Chapter 199: 135. What I, the Emperor, bestow upon you is yours. If I don’t give it, you can’t take it. (4K Large Chapter).
Inside the Ziwei Palace.
As Xu Xing revealed himself, an immediate, death-like silence descended.
This is...
This is His Majesty...
The court officials turned their heads in unison, filled with inexpressible shock upon seeing Xu Xing clad in a Bright Yellow Dragon Robe. Whether they were former ministers from Mount Siming or newer ministers from the court with their own agendas, all were familiar with Xu Xing’s appearance.
Among the notables of the world, for the past hundred years, only Emperor Tiande Xu Xing had been considered the foremost.
Framed and thrown into prison, he had fled south to join Mount Siming and implemented the Three Plans to break the Imperial Court’s Forbidden Army.
He had invaded Shenjing, avenged his personal grievances, and left Emperor Chongming to the Starving People.
He had also battled Immortals.
Event after event, accomplishment after accomplishment.
In terms of personal prestige, Xu Xing was considered a god among mortals!
Facing Empress Zhao Yunniang and Crown Prince Xu Zhang, Yu Ci and the others had endured for twelve years before staging a coup. Moreover, the rationale behind their rebellion had also been in the name of Emperor Tiande Xu Xing.
Now that Xu Xing, the rightful ruler, had appeared at the entrance of the Ziwei Palace, their rebellious intentions were immediately repressed within their hearts; they dared not even mention them.
They only hoped that Xu Xing would be generous and treat them leniently.
Back then, when Emperor Chongming was incompetent, he had still managed to force Chen Hou to his death, causing him to smash his head against a palace column. Now that their founding emperor, Xu Xing, had appeared in person, this intangible pressure made them feel as if they would suffocate.
"Your Majesty..."
"My... my loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon."
"This minister only pressured the Empress for the sake of the Heavenly Family’s national foundation!"
Yu Ci, standing in the hall, was trembling like a sifting screen. Cold sweat broke out on his square face and neck, dripping down his beard and matting the hairs into strands.
He slowly knelt, facing the hall entrance, and lowered his head slightly, not daring to let Xu Xing see his current shameful state.
At the same time, he observed this Emperor he had never previously encountered out of the corners of his eyes. The warm dawn sunlight landed on one side of his body, glittering, setting off the Bright Yellow Dragon Robe against the backdrop of the Han Baiyu carved railings and crimson steps. This Emperor exuded an innate air of authority without needing to display anger.
The Crown Prince is not a ten-thousandth of his father.
This thought suddenly sprang into Yu Ci’s mind.
Despite their similar appearances, the mere sight of Xu Xing standing there caused an uncontrollable fear to well up within him. In contrast, no matter how much Crown Prince Xu Zhang feigned anger, Yu Ci and the other officials only saw him as a puppet, treating him with superficial respect but without a shred of genuine fear in their hearts.
Is that Father Emperor?
Xu Zhang was also inwardly taken aback.
Regarding the life or death of his own father, Xu Xing, he had adopted the opinion of the Scholars of the Eastern Palace. They believed that Emperor Tiande had suffered severe injuries in his early years and had long since died, his death kept secret to ensure the stability of the state.
But now, his own father was standing right there before him, plain as day.
He instantly felt the absurdity of his own ridiculous assumption.
Fortunately, I didn’t agree to join Yu Ci and the others in staging the coup...
Xu Zhang inwardly sighed in relief.
Although he wished to govern personally and seize power from his mother, Empress Zhao Yunniang, he also knew that if his mother were truly forced to abdicate by Yu Ci and the others, he too would not meet a good end.
If they succeeded once, they would try again. Yu Ci and the others would surely treat him as a puppet, using the Emperor to command the feudal lords.
"Beloved Minister Yu..."
Xu Xing, who had been standing silently outside the Ziwei Palace, finally spoke. He first glanced at Yu Ci, who was kneeling on the ground kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, then smiled faintly. "Beloved Minister Yu, what crime have you committed? Beloved Minister Yu is loyal to his sovereign and devoted to the state. I have not attended court for twelve years; it is only reasonable for Beloved Minister Yu to have such questions."
"Fierce gales test the strongest grass; chaotic times reveal the loyal minister."
"Beloved Minister Yu, you are no treacherous or wicked minister; rather, you are a loyal minister of Our dynasty!"
To the surprise of the assembled officials, Xu Xing did not call Yu Ci to account. Instead, he repeatedly commended Yu Ci’s actions, as if his recent attempt to force the Empress’s abdication was genuinely for the sake of the Heavenly Family.
That’s right!
How many civil and military officials were there in the entire court, after all?
At least two-fifths of the officials had participated in this coup.
As the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses.
Emperor Tiande was no incompetent ruler. He knew that if he were to incriminate half of the civil and military officials, the realm would surely be thrown into turmoil, and the political repercussions would be immeasurable. Even if he were to mete out punishment, it would likely be done by demoting them under the guise of promotions or punishing them later under different charges.
The court officials who had just stepped forward, hearing this, instantly relaxed, feeling a wave of relief.
This was, thankfully, only the beginning of a new dynasty.
The previous dynasty’s accumulated malpractices meant that many of them, as officials, were relatively upright. The Night Patrol Department had no leverage against them. Even if they did, the laws of the current National Dynasty differed from the previous one and wouldn’t resort to punishments like being flayed and stuffed with straw, thrown into the Bureau of Music, or the extermination of one’s three clans.
But—
just as they began to feel at ease...
Xu Xing spoke again.
This time, they were utterly flustered.
"Beloved Minister Yu is indeed a loyal minister proven in times of turmoil..."
"I deeply believe so."
Xu Xing’s lips curled into a cold smirk. "However, those of the Feather Attached Faction, are they not also attempting a coup? Since ancient times, loyal ministers have often been framed by treacherous ones. You who stepped forward just now, in My view, are all treacherous ministers and Chaotic ministers & thieves who have framed Beloved Minister Yu!"
After saying this, Xu Xing walked over to Yu Ci, patted the shoulder of the kneeling man, and said softly, "Beloved Minister Yu... do you not agree?"
Yu Ci’s body trembled violently.
He understood Emperor Tiande’s intention.
Without a suitable pretext, rashly punishing these "rebellious officials" would undoubtedly throw the National Dynasty into chaos and damage Xu Xing’s reputation as an enlightened ruler.
Therefore, Emperor Tiande was elevating him, the faction leader, as a "loyal minister proven in times of turmoil."
While his attached followers would be branded as treacherous ministers and chaotic ministers.