Chapter 179 The Yao Family Falls
Ministers came forward one after another.
"Your Majesty, please punish Duke Yao according to the law."
"Your Majesty, please punish Duke Yao according to the law."
He glanced at the ministers kneeling below, finally stopping at the trembling Duke Yao. His voice was low and full of majesty.
"Duke Yao, as a veteran of three dynasties, you should have been a pillar of our Xuanyuan Dynasty. However, you were blinded by greed and committed such a heinous crime. How can I tolerate this?"
Upon hearing this, Duke Yao turned pale and his body trembled even more violently.
What happened today is irreversible. I only hope to preserve a trace of my family's bloodline. He kowtowed again, his voice filled with desperate pleading.
"Your Majesty, please be merciful. I am willing to bear all the blame. I only ask Your Majesty to show mercy and forgive my family."
Emperor Xuanyuan pondered for a long time.
"What does the Regent think about this?"
Xuanyuan Jing bowed upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty, I only know how to fight and have little understanding of court affairs. However, I feel that Duke Yao, as a veteran of three dynasties, is already deeply trusted by the Emperor, and all the ministers look up to him as a role model. If he is not severely punished, I am afraid that everyone will follow his example, and the Xuanyuan court will be in chaos."
"Your Highness is the commander of the troops. In the barracks, merits are merits, and faults are faults. Merits should be rewarded, and faults should be punished."
Emperor Xuanyuan pondered for a moment again.
"Duke Yao privately produced salt and sold official positions. The evidence is irrefutable. In consideration of the merits of the Yao family and their ancestors, Duke Yao will be imprisoned and executed in three days. The rest of the Yao family will be exiled to the frontier, and their descendants will never be allowed to return to the imperial city. Concubine Yao will be demoted to a concubine."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sound of people gasping for air in the hall, and Duke Yao spoke in despair.
"I thank the Emperor."
Other ministers who were related to the Yao family also looked terrified, fearing that they would be the next one.
Even his mother was implicated. Prince Rong lowered his head and clenched his fists on his knees.
Emperor Xuanyuan spoke in a deep voice.
"Is the Dali Temple Minister here?"
The Dali Temple Minister immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"I am here."
Emperor Xuanyuan spoke slowly.
"Regarding the salt tax, you will assist the Fifth Prince and make sure to thoroughly investigate it. Whoever is implicated will be severely punished according to the law and no leniency will be shown!"
The Dali Temple Minister looked solemn and bowed to accept the order.
"I will obey your orders and do my best to live up to your high expectations."
Emperor Xuanyuan's gaze swept across the hall again, finally stopping on the fifth prince Xuanyuan Su, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"Xuanyuan Su, you have made great contributions in this investigation and have volunteered to expose corruption within the court. I am deeply pleased. You will work with the Dali Temple to deal with the officials involved in the salt tax. You will help me with my future concerns."
The evidence for the salt tax is almost complete, and the next step is to confiscate property and impose punishment. My father wants to use me and also wants the Dali Temple to intervene. Xuanyuan Su hurriedly saluted.
"Yes, I thank you for your trust. I will be diligent and responsible, share your worries, and serve the Xuanyuan Dynasty faithfully."
Yikun Palace.
Cuizhu hurried in.
"My Lady, a eunuch has come to deliver an imperial decree."
Concubine Yao was delighted and stood up quickly.
"Could it be that Prince Rong has been crowned the Crown Prince? Doesn't that mean I will become the Queen?"
Lian Xin supported her with a smile on her face.
"It must be."
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince's incident has been a long time ago. Our Prince Rong has always been both virtuous and talented, and he is favored and respected by the Emperor. Now that the ministers have mentioned the issue of the crown prince, His Majesty Prince Rong is the right person to take the position."
Concubine Yao, accompanied by the palace maids and eunuchs of Yikun Palace, received the imperial edict with a smile on her face.
Seeing this, Eunuch Chuanzhi sighed and shook his head helplessly.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the Yao family, guilty of secretly producing illicit salt and engaging in corruption and bribery in the sale of official positions, shall be punished with death. Considering the merits of his ancestors, Duke Yao shall be executed in three days, and all members of the Yao family shall be exiled to the frontier. Concubine Yao shall be demoted to a concubine effective immediately..."
Concubine Yao could no longer hear what was said next and she collapsed to the ground.
"That's impossible!"
"That's absolutely not allowed."
"The Yao family has been loyal for so many years, how could it be possible that..."
The eunuch delivering the imperial edict bowed his head and handed it forward.
"Noble Concubine... No, Concubine Yao, the evidence is irrefutable. Duke Yao has been imprisoned, and the Dali Temple has already raided the Yao family's property. Concubine Yao, please accept the order."
Concubine Yao stumbled to her feet.
"No, I don't believe it."
"I'm going to see the Emperor."
Imperial study.
Emperor Xuanyuan looked at the evidence about the Yao family on the table again and again. It was true that the Yao family was not wronged. He was really angry and upset.
The voice of the young eunuch came from outside the door.
"Empress Yao, you are not allowed to go in. The Emperor is handling state affairs and no one is allowed to disturb him..."
But Concubine Yao took off the hairpin on her head and pressed it against her neck.
"Move aside, I want to see the emperor."
The eunuchs outside the door did not dare to stop her anymore, and Concubine Yao rushed in.
"emperor…………"
Emperor Xuanyuan is now filled with rage.
"Princess Yao, I demoted you to a concubine because you have served me for many years. If you make trouble again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Concubine Yao knelt on the ground, her face full of tears.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I beg you, please investigate again. The Yao family has been loyal to Your Majesty for many years. It is impossible that..."
Emperor Xuanyuan threw the evidence on the table in front of her.
"Look for yourself!"
"Over the years, I have spoiled you and been too indulgent towards your Yao family."
With trembling hands, Concubine Yao picked up the scattered evidence. Her face grew paler with each page she turned. Until the last page, her hands dropped weakly. The evidence hit her heart like a hammer, shattering all her fantasies and unwillingness.
"No... this is impossible..." She murmured softly, tears blurring her vision. She looked up at Emperor Xuanyuan, her eyes full of confusion and pleading.
"Your Majesty, the Yao family has been loyal and righteous for generations. How could they commit such a heinous act? There must be a misunderstanding. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and investigate thoroughly again!"
"Princess Yao, you can't possibly be unable to recognize your own father's handwriting, right? The facts are all there, the evidence is irrefutable. What are you still trying to argue about? I, out of consideration for our past friendship, have shown you no mercy by not executing the entire Yao family. If you continue to be stubborn, don't blame me for being merciless."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Yao felt disheartened. She understood that this time, the Yao family was really finished, but she couldn't bear to watch her father die. Concubine Yao kowtowed heavily to Emperor Xuanyuan.
"My crime is that the Yao family betrayed the emperor's trust. Your Majesty, my father is old. I beg Your Majesty to consider that although the Yao family has no merits over the years, they have also worked hard. I beg Your Majesty to consider that I gave birth to Prince Rong and served Your Majesty for so many years, and spare my father's life."
Emperor Xuanyuan looked at her begging desperately, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes, and he stood up and helped her up.
"Princess Yao, you are well aware of how I have treated you, Prince Rong, and the Yao family over the years. The ministers in the court have all seen the evidence of what the Yao family has done this time. If I do not handle this impartially, how can I maintain the stability of Xuanyuan in the future?"
"Go back. If this matter continues, it will not benefit you or Prince Rong."
After saying that, he looked at Su Ping beside him.
"Su Ping, send Concubine Yao back."
Su Ping stepped forward to support Concubine Yao.
"Let's go, my lady. Don't embarrass the emperor."
When she came here, she still held a glimmer of hope in her heart, but when she saw the evidence, she knew there was no hope anymore. Concubine Yao only felt that she was being helped out of the imperial study in a daze.
When a breeze blew, Concubine Yao became a little more sober. She pushed away Su Ping and Cui Zhu who were supporting her, turned around and knelt at the door of the imperial study.
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