Fury! (Extra-long chapter)
In the dark dungeon, sunlight streamed in through ventilation holes, casting beams of light on floating dust particles.
Xu Qi'an stood there for a long time, then, feeling that he couldn't let Lord Zheng continue like this, he went into the cell and put him down.
The body retained only a trace of warmth; it had been dead for some time.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sat outside the prison cell, wailing loudly.
Xu Qi'an wasn't particularly sad; he just felt that his departure was a kind of relief.
On the way back to the capital from Chuzhou, he watched as the scholar's spine gradually bent and his figure became increasingly hunched.
He was exhausted, carrying the lives of 380,000 people on his shoulders. He dared not let himself have a moment of rest, because as soon as he did, that suffocating feeling like a tidal wave would overwhelm him.
"Why are you doing this? You're just a powerless civil official, incapable of doing anything. Those 380,000 people didn't ask you to avenge them."
Xu Qi'an tidied Zheng Xinghuai's remains, trying to close his eyes, but he couldn't. Those bulging eyes were still fixed on the murky world.
"You try so hard to persuade them every day, but they always ignore you. I wanted to tell you something then: people's joys and sorrows are not shared, they just think you're making a fuss."
"Lord Zheng, the officials in the capital have not experienced the massacre of Chuzhou like you and I have. They cannot do what you have done. Every year there are disasters, and every year countless people starve and freeze to death. Seeing it with one's own eyes and seeing it in a memorial are not the same thing."
"Having barely survived the massacre in Chuzhou, I rushed to the capital, thinking that the court would give justice to the 380,000 people and to you. But I ended up losing my life. Ha, a scholar is useless, that's absolutely true."
"I was willing to risk my life for Governor Zhang back then, and I thought I would do the same for you this time, but before I could find a way, you were gone. Well, life is bitter, and your life was truly not good."
After finishing tidying up, Xu Qi'an stood up, took a few steps back, and bowed deeply to this pitiful yet respectable scholar.
Outside the dungeon, a group of heavily armored soldiers had gathered.
It wouldn't normally be a big deal for the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to bring outsiders into the yamen, but the dungeon is a restricted area. Unless one has a written order from a high-ranking official such as the Minister or Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, no one is allowed to enter the dungeon without authorization.
The jailer did try to stop him, but after being kicked away by Xu Qi'an, he didn't dare to make a further attempt and went to report to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review stood in front, hands behind his back, with the guards of the yamen behind him.
He waited for a full quarter of an hour with a gloomy face before Xu Qi'an came out. The young man was unexpectedly calm, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow.
"Xu Qi'an, you have trespassed into the Dali Temple prison. Even if I kill you on the spot, Wei Yuan will not say a word," the Dali Temple Minister preemptively shouted.
The young man carrying the knife ignored him and left on his own.
This knife was originally meant for killing animals, but it was a moment too late. If anyone wants to test its sharpness, Xu Qi'an will not refuse.
"Lord Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices," the head guard whispered.
Just as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was about to order the guards to arrest the person, his sleeve was suddenly tugged. He turned around and saw it was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review looked at him intently. "Your Excellency only has one life, why don't you cherish it?"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was startled, and the hair on the back of his head stood on end.
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
The Duke of Huguo and the Duke of Cao returned to the palace to report.
"Your Majesty, Zheng Xinghuai is dead. This case can be closed," the Duke of Cao said respectfully.
"But what about the other gentlemen? How should we deal with them?" Que Yongxiu was still somewhat worried.
The reason you gentlemen were able to forgive the Prince of Zhenbei was because he had perished, but now he has returned to the capital unscathed. Wei Yuan and Chief Minister Wang will be the first to not let him off the hook.
Emperor Yuanjing said calmly, "I will send a contingent of imperial guards to the Duke of Huguo's residence to protect your safety. You need not worry about assassination. In addition, the spies who accompanied you back with the Prince of Zhenbei will be temporarily under your command and will remain in your Duke's residence."
Que Yongxiu breathed a sigh of relief. Such a strong security force was enough to keep him safe and he didn't have to worry about being assassinated.
As for the intrigues and power struggles within the court, he only needs to keep a low profile, avoid conflict, and with His Majesty's protection, even if Wei Yuan and Chief Minister Wang have connections to the highest levels, they won't be able to bring the trouble to him.
If you can get through this period, your future will still be bright.
With his worries gone, Que Yongxiu felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and smiled sincerely.
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty. With this combination of suppression and attack, you have easily swayed the civil officials. Then, while they were hesitant, you swiftly cut the Gordian knot, forcing Zheng Xinghuai to commit suicide out of fear of punishment, leaving no way out for the officials."
"Now, they have no choice but to accept it."
However, His Majesty made enough concessions to satisfy the appetites of some people; otherwise, even His Majesty would have been unable to hold the line alone.
Que Yongxiu was completely convinced of Emperor Yuanjing's power.
"Although the Zhenguo Sword was brought back to the capital by the delegation, the whereabouts of that mysterious master are unknown. If we can find him again and send troops to punish him and avenge the Prince of Huai, then this matter will be resolved," sighed Duke Cao.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanjing's expression darkened slightly. After a few seconds of pause, he slowly said:
"Tomorrow we will convene a court assembly to finalize the verdict in the Chuzhou case. Before that, have someone spread the news that Zheng Xinghuai committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
Duke Cao laughed and said, "Yes!"
cabinet.
After the small court assembly in the Imperial Study concluded, Chief Minister Wang summoned the five Grand Secretaries to discuss the follow-up to Zheng Xinghuai's imprisonment.
"The Prince of Huai is dead, that's one thing. But Que Yongxiu was one of the executioners who massacred the city. Your Majesty's actions are truly appalling." Grand Secretary Qian Qingshu of the Wuying Hall held back his words, then sighed.
"Let's think about how to save Lord Zheng. Such a virtuous official should not suffer such an injustice."
The Grand Secretary of the Jianji Hall, somewhat impatient, angrily said, "Zheng Xinghuai is just stubborn. He may be good at governing a region, but he can't accomplish anything in the imperial court."
His tone conveyed a sense of pity for their misfortune and resentment at their lack of ambition.
"But isn't that precisely what makes it admirable?"
Grand Secretary Zhao Tingfang of the Eastern Pavilion let out a breath and pondered, "Doesn't His Majesty want to exonerate the Prince of Zhenbei and preserve the dignity of the imperial family? Then we will agree to his request. The condition is that Zheng Xinghuai be exonerated in exchange."
"Once Zheng Xinghuai is convicted, the case will be perfectly concluded for His Majesty. Will he agree?" the Grand Secretary of the Jianji Hall said angrily.
"That means you're making trouble again!" Zhao Tingfang tapped her fingers on the table, her voice firm and resonant.
The Grand Secretary Wang shook his head slightly. "It's no use. Things are different now. When the news of the massacre first broke, all the civil and military officials were shocked and furious. Now that the anger has subsided, they've gained benefits, and they can turn the scandal of the massacre into a great victory that brings fame to the court. How they will choose is obvious."
Qian Qingshu sighed and pondered for a moment before asking, "What does the Grand Secretary think we should do?"
Chief Minister Wang said, "Que Yongxiu's safe return to the capital will inevitably provoke the anger of some people. We can secretly persuade those people to file a joint protest, but we should lower our demands."
"This morning, Que Yongxiu held a letter written in blood in the street, accusing Zheng Xinghuai. Everyone knows about it now. If we try to persuade Zheng Xinghuai to be innocent now, neither side will be convinced, and His Majesty will not agree."
The scholars nodded slightly.
Indeed, with the conflict escalating to this point, trying to "whitewash" Zheng Xinghuai would be absurd, not only because His Majesty would disagree, but also because the common people would find it ridiculous. So, who is right and who is wrong?
If this matter is not handled properly, the imperial court will become a laughing stock.
The Grand Secretary sighed, "Zheng Xinghuai is still guilty, but we can use a substitute, a death row inmate disguised as him. As long as His Majesty agrees, this can be done."
All we can do is save his life.
Although the Grand Secretaries were unwilling, they could only nod in agreement.
At this moment, an official hurried in, handed a slip of paper to Chief Minister Wang, and then left.
The chief minister unfolded the note, took a look, and froze, remaining silent for a long time.
Zheng Xinghuai died in prison.
The former prime minister gently placed the note on the table, wearily propped himself up, and left the meeting room.
His silhouette resembled that of an old man nearing the end of his life.
The Nightwatchers's office.
Nangong Qianrou sat upright, not daring to utter a single word.
Even though he was a fourth-rank martial artist, he felt a little breathless at this moment.
The whole thing stemmed from that note that had just been handed to me.
Upon seeing the note, Duke Wei remained silent, not even offering a vivid glance, standing like a statue.
Nangong Qianrou had followed Wei Yuan for so many years and rarely saw him so silent; a terrible storm was brewing within that silence.
The above contains a brief message: Zheng Xinghuai was killed in prison.
That's really brief. A provincial governor, a second-rank official, left behind so little in intelligence reports after his death.
How will history record him? Probably a bit more: colluding with demons and barbarians, causing the deaths of 380,000 people in the city, and killing the pillar of the Great Feng Dynasty.
He will be infamous for eternity.
What a ridiculous world! Nangong Qianrou sneered inwardly.
As an observer, all he could do was reflect on this: what's laughable isn't the world, but people.
History is a vast and complex book; how many people like Zheng Xinghuai are recorded within it?
The reason there are so many wrongful convictions is ultimately because no one dares to stand up.
"Your Highness, the Second Princess wishes to see you."
When the head guard knocked on Huaiqing's door, Huaiqing was in a bad mood and frowned upon hearing the knock.
If Lin'an were to provoke or annoy her again at this point, she would lose control of her emotions.
"Tell her to wait in the reception room. I'll change my clothes and then go over."
After dismissing the head guard, Huaiqing burned the note, changed into a pure white palace dress, and went to the reception room, where she met her younger sister dressed in bright red.
She was immediately taken aback.
The old Lin'an was lively and bright, chirping like a little sparrow, occasionally swooping over to peck you, though Huaiqing would always slap it to the ground.
But she always perseveres and takes flight again, trying to peck you in the face.
But the Lin'an she saw now resembled a wrinkled little flower, her oval face dull and lifeless, her peach blossom eyes drooping, like a self-conscious and helpless little girl.
"If you're asking whether Zheng Xinghuai is dead, then I can give you a clear answer: yes," Huaiqing said calmly.
Lin'an nodded, staring blankly at the ground, and said softly, "I... I'm not feeling well. I don't know why, I just... I feel a little uncomfortable, and I'm also very scared."
This event had a profound impact on her. For a long time, she had Great Feng; before the Emperor's brother-in-law died, the harem was harmonious. Huaiqing said calmly:
"It's nothing serious. You haven't read enough history books. Read more history books, and you'll know that this is commonplace. The more bloody and unjust the events, the fewer words are used to describe them."
"You really think that way?" Lin An stared at her.
Because of Zheng Xinghuai's death and the 380,000 souls lost in Chuzhou City, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, and her whole being was depressed and restless.
At this moment, Lin'an thought of Huaiqing, the older sister she had always wanted to surpass. So, she wanted to come and see how Huaiqing would deal with this matter.
Now that she has seen it, she is somewhat disappointed.
Huaiqing walked up to her, looked down at her, and said calmly, "The moon wanes after it is full, and water overflows when it is full. Everything in the world is subject to the principle that prosperity must eventually lead to decline."
"When a dynasty declines from its peak, it is inevitably accompanied by countless tears and bloodshed. Internal decay will gradually erode it. And many more such things will happen."
Lin'an paused for a moment, then raised her head and looked at her sister. "Then, what should we do?"
Huaiqing reached out and pressed Lin'an's head down, a rare tenderness flashing in his eyes. "At this time, someone will step forward."
Someone will step forward. Lin'an suddenly clenched his fist.
In the inner city, in the lobby of an inn.
At a table in the corner, Li Miaozhen was eating with the woman who had a child in her arms; she disliked this woman very much.
It's not that she's always bossy; in the past few days, this woman of average looks has improved a lot, and she does everything she can herself.
What Li Miaozhen disliked was the aloofness and self-admiration in her eyes.
It seems that in this woman's eyes, all other women are plain and unattractive, and she is the only beauty in the world.
But clearly, she was the most ordinary, the kind of woman men wouldn't even glance at, except for her round, big, and perky buttocks and her firm, full breasts that couldn't be hidden even when she wore several layers of clothing.
There's really nothing to envy. Those few pounds of fat will only hinder my efforts to eradicate evil. Li Miaozhen told herself this.
"Why hasn't he come to find me yet?" Mu Nanzhi asked softly.
"Ha, look at you, you've been married before, and you're so shameless as to think about foreigners?" Li Miaozhen was inexplicably unhappy and said with a cold laugh.
"I just find it boring to be with you," the princess said, raising her chin with a haughty air.
"."
So where did this arrogant attitude come from? Doesn't she know her own limitations?
True Qi was furious. She had been in a bad mood these past few days because the Prince of Huai had not yet been convicted, and today she learned that Zheng Xinghuai had been imprisoned.
One day, she would storm into the palace with a knife and tear Emperor Yuanjing to pieces, Li Miaozhen thought bitterly.
Just then, people at the next table shouted, "Did you know? Zheng Xinghuai is dead! He was the real culprit who colluded with the demons and barbarians!"
"What?!"
The diners all looked over, their faces filled with astonishment.
The man said with certainty, "I have a brother who works at the Dali Temple. Today I heard that Zheng Xinghuai committed suicide in prison out of fear of punishment."
The room erupted in chaos.
Is this really the case?
The man continued, "Zheng Xinghuai is utterly despicable. He colluded with demons and barbarians to kill our Great Feng's pillar of the nation, Prince Huai, and the 380,000 people of Chuzhou City."
"Then, he deceived the delegation and went to the capital to file a complaint. How much hatred did he have for the Prince of Huai? I heard that when he was in Chuzhou, he embezzled military land and accepted bribes. He was taught a lesson by the Prince of Huai many times, so he held a grudge."
"The reason he colluded with the demons this time is because the Prince of Huai has gathered evidence against him and intends to impeach him to the court."
At this point, the man squeezed out tears and sighed with regret, "We are commoners, but we despise such people. It's a pity for Prince Huai, a hero of his generation, to meet such a tragic end."
The diners were shocked and, forgetting their food, began to discuss the matter heatedly.
"That's impossible. The news of the Prince of Huai's massacre was brought back by the mission, by Xu Yinluo."
"That's right, Xu Yinluo is a brilliant judge; how could he possibly wrong the Prince of Huai?"
"We don't believe it."
"Ha, if you don't believe it, then don't believe it. Once the imperial court issues a proclamation tomorrow, you won't have a choice but to believe it."
"Bah! Unless Xu Yinluo says it himself, we won't believe it. We'll wait for news tomorrow."
Li Miaozhen's chopsticks fell to the ground with a "clatter".
Princess Xu Qi'an's heart sank. Her first thought was not of anything else, but of that annoying Xu Qi'an.
His words seemed to echo in my ears again: I'm going to Chuzhou City to stop him, and if possible, I'll kill him.
On this day, news spread throughout the capital that Zheng Xinghuai, the governor of Chuzhou, had committed suicide out of fear of punishment. According to those with ulterior motives, Zheng Xinghuai colluded with demons and barbarians to kill the Prince of Zhenbei and 380,000 people in Chuzhou.
Then, they turned the tables and blamed the Prince of Zhenbei, wanting to ruin the reputation of the pillar of the Great Feng Dynasty.
Some people were taken aback by these rumors, some didn't believe them, and some were confused.
Ordinary people, unaware of the inside story, let alone the twists and turns and intrigues involved, will instinctively turn to authority figures when faced with situations where they don't know who to trust.
Statements from authoritative figures are the only facts they are willing to believe.
Currently, the only person who can be considered an authority in this regard, and whom ordinary people can immediately think of, seems to be Xu Qi'an.
However, he has just come out of the Bureau of Astronomy.
The supervisor still didn't see him, Xu Qi'an didn't intend to see the supervisor either; he had simply asked Caiwei to pass on a message to the supervisor.
Outside the Bureau of Astronomy, Hengyuan and Chu Yuanzhen were waiting for him.
The swordsman, with a wisp of white hair on his forehead, smiled and said, "Would you be willing to travel the world with me?"
Xu Qi'an grinned, "Aren't the women from the Western Regions moisturizing?"
Chu Yuanzhen said helplessly, "I haven't been interested in women for a long time."
Xu Qi'an waved to them. "That day will come, but not now."
He left alone.
Before dusk, Xu Erlang and his Second Uncle Xu led the women of their family out of the city.
The next day, the court meeting!
The assembled officials entered the Golden Palace, and before long, Emperor Yuanjing arrived, seemingly eager to begin his court session.
Emperor Yuanjing settled into his seat, and the old eunuch stepped forward, announcing loudly, "If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned."
No one spoke, but at that moment, countless eyes in the court fell on the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, steeling himself, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant has something to report."
The man died at the Dali Temple; he must be the one to tell the story.
Emperor Yuanjing smiled and said, "Please speak, my dear minister."
The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review paused briefly, then announced loudly, "Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou, committed suicide in prison yesterday at noon out of fear of punishment."
The imperial palace was eerily quiet.
Emperor Yuanjing's smile deepened as he asked, "My esteemed ministers, what do you think is the proper conclusion to this case?"
Left Censor-in-Chief Yuan Xiong stepped forward and said, "Since he has committed suicide out of fear of punishment, the Chuzhou case can be closed. Zheng Xinghuai, the Chuzhou Provincial Governor, was a native of Zhangzhou and a second-class Jinshi in the 19th year of Yuanjing. This man colluded with the Yao and Man tribes, causing the death of the Prince of Zhenbei and 380,000 people in Chuzhou City. He should have his entire family executed."
"Zheng Xinghuai has a son who serves in Qingzhou. The court may issue a decree ordering Yang Gong, the Provincial Governor of Qingzhou, to arrest his entire family and behead them as a warning to the public."
Emperor Yuanjing looked around at his ministers and asked in a loud voice, "Do any of you have any objections?"
No one spoke.
Emperor Yuanjing laughed. Thanks to his years of balancing acts, the court was filled with factions, which were like a mob that was difficult to unite.
He used to be high above, letting these people fight as they pleased; the struggles were indeed fierce and exciting. But when he, the supreme ruler, stepped down, this rabble was ultimately just a rabble.
His will is the supreme will of the Great Feng.
This group of people actually dared to trample on the dignity of the royal family and be despised by the world.
ridiculous.
Among the assembled officials, Que Yongxiu almost couldn't contain his laughter, his face beaming with undisguised joy. Whether it was Wei Yuan, Chief Minister Wang, or the other civil officials, they were, after all, his subjects.
No matter how sophisticated the methods, in His Majesty's eyes, they are nothing more than that.
After this case, he not only survived unscathed but was also rewarded for his contributions. The title of Duke Protector of the Nation, which had been passed down to him, finally rose again in his hands.
The pleasant time passed quickly, until the old eunuch shouted, "Court adjourned!"
Que Yongxiu then knew that the matter was settled, and Wei Yuan and Chief Minister Wang were powerless to reverse it.
The officials left the Golden Palace in haste, seemingly unwilling to linger.
"Duke Cao, why don't we go to the Imperial Academy of Music tonight? After so many years in the Northern Frontier, I've almost forgotten how beautiful the girls Imperial Academy of Music are."
Que Yongxiu, in a good mood, struck up a conversation with Duke Cao.
Duke Cao frowned. Someone of his status would disdain going to the Imperial Academy of Music. He had countless beautiful women and mistresses at home, and he couldn't possibly have all the time to sleep with them.
Seeing Que Yongxiu's enthusiastic expression, Duke Cao nodded and said, "Alright!"
After saying that, he shook his head again. "You shouldn't go out these next few days. Stay at home. If you want to sleep with women from the Imperial Academy of Music, just send them to the Duke of Huguo's mansion. Why do you have to go yourself?"
Que Yongxiu thought for a moment and agreed, "Then I will host a banquet at my residence and invite my colleagues and friends. Duke Cao must do me the honor of attending."
"That's natural."
Duke Cao smiled and agreed, but suddenly noticed that the civil officials in front of him had stopped and were gathered in front of the Meridian Gate.
A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he whispered, "Let's go, let's go take a look."
Que Yongxiu was somewhat bewildered. He followed him to the Meridian Gate, pushed through the crowd, and saw a person standing outside the Meridian Gate.
This man, dressed in plain clothes, with a tall and imposing figure, stood outside the Meridian Gate, leaning on a sword, blocking the path of the assembled officials.
Not far from him stood a man in white and a woman in red.
"Xu Qi'an, why are you blocking the Meridian Gate again? What are you trying to do this time?"
Minister Sun of the Ministry of Justice shouted it out reflexively.
The civil officials stared at him in shock and anger; this familiar scene stirred up countless psychological traumas within them.
Especially Minister Sun, who had already been criticized twice in poems by someone surnamed Xu.
Xu Qi'an? He's the Xu Qi'an from the Chuzhou massacre. I heard from Duke Cao that he's a supporter of Zheng Xinghuai. Que Yongxiu frowned. Did the officials mean that this man had blocked the Meridian Gate once?
Xu Qi'an glanced around at the assembled officials, his gaze calm. "Which one is Que Yongxiu? And Duke Cao, you two come forward."
Duke Cao frowned, his ominous premonition growing stronger.
"Ha, how dare this person be so audacious? Does he intend to insult me? Does he think that because he has Wei Yuan as his backer, and because he insulted a civil official once, he can insult me?"
Duke Que Yongxiu scoffed, his eyes turning cold. "Do you think I'm like those civil officials, all talk and no action?"
Duke Cao said in a deep voice, "This person's cultivation is not weak; I don't know what's gotten into him."
Que Yongxiu scoffed, then suddenly said, "If I were to execute him here, wouldn't His Majesty be furious?"
Upon hearing this, Duke Cao smiled, "As long as you can provoke him into making a move, he will surely die. Hmm, this kid is acting recklessly and arrogantly in the capital because he has Wei Yuan backing him up."
"That's because he hasn't met me yet. I've fought on the battlefield for many years, and I love to torment these kinds of troublemakers."
Que Yongxiu sneered, walked side by side with Duke Cao to the front of the assembled officials, looked at the young man standing with his sword in hand, and joked:
"I am the person you are looking for. What, are you going to curse me? I've heard that you, Xu Qi'an, are quite good at writing poetry. Why don't you recite one for me? Perhaps I can go down in history."
Que Yongxiu and Duke Cao burst into laughter.
Having said that, seeing the young man leaning on his knife remain unmoved, Que Yongxiu felt the time wasn't right and continued his mockery:
"Duke Wei, your teaching skills are lacking. Look at this unruly brat, trespassing through the Meridian Gate, behaving lawlessly. If you can't teach him, how about I do it for you?"
Wei Yuan remained silent, looking at Xu Qi'an without saying a word.
"I'm not going to swear today," Xu Qi'an sighed. "I'm here to kill."
The Duke of Cao and his officials' expressions changed drastically.
"Hahaha"
Que Yongxiu felt he had heard the biggest joke in the world, and laughed wildly, "He said he was going to kill people, listen to this, he said he was going to kill people, kill people in front of the Meridian Gate."
As he was laughing, he suddenly froze, turned around in astonishment, and found that all the ministers were retreating in unison.
Among these people were ministers of the Six Ministries, censors of the Six Offices, and members of the prestigious Hanlin Academy —all figures at the pinnacle of power in the capital. How could they be so wary of a mere silver gong?
Wei Yuan and Chief Minister Wang did not move, looking at him coldly.
Que Yongxiu was startled, then looked at Duke Cao and found that he had quietly retreated more than ten feet.
He looked at the civil officials' expressions again, and this time he finally noticed something was wrong. In their eyes, there was a hint of hatred, a hint of disdain, and a hint of expectation!
"Where are the Imperial Guards? Men, men, seize this scoundrel for me!" Que Yongxiu shouted.
The Imperial Guards from not far away rushed over in unison, surrounding Xu Qi'an completely. Some drew their swords, while others brandished their spears.
Que Yongxiu calmly waved his hand. "This traitor has threatened to kill me in the palace. Seize him immediately and hand him over to His Majesty for judgment."
The Imperial Guards did not move.
"Take him down! Does this mean my orders are no longer valid?" Que Yongxiu roared in anger.
Just then, a whisper came from the crowd, "He... he has a get-out-of-jail-free card."
Que Yongxiu's eyes widened instantly. He understood why the officials had retreated and why the Imperial Guards hadn't made a move.
The Imperial Guards were there to protect the emperor, and they would not fight to the death with someone who held a pardon unless the emperor's life was threatened.
So what if he has a pardon? I don't believe he would dare to make a move in the palace. Que Yongxiu wasn't afraid. He was a fifth-rank expert himself. Although he didn't carry a sword when attending court, he wasn't completely defenseless.
At this moment, Xu Qi'an took out a piece of paper from his pocket, shook it, lit it, and said in a deep voice, "Imprisonment!"
Que Yongxiu and Duke Cao's bodies suddenly stiffened, unable to move for a moment.
Xu Qi'an, carrying a knife, walked step by step toward the two.
The Grand Secretary Wang said in a deep voice, "Xu Qi'an, don't make a mistake. The Duke of Protectorate is a first-class duke and the descendant of a founding father. If anything happens to him, you can't bear the responsibility."
Imperial Censor Zhang Xingying cried out in alarm, "Duke Wei, quickly dissuade him!"
Wei Yuan remained unmoved.
Xu Qi'an took a step forward, the civil officials retreated a step back, highlighting the Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo.
"Click-clack."
He brandished his scabbard and shattered the kneecaps of both the Duke of Huguo and the Duke of Cao.
Although they were unable to move, the pain was no less intense. The Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo turned pale and screamed loudly.
Que Yongxiu looked at the assembled officials and loudly appealed for help:
"Stop him! Stop him! We're all officials in the same court; you can't just stand by and watch someone die. A mere brute dares to kill someone outside the Meridian Gate, and not a single official in the entire court dares to speak up. Do you want to be ridiculed by all the scholars in the land?"
Provoked by these words, a newly promoted young official instinctively stepped forward to stop Xu Qi'an's violence.
Unexpectedly, Minister Sun of the Ministry of Justice, who was standing next to him, suddenly kicked him back.
The ministers of the Six Ministries, the vice ministers, the supervising secretaries of the Six Offices, and other officials qualified to enter the court all tacitly chose to remain silent; not a single one of them spoke.
Even those who had a grudge against Xu Qi'an remained silent.
Que Yongxiu understood; these unscrupulous scholars wanted to use someone else to do their dirty work.
They all wanted to die.
Xu Qi'an slung his sword back at his waist and made a gesture that no one could understand: he waved towards the western sky.
Then, he grabbed the Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo by the collar and walked them outside.
Inside the palace.
Emperor Yuanjing had just returned to his study after the morning court session when a guard rushed in without announcing his arrival, standing at the door and shouting:
"Your Majesty, Xu Qi'an is blocking the Meridian Gate again, threatening to kill the Duke of Protectorate and the Duke of Cao."
Emperor Yuanjing's face changed drastically, and he roared in fury, "Does he intend to rebel? What about the Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo?"
"They've been taken out of the palace," the guard replied anxiously.
"Immediately mobilize the Imperial Guard's best fighters to stop Xu Qi'an. Anyone who disobeys will be killed on sight!" Emperor Yuanjing roared.
After the guards left, he stood by the large table, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
They subdued Wei Yuan, they subdued Chief Minister Wang, they subdued all the officials in the court, yet they overlooked such a minor figure.
"How dare he defy me! He's incredibly audacious!"
Emperor Yuanjing let out a deep roar and swept all the documents, papers, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones off the table.
The emperor, still furious, kicked over the table.
Upon receiving the emperor's order, the palace's experts led hundreds of imperial guards out of the palace gates, galloping on horseback in pursuit along the streets.
The Imperial Guards caught up with Xu Qi'an on the streets of the capital.
Stop him!
One of the Imperial Guard leaders breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the two dukes were unharmed. He leaped off his horse and pounced on Xu Qi'an.
"Call out!"
Suddenly, a flying sword struck, its light dazzling.
The Imperial Guard leader drew his sword and clashed with the flying sword. Although he was not injured, he was blocked.
In mid-air, Li Miaozhen's long hair fluttered as she floated, her pretty face as cold as frost.
Li Miaozhen came from Lin'an Prefecture; she had stayed in the city all night.
The leader of the Heavenly Sect's Holy Maiden's Imperial Guard was both shocked and furious. "I'll deal with Li Miaozhen; you go and intercept Xu Qi'an."
He wasn't the only expert to emerge from the pursuit.
Immediately, three powerful figures leaped from their horses, unleashing their inner energy, and soared into the air in pursuit.
Brush!
At that moment, a sword light flashed, slashing in front of the three powerful figures and carving deep trenches.
On the rooftop facing the street stood a swordsman in a blue robe, hands behind his back, a cold smile on his face.
"Chu Yuanzhen, are you going to rebel against the imperial court? Do you want to become a wanted criminal?"
The three elite Imperial Guards recognized Chu Yuanzhen.
Chu Yuanzhen sneered, "This is the imperial city, inhabited by high-ranking officials and nobles. If you want to shoulder the responsibility, you are welcome to fight me. In any case, I, Chu, am all alone; at worst, I will never set foot on the borders of the Great Feng Kingdom again."
The three Imperial Guard warriors were furious, gritting their teeth.
The capital city is under the emperor's nose and is also the inner city. The people here are much more precious than those outside. If these three people cause the people to be affected and suffer heavy casualties, it would be disastrous.
This responsibility will absolutely fall on their shoulders.
Sensing the fluctuations in energy here, powerful auras awakened within the imperial city, generating a stress response.
The imperial city was inhabited by nobles and princes, some of whom were themselves highly skilled, while others kept retainers in their residences; none of them were weaklings.
Meanwhile, from the palace, even more powerful energy fluctuations emanated, indicating the arrival of more experts.
"It seems we've stirred up a hornet's nest," Chu Yuanzhen transmitted his voice.
"If you're afraid of dying, then get lost." Li Miaozhen replied with a short temper.
"Amitabha!"
Hengyuan was naturally involved in this matter. He turned out from the other side of the street and said in a deep voice, "Why won't Fellow Daoist Li give me a ride?"
He had also infiltrated the capital city beforehand and was hiding in Lin'an Prefecture. However, Li Miaozhen hadn't taken him along when she flew on her sword, so she arrived a little late.
Li Miaozhen said irritably, "We'll talk about it when we're escaping."
As dawn broke, the streets of the inner city gradually filled with pedestrians.
Xu Qi'an stepped on the flying sword handed to him by Li Miaozhen and rushed out of the imperial city in one breath, landing lightly on the streets of the inner city.
Then, he paraded through the streets with the two dukes in his arms.
The first people pedestrians noticed were the Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo, who were dressed in ducal court robes.
"Hey, isn't that Xu Yinluo? I almost didn't recognize him if he wasn't wearing his Nightwatchers."
Someone shouted in surprise.
"Who is that he's carrying? That... that's a python robe, isn't it? Someone important!"
"I know that man, the one-eyed one. He's the Duke of Protectorate, Que Yongxiu, who entered the city yesterday."
"Is this the same Duke who accused Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou, of colluding with barbarians to kill the Prince of Zhenbei?"
Ordinary people rarely recognize dukes; for example, they don't know the Duke of Cao. But the Duke of Huguo was quite the showman yesterday, parading through the city and leaving a deep impression on the people of the inner city.
So I recognized it at a glance.
"Why is Xu Yinluo carrying him? This is a duke! What, what on earth is going on?"
"Whatever it is, what official is that man again? He's definitely involved in the Chuzhou case. I'm going to call my wife to come and see what's going on."
"Honey, you watch the stall for a bit, I'll go check on it with you."
"But, sir, I want to go see it too."
Pedestrians on the street pointed and whispered, watching the scene with astonishment, and some followed Xu Qi'an out of curiosity. Even some stall owners abandoned their stalls and followed with curious expressions.
It wasn't simply a matter of joining in the fun; it was just that it involved Xu Yinluo, and he was carrying the Duke who had flaunted his wealth yesterday, so no one could resist their curiosity.
The crowds are converging, and the number is increasing.
Gradually, it turned into a surging crowd.
This is what Xu Qi'an wanted. Killing Que Yongxiu with one stroke would be satisfying, but it wasn't the result he desired.
Finally, he carried the two dukes to the execution ground at Caishikou.
The execution ground was set at Caishikou mainly because there were many people there. If there weren't many people, how could the executions be carried out in public?
The people at Caishikou immediately noticed Xu Qi'an, or more accurately, they noticed the surging crowd.
"W-what's going on?" The people at Caishikou were stunned.
"Isn't that Xu Yinluo?"
At Caishikou, crowds surged.
Xu Qi'an threw Duke Cao and Duke Huguo onto the execution platform, drew his knife, and severed their tendons.
Then, he grabbed the heads of Duke Cao and Duke Huguo with both hands, forcing them to lift their faces. Xu Qi'an laughed, "Look, so many people. It's worth dying for them today."
Que Yongxiu's face turned pale with shock. "I... I am a first-class duke, a descendant of a founding father! You... you can't kill me! If you kill me, there will be no place for you in the Great Feng Dynasty!"
This seasoned commander, who had fought on countless battlefields, managed to maintain his composure as a soldier, repeatedly saying, "Don't make another mistake. I'm not dead yet, everything can be salvaged. I will plead with His Majesty to forgive you, I swear."
He has a bright future ahead of him; he has just won a victory in the court. He cannot die like this.
Duke Cao swallowed hard. "Xu Qi'an, you should know what kind of person His Majesty is. Killing us won't save you, even with a pardon. Releasing us might offer some room for negotiation."
Xu Qi'an smiled, "If I were wary of him, I wouldn't have brought the two of you along." His eyes were calm, and his tone was gentle, but the fear in Cao Guogong's heart exploded, and he kowtowed repeatedly. "Xu Yinluo, it was my fault, please, please spare me, spare me. It was all the fault of Protector-General Que Yongxiu and His Majesty, they were the ones who committed the massacre, it was them, it was them!"
"Shut up!"
Que Yongxiu shouted loudly.
"You're the one who should shut up!"
Duke Cao's face twisted in a grimace. "You don't understand him. You're not in the capital, you don't understand him at all. He's a madman, a complete madman! He... he really will kill us!"
"Speak louder! Tell these people who slaughtered Chuzhou City!" Xu Qi'an drew his knife and held it to the neck of Duke Cao.
The icy blade seemed to freeze his veins. Duke Cao's face turned pale, his lips trembled, and he cried out in despair, "It was the Prince of Zhenbei, it was Duke Que Yongxiu, they massacred the city!"
"Not enough!" Xu Qi'an said calmly.
"And His Majesty, and His Majesty! He knows everything! He knows the Prince of Zhenbei is going to massacre the city! Don't kill me! Please, don't kill me!" Duke Cao wept bitterly.
With a loud bang.
The surrounding residents were in an uproar.
What did they hear?
The massacre of 380,000 people in Chuzhou City was carried out by the Prince of Zhenbei and Que Yongxiu, and their king, their emperor, condoned it all?
"No wonder Governor Zheng died; they killed him!" someone shouted, their eyes red.
"His Majesty... he condoned the Prince of Zhenbei's massacre of the city."
Faces stared in disbelief, eyes gleaming with hatred and bewilderment.
They never expected that coming to watch the commotion would lead to such a scene and such words.
The Prince of Great Feng massacred the city, and the Emperor of Great Feng tacitly approved it.
Will we one day turn our swords against them?
At that moment, among the more than a thousand people, a dense crowd, something within them collapsed.
At this moment, figures leaped from the rooftops around Caishikou. Some wore the armor of the Imperial Guards, while others wore ordinary clothes, but their auras were all equally powerful.
"His Majesty has ordered the execution of Xu Qi'an!"
More than a dozen figures soared into the air, their auras rising like a surging tide, heading straight for Xu Qi'an.
Behind the crowd, the thunderous sound of hooves echoed as the Imperial Guards rode up, brandishing whips to drive the flow of people.
Overjoyed, Duke Que Yongxiu shouted, "Quickly save me! Kill this scoundrel!"
A glimmer of light flashed in Duke Cao's desperate eyes, followed by a surge of hatred, as if he wanted to tear Xu Qi'an to pieces.
Just then, a beam of clear light descended from the sky and, with a "ding," embedded itself into the execution platform.
With a flash of light, the experts who had rushed forward were struck as if by lightning, all of them flying away, spitting blood in mid-air.
"Finally here!" Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief.
It was a carving knife, an old-fashioned, black carving knife.
In the era before paper existed, that Confucian School sage used it to carve out a series of timeless classics.
He had summoned it before leaving the palace, and had already obtained Dean Zhao Shou's consent yesterday.
The carving knife gleamed with a clear light, forming a protective shield in front of the execution platform.
Xu Qi'an placed one foot on Duke Cao's back, glanced around at the crowd outside, and spoke each word with the power of his inner energy, his voice booming like thunder:
"The Duke of Cao framed loyal officials, aided and abetted the wicked, and conspired with the Duke of Huguo, Que Yongxiu, to murder Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou. According to the laws of Great Feng, he should be beheaded and his head displayed to the public!"
The black and gold longsword was raised and then brought down heavily.
A head rolled off.
Blood splattered on the execution platform, leaving a poignant crimson stain in the eyes of the people.
The Duke of Cao was executed.
"No"
A desperate roar escaped from Que Yongxiu's mouth; the death of the Duke of Cao had deeply affected him.
The Duke of Cao was right, this man is a madman, a madman!
"Xu Qi'an, Xu Yinluo, Lord Xu, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have been misled by the Prince of Zhenbei. I beg you, please give me another chance, don't kill me!" Que Yongxiu cried out.
He confessed his guilt in front of countless people, and wept bitterly in front of everyone.
"So you can be afraid too!" Xu Qi'an sneered.
"Yes, everyone is afraid of death. Just like the child you hoisted with your spear, just like the civilians you ordered shot, just like Lord Zheng whom you strangled to death in prison."
"Please save me! Please save me! I beg you!"
A tremendous fear exploded in Que Yongxiu's heart, and he let out a desperate wail towards the expert who had been injured by the light of the carving knife.
He knew a butcher's knife was hanging over his head. He knew Xu Qi'an was killing him because of the Chuzhou massacre, because of Zheng Xinghuai. But he didn't understand why this person would go to such lengths for innocent civilians.
Xu Qi'an's executioner's blade did not fall; he still intended to pronounce judgment on the Duke of Huguo's crimes. His blade was meant to kill those who deserved to die.
"Que Yongxiu, the Commander-in-Chief of Chuzhou and Duke of Protector of the Nation, colluded with the Prince of Huai to massacre the entire city of Chuzhou. Their blood debts are countless and unforgivable."
"After the incident, he conspired with Emperor Yuanjing to frame Zheng Xinghuai, the Provincial Governor of Chuzhou, and strangled him to death in prison. His blood debts are numerous and unforgivable. Today, he is sentenced to immediate execution by beheading!"
Puff!
With a swift movement, the knife fell, and the head rolled off the blade.
As the world turned upside down, Que Yongxiu saw the azure sky, his own corpse, and Xu Qi'an standing there with a cold smile.
"Rao"
His head rolled on the ground, his lips moved, and then, the boundless darkness swallowed him up.
"Call"
Xu Qi'an let out a long breath, as if he had released all the pent-up frustration in his chest.
Pairs of eyes were fixed on him; despite the bustling crowd, the silence was eerily profound.
In this quiet setting, Xu Qi'an reached into his robes, pulled out the silver token that symbolized his identity, and with a single stroke, cut it in two. The two halves of the token fell to the ground with a clang.
Leaning on his knife, he laughed arrogantly, "Duke Wei, Xu Qi'an, is no longer an official."
On a distant rooftop, a woman in red covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Behind her, Huaiqing, who was dressed in a plain white dress today, stared blankly at the figure laughing wildly on the execution platform.
Outside the crowd, an ordinary-looking woman arrived late and was unable to squeeze into the surging throng.
She stood outside, listening to the man in the distance announce his crimes, to say he was no longer an official, and to his wild laughter.
Mu Nanzhi suddenly felt that she was lucky.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the crowd—Li Han, who carried a cowhorn bow. He knelt on both knees and burst into tears.
"Many thanks to Xu Yinluo for eliminating the treacherous officials, restoring justice to the people of Chuzhou City, and for giving Lord Zheng justice."
Shen Tu Baili, Wei Youlong, Zhao Jin, Tang Youshen, and Chen Xian and his wife—these righteous men who escorted Zheng Xinghuai back to the capital—squeezed out of the crowd and knelt before the platform.
"Many thanks to Xu Yinluo for eliminating the treacherous officials, restoring justice to the people of Chuzhou City, and for giving Lord Zheng justice."
This scene was deeply etched in the eyes of the surrounding people.
Looking at the free-spirited and upright young man on the stage, cries of sobbing rose from the crowd.
This is justice that a young man won with his passion, his future, and even his life.
This scene was later recorded in history.
In the early summer of the 37th year of the Yuanjing era of the Great Feng, Xu Qi'an, the Silver Xu Qi'an, beheaded the Duke of Cao and the Duke of Huguo at Caishikou, thus bringing the Chuzhou massacre case to a close. The seven righteous men knelt before the execution platform for a long time.
P. S.: Sorry, I seem to have broken my promise. I stayed up all night to finish writing this, and it's quite long. Okay, time to take a shower and go to work.