readbooksol Chapter 403 - 250: Father and Son Turn Against Each Other, Imperial Capital in an Uproar, Listing Ten Crimes, Why is the Imperial Father Rebelling?
Chapter 403 - 250: Father and Son Turn Against Each Other, Imperial Capital in an Uproar, Listing Ten Crimes, Why is the Imperial Father Rebelling?
This way, the order of the Capital City would not be affected.
Unless the Holy Emperor himself went out of the city to welcome them, no general had ever been allowed to lead troops to the gates of the Imperial City.
Not even the Crown Prince was an exception.
...
「Holy Bright Palace.」
Emperor Yong’an sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his temples as white as snow. With a stern expression, he gazed down upon the assembled ministers in the hall, his presence imposing even without any show of anger.
His gaze swept over an empty seat. "Why isn’t Yuan Xuangang here?" he asked in a low voice.
Yuan Xuangang had not requested leave, yet he was absent from the court assembly. According to the laws of Great Yan, being late for or absent from the court assembly resulted in a three-month salary penalty and fifteen strokes of the cane.
With one’s Cultivation sealed, even a Martial Artist would be bedridden for seven days after receiving those fifteen strikes.
Emperor Yong’an wasn’t angry about Yuan Xuangang’s absence, but rather because he needed Yuan Xuangang for some upcoming tasks.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it seems Yuan Xuangang has gone to handle matters at the city gates. He is the newly appointed Commander of Nine Gates, responsible for guarding all the gates of the Capital City."
A minister stepped forward and said.
"Your Majesty, it is time to give an accounting of the war with the Demon Country. It has been delayed for too long and can be put off no further. The families of the fallen soldiers are still waiting for their pensions."
"By my calculations, the Crown Prince should be returning to the capital any day now."
Emperor Yong’an nodded slowly and asked, "What are your thoughts, my dear ministers?"
A Cabinet Minister with a goat beard spoke with great distress, "Qi Xingyan’s sacrifice for the greater good was undoubtedly noble. He gave his life to protect the people of a city, dissipating his Dao before its gates. However, this battle cost our Great Yan a hundred thousand elite soldiers. Who is to fill such a massive gap?
After the battle of Celestial Water City, the armies of Great Yan and the Demon Country are still in a standoff at the Border Pass. Although the enemy has retreated from the heart of the Central Plains, their power remains, and they could stage a comeback at any moment.
"The Crown Prince is returning to the capital immediately after retrieving Qi Xingyan’s coffin, but the rear flank could be overrun by the Demon Country’s army at any time. Furthermore, I have heard that Prince Zhenbei abandoned his post without the Court’s permission, leaving the Northwest to reinforce Celestial Water City.
This act was undoubtedly a disastrous move, leaving the defenses in the Northwest vulnerable. Prince Zhenbei treats the laws of the nation as if they were nothing. His crime warrants dismissal from office and being stripped of his command. The Champion Marquis, for his part, condoned and covered for him. As the Northwest Governor, he has now colluded with Prince Zhenbei. This is truly disheartening for the Court."
"What Lu Aiqing says is quite reasonable."
Emperor Yong’an nodded slowly, his expression unchanging, his attitude unreadable.
"As for Qi Xingyan’s death, a posthumous title must be bestowed. I believe that top-tier titles like Wenzheng, Wenzhong, or Wengong require careful consideration. Such titles are reserved for those whose names will be celebrated for eternity. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider."
Wenzheng, Wenzhong, Wengong.
These were the highest class of posthumous titles for civil officials.
The Court had originally intended to grant Qi Xingyan a first-class posthumous title, but unexpectedly, a disagreement had emerged.
Emperor Yong’an scanned the ministers and said leisurely, "My dear ministers, what are your opinions?"
"I believe it is inappropriate."
A young scholar-official stepped forward. Judging by the color of his clothes, a scarlet robe of the Ministry of Rites, he was clearly a Fifth Grade official from that ministry.
As an official of the Ministry of Rites, he had a say in matters concerning posthumous titles for civil officials.
"First, Elder Mr. Qi’s contributions were immense and hard-earned. His scholarship was rigorous, and the reputation of Shengjing Academy is excellent. Why can’t such a man receive a first-class posthumous title?"
"Second, both Prince Zhenbei and the Champion Marquis were serving the nation. They acted with discretion in an emergency. If not for them, the Crown Prince might not have been able to escape Celestial Water City, let alone achieve a great victory. This was due to their unique foresight. How can this be called dereliction of duty, worthy of dismissal and loss of command?"
In the eyes of the other ministers, this young official was trying to oppose the Cabinet.
Since the Chief Minister was no longer involved in the matter, there was no need for them to stubbornly fight the Holy Emperor over Qi Xingyan.
Everyone standing here was a clever person. How could they not see Emperor Yong’an’s scheme in the recent turn of events?
’The Holy Emperor doesn’t want to see the Crown Prince grow too powerful.’
’That’s why he’s been suppressing the Crown Prince’s prestige these past few days, trying to downplay his accomplishments while also pulling Qi Xingyan, whom the people revere as a Saint, down from his pedestal and ending his deification.’
They could all see it, but there was no need to go against the Holy Emperor.
After all, the world still belonged to the Holy Emperor.
The most pressing matter was how to deal with the invasion from the Demon Country.
’The Crown Prince won. That’s great.’
’But there’s no need to praise him so much that he overshadows the Holy Emperor.’
This was what the ministers were thinking at that moment.
’There’s no problem with wanting to give Qi Xingyan a first-class posthumous title. The key is that the one on the Dragon Throne doesn’t seem very happy about it.’
The Cabinet Minister with the goat beard smiled faintly and said to the young official, "I have no complaints about Qi Xingyan’s scholarship. He served in office for ten years and his contributions were considerable. But scholarship is scholarship, and facts are facts. You cannot use speculation to deny the facts."
"It’s true that Qi Xingyan’s sacrifice for the people was noble, but it is also a fact that it caused Great Yan to suffer disastrous losses."
"Furthermore, it is also a fact that the Champion Marquis and Prince Zhenbei left the Northwest to reinforce Celestial Water without orders from the Court. It’s just that the outcome was good, so their merits and demerits cancel each other out."
Hearing this, the young official was utterly disappointed in the current Cabinet. ’Is this still the same Cabinet as before?’
’Back when Wang He’fu was here, they would at least listen to differing opinions. But the current Cabinet, in the end, is just a mouthpiece for the Holy Emperor.’
’Cabinet Ministers? They’re all just puppets speaking the Holy Emperor’s words.’
A corner of Emperor Yong’an’s mouth lifted, but his tone was deep and low. "Fine. We shall proceed as Lu Aiqing suggests."
Before he could finish, an uproar was suddenly heard from outside the hall.
Waves of noise rose and fell, continuously.
It was chaos.
"What is the cause of this ruckus?"
Emperor Yong’an demanded, his brow furrowed.
An Imperial Guard rushed into the hall and reported:
"Reporting to Your Majesty! The Crown Prince has returned to the capital in victory, but he did not report his route or arrival Hour! First, he killed the Grand Commander of the Outer City, then entered the Inner City. Facing the Imperial City guards, he has refused to disarm and insists on leading his troops back to the Eastern Palace."
"He has already entered the Imperial City!"
Hearing this, Emperor Yong’an flew into a thunderous rage. His eyes burning with fury, he slammed his hand on the table and roared:
"That treasonous son! What is he trying to do?!"
For an instant, an absurd thought flashed through the minds of all the ministers.
’The Crown Prince isn’t planning to rebel, is he?’
But soon, many of them shook their heads.
’How could the Crown Prince possibly stand against the Holy Emperor on his own?’
’He can’t possibly succeed.’
"We didn’t go out of the city to welcome him. Does the Crown Prince think the Court has slighted him, and so he’s gotten angry?"
one minister guessed.
Emperor Yong’an snorted coldly. "What right does he have to do this? He’s truly lawless! Does he think he’s so great just because he won one battle? Has his tail already curled up to the sky?"
’Since Lu Mingyuan is acting this way, it’s just what I wanted.’
"Such disregard for the rules will not be tolerated, not even from the Crown Prince."
"Men! Seize this treasonous son for me and throw him into the Imperial Prison!"
「At this very moment.」
「On the walls of the Imperial City.」
Dense crowds of commoners, scholars, Martial Artists, and Qi Cultivators flooded the streets. They were all just spectators, unaware of what the Crown Prince intended to do today.
But it was clear that the spectacle was massive.
In the distance, the straight, wide official road was visible, surging with a shoulder-to-shoulder tide of people.
Lu Mingyuan stood atop the city wall. He drew the Treasure Saber from his waist, raised it high, and his magically-amplified voice boomed out:
"Just half a month ago, Qi Xingyan led an army to the Celestial Profound North Pass to face the Demon Country in a decisive battle at Celestial Profound Mansion! He held his ground for ten days, successfully repelling the Demon Country’s great army. Without Elder Mr. Qi in this battle, there would be no peace at the Border Pass of Great Yan."
"However, for the ’crime’ of retrieving the Elder’s coffin, my accomplishments have threatened the throne, and I am no longer tolerated by the Holy Emperor! The Eastern Palace has been sealed, the women of my household are under house arrest in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and I was forced to enter the city late at night. To prevent my military authority from being stripped away, I have come to this place."
Behind him, the Cultivators of the Dao Alliance looked indignant, crying out against the injustice done to Qi Xingyan and the Crown Prince.
"Today, I shall list ten crimes, all committed by the Holy Emperor! First: the current Holy Emperor has colluded with a Witch to pursue a Technique of longevity, stealing the National Fortune..."
"Second: he conspired with the treacherous minister Yuan Xuangang to frame Elder Mr. Qi, slandering his name, ruining his reputation, and trampling on the fruits of victory from the battle of Celestial Water City..."
"Third: he has plotted against meritorious officials. Prince Zhenbei and the Champion Marquis, who serve the nation and its people, are pillars of the state, yet they have been repeatedly suppressed by the Court..."
His voice was high and clear, each word ringing in the ears of the common people.
They listened in an uproar, shocked and agitated.
These were all recent events, the subject of gossip that had spread throughout the city. Even the street vendors and laborers, when they gathered for tea during a break, would angrily curse the treacherous officials for misleading the nation.
But to hear these same things spoken from Lu Mingyuan’s mouth was another matter entirely.
"Fire the arrows!"
"The Crown Prince intends to rebel! All bystanders, stand back!"
The Commander of the Imperial Guard roared.
The TWANG of vibrating bowstrings rang out as one.
A volley of crossbow bolts shimmering with white light shot toward Lu Mingyuan, fired without any regard for the lives of the common people, only to silence him.
The people cried out in alarm and fled in all directions.
...