Chapter 427: The Hall of Golden Chimes |
Late at night, within the imperial palace, the Imperial Study.
Candlelight blazed brightly, and the scent of sandalwood drifted softly in the air.
The Son of Heaven of Great Xing, clad in his bright yellow dragon robe, finished reading the official document delivered overnight by the Cloud Hidden Sect's External Affairs Office, along with the attached copy of the secret letter concerning the "Ten Thousand Soul Banner" and the "Corpse Puppets."
After reading the secret letter, the Emperor suddenly asked, "Tell me, after this Xu Qing topples the Yongchang Marquis, will he become a second Yongchang Marquis?"
The eunuch was taken aback and replied cautiously, "This... this lowly servant dares not speculate."
The Emperor smiled, a smile laced with profound meaning.
"It doesn't matter if he does. Topple one, and I'll use the next. This imperial court never lacks for people who want to climb the ladder."
He set down the secret letter, his gaze profound.
On his face, usually marked with authority and exhaustion, a slow, meaningful smile began to form.
"Go. 'Accidentally' leak this information to the Second Steward of the Yongchang Marquis Manor. Say that... someone has secretly reported to Xu Qing a letter documenting the Yongchang Marquis's correspondence with the Northern Barbarians."
The eunuch understood immediately. "Your Majesty intends to force the Yongchang Marquis to make the first move?"
The Emperor picked up his teacup. "I also want to see exactly how many cards he has left to play."
He walked to the window, gazing out at the deep, dark night, and murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear:
"Xu Qing, Xu Qing... I have delivered this blade you've dreamed of into your hands. Do not, under any circumstances, disappoint me."
...
At the Mao hour, the sky had not yet lightened, and the capital still slumbered. Yet outside the Meridian Gate of the imperial palace, torches blazed and figures crowded in the gloom.
The autumn wind was bleak, whipping up the corners of the officials' wide ceremonial robes and brushing across faces that were either grim or bewildered. This morning's court session carried an unusual, oppressive atmosphere, like the heavy stillness before a storm.
The hundred officials formed their ranks below the marble steps according to their official grades, utterly silent.
Yongchang Marquis Chen Yuan, clad in a first-rank unicorn-embroidered court robe and a three-beamed court crown, stood like a cast-iron statue at the head of the military officials' column.
His eyes were slightly closed, his expression as calm as still water. On his weathered face, there was not a trace of emotional fluctuation.
But if any being with keen divine sense had been present, they might have noticed that within his sleeve, his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Deep in his eyes lurked a barely perceptible glint of vicious resolve.
The previous night, he had received that "secret report."
The report's contents were simple, just a few short sentences, but they struck him like a thunderbolt.
Xu Qing—that Household of the Ministry of Revenue whom he regarded as an insignificant ant—had somehow obtained a letter documenting his secret dealings with the Northern Barbarians!
Chen Yuan did not know if the letter was real or fake, nor did he know how much the other party had uncovered. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that the other party's intention was as clear as day—the dagger was drawn, and the showdown would be today!
Fine! A fine move, Xu Qing! A fine, venomous serpent who had bided his time for five years!
If you want to play, then this Marquis will see it through to the end! Since there's no escape, then let this Marquis be the one to unveil the final curtain!
Better to seize the initiative than to be passively beaten!
The corner of Chen Yuan's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
In the middle of the formation of officials, a Censor from the Gate, who normally had close dealings with the Yongchang Marquis Manor and whose duties included impeachment and investigation, took his cue and drew a silent, deep breath.
"Dong—dong—dong—"
From deep within the palace came three distant, somber bell tolls.
The morning court session had begun.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Accompanied by the eunuch's sharp, drawn-out announcement, the Son of Heaven of Great Xing, in his bright yellow dragon robe, walked with steady steps into the Hall of Golden Chimes, flanked by rows of palace maids and eunuchs. He slowly ascended the dragon throne, the seat of supreme authority.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
A roaring tide of salutations shook the entire Hall of Golden Chimes.
"Let all ministers rise." The Emperor's voice betrayed neither joy nor anger. His gaze swept slowly across the officials below, as sharp and cold as twin blades of ice.
Silence, deathly still, once again filled the hall. One could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who would present the first memorial of the day.
Just then, in the Yongchang Marquis's faction, that Censor from the Gate took a slight breath and began to step forward.
But fast as he was, someone else was faster!
No—rather, the Yongchang Marquis had calculated the timing, and his man had precisely hit his cue. But they had all miscalculated one thing—their opponent was Xu Qing. An avenger who had been silently preparing for this very day for one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five days!
At the very moment the Censor's toes lifted a mere half-inch from the ground—
"Your servant, Xu Qing, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has a memorial to present!"
A clear, firm voice, laced with a chilling finality, rang out like a thunderclap across the deathly still Hall of Golden Chimes!
Everyone froze. Their gazes snapped toward the source.
There, within the column of civil officials, stood Xu Qing, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue—always taciturn, gentle as still water. But now, he lifted his chest and stepped forward with pride. In his hands, he held high a memorial wrapped in bright yellow brocade. Step by step, unhurriedly, he walked to the center of the grand hall.
He did not look at anyone, not even at the Emperor on the dragon throne. His gaze fell calmly on the memorial in his own hands, as if that scroll was his entire world.
The Yongchang Marquis's pupils constricted sharply in that instant!
He had miscalculated! He had thought himself the hunter taking the initiative, but instead, his opponent had bared his fangs even earlier! This completely threw off his rhythm!
On the dragon throne, a subtle, invisible smile curled at the corner of the Emperor's mouth.
"Permission granted."
Having received permission, Xu Qing took a deep breath and slowly unfurled the memorial.
He did not follow the usual convention of starting with "Your servant has heard" or "Your servant believes." Instead, he spoke in the most concise, coldest, most emotionless tone, delivering an opening that was enough to overturn the entire court!
"Your servant, Xu Qing, hereby impeaches the Yongchang Marquis, Chen Yuan, on three charges: forming cliques for private gain, embezzling military funds, and secretly colluding with foreign enemies!"
