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墨書 Inktalez
"Shi Yun, how dare you! You still have the audacity to shout at me!"
"I did not wish to speak to Your Majesty in such a manner. After narrowly escaping death, my emotions are understandably heightened. I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness! By the way, may I ask when Your Majesty plans to take action again?"
After all, fortune does not come often; at the very least, grant me some time to bid farewell to my family.
Once Shi Yun finished speaking, he received no response, for the Xuande Emperor had fainted from anger—whether it was genuine or feigned remained uncertain.
After exchanging glances with Gentle, Shi Yun and Gentle carried the Xuande Emperor back to the palace.
The court officials watched them leave, each harboring their own thoughts but reluctant to voice them, creating a tense atmosphere.
Zhe asked Shi Yun what they should do next.
"Let us continue with our current affairs," Shi Yun replied, adjusting his emotions and regaining his composure. "We will handle matters according to the court's regulations; at least His Majesty cannot find fault with us on the surface."
"That is true," Zhe remarked. "Everyone has been more disciplined these days. We do not know if another life-and-death crisis will come our way, but at least we cannot be blamed after we are gone."
At that moment, an official inquired about the Sang Family Injustice Case, stating that they should continue processing it according to court protocol. However, relevant documents had been destroyed in the Great Fire, especially records from the Chongjing Emperor's reign—once burned, they were gone forever.
Shi Yun responded, "Do you not find some of the handwriting familiar? Those were transcribed by our family's younger generation. The information is quite extensive; they all wanted to help. I feared they would complicate matters but could not dampen their enthusiasm, so I jokingly asked them to make copies of the scrolls."
"What you have seen these days in the Western Warm Pavilion are their transcribed books. Perhaps thinking my task for them was too simple, those young rascals wanted to show off by imitating handwriting and aging the pages. Although their methods were somewhat immature, there was not a single error in the information."
Worried about potential complications during the investigation, he kept a backup of their version; the originals were still stored in The Office of Censors.
"The Office of Censors? That is Gentle's territory." No! The one who set fire today was him. To prevent him from acting again, we should quickly retrieve and relocate the evidence.
The case files were ultimately moved to the Ministry of Justice, and the officials overseeing this case also shifted over. To prevent Xuande Emperor from going mad and taking further action, Shi Yun ordered that students from the Martial Arts Examination be summoned to guard day and night.
Days passed again as Shi Yun brought forth the final results to meet Xuande Emperor in his palace chambers.
On that day, Xuande Emperor claimed illness and did not make an appearance again.
When Shi Yun arrived at his door, Xuande Emperor did not wish to see him and sent Gentle with a message: "I am ill and lack the energy to intervene."
As Gentle delivered this message, he shook his head at Shi Yun, indicating that Xuande Emperor was indeed unwell; perhaps he was holding back his anger or experiencing a brief resurgence of spirit—though it could also be a fleeting moment of clarity.
Ultimately, this matter would require Xuande Emperor's decision; if he were to use Emperor Qin Zhang's Blank Imperial Edict afterward, it would easily invite criticism from others. This final push was unavoidable.
Gentle once more encouraged Shi Yun with a glance to enter boldly. Shi Yun shot him a glare and leaned closer to whisper, "Has any prince come to see him?"
"They have all come; he refused to see them because he found them bothersome."
Shi Yun thought that Xuande Emperor knew his time was short and would soon establish an heir; yet there had been no movement on that front thus far. He could not help but wonder what else Xuande Emperor was hiding up his sleeve.
As Gentle turned back into the inner palace, Shi Yun seized the opportunity and slipped through the slightly ajar door. Gentle pretended to be caught off guard and let him in.
When Shi Yun saw the Xuande Emperor, he was holding a Sutra. Raising an eyebrow at Shi Yun's entrance, he remained calm and turned another page of the Sutra without any sign of disturbance.
Shi Yun knelt down, presenting the book. "Your Majesty, the verdict on the Sang Family Injustice Case has been reached. All the details are contained within this book."
The Xuande Emperor did not leave him hanging and spoke in a relatively gentle tone. "Could it be that the Sutra truly has such an effect?"
The Sang Family had secretly made so many preparations; I need not look to know they have succeeded. I am powerless to stop it now; do as you wish.
"Your Majesty, in the preface, your final judgment is still needed."
The Xuande Emperor scoffed at himself. "Is there really a need for that? Isn't the credibility of that Blank Imperial Edict the greatest? Just use it; why must I complicate matters?"
"Your Majesty, it is against protocol. Current affairs should be resolved in the present; this is how matters should flow."
"Is it merely to conform to the flow?"
"Yes."
"Hah!"
The Xuande Emperor set down the Sutra. "Shi Yun, if the Sang Family returns seeking vengeance against the Qin Clan, what will you choose?"
"The enemies of the Sang Family have long since returned to the Underworld; how can we even speak of revenge?"
"I have had some idle time these past few days and looked into Sang Qingxiao's movements since entering the city. That young girl is remarkable. Those who conspired against the Sang Family were all intricately connected to her when they fell."
"Your Majesty, even if she did all this, you have not acted against the Sang Family, nor have your descendants. What is there to fear?"
"What about my sons? Two have been demoted, one is ill—are they not related to her?"
"Your Majesty, you know well that the evidence against your princes is solid; they brought this upon themselves."
"Shi Yun! You are being reckless! My children are also yours; how dare you speak so presumptuously!"
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten who I am? A prince's crime is no different from that of a commoner. I once personally sent my own son to the Execution Ground. Wrong is wrong; if those princes were not of royal blood, they would have long since met their end. How could they still be alive now?"
"Shi Yun! You are bold!"
Shi Yun stood up, filled with righteous indignation. "I am always bold! I hope to awaken you with these daring words!"
"Ever since you fell ill, you have changed—oh no, I should say since that incident, you have become fearful for your life, afraid of losing power. In your anxiety over gains and losses, your true nature has gradually revealed itself."
"But what you wish to hold tightly in your grasp slips away no matter how hard you try. The crisis in Great Jing has already emerged; in your panic, even knowing what is wrong, you still refuse to admit fault or reflect."
The situation became increasingly absurd.
"My lord, I am utterly disappointed in you. Today, I must confront you directly. Where has the wise and discerning Xuande Emperor gone?"
Qin Mu Hui was taken aback by Shi Yun's questioning, unusually refraining from anger. Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and was startled by the unfamiliar reflection staring back at him. After a long pause, he finally managed to utter, "I... have not much time left to live."
Thus, he felt lost and anxious within himself.
He could not bear to see others thriving while he suffered.
He no longer wished to restrain himself; among countless others, why should he not indulge just once?
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