Chapter 267 Three Deadly Sins
On the second day after the palace coup, martial law and a curfew were imposed throughout the city.
All four city gates were closed, and no one was allowed to leave or enter the capital without an order.
The Imperial Guards patrolled the streets, and all four city gates were closed.
Without an order, no one may leave or enter the capital; those who violate this order will be punished for treason.
Although the common people did not know what was happening inside the palace walls, the conspicuous "curfew" notices posted on the city gate towers and the sudden increase in soldiers on the streets this morning had already instilled fear in them.
News of the palace coup had already been circulating quietly in the streets and alleys of the capital.
Some say the new emperor is under house arrest, others say the retired emperor has passed away; though there are many versions, they all convey a sense of impending doom.
On the third day, edicts deposing Li Yuanzhao and establishing a new emperor were posted throughout the Longwu Gate in the capital.
The imperial edict detailed Li Yuanzhao's "three major crimes".
First, he impersonated a royal heir, confused the imperial bloodline, usurped the throne of the Great Qi, and deceived the world.
Secondly, he murdered his father and teacher, poisoned the retired Emperor Li Ye, and set fire to his mentor Liu Jinzhang, thus committing unfilial and disrespectful acts.
Third, he indiscriminately killed innocent people and secretly sent people to murder court officials such as Pei Guyan, Lu Yuandao, and Cui Jiulang.
The document concludes by stating that "Emperor Li Yuanzhao is stripped of his title and demoted to commoner status," and that Chen Yanqing, the "elder son of the late emperor," is to be enthroned as emperor, with the enthronement ceremony to be held tomorrow.
Once the imperial edict was posted, people were filled with anxiety and inevitably there was much discussion.
Inside a hotel called "Yuelaiju" in the south of the city, stranded merchants gathered in the lobby, discussing the notice that the innkeeper had copied back.
After reading it, a man in plain clothes frowned and sighed, "This is too bizarre! The new emperor just ascended the throne, how could he suddenly be deposed? I wonder if what's written in this edict is true or false?"
"Really? Wasn't the new emperor's bloodline already verified long ago? How come there's this so-called real prince now? It's all confusing me."
A man standing nearby stroked his beard and said, "I think this edict is written in a very detailed and convincing way; it must be genuine."
Before the words were even finished, a porter in the corner scoffed in agreement, "I told you long ago, what good has come of women having power? Narrow-minded, ruthless, only good at indiscriminately killing innocent people. Now look what happened, she deserves to be crippled!"
He had barely finished speaking when a cold voice suddenly rang out from the next table, "Serves you right?"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young woman in a blue cloth robe slowly get up. It was Tu Qing, who was temporarily staying there.
She stood up. "Leaving aside the fact that the new emperor has already ascended the throne and is the rightful emperor of Great Qi, Prime Minister Zheng's actions are clearly acts of treason and rebellion. How can an edict issued by a traitor be taken seriously?"
She looked at the porter and asked, "Besides, you say His Majesty indiscriminately kills innocent people. I'd like to ask, what innocent people?"
"Pei Guyan embezzled salt taxes, Lu Yuandao was corrupt and lawless, and Cui Jiulang, relying on the power of the Cui family, acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the capital. Shouldn't these people be killed? If His Majesty really killed these people, then I will applaud and praise His Majesty for ridding the people of these scourges!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the silent shopkeeper couldn't help but chime in: "What this young lady says makes sense! To be honest, an old man next door was beaten severely in the street by the wicked servants of the Cui family and eventually died. Such a powerful family that treats human life like dirt deserves to die a hundred or a thousand times over!"
"Exactly!" many people echoed loudly. "This is not indiscriminate killing of innocent people; it is clearly eliminating a scourge for the people!"
The porter, humiliated by Tu Qing's retort, immediately retorted loudly, "What about the Emperor Emeritus! What about Grand Tutor Liu! One is her father, the other her mentor. She could even harm these two closest relatives. How could she be so ruthless? Shouldn't she be deposed?!"
"You believe everything people write? Don't you have a brain?" Tu Qing's eyes turned cold. "Did you witness firsthand how the Emperor Emeritus died? Besides, the Emperor Emeritus was perfectly fine when the new emperor ascended the throne. He died as soon as Prime Minister Zheng rebelled. Maybe he forced him to his death and framed His Majesty? As for Grand Tutor Liu..."
Before Tu Qing could finish speaking, a man dressed in a plain scholar's robe suddenly stood up slowly from behind a table next to him.
His movements were unhurried, yet they instantly drew everyone's attention.
Even Tu Qing subconsciously shut up, looking at him with a hint of confusion.
It was the experienced shopkeeper who recognized him first. He pointed at the man, his lips trembling, "Grand...Grand Tutor? You...you are Grand Tutor Liu? You're not dead?"
"Grand Tutor Liu?!"
"Is he Grand Tutor Liu?"
"How come he's not dead? He's still here?"
"The imperial edict clearly stated that the new emperor killed him!"
"What exactly is going on?"
Everyone stared at Liu Jinzhang in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The imperial edict stated in black and white that Li Yuanzhao had "murdered his teacher," yet this "dead" Grand Tutor was standing right in front of them!
Although Tu Qing had never met Liu Jinzhang, he had long heard of his name.
This Grand Tutor was a man of exceptional talent and profound learning, a renowned Confucian scholar recognized by both the court and the public, and admired by scholars throughout the land.
Upon seeing him in person, she couldn't hide her excitement, "Are you really Grand Tutor Liu?"
Although Liu Jinzhang was preparing to leave the capital that day, he was delayed for half a day before leaving due to some business.
Little did he know that this delay would lead to a major upheaval in the capital, and his worst fears would come true.
Even he was trapped inside the hotel.
He had already admired the woman for her righteous and logical arguments, and nodded slightly upon hearing her reply: "That is indeed me."
"Are you really Grand Tutor Liu?" a young scholar wearing a square scarf asked in a trembling voice. "But... but the imperial edict says that you were burned to death by His Majesty Li!"
Liu Jinzhang took in the astonished expressions of everyone and finally spoke slowly, "I did indeed almost perish in the fire. However, the one who set the fire to kill me... was not His Majesty."
Liu Jinzhang's words caused an uproar in the room!
Tu Qing said impatiently, "See? The edict is clearly a lie! These traitors forged the edict to slander His Majesty and attempted to overthrow the Great Qi Dynasty. Their intentions are despicable!"
She turned to Liu Jinzhang, her eyes filled with earnestness, "Grand Tutor, now that you have returned safely, you must quickly find a way to help His Majesty! We must not let the treacherous ministers' conspiracy succeed!"
Then, she looked at everyone present, her gaze intense: "We are all citizens of the Great Qi. How can we sit idly by and watch our country fall into the hands of treacherous officials? We must stand up, unite as one, expose Zheng's conspiracy, and drive him and that fake prince off the throne!"
However, there were still voices of hesitation among the crowd.
The scholar had just muttered, "You're a woman, so naturally you'd favor Her Majesty, who is also a woman... But what good is it for us to have a woman in power?"
Upon hearing this, Tu Qing looked at him sharply: "I see you are wearing a faded scholar's robe and your shoes are covered in mud. You must be from a poor family and have traveled a long way to the capital to take the imperial examination, right?"
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