Chapter 553 A thrilling morning court session!
Mo Liyuan's cold gaze swept over the figures lying limp on the ground, as if he were looking at a few dead bodies. His voice was firm and decisive, announcing the final judgment:
"Those named will be immediately stripped of all official positions and honors! Imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, they will be executed outside the Meridian Gate three days later! All property will be confiscated, and their families, regardless of gender, age or status, will be exiled to the bitter cold of the Northern Frontier Spiritual Tower, to be enslaved for eternity!"
"No!!!"
"Your Majesty, please have mercy! Prince Regent, please have mercy!!"
"I know I was wrong! I was forced to do this! Please spare my life, Your Majesty! Please spare my family!!"
…
Shrill, desperate cries and pleas for mercy instantly erupted in the deadly silent hall.
The officials who were named crawled forward with tears streaming down their faces, like drowning men grasping at their last straw. Their foreheads banged against the cold floor tiles, their faces covered with blood and tears, as they prayed in vain for the forgiveness that would never come.
Mo Yifan looked at the purgatory-like scene in front of him, listened to the tearful accusations, looked at the shocking figures in the account book, and thought of the tragedy happening in the north... a strong anger and fear surged in his heart.
He slammed the armrest of the dragon throne, his voice trembling slightly with anger:
"Asshole! A parasite of the nation! A blood-sucker for the victims! Death is not a pity! Someone, come!"
Upon hearing the sound, the golden-armored guards outside the hall rushed into the hall like wolves and tigers, and the sound of armor colliding was loud and sharp.
They mercilessly lifted up the officials who were limp as mud and crying non-stop. No matter how they struggled and cried, they held them tightly with their iron-like hands and dragged them out like dead dogs. The shrill screams echoed in the empty hall, gradually fading away, and were finally blocked by the heavy hall door.
The hall fell into dead silence again.
But in this dead silence, there was a stronger smell of blood and boundless fear.
All the ministers who were still kneeling on the ground lowered their heads deeply, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, and they were silent as a mouse.
The cold gold bricks now seemed like red-hot irons.
Mo Liyuan sat upright on a chair, his dark python robe like an abyss swallowing up all the light. His cold gaze slowly swept across the room, "Tianyi!"
Tianyi cleared his throat, his voice echoing throughout the vast and solemn hall as he uttered a final whisper: "My Lords, disasters have struck numerous regions this winter, particularly in the north. The national treasury has repeatedly allocated funds for disaster relief, but now it is stretched to its limit and can no longer sustain its efforts. The victims are crying out in hunger and cold, their plight is pitiful. I hope you will sympathize with their difficulties. At this moment, I ask you to step forward and offer your financial assistance!"
After saying that, Tianyi walked straight to the side of the hall, moved a huanghuali wood chair, and placed it in the center of the hall.
He half-knelt down and placed a thick stack of plain paper and a wolf-hair brush on the chair, using it as a makeshift desk.
Seeing this scene, Mo Yifan, who was sitting on the dragon throne, couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
The young emperor's uncle's move was truly brilliant! He made these court officials, who usually cried poor and enriched themselves, pay for the money themselves. This not only solved the urgent need of the national treasury, but also silenced the gossips of the people and gave them a good warning at the same time.
Wonderful! He waved calmly to Eunuch Li, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Eunuch Li understood immediately, hunched over and took small steps forward, listening attentively.
Mo Yifan whispered a few words, and Eunuch Li nodded repeatedly, then quietly retreated and instructed several young eunuchs to quickly carry up a rosewood carved table and place it steadily in front of Tianyi.
Tianyi stood up and bowed respectfully in the direction of the throne, then moved the paper and pen to the polished desk. He then sat on the chair with his arms folded, and glanced at the ministers below: "Come on, my lords! How much do you plan to donate? I will write down each one and will go to each government office in person to collect the banknotes later." His tone was unquestionable, official, but there was a faint, almost mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.
The air in the hall suddenly became stagnant.
The ministers looked at each other, their faces were either blue or white, their eyes flickering, filled with thousands of reluctances.
However, when they caught a glimpse of the regent sitting at the lower left of the throne, wearing a dragon robe and jade belt, with a gloomy face and a cold aura that kept strangers away, the resentment in their hearts was instantly extinguished by a chill, leaving only an indescribable fear.
After a moment's stalemate, a burly man with a resolute face stood up first among the ranks of generals.
He strode to the table and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, Cheng Yi, donates two hundred taels!"
It was General Cheng, who was famous for his integrity and honesty.
Everyone knows that the Cheng family has been loyal and brave for generations, but they are not rich. Cheng Yi himself often sells his heirlooms to subsidize military supplies.
Tian Yi looked up at him, a trace of understanding and respect flashing across his eyes. He grinned and said loudly: "General Cheng cares about the victims and generously donated two hundred taels! But..."
He paused, his tone tinged with teasing sincerity, "General Cheng, with this donation, I'm afraid your family will have a tough time this New Year, right?"
Cheng Yi waved his hand nonchalantly, smiling frankly: "Oh, no problem! At worst... I can find some old things and send them to the pawnshop!"
Upon hearing this, Tianyi gave a heartfelt thumbs-up and praised loudly, "General Cheng, great righteousness!" Then, he dipped his wolf-hair brush into thick ink and wrote on the plain paper: "General Cheng Yi of Wuwei, donated two hundred taels of silver."
With Cheng Yi's ice-breaking move, the invisible ice in the hall seemed to have been cracked.
The emotions of hesitation, indecision and wait-and-see finally turned into action under the silent pressure of Mo Liyuan's cold gaze.
The ministers stood up one after another and silently formed a long winding queue.
One after another, figures of several hundred or even a thousand taels were reported, and Tianyi kept writing, repeating the names and amounts clearly.
The air was filled with a subtle, painful silence, with only the rustling sound of the brush scratching across the paper and the occasional suppressed cough or two.
Finally, it was the turn of the Minister of Revenue, who was in charge of the country's finances. He straightened his crimson official robes, walked forward, and said in a steady voice with a hint of subtle reserve, "I will donate one thousand taels."
As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Tianyi's face disappeared instantly, as if frozen by frost.
He put down his pen, his sharp eyes piercing the Minister of Revenue like a knife, his voice suddenly rising, with undisguised questioning: "Mr. Minister of Revenue, you...donated one thousand taels?" Each word was dragged out with great emphasis, causing an echo in the silent hall.
The face of the Minister of Revenue changed slightly, and he tried to remain calm: "What's the problem?" One thousand taels is not a small amount, the Minister of Revenue thought to himself.
A voice as cold as an icy shard pierced from the side. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make the temperature in the hall plummet. "Minister of Revenue, would you like me to send someone to your house to take a thorough inventory of your treasure trove of silver?"
The one who spoke was the Regent Mo Liyuan. He was still sitting upright, not even glancing to the side, but the coldness in his words had frozen the air around him.
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