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Jiuqing was kneeling on the ground. The two generals of the Imperial Guards did not hear what Jing Mo said and left the imperial study without stopping for a moment.
"Go to the Ministry of Revenue," Jing Mo ordered the eunuch beside him after the two generals left, "Order the Ministry of Revenue to submit the list of officials waiting in Beijing to me."
The eunuch also quickly accepted the order and retreated.
Hearing Jing Mo asking for the list of substitute officials, Jiuqing knew what Jing Mo was going to do without thinking. His Majesty wanted to use the substitute officials to fill the positions vacated by those who were arrested.
It is not easy to be an official on the day of execution. After ten years of hard study, being on the list of successful candidates does not mean that you can enter the government. You still have to wait for the vacancy of the official position. This kind of waiting that depends entirely on fate has wasted the lives of many people. Now Jing Mo's light imperial edict made the candidates happy, but what about the arrested officials? Their lives are ruined.
Jing Mo's move was too sudden, even a little shameless. He was a court official, but you arrested him and stripped him of his official position without any trial or questioning. Is this reasonable?
Jiu Qing knelt on the ground, unable to think of words to beg for mercy.
Jing Mo picked up the teacup and took a sip, then said, "I know that you scholars value integrity, and it is good to be self-disciplined and dedicated to the public good as an official. Just don't use your integrity on me. If you want to die in remonstrance, I will grant your wish."
Jiuqing felt uncomfortable after hearing Jing Mo's words. Your Majesty keeps calling you a scholar. Could it be that Your Majesty is not a scholar?
"The Xie family gathered a group to commit murder," Jing Mo said, "More than ten girls were killed in a row. The victims reported to the Dali Temple and were driven out. Why didn't I see you asking about this? The court is full of civil and military officials, and the government offices are everywhere. How could such things happen again and again? Tell me about the queen, why don't you tell me about this first."
Jiuqing lowered his head and said nothing.
Jing Mo suddenly pushed the objects on the imperial desk, and the memorials, pens, inkstones, and inkstones scattered all over the floor. Two jade candlesticks with two dragons playing with pearls fell to the ground and broke into several pieces. "You are afraid of my mother's family, but you are not afraid of me?!" Jing Mo's voice changed from calm to stern in just a moment. "If you don't want to serve the court, go back to your homeland. I want to see who dares to fight with me in Zhuri today!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down," Jiuqing knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Jing Mo.
"I have not resorted to war since I ascended the throne," Jing Mo said fiercely, "I think some people in the court have forgotten who I am!"
The nine ministers repeatedly asked Jing Mo to calm down. The matter of making Princess Fengtian Linglong the queen was not only unwilling to do so, but also strongly opposed by the Empress Dowager in the harem. However, the emperor had imprisoned the entire Xie family and had just executed the eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Bin. It was said that the harem was also in a state of panic. The twenty or so censors in front of the palace gate were arrested without warning, and even the family members of these people were not spared. The nine ministers were worried at the moment. Could they persuade him to stop, or could they risk their lives to stop Jing Mo?
"Go ahead," Jing Mo slowed down his voice and said, "What else do you want to say to me?"
The Nine Ministers remained silent. The current emperor would not care about their lives. If these nine people fell, there would surely be countless people vying for their positions. What could they do to stop them?
"Don't talk," Jing Mo said, "Do you want to waste time with me here?"
"I have no objection," the Lord Shangqing, who was kneeling at the head of the Nine Ministers, kowtowed to Jingmo.
"What about you?" Jing Mo asked the other eight.
"I have no objection."
The nine ministers all agreed, so Jing Mo said, "I will be getting married in half a month. You guys go and make the preparations. Concubine Zhuang will take care of the work for me in the palace."
Jiu Qing felt like he was struck by lightning again. The wedding is in half a month? How can we prepare in time? Also, Concubine Zhuang presided over your wedding, so where do you put the Queen Mother?
"Your Majesty, what about the Queen Mother?" Someone immediately asked Jing Mo.
"My mother was angry about the Xie family's affairs and is now unwell," Jing Mo said calmly, "I don't want my mother to worry about me while she is ill."
Nine ministers..., is the Queen Mother really mad at the Xie family? This guy is treating them like fools!
"Your Majesty," a eunuch came to report outside the imperial study: "General Wang Zhao, General Feng Yu, General Huo Fangzhen, General Dong Qiming, General Hu..."
Jing Mo didn't wait for the eunuch to finish reporting the names of the people, and asked, "Where are they now?"
The eunuch hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the generals are outside the palace gates asking for an audience."
"Xuan," Jing Mo said.
The eunuch took the order and left.
Jing Mo looked at the nine ministers kneeling on the ground and said, "You can all withdraw. For my wedding, except for Emperor Shizong of Fengtian who cannot come, Su Zhao of Azure Dragon, Li Luo of Vermillion Bird, and Zuo You of White Tiger will all bring people to come. You should prepare well."
The nine ministers received the order and left the imperial study, then stood in the imperial study and looked at each other. The generals whose names were just announced by the eunuchs were all generals who led troops on the border of Zhuri or in places that were highly contested by military strategists. How did His Majesty suddenly call them back to the capital? In order to marry Princess Linglong of Fengtian, was His Majesty preparing to massacre Jiuyan City with blood?
"Witch," Lord Shangqing's white beard trembled and he cursed in a low voice.
The other eight ministers remained silent, and in their hearts they still had some contempt for the Lord Shangqing. Why didn't you scold him in front of His Majesty just now?
Yu Xiaoxiao was holding a sesame biscuit in her hand, eating as she walked around the famous market in the southern city of Zhuri, completely unaware that she had already become a seductress in the eyes of the civil officials and dukes of Zhuri.
"The eldest son of the Xie family was beheaded in public," someone shouted and ran past Yu Xiaoxiao and her group.
When the Zhuri people heard the man's shout, they were all shocked. Young Master Xie was the nephew of the Empress Dowager's mother's family. How could anyone dare to chop off the head of this relative of the royal family?
"It was an imperial decree issued by His Majesty himself," someone on the side of the road who knew the situation said loudly when asked, "The girl who was shot to death these days was killed by Xie Bin."
The eldest boss cried out, "Oh my god, are you going to kill him so soon?"
The person next to him said, "The entire Xie family has been imprisoned."
"The prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people," said a young man who looked like a scholar, speaking loudly on the street, "Your Majesty is not partial and rewards are fair. I am lucky to be the one who kills you!"
"You know that Master Xie is the murderer without even trying him?" Another young man who looked like a scholar expressed his doubts: "Also, Xie Bin killed someone, so does the Xie family also have to bear the same guilt?"
"The Dali Temple has posted Xie Bin's confession," a passerby walked over from the north end of the street, rolled his eyes at the young man, and said, "If you don't believe me, you can go and see for yourself."
"Your Majesty is wise!" There were cries coming from the end of the street, from both men and women.
Yu Xiaoxiao quickly tiptoed to the end of the street and saw a family coming towards them crying.
"What's going on?" the boss asked the stall owner next to him.
A note to readers:
The first update is here.
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