Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Liu Chancellor would report the investigation results to the Emperor, who was furious!
"Absolutely unforgivable!" The Emperor smashed the teacup beside him, splattering tea all over the Ministers kneeling below, and no one dared to speak.
The Emperor slammed the memorial presented to him and shouted, "How can there be such a huge parasite in the Court? With so many of you here, not one of you noticed it. What use is it for me to keep you all?"
The Emperor's Imperial Countenance was filled with rage, and the ministers trembled in fear. They were terrified of provoking the Emperor further if they spoke up, yet remained silent for fear that he would think they were guilty and too afraid to respond, which would only infuriate him more.
At such a moment, all the pressure fell on the Prime Minister. If he remained silent, no one else would dare to speak up.
"Your Majesty, we acknowledge our crimes and hope for your punishment," Liu Chancellor began, trying to appease the Emperor's temper by taking the blame: "We have been solely focused on our own responsibilities and failed to observe the surrounding circumstances comprehensively. It is our oversight that has not alleviated your worries!"
The other ministers secretly thought to themselves that Liu Chancellor truly deserved his position; he was like an old fox who had honed his craft. His words appeared to admit guilt but actually shifted the responsibility away from them.
He acknowledged that they had fulfilled their duties while implying that investigating such matters was not their primary role. Moreover, he soothed the Emperor's emotions; once the Emperor calmed down, he would likely focus on Chen Kang and temporarily refrain from pursuing their negligence.
Under Liu Chancellor's reassurance, the Emperor quickly regained his composure. After sitting on the throne for decades, if he were truly incompetent, the country would have long since fallen into chaos. The fact that he could maintain stability proved that he was not a foolish ruler.
It is easy to be a foolish monarch; however, being a wise one is a challenging task. First and foremost, he must always keep a clear mind to avoid making wrong choices.
The Emperor's inner qualities were naturally strong. After reprimanding his ministers, he swiftly turned his attention to resolving the case.
"My loyal subjects," he said, "the crime of embezzling grain is serious. How do you think it should be dealt with?"
The Emperor posed the question to his ministers, allowing them to determine the punishment.
"This..." The Officials exchanged glances. What did His Majesty mean? Was this meant to spur everyone on so that they would remember today's lesson when tempted by corruption in the future?
However, determining an appropriate punishment was difficult; Chen Kang's crimes were too severe for ordinary penalties. If they suggested something too lenient, would the Emperor think it was favoritism?
"Hmm?" The Emperor furrowed his brow and asked, "What’s this? None of you can answer me?"
The Emperor was about to lose his temper, and the officials dared not provoke his wrath, so they could only brace themselves and step forward.
The Ministry of Justice was responsible for handling the case, and this time their duty was heavy; there was no escaping it. The Minister of Justice could only be the first to stand up.
"Your Majesty, I, the guilty minister Chen Kang, have abused my power for personal gain, filled my own pockets, and even had the audacity to embezzle military provisions. According to the law, I should be executed!"
Just the previous acts of corruption were enough to warrant Chen Kang's death. Coupled with his embezzlement of military provisions that led to a defeat in battle, he could have faced multiple executions.
The Emperor's brow remained furrowed as he asked, "What should be done with his family?"
The Minister of Justice was familiar with the laws of the realm and immediately replied, "Those over ten years old should be exiled to the borders and never allowed to return."
"Hmph!" The Emperor listened but did not accept this response. He countered, "He alone has caused the deaths of so many soldiers, brought unjust suffering upon the General, displaced countless citizens in the war zone, and inflicted severe losses on the nation! Now he only needs to pay with his life for all these crimes?"
With these words from the Emperor, it was clear what the final outcome would be.
The officials understood; this was meant to set an example. Chen Kang had to be severely punished to serve as a warning to all.
With the Emperor's decree, Chen Kang's fate was quickly sealed.
Minister of Personnel Chen Kang would face execution along with his entire family, and their inheritance would be confiscated by the state. Anyone who had dealings with Chen Kang would be arrested and interrogated; officials found to have improper associations would be demoted and investigated thoroughly!
Everyone felt uneasy, fearing they might get implicated. This investigation dragged on for over half a month, uncovering a long list of corrupt officials who were all punished one by one.
"My loyal ministers have worked diligently to conclude the Chen Kang case; I am deeply gratified," said the Emperor, nodding. "By rooting out the parasites within the court, our nation and people can remain stable. You have all done well this time."
Chancellor Liu stepped forward and said, "To relieve Your Majesty's worries is our duty. The swift resolution of this case is due to Your Majesty's wisdom; we are merely beneficiaries of your great fortune."
All the ministers echoed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise and mighty; may your blessings be abundant!"
The Emperor accepted the situation calmly, a smile gracing his face as he looked at the officials in the grand hall.
His gaze swept around the room before settling on Gu Bei.
"Now that the case has been clarified and the culprit, Chen Kang, has confessed, everyone can see that General Gu Bei has been wronged and has suffered unjustly!"
He sighed towards Gu Bei, "Gu Ai Qing, I have wronged you."
Gu Bei knelt on one knee and replied, "I dare not! Your Majesty is willing to give me a chance to clear my name; I am immensely grateful!"
If it weren't for the Emperor's intervention, even if Gu Bei returned to the capital, he might not have been able to clear his name so quickly.
Gu Bei was not an ungrateful person; he would always remember this great kindness in his heart.
The Emperor nodded and said, "Gu Bei, now that you have cleared your name, I must properly assess your merits and faults over these years."
Gu Bei's current position was still quite awkward. As a general, he bore responsibility for countless lives. Although the truth had come to light—that the tragedy stemmed from a lack of supplies—he still led the army that faced defeat, and as such, he bore undeniable responsibility.
"Yes! I am willing to accept all due punishments!"
Gu Bei did not shy away from this; even if the Emperor did not pursue his accountability, he was constantly tormented by his own conscience. In fact, he had been anticipating this punishment as a means of finding some self-forgiveness.
"Very well," said the Emperor. "I have always been pleased with your sense of responsibility, Gu Bei. The Gu Family can take pride in having a descendant like you; their ancestors would surely feel comforted."
Mentioning the Gu Family pierced Gu Bei's heart. Because of him, the Gu Family had long endured shame; he felt truly unfilial. "Your Majesty flatters me; I am terrified!"
As their conversation unfolded between Sovereign and Subject, one person listened with a pained expression. This person was none other than Gu Bei's younger brother, Gu Rong.
Gu Rong's greatest resentment in life was having an older brother like Gu Bei. Everything about him was superior, and everyone praised him endlessly.
As for Gu Rong, he was also a young master of the Gu Family, yet he was often overlooked. Just this alone was enough to infuriate him, but what was even more maddening was that Gu Bei took it all for granted, showing no concern whatsoever.
To Gu Rong, Gu Bei was the kind of person who trampled on what others cherished.
Yet, ironically, everyone around seemed blind; they were all deceived by Gu Bei. They only knew how to praise him, extolling his virtues and believing that everything about him was commendable.
Even now, despite having suffered a defeat, which should have warranted public apology and accountability, listen to what the emperor had to say. He was still praising Gu Bei as a proud descendant of the Gu Family!
Within the wide sleeves of his robe, Gu Rong's fingers clenched tightly, the joints turning pale.
No one noticed Gu Rong's inner turmoil except for himself. Everyone's attention was focused on the emperor.
The emperor concluded, “Although Gu Bei has made mistakes, his contributions outweigh them. Considering his past dedication to our dynasty, I will be lenient this time and not pursue the matter further. General Gu Bei, you are reinstated immediately and will continue to command your previous military authority.”
At this announcement, not only were the officials shocked, but even Gu Bei himself could hardly believe it.
“Your Majesty, this…” Gu Bei hesitated. “The mistakes I have made cannot be easily forgiven. To hand back military power to me now… I feel unworthy!”
The emperor smiled and said, “If you truly accepted it without hesitation, I would have to reconsider. Now that you are able to hesitate, it shows you have reflected on your actions. That reassures me.”
Comment 0 Comment Count