Thunderous Fury

The results of the interrogation in the imperial prison, especially the confession of Anping Hou Liu Mingde that directly pointed to Yonghe Palace and Cheng'en Mansion, were sealed by Cao Jin, the governor of the Imperial City Division, and personally presented to Xiao Jingche's desk.

In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated Xiao Jingche's sullen, distorted features. He scrutinized the confession word for word, each one like a red-hot iron, searing his imperial dignity. Collaboration with the enemy, embezzlement, forgery of documents, collusion with border commanders... these were already heinous crimes, and the revelations about the inner sanctum of the imperial court finally incinerated the last vestiges of his sanity!

"Bang--!"

With a loud bang, Xiao Jingche kicked over the red sandalwood imperial desk, and the writing brush, inkstone, memorials, and ancient books scattered all over the floor. His chest heaved violently, and his eyes were red, like a completely enraged lion.

"Well! What a great Duke Cheng'en! What a great Consort Lin! What a great 'right-hand man' and 'beloved consort'!" His voice was hoarse, filled with the fury of betrayal and a deep chill. "I'm not happy with you, the Lin family! And this is how you repay me?! You associate with parasites and rats, sucking the blood and sweat of the people, and even reaching out to lay hands on important military and national weapons, aiding the enemy and betraying the country! Do you still have me, the emperor, in your eyes? Do you still have the country and people of Daliang?!"

Cao Jin knelt on the ground, holding his breath and concentrating, not daring to make the slightest sound. The palace servants standing in the hall were already terrified and prostrated on the ground, trembling.

After the fury, there was a biting cold. Xiao Jingche panted and slowly straightened up. He walked to the window and looked out at the dark night. His back revealed a sense of loneliness and desolation. First, Lu Qinglan's relentless pressure, and now the ruthless backstabbing of his maternal relatives! When did this supreme throne become so cold and besieged?

He had to make a decision. This was no simple corruption case; the confession implicated both the imperial harem and the emperor's father-in-law. If handled improperly, it would not only bring disgrace upon the imperial family, but could also trigger a full-scale backlash from the nobility, potentially destabilizing the nation's foundation.

"Cao Jin." Xiao Jingche's voice returned to calm, but beneath that calmness, there was a storm.

"The servant is here."

"Liu Mingde and Zhao Kai, the evidence is conclusive. According to the law, how should they be dealt with?"

Cao Jin's heart trembled, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, according to the Daliang Law, those who collaborate with the enemy, commit treason, and embezzle military supplies shall be punished by lingchi, confiscation of property, and extermination of their entire clan."

"Exterminate all three clans..." Xiao Jingche repeated in a low voice, a complex look flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ruthlessness. "According to the law, execute Zhao Kai by slicing him to pieces! Liu Mingde by slicing him to pieces! Their property will be confiscated, and all clansmen involved in the case will be punished together. There will be no leniency!"

"I obey your order!" Cao Jin kowtowed, knowing in his heart that the emperor was going to take ruthless measures to shock the world.

"As for..." Xiao Jingche paused, his tone becoming more obscure and difficult to understand, "The confession mentioned the matters of Yonghe Palace and Duke Cheng'en's Mansion... Liu Mingde is a criminal, so it's possible he framed someone. This section will not be included in the file for now. Your Imperial City Division... will investigate secretly."

He ultimately refrained from immediately striking at Lin Wanru and Lin Zhaoren. On the one hand, Liu Mingde's testimony alone wasn't enough to sentence a noble concubine and the emperor's father-in-law to death. On the other, he needed time to weigh the pros and cons, to consider the stability of the court, and also... to give himself a sense of security. She was, after all, his cousin, the woman he had shown some tenderness to during his early years on the throne, and a crucial pawn he used to counterbalance Lu Qinglan.

"I understand," Cao Jin understood. The secret investigation meant the matter had been temporarily suppressed, but it also hung like a sword over the Lin family's head, poised to fall at any moment.

The next day, the emperor issued an edict. Zhao Kai, the cavalry captain, and Liu Mingde, the Marquis of Anping, were sentenced to lingchi (death by slicing) for their heinous crimes. Their property was confiscated, and their entire clans were implicated. The edict, written in stern language, denounced the two as "betraying the emperor's grace, being unforgivable and heartless," and reiterated that "anyone who violates the state's laws, even if they are honored or royal relatives, will be severely punished."

When this decree was issued, the entire capital was shocked!

Lingchi! Extermination of three generations of an entire clan! This was a harsher punishment than any other in years! Especially when the target was a marquis and a powerful general! In the streets and alleys, while the common people applauded, they couldn't help but feel a chill. In the court, everyone was in a state of fear, especially those officials who had ties to Zhao and Liu, who remained silent, fearing they would be implicated.

Inside Yonghe Palace, Lin Wanru heard the imperial decree, especially the words, "Liu Mingde's accusations and false accusations will be temporarily excluded from the case file and will be investigated secretly." She collapsed on the chaise longue, her whole body limp, cold sweat soaking through her midriff. She understood that this was the last bit of favor His Majesty had left for her, for the Lin family...the last chance. But wasn't the word "secret investigation" also a death warrant?

She knew that she had to do something, she had to win back the emperor's heart, she had to... find a scapegoat of sufficient weight to clear the Lin family of suspicion.

Inside Kunning Palace, Lu Qinglan listened to Fu Yu's report with a calm expression.

"Your Majesty has indeed softened his heart," she said softly, her voice unclear as to whether she was disappointed or expectant. "A secret investigation? It's just a delay. However, after this incident, Lin Wanru and the Cheng'en Mansion are like grasshoppers in autumn, they won't be able to jump for many more days."

"Empress, do we need..." Fu Yu made a pushing gesture.

Lu Qinglan shook his head. "No need. His Majesty has already issued an order severely punishing Zhao and Liu, and has also left the door open for a 'secret investigation'. If we press further, it will only lead to bad consequences. Let the fire burn, and someone will naturally become restless."

She paused and asked, "Any new information about the whereabouts of Brother Nine's envoy from Beidi?"

"Yes. The flaws our people deliberately revealed have been noticed by the enemy. The envoy seems to be eager to evacuate and is scheduled to return to Beidi via the Hexi secret passage in three days."

"Hexi Secret Passage..." Lu Qinglan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "Notify Wei Zheng and have him conduct a routine border patrol in that area at that time. Be sure to invite this envoy."

"yes!"

The wrath of thunder cleansed the court of corruption, but it also cast a deeper shadow. The emperor's decision maintained a temporary balance, but everyone knew it was fragile and vulnerable. The true storm might just be brewing.