But so what? They brought it on themselves, didn't they? Nobody will sympathize with them, and even if they do, they'll just say they deserved it.

"Then let's start with the Tu family today." Yu Jingchen said as if he were talking about something insignificant.

The household was filled with maids and servants, who were indeed innocent to many.

As soon as Yu Jingchen gave the order, someone went to deliver the decree: today they could only die, there was no other choice, they could only say they were unlucky.

"No one is allowed to collect the bodies within three days of the massacre. Keep the gates of the mansion open so that everyone can see and remember this clearly," Yu Jingchen added.

Nan Zhiyun felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to Yu Jingchen's words from his arms. More than ten households—how many people would that be? Nan Zhiyun was terrified, but she remained silent. Yu Jingchen gently patted Nan Zhiyun as a gesture of comfort.

Then he looked at the palace ladies who had just been brought up, their nine clans... The nine clans of these more than ten ministers totaled nearly three hundred people, the old ones were eighty or ninety years old, and the young ones were still in swaddling clothes.

Nan Zhiyun also saw it. She didn't know how Yu Jingchen would handle it, but... those infants and elderly people should...

"Take them all to the execution ground. The men will be torn apart by chariots, and the women will be beaten to death. Then... don't bother collecting their bodies. Release wild dogs into the execution ground and let them eat them." Yu Jingchen had no intention of letting anyone off the hook.

Nan Zhiyun was genuinely startled by this command, and even the Empress Dowager looked over.

“Your Majesty…” Nan Zhiyun felt that this might be a bit too serious… Some of these family members were actually former officials… In short, if this were to happen, it would likely leave a legacy of criticism.

“Yun’er, you must understand that the saying ‘cut the weeds and eliminate the roots’ means that if some people are left alive, they may become hidden dangers later. Today, I have ordered the death of their flesh and blood relatives, and in the future, they will have a reason to cause trouble for me. Therefore… they must die, there is no room for maneuver. I will not allow such a disaster to happen. Do you understand?” Yu Jingchen tried to explain to Nan Zhiyun.

“But the old man and the baby in swaddling clothes…” Nan Zhiyun could not ignore them.

"How do you know the old ones won't cause trouble later? How do you know the young ones won't seek revenge when they grow up?" Yu Jingchen remained unmoved.

Nan Zhiyun was stunned by what she was told, but... she looked at the elderly people who couldn't even kneel properly and the babies held in their arms who didn't understand anything...

"Your Majesty... Consort Shu, please save my child! I'm willing to die, but my child is only three months old... Consort Shu... He just came into this world, and only just learned to lift his head two days ago... I beg you, please save him!" A woman looked at Nan Zhiyun as if she had seen a savior.

It's only been three months... Nan Zhiyun's heart softened, and she admitted that she was touched by those words. Three months... maybe it's only just now that she's able to see things clearly.

"Your Highness, Consort Shu... my child is only seven months old. He was born prematurely and usually doesn't have the strength to cry for long. He's only just started learning to speak. He's innocent! Your Highness, please spare him! I beg you, I'll kowtow to you!" came another woman.

Nan Zhiyun didn't dare look at them, but...

“Your Majesty…” Nan Zhiyun shook her head: “It’s just a child who is not yet one year old.”