Wang Yunting cried and screamed, her voice hoarse, and for a moment the onlookers were somewhat swayed, feeling pity for her infatuation.
Xue Shen remained unmoved, his expression even showing more disgust: "Is this how you deceive yourself?"
Under Wang Junting's hateful gaze, he spoke coldly: "When I was in trouble, I had to ruin my reputation to protect myself. If you were truly devoted to me, why didn't I see you when I was in trouble?"
"When I was living in the shadow of the deposed emperor, it was the empress who stood by me through the difficult times. Where were you then?"
"You keep saying you love me, but your heart is full of scheming. Do you really think I can't see through you?"
Wang Junting stared at him blankly, speechless.
The others also realized what was happening and looked at her with complicated expressions. It was said that the eldest daughter of the Wang family was aloof and self-possessed. Although she was a woman, she was full of talent and had the spirit of a scholar.
But today, it seems that this so-called integrity was nothing more than a deceptive facade.
Xue Shen glanced at the expressions of everyone present and knew that his purpose for the day had been achieved. He did not waste any more words with the father and daughter and ordered in a deep voice: "Wang Yuanguang and others, as officials of the court, have been secretly communicating with the people of Beirong, revealing the emperor's whereabouts and plotting to harm the empress. Their crimes are unforgivable and they are sentenced to beheading immediately."
“Wang Yuanguang’s daughter, who protected her father, knowingly broke the law and was considered an accomplice. She may be spared the death penalty but cannot escape punishment. She is ordered to shave her head and become a nun, spending her days in seclusion with the Buddha and the lamp to atone for her sins.”
"As for Yelü Nanxian, she is a princess of the Northern Rong, yet she lurked in the capital with the intention of assassinating me. I sent her head and a declaration of war to the Northern Rong. This time next year, I will surely crush the Northern Rong! To avenge today's humiliation."
Upon hearing this, Wang Junting burst into heart-wrenching sobs.
The composure and dignity she had previously maintained crumbled, and she burst into tears, begging for mercy: "I won't do it again, I'll never do it again, I don't want to become a nun..."
But no one present paid any attention to her cries, because even more horrific punishments were yet to come.
The Imperial Guards subdued the seemingly insane Wang Yunting, and then seven executioners carrying tiger-headed daggers walked over, one each standing behind Wang Yuanguang and the others.
Xue Shen placed his hands on his knees, leaned slightly forward, and slowly and heavily swept his oppressive gaze over every official present. His voice, like muffled thunder, resounded in everyone's ears: "I now present this execution to all of you. I hope you will take this as a warning and not repeat the same mistake."
After saying this, he nodded to Wang Deshun, who then loudly ordered, "Execute them—"
Seven executioners simultaneously raised their tiger-head guillotines, the silver blades reflecting a cold light. With swift movements, they beheaded seven people.
The spray of blood shocked everyone present.
This also made them realize that the new emperor of today is indeed not comparable to the deposed emperor of the past.
The new emperor is young, powerful, and has an iron-fisted approach.
We will never be easily manipulated or controlled by others.
*
After the execution, Xue Shen ordered the execution ground to be cleaned up, and amidst the anxious and fearful gazes of the officials, he finally took pity and announced the end of the court session.
The civil and military officials were immediately relieved, and after bowing respectfully, they fled in groups.
Only after they were far from the palace, having been forced to witness an execution, did the ministers wipe the sweat from their brows in lingering fear: "Your Majesty is truly..."
How is it really...?
The group looked at each other, but no one dared to voice their thoughts.
All I could do was mumble a vague sigh: "The world is really going to change."
The new emperor is a man who cannot tolerate any dissent. If these people still want to stand in the court, they will have to carefully study the new emperor's preferences and temperament.
Otherwise, if you cross the other party's bottom line one day, you might not even know how you died.
Xie Lianhong overheard their remarks as he passed by, shook his head and laughed, "You're overthinking things. If you ask me, there's nothing worse than the one under the armpit. Just do your job well and don't do anything crooked. The knife won't fall on your heads."
His words sounded like sincere advice, but upon closer inspection, they seemed like mockery.
The officials were embarrassed by his words, but unable to refute him, they could only disperse awkwardly.
After watching the play, Cui Zichen, who was a few steps behind, caught up with Xie Lianhong and followed him half a step behind as they headed towards the Xie residence: "Ever since Qinglan received the bad news, she has lost her appetite and lost a lot of weight. When we pass by Fanlou later, I will buy her some of her favorite snacks and ask Teacher to take them back. Then I will tell her the good news so that she won't be kept in the dark and heartbroken."
Xie Lianhong glanced at him, put his hands in his sleeves, and said calmly, "I'm old and my memory isn't good. If you have something to say, just say it to my face. Engaged couples shouldn't be sneaky and timid."
Cui Zichen smiled and humbly admitted his mistake: "Teacher is right, I have learned a lot."
*
After dealing with Wang Yuanguang and his ilk, Xue Shen brought Shen Youying back to the palace.
Upon learning that Shen Youying was not only alive but had also given birth to twins, the ministers no longer had the energy to dwell on what had happened before. They were all relieved that the Great Wei dynasty had a worthy successor.
The schedule for the new emperor's enthronement ceremony and the empress's coronation ceremony has been brought up again.
The reason why the coronation ceremony had been delayed was that Xue Shen wanted to hold the empress coronation ceremony together with the coronation ceremony, but Shen Youying was about to give birth at that time, and Xue Shen could not bear to let her suffer, so he postponed it again and again.
Now that Shen Youying has given birth safely, Xue Shen agreed after a court official suggested that preparations for the ceremony could begin.
The new emperor's dragon robe and the new empress's phoenix robe both needed to be custom-made. Even the two young princes, who were carried by their wet nurses to the ceremony that day, needed new clothes made in a rush.
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