Chapter 204: Sentence to Behead
The emperor wanted to know if there was a mastermind behind Zhao Hongye's case, but he never thought that the mastermind would be Wang Duozi.
His father, Wang Miao, had killed himself in order to protect him. He was the only blood of the Wang family.
Thinking of the past, the emperor naturally couldn't bear it. He said: "After all, the Wang family has accompanied me to conquer the world. I'll spare his life and not disappoint this old minister!"
Xu Mo knelt down immediately: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not possible. The problem with rewards is not the lack but the injustice, and the problem with punishments is not the severity but the unfairness. Only when rewards and punishments are clear can we win the hearts of the people. Wang Duozi's previous achievements cannot erase his sins. The disaster victims from Xiling are still in the charity hall, waiting for revenge for their families!"
The emperor evaded the main point and said: "Comfort the disaster victims in Xiling, give them some rewards, and commend their loyalty and bravery!"
Xu Mo was serious: "Your Majesty, think twice, the previous Xiling mob incident was just Wang Duozi's plan. "There are rumors of conspiracy. If Wang Duozi is not brought to justice, Xiling will probably be in chaos."
The emperor showed a cold light on his face: "Xu Mo, are you threatening me?"
Xu Mo said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "I am reminding the emperor. It is a blessing for us that the emperor sympathizes with his subjects, but Wang Duozi must be executed. If the emperor can't do it, I can ask for the imperial sword, but I am afraid that it will damage the emperor's prestige."
The emperor kicked Xu Mo: "You stupid thing, you did it on purpose, didn't you!"
Xu Mo didn't move at all: "Your Majesty, yes. The emperor's prestige, only you personally issue an order, can make the people convinced, can make those old ministers who are proud of their achievements afraid."
"Get out of here!" The emperor was furious.
"I will wait for the emperor's order in the Dali Temple. I will take my leave." Xu Mo saluted the emperor in a proper manner and retreated calmly. The
emperor was very angry at Xu Mo's behavior. What does this young boy know? He has been an official for a few days and he doesn't know who he is.
The emperor thought that since they had dealt with Wang Duozi in this way, it should not be difficult for him to save his life. This Xu Mo was really aggressive.
Even if Xu Mo used the imperial sword directly, the emperor would not be so embarrassed. He insisted on issuing an order and convicting Wang Duozi personally. How dare he do that?
The emperor became more and more angry as he thought about it. He picked up the teacup at hand and smashed it out.
Suddenly, he heard a scream. The emperor looked up to see who was the blind guy.
The person who came was unexpectedly the Empress. Fortunately, at the critical moment, the Empress's personal maid stepped in front of her, so that the Empress was not injured.
The Emperor jumped up from the dragon chair at once. Since the incident with Concubine Gao, the Empress has never come to the Qinzheng Palace again.
The emperor stammered, "Empress, why are you here?"
The queen looked calm and said in a light tone, "It seems that I am here at the wrong time. I will take my leave now."
The emperor quickly grabbed the queen and said incoherently, "That's not what I meant. It's just that the queen hasn't come to see me for a long time. Let me take a look to see if you are hurt."
The emperor's concerned and nervous look reminded the queen of his clumsy appearance when he was young. Finally, there was a smile on her face: "Fortunately, the people around me are reliable and blocked for me."
The queen's words were full of double entendres. It seemed that she was praising the maid for her thoughtfulness, but in fact, she was still telling the emperor that her knot in her heart had not been untied.
The emperor couldn't help but help the queen to the chair without showing any expression and rewarded the queen's maid.
Then she said flatteringly: "Your Majesty, you have come at the right time. I am feeling depressed. Please talk to me, Your Majesty!"
The Queen dismissed everyone and personally changed the soothing tea for the Emperor. Then she slowly said: "Your Majesty, are you worried about Wang Duozi's matter?"
The Emperor smiled bitterly and said: "Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty. Wang Duozi did go too far this time, but the Wang family is a meritorious official of Dashuo. I know he cannot escape the crime, but..." The Queen
still had a faint expression: "It is a good thing for Your Majesty to consider the past relationship, but Your Majesty, have you forgotten that you once said that when you sit on this throne, many things are not a matter of whether you want to do it or not, but whether you should do it or not." After
hearing this, the Emperor felt guilty. This was what he said to the Queen at that time.
He still remembers the Queen's desperate expression at that time.
The emperor could not help but steal a glance at the queen to see if she was angry.
The queen just skillfully poured a cup of tea for the emperor, her face as calm as ever, and the emperor felt even more uneasy.
The queen asked back: "Your Majesty was able to do it for the country, but now you can't do it?"
The emperor said: "It's just a prince's son. It's enough to demote him to a commoner and expel him from the capital."
The queen raised her eyes and met the emperor's eyes: "Zhao Hongye has worked hard in Xiling for a year, and it's hard to make the people of Xiling have some confidence in the court. Does your majesty really want to lose the big picture for the small?"
"I..." The emperor was speechless for a moment.
The Queen slowly stood up and said, "It's getting late. I'll take my leave now. By the way, I asked Huipin to prepare your favorite beef soup. Your Majesty, why don't you go and have a bowl of it!"
"Queen..." Before Huan Gu could say anything else, the Queen had already bowed and asked the maid to help her out of the Qinzheng Hall.
Watching the Queen walk away, the Emperor shouted, "Yang Shun, draft the decree!" After
Xu Mo left the palace, he kept wiping the Imperial Sword awarded by the Emperor without eating or drinking.
The housekeeper couldn't bear to see it, so he said, "Young Master, this sword has been polished to a shine, why don't you eat something first."
Xu Mo still wiped the blade carefully, "I hope I don't have to use this sword so soon."
The housekeeper sighed helplessly. The young master was insane. He always answered questions irrelevantly. He said he was waiting, but he didn't know what he was waiting for.
It was not until Eunuch Yang arrived at Xu Mo's house that he regained his clarity of mind, threw away the handkerchief he used to wipe the sword, laughed loudly, "I've been waiting!" Then he strode to receive the order.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims that Wang Duozi, the Minister of Works, holds an important position, but instead of being loyal to the country and seeking profit for the people, he abuses his power and maliciously instructs others to destroy dikes and dams and frame his colleagues, causing innocent people to die tragically, fertile land to be destroyed, and colleagues to be wronged. He is sentenced to death by beheading, and the Chief Justice Xu Mo will supervise the execution. I humbly declare this!"
Xu Mo kowtowed respectfully: "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"
Yang Shun handed the imperial edict to Xu Mo and whispered: "Sir Xu, the Emperor has another oral order."
Xu Mo wanted to kneel, but was helped up by Eunuch Yang: "The Emperor said that Wang Duozi had been with him through thick and thin, so please let him go with dignity, Sir Xu."
Xu Mo nodded: "Please tell the emperor that I will definitely do it."