Chapter 308: Dismissal
"Your Majesty!" Young Master Yan had never expected the Emperor to be so angry. He kowtowed repeatedly in fear, "I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order! I acknowledge my guilt and sincerely repent. I will diligently serve Your Majesty and be loyal to you in the future. Please forgive me this time! Your Majesty! Please have mercy~"
Minister Yang's heart sank. He glanced coldly at Zhao Xiang from the corner of his eye, then he lifted his robe and knelt down, kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, Lord Yan has always been loyal to his duties and dedicated to his work. Over the years, he and his colleagues have managed the affairs of the Dali Temple in an orderly manner. Everyone in the Dali Temple praises his ability and character. Please, Your Majesty, consider his lack of merit and hard work and spare him this time! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"
Most of the people present were from the Second Prince's faction, and Lord Yang and Lord Yan were even more important figures. When Lord Yan was punished and Lord Yang pleaded for him, could the others just stand by and watch without saying anything?
How to report afterwards?
What's more, everyone subconsciously thought that the emperor was just saying it casually in anger for some reason, and he would definitely not really dismiss Yan Shaoqing from his post.
Everyone pleaded together, and the emperor finally had a way out.
So, everyone knelt down and begged the emperor for mercy!
The emperor frowned slightly, and now he came to his senses. He felt that it was indeed a bit too frivolous to dismiss the Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple in a fit of rage.
Just as Minister Yang said, he was quite diligent and conscientious in his work on weekdays, so it was really too much to fire him just like that.
Forget it, just teach him a lesson and give him a warning.
At this time, Zhao Xiang also lifted his robe and knelt down, saying earnestly: "Your Majesty, so many gentlemen have pleaded for Lord Yan, which shows that Lord Yan must be an extremely competent and good official. Please show some mercy and rescind your order. Please forgive him this time!"
The emperor's eyebrows twitched, and the anger that had just subsided rose up again.
Yan Shaoqing is so popular!
It was understandable that Minister Yang pleaded for him, after all, their two families were related by marriage. But wasn't one Minister Yang enough? Every one of these people knelt down!
Good, good, good! Who knows how these people will stick together in private!
In the past, the Emperor might not have taken it seriously, but today, Yan Shaoqing had clearly angered him first, leaving him with a bad impression of him as a tyrant. Now, with this incident, it was naturally adding fuel to the fire.
Adding fuel to the fire, it will not be so easy to put out the fire!
The emperor's expressionless face showed no emotion. He said coldly, "A king never jokes. What do you mean by this? Huh?"
Are you trying to force me to change my words?
Minister Yang and Shaoqing Yan were both anxious. They didn't have time to think about the emperor's hidden meaning, let alone Zhao Xiang's words, and they said in unison: "Your Majesty!"
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, have mercy!"
The others were still unable to react for a moment, and followed suit, begging for mercy. If they didn't offer mercy now, when would they?
Zhao Xiang just followed the crowd and pleaded a few words without any hesitation. Of course, his tone sounded very sincere.
Everyone knelt below, bowed their heads, and did not dare to look directly at the emperor. Therefore, no one saw how ugly the emperor's face was at that moment!
How could it not be ugly?
He had made his words so clearly. What was the result? These loyal ministers of his, who claimed to be loyal to the emperor, refused to listen to him and even knelt there to pressure him!
How could these faces look so hideous and abominable! On the surface, they acted like monarchs, but what were they really thinking in their hearts? For the first time, the emperor had a guess that made him unhappy.
Of course, Zhao Xiang was not included here. Zhao Aiqing was upright and honest, unlike them!
The emperor could no longer bear it and shouted angrily: "Shut up! Anyone who says another word will be deposed!"
Minister Yang's face turned pale, he opened his mouth, and then slowly closed it with difficulty.
Yan Shaoqing's face turned pale, his head buzzing, and he thought to himself, "It's over, it's over!"
How could it have come to this? With just one sentence, I was gone from my position as the Junior Official of the Dali Temple. The Emperor, the Emperor knew that I was the Second Prince's in-laws, yet he still treated me like this. What did this mean?
Zhao Xiang! Damn it! It must be Zhao Xiang!
As soon as Minister Yang shut up, the others were so scared that their hearts started pounding. How could they dare to speak again?
Yan Shaoqing and Yang Shangshu were confused, and they were even more confused.
Doesn't the Emperor value the Second Prince? Why, why did it become like this? What does this mean?
The emperor, who was already angry, became even more furious!
These people are really obedient, but they don’t listen to him, the emperor, but to Lord Yan and Minister Yang!
As soon as Lord Yan and Minister Yang shut up, they immediately followed suit. This was much more effective than the words of the emperor himself.
It's no wonder that the ministers didn't think much about it. They had been accustomed to the smooth sailing over the years. Those who stood on the prince's side were suppressed by them and couldn't raise their heads. They didn't dare to confront them in daily life, let alone dare not and did not have the ability to show off.
They didn't even think about looking elsewhere.
Zhao Xiang caught him off guard.
Even now, when he was scolded, he didn't know why.
The emperor looked at them one by one with a cold look in his eyes. The atmosphere in the palace suddenly became horribly silent. Everyone could only hear their own pounding heartbeats, which were getting faster and faster, so fast that it was almost impossible to breathe.
The emperor is angry!
But no one knows why the emperor is so angry.
After what seemed like an eternity of agony, the emperor's cold voice came from above: "Everyone, step back."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The ministers breathed a sigh of relief, kowtowed hurriedly, and all got up and walked out backwards.
"Zhao Aiqing, please stay."
The emperor glanced at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang bowed and nodded: "I obey your order."
The expressions of the others changed unpredictably, and they quickly retreated with their heads lowered.
Not long after retreating outside the hall, everyone stopped at the same time, looking at each other, with a lot to say but not knowing how to say it.
"Master Yan, what should we do?"
The former Yan Shaoqing had an extremely grim expression on his face, and he snorted coldly, "As long as the Second Prince is here, what's there to be afraid of? This is none of your business, so disperse!"
The ministers also knew that they shouldn't say anything too much, so they bowed and said goodbye.
Minister Yang comforted Lord Yan, "Don't take it to heart, nephew. After a few days, when the Emperor's anger has subsided, your father and I will plead for mercy together, and we can also ask the Second Prince to help plead for mercy, and everything will be fine. It would be good for nephew to go back and rest."
(End of this chapter)
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