At dusk, sunset clouds wreathed the sky above the majestic Forbidden City, a sight of breathtaking beauty.
Wearing jade belts and official hats, the senior ministers of the Central Court made their way to the Court Deliberation Hall one after another.
According to the urgent dispatch, Jia Huan would reach the Capital by noon tomorrow at the latest, coming to meet a heroic death.
Inside the Court Hall, Emperor Jingde glowed with exhilaration. An emperor was supposed to keep his joy and anger hidden at all times, but his anticipation and excitement were too great to restrain.
Once all the ministers had arrived, the emperor cleared his throat and spoke in a voice like a great bell:
"The former Commanding Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jia Huan, has committed the Seven Deadly Sins. Proclaim them throughout the realm at once. Every commandery and county of Great Qian must issue a notice. Not only must this be preserved in the Historiography Hall, it must also be recorded in every local gazetteer, so that later generations may take warning and condemn this great traitor of our reign."
"His first crime: after committing every conceivable evil, he groveled before me like a slave, wagging his tail and begging for mercy. Yet he was so savage that he ordered his men to behead the Prince of Zhennan in the street. His deeds incensed gods and men alike, and neither heaven nor earth could tolerate them!"
"His second crime: he framed Second Prince Qi, causing Jiang Qi to die unjustly, leaving court and country indignant and all the people shedding tears!"
"His third crime: he challenged imperial authority before the eyes of all, rebellious and disrespectful, his arrogance knowing no bounds!"
"His fourth crime: he verbally abused the Empress, the motherly exemplar of the