Chapter 468 Beating Up the Tyrant

Emperor Longqing felt a surge of anger rise from the bottom of his heart, instantly rushing to his internal organs, making him feel pain in his heart, liver, lungs and all over his body.

He clenched his fist and slammed it heavily on the armrest of the dragon throne.

"Aunt, where did you hear such absurd words? How could I possibly poison the Grand Master and the generals?"

"Aunt, don't be deceived by those with ulterior motives. You are my own aunt, the Grand Master is my own uncle, and the generals are all my cousins."

The Grand Princess of Chengyang looked coldly at Emperor Longqing.

"I am not someone who listens to only one side, nor am I a mindless person. My husband, my son, and my grandsons have been poisoned by a kind of poison called 'Yangjiao'."

The symptoms of this poison are almost identical to those of inhaling miasma. I have already met the local doctor who treated my husband back then.

They can testify that the old men died from the poison of the ram's horn, not from miasma.

Furthermore, the bones of someone who dies from being struck by a ram's horn will turn pale blue. Does Your Majesty dare to allow us to open the coffin and perform an autopsy?

Emperor Longqing was so shocked he almost stood up.

Exhume and examine the body!

The Grand Princess of Chengyang is really daring.

The Longqing Emperor was speechless, his beard trembling rapidly, yet he didn't know how to respond.

Princess Chengyang stood up, took the dragon-headed cane from Shen Chu, and walked step by step toward Emperor Longqing on the dragon throne.

"My husband is the Duke of Protector of the Nation, who has made great military achievements. He had just won a victory on the southern frontier and was in high demand by the people."

Surrounded by loyal soldiers, I can't think of anyone else, except His Majesty's secret guards, who could poison them so silently.

She took one step at a time, her voice sharp and stern.

"Your Majesty has become so secure on the throne these past years that you have forgotten the meritorious officials who put you on the throne in the first place."

“If we harbor rebellious intentions, it is because we were disloyal first, and we shall be at the mercy of the king without question.”

"But you didn't even give us a chance to argue. Based solely on your fear and suspicion, you killed meritorious officials, showing no respect whatsoever for your country."

"You plotted to poison Consort Yu and Consort Meng, showing absolutely no affection for your spouse!"

"He appointed treacherous and wicked men as high-ranking officials, engaged in the art of maintaining balance, and instigated infighting among the princes, showing no affection whatsoever for their fathers."

Each sentence represents a step forward.

As the last note faded, the Grand Princess of Chengyang had already stood before Emperor Longqing.

Emperor Longqing's face turned ashen after hearing her words. He instinctively leaned back on his dragon throne, trying his best to maintain his dignity as an emperor.

"How dare you! What do you think you're doing?"

Princess Chengyang gave a cold laugh, raised her dragon-headed cane, and slowly uttered four words.

"Beat up the tyrannical emperor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the dragon-headed cane struck the Longqing Emperor's shoulder heavily.

The Longqing Emperor winced in pain and instinctively flinched down.

The dragon-headed cane followed him closely, striking him once more.

"How dare you! I am the true Son of Heaven, the ruler of the world. How dare you strike me?"

Princess Chengyang gave a cold laugh, her cane never stopping.

"This dragon-headed walking stick was bestowed upon me by my father, the Emperor, your grandfather, when I married into the Duke of Huguo's mansion."

My father said that this dragon-headed cane can be used to strike down tyrannical rulers and treacherous officials.

A person as suspicious as you is utterly unfit to be a ruler. Today, on behalf of your imperial grandfather and your father, I will teach you a lesson, you foolish emperor!

One cane after another was repeatedly struck on the Longqing Emperor's head, shoulders, back, and even stomach.

The cold dragon whiskers on the dragon-headed cane knocked off his crown, ruffled his hair, and slid across his face.

Emperor Longqing fell off the dragon throne, disheveled and in a sorry state.

"Guards! Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"

He dodged and shouted, completely losing any semblance of imperial dignity.

The imperial guards inside the palace looked at each other in bewilderment.

I've never seen anything like this before.

Some of the Imperial Guards hesitated before drawing their swords and stepping forward.

Shen Chu stood in front of the steps and said loudly, "The Grand Princess of Chengyang is now representing His Majesty's grandfather and the late Emperor to teach a lesson to the younger generation."

"If you all wish to seize the Grand Princess of Chengyang, you are disrespecting the late Emperor and the founding Emperor, a crime punishable by the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your entire clan."

The Imperial Guards hesitated immediately.

These words enlightened Mr. Mei and He Zhengxiang.

The two men, one on each side, led the members of the Inspectorate and blocked the way for the Imperial Guards.

Mr. Mei pointed at the Imperial Guards and sternly rebuked them.

"How dare you! Your Majesty is unbenevolent. As subjects, we should offer our advice and remonstrance. Instead of doing so, you are organizing His Majesty to be taught a lesson."

Do you aspire to become treacherous ministers like the Marquis of Anding? If your descendants knew their fathers served as ministers in this way, who would dare to teach them? Who would dare to employ them?

The Imperial Guards were so frightened that they took two steps back.

They could tolerate Shen Chu, but they absolutely could not afford to offend this Mr. Mei.

Although he was physically weak, he was revered by people all over the world.

If he were to say just one word, no academy would dare to accept their descendants in the future.

When the Longqing Emperor saw that none of the Imperial Guards stepped forward, he flew into a rage.

"They've all rebelled! They're all rebelling! You all want to rebel! Who will protect me? I'll reward him with ten thousand taels of gold and make him a marquis."

The hall was quiet, and all the ministers knelt on the ground with their eyes downcast, seemingly lost in thought.

He was not swayed by the promises made by the Longqing Emperor.

Even the Duke's mansion could be uprooted, so what's the point of being granted a marquisate?

"Your Majesty, this old servant will protect you."

Only the chief eunuch Cai Chong tried to step forward to protect Emperor Longqing, but somehow he slipped and rolled down the steps, losing consciousness.

Mr. Mei stepped forward and shouted loudly.

"Is His Majesty still unwilling to issue an edict of self-reproach?"

Emperor Longqing, quick-witted, suddenly shouted, "Your Majesty, I will issue an edict of self-reproach, is that not enough?"

Princess Chengyang suddenly put away her dragon-headed cane and staggered.

Although she had followed the Duke of Huguo to the battlefield when she was young, she was getting old and was starting to feel the strain.

She managed to stand upright, leaning on her dragon-headed cane, and looked coldly at Emperor Longqing.

"Write it now."

The Longqing Emperor was furious, but there was nothing he could do. He could only suppress his anger and write an edict of self-reproach.

He angrily threw down the pen, stamped the imperial seal, and said, "Is that enough?"

Princess Chengyang looked at the still-wet ink of the edict of self-reproach, her eyes slightly moist, and gave instructions to Pei Yuan.

"Young Master Lu, please take this down and show it to Elder Master Mei."

Pei Yuan slowly walked up the steps, and under the murderous gaze of the Longqing Emperor, he took it down expressionlessly.

After reading it, Mr. Mei nodded and handed it to Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan handed it to the Minister of Rites, saying, "I request that the Ministry of Rites issue an edict of self-reproach to the world."

"Don't worry, Prince Lu, I will make the arrangements immediately."

After the edict of self-reproach was sent out, Emperor Longqing looked at everyone with annoyance, then glanced at the Grand Princess of Chengyang beside him.

"Are you satisfied now? I've apologized, and I've even ordered the construction of new memorial tablets for all the soldiers of the Lu family army, so that they can be remembered in history. Is that alright?"

Unexpectedly, Mr. Mei suddenly took the lead and knelt down, and everyone in the hall knelt down as well.

Mr. Mei said loudly: "As the sage said, the highest ruler is one whose existence is known to the people; the next is one who is loved and praised; the next is one who is feared; and the next is one who is despised."

"Your Majesty's actions have alienated both your ministers and the people. For the sake of our Great Wei, we beseech Your Majesty to abdicate and choose a virtuous successor from among the princes to assume the throne."

What? Make him abdicate?

These words were like a sharp knife, piercing one's ears and making a loud ringing sound.

Emperor Longqing was so angry that his vision blurred, his internal organs churned, and he spat a mouthful of blood onto the imperial desk.