Chapter 991 Imperial power cannot be challenged, meritorious officials cannot be humiliated, and the emperor's henchmen will die if touched!
Winter in Chang'an is traditionally dignified and solemn, with red walls and black tiles covered in a thin layer of snow, exuding the majesty of the heart of the empire.
However, as the year draws to a close, the air in Chang'an smells quite different.
It was a rusty, bloody smell, faintly mixed in with the biting cold wind;
Spreading outwards from the direction of Suzaku Avenue, it silently tells the story of the monstrous storm that had just passed through this area.
Emperor Wu's rage was like a dragon roaring in the night, shaking the entire city of Chang'an.
Du Qinghui was not only a general of the Tang Dynasty, but also an important minister who was promoted by Emperor Wu and on whom he placed high hopes.
Not to mention, Du Qinghui led the Du family army to form a fleet and set sail, which was to expand the territory for Emperor Wu!
You must know that since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, so many years have passed, and no emperor has ever been able to expand the territory of the empire during his reign!
Du Qinghui's importance is self-evident!
Assassinating Du Qinghui is tantamount to putting a knife directly to the emperor's authority and the security of the empire!
Not to mention, these audacious individuals not only wanted to assassinate Li Mingfang, but also dared to kidnap Wang Wanlu, the daughter of Li Mingfang, the renowned traditional Chinese medicine doctor who treated Du Qinghui.
The mastermind's series of insidious and rampant methods have thoroughly offended the Martial Emperor.
No emperor who has reigned for many years could tolerate such provocation!
When the emperor is enraged, millions will die and blood will flow for miles.
This ancient saying is not an empty statement.
Although the New Year is approaching, it is customary to end disputes and conflicts to show peace and harmony.
However, Emperor Wu completely disregarded the advice of his court officials who feared it would harm the harmony of the heavens and that it was not advisable to wage war before the festival. He even threw the written advice to the ground in court.
Her immediate decree was cold and clear, and through Wang Da Dang's emotionless voice, it spread throughout the court and flew to the execution ground.
Anyone involved in the plot to assassinate Du Qinghui and Li Mingfang, or who kidnaps officials' families, regardless of their role or level of involvement, will be executed upon verification!
The ringleader will have their entire family, including nine generations of relatives, implicated!
I want to see whether their necks are harder or my blade is sharper!
There was no execution in the autumn, no exile or military service.
The only response is the most direct and brutal—slay!
Officials from the Ministry of Justice and clerks from the Court of Judicial Review worked day and night, with piles of documents and lights burning all night long.
The chain of evidence was solidified at an astonishing speed under Emperor Wu's strict decree.
Squads of Imperial Guards, like tigers and wolves unleashed from their gates, rushed towards the various wards of Chang'an and even the wealthy and powerful families throughout the capital region.
Once the state apparatus is in motion, how can any behind-the-scenes manipulators possibly shake it?
Cries, pleas for mercy, and shouts shattered the tranquility of many grand mansions.
The once prosperous and wealthy family was reduced to ruins in an instant, with the men chained up and the women weeping incessantly.
The execution ground on Zhuque Avenue has been filled with heads and rivers of blood for days.
The pungent stench of blood even overpowered the smell of slaughtered pigs and sheep prepared for the New Year, filling the entire Zhuque Street and even the area surrounding the imperial city with a nauseating fear.
The executioner's blade became dull, and he had to replace it again and again.
The carts carrying corpses came and went in a constant stream. The bloodstains on the ground were washed away and quickly covered by new ones, eventually freezing into dark red ice. Just one glance was enough to shock anyone who saw it.
The people of Chang'an were terrified and kept their doors and windows closed. Even at home, the whispers were kept extremely low, for fear of being overheard by others.
People were both terrified by Emperor Wu's swift and decisive actions and secretly pleased—those deeply entrenched forces dared to plot against the pillars of the nation for their own selfish interests.
They have angered the emperor and deserve this fate!
It wasn't until New Year's Eve, when the deafening sound of firecrackers echoed through Chang'an for several days, that the overwhelming smell of sulfur barely suppressed the stench of blood that permeated the air.
But the chilling and oppressive aura conveyed by the dark red bloodstains on the high platform has long been deeply imprinted in the hearts of every Chang'an resident.
Emperor Wu declared to the world in the most violent way: Imperial power cannot be challenged, meritorious officials cannot be humiliated, and the emperor's henchmen will die if they are touched!
At the heart of this storm, there was one place in Chang'an that stood out as particularly special.
This place is the Ganlu Hall in the Daming Palace, which is warm as spring and heavily guarded.
Emperor Wu treated Li San Niang with the highest level of courtesy, almost as if he were "inviting" her into the palace.
Nominally, it was because Du Qinghui still needed top-notch medical care after the surgery, and the conditions in the uterus were the best.
That's actually the case.
However, Emperor Wu also intended to protect Li San Niang.
Of course, this also reflects Emperor Wu's ultimate recognition of Li San Niang's abilities;
At the same time, it is also an absolute favor to Li San Niang herself.
You could count the number of officials who could stay overnight at the Daming Palace on one hand among all the officials in the court.
Therefore, this truly reflects Emperor Wu's favor towards Du Qinghui and Li Sanniang.
Du Qinghui was placed in a side hall of Ganlu Hall, where she was cared for by Li Sanniang, who was personally assisted by the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
All medicines and supplies were taken from the imperial treasury, sparing no expense.
Li San Niang then settled down in the Daming Palace.
She focused solely on taking care of Du Qinghui, as if the bloody storm outside had nothing to do with her.
Her entire focus was on Du Qinghui's pulse, the progress of his wound healing, and the treatment with herbal medicine.
Her technique was precise, and her use of medication was bold yet meticulous. She often demonstrated remarkable skill in the smallest details, successfully preventing all possible postoperative complications for Du Qinghui.
Emperor Wu would visit Du Qinghui at Ganlu Palace almost every three days.
Each time she came, she wouldn't bother her too much. She would usually just exchange a few words with Du Qinghui, ask Li Sanniang about the situation, chat for a while, and then leave after at most the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
However, today, Emperor Wu took the initiative to say a few more words to Li San Niang: "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and you, Li Ai Qing, should be allowed to return home for a family reunion."
"Since General Du still needs your care, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Minister Li to spend this year's reunion night in the palace with my family."
Li San Niang naturally bowed and agreed, something she already knew before entering the palace.
"Minister Li, you have worked hard. Once General Du has fully recovered, I will reward him handsomely!"
The words "generous reward" carried immense weight when uttered by an emperor.
But Li San Niang simply bowed again and said, "Saving lives and healing the wounded is the duty of a doctor."
General Du was wounded while serving the country, and it is my honor to have been able to do my part. I dare not claim credit or seek reward.
Li San Niang understood that Emperor Wu's generous treatment stemmed not only from her saving Du Qinghui, but also from her irreplaceable value, and even more so from Emperor Wu's desire to demonstrate to the world his protection and reward for meritorious officials.
She accepted it calmly, but did not lose herself in this boundless grace. She remained calm and focused on her craft.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com