Chapter 71
“This boy is ruthless and vicious; he must not be allowed to live,” Xiao Qinya said.
“Grand Princess, you are mistaken. You must understand the principle that surrendered soldiers should not be killed. Killing one person is easy, but silencing the world’s voices is difficult,” Song Yunzhou said.
Old fox.
Xiao Qinya glanced meaningfully at Song Yunzhou. The person sitting on the throne was her son-in-law. She knew that letting Xiao Chengze leave was like letting a tiger return to the mountains. What else couldn't a person who could kill his own father do? She didn't believe that the old fox Song Yunzhou couldn't think of it.
Why would he do that?
Most of the people in the court were students of Song Yunzhou, and they all stepped forward at this moment.
“Your Majesty, what Lord Song said makes sense. If this matter is investigated further, the whole world will know that Your Majesty has no tolerance for others, and who will dare to submit to you?”
"The minister replies."
"The minister replies."
Immediately, half of the people in the hall knelt down.
Xiao Yu sat upright on the dragon throne, carefully observing the changes in everyone's expressions. The situation of siding in the court was clear at a glance. This was hardly helping the emperor share his burdens; it was clearly a matter of whoever had more people listening to whom. It would be a miracle if such a country hadn't collapsed.
Letting someone like Xiao Chengze go would be a disaster. Can't these so-called pillars of the court see that?
Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the kneeling officials. She glanced at Xiao Qinya without making a sound, and seeing that she was calm and composed, as if she didn't care what the officials were saying, she pondered for a moment and said, "You may all get up. Bring the person up first."
Fu Shun flicked his whisk, the end of which rested on his arm, and shouted in a shrill voice, "Bring the traitor Xiao Chengze to the palace."
The officials looked at each other, unsure whether to continue kneeling or stand up. After a moment, seeing Song Yunzhou stand up, they all stood up and stepped aside.
Xiao Yu saw it all.
Before long, Xiao Chengze entered the main hall under the escort of armored soldiers. He abandoned his usual arrogance and respectfully knelt down to bow to Xiao Yu.
Looking at Xiao Chengze, Xiao Yu felt no sympathy whatsoever. She would never bother to see this beast who even killed his own father if she weren't forced by circumstances.
Since I can't kill him today, I might as well make him bleed properly: "I've read your memorial. Although the rebellion was solely the work of Prince Chang, as his son, you are implicated. Considering your act of putting righteousness before family, which can be considered offsetting your crimes, I can spare your life, but..."
Xiao Yu paused, his eyes sharpening: "You may escape the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment. All the property of the Prince Chang's mansion will be confiscated. As for you, you will be sent to guard the imperial mausoleum."
Guarding the imperial tombs?
Doesn't that amount to putting people under house arrest in disguise?
The officials had various expressions. Only then did they realize that their emperor was not simple, and how foolish their actions had been.
Xiao Chengze was completely stunned. He never expected this person to act so unpredictably. Shouldn't he be praising his magnanimity to the world before being entrusted with important responsibilities?
At that time, he will not only be able to retire unscathed, but will also inherit the throne of Prince Chang, and then find an opportunity to turn the tables when the time is right.
This is completely different from what he expected. How could this be?
How can he possibly recover if he's sent to guard the imperial tombs?
Xiao Chengze hated Xiao Yu to the core, gritting his teeth in resentment, but dared not show it, forcibly suppressing his dissatisfaction: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Yu nodded, glanced indifferently at the minister who had just pleaded for Xiao Chengze, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Guards, take him away."
As soon as he finished speaking, two armored soldiers carrying halberds led the man away.
"Now that the matter has been resolved, Prime Minister Song, I'll leave the confiscation of their property to you. As for the rebels who came with them, each of them will be fined one year's salary and incorporated into the Imperial Guard separately," Xiao Yu said.
Song Yunzhou was taken aback. He looked at his son-in-law on the dragon throne, as if he wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth and said, "Your subject obeys."
"Thank you for your trouble, Prime Minister Song."
"It is my duty."
Is this still the same son-in-law who doesn't seem very shrewd?
Song Yunzhou's expression changed, and he stepped aside.
At this moment, the Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, "I have something else to report."
Xiao Yu looked at him, gesturing for him to speak.
After he finished his report, Xiao Yu learned that after ascending the throne, there was a ceremony to worship Heaven and announce to the world that the emperor had changed. He prayed for Heaven's protection and there was also a ceremony to confer the title of empress, to show that the emperor and empress would be forever united.
Just hearing about it gave her a headache, but she was still happy about being crowned empress.
The Minister of Rites then reiterated some rules, and at this point, he surprisingly objected to the Emperor and Empress living together in Funing Palace, which aroused Xiao Yu's resentment.
Because the ceremony of offering sacrifices to Heaven was of utmost importance, the Ministry of Rites specially dispatched officials to teach the ceremony in detail.
Xiao Yu was drowsy listening to the whole thing. She was a modern person and didn't believe in superstition. She would rather use that time to do something practical for the people. Besides, if she really wanted to be the emperor, the court would definitely be reformed. In today's case, they didn't give her a chance to say no. In other words, they didn't take her seriously at all.
However, it also allowed her to see the situation in the court clearly. The court was clearly divided into three factions. One faction was centered around Prime Minister Song, which accounted for the majority of people in the court. Most of these people were civil officials. Another faction was centered around the Grand Princess. These people were both civil and military. Although their numbers were not too large, they should not be underestimated. The remaining small group remained neutral. It was impossible to determine whether they were neutral or those who supported Prince Chang.
These all require a secret investigation.
How can she break this deadlock?
After an unknown amount of time, the official from the Ministry of Rites finally finished speaking.
Xiao Yu suppressed the urge to yawn and cleared his throat: "If there's nothing else, let's adjourn the court."
"Your Majesty, the idea of the Emperor and Empress residing in the same palace is a violation of ancestral precepts. You are the Emperor; how can you favor only one person? Furthermore, the Empress's sleeping quarters are in the Kunning Palace..."
The Minister of Rites was about to speak when Xiao Yu impatiently interrupted him: "You want to meddle in my family affairs too?"
With a single rhetorical question, the Minister of Rites was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground.
Xiao Yu looked at him coldly, and the Minister of Rites nervously wiped his sweat: "Your subject dares not, but this rule must be followed."
Xiao Yu tapped the dragon throne twice with his finger: "Since we're going to follow the rules, Lord Li must have several wives and concubines, right? Let them move out of the Minister's residence. When Lord Li wants one, he can call her home to spend the night with him, and then send her away the next day."
"His Majesty......"
"What? Does Lord Li think this is a bad idea?" Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, his tone full of threat.
"Your Majesty, Lord Li was simply following the rules. It is indeed inappropriate for you and the Empress to reside in the same palace..."
"Why does Prime Minister Song also want to...?"
Song Yunzhou choked, his face darkening, and stood aside without saying a word.
Xiao Yu stood up and glanced around the hall: "Since no one has any objections, let's adjourn the court."
After saying that, he stepped out the back door and left.
After the people had gone, a flash of admiration crossed Xiao Qinya's eyes. She glanced at the two who had been humiliated, and forced a smile. She had really underestimated her. She hadn't expected Xiao Qinya to give her such a big surprise. Not only had she wiped out the Changwang Mansion with just a few words, but she had also left herself with a reputation for benevolence and virtue, while eliminating the potential threat of Xiao Chengze, leaving the court officials speechless.
As for his own family matters...
That was handled very well, especially the way that old fox was rendered speechless; it was truly satisfying.
As Xiao Yu left the Zichen Palace, he grew angrier the more he thought about it. He couldn't understand what these old fogies were thinking, always focusing on his family affairs. The angrier he got, the faster he walked: "Why don't they have time to do their own jobs? Why do they have to keep an eye on my family matters?"
Fu Shun trotted after him, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. What Lord Li said is true; there has never been an emperor and empress living together since ancient times."
Xiao Yu stopped and turned to stare at him: "What? Even you think I did something wrong?"
Fu Shun hurriedly knelt on the ground: "This servant deserves to die."
“You truly deserve to die.” After saying this, Xiao Yu ignored him and left him kneeling, then strode towards Funing Palace.
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