After the court session, Zhao Huan left with his family amidst the congratulations of the officials.
Lian Zhongyi asked, "How did Liu Ying handle this?"
Zhao Huan continued walking, his expression serious, as if he were deep in thought.
Zhao Zhan quickly said, "This person openly provoked us in the court; he must not be allowed to live."
Zhao Huan asked, "Boss, was Liu Ying personally promoted by His Majesty?"
Zhao Cheng nodded and said, "Yes. He was once Qi Bainian's subordinate. He was persuaded by Zeng Peng not to rebel with Shang Dongyang, and continued to serve in his father-in-law's position. Later, His Majesty took a liking to him and promoted him to Grand Secretary."
Zhao Huan then asked, "Do you know how many people like him there are?"
Zhao Cheng said, "Yan Zheng has the list."
Zhao Huan said, "Since they've formed a faction, let's kill them all."
Zhao Zhan was overjoyed and said, "Brother, Chang Le has just been born, and it's not good for your hands to get blood on them. Leave this to me!"
Zhao Cheng nodded and instructed, "If you're going to do it, do it swiftly. In these extraordinary times, we must use decisive measures."
"clear!"
Zhao Zhan's eyes darted around, and he asked again, "And Chen Changyun and Dongfang Jun..."
"Then let's deal with them all at once. It's time." Zhao Huan said calmly, every word he uttered now carrying the weight of life and death, yet he spoke as casually as if it were just a casual chat.
Zhao Zhan was extremely excited and wanted to get on it immediately.
He had waited for this moment for too long, and his father and elder brother finally could no longer bear it and stopped hiding it!
That's how things get done smoothly!
"Young master, wait a moment!" He Zhi suddenly called out to Zhao Zhan.
Seeing Zhao Zhan stop, He Zhi knelt down on one knee facing Zhao Huan, clasped his hands and said, "Prime Minister, please spare He Yin's life!"
Everyone knew about the relationship between He Zhi and He Yin, and no one spoke up.
Zhao Huan didn't think much of it and said, "Although He Yin strongly opposed it, he had no selfish motives. To the court, he is a loyal and upright man. I will not kill him."
As he spoke, Zhao Huan helped He Zhi up and said, "You've been with me for many years and have never asked me for anything for personal reasons. Based on our relationship, I will agree to your request."
"Thank you, Prime Minister!"
Zhao Huan glanced at Zhao Zhan and said, "Did you understand? Go and do it!"
A sinister glint flashed in Zhao Zhan's eyes, and he quickly left.
...
Rainy night.
Thunder rumbled.
Zhao Zhan pushed open a door and saw He Yin sitting upright at the table, the candlelight illuminating his haggard face.
Yan Zheng and a young eunuch followed behind, the young eunuch carrying a pot of wine in his hands, while the guards outside the door closed the door.
He Yin glanced at the pot of wine and sneered.
Why didn't Zhao Cheng come to see me off? Is he afraid to see me?
Zhao Zhan walked up to He Yin and said arrogantly, "You have already chosen to be our enemy, so why should my elder brother come to see an enemy?"
"enemy……"
He Yin continued with a cold laugh: "I, He Yin, have no enemies, nor friends. I only know that I am a loyal subject, and everything I do is my duty as a subject."
"That's blind loyalty."
With his hands behind his back, Zhao Zhan adopted a nonchalant and mature demeanor, saying, "He Yin, let me ask you, is the person sitting on the dragon throne still surnamed Yuan because of your merits? No, it's because of our Zhao family!"
"But have the Yuan family—Yuan Xiu, Yuan Li, and Yuan Wushang—never truly trusted the Zhao family?"
"What did my father get in return for helping Yuan Xiu assume power? Expulsion! Suspicion! Repression!"
"They even narrowly escaped being wiped out!"
"If my father had failed to purge the court of corrupt officials back then, do you think my Zhao family would still have a chance to survive?"
"If the Yuan family treats us like this, are we still supposed to wholeheartedly defend them?"
“Yuan Wushang appears to be obedient to the Zhao family, but in reality he is cunning and has been secretly plotting for a long time.”
"Are we supposed to continue supporting Yuan Wushang and then cultivate another Yuan Xiu?"
He Yin slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die!"
Zhao Zhan said, "Unfortunately, Yuan Wushang is not that kind of ruler, and we are not that kind of subjects."
"But Lord He is."
Zhao Cheng nodded his chin at the eunuch, who then poured wine for He Yin.
Zhao Zhan said, "Then I will see Lord He off. You may go and continue to serve Yuan Xiu."
He Yin glanced coldly at Zhao Zhan and reached for her wine glass.
Boom!
Thunder roared outside, but He Yin remained seated, completely unaffected.
Yan Zheng clasped his hands in a fist salute to He Yin and said, "Minister He possesses heroic integrity, and the Zhao family will surely vindicate him in the future!"
He Yin drank the wine in one gulp.
He closed his eyes, seemingly sensing the changes in his body, and said, "Tell Zhao Cheng a message for me."
Yan Zheng said, "Please speak."
“I know Zhao Cheng has the ambition to unify the world, and I also know that he and Zhao Huan are using extreme measures to seize all the power in Dongjing so that they can realize their ideals. I understand your intentions, but I do not agree with them. If Zhao Cheng really does one day reclaim Xijing, please treat my sister well.”
Yan Zheng and Zhao Zhan exchanged a glance.
Zhao Zhan said, "Don't worry, we won't make things difficult for He Wu. She is also He Zhi's sister."
He Yin waved her hand and said, "Let's go, I don't want to see you again."
Zhao Zhan turned and left, and Yan Zheng bowed to He Yin before also leaving.
The two stood outside, watching the torrential rain pouring down from the dark sky, remaining silent for a long time.
A moment later, the young eunuch pushed open the door, glanced inside, walked over, and nodded.
Zhao Zhan felt relieved and walked into the rain, whereupon the guards quickly came over to hold umbrellas for him.
Zhao Zhan said, "Let's go, sir. There are even bigger storms waiting for us."
...
"That unfilial son!"
Upon receiving the news that He Yin had been sentenced to death by Zhao Zhan, Zhao Huan was so enraged that he overturned all the bowls of food on the dining table.
He Zhi stood to the side, his face grim, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, and blood trickled down between his fingers.
"Men, bring Zhao Zhan here with me!"
A servant came in and said, "Master, the young master is attending court..."
"Go to hell!"
Zhao Huan roared, "Taozhi, go and arrest him yourself!"
Yang Taozhi walked out without saying a word.
Zhao Huan paced back and forth in the room, finally stopping in front of He Zhi and saying earnestly, "He Zhi, I will definitely give you an explanation."
He Zhi turned his head and took a deep breath.
Not long after, Yang Taozhi brought Zhao Zhan over. She was not polite to Zhao Zhan and threw him on the ground.
"brute!"
Zhao Huan kicked Zhao Zhan and shouted, "Are you ignoring my words? I said in front of so many people that I wouldn't kill He Yin, and you turned around and did it on your own? Marquis Changsui, is there anything you wouldn't dare to do now?"
Zhao Zhan knelt on the ground and said firmly, "It is wrong for your son to make the decision on his own, but... He Yin is a well-known upright official. If he does not support us, he will continue to attack Father's decision to be made a king. In the long run, more and more subjects will think that we are wrong! Father, he cannot be allowed to live!"
"You still dare to talk!"
Zhao Huan suddenly drew the sword from He Zhi's waist and stormed up to Zhao Zhan.
"Today I will clean house!!"
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