Huo Qiyuan's few casual questions caused Minister Wang's expression to change drastically. Especially upon hearing his son mentioned, he reacted as if his tail had been stepped on, startled into speechlessness.
Among the assembled officials, a man in crimson court attire repeatedly glanced at the tall figure. His eyes held shock, guilt, and above all, alarm and fear.
Huo Siming, his face pale and sweating profusely, his back clothes soaked with cold sweat, kept moving closer to others, hoping to diminish his presence.
The people around were all unsettled by Huo Qiyuan's sudden appearance, thus none noticed his unusual state.
Huo Qiyuan: "Minister Wang, I heard that in that battle years ago, it was entirely thanks to your son leading the troops that the tide was turned? But if I recall correctly, his arrival for support was two full months later than scheduled? Da Yu not only gained no advantage, but lost over a hundred thousand soldiers, and in the end, ceded several cities to quell the matter. Your son is truly a brave and skillful general!"
Minister Wang's heart lurched violently, and he immediately became nervous. Judging by Huo Qiyuan's words, did he know something? But this matter had the Emperor's approval, and his son was merely acting a part to grab some credit.
However, things having come to this, he could not lose his composure, nor could he let Huo Qiyuan drag the matter in this direction. "Absurd! Utterly preposterous! If you hadn't leaked the army's situation to the enemy, why would our side have suffered such a crushing defeat?"
Huo Qiyuan: "So Minister Wang believes it was me who leaked it? Or does everyone present believe that? But I have evidence to prove that the true person who revealed all this is someone else. Does Minister Wang and all you esteemed ministers wish to know who it is?"
Nonsense! He certainly didn't want to know, because he knew who it was from the very beginning.
Minister Wang's eyes flickered. Soon, with feigned anger, he pointed at Huo Qiyuan and began to curse, but he no longer mentioned his son. Instead, he deliberately shifted the topic to other matters.
"Huo Qiyuan, there's no need for further quibbling. Your father, Huo Sizhun, colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country; he deserves to be executed by everyone. As for you, with wolfish ambition, you colluded with the enemy nation and caused the wrongful deaths of hundreds of thousands of Da Yu's soldiers! You were fortunate to have escaped death, and should have lived the rest of your life with your tail between your legs."
"Now that Heaven has opened its eyes, you foolishly delivered yourself to our doorstep. The net of Heaven is vast, but its meshes are fine; a traitor like you must naturally be apprehended and subjected to a thousand cuts! Your flesh and blood shall be offered as sacrifice to the departed spirits, and an account shall be rendered to the people of the world and to those innocent, tragically fallen soldiers!"
Huo Qiyuan remained noncommittal, then nodded, appearing to agree with Minister Wang, and said, "I also find it truly regrettable. If your son hadn't led the troops to support then, or if he had arrived a little earlier, those innocent soldiers would likely not have sacrificed their lives, wouldn't they?"
Without waiting for Minister Wang to say more, Huo Qiyuan added with a mocking tone, his voice neither hurried nor slow, "In that case, Heaven truly didn't open its eyes then. Otherwise, I wouldn't have survived back then, and you all wouldn't be able to live now!"
The innocent suffer while the guilty prosper, is that not truly Heaven not opening its eyes? Fortunately, Su Muqing was sent to him later, which was finally a good deed!
Suddenly, a thunderous boom echoed through the sky! Whether Heaven was displeased with Huo Qiyuan's remark about its lack of foresight, or it was merely a coincidence, for the officials with ulterior motives in the great hall, this peal of thunder arrived most opportunely.
Minister Wang was also startled by the sudden thunder, but he naturally attributed it to Huo Qiyuan, believing it to be a harbinger of Heaven's punishment.
"Did you hear this thunder? This is Heaven's warning to you! Huo Qiyuan, you are utterly arrogant and rebellious! Whether it was your father's treason or your collusion with the enemy, both are unforgivable crimes! Regardless, you have only a dead end! I advise you not to offer futile resistance and to surrender obediently!"
"Your Majesty, did you hear this thunder? Treacherous officials are to be punished by all! It is difficult to quell the public's indignation if he is not killed. I implore Your Majesty to immediately apprehend the fugitive Huo Qiyuan, take him to the Meridian Gate, and behead him as a public spectacle, to console the subjects of our Da Yu Dynasty."
With someone daring to be the first to speak, the officials whose hands were not clean under the new faction naturally welcomed it. One after another, they vied to step forward and fan the flames, eager to solidify Huo Qiyuan's guilt immediately.
"I second that!"
"I second that!"
The atmosphere reached its climax. Minister Wang even threw up his robes and knelt, displaying the demeanor of a loyal minister concerned for the realm, and earnestly requested:
"Your Majesty! For the sake of Da Yu Dynasty's realm, for the stability of your empire, and for our sincerity, I beg you to make a swift decision! Do not lose the hearts of the people for the sake of a traitorous official!"
Immediately, nearly two-thirds of the civil and military officials in the entire court knelt.
Among these people, some had already harbored ulterior motives, but a large majority had been personally promoted by Emperor Rui.
In the past, for many matters, they were Emperor Rui's blades and the first to charge forward.
And another portion had secretly colluded with other princes. They knew that the matter of the Prince of Bienchao's mansion was not simple, and guessed it might have been framed, but they did not suspect Emperor Rui.
This was because Emperor Rui's rapid ascension to the throne and consolidation of his power were largely thanks to Huo Sizhun. Therefore, they did not believe Emperor Rui would be so foolish as to cut off his own left arm and his greatest support.
As for why Emperor Rui later employed thunderous means against the Prince of Bienchao's mansion, they merely thought it was because Emperor Rui trusted Huo Sizhun too much.
Thus, upon learning of Huo Sizhun's betrayal, and even his intention to seize the throne of Da Yu Dynasty, they hated him so deeply.
They were unaware of Huo Qiyuan's current identity, and thus did not believe he could threaten Emperor Rui. They thought all that Huo Qiyuan was doing now was to seize this opportunity to turn things around and regain the Emperor's favor.
To them, this was a great threat!
Now, seeing Emperor Rui's reign approaching its end, the various princes were secretly exerting their influence, waiting for a suitable opportunity to pull the Emperor from his supreme position.
But if Emperor Rui were to truly overturn Huo Sizhun's verdict, it was hard to guarantee that Huo Qiyuan, out of gratitude, would not be moved and forgive the Emperor, and then stand by Emperor Rui's side again.
At that time, the difficulty of dealing with Emperor Rui would increase.
After all, they were aware of Huo Qiyuan's capabilities. Minister Wang's useless son was no match for him at all. The current individual was the true young general and the God of War of Da Yu.