Court Assembly Dispute, Taking Charge of the Xinglong Staff
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
He had barely stood up when an imperial censor from the Censorate was eager to submit a memorial.
Upon hearing someone's report, the eyes of all the civil and military officials inadvertently drifted toward King Chu Xuan'ao of Qin.
This Prince of Qin is quite ruthless; the matter of Hanshan Prefecture has caused quite a stir in Tiandu City these past few days!
Now that the Censorate is going to impeach someone, it's obvious who they'll impeach.
"Emperor Gan Chu Tianxiong spoke slowly."
"Speak up, Imperial Censor Wang, what accusations do you have to make?"
Upon hearing this, the man known as Imperial Censor Wang walked to the middle of the main hall, knelt down on both knees, straightened his back, and spoke loudly.
"Your subject wishes to impeach His Your Highness Prince of Qin, and presents three charges for Your Majesty's decision."
First, although His Your Highness the Prince of Qin has been granted the Enfeoffed as King, he has not yet gone to his fiefdom and it is not yet time for him to take over the military and political affairs of a place. However, this time the Prince of Qin has directly sent people to interfere in the military and political affairs of Hanshan Prefecture. This action is against the laws and regulations of my Dagan Gan, and this is the first crime.
Second, His Your Highness the Prince of Qin sent people to Hanshan Prefecture to massacre various forces, causing rivers of blood to flow in Hanshan Prefecture, displacing the people, and making everyone live in fear. This is the second crime.
Third, His Your Highness Prince of Qin, for his own selfish desires, removed the three main officials of Hanshan Prefecture —the Prefect, the Judicial Commissioner, and the Commander-in-Chief—leaving the local military and political affairs nearly paralyzed. In addition, Prince of Qin's sweeping campaign resulted in the amassed of a great deal of wealth, leaving the people of Hanshan Prefecture with nowhere to voice their grievances. These are the three crimes.
"Your Majesty, please decide on these three charges and restore justice to the people of Hanshan Prefecture."
As soon as the words were spoken, the Golden Palace Hall fell into complete silence, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Most of the officials' gazes were fixed on Imperial Censor Wang kneeling on the ground. Their faces were expressionless, but the look in their eyes revealed the shock in their hearts.
Many officials swallowed hard and silently put away their memorials.
He thought to himself, "Is this how it's done?"
You're awesome, I'm not getting involved.
Several censors from the Censorate exchanged glances, their eyes conveying a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.
How much did this guy take?
Has he gone mad? Does he not value his life?
Should we still participate?
"Your Majesty, what Wang Yi said is utterly heretical and nonsensical. He didn't mention a word about the Blood Lotus Sect's wreaking havoc in Hanshan Prefecture, downplaying the seriousness of the matter. His intentions are sinister, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing Wang Yi's words, the first to voice a dissenting opinion was Bai Feihong, the Left Vice Minister of War. His words were sharp and his voice was full of confidence.
His nephew had already told him these things. With the Blood Lotus Sect providing cover, he couldn't afford to be weak!
So what if I killed him? He's a heretic of the Blood Lotus Sect, everyone has the right to kill him, what are you going to do about it!
After Bai Feihong spoke, many other officials from the Ministry of War also spoke up.
"Your Majesty, Wang Yi is speaking nonsense. Please investigate thoroughly."
"Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Wang only said that His Your Highness Prince of Qin was wrong, but Hanshan Prefecture was originally His Your Highness's fiefdom. The evil cult in Hanshan Prefecture caused chaos, and the local prefect covered it up and colluded with it. Your Highness Your Highness clean up Hanshan Prefecture. Only in this way can we restore a bright and clear world for the people."
Just then, Chu Xuanao's voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Your Imperial Father, after the news of my being enfeoffed as an Enfeoffed as King spread, Zhou He, the current prefect of Hanshan Prefecture and former chief clerk, secretly sent a message."
The evil followers of the Blood Lotus Sect wreaked havoc in Hanshan Prefecture. Prefect Wang Wen colluded with the cult, and many forces in Hanshan Prefecture were involved. He had nowhere to turn for help, but I sent someone to Hanshan Prefecture to check on the construction of the Prince's Mansion, which led to this incident.
When I heard about it, I was also greatly shocked. But in my Dagan land, how could I allow a heretical cult to run rampant? To prevent the news from leaking out and things from getting complicated, I had Zhu Wushi and my Maternal Grandfather take action first to control the situation.
When I received the message, I was shocked to learn that a number of officials, including the prefect, the Judicial Commissioner, and the commander of Hanshan Prefecture, had colluded with the evil followers of the Blood Lotus Sect.
The entire Hanshan Prefecture has become a den of evil people. This is utterly appalling. Your Majesty, I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure to clean up Hanshan Prefecture."
After pausing for a moment and looking around, Chu Xuanao followed the example of Imperial Censor Wang and knelt on both knees before speaking loudly again.
"Now, such wicked and seductive rumors are spreading in You Province. There must be a villain at work. Your subject requests permission to lead troops to eliminate the traitor and quell the rebellion."
Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials thought to themselves, "So, the Prince of Qin still wants to come!"
Meanwhile, Imperial Censor Wang, kneeling behind Chu Xuanao, stared at the figure in front of him with a puzzled expression.
Prince of Qin Your Highness, are we talking about the same person?
I said that what you did in Hanshan Prefecture was inappropriate.
You say you're leading troops to eliminate traitors and quell rebellions? You... you...
The officials below also had their own speeches.
"Your Prince of Qin, today we are talking about your massacre of Hanshan Prefecture. How can this be considered suppressing a rebellion? I Dagan bring peace to all regions. How can this be considered a rebellion? Your Majesty, I request that Your Prince of Qin be punished."
"Your Majesty, His Your Highness the Prince of Qin is talking nonsense! Military affairs cannot be treated so lightly and carelessly."
"Your Majesty, I suggest a thorough investigation of You Province. A prefect has colluded with a cult, and no one in You Province knew about it. There must be a treacherous official involved!"
"Your Majesty, His Your Highness Prince of Qin did nothing wrong. How could we allow evildoers to run rampant in our Dagan land? For a prefect to collude with a cult is an utter joke. Prince of Qin's timely discovery saved us from a great disaster! I hereby request that Your Prince of Qin be commended for your merit."
"Your Majesty, I hereby petition the emperor to impeach Bai Feihong, the Left Vice Minister of War. This man, driven by personal greed, sought credit for the Prince of Qin, treating the court as a business transaction. I beg Your Majesty to punish him."
Emperor Gan Chu Tianxiong, seated high on his throne, had Li Yi present Wang Yi's memorial to him. After glancing at it, he slowly uttered two words.
"Quiet."
His words were like divine pronouncements; the Golden Palace fell silent, devoid of any further murmurs from the officials. Chu Tianxiong glanced at Wang Yi and the kneeling, composed Prince Qin, Chu Xuan'ao, and spoke in a deep voice.
"King Chu Xuan'ao of Qin has prematurely interfered in the military and political affairs of Hanshan Prefecture, which is against etiquette and law, constituting the first offense. He has also caused the people of Hanshan Prefecture to suffer unjustly, constituting the second offense. He is hereby fined one month's salary as punishment."
Chu Xuanao spoke calmly and composedly.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
What's a monthly salary? It's just a few bucks. The amount he finds after destroying any force in Hanshan Prefecture is far more than his monthly salary. He can grab a handful of his secret stash of money and it's more than his salary.
He doesn't live off his salary.
Below, Wang Yi looked at the emperor on the Dragon Throne with disbelief. Just like that?
He said so much, and all he got in return was a one-month salary deduction?
Your Majesty, the treasures that the Prince of Qin plundered in Hanshan Prefecture are so vast that dozens of carriages couldn't carry them all. Would he be short of a little money?
Isn't that like pulling out one of his hairs?
No, pulling out a hair might hurt a little, but you're just punishing him by making him give you any stray hair!
While Wang Yi was still in shock, the Left Prime Minister and Right Chancellors, several dukes, and some officials familiar with His Majesty's temperament looked at Wang Yi with a hint of pity.
Imperial Censor Wang, may you rest in peace.
At this moment, Emperor Gan Chu Tianxiong spoke with a hint of coldness in his voice.
"Censor Wang Yi of the Censorate, instead of addressing the chaos caused by cults, downplayed the seriousness of the matter in his report, and much of his statement was fabricated and utter nonsense."
"He dared to falsely accuse the Prince of Qin and insult the dignity of my Imperial Clan. According to the law, he should be executed. He should be dragged out of the palace and beheaded at the Meridian Gate as a warning to others."
Wang Yi shouted loudly, his face filled with fear.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! Your Majesty, I am innocent!"
None of the officials spoke up to stop or plead for Wang Yi. People should know their own limitations, understand the situation, and know what is important.
His Majesty has placed this matter alongside the dignity of the Imperial Clan; who dares to say anything? Who dares to insult the millennia-old prestige of the Dagan Imperial Clan?
Just like that, Imperial Censor Wang, who had only just offered his advice, was dragged away by the Imperial Guards and beheaded as a warning to others.