Chapter 92
"He was afraid Wei Su would rebel."
As soon as Cao Lan'er uttered these words, an uproar erupted.
The court officials were genuinely shocked, only now realizing how much they had been kept in the dark.
"Outwardly a sage ruler, but in truth, paranoid and narrow-minded - unable to tolerate the people's reverence for the Wei family. A Son of Heaven, blinded by a single baseless rumor, determined to eradicate the Wei family. And this is the 'wise monarch' you all praise?"
"Is he worthy?"
Every word Cao Lan'er spoke today was a stinging slap to Emperor Changde's face, infuriating him so much that he could no longer sit still and was ready to personally silence her.
However, Yue Heng stepped in to shield Cao Lan'er. "Father Emperor, don't be hasty. Let the deposed Empress finish speaking."
Emperor Changde raised his hand to strike Yue Heng. "You traitorous son! How dare you commit such treasonous acts, do you not fear divine retribution?"
Yue Heng truly didn't fear it.
"Father, please return to your seat. Once all that needs to be said is spoken, you will naturally be asked to pass judgment. Rest assured, this matter cannot proceed without you."
Yue Heng leaned in and whispered into Emperor Changde's ear, "Otherwise, how else would you have lived to see this day?"
"You—!" Emperor Changde trembled with rage, his finger shaking as he pointed at Yue Heng, fury mingled with fear.
Yue Heng guided the emperor back to the dragon throne and stood behind him, massaging his shoulders. "Father, listen well."
Under normal circumstances, Yue Heng's behavior would have drawn harsh rebukes from the court, but today, no one paid him any mind. Instead, they pressed Cao Lan'er, demanding to know how she was so well-informed.
Cao Lan'er laughed - first softly, then louder, before suddenly cutting off. Her eyes burned red as she glared at the officials nearest to her. "Why should I tell you?"
"You—!" The officials were so furious they nearly staggered. "Utterly unreasonable!"
Cao Lan'er couldn’t care less. "Enough. I, as a witness, have said all that needs to be said. The rest is up to you."
With that, she stepped aside and fell silent.
Now was the time to force Emperor Changde to admit his wrongdoing.
Wei Yunzhao bowed deeply. "This subject implores Your Majesty to clear the names of my father, General Su, and the countless innocent soldiers who perished. They guarded the borders for years, they were meritorious servants of the court and of Dayue. They could have died on the battlefield, but they shouldn't have fallen at the hands of their own, nor to baseless slander. I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict revealing the truth to the world."
Su Qiao slowly knelt, pressing her forehead to the floor. "This humble girl begs Your Majesty to grant justice to the hundreds of lives lost in the Su and Lu families. They were wrongfully implicated and slaughtered. I beg Your Majesty to restore their names, allowing them to be buried in peace and their spirits laid to rest."
Relatives of the slain soldiers were ushered into the hall, trembling as they knelt and pleaded for justice.
The focus returned to the main issue. Cao Lan'er’s words, though seemingly aimed at humiliating Emperor Changde, had revealed crucial information, confirming his involvement in the deaths of Wei Su and others.
Leading the charge was Yin Ji, who stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, meritorious subjects shouldn't die unjustly. With witnesses and evidence present, I implore Your Majesty to grant their requests - issue an edict proclaiming the truth to the world. First, to appease the dead; second, to quell public outrage and reassure the people, demonstrating Your Majesty’s virtue and willingness to correct mistakes."
Having reviewed the evidence and heard Cao Lan'er’s testimony, the officials rallied behind Wei Yunzhao. One by one, they stepped forward, urging Emperor Changde to issue the edict.
Each plea, each demand for the truth to be revealed, weighed heavier on Emperor Changde. Trembling, his eyes bloodshot, he roared, "You- you all dare rebel against me?!"
A minister replied, "We would never. We only seek the truth for those who served with merit."
"Absurd! Utterly absurd! You take a few meaningless letters and the ravings of a deposed empress as proof, forcing your emperor to admit fault. Do you still see me as your sovereign?!"
Emperor Changde coughed violently, his fingers digging into the armrests, veins bulging.
No one expected him to confess outright. Wei Yunzhao spoke again, "Your Majesty, those letters bear your handwriting. If you claim they are forged, let them be displayed for the world to judge. If the people deem them false, I and the entire Wei family will gladly die in atonement!"
Su Qiao echoed, "This humble girl will also die in atonement!"
The ministers added, "Your Majesty, handwriting can be verified. Wei Yunzhao’s proposal is sound, let the people decide."
"Your Majesty is a wise and virtuous ruler. Since you have erred, why not admit it? Even if you refuse, history will record your actions, and in far harsher terms. By admitting fault, at least posterity will commend your courage and accountability."
Yue Heng, still standing behind the emperor, added softly, "Father, by now, all of Shengjing knows the truth. If you refuse, the people will simply curse you a few more days as a 'tyrant.' Once your son ascends the throne, someone will admit it for you."
Emperor Changde whirled around. "Traitor! You- all of you have such audacity! I will have you executed, every last one of you!"
"Then you must first summon those who can execute us," Yue Heng said mildly. "Father, look at these ministers. After today, how many still truly respect you as their sovereign? Why not preserve some dignity for yourself?"
As he spoke, Yue Heng reached out and adjusted the emperor’s crooked crown.
The officials’ gazes were varied, but as Yue Heng had said, Emperor Changde’s image in their eyes would never be the same.
The emperor’s gaze swept over them, his seat suddenly unsteady. "Are you… trying to force me to my death?"
Jiang Lin met his eyes, his smile cold. "Your Majesty, have you heard that the wrongfully dead cannot reincarnate? Are you not afraid that Generals Wei and Su await you in the afterlife? Ah, but you believe in the mystic’s prophecies, you must fear ghosts. Shall we summon that 'Great Master' to divine whether spirits are waiting for you?"
As if on cue, a gust of wind swept through the hall. Emperor Changde shuddered, lost his balance, and tumbled from the dragon throne.
His crown hung askew, hair disheveled, face twisted in terror - none of his usual majesty remained.
The pleas continued. The soldiers’ relatives, brought by Yue Heng, wailed in anguish, begging only for justice.
Wei Yunzhao spoke once more. "Your Majesty, the Wei family has served Dayue for generations, our ancestors dying on the battlefield to secure this peace. I ask not for much only justice for my father. I beg Your Majesty’s grace."
Jiang Lin followed. "I beg Your Majesty’s grace!"
Then the ministers, Su Qiao, the soldiers’ kin, and even voices from outside the hall joined in - a thunderous chorus shaking the Xuangzheng Palace:
"We beg Your Majesty’s grace!"
"We beg Your Majesty’s grace!"
"We beg Your Majesty’s grace!"
Over and over, the demands grew louder, faster - like a death knell ringing in Emperor Changde’s ears.
Trembling, he turned to Yue Heng and whispered, "Was I… wrong?"
"Yes."
A single word plunged him into an abyss.
There was no way out.
"I… grant your requests…"
"I… admit my fault."
Gan Yongfu, who had been thrown out earlier, was summoned back to prepare the decree. Under the weight of countless eyes, Emperor Changde w6ote the edict - a confession of his sins.
The words were dictated by Wei Yunzhao, the brush held by the emperor’s shaking hand.
With the final stroke, Emperor Changde hurled the brush at Wei Yunzhao’s face. "My greatest regret… is not having you executed with the rest, you treasonous villain—" A fit of coughing seized him, blood speckling his lips.
"Your Majesty!"
"Summon the imperial physicians, quickly!"
He was still the emperor, the ministers rushed to his aid, none noticing the figure attempting to slip away.
Cao Lan’er had tried to flee, but Yue Heng caught her within steps. "Deposed Empress, don’t rush off. The Wei family’s accounts are settled, but mine with you remain."
She struggled violently. "Yue Heng! We agreed, I was only a witness! Don’t go back on your word!"
"We did agree, I promised not to kill the Crown Prince. But I never said I wouldn’t settle our score. A mother’s death demands blood repayment."
Cao Lan’er paled. "No! You can’t! You promised!" She thrashed, desperate to escape. She regretted ever agreeing to Yue Heng’s deal.
His voice turned icy. "That 'Great Master' was your doing, wasn’t it? If Father learns you orchestrated his downfall, do you think he’ll have you drawn and quartered? Or dismembered by five horses for his burial?"
"And your precious son, I vowed not to touch him again. But what about Father? He fears loneliness. He might just take you both to the underworld for company."
Terror filled her eyes.
Yue Heng smiled. "Ah, but I jest. Without my permission, your corpse wouldn’t leave this hall, not even one step."
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