Chapter 50: Chapter 46: Tampering with the Imperial Edict, the Holy Emperor’s Wrath

At the crack of dawn, civil and military officials in robes of all colors filed into the Imperial Palace. As they passed along the grand avenue, they carefully skirted the corpses of the Imperial Guard on the ground and the lingering sword might in the air.

The Imperial Palace was a wreck. Vermilion gates lay toppled on the ground, riddled with holes. Many Inner Court Qilin Guards, lightly armored, silently cleared the ruins at the entrance, dragging bodies from craters to be taken to the back mountain for cremation and burial.

The eunuchs and Palace Maids finally dared to emerge, each returning to their posts to perform their duties.

「Half an Hour later.」

「Holy Bright Palace.」

This was the main palace of the Great Yan Dynasty, its political heart and national symbol. Located in the center of the Imperial Palace and facing south, it was known as the Palace of Ten Thousand Palaces in the Central Plains World.

It was where the Imperial Court held its assemblies. Countless Holy Decrees and edicts were issued from this very hall. A single military order from here could annihilate a small nation.

Black eaves and vermilion walls rose above high Coiling Dragon Stone Steps. Thousands of Qilin Personal Guards stood vigil with long spears, guarding the hall’s gates in all four directions. They lent the Holy Bright Palace an unparalleled solemnity. Before the hall, nine Dragon Pattern Stone Tripods stood outside the gates, declaring where the Celestial Mandate currently resided.

Since ancient times, the “Tale of the Nine Tripods” proclaimed the sovereignty of the Central Plains Dynasty. The one who possessed the Nine Tripods was the true and legitimate ruler of the world.

Inside the resplendent hall with its towering dragon pillars, the Civil Servants wore Liang Crowns and sashes at their waists, holding Ruler’s Tablets of various designs. Those of the Fourth Grade and above were dressed in vermilion and purple, with Purple Gold Fish Bags hanging from their waists, their eyes shining brightly.

The Military Ministers wore He Crowns. Those who had reached the Four Symbols realm had red qilin embroidered on their chests. They wore swords at their waists with Beast Ring Jade Belts, their gazes sharp. Imbued with the Destiny of the Martial Dao, their presence was formidable.

The azure and purple qi, condensed from their official fortunes, soared majestically to the heavens.

The hundred officials held their Ruler’s Tablets, arranged on the left and right. The hall was utterly solemn, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

No one noticed a thumb-sized paper figure drift on the wind to the stairs outside the hall, where it lay perfectly still.

Emperor Yong’an sat on the Dragon Throne. His handsome, imposing face featured a pair of sharp, piercing eyes. From his high seat, he looked down upon his ministers, none of whom dared to meet his gaze directly.

His gaze shifted, landing on the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, who was tightly bound and dejected on the floor, and then to the Third Prince, Lu Guangyao, whose expression was comparatively composed.

There was also a large group of kneeling Cabinet Ministers, including Qi Xingyan, Cui Qingfeng, Xie Lingqing, and other high-ranking officials of the regency.

The man at their head was the Chief Minister of the Cabinet, Yuan Xuangang.

“Lu Changfeng, you have a lot of nerve.”

Emperor Yong’an’s voice was full and resonant, exceptionally loud. He narrowed his eyes and was the first to question him.

Lu Changfeng was already a picture of despair, his eyes filled with terror. His voice trembled as he said, “Father, your son has been wronged! How would I dare to rebel? I was merely acting in accordance with the Holy Decree! I was to receive the Supreme Authority of Regency, but the Third Prince, Lu Guangyao, obstructed me at every turn, which led to this conflict.”

“Oh?”

Emperor Yong’an’s voice suddenly grew three parts colder as he roared in fury:

“Are you saying that all the scholars in the Imperial Capital, the Advisory Platform Bureau, and the Three Academy Cultivators are all blind? That the news of you, Lu Changfeng, rebelling, which has spread throughout the Capital City, is false? That your ’good name’ for throwing the other Princes into the Imperial Prison is also a lie? And that the one who left the Imperial Palace riddled with holes, caused heavy casualties among the Imperial Guard, and incurred astronomical pension costs was not you?”

Lu Changfeng kowtowed again. “But the Holy Decree clearly stated in black and white…”

Emperor Yong’an cut him off directly. “Still not giving up? Someone! Bring me the Holy Decree that I wrote.”

The Secretary of the Secretariat stepped forward, produced the original draft of the Holy Decree from his sleeve, and handed it to a eunuch. It was then read aloud to the assembly once more.

This time, the final sentence concerning the regency was conspicuously absent.

“How is this possible… How can this be…”

Lu Changfeng muttered incessantly, his words a jumbled mess. He was on the verge of losing his mind.

Seeing his state, Lu Guangyao, who stood to the side, revealed a cold sneer.

Emperor Yong’an’s gaze swept over the crowd a second time, falling upon the Cabinet ministers. His eyes were sharp as knives as he sighed and said:

“The Ministerial Scholars of our Cabinet… which of you does not have graying temples? Which of you is not a pillar of the Court? Which of you is not my right-hand man?”

“And yet, you were capable of such a treasonous act. I am utterly disappointed!”

Upon hearing this, Cui Qingfeng, the Minister of Rites, was drenched in sweat. He cupped his hands and said, “We can all testify that it is true. When the Third Prince entered the capital, the decree did indeed mention a regency.”

“Are you implying someone altered the Holy Decree?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At this, Emperor Yong’an’s gaze turned to the Secretary of the Secretariat.

However, the Secretary of the Secretariat was unusually calm. He took a step forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, on that day, I wrote several copies of the Holy Decree in your presence, exactly as you instructed, and gave them directly to the Third Prince. How could there have been time to alter the decree? I pray for the Holy Emperor’s clear judgment.”

Hearing this, Emperor Yong’an fell silent for a moment. He tapped his knuckles on the Dragon Throne for a while, and many things became clear to him: the Eldest Prince’s actions, the matter of the Holy Decree, and the true beneficiary of this palace coup.

He merely mused on it, in no hurry to act.

At this moment, the Prime Minister, Qi Xingyan, wore a look of remorse and guilt. “It is this old minister’s fault. My failure to restrain him allowed the Eldest Prince to commit such a grave error.”

As the Eldest Legitimate Son’s grand tutor, he could not escape the blame.

’I just can’t believe that in a single day, the Eldest Prince did so much behind my back, and without discussing any of it with me!’

Thinking it over carefully, he finally understood the Second Prince’s intention in sending Chen Ke. ’It’s highly likely the Second Prince was the mastermind behind this coup.’

’He exploited everyone’s weaknesses, setting up this monstrously venomous plot and manipulating everyone involved.’

’Yet he himself remained in the Great Prison from start to finish, not taking a single step outside before the coup ended.’

’Finding evidence would be nigh impossible.’

Over the years, it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of finding leverage against the Second Prince.

But his efforts had yielded little. Either the leads died, or the trail simply never led back to him.

“Say no more,” the Emperor declared. “To dare rebel without my decree, to mobilize the Imperial Guard, to attempt to kill your own brothers—these are capital offenses.”

He announced the verdict coolly, “Men, drag Lu Changfeng, Cui Qingfeng, Xie Lingqing, and all the other Cabinet Ministers away. Throw them in the death cells. The execution will be stayed. After I have found evidence, I will decide whether it is exile, annihilation of their family, or extermination of nine generations. The final judgment will come after spring.”

Then, Emperor Yong’an’s gaze fell on Qi Xingyan.

“Elder Qi, although you have accepted blame, I do not consider myself one to punish indiscriminately. The rebellion was not your intention, and you were unaware of the plot. Nevertheless, I must still hold you accountable for your failure to guide him. I hereby strip Qi Xingyan of his position as Prime Minister and relieve him of all his posts, including Minister of Rites, Wenchang University Scholar, and Mountain Master of Shengjing Academy. You are to be placed under house arrest within the Imperial City to await further judgment.”

Qi Xingyan let out a deep sigh, cupped his hands, and said, “This minister accepts the decree.”

He understood. The Holy Emperor couldn’t easily sentence him to death because of his renowned title as a Great Scholar. His reputation was immense, and he was an object of faith for scholars throughout the world.

“Pei Ao ignored military discipline and mobilized troops without authorization—a grave crime. For aiding the rebellion with soldiers, his entire family shall be exterminated! Execute this immediately!”

“Finally, the Bright Lamp Bureau is to investigate this matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it. All suspicious individuals are to be thrown into the Imperial Prison. Anyone who resists will be executed without mercy. The Three Academies and Six Departments are to be investigated as well.”

Upon hearing this, a look of joy appeared on the Third Prince Lu Guangyao’s face, but his smile froze the very next second.

“Lu Guangyao led his troops to cut down thousands of enemies and quell the rebellion. Though his merits are great and he had the Tiger Talisman to command troops, the damage he caused to the Imperial Palace’s property is immense and cannot be easily forgiven. He is stripped of his position as Commander of the Tiger Camp and all his merits. He will await further judgment.”

With the preliminary judgments passed, many in the Imperial Court breathed a sigh of relief, while many others remained terrified.

They were afraid the Bright Lamp Bureau’s investigation would lead to them.

“Yes!”

Lu Mingyuan heard everything from outside the hall and learned of the outcome.

He thought to himself.

’These forces allied with the Eldest Prince, as well as the prominent families of the Imperial Capital, are full of capable people and occupy many positions in the Court. Father can’t possibly kill them all, or the Imperial Capital would descend into chaos. He has to boil the frog slowly, leaving a little room to maneuver while picking them off one by one.’

’The relatively weaker Pei Family can only be used as an example to scare the rest.’

’When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The Eldest Prince’s faction is probably going to collapse completely. The show is officially over.’

…

「In Qianyuan Hall, after the court assembly had dismissed.」

Emperor Yong’an stood by the window. Beside him was the Secretary of the Secretariat from the court assembly.

“Holy Emperor, you were looking for me?”

The Secretary of the Secretariat asked cautiously.

“Mm.”

Emperor Yong’an answered faintly without turning his head from the window.

“Attendant Guo, are you working for me?”

The Secretary of the Secretariat’s pupils shrank. Confused, he said, “Holy Emperor, of course I…”

“SHLICK!”

A blade burst through the Secretary of the Secretariat’s chest, dyeing his clothes red with blood.

The one who struck was none other than the old eunuch who never left Emperor Yong’an’s side.

The Golden Light of his Eighth Realm Literary Qi tried to form a defense, but it was instantly shattered by a slap from the old eunuch.

The next second, the light faded from his eyes, and he collapsed to the ground, dead.

“Drag him out. Say he was assassinated at the palace gates.”

The old eunuch sheathed his blade after wiping it clean. Standing beside Emperor Yong’an, he asked respectfully, “Your Majesty, since you knew this man’s heart was not pure, why did you keep him by your side?”

Emperor Yong’an rubbed his temples. “I just wanted to see how far my second son would go.”

“After this battle in the Capital City, the Confucian Family’s power has been greatly diminished. The Dao Alliance and the Buddhist Heaven should no longer be focusing their attention on me.”

“So Your Majesty plans to…”

Emperor Yong’an warned him coldly, “Do not say what should not be said.”

“Yes…”

Emperor Yong’an gazed out beyond the Imperial Palace, his eyes narrowed. “The punishments in the Imperial Court were merely for show. In private, there are still some… unsavory matters to handle. I can only rely on you to take care of them in my stead.”

…

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