dognovel Chapter 382 Zhao Xun's Fate
Chapter 382 Zhao Xun's Fate
Shen Yuxi sneered, his laughter chilling. "Colluding with Yan Yue Kingdom, leaking the Crown Prince's whereabouts, deploying defenses in the capital, bribing the Imperial Guards, and attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince—is this what you call a loyal and virtuous official?"
He suddenly raised his hand and threw a scroll of secret letter in front of Wang Huan.
The wax seal had been broken, and the letter was scattered all over the ground. The handwriting on it was messy but clear. It was a correspondence between Wang Huan's confidant and the secret envoy of Yan Yue Kingdom. Every word and sentence described how to cooperate in the assassination and how to divide up the border cities after the mission was accomplished.
"You dare say these things have nothing to do with you?"
Wang Huan stared at the familiar handwriting, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his lips trembled but he couldn't utter a single word.
He knew that the Wang family of Taiyuan was a powerful and deeply rooted family, and His Majesty had always been wary of aristocratic families. In the past, even if His Majesty found fault with them, he would only punish them by deducting their salary and demoting them, and would never really take them seriously.
But this time it's different; they've targeted the Crown Prince, the Emperor's most sensitive target.
"Someone is coming."
Shen Yuxi's voice was as cold as ice in the twelfth lunar month, "Imprison Wang Huan and his family in the imperial prison."
Wang Huan looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with terror: "Your Majesty! I am a member of the Wang family of Taiyuan! You cannot—"
"The male members will be executed at noon three days from now."
Shen Yuxi didn't even look at him, her voice steady yet carrying an undeniable resolve.
"All female servants shall be sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution)."
"No!"
Wang Huan screamed shrilly and tried to rush forward like a madman.
"Your Majesty, spare me! I beg Your Majesty for mercy! The Wang family will not let you go! I was wrong! I was truly wrong—"
But his cries were quickly silenced by covering his mouth.
Two guards stepped forward and dragged the limp Wang Huan like a dead dog. His legs scraped against the gold bricks with a screeching sound, and the fear and despair in his eyes were branded into the hearts of the ministers.
Only after the dragging sound disappeared outside the hall did Shen Yuxi slowly withdraw his gaze and turn to Zhao Xun, the Minister of War, on the other side.
Zhao Xun knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground, not daring to even breathe.
He knew he couldn't escape.
The Imperial Guards were lax in their duties last night, allowing the assassins to enter the capital smoothly. The Ministry of War is largely to blame.
Moreover, he had a long-standing relationship with the Wang family. When the incident occurred last night, several of his generals clearly saw something amiss, but they deliberately concealed it because they had received benefits from the Wang family.
Shen Yuxi's gaze fell on him like that of a hawk, scrutinizing and chilling, but he remained silent for a long time.
The air inside the hall seemed to freeze, and every second felt like an eternity.
Zhao Xun's back was already soaked with cold sweat, his official robe clinging tightly to his body, chilling him to the bone.
He could feel that gaze sweeping over him inch by inch, as if weighing his bones.
He dared not look up, much less argue.
Wang Huan's fate is imminent. He is from the Wang clan of Taiyuan. He can be executed without warning. What is a mere Minister of War compared to that?
"Zhao Xun".
Shen Yuxi finally spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.
Zhao Xun's body trembled violently, and he quickly kowtowed, his voice hoarse: "Your subject... Your subject is here."
"Why did the Imperial Guards leave their posts without authorization during the night after the assassination attempt at the Eastern Palace last night?"
Shen Yuxi's voice slowly rang out, "The Ministry of War is in charge of the imperial guards, and as the Minister, you cannot shirk your responsibility."
Zhao Xun's forehead slammed heavily against the ground with a dull thud: "Your Majesty, I...I have failed in my duty! Please punish me!"
He dared not mention the bribes from the Wang family, much less admit that he had deliberately condoned them.
At this moment, only confessing might save his life.
Shen Yuxi looked at his back as he lay on the ground, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
These officials, who normally receive salaries from the imperial court and enjoy wealth and luxury, proved utterly incompetent in critical moments.
If he is not severely punished, how can we deter others? How can we protect his son and this vast land?
"Do you know your crime?" Shen Yuxi pressed, his voice suddenly rising.
"Your Majesty, I know my crime! Your Majesty deserves to die ten thousand times!"
Zhao Xun's voice was choked with sobs, and there were bloodstains on his forehead from hitting his head.
Shen Yuxi remained silent for a moment, and the silence in the hall spread once again.
The ministers below the hall held their breath, afraid of angering the emperor in his rage.
Shen Yanzhou stood to the side, looking at his father's cold profile and at Zhao Xun below who looked like a stray dog. He slowly loosened his clenched fist.
"His Majesty!"
Zhao Xun's voice suddenly rose, a desperate roar escaping his lips, "Your subject..."
"No need to say more."
The person on the throne interrupted him, his tone still calm. "By imperial decree, Zhao Xun, the Minister of War, is guilty of corruption, bribery, and forming cliques for personal gain. He is hereby stripped of all his posts, imprisoned, and to be executed in the autumn."
"His family property was confiscated, and his clansmen were exiled three thousand miles away, never to return to the capital."
"His Majesty--!"
Zhao Xun collapsed to the ground, tears mixed with blood rolling down his cheeks.
He finally understood what His Majesty meant by "I will grant your wish".
What His Majesty wants to grant is not Zhao Xun, but the clarity of Cang Ling that Zhao Xun obtained with his life and his family.
He recalled ten years ago, in the study of the Prince's former residence, when the young prince held his hand and said, "Zhao Xun, when I rule the world, I will surely bring peace and prosperity to the land, give scholars from humble backgrounds a chance to rise, and allow the common people to live and work in peace and contentment."
The prince at that time had clear eyes and a warm smile, like the rising sun.
But now, the sun has long since become the unfathomable sky, and he, Zhao Xun, is nothing more than a chosen speck of dust under the sky, destined to be reduced to dust in the storm.
"Take it down."
As the cold voice fell, two Vajra warriors stepped forward and helped the limp Zhao Xun up.
He struggled to turn around and look at the bright yellow figure, letting out a hoarse moan, but he could no longer utter a word.
The palace doors slowly closed behind him, shutting out the sandalwood incense inside and also cutting off all the glory and favor of his first half of life.
When Zhao Xun was dragged out of the imperial study, he encountered Wang Huan, who had just finished being flogged and was being dragged by his guards.
He dared not look around recklessly, for one wrong step he took would lead to another.
He harmed his family and ruined his own life.
He suddenly laughed, laughing until tears streamed down his face.
But... his wife in Jiangnan, who was waiting for him to return, and his grandson who had just turned one year old, probably will never see him again.
The prison door slammed shut, shutting out the last ray of light.
Zhao Xun leaned against the cold wall, closed his eyes, and seemed to hear His Majesty's cold words echoing in his ears again—
"You admit your guilt! Since you admit your guilt, then very well, I will grant your wish!"
I will grant your wish... I will grant this vast land its glory.
Very well, being able to do one last thing for His Majesty's prosperous era can be considered as not betraying the promise made back then.
He murmured softly, a bitter smile slowly curving his lips, which gradually faded into the boundless darkness.