother and I are all Emperor Father’s sons. We are siblings. Naturally, we should try our best to take care of and help each other when trouble happens. This is not time to be standing around and throwing shade." Jun Lixuan continued, "Third Brother will never instigate trouble for Emperor Father. I hope the Emperor Father will investigate this."
Emperor Yanxi looked at Jun Chengxi with a little dissatisfaction in his eyes. Then he said to the two of them, "Get up."
"Thank you, Emperor Father." Jun Liyuan and Jun Lixuan got up.
After being silent for a while, Emperor Yanxi said coldly, "Liyuan has always been cautious and regimental. I believe this has nothing to do with him. As for the lack of strict management of the army, as far as I know, the soldiers who wounded people were soldiers that had been recently added to his army. Most importantly, that squad originally followed Jun Chengrong to suppress the Tamar tribe. Liyuan is only temporarily supervising them. If this matter is really caused by human actions, the true cause is hard to determine. We cannot prematurely claim that it is Liyuan’s fault."
Jun Chengrong did not hold military power. He was given temporary military command when he went to suppress the Tamar tribe. Later, when the Hanguan City fell, more than half of the soldiers under Jun Chengrong's power returned to the border. The other half was temporarily dispersed after Jun Chengrong's military command was revoked. After the city was recovered, his army was reorganized. It remained a possibility that these people had problems before they were assigned to Jun Liyuan. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to make a mess of Jun Liyuan's army in such a short period.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Left and Right Ministers on both sides knelt down together and said.
Others also heard what Emperor Yanxi meant, and hurriedly knelt down, thundering after the two ministers in front.
Emperor Yanxi did not wish to say more. He said curtly, "Lixuan, tomorrow take Qiyang to see if you can find out something more."
Although he was quite surprised by Emperor Yanxi's decision, Jun Lixuan immediately responded, "Yes."
He remembered that he did not mention Ling Qiyang's medical skills to the Emperor Father. But he brushed it off as it might have been noted by Empress Mother.
"Emperor Father, Ling Qiyang is an Omega, how can he go to the army? And even though Ling Qiyang is brilliant, he can't cure diseases." Jun Chengxi said.
Subsequently, the Fifth Prince's supporters all stood out to oppose it. There was no precedent for women and Omega to enter the military camp.
Emperor Yanxi stood up and shouted, "You either give me a result now or shut up!"
All of Jun Chengxi's opposition was shoved back down his throat.
"You are dismissed." Emperor Yanxi waved his sleeve and left.
Jun Lixuan glanced at the officials in the hall. Fifth Prince’s supporters quickly turned their heads away and pretended not to see Jun Lixuan’s gaze. Jun Chengxi also lowered his head, preparing to leave after a while.
Jun Liyuan patted Jun Lixuan and made a sign to his two old friends. The left and right ministers brushed their beards and nodded, leaving the hall first. He did not justify himself just now because he believed that Emperor Yanxi would be on his side. It was not due to the Emperor's bias but that this matter really had nothing to do with him.

Now that Emperor Yanxi had requested Ling Qiyang to check on the camp, the worries plaguing him got some relieve...
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Translator's Notes:

Power and greed really bring out the worst side of people. Such open criticism and malign accusations really disgust me. Bleh! I hope the Fifth Prince gets his retribution. But then again, its not like out MC and ML did not throw others into difficult situations.

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