Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 240: Planning to Execute

"...The Western Qin Army is no longer what it used to be. Without a prominent figure leading them, your third uncle managed to escape from the battle against the Kunxu demons but was severely injured and unable to return to the army for a long time. The army is in chaos, and its fighting power has greatly diminished!"

Jiang Yong continued, "Your mother's poison outbreak coincided with the news of the Western Qin Army's defeat, which the court learned of immediately. They took this opportunity to attack and injure or even kill your grandmother, me, and the Jiang family. What would be left of the Jiang family then? Only a group of widows and you two brothers. For those people, it would be easy to wipe us out!

The court would achieve three things: destroying the Jiang family, ruining the Western Qin Army, and finally breathing a sigh of relief. The emperor would also be able to sleep peacefully!

This is not sudden at all; the timing is just too perfect!"

Xin Zhuo hesitated and asked, "What practical and effective benefits can they gain from such deliberate actions? Do they really want to see the Western Qin region in ruins, with millions of people displaced?"

"Isn't it enough to destroy the Western Qin Army?" Jiang Yong turned around and looked at him in surprise. "Besides, what does this have to do with the common people? The world belongs to the emperor and the court officials, to the noble families. The common people can be born again, they can migrate. The world is never lacking in common people. Even if they lose their land, they can always fight back and reclaim it. Don't ever speak such nonsense in private!"

"..."

Xin Zhuo frowned. Is this how the nobles in this world think? Even his own ancestors think this way?

He suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He felt that he... was also one of the common people, always has been, and had a deep sense of empathy.

"Something's happened!" Jiang Yong suddenly looked out the window.

"Let's see what it is. It can't possibly get any worse!"

Xin Zhuo also noticed the approaching figures in the distance, and there was more than one person.

"Thump, thump, thump..."

Soon, a group of hurried footsteps arrived at the base of the tower. A purple-robed official in his sixties suppressed his fear and bowed with cupped fists. "I am Jiang Li, the Grand Deputy of the Strategy and Mystery Department. I have urgent matters to report to the Crown Prince!"

"Speak!" Xin Zhuo sensed the strong fear and unease in the man's expression and tone, and couldn't help but have a bad premonition.

The official Jiang Li trembled as he spoke, "During the noon court session, Left Minister Leng Hu Pi, Prince Nanling Ji Xiao Wei, Prince of Mengyang Ji Wu An, Grand General of the Divine Strategy Army Tuoba Gui, Minister of War Lu Zhi Zhong, and Right Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat Song Gui jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor. They accused the Western Qin Army of performing poorly in battle, wasting the court's resources for many years, and allowing the land to fall into the hands of foreign tribes, causing millions of people to be displaced!

They also listed thirty-six pieces of evidence of the Jiang family's crimes, including extravagance, corruption, lawlessness, bullying in the market, disregarding imperial authority, and disrespecting the emperor. They proposed to execute the current head of the Jiang family, Jiang Yuqing, and strip the Jiang family of all titles, confiscate their property, and exile the entire family to the bitterly cold North Sea!"

Damn it! It's not just bad, it's even worse!

Xin Zhuo was stunned.

"They're using this as an excuse to make a scene! Their behavior is so ugly!" Jiang Yong's body trembled, and he staggered as he tried to stand up.

"Uncle, don't move!" Xin Zhuo forcefully pressed him down and asked in a deep voice, "What about the officials and friends under the Jiang family? Where are they?"

The official at the base of the tower let out a long sigh. "Right Deputy Feng Si Hu remained silent. The Supervising Officer of the Strategy and Mystery Department, Ling Xu Wei, Deputy Minister Liu Guang Shi, Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat Li Wan Chuan, and Grand General of Martial Heaven Army Yuan Yi strongly opposed the proposal, stating that the Jiang family is a royal relative and has been loyal to the country throughout the generations..."

"What does the emperor think?" Xin Zhuo rubbed his temples. In this world of fantasy, martial arts, and the jianghu, it was lively and interesting. How did he end up getting involved in this messy court?

The official's voice trembled greatly: "The Emperor's intention leans towards Left Minister Linghu Pi! But there hasn't been an order issued yet!"

"Thank you for your trouble, sir. You may go back first and send the news back at any time. If the Jiang family passes this hurdle, they will definitely not mistreat you!"

The official hurriedly left, and the tower became quiet again.

"Uncle, do you have any solutions?" Xin Zhuo continued to connect the meridians for Jiang Yong, asking softly.

After saying that, he regretted it a bit. Jiang Yong was a pure practitioner, and his world only consisted of martial realms and martial arts. The intricacies and intelligence of the court had nothing to do with him. At this moment, his True Qi became even more chaotic, and his Blood Qi surged, greatly affecting his recovery from his injuries.

"Just ask casually, it's fine! I have a solution, Uncle, rest assured!"

Xin Zhuo sighed and increased the speed of his hands. Thirty-two needles were pulled up simultaneously, flying and spinning, and then stabbed into other acupoints.

...

When they came out of the "Venerable Tower," it was already sunset. The Jiang family's maids and servants were still there, but the continuous buildings had never been so desolate and lonely.

The mourning hall for the county princess Jiang Huan in the front courtyard had already been arranged properly. The eighteen branch family heads of the Jiang family had also arrived. The group of Princess Zhengguo had become much calmer at this moment, discussing countermeasures.

The matters of the court had not reached here yet, or perhaps it was the inherent mechanism of the Jiang family. With the old dowager absent, everything naturally revolved around the crown prince. The news of the Chief Secretary of the Strategy Bureau had only been reported to Xin Zhuo.

Seeing Xin Zhuo coming, everyone stood up and gestured, "Crown Prince!"

Xin Zhuo nodded and sat in the main seat where the old dowager had always sat, surveying the crowd. Suddenly, he felt an unprecedented pressure, first looking at Li Yun, Ma Shu, and Chan Yi.

The three of them saluted, "Everything has been arranged according to the Crown Prince's instructions!"

Xin Zhuo then looked at Princess Zhengguo and saw the matured Jiang Yuge. With a steady cupped fist, she said, "Brother, Aunt and I went to the Holy Temple of His Majesty, and we reported to His Majesty through the curtain. His Majesty's decree was drafted by the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Strategy, He Wan'er. The late eldest sister is posthumously titled as the Princess of West Qin, the Grand General of Wuwei, and will be buried in the Valley of the Heavenly Bestowal Great Emperor, together with Father and Uncle, just like them!"

The various branch family heads showed satisfied expressions and breathed a sigh of relief.

One of the elderly uncles looked at Xin Zhuo and said in a deep voice, "Jiang Huan's funeral should be done according to the standards of a princess, but the Jiang family has a precedent. The daughter cannot stay for long. She should be buried tomorrow afternoon!"

Xin Zhuo walked down the steps of the desk and went to Jiang Huan's body, placing her rough hands under the brocade cloth for her, saying, "Alright."

After thinking for a moment, he returned to the desk and wrote a letter, handing it to Princess Beihai. "I heard that you and the Empress Dowager have met?"

Princess Beihai nodded, "I am eight years older than the Empress Dowager. We knew each other when we were young, and we had some contact a few days ago."

Xin Zhuo fell silent for a moment. "Leave immediately!"

He still remembered clearly that Huirulan had promised him benefits if he didn't die. Now she could fulfill that promise. Hopefully, she would keep her word, protect the Jiang family, and whisper in the Emperor's ear.

Princess Beihai hurriedly left, disappearing into the night with her maids.

Xin Zhuo considered everything again but still had no certainty. He simply walked out of the door and said, "You all have worked hard these past two days. Chan Yi, Princess Zhengguo, come with me."

After leaving the door, Chan Yi and the others had already caught up from behind. The three of them aimlessly walked along the corridor in a circle. Just as Princess Zhengguo couldn't help but ask a question, Xin Zhuo said, "Chan Yi, use all the power in the mansion to open one of the four gates. If the situation is not right, immediately take the mansion's experts to protect Yuge, Madam, and the young ladies and leave for West Qin! Aunt and the princesses must not linger or hesitate. Carry the old dowager and go to the palace immediately to seek the protection of the old empresses!"

The two of them had a drastic change in their expressions. Princess Zhengguo asked hoarsely, "Has the situation reached this point?"

Xin Zhuo neither confirmed nor denied it and smiled, "Be prepared for any eventuality. We can't just let others slaughter us, can we?"

(End of this chapter)