Chapter 191 Bestowing Poisoned Wine
"Wu Jiande led his men to attack Song Kaiyuan's grain escort team after learning about Song Kaiyuan's escort route."
Apart from Wu Jiande's own men, the others were all Wu Wang's men and Cai Boju's men in disguise.
In addition to killing Song Kaiyuan and the soldiers escorting the grain, they also killed Song Kaiyuan's family members.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Madam Song and her two daughters seized knives and committed suicide.
Although the King of Wu did not participate, Cai Boju was involved throughout.
Besides Wu Jiande, all 32 of his subordinates involved in the incident have been detained.
"The King of Wu and Cai Boju's men..." General Shen looked at Emperor Xiao Xuan.
"I will make my own decision. None of those who were involved in this matter will escape!" Emperor Xiao Xuan sighed.
General Shen didn't know what to say.
"General, you can deal with Wu Jiande and those people according to military law."
As for the others...
"Someone, draft the decree!" Emperor Xiao Xuan shouted towards the outside of the tent.
Soon, the Hanlin Academy members who had come with them entered.
“Cai Boju of the Marquis of Wu’an’s mansion was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He harmed the soldiers of the Weiyuan Army. Although he has passed away, his title is still stripped from him.”
The old lady of the Marquis of Wu'an has failed to properly educate her grandson, causing harm to the people. All residents of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion have been imprisoned.
The title of Marquis of Wu'an was inherited by the old Marquis's younger brother.
The imprisoned individuals will be jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Emperor Xiao Xuan issued his first imperial edict.
General Shen breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the old Marquis Wu'an was not held accountable.
It only punished those who are now leeching off the old Marquis.
The title of Marquis of Wu'an was given to the younger brother of the old Marquis of Wu'an, which can be considered as His Majesty's attitude.
His Majesty is telling everyone that the old Marquis of Wu'an is good, and the bad ones are those who use the name of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion.
No wonder the old Marquis of Wu'an has been staying in the north and doesn't want to return to the capital!
"The Fifth Prince Xiao Huaizhun is vicious, framed his brothers, harmed loyal officials, and slaughtered innocent people. His rebellious intentions are obvious, and he deserves to be executed."
Give them poisoned wine!
His mother, née Ruan, was demoted to a lowly status and banished to the cold palace.
"The entire Ruan family is temporarily detained, awaiting trial by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review," Emperor Xiao Xuan continued.
After saying this, Emperor Xiao Xuan paced back and forth twice before continuing to instruct the Hanlin Academy to draft an edict.
"Wu Jiande, the military commander of Weiyuan Army, persecuted the soldiers of Weiyuan Army and executed their entire families."
The Third Prince, Xiao Huaiyan, was punished for misjudging people and was fined three years' salary. The steward of the Zhao Prince's residence was investigated by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.
No one in the main tent dared to speak.
The Hanlin scholar, who was bowing his head and drafting the imperial edict, was trembling slightly.
Your Majesty intends to kill the King of Wu...
"Your Majesty... please take care of your health." That was all General Shen could say.
Emperor Xiao Xuan smiled and waved to General Shen.
"What? Is the old general worried that I can't handle it? I was fine even when the Prince of Zhou did such a thing, but this rebellious son..."
General Shen remained silent, only bowing his head.
"Alright, General, you can discuss the handling of Wu Jiande with the other generals."
Maintaining morale is of utmost importance.
"You don't need to worry about things in the capital. You can go back now!" Emperor Xiao Xuan gestured for General Shen to leave.
...
A day later, Wu Jiande and the thirty-two soldiers under his command who participated in the ambush of Song Kaiyuan were ordered by General Shen to be dealt with according to military law.
Thirty-three people in total confessed their crimes in front of all the soldiers of the Weiyuan Army.
Thirty-three people were then tied to pillars and whipped to death.
...
That evening, Emperor Xiao Xuan took a walk in the camp, with Prince Zhao carefully accompanying him.
"Huaiyan, do you also think I am cold and heartless!"
Before it was killing one's brother, now it's killing one's son! It seems I'm always troubled by these kinds of things.
"Actually, I didn't want to either!" Emperor Xiao Xuan suddenly said.
King Zhao was startled.
How was he supposed to respond to that?
“Father, whether it’s my uncle or my fifth brother, they should all be killed! They have shaken the foundation of Dayu, and if they are not killed, the consequences will be endless,” King Zhao said, forcing himself to speak.
Emperor Xiao Xuan smiled.
Do you still think my position is good?
King Zhao dared not speak.
"Alright, I didn't mean to blame you."
Ordinary families would fight tooth and nail for a few dozen acres of land, let alone the throne!
"Sitting in this position, you can command the world and be the only one who matters. It's perfectly normal for you to have your own thoughts," Emperor Xiao Xuan said as he walked.
King Zhao dared not utter a word, but simply followed Emperor Xiao Xuan's steps forward.
"It's just that this seat isn't very comfortable!"
Those who sit in this position must have the people and their livelihood in their hearts, and the one thing they cannot have is emotion.
Being an emperor carries great responsibility.
We must safeguard peace on the borders, ensure that the people have enough to eat, and most importantly, ensure national prosperity and peace.
"Huaiyan, do you know what my favorite thing was before I became emperor?" Emperor Xiao Xuan continued to ask.
"Your subject does not know!" King Zhao said softly.
"I love riding my horse in the suburbs and watching the fields on both sides filled with grain."
He also likes to take his loved one to watch the farmers harvest grain during the autumn harvest.
At that time, I thought that when I ascended the throne, I must be like my ancestors, give important positions to my brothers, and work together to make the people of Dayu live a good life.
I also want to create a prosperous era like the Wu Xi era.
But things didn't go as planned!
I had only been on the throne for two years when the King of Zhou colluded with foreign tribes…
Later, I thought, since my brother is no longer capable, I will rely on my son!
Perhaps the princes won't be as incompetent as I am, unable to even subdue my own brothers.
Who knows you guys...
"Forget it, let's stop talking, it's pointless! It's good that you want to compete, but you can't let the people be harmed because of that competition for the position," Emperor Xiao Xuan continued.
The King of Zhao could only remain silent.
It turns out that their father knew everything they were thinking.
King Zhao followed Emperor Xiao Xuan on a tour of the camp and inspected all the sentry posts.
He didn't know what his father wanted to do. Did he still not believe that he hadn't been involved in those things?
But he really wasn't involved...
"Father..."
"Huaiyan, you must return to the capital tomorrow!" Emperor Xiao Xuan suddenly stopped.
"Return to the capital?" King Zhao was clearly a little confused.
"Yes, take the imperial edict back! Watch the fifth prince drink the poisoned wine with your own eyes."
"Tell him! He deserves to die! He must die!" Emperor Xiao Xuan said coldly.
King Zhao...
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