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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 238: No Mercy
In the Tai'an Palace, the eunuch who had gone to convey the imperial edict returned with his face covered, while Li Yan paced anxiously. Upon seeing him, he hurriedly asked, "Was the edict delivered?"
The eunuch knelt on the ground, crying, with one hand open palm up, revealing bloodied teeth. "Forgive me for my incompetence. Your edict was taken by Li Wei in front of the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Six Ministries."
"What!" Li Yan began to sweat from his forehead and palms. "Right in front of the courtiers? Did he hit you?"
"Yes, he did. It was not just an attack on me; it was clearly an insult to you."
Li Yan had just dismissed everyone else, finding them bothersome, but now he suddenly felt panic rising within him.
"Come here! Come here!"
At the sound of the Retired Emperor's trembling voice, seven or eight eunuchs and palace maids rushed in. Li Yan collapsed to the ground. "Where are the others? Why are there only so few of you?"
At that moment, several of Li Yan's concubines hurried in to complain. "Retired Emperor, you must stand up for us! Just now, people from the Queen came and took away all the maidservants and eunuchs attending us."
"She is just a junior compared to us; how can she treat us this way? Your Majesty, you should send someone to reprimand her."
Li Yan's expression darkened significantly. He could no longer care for his beloved beauties and only pressed on with questions. "What about the Empress Dowager? Was the Court Lady also taken away?"
Consort Wan replied, "No, the Queen even sent over a dozen more female officials to serve us, saying they were taken from her own entourage."
"Your Majesty, you really should..."
"Shut up! Get out! All of you get out!"
At that moment, Li Yan had no time to placate them. After shooing away the chattering concubines, he immediately dispatched a Court Lady to investigate the situation.
Soon, the news of the bloodbath at the Pei Residence spread back, and Li Yan's face turned pale. His son did not fight for power within the rules as they had anticipated.
Instead, he had jumped out directly, sacrificing the carefully constructed laws and regulations, completely turning himself into a lonely figure.
Without Pei Ji, who could he rely on to connect with the Courtiers?
As a result, his greatest advantage was lost, revealing his fatal weakness of having no military power.
...
In the Martial Virtue Hall, meat and wine were laid out. Since the Taiping Yuan Year when the Emperor issued the Prohibition of Slaughter and Wine, there had not been such a lavish feast during the past two years’ festivals and birthdays.
Yet each official was trembling with fear. They did not see this banquet as a gesture of goodwill from His Majesty; instead, they feared it might be a prelude to their execution.
Pei Ji had been dragged in; not only was he struck by the massacre of his entire family, but Wei Yijie's kicks had also left him genuinely injured.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we are willing to die a thousand deaths; please show us mercy."
Under Wei Yijie's lead, nearly all the officials knelt in the center of the hall. They dared to gamble because they were prepared for defeat.
However, this awareness did not mean they were willing to drag their entire clan down with them.
In this world, only for the Nation was it worth such a risk. And even if they succeeded this time, it would merely mean that the Retired Emperor regained power. They would have maintained Guanlong and the Royal Family's foundation and continued their prominence.
In the end, this Nation still bore the surname Li. Thus, they readily admitted defeat because not only was their loss evident now, but the consequences were also too severe for them to bear.
Li Jian Cheng calmly observed them, just as he had during the palace coup.
The Emperor remained silent, and the atmosphere grew increasingly suffocating. The Courtiers had arrived in a state of panic and sweat; now they were trembling so much that they dared not even sweat.
"Do you still think that I, your Emperor, can be easily deceived by your kindness?"
Bright light streamed through the window, illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
However, with the Emperor's teasing remark, everyone felt as if they had plunged into an icy abyss, as if they were trapped in a harsh winter month.
This statement branded them all as traitors to the throne. Even if they were to admit their mistakes and plead for forgiveness now, the Emperor showed no intention of reconciliation or division; he left no opportunity for them to prove their loyalty.
"Y-your Majesty?"
Li Jian Cheng slowly rose, seemingly speaking to himself. "I did not wish for this. My desire was to work with you all to govern the realm, to be a wise ruler with virtuous ministers leading us into a prosperous era. Would that not be delightful?
But you, my loyal subjects, have truly disappointed me. For your own selfish desires, you have incited the Retired Emperor and colluded with the Turkic forces to usurp my authority and disrupt the state. Such actions cannot be tolerated by me, nor by heaven!"
From behind the courtiers, Pei Ji, lying on the ground, scoffed coldly. "Well said, but your actions hardly reflect any intention of leading us into a prosperous era."
Li Jian Cheng raised his hand to stop his Imperial Guard from advancing towards Pei Ji. "Pei Qing, your entire family faces execution and exile; you have no way out. Even as your Emperor, there is nothing I can do to intimidate you.
Do you see over there? The historians responsible for recording my daily activities and documenting our national history are present. Everything that happens today will be passed down through generations; I have nothing to hide.
As the saying goes, when a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a person is nearing death, their words are sincere. You may speak boldly now; since my ascension to the throne, every decree I have issued has been aimed at establishing a prosperous era."
Seeing that the historians were present, Pei Ji found himself unable to voice his grievances. After all, his arguments revolved around personal and familial interests rather than the welfare of the realm.
Li Jian Cheng turned his gaze to the others. "Pei Qing has fallen silent; if any of you have insights to share, please speak freely."
Finally, a few who realized their dire situation began to criticize the Emperor for his harsh treatment of Guanlong and his oppressive measures against the Royal Family while promoting scholars from Shandong and Jiangnan, even considering elevating commoners.
The Emperor did not grow angry; he merely asked, "Then tell me, what harm does this bring to the world and its people?"
This group of people wanted to accuse the Emperor of betraying Guanlong, of abandoning his family, and of distributing power to others.
Yet, even they knew that such actions would ultimately benefit the world.
As they fell silent once more, Li Jian Cheng no longer pressed them: "You all have contributed in some way, and though you have let me down, I cannot bear to send you on your way empty-handed. I have prepared fine wine and delicacies for you. Please enjoy."
"We beseech Your Majesty to reconsider!"
The voice came from outside the hall. The courtiers had been waiting outside Martial Virtue Hall for an unknown length of time, but had remained silent until the Emperor spoke with such finality, prompting them to kneel and plead for mercy.
The reason for their urgency was that inside the hall were not just a few individuals, but a full thirty or forty high-ranking officials and nobles—from the Chancellor to the Minister of Rites, from the Duke of Longxi to various Marquises, from members of the Royal Family to Royal Relatives.
"Your Majesty, we have been short-sighted and blinded by our desires. Under your guidance, we now recognize our mistakes. We implore Your Majesty to show mercy and allow us to serve you like loyal hounds and horses. We beg for your grace upon us..."
But the Emperor's response was only this: "The Golden Cup shall be shared with you; the White Blade shows no mercy!"
……………
(End of Chapter)
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