Chapter 267 Suppression
Now that four people had been sent to search, Xiao Qing began preparing for the political meeting after dawn.
At this time, Fu Mingyi, Zhao Youchen, and Zhao Ziyuan were all present. She then sent someone to summon Prince Yan, Zheng Fangxiu, Jin Suan, and Yu Zaiting to sort out the matter from beginning to end.
At the same time, Xiao Qing also asked Ma Hong to invite Xiao Yan over and have him sit aside and listen in.
Zheng Fangxiu and Jin Suan quickly recorded the evidence of the three crimes, and in the blink of an eye, a sliver of hazy dawn light shone in from the east through the gap below the window frame.
Xiao Qing slowly walked to the window, pushed it open, took a deep breath of fresh air, and the gradually golden sunlight bathed her.
Zheng Fangxiu rubbed her eyes and looked over—the young emperor, who had not yet undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, stood upright. Although he was not tall and not particularly robust, his back, bathed in the rosy light, was so bright.
Having experienced the flames of war in the north, the young emperor, though often appearing gentle and relaxed, had the sharpness and weight of blood and fire etched into his very bones.
Xiao Qing cleared her mind, turned around, and said, "Get ready."
Seeing the young emperor and his close ministers approaching steadily and unhurriedly, the ministers quietly bowed down, their chaotic thoughts gradually settling down with their movements.
I did not see the Prime Minister.
The ministers returned to their posts.
Xiao Qing raised his hand to indicate that he should rise, then sat down steadily, and simply began the conversation.
"I'm sure you've all heard about the excitement of last night." Her gaze slowly swept over the ministers below, lingering especially on a few former officials from the south.
“It’s nothing serious. I just want everyone to hear it clearly here, so that they won’t speculate and panic.” She looked at Zheng Fangxiu, “Zheng Qing, let’s begin.”
Zheng Fangxiu held the case files she had been working on all night in her hands. Upon hearing this, she first bowed to His Majesty, then turned around, took a few steps forward, and with a flick of her wrist, deftly unfolded the case files. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the expressions of several people had changed again.
He snorted inwardly, calmly and slowly recounting the events of the previous night's dramatic turn of events while looking at the case file with an expressionless face. At the same time, he had the leisure to slowly observe the changes in the ministers' expressions out of the corner of his eye. He felt a strange sense of pride on one hand, and an indescribable bitterness on the other.
"The Wang, Sun, Li families, and others participated in the rebellion, totaling 321 people. They were found..." Zheng Fangxiu recounted the events point by point, listing them one by one, as if the entire Mengshan Villa was filled only with Zheng Fangxiu's voice.
Many Nanchen unconsciously lowered their heads, their sleeves trembling uncontrollably.
Xiao Qing looked at them, her gaze gradually drifting into the distance, her thoughts gradually emptying.
Wang Xiang was still at large, and she knew very well what the appearance of the Jade of High Mountains and Flowing Water meant. Moreover, she could almost foresee several possible scenarios.
But last night, despite such a good opportunity, with the "High Mountain Flowing Water Jade" appearing, those people did not show up.
Why?
Is it that you don't want to?
Impossible. How could a legitimate young emperor not want such a timely opportunity?
So, it's not possible?
Why not?
Does that rightful person actually exist, or not?
Will he be a good emperor who meets Fu Mingyi's expectations?
Regardless of whether it is true or not, the He family's affairs are very likely related to them.
Even so, Fu Mingyi never once said anything about avoiding the situation.
Xiao Qing frowned slightly. Even though she didn't covet the throne, she didn't want to back down in the current situation.
After Zheng Fangxiu finished speaking, she turned around, bowed to the emperor again, and stepped back to the side.
Xiao Qing nodded. "I'm sure you all have heard what happened." She stood up, bowed to the north, and turned back with a sorrowful expression.
"The fate of the nation has been fraught with peril. I witnessed everything from the Northern Palace and traveled all the way south. I thought that although the Great Xiao Dynasty was only half a country left, the people's hearts were turned north and their hearts were united, so there would naturally be a day when the dynasty would be restored. But I did not expect that I remember, but some people have already forgotten."
She paused, her body straight, her eyes cold. "Does the warmth of winter in Nanding make you forget the shame and pain of a broken country and a destroyed home?" She took a step forward. "Or do you think that by exploiting half of the people of Xiao, you can fatten yourselves up and make everything else worthwhile?"
Xiao Qing rarely spoke so bluntly in front of the court officials. But this time she spoke extremely frankly.
"These people, armed with soldiers and looking fierce, rushed up to me, questioning my origins and demanding the imperial seal, saying things like 'Purge the court of corrupt officials and invite the true emperor,' each of them speaking with righteous indignation."
She sneered, "If they had the same ambition to rush to Ping'an City, to rush to Beixiao Palace, to question those wolves who occupy the area north of Xiao River and arbitrarily enslave the people of the northern lands, why they can be the masters of Yongxiao Palace, then I would respect them as men of courage and be willing to offer them the Imperial Seal in gratitude for their courage and ability in serving the country and the people."
"I will make my words clear today." She slowly looked at the crowd. "Since some people wear the official hats of the Great Xiao but lack the self-awareness of the people of Xiao, then they are better off without those hats. The Great Xiao may be broken for a time, but it must not be broken for eternity! The Great Xiao will surely become a strong and prosperous nation!"
Fu Mingyi led the officials in bowing and shouting "Long live the Emperor!" He was very calm; he had already imagined the future countless times in his mind, and it all seemed so natural.
Many of the northern officials' voices were filled with suppressed sobs, and some even banged their foreheads heavily on the ground, nearly losing control.
Xiao Yan knelt down beside Xiao Qing.
In his elder brother's eyes, he was perhaps still a child. That's why he was placed so close, so he could clearly see his elder brother's stern profile and those serious, unyielding eyes that carried a suppressive aura.
He suddenly felt a strange sense of detachment.
He thought that perhaps his visions for the future, which he hadn't yet put into action, were insignificant.
The Northern Xiao Palace didn't hold many pleasant memories for him. His attachment to the dynasty seemed to have only vaguely emerged from the time the Grand Tutor brought him to Nanding. More than any so-called sense of responsibility, he cared about the Grand Tutor's thoughts.
However, staying in a dark corner and watching the person in front of you lose step by step doesn't seem as interesting as letting him gain step by step first.
Xiao Fu, Chu Lianzhou, and the others exchanged glances upon hearing the thunderous shouts from ahead. When they saw the same light in each other's eyes, they couldn't help but nod.
After this trip to Mengshan, Nanding will be a completely different place. This will be true in the palace, in the capital, and inevitably in everything south of the Xiao River.
Three years have passed, and none of the evil spirits have survived to the day when the sun shines brightly.
The purge of the officialdom in Nanxiao came so swiftly and naturally.
The Southern faction seems to be seeing their emperor for the first time today.
This night, this day, will be recorded in history, becoming an important milestone on that clearly defined guiding line.
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