Chapter 50: The End "Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"
"I wonder what evidence do you have to prove that what Zhou Tieguancai said is true?"
The emperor waved his hand suspiciously, signaling Fuchang to speak.
Fu Chang stepped forward and saluted the emperor: "Your Majesty, am I guilty?"
Upon hearing Fu Chang's words, the emperor looked surprised. "Hey, my dear minister, didn't you tell me you had evidence? Why don't you tell me and apologize first?"
Yao Ningde hurriedly saluted: "Your Majesty, please don't listen to the words of this servant!"
He turned to look at Fu Chang and angrily cursed, "Fu Chang, you were once my most capable attendant. Did I treat you well? How dare you openly slander me in front of His Majesty!"
In order to scare Fuchang as soon as possible, when he picked up Fuchang before, he saw that Fuchang was honest and capable, so he often mentioned the dirty things Fuchang had done in front of him.
Fuchang knew too many of his secrets, and after leaving the court, he would definitely deal with Fuchang severely.
Now, it seems strange that Fuchang came to his house and told him that his family had suffered a disaster and he was the only one left.
"Are you serious about what Yao Aiqing said?"
Fu Chang bowed again and said, "Master Yao, everything you said is true. I once served as Master Yao's personal attendant in the Minister of War's residence, but I am no longer with you."
"Why? Could it be that Lord Yao treats you badly at home?"
"Your Majesty!" Yao Ningde spoke again at this time.
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but I picked this servant up on the street some time ago. He was always highly regarded by me in the Shangshu Mansion, and his monthly salary was always the highest in the mansion. But I never imagined, never imagined! He would actually betray me and even dare to slander and defame me in front of Your Majesty!"
In the hall, the court officials whispered to each other: "I remember now, isn't he the attendant who often follows Lord Yao?"
"But I heard that he was very loyal to Lord Yao. Are you mistaken?"
"Even a husband and wife can become enemies overnight, let alone a follower?"
“…”
The emperor listened to the noisy condemnations from below and looked impatiently at the eunuch beside him.
The eunuch's sharp voice suddenly rang out in the hall: "Silence!"
The hall suddenly fell silent.
"As an attendant of the Shangshu Mansion, you are disloyal and should know what to do first, right?"
"I know."
"Alright, come here, bring him out and give him fifty lashes, not a single one missing!"
Fuchang worked so hard that he even risked his life to help her sue Yao Ningde.
Seeing Fuchang straighten his back, Zhou Tinglan was about to follow his father-in-law out.
Zhou Tinglan called out to him, "Fuchang, why don't I do it myself? You don't have to do this."
"Don't worry, Miss Zhou, Fuchang is fine."
The sound of the board hitting flesh came from outside the hall, and Zhou Tinglan never heard Fu Chang's voice.
Could it be that Fuchang was really beaten to death outside the hall?
"Your Majesty, I feel like I'm dying."
Fuchang's clothes were covered in blood, and he was helped back to the main hall by his father-in-law.
He knelt down and saluted the emperor.
"Are you still determined to present the so-called evidence against Minister Yao?"
"I insist."
"Alright! Tell me, I'm listening. What evidence do you have that makes you risk your life to make this appeal to me?"
"Your Majesty, Lord Yao has been very kind to me in the palace, so kind that I find it hard to accept."
"What do you mean?"
What he wanted to do now was to find a suitable reason to put Yao Ningde in jail.
Although he was the Son of Heaven, if he imprisoned his subjects for no reason and insisted on executing them, he would probably be recorded by those noisy historians.
"Your Majesty, I used to be Lord Yao's most trusted attendant. Whenever Lord Yao did something despicable, I was present. I even arrested some loyal ministers on his behalf."
Fu Chang's words were filled with gratitude: "My family was in trouble, and it was Lord Yao who did not despise me and brought me into the Shangshu Mansion for protection. I am deeply grateful. However, I cannot bear to see Lord Yao go astray and refuse to repent. As a result, I have embarked on a path of no return."
He turned to face Yao Ningde and continued, "Sir, don't blame Fuchang. Fuchang is only thinking about you."
When Yao Ningde heard the change in the ministers' words, his face flushed with anger and he was speechless for a long time: "You...you..."
"My Lord, I'm sorry!"
Fu Chang bowed deeply to Yao Ningde, then turned to the emperor and bowed again, "Your Majesty, I have served Lord Yao for many years and have some evidence in my possession. Your Majesty, please send someone to obtain it."
Lord Yao, our relationship is finally coming to an end. It's time to go back.
The evidence was soon brought in, and the emperor was extremely angry when he saw the new evidence.
"You are so good, Yao Ningde, you actually did so many things behind my back!"
Yao Ningde's face turned pale. He knelt down and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, please forgive me this time. I will never dare to do it again!"
The emperor snorted coldly: "Forgive? You acted recklessly and murdered loyal people. How can I forgive you?"
Zhou Tinglan saw this and knew Yao Ningde was completely doomed. She turned her gaze and said, "Your Majesty, I just remembered that my father gave me a piece of paper, but I have never been able to open it. I suspect it has something to do with Lord Yao."
"where?"
"I have hidden it among my jewelry. Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will take it out."
Zhou Tinglan took off the earrings from her ears. The earrings were of extremely delicate design and hollow inside.
She took it apart and found a piece of paper in the middle of the earring.
The paper was quickly handed to the emperor by the eunuch.
"Yao Ningde, I originally thought you were only plotting to murder loyal officials. I never imagined you would be so bold as to rebel and usurp the throne!"
Yao Ningde sat down exhausted.
"Yao Ningde, I'm asking you a question! Answer truthfully!"
Yao Ningde rolled and crawled towards the emperor: "Your Majesty! I really didn't do it! Your Majesty!"
"You still dare to quibble? The evidence is irrefutable. Do you think I'm truly blind?"
The emperor was furious and immediately ordered: "Drag this man out and beat him until he confesses!"
As Yao Ningde was being led away, he roared hysterically, "You little bastard! I should have let you die miserably on the street then and there. A traitor like you deserves a bad end!"
Fu Chang glanced at him calmly and said, "Sir, if you confess honestly, you will avoid suffering."
"I will never do that! Ouch—ah!"
"Your Majesty! I am innocent! Your Majesty!"
"I've truly been wronged! It hurts!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty's way was wrong!"
Yao Ningde's screams echoed throughout the entire hall. Zhou Tinglan couldn't help but cover his ears. The screams were as unpleasant as a duck in heat.
The emperor glanced at the court officials standing below and said, "Are you in cahoots with Yao Ningde? Tell me the truth immediately, and I will spare your lives!"
"His Majesty."
All the court officials who had dealings with Yao Ningde could not stand steadily, and Minister Shen fell to his knees with a thud.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
All the court officials knelt down and apologized.
The emperor saw this and smiled. "Come here, all of you. Tell me what you have done that I don't know about."
Starting with Minister Shen, the court officials began to recount the heinous crimes they had committed in recent years in collusion with Yao Ningde.
"You are all excellent, yet you dare to deceive the king! Aren't you afraid that I will kill you all along with your entire clan?"
"Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"
“…”
The court officials knocked their heads against each other, making loud noises. Zhou Tinglan vaguely saw blood oozing from the foreheads of several officials.
Zhou Tinglan couldn't bear to watch any longer and stepped forward to salute: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"explain!"
"Although you ministers made mistakes, the troublemakers have been apprehended. You ministers now understand your majesty's intentions and will not dare to do it again. Furthermore, you ministers are all indispensable pillars of the Great Zhao State and are its foundation. You must not let your ministers down."
"Then according to what Lord Zhou said, as the Son of Heaven, how can I not punish him?"
Zhou Tinglan advised, "Your Majesty, you can certainly punish the ministers. What I mean is that a light punishment can both demonstrate your imperial power and preserve the foundation of the Great Zhao Kingdom."
The Crown Prince echoed, "I think Zhou Tieguan is right. Father, please don't let your anger get you sick."
The emperor nodded in agreement and said, "Then let's do as Minister Zhou says. I'll fine you three months' salary, and all of you, my dear ministers, must resign!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The court officials stood up trembling, and they all looked at Zhou Tinglan with gratitude.
“Everything must come to an end.”
The emperor finally announced: "The former prime minister's crime of embezzling military funds was actually a false accusation by the Minister of War. I have found him not guilty, and the same applies to the Xie Guogong Mansion."
He looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Your Highness has made great contributions this time. I will reward you handsomely. I will have the eunuch deliver the imperial edict to the Eastern Palace later."
The prince bowed and expressed his gratitude: "Thank you for your reward, Father. I will definitely work harder."
"Lord Zhou, what reward do you want?"
"Your Majesty, although my parents have lived in the Northern Frontier for some time, they are still not used to the climate there. I beg Your Majesty to allow them to return to the capital."
His father's official position would definitely not be restored. Zhou Tinglan felt very distressed when he recalled the symptoms of acclimatization his parents had experienced when they first arrived in Beijiang City.
The emperor thought for a moment and then asked, "Has Lord Zhou's marriage been scheduled for some time?"
Zhou Tinglan was surprised. What was the emperor doing?
"Your Majesty, yes."
"While General Xie is out of prison, we should arrange his marriage to dispel the bad luck. I have ordered the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to select an auspicious date. As for the former Prime Minister, now that his name has been cleared, he may return to the capital."
Zhou Tinglan was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward. I will forge a few more fine swords and present them to Your Majesty later."
When the emperor mentioned the sword, a smile appeared on his face. Now in his middle age, his only hobby was collecting precious swords.
He lowered his eyes to look at the sword that had been presented to him in the box not long ago: "The sword forged by Lord Zhou is truly of the highest quality. I do not think it should be enjoyed alone."
The emperor picked up the long sword and handed it to the eunuch: "Put this long sword away for me."
He then asked loudly, "Where is the Minister of Rites?"
The Minister of Rites was worried: "I am here."
"Please distribute the remaining swords to my beloved ministers."
"As you wish."
The long swords were bestowed one by one by the Minister of Rites to the court officials in the hall, and voices of thanks were heard one after another.
"Thank you, Lord Zhou, for forging a few more and sending them to me."
Zhou Tinglan saluted calmly: "I obey your command."
The ancient emperors were really inhumane. Although it was the imperial sword presented by her, he just gave it to the minister as a reward and used her as free labor!
Niggers! All niggers!
"I am tired today, please leave."
Seeing that everything was fine, the eunuch glanced at the emperor and said, "Dismiss the court!"
"promise."
The court officials bowed to the emperor and bid him farewell.
Zhou Tinglan walked out of the hall and stood on the steps looking at the sky. There was not a single cloud in the azure blue sky, as if it had been covered by water. Everything made Zhou Tinglan feel refreshed.
Fuchang, supported by his father-in-law, stumbled past Zhou Tinglan and whispered, "Miss Zhou, we will meet again."
"What do you mean?"
What exactly does Fuchang mean by this?
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