Night fell once again upon the imperial city.
The candlelight in the Imperial Study was still as bright as day, but the atmosphere tonight was completely different from the somber atmosphere of last night.
Led by the eunuch Deshun, a figure quietly passed through the deep corridor and arrived outside the Imperial Study. That person was none other than Vice Minister Wang, who had made a stunning impeachment of the Minister of War in court that day.
At this moment, he was no longer the passionate and righteous man he had been during the day. He was like a frightened quail, his face ashen, his steps unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton. He didn't know why His Majesty had summoned him in the dead of night, and his heart was filled with anxiety and fear of impending doom.
“Minister Wang, please come in. His Majesty is waiting for you inside.” De Shun’s voice was as gentle as ever, but to Minister Wang, it sounded like a death warrant from the judge of the underworld.
He took a deep breath, shakily straightened his official robes, and with a feeling of going to his death, stepped into the threshold of the imperial study.
Inside the hall, Xiao Che sat behind a desk, toying with a jade pendant in his hand, his expression calm, as if waiting for an old friend.
"Your subject... Wang Qinian, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" As soon as Assistant Minister Wang entered the hall, he immediately knelt down and performed a full prostration, not daring to raise his head.
"Minister Wang, rise." Xiao Che's voice was soft, yet it clearly reached Minister Wang's ears.
"Your subject... dares not."
"I tell you to get up." Xiao Che's tone remained calm, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Wang, the Vice Minister, jolted awake and shakily scrambled to his feet. He stood bowed, hands clasped at his sides, below the throne, barely daring to breathe. He glanced furtively at the imperial desk, inwardly groaning. He knew that his actions in court today, though seemingly helping the emperor, had in reality disrupted the court's order. Neither the Regent nor the emperor would easily let him off as a "traitor."
"Minister Wang, your presence in the Golden Palace today truly broadened my horizons," Xiao Che said slowly, setting down the jade pendant.
Wang, the Vice Minister, nearly collapsed to his knees again, his face contorted with grief as he cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I...I was momentarily confused! I deserve to die!"
Seeing his terrified appearance, Xiao Che was not angry. Instead, he chuckled softly. He did not respond directly, but instead pulled out a file from a stack of documents on the side of the desk.
"My dear Wang, do you know what this is?"
When Vice Minister Wang looked up, he saw the words "Ministry of Revenue Investigation: Case of Deficit in Grain Transport" written in large characters on the cover of the file. In just one glance, his face drained of all color, turning as white as paper, and his body began to tremble violently.
That's it! That was the only thought in his mind.
This was his biggest weakness! Three years ago, driven by greed, he embezzled 30,000 taels of official silver from the grain transport system. The matter seemed flawless, yet the Regent somehow discovered it. It was precisely because the Regent held this evidence that he was forced to serve him faithfully, becoming a pawn planted in the Ministry of War by the Regent, completely at his beck and call.
He originally thought that only the regent knew about this evidence, but he never expected that it would appear on the emperor's desk!
"It seems that Minister Wang recognizes you." Xiao Che's tone remained calm. "Thirty thousand taels of silver, according to the laws of Liang, is enough to have your entire family executed."
Wang, the Vice Minister, could no longer hold on. He knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick, his voice filled with desperate sobs: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, spare my life! I know I was wrong! I was forced! It was the Regent... it was the Regent who threatened me, and I had no choice..."
"I know."
Xiao Che's three simple words abruptly silenced Minister Wang's sobbing. He abruptly raised his head, staring at the emperor in astonishment.
Xiao Che picked up the dossier that could determine the life or death of his entire family, and without the slightest hesitation, slowly moved it toward the candlelight beside him.
Wang Shilang's eyes widened instantly, and his breath caught in his throat. He watched as a corner of the yellowed paper touched the flickering flame, and with a "whoosh," the flame immediately leaped up, greedily devouring the ink that recorded his crimes.
“Your Majesty! You…” he murmured in disbelief.
Under the stunned gaze of Vice Minister Wang, Xiao Che released his grip, letting the burning dossier fall into the bronze basin beside him. The firelight illuminated his young and serene face, making him appear unfathomable. Soon, the incriminating evidence that could have ruined his reputation was reduced to a wisp of smoke in the flames, leaving only a pile of black ashes.
After doing all this, Xiao Che turned his gaze back to the stunned Minister Wang and slowly said:
"I know your predicament."
His voice contained no threat, no coercion, only a calm that seemed to understand everything.
"The Regent uses fear and leverage to control you, making you his lackey. But I have no need for lackeys."
"I don't want you to be a traitor. I only want you to become a loyal subject of the Great Liang."
These words were like a warm current, instantly flowing into Minister Wang's cold and despairing heart. He stared blankly at the young emperor on the dragon throne, his eyes filled with shock and emotion.
He thought he was doomed to die today, but what he received was not judgment, but forgiveness! The emperor not only did not use this as leverage against him, but also destroyed it in front of him!
What a magnanimous spirit! What a magnificent character!
The regent treated him like a pawn to be discarded at will, using his life and fortune to coerce and manipulate him. But the emperor before him gave him a chance to start anew, gave him dignity, and gave him hope!
The difference is obvious when compared!
“From this day forward,” Xiao Che’s voice continued, each word striking Wang Shilang’s heart heavily, “I will erase your incriminating evidence. I will protect your family.”
"boom!"
A thunderclap seemed to explode in Wang Shilang's mind, shattering all his fear, hesitation, and bewilderment. He could no longer contain his excitement and gratitude, and kowtowed heavily to Xiao Che, his forehead striking the gold brick with a dull thud.
"Your Majesty!" He cried, his voice choked with emotion, "Your subject, Wang Qinian, from this day forward, is willing to die for Your Majesty! I would gladly give my life for you!"
This time, it wasn't out of fear, but from the depths of his heart, a truly sincere surrender and loyalty. He knew that from this moment on, he would bid farewell to the past. He was no longer a pawn in the Regent's hands, but a subject of the Emperor!
"Get up." Xiao Che's tone softened slightly. "It's not too late to pull back from the brink."
He personally descended the imperial steps and helped the tearful Minister Wang to his feet.
Wang Shilang was overwhelmed with gratitude and trembled with excitement. He vowed, "Your Majesty, please give your command. I will brave any danger, even death!"
Xiao Che nodded in satisfaction. He knew that this pawn, now turned against him, was completely at his disposal. Subduing the enemy without fighting, winning hearts and minds—this was the true path to victory. Loyalty built on fear crumbles at the slightest touch; only hope and grace can forge the strongest bulwark.
He patted Vice Minister Wang on the shoulder, slowly walked back behind the desk, and his eyes became deep again.
"In that case, I will now give you your first task."
Wang Shilang immediately bowed and listened attentively.
Xiao Che's gaze seemed to pierce through the palace of the Imperial Study and fall upon another military camp outside the capital, where the Right Battalion of the Imperial Guards was stationed, and its commander was also a confidant of the Regent.
“Shen Ce’s military report must have aroused the Regent’s suspicion. But he is suspicious by nature, and he will not easily take action against his core military forces without solid evidence.”
Xiao Che's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Therefore, I want you to 'inadvertently' reveal a false intelligence report similar to the one Shen Ce reported to to Chen Bin, the Right Battalion Commander of the Imperial Guards, who is the Regent's most trusted general."
"Let him tell the Regent that the enemy situation in the capital region is indeed tense, and that Shen Ce's actions were out of necessity."
Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Wang's eyes flashed with understanding. He instantly grasped the emperor's intention: to create chaos using information that was difficult to verify, thus plunging the already suspicious regent into a quagmire of distrust!
This is yet another brilliant move!
"Your subject...accepts the decree!" Vice Minister Wang bowed solemnly, his eyes burning with unprecedented fighting spirit.
He knew that a silent war had begun. And he would be yet another sharp blade in His Majesty's hand, piercing the enemy's heart!
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