Chapter 725: Chapter 725: Ministers Congratulate on Longevity
After Xie Qing spoke, the civil and military officials finally reacted, unable to hold back their immense joy and repeatedly followed by saying, “It is the fortune of the world, the fortune of the people, Heaven bless our Emperor,” with some old ministers even overwhelmed with tears of excitement.
The most agitated were these officials when they first heard that the Imperial Heir had been harmed; they ran to confront Zhao Zhong, besides the military generals, they were the most proactive, and later discovered that they had been used by Zhao Zhong and others, they put their lives on the line to impeach Zhao Zhong and his accomplices.
Some wore pale, forced smiles as their heads bowed, pretending to be overwhelmed with joy, while their backs were completely soaked with cold sweat.
Yet, there was one person whose heart stirred slightly upon hearing the news; he was part of Xue Ping’s faction alongside Zhao Zhong. With the rapid shifts in situation in the past few days as Xue Ping’s faction fell apart, though he had not openly taken a stance, he always drowned his sorrows with alcohol at home, expressing fears about his situation, sympathizing with Zhao Zhong for being discarded like a pawn, harboring grievances against Xue Ping yet feeling the punishment of exterminating Zhao Zhong’s family was too severe, deeply sympathetic but afraid to get involved, he dared not express his views outwardly.
Observing everyone’s reactions, the Emperor’s gaze briefly passed over one person and he faintly smiled, “Back then, the evildoer hid himself within the Harem with cruel methods, and amidst heavy suspicions the truth was not yet clear, I feared the evildoer would strike again, so I did not announce the situation of the Imperial Heir. Now, after days of recuperation, the Imperial Physician has confirmed that the Imperial Heir is healthy and well, and as today is the Longevity Event, I disclose this to all my loyal officials so that we can rejoice together.”
The officials, once again assured, all showed expressions of great happiness and excitedly knelt down to praise, “Congratulations to our Emperor, blessings to our Emperor, may our Emperor live forever.”
That person knelt down with everyone else, his mouth offering congratulations, but his thoughts began to stir—If the Imperial Heir is unharmed, could Zhao Zhong be saved? At least the extermination of his family seemed overly severe.
The more he thought, the more it seemed plausible, especially considering that today was a highly auspicious day. Traditionally, the days surrounding the Longevity Event involved suspension of judicial proceedings, and sometimes, to display imperial grace, some prisoners were even granted amnesty. This year was somewhat special since the Ministry of Punishment had been working overtime due to the significant implications associated with the Longevity Festival, ensnaring many people, hence violating this taboo.
He couldn’t help but sneak a glance; His Majesty looked relaxed and cheerful, and looking around, the officials seemed unaware of the issue—as if it were his moment to advise…
The man’s official rank was not high, holding a leisurely Fifth Rank position. Although he was from Xue Ping’s faction, he was not valued by Xue Ping, and he had a blurred view of the high-level power struggles, yet he harbored a sense of being the sober one among the drunken masses, comforting himself with his supposedly noble birth, hiding a disgraceful tendency to ingratiate himself with those in power.
Before he could fully understand, the Emperor raised his hand, gesturing to the side, and the Eunuch in charge of announcing immediately declared loudly, “Rise!”
The officials, wiping their tears, all stood up, unable to contain their excitement, and began to speak at once—some saying that under His Majesty’s glorious radiance the Imperial Heir was safe and sound, others proclaiming that a person of good fortune like the Imperial Heir naturally could not be harmed by petty individuals, and by the end, they inevitably added a phrase praising His Majesty’s wisdom.
Only that man became more animated, the more he thought, the more he felt he needed to seize the moment before others caught on, to make a suggestion that would showcase the Emperor’s magnanimity and potentially enhance his own reputation, possibly earning special recognition.
So, while other ministers were brightly celebrating among themselves, he awkwardly shouted, “His Majesty, your grace shines like the sun and moon, your benevolence reaches across the seas, today is your sacred birthday celebrated by all under heaven, since the Imperial Heir is unharmed, exterminating Zhao Zhong’s family indeed goes against Heaven’s principles, and diminishes moral virtue, why not… why not…”
No sooner had these words left his mouth than the great hall fell suddenly quiet, everyone couldn’t believe their ears, none had expected someone to make such a foolish remark.
At that moment, Xue Ping seemed bewildered, numbly staring at the man, his mind only registering the word “fool,” feeling nothing else, without even a trace of frustration or struggle.
The situation was already beyond redemption, what did it matter if one more or one fewer accompanied in the downfall?
The man felt the atmosphere shift, the more he spoke, the more uncertain he grew, and ultimately he could not continue, sweat beginning to form on his forehead. Had he said something wrong?
The Emperor smiled but not quite, “If not what? Why stop speaking.”
The man, drenched in cold sweat and weak, could only force himself to say, “If not… if His Majesty pardons his three clans and kills only him, it would also showcase our Emperor’s benevolence and magnanimity, a virtue that covers all under heaven…”
A military general could not hold it back and spoke up, “You mean, if there is no harm to the Imperial Heir, Zhao Zhong’s crime can be forgiven, and if His Majesty does not pardon him, then His Majesty is not benevolent?”
Finally realizing what he had said wrong, the man quickly waved his hands, “No, no, no, the official did not mean that. In the past, the Great Ancestor on the Longevity Event had pardoned everyone under heaven, the official thought with His Majesty so wise, and with the Imperial Heir unharmed…”
Before he could finish, the great hall erupted, and people all around, red-faced and thick-necked, lashed out at him:
“Ignorant fool, how dare you disregard the foundational importance of the Imperial Heir and speak on behalf of Zhao Zhong, a man guilty of great and heinous crimes.”
“The Imperial Heir being unharmed owes to his deep fortune. Zhao Zhong and others plotted against the Imperial Heir, framed and implicated others, and committed the grave sin of deceiving the Emperor. To respond in court that deceiving the Emperor would end with the annihilation of nine clans, His Majesty deciding to kill only his three clans is already a grace.”
“Has your brain been kicked by a mule? Are you a cohort of Zhao Zhong, specially here to bring ill luck to His Majesty today?”
The Emperor raised his hand to stop everyone’s speech and coldly chuckled, “Eating the monarch’s grain but not sharing the monarch’s concerns, I did not expect that today, some among you would speak for treacherous officials, huh.”
This statement was extremely grave, implying that those who took the Emperor’s grain but did not share his concerns, and instead spoke for treacherous ministers, were no different from committing treason.
With that statement, Zhao Zhong was defined as a treacherous official, and all the officials felt a chill.
A saying goes, “Treasonous officials should be executed by everyone,” and they knew Zhao Zhong and others were undoubtedly doomed with no chance for reprieve.
The man, terrified, quickly knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing, stammering that he dared not do such a thing. Frightened and panicking, he even wet his pants on the spot and was dragged out like a dog by the Imperial Guards.
After the man was dragged away, the Emperor, with eyes sharp as swords, scanned the crowd and stopped at one person, “In this case involving the Imperial Heir, although Zhao Zhong and other treacherous officials have been executed, I dare not relax. With what was said earlier, in the future, anyone who meddles in the Harem attempting misconduct, stirring up trouble, do not blame me for disregarding the bond between sovereign and subjects. Their end will be the same as Zhao Zhong’s!”
All the officials knelt and repeatedly said they dared not.
Everyone present knew that from then on, anyone who wished to interfere in the Harem would have to measure their own capabilities…
Yet, this was just a minor episode, quickly glossed over. Led by Minister Fan from the Ministry of Rites, voices of congratulations began, returning the grand hall to its lively atmosphere as the joyful harmony between the sovereign and his ministers resumed.
Especially those veteran ministers, joyful that the Imperial Heir was safe, when it was their turn to offer congratulations, and after presenting their gifts, they declined any rewards, saying that the news of the Imperial Heir’s safety itself was the best reward they could receive, and went on to talk at length about the Emperor’s health and the country’s prosperity.