Chapter 471 Reaching the Heavenly Court
"Your Highness, you've arrived." He sat cross-legged, composed and unhurried.
Fearless of life and death.
He still seemed to be the highly respected Grand Tutor, whom even princes would bow and greet.
Ji Ruyan felt a surge of anger.
He wondered what Qingqing would do if she were here.
I thought about it for a while.
He stepped forward and kicked the pretentious man in front of him to the ground.
The Grand Tutor rolled around like a turtle in its shell before finally getting up, his composure completely gone, his bulging eyes staring at Ji Ruyan in disbelief.
Look at him, he's no different from any street thug!
"Who do you think you are? You squat like a wooden stake in front of me!"
Grand Tutor: "..."
"Your Highness, why do you act so rudely, like a barbaric person? For a day I have been your teacher..."
"Master my foot!"
Ji Ruyan kicked him again, "You've really given yourself too much face, still putting on airs like a teacher. What do you think is the reason we haven't tortured you these days?"
Because His Highness is coming in person!
After Ji Ruyan finished cursing, she felt a surge of satisfaction.
He took the whip.
Immediately, someone stepped forward, stretched the Grand Tutor into a "big" shape, and locked him up.
The Grand Tutor felt deeply ashamed, and his face contorted with rage.
Ji Ruyan then realized how hypocritical his previous nonchalant demeanor had been!
"Your Highness! Thunderous wrath can decide life and death, but it cannot destroy integrity!"
"I was coerced by the Empress and forced to betray her. I know I deserve to die a thousand deaths. I beg Your Highness to execute me immediately, and spare my dignity!"
Ji Ruyan lashed out fiercely.
"My teacher once taught me: If a ruler treats his subjects as his hands and feet, then the subjects will treat the ruler as their heart and soul."
I have treated you with the utmost respect, yet my teacher regards me as an enemy!
"Those who betray their principles are worse than pigs and dogs; what integrity do they have, what dignity do they speak of!"
With each lash, the Grand Tutor went from gritting his teeth and enduring to finally wailing in agony.
When Ji Ruyan took out the red-hot branding iron, his eyes widened, and he finally pleaded:
"Your Highness, I was wrong. Please forgive me for the sake of our teacher-student relationship..."
“Teacher, you’re too soft-hearted. When I was being beaten, I didn’t utter a sound.”
The branding iron struck, and the room was filled with screams of agony.
Under the torchlight, the young future emperor looked indifferent, with two flames dancing above his eyes, yet showing no warmth whatsoever.
Aside from his appearance, he bears no resemblance to his former self.
The Grand Tutor cried out in despair, "Ji Ruyan! You were born of a monster! If the Great Gan falls into your hands, the country will surely perish!"
"Grand Tutor..."
Ji Ruyan changed to another saw.
“I remember that my second elder brother was very intelligent and studious, but you told Father that he was good at scheming.”
My fifth brother is highly skilled in martial arts, yet you say he is narrow-minded and intolerant of his brothers.
The remaining princes are either weak or have died young, so they are not worth your trouble.
You chose me.
Because I have the gentlest temperament and am the easiest to control.
The Grand Tutor's eyes pierced through the depths, revealing true fear.
"The imperial lineage has dwindled, and the Grand Tutor's contributions are truly immense."
The saw lightly sliced across the Grand Tutor's left leg, and blood gushed out like viscous water.
This time, the Grand Tutor bit his lip so hard he almost broke a sweat, but he didn't utter a sound.
"You taught me to be kind and filial, to be close to my mother, and to be harmonious between ruler and subject."
But he never taught me: "The imperial court is like a battlefield; laughter can conceal thunder, and yielding can harbor murderous intent."
Another saw cut was made on his right leg, tearing flesh and exposing bone.
These two legs are ruined.
"As expected, you are the most capable spy of the Northern Barbarians, and you have actually climbed to the center of power."
The Grand Tutor suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with a sense of impending doom.
"I'm stupid, I should have thought of that sooner."
"Fortunately, I'm grateful that I didn't die in that trap, so now I can finally sort things out."
In the past few days, dozens of groups of people have come to the prison, but now they have been almost all cleared out.
Prefect of Yinzhou, Vice Minister of the Chancellery, Censor...
Oh, your wife also provided quite a few clues, all the people you've been in contact with, the restaurant owner, the courtesan..."
The Grand Tutor finally realized that the student he had been teaching for over a decade was merely docile, not stupid.
His life's work was ruined in an instant.
"So, the reason you kept me here until now wasn't to take revenge yourself, nor was it to ask me for an explanation."
"Of course, Yan Mingyuan, the Empress, Ji Canglin, Shangguan Yu, all those who plotted against me are dead. Why are you the only one left alive? Do you think you have more power than the Empress?"
Fortunately, the Shangguan family was good at suppressing court officials, otherwise that old bastard would have turned the world upside down long ago!
"Now, you're useless, you should die."
Ji Ruyan took out an iron hook and shoved it into the Grand Tutor's mouth.
A piece of tongue was pulled out.
The Grand Tutor rolled his eyes and fainted.
"Tomorrow I'll parade you through the streets as a public spectacle, let's see if you can catch any more fish in the end."
Ji Ruyan threw away the instruments of torture, took the damp cloth handed to her by the guard, wiped her hands, and walked out of the prison with measured steps, dignified and rhythmic.
Funing Hall.
"Your Highness, a secret messenger has delivered a letter."
The personal eunuch, Changqing, bowed and handed it over.
Ji Ruyan waved for him to leave.
The moment the door closed, he rushed to the jade table, his eyes gleaming, and opened the letter.
"I agree, I agree, I agree to whatever Qingqing says!"
Pick up the pen, finish the work in one stroke, and stamp it with the official seal!
I'll also write a love letter while I'm at it.
"Cangying, send someone on horseback to Ming'an County at top speed!"
Cangying appeared and took the letter.
"I wonder if Qingqing will come to the coronation ceremony. I haven't seen her for fifty-one days."
The man looked down, somewhat taken aback.
Why isn't the medicine working?
Could it be due to a conflict with the health supplements he was taking?
While I was deep in thought, I suddenly felt a pain in my head.
His expression changed.
"I need to rest. I can't overwork myself. I need to take good care of my health."
He only recently discovered that his brain would ache when he overworked, and that playing the flute that day had caused some damage.
When Qingqing arrives, he will have her prepare some brain-nourishing medicine.
Anyway, he can't die young; he wants to live to be a hundred with Qingqing.
Ji Ruyan climbed into bed.
...
Ming'an County.
Liu'er came to find Lu Qingqing.
Mu Daye is back, and now he's going to take her to the capital.
“Qingqing, Daye said that when the emperor ascended the throne, he would bestow titles and rewards upon those who had rendered meritorious service. I was also among them. It wasn’t Daye who earned the title for me; it was my own merit that made me who I am.”
Lu Qingqing smiled and nodded: "You earned it yourself. Others may not know, but I do. You almost lost your life trying to stop Qin Wangchuan from harming Ming'an County. You deserve half the credit for Ming'an County's peace."
He deserves a huge reward!
Liu'er shook her head, "But I'm the one who brought this here in the first place."
"Nonsense, that was Qin Wangchuan using your name to commit evil deeds, it has nothing to do with you."
All right.
Liu'er stopped worrying about it.
"Are you going? I'm a little scared."
"I……"
"Madam, a letter has arrived from the capital!" Chuan Bai handed over a letter.
So fast?
That can't be!
Lu Qingqing opened it, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.
It's true, the Crown Prince is really reliable!
This is the efficiency of getting straight to the ears of the heavens!
The imperial decree has been delivered to the county government, so she can now summon the messenger to inform him.
"Chuanbai, go to Aunt Li's house and ask her to call Hong the midwife and the others over."
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