At the entrance of the Su residence, Yin Er, a bodyguard, stood on the steps, his black armor and cold face revealing a gleaming sword at his waist.
Minister Su's expression was solemn. He cupped his hands and asked, "Is there anything else, sir?"
Just now, this adult knocked on the door, threw Fan'er into the courtyard, briefly explained what Fan'er had done, and before even asking Dan'er, he instantly leaped up and left.
Almost forgot about Minister Su's daughter, Yin Er spoke again, his voice as sharp as a blade cutting through ice.
"His Majesty's oral decree."
Minister Su's expression hardened, and he immediately knelt down to receive the imperial decree.
"Your daughter, Su Ruodan, has deep ties with the Zhanjun Pavilion. His Majesty needs her to completely eradicate the traitors. Therefore, she is temporarily kept in the dungeon and cannot return to the manor."
Minister Su was startled and abruptly looked up: "My lord! My daughter—"
“Those assassins have all had their tendons severed and been thrown outside the city. You should understand that this is already a result of His Majesty showing leniency.”
Yin Er raised his hand to interrupt, his eyes as cold as ice.
Minister Su finally resigned himself to his fate and slowly lowered his head: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Children are all debts...
Yin Er said no more, turned and left again, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.
*
After comforting his wife, Minister Su pushed open the ancestral hall door again, his steps growing heavier.
Su Ruofan was kneeling before the ancestral tablets when she heard the sound. She looked up and saw her father's gloomy face, and her heart tightened: "Father?"
Minister Su closed his eyes briefly, his voice hoarse: "I came to tell you... your sister won't be coming back for the time being."
"What do you mean by 'can't come back'?!"
Su Ruofan's pupils suddenly contracted.
"His Majesty intends to use her to deal with the Slaying Monarch Pavilion."
"Is the tyrant going to use my elder sister as bait?!"
Su Ruofan was struck dumb. Despite the pain all over her body, she tried to get up but was unable to move because she was tied up.
Minister Su did not answer, but slowly walked to the ancestral tablets, lit three incense sticks, and bowed deeply.
"May our ancestors have protected us... The Su family has been loyal and righteous for generations, why have we ended up in such a state..."
Minister Su stood with his back to the ancestral tablets, his shadow stretched long.
He murmured softly, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
"Tyrant!! I will kill you!"
Su Ruofan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with overwhelming hatred as he roared.
Upon hearing this, Minister Su went up and slapped Su Ruofan several times to bring him to his senses.
"Did you hear everything I just said, even with dog ears???"
"Father! Are you really going to just stand by and watch my sister..."
Su Ruofan struggled to stand up, but Minister Su pressed her shoulders down and made her kneel in front of the memorial tablet.
"Smack!"
Another loud slap interrupted him.
"You wicked child! Do you think assassinating an emperor is some child's play?"
"You've already been spared by His Majesty's mercy; your father is still of some use to me!"
Minister Su's hands trembled slightly, but his voice was as cold as ice.
Su Ruofan tilted her head, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, yet she still stubbornly glared at her father.
"Do you know what the Northern Cang Dynasty would become if it lost Yin Jiuxiao?"
"Look carefully! The Northern Cang Dynasty has no curfew, and peace is maintained throughout the land, all because of Your Majesty!"
Minister Su grabbed his son by the collar and dragged him to the window.
Outside the window, the imperial city was brightly lit even though it was past midnight. The streets were bustling with people strolling around in groups. Further away, the continuous city walls of the northern border gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
"The Rong and Di tribes in the north are eyeing us covetously, the various tribes in the west are restless and ready to make a move, factions are rampant in the court, and powerful local lords are rising up everywhere. While His Majesty is alive, these people dare not act rashly. But if he were to die today..."
Minister Su spoke each word as if he were squeezing them out from between his teeth.
Su Ruofan's pupils contracted slightly.
"Within three days, the capital will be in chaos, and within half a month, the flames of war will sweep across thirty-six provinces!"
"The deaths won't just be a few people, but millions of ordinary citizens!!!"
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