Chapter 113
Xiao Yan's head buzzed as if struck by thunder, and he instantly understood all the key points!
There is absolutely no way that the border troops could descend from the sky and appear silently in the imperial palace in just a few days!
The only explanation is that he had already fallen into an elaborately woven web, a death trap tailored for him by Xiao Jin himself!
His eyes suddenly turned blood red, veins popped out on his forehead, and he roared angrily, his voice distorted by extreme anger and fear: "Xiao Jin! The tiger talisman you gave me - is it fake?!"
On the throne, Xiao Jin slowly raised his eyes, a hint of icy sarcasm on the corner of his lips, as if he was watching a poorly executed performance whose ending he had already predicted. "What did you expect? Would I really hand over the 100,000 troops protecting the capital to someone like you who harbors evil intentions? Xiao Yan, you're really wishful thinking!"
His voice was low, but every word was like a knife, slicing through all the hypocrisy. "When my father was dying, he clutched my hand tightly and repeated his final words three times with his last breath. They were: 'Guard the Tiger Talisman well, and never let anyone else do it!' I have never forgotten that for a single day!"
The shadow of death, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly wrapped around Xiao Yan's neck, choking him. His face paled, he stumbled back a step, and shrieked, his voice shrill and ferocious, "I am a prince! I am a descendant of Emperor Gaozu! I was personally appointed the King of Qin by my father! You have no right to kill me! You cannot kill me!"
Xiao Jin stopped looking at his ugly face and raised his hand indifferently. Zhang Fuan immediately understood and quickly spread out a bright yellow blank imperial edict, ground ink and handed him a pen.
Xiao Jin took up his red brush, his tip as sharp as a sword, and personally wrote the final verdict, word for word. The crimson handwriting seemed written in blood: "Qin Wang Xiao Yan, a member of the imperial clan, has not thought of serving his country, but instead committed treason! He forced the emperor to abdicate and rebelled, a crime tantamount to regicide; he slaughtered concubines and harmed the royal heir; he destroyed the century-old Yunxiang Tower, his actions are punishable; he spread rumors and undermined the foundation of the country, his heart is worthy of destruction! His crimes are heinous and innumerable! He is stripped of all his titles and nobles, and demoted to a commoner! He is immediately taken to the Dali Temple for strict custody. Three days later, he will be beheaded in public outside the Meridian Gate! I decree—"
Just as the last word "this" was written, a mournful, old, sobbing voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall, abruptly breaking the solemn atmosphere inside: "Emperor! Show mercy! The late emperor left a will! He said that no matter what, the King of Qin's life must be spared!"
Queen Mother Zhou was seen stumbling into the hall, almost supported by two palace maids. Her hair was disheveled, and her once elegant face was now haggard, filled with panic and despair.
She first glanced at her own son, Xiao Yan, whose face was ashen, then looked at Xiao Jin with a pleading gaze, repeating in a trembling voice, "Emperor! The late emperor did leave a will! No matter what happens in the future, Yan'er must be spared!"
Xiao Jin didn't stand up this time, nor did he even look at the Queen Mother. How could the Queen Mother not be behind every incident of forcing the emperor to abdicate and plotting rebellion? His voice was cold and thin, with undisguised sarcasm:
"Why are you here, Empress Dowager? You weren't there when Xiao Yan was plotting to usurp the throne, murdering my beloved concubine, and harming my children. Now that I'm going to handle this according to the law, you've arrived just in time. Empress Dowager, you... weren't involved in this matter, were you?"
Empress Dowager Zhou shuddered at the cold sting in his words, and forced herself to remain calm, saying, "I...I was not involved. But the late emperor's will is here. The emperor is a benevolent and filial monarch. How can you go against the late emperor's will?!"
"His life is a life?!" Xiao Jin slammed the imperial desk, his pent-up anger and pain erupting instantly, his voice resounding through the palace. "My unborn child's life isn't a life?! My life and this country are so worthless in your eyes, that you can trample on and plot against them at will?! I never thought, Queen Mother, that you would be so cruel to me, but completely different to your own son! It seems that you've been living too comfortably in Ci'an Palace!"
Empress Dowager Zhou trembled all over at his roar, her lips quivering, but she still stubbornly raised the scroll of bright yellow silk in her hand: "No matter what! The late emperor's will cannot be abolished! Zhang Fuan, present it to the emperor!"
Zhang Fuan bowed and took the so-called "last will" and carefully unfolded it in front of Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin's eyes swept across the words on the silk, and a cold and understanding arc appeared on the corner of his mouth.
What was written there was no longer the "forgiveness" that the Queen Mother had spoken of, but the real content that he had secretly planned and quietly modified.
"...If any prince or noble dares to rebel and endanger the country in the future, they will be killed without mercy and will not be tolerated! This is my order."
Empress Dowager Zhou craned her neck, eagerly trying to read the contents. When she vaguely caught sight of the four glaring scarlet characters "Shoot without mercy," she froze as if struck by thunder. Then, like a madman, she desperately rushed towards the imperial desk, her voice shrill and distorted: "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! The late emperor clearly didn't write that! You changed the will! Xiao Jin! You tampered with the late emperor's will!!"
Xiao Jin looked at her distraught appearance with indifference, raised his hand to pick up the scroll of will, and threw it onto the gold bricks at the empress dowager's feet as if discarding some filth. His voice was so calm that it was chilling: "Empress Dowager, you are old and your eyesight is not good. Please look carefully again. Is there any falsehood in the handwriting and seals? This is the true intention of the emperor!"
Empress Dowager Zhou seemed to have all her bones and muscles pulled out of her. She collapsed completely on the cold, hard golden brick, wailing in despair and losing all composure. "No! You can't kill him! He's my life! Emperor! You can't be so cruel! If it weren't for me back then... if it weren't for my support, you wouldn't be where you are today! You wouldn't even be able to sit on this throne!"
Xiao Jin looked down at her condescendingly, his eyes devoid of emotion, only a coldness and relief that had accumulated over the years. "My father, on his deathbed, said with his own mouth that I was the only one he had chosen as his crown prince! He even stated that my mother's sacrifice, in exchange for your ascension to the throne, was all so that I could sit firmly on this throne, free from worries! If it weren't for my safety, do you think you would have been able to take the position of Empress Dowager? Zhou, you take yourself too seriously!"
He no longer looked at her tearful and miserable appearance. He slammed the gavel with a slam, his voice firm and unquestionable, "Come here! Send the Empress Dowager back to Ci'an Palace and keep her under strict guard. Without my order, you are not allowed to step out of the palace! The rest of the rebels will be sent to the death row of the Dali Temple! I don't want to see these traitors again!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The imperial guards and eunuchs responded in unison, their voices shaking the palace.
After dealing with the rebellion, Xiao Jin's voice grew heavy with sorrow. "Concubine Yun...will be posthumously granted the title of Imperial Noble Concubine Jingyi. She will be buried with the highest rites and honors. It must be a grand and dignified funeral."
"yes!"
After arranging all this, Xiao Jin suddenly stood up, walked down the imperial steps quickly, and went straight to Yun Chong'an, who was still kneeling on one knee, and helped him up with his own hands.
He tightly grasped the old minister's rough, calloused hand, his eyes filled with suppressed tears and deep guilt. "Duke... I'm sorry for wronging you! Because of my plan, you've been wronged for days, bearing a stigma. I... can't bear it!"
Yun Chong'an stood up with the emperor's hand, his expression calm and without any resentment: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is the duty of an old minister to eliminate traitors for the country and share the worries of the emperor. A small stigma is not worth mentioning."
Xiao Jin looked at his weathered yet resolute face, his throat choking with sobs as he solemnly promised, "Duke's loyalty is unwavering, and heaven and earth can bear witness to it! Whatever your wish is, just tell me! No matter what it is, I will grant it today!"
Yun Chong'an took a deep breath, stepped back, and bowed deeply once more. His voice was calm but firm: "This old minister has no other requests. I only hope that Your Majesty will consider my old age and frailty, and the wounds I carry from years of battle, and allow me to... retire from my military service, return home, and recuperate in peace."
Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Xiao Jin's eyes. He knew this was the wisdom of a veteran minister, one who had achieved success, and it was also the best way to protect him. He was about to speak when he heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.
A guard quickly stepped inside, knelt on one knee, and reported loudly:
"Your Majesty! The guilty minister's daughter, Su Mingli, has been captured outside the palace! Your Majesty, please make your decision!"
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